No, Mr. President: John Piper’s Response to President Obama on Abortion

Abortion and the Campaign for Immorality – A Sermon by John MacArthur

Purchase Your Pro-Life Day of Silent Solidarity T-Shirt Today!

For the past three years Rock County Christian School has taken part in the national Pro-Life Day of Silent Solidarity.  On this day people from all over this nation will give up their voices for a day in solidarity for these children. Red arm bands and duct tape will identify them as taking part in this event.  They will carry fliers explaining why they are silent and educate others about the plight of the innocent children we are losing every day.

Last year the class I sponsor (the class of 2013) sold t-shirts in order to (1) promote a spirit of unity among our student body as we take this important stand and (2) to help raise money for their senior trip.  This year the class decided to donate half of their profit to the Stateline Pregnancy Center in Beloit.  So this year we have the added of goal of actually helping women in need.  We no longer just want to be against something, but take active steps to reach out to those who need it most.

In light of all this, would you consider purchasing one of these shirts?  You can download an order form here.  All orders must be received by Monday, October 1.  The shirts will be available to be picked up at our Beloit campus (916 Bushnell St, Beloit, WI  53511).    If you would like to order one and cannot pick it up that day, let me know.

KevCast 05 – An Evangelical Perspective on the 2012 Presidential Race

Listen to the streaming audio here or download the complete mp3 recording here.

Listen in to a panel of evangelicals discuss their thoughts on the 2012 presidential race on the eve of the Iowa Caucus.

Panelists Include:

Joshua Caucutt – Pastoral Assistant, Denver Sound Church, Co-Host of the Sound Church Guys Video Podcast

Thomas Haskins – Author, In the Words of Our Founding Fathers

Dan Horvatin –  TEA Party Leader, Rock River Patriots

Our 45 minute podcast seem to fly by as we spent a surprising good amount of time talking about Congressman Ron Paul, his views and his chances at getting the nomination. But, the majority of the time we looked at issues such as can an evangelical vote for a Mormon candidate, what factors should Christians consider when looking for a candidate and how should we view third party candidates. You won’t want to miss the somewhat-heated discussion surrounding the issue of homosexual marriage. We ended with predictions of just how things are going to turn out for conservatives in 2012.

Mentioned during the show – The Mitt Romney Deception (Podcast with Amy Contrada talking about her books detailing how Mitt Romney is responsible for homosexual marriage in Massachusetts) and Sorry, Governor Romney, Mormonism is a Cult (Podcast with Pastor Dan Gibson, a former Mormon, detailing the history and doctrines of the Mormon church).

Because of problems on our side, Pastor Michael Carl (of Christ the King Church and Ministries, Powerlines News Network and WorldNetDaily) was unable to join us but was willing to give some quick answers to some of the topics mentioned during the broadcast.

Q: How do you explain the rise of Ron Paul this year?
A: There’s no logical explanation for Paul’s surge except that it’s an anti-Romney thing, and/or, the voters in Iowa are highly unimpressed by the crew that the GOP has trotted out before them.

Q: Can Evangelicals vote for a Mormon?
A: Yes, evangelicals can vote for a Mormon. The deeper question is how to defend that position. On the other hand, this is an amazing opportunity Christians didn’t have in the Nixon era and before. The only time a candidate’s religion has surfaced is over Catholic Al Smith and Catholic (nominal) JFK. This is an opportunity to proclaim the true Gospel message without trashing the Mormon. We let the truth speak for itself. However, the ultimate question is whether voting for the Mormon is a sufficient restraint of the greater evil if an atheist, a Muslim, or a complete secular humanist should win.

Q: Any predictions?
A: Romney will be nominated and lose to Obama.

Q: What factors shoudl Christians consider when looking for a candidate?
A: Christians should seek a candidate that most fully embodies the character of 1 Timothy 3 and who supports the worldview of, ‘They are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among them are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.’

Q: How should we consider third party and independent candidates?
A: There’s no easy answer to that because there are good arguments (restraint of greater evil v. ‘the lesser of two evils is still evil) on both sides and faithful followers of Christ have defended both positions.

Q: Do you support a particular candidate?
A: N/A because I don’t know. I’m holding out to see if the Constitution Party shows up this election.

Q: How involved should Evangelicals be in this election?
A: If evangelicals/Bible-believing Christians don’t get involved, they abandon the governance of their country to ungodly men and women. And where is that defensible from Scripture???

Ron Paul: The Consistent Pro-Life Candidate

Among the Republican candidates for President, you see many trying to contend for the title of “most pro-life” while Governor Romney is still trying to convince people is at least pro-life.  But the question is, how do you determine which of these candidates is the most pro-life?  Really, about the only thing we use to judge this is voting records and legislation proposed and adopted.  However, there is only one candidate who can do more to prove his pro-life credentials and commitment to life – Dr. Ron Paul.

