If the presidential elections were to be held today, who would you vote for?

What should the response of the church be?

Tax day is here and for many of faith we are like so many others required to fund the civil government with the sweat of our brow. While my political opinion is that taxes on labor is unconstitutional and unethical; as a Christian I know I have a commandment from my Lord to be civilly obedient as long as it does not violate the Word of God. So what is the Word of God on Taxes? If we remember, the Pharisees tried to trip Jesus up with this very question. Jesus’ answer is priceless. “Who’s picture is on the coin“, he asked? So then he said, give to Cesar what is Cesar’s and what is God’s to God. So what do we owe Cesar? Paul expounds on this in Romans 13. In this chapter he explains the civil government is a tool of God to maintain order and that we are to obey and honor them. And that includes taxes. In verse six it says, “because of this you also pay taxes, for rulers are servants of God, devoting them to this very thing” What is “this” in that verse? It is the fact we are to obey the civil magistrate as long as they do not violate God’s law. So sad to say we have to pay taxes no matter how unconstitutional they are. Remember the magistrate does not yield the sword in vain (Romans 13:4). Break the law (even though there is no law to pay Federal income taxes) you should be prepared to pay the consequences. So, as verse five says “Therefore, it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath (the sword), but also for conscience sake.” So be a good Christian and pay your taxes, God loves a cheerful giver and so does George W.

There is no doubt that many serious believers realize that we are closing in on the end of times. Whether it is 50 more years, 5 years, 5 months or 5 days, it is evident that the believers are getting serious about Jesus’ return. If we are all correct that we are close, How should we interpret God’s Word which states that judgment first begins at the House of God  in James 4: (1 Peter 4:17) God’s word is clear that Judgment of the world will come and that before that judgment he will judge of the house of God.

Assuming we could be 2-10 years from our Saviors return than it is plausible that God has combed through the Church and allowed Churches to get right and/or reap the removal of their light because they failed to repent ( seven churches described rev 2-3).  If this may be true it may explain why so many churches have been idle, lifeless, and lost to the needs of people around them. It would also explain why those churches who have admitted their sin have now become lighthouse for people to be drawn too.  Considering the fact that we are told to have ears to hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church in the last days…what are your ears hearing concerning the timing of God’s judgment upon the church in his effort to prepare a church ‘people’ without a spot or wrinkle (Ephesians 5) ….has judgment come, yet to come, or does this passage not apply in concept to God weeding out and judging the people and church who were religious and/or failed to repent of his house cleaning? 

Before justifying the actions consider the last few years where over 4,000 ministers have been convicted of pedophilia, 1,000s have been found guilty of infidelity, and homosexual activity with a ‘there are always a few bad apples, or there has always been sexual misconduct in the church’…as that is precisely why God needs to clean His house. Consider this exposure that has happened across denominations in ministries over the past 20-years and let’s discuss what the timing is.

Do you believe that the Christian Church has replaced Israel in God's plan, now and in the future?

 

Why are Christians afraid of this.  Is our faith in Christ so weak that we have to duck and hide from those that question our belief system ?  Are we so insecure that we try to shut up the challengers and cry like children telling the bullies to stop picking on us.  Why can't we stand up and face the critics of our faith and show them that we beleive what we beleive no matter what they try to prove or say.  The bible tells us these things would  happen.  This should challenge each and everyone of us to check our belief in Christianity.  Do we believe for the things seen or unseen?  I say bring it on !

rod kittleman

Okay, Let's kick off this blog with the topic of the Tomb of Jesus. If these "experts" insist that their findings of this tomb are marked correctly and that they believe it really is the tomb of Jesus, how will that affect the weak in Faith?

-JGS