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Monday, October 31, 2016

Christians and Government

Christians & Government

Why and How Christians Must Vote
1. Heritage
What are the principles on which our nation and freedom is based?

The Pilgrims and Puritans first came to America seeking freedom to worship as they believe without the government telling them what they could and could not do.

Founding documents acknowledge God

Declaration of Independence –
When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation. Four times, God is referenced in the Declaration of Independence.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

United States Constitution
“Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.” –
Charles E. Rice, The Supreme Court and Public Prayer (New York: Fordham University Press 1964), p. 47.

Bill of Rights - Amendment I
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
Early American art and religious influence in our Capital

2. Law
“Separation of Church and State”
A private letter declaring that the government should stay out of the church, but not that the church must stay out of government. (The atheists have taken it out of its context and twisted the meaning to push their ungodly agenda.)

Other remarks
“In order effectually to accomplish these great ends, it is. . . the duty of those who bear rule to promote and encourage piety [respect for God]. Henry Laurens, President of Congress, Selected as Delegate to the Constitutional Convention

Jefferson voted that the Capitol building would also serve as a church building. Indeed, church services were often held in the capital building for many years (and no one complained).

3. Politics in the Bible
Joseph, Daniel and others served in government positions.
Saul, David, Solomon, others served as Kings
Old Testament Prophets spoke out against corruption in government.
John the Baptist, Peter, Paul & others spoke against government trying to silence Christianity.
Jesus debated with Pilate that God’s power was greater.

4. Scripture
Genesis 1:1 – God created the heavens and the earth.
John 1:1-3 – Jesus was with God in the creation.
Romans 13:1-7 – Government is instituted by God (not vice versa).

Obey the government –
Constitution gives us the responsibility to vote for our government.
Billy Graham – “Bad politicians are elected by good people who don’t vote.” We need Christians in government. WHY?

5. Lawlessness is Destroying our Nation
Crime in schools
Drugs in our society
Teenage sex, pregnancy and abortion
Liberal media bias
Influence of Hollywood
Anti-God, anti-Christ

6. Religious War
Without Christ in our government, our freedom will be taken away from us by ungodly leaders.
Put Jesus Christ FIRST
Know what Jesus teaches about right and wrong.
Know what the candidates stand for.
It helps a lot if you know Jesus as your personal LORD and Savior.

Monday, October 24, 2016


Four Planks of New Testament Christianity

John 17:20-26

In the early 1800’s various men and groups in the eastern US realized that there were doctrinal errors and denominational problems in their churches.  These groups – unknown to each other at first, absolved from their denomination ties to form churches whose greatest goal was to be true to the Scriptures.

There are several names that are worthy of recognition in the history of the Restoration Movement as we know it in America, but four of the early leaders stand out more than the others.  Each man focused more strongly on a different, but important plank on which the Restoration Movement is founded.

Their message should be our message today.

1.       Barton W. Stone from Kentucky was a Presbyterian minister at Concord and Cane Ridge.

In 1804 he wrote the “Last Will and Testament of the Springfield Presbytery” to establish a church that chose the name “Christian” to the exclusion of all sectarian titles.

His greatest efforts were toward unity – I Corinthians 1:10-13, John 17:17-21; Ephesians 4:4-6.

NOT THE ONLY CHRISTIANS, BUT CHRISTIANS ONLY – A name that all can wear, non-denominational and Biblical.

2.       Thomas Campbell, from Scotland, came to America for his health in 1803.

A Presbyterian, he settled in Pennsylvania at Washington, PA in 1809. He wrote the “Declaration and Address” – one of the greatest documents of the Restoration Movement.

His greatest efforts were in trying to restore “The BIBLE ONLY as the only authority in all matters of Faith and Practice. II Timothy 3:16-17; II Peter 1:16-21.

WHERE THE SCRIPTURES SPEAK, WE SPEAK. WHERE THE SCRIPTURES ARE SILENT, WE ARE SILENT.

IN MATTERS OF FAITH – UNITY, IN MATTERS OF OPINION – LIBERTY, IN ALL THINGS – LOVE.

3.       Alexander Campbell, son of Thomas, came to America in 1809.

Before coming to America, he began to question several doctrines of the Presbyterian Church.  After a discussion with his father and reading the Declaration and Address, he began to prepare for the ministry.  In 1816, he preached his “Sermon on the Law” – which set the pattern for interpretation of the Scriptures in the Restoration Movement.

His main thrust was to restore the ancient order of New Testament Christianity.  Revelation 2:1-7; Romans 8:3; Hebrews 8:6-7, 13; Colossians 2:13-14.

NOTHING BUT SIMPLE NEW TESTAMENT CHRISTIANS.

4.       Walter Scott, also born in Scotland,

He became involved in a church in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania that took the Bible alone as its rule of faith and practice.  In 1821, he became fully convinced that Christianity should be fully centered on the Messiahship of Jesus as the Christ.  All other teachings of Scripture revolve around the Lordship of Christ.

He restored the ancient Gospel to the Restoration Movement.  Galatians 1:6-10; Matthew 28:19-20; I Corinthians 2:2, 9:16.

KNOW JESUS AS LORD, (Savior and role model)

Scot met Alexander Campbell in 1821-1822 and Stone met Campbell in 1824.  By 1832 these men had fully united in the determination to restore the Church back like it was in the New Testament in unity and doctrine.

Today we have slipped and become careless in the cause for which we owe our heritage.  We should:

a.       Restore ourselves to Christ.

b.      Restore the Church back to the New Testament

c.       Restore the Restoration Movement as a movement of our Lord.