Before serving in Congress, Ron Paul served his community as an OBGYN and delivered thousands of newborns into the world.  Talk about a commitment to life!  By the way, from the very beginning of his medical practice, Dr. Paul has taken a firm stance against any kind of abortion and has never performed one or allowed one to be performed in his office.

If you are looking for a pro-life candidate, it doesn’t get any better than Dr. Ron Paul.

National Pro Life Day of Silent Solidarity at RCCS

As you may recall from previous posts, the school that I teach at (Rock County Christian School – Beloit, WI) took part in the National Pro Life Day of Silent Solidarity.  You can learn more about it at www.silentday.org.  Bascially, we encouraging students to wear a red armband/wristband (or red duct tape) and specially-made tee-shirts in remembrance of the over 48 million children who have had their voices silenced through surgical abortion.  We had several moments of silence throughout the day, including a time of prayer for public school students who took this stand as well.

Overall I think we had a good day.  Along with the activities above, the high school students also watched the 180 documentary.  This gave students alot to think about and have some good classroom discussion about it.  I was very glad to see many students voluntarily giving up their voice for the entire day.

In chapel that day, Randy Melchert gave students even more to think about by raising some interesting points and answering many of thier questions.  You can watch Randy’s message below:

Press Release: Rock County Christian School Students Speak Out By Not Speaking Up

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Kevin Thompson, RCCS Bible Teacher
                   kthompson@rccs.us, 608-365-7378

Where: Rock County Christian School
                916 Bushnell Street
                Beloit, WI 53511
                www.rccs.us

When: Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Rock County Christian School Students Speak Out By Not Speaking Up

BELOIT – On Tuesday, October 18, sixth through twelfth grade students at Rock County Christian School, along with over 2,600 schools across the nation, will be participating in the Pro Life Day of Silent Solidarity.  We are encouraging students at our Beloit campus to wear a red armband/wristband (or red duct tape) and specially-made tee-shirts in remembrance of the over 48 million children who have had their voices silenced through surgical abortion.  We will also encourage students to participate in several moments of silence throughout the day. 

A special chapel service at 11:09AM will be open to all those who wish to join us. This assembly will feature popular civics speaker Randy Melchert who will be addressing the issue of abortion from a distinctly Christian worldview. Melchert has a background as a political analyst, grassroots coordinator, and new media specialist for conservative organizations. He is often called upon to present complex political issues in an interesting, audience-engaging format.

“Last year this was an important day for our student body,” recalls event organizer Kevin Thompson, “The students were moved with compassion, not only for the unborn, but for the women who find themselves faced with this decision. This is often a time of intense emotional struggle and turmoil. Few women make this decision easily or on a whim. We want them to know of a God who loves and cares for them as well. This is not merely a political issue to argue about but a chance to showcase our Lord’s mercy and grace.”

For more information about Rock County Christian School please log on to http://www.rccs.us/. 

-30-

180 Movie – What Do You Think?

I’m curious as to what you all think of this new documentary.

Should We Still Pay Taxes Knowing it Will Fund Abortion?

R.C. Sproul, Jr.
Highlands Study Center

With health care reform it seems our tax dollars will end up paying for abortions. Should we continue to pay taxes to Washington?

Yes. The recent “passage” of health care reform has rightly raised concerns among Christians. We ought to object to this blatant assault on our liberties. We ought to remonstrate this seizure of so great a swath of the economy. We ought also to protest the use of tax dollars to pay for the greatest evil of our day, the wholesale slaughter of unborn children. All while paying our taxes.

One of the confusing results of the American notion of democracy, the claim of Lincoln that we have a government of the people, by the people, for the people, is that we misunderstand the nature of what is happening when the state taxes us, and when the state spends what it brings in. We tend to see Washington as a mere middle-man, a clearing house, a facilitator that pools my money with my neighbors, and then spends it on what my neighbor and I want it to be spent on. We so identify with the state that we think we are doing what they are doing, that we are guilty of what they are guilty of. No, we are tax-payers. They are tax-spenders.

Jesus faced a situation rather similar to our own. He lived under the reign of a rather rapacious and brutal regime. And there were also, in those days, good and pious people who despised Rome and her evil deeds. They suggested that perhaps godliness in that context meant not paying taxes. Jesus saw things differently, telling them to render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to God the things that are God’s (Matthew 22:21). Our job is to pay our taxes. Failure to do so will bring down God’s wrath on us. The state’s job, according to Romans 13, is to exercise the power of the sword, to punish evildoers. It is not God’s instrument of redistributing wealth, which health care reform does. It is certainly not God’s instrument to punish the unborn, which health care reform does. The failure of the state here will surely bring down God’s judgment upon them. My responsibility for the use of “my” tax money ends when it stops being “mine,” when I send it in to Washington.

