Comments on: Arizona man sent to jail for home Bible studies

By: Byron

Byron — Mon, 20 Aug 2012 19:41:00 +0000

Poeple, remember Jesus was hung on the CROSS because of what he did & said. So why should this Pastor be any different?

By: Brendajanetorres

Brendajanetorres — Wed, 08 Aug 2012 13:41:00 +0000

philote….I do struggle with that, thank you….we do need our brothers and sisters to remind us once in a while. God's Blessings, Brenda

By: philote

philote — Wed, 08 Aug 2012 13:31:00 +0000

Jesus: I tell you, if they keep quiet, the stones themselves will cry out…

By: philote

philote — Wed, 08 Aug 2012 13:29:00 +0000

Christians have no reason to expect that God's dealing with His people, Israel, in the Old Testament is an indication of what He will do for us now. Context is totally different. However, take heart, He has told us that the suffering of this time is but for a short duration and that He will return to take His church home to be with Him. And like the parable of the servants – we are to occupy (remain doing what we do as ambassadors, worthy of the calling) until He returns.

One thing to definitely do, is engage in prayer for everyone including the lawmakers so that they will have their eyes opened and receive the Son as their ransom for their sin as well.

"1First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, 2for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. 3This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time." 1 Tim 2:1-6

By: philote

philote — Wed, 08 Aug 2012 13:23:00 +0000

Be careful not to judge him harshly, we are all sinners, who, but for God's Son, would still be condemned in our own sin. "9do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, 10nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. 11Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God." 1 Cor 6:9-11 I know that emotionally the loss of liberty and freedom, and the legalization of sinful practices and criminalization of speaking the truth is wearing. But we are still commanded to speak the truth in love. It's time to pray for Obama, not condemn him. "1First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, 2for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. 3This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time." 1 Tim 2:1-6

By: philote

philote — Wed, 08 Aug 2012 13:12:00 +0000

Logic and right conclusion do not always need acts of congress and written statements to prove them. In fact, the written statement is often the opposite of the natural conclusion derived from empirical evidence. If it walks like a duck; if it quacks like a duck… it's a duck.

By: philote

philote — Wed, 08 Aug 2012 13:09:00 +0000

Perhaps you'd like to limit the discussion to such – but the real issue is that we have all sinned and fallen short of God and His Glory. We are all criminals and "scofflaws". By nature. By willful and willing decisions and action. Sin – whether it is to blaspheme God, deny His son, perpetuate false religions, attempt to destroy Christianity, promote and legalize sinful activities and behavior, criminalize God-honoring activities… it's all evidence of the heart of mankind in general and each of us in particular. So, I deliver to you as of first importance, what I also received – that Christ died for your sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried and that He rose again, according to the Scriptures. And that those who take God at His Word, and believe that Christ's death was in our place, as our substitute, receive forgiveness of their sins (all of them) and become His children. And as His children, adopting His nature, we become ambassadors of the great blessings He provided through Christ. And we speak, and teach others of and from the Word of God – pointing out sin wherever it is found, and revealing how all sinners can receive forgiveness and have new life; a life in Christ.
Thanks for listening.

By: philote

philote — Wed, 08 Aug 2012 12:39:00 +0000

Jesus, then was a "scofflaw" as well, because He taught of the Kingdom of God in the synagogues - where the Pharisees wanted only their own version (rife with their rabbinic tradition replacing God's clear Word). Paul was arrested as a "scofflaw" for teaching "The Way" (Jesus - the Way, the Truth, and the Life) in areas that held that caesar was a god and that Yahweh God was to be known only through the Law and not personally (which personal relationship Yahweh God had repeatedly told through the prophets that He desired, and one day through the Messiah, would have again). Christians in muslim countries are "scofflaws", as are those who disobey(ed) communism continued to teach and preach Christ crucified for sinners despite the consequences. Salman is in good company. This goes beyond "freedom of religion", "the constitution", "liberty" and all the other secular and political agendas. This is about the lifeblood of a Christian - to examine and learn, to proclaim and teach, the Word of God so that others may come to the waters of life and drink freely and be saved.

By: philote

philote — Wed, 08 Aug 2012 12:30:00 +0000

Thanks, as always Bighoss, for enlightening us to just what a hardened heart sounds like.