Jesus, please remember, was well aware of the evil spending habits of the Roman empire. He knew, in fact, that within a matter of days Roman taxes would be spent to murder the innocent in a most gruesome manner. What those in Jesus’ hearing rendered unto Caesar would be spent to purchase wood, and nails, to pay soldiers who would scourge and mock the Lord of glory. “Pay your taxes” the Lord told them. “Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” If we Christians sincerely hope to change this country, if we truly wish to protect the littlest among us, the solution isn’t to keep more of our federal reserve notes. It is instead to stop rendering unto Caesar the things that bear God’s image- the children. Give Caesar your taxes. Stop giving him your children.

Refuse to be Fooled by Current Debates on Health Care

Washington is all abuzz about the infighting of the Democratic Party.  We have the former DNC chairman, Dr. Howard Dean, opposing the current Democratic establishment.  Add to this, Bernie Sanders refuses to vote for the bill and Joe Lieberman continues to waffle.  This is the last thing the party needs as they try to scrape up every last vote they can get.

I would love to say this is great news, but my “spidey sense” are tingling.  Howard Dead, Bernie Sanders and all others of their ilk are all complaining this bill is not socialistic enough.  The fact that this bill is having trouble has nothing to do with the power of the Republican Party.  This debate is not about a free market system or a socialist system.  This debate now is only about how socialistic of a system will we have when the day is done. 

In fact, I will be so bold to say that the current infighting within the Democratic Party will only serve to help a bill pass.  I would like to suggest that Dr. Dean, Senator Sanders (a outspoken, self-professed socialist) and the rest of the moveon.org gang are banging the drum of the extreme liberal/socialist agenda in order to fool the American people into seeing President Obama and Senate Democrats as moderate trying to pass a compromise health care system that is not as bad as those real liberal folks wanted… 

The bigger problem is, I’m sure many Republicans will buy into this façade.  Politics today is all about the art of compromise.  Within the halls of this Congress, the goal is no longer to produce legislation faithful to the Constitution and helpful to the American people.  Instead, the only goal is to produce something that makes all sides happy and serves to appease all those who demand that something be done about the latest invented crisis. 

As long as a bill doesn’t look as bad as it could have been is all that required to appease some people.  This is why House Democrats allowed the Stupac Amendment to pass.  Far from being a great moral victory for the pro-life movement, this only served to mask a horrible bill that betrays the principles of individual liberty and tramples on the vision of our Founding Fathers.  But, at least no federal money will go to insurance companies that provide for abortion.  You see, it’s not as bad as it could have been…

I for one am tired of supporting legislation that is only not as bad as it could be.  The truth of the matter is that whatever bill is passed will only take away individual liberty and spend money our government does not have on a program for which our Constitution does not allow.  It is time for a principled stand taken by principled people.

The only way we get a truth debate on health care is to change the entire way we do politics altogether.  As long as the current two-party monopoly continues to exist, it will only foster the status quo.  Congress will continue to pump out compromise bills that at best will the lesser of two evils.  To change our government, we must change our vote.  We need new men and women of a new party with new ideas who can breathe fresh air into this dying system gasping for its final breath. 

As we approach another election year, I urge you to look beyond politics as usual.  Do your research and look for candidates who actually support the Constitution, individual freedom and your values.  Don’t be fooled by party affiliations and trite political slogans.  

As a member of the Constitution Party of Wisconsin and former third party candidate for Congress, I have heard all the excuses.  “I would love to vote for someone like you, but you just can’t win…”  These days, I love to tell people about a great candidate for US Senate, Rob Taylor of the CPOW.  Rob is a qualified candidate, a dedicated, down to earth family man, and one who takes a firm stance for Constitutional principle.    Yet, I keep hearing that we have to vote for one of the other major party candidates who only support compromise “not as bad as it could be” bills because they that’s only option we really have.  This is not the case.  You may not support Rob like I do, but the status quo doesn’t have to be the status quo!  We the People have the power to bring about real change!

What should give us encouragement is the rise of the TEA Party movement.  It has been a great honor for me to be able to speak at a few of them thanks to wonderful groups like the Rock River Patriots.  A recent NBC/Wall Street Journal poll shows that the TEA Party movement itself has stronger support than both major political parties.  In other words, the old argument about no being able to gain enough viable support is no longer an excuse.  The truth is, we’ve been here all along. 

NOW is the time to strike.  Many of you came out to the rallies and showed your support for real change.  Now, let us follow through with this at the ballot box in November.  As political candidates start courting our votes, be as bold in confronting them as you were in confronting our Congressmen during their town hall meetings.  Tell them that you will no longer support “not as bad as it could be” legislation.  Demand that they be a visible, vocal, and voting  advocate of your freedom – at any cost.  Nothing less is worthy of your vote.