Welcome. Today we are going to be talking about God, and our nation. We are going to touch on the controversy surrounding the official nation motto of our nation and that of the state of Florida. Why is this such a big deal?

First things first. ‘In God We Trust’ is the official motto of the United States of America. If you don’t like it, tough cookies, file a lawsuit I guess. This was made the official motto in 1956 by Congress. E pluribus unum was approved for use on the Great Seal of the United States in 1782, This was accepted to be the official motto, but no legislation had been passed to declare it officially, so ‘In God We Trust’ was bestowed with that honor.

The point I want to make is this: We are being stripped of our rights as a religious group. Some of you are probably calling foul right now, saying that this world is slanted towards the religious. I dispute this point, and I plan on using this time to prove we are not the favored group.

The one thing everyone should know is this: the squeaky wheel gets the oil. This is a message that atheists know all too well. They use it to their advantage all too often, and with devastating effectiveness. We, and I mean Christians, do not speak out. We keep our silence and fall back when we are challenged.

We’re happy to sometimes rail against the world in our little churches, but not many of them will take it beyond the walls. You don’t see preachers moving into public to spread their message nowhere near as often as we used to, or should.

The building they are preaching in is closed, the message is reaching only the believers. This is a help, don’t get me wrong, but we have to branch out, we have to fight for what we believe in. In God We Trust but we hide away until we’re alone in that room in our churches!?

This is just outrageous! This is unacceptable! Now some of might accuse me of preaching to the choir myself, but let me tell you, millions of people can find this podcast on the internet and listen to it. I also tag some of my episodes with words like conspiracy, sex, atheist and things like that so that someone who is looking for any of those things might stumble across this and listen.

Some of you might say that people looking for the words ‘sex’ and ‘podcast’ wouldn’t even bother on clicking on this podcast. Maybe not, but maybe they will. There are those that listen just because they want to show me how ‘dumb’ faith is. They have failed to convince me so far. But there are those that might be moved, and I pray to God Almighty that He moves hearts to hear His message of salvation no matter what!

Glory and praise be to the Lord! (Joh 15:5)  I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. What is Jesus telling us to do here? We are to bring much fruit! We can do nothing without Him but when He’s with us, we should get to producing some fruit!

But what has happened instead? We have allowed ourselves to fall back in the face of immoral behavior and false teachings. (Psa 94:16)  Who will rise up for me against the evildoers? or who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity? I will, will you? I have something to say to the atheists listening right now and looking for something to rip on. I have one thing to say to you: GOD LOVES YOU.

That’s right. God loves you. You’re looking to tell me I’m a fool, and God loves you. I’m a child of God, I love my Lord. You are turned away from Him right now, and He loves you.

Atheists out there, they get mad when they think they’ve been slighted, and they may just be okay with holding a grudge. But God doesn’t think like that! He’s better than that! (1Th 5:9)  For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,

No! God doesn’t want us to turn our wrath towards anyone, no he wants us to help all come to salvation!

But make no mistake, you can reject God all you want, but we are going to speak out and reject what we think is interfering with our beliefs as well.

I’m tired of America endorsing a religion more and more. There is a faith taking over our land, that faith is atheism. Yes, it is a faith. You believe there is no God. You are as secure in thinking there is no God as I am in thinking there is. That makes your belief just an inverse of mine, so if mine is religious, so is yours.

Just because you don’t hold meetings every week on Sunday does not change anything. And in fact, many atheist organizations do have meetings at various intervals.

I would venture that most atheists are also Darwinists, holding up the torch of evolution as a supposed light to mankind. We are at the top of the food chain, we’re animals, just more evolved than others. This is a belief system since so much of it cannot be proven. If you even consider arguing that, you just go and tell me how it is not just absolutely STUPID to think that rain on a rock made human beings, and that whales and cornstalks are from the same organism. Done shouting at your computer or iPod? This has to be an element of evolution. Inanimate material came to life at some point. Explain how reproduction evolved before the first living organism died?

This isn’t evolution again, as I tend to dwell on. This is about our rights. We have as much rights to our faith as atheists have to theirs. We are getting overran by the non-Christian and non-religious groups.

You may ask, what do I mean? Isn’t the other way around? No it is not. Want an example? Think about that one early presidential debate where they were asked if they didn’t believe, note that word believe, and two of them raised their hands? They were mercilessly made fun of for that and neither is now in the running for the office.

We can see evidence in our court systems when they take out the Ten Commandments from courthouses. Although I will say we are still winning in having some court rulings in some states ending with ‘the court prays’ or a similar phrase.

I’ll of course cop to the ‘so help you God’ in swearing in a witness in court and officials into office. But let’s look at what that means. There are a great deal of people that obviously lie on the stand even after saying those words. And a good deal of officials are not truly living by Christian values. This can be exemplified by all the sex scandals that plague presidents all the way down to local mayors and councilmen and women.

They are betraying the oath they had taken by God to do whatever it is they are doing, whether testifying or being a public servant. This isn’t a promotion of religion at all, in fact it is actually against Christianity’s teachings. (Jas 5:12)  But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation. This is taught by Christ as well in (Mat 5:34-5:37).

So we actually don’t believe in swearing by God, to God, or about God. Besides that, this statement is tradition, but I do not think it is actually legally required. I believe an atheist or anyone of another religion can choose to omit the ‘God’ part or have the supreme deity from their religion substituted.

So that becomes a non-issue if it is voluntary, which I’m fairly sure it is. Let’s talk about the fact that I cannot say anything about God in a school, or even on school grounds. This is NOT a separation of church and state, it is an enforcement of atheism on those that are not atheist.

How do I figure? Well, let’s consider this. I went to school with a Muslim girl. She was allowed to take her prayer rug to school and pray at the appointed time according to her religion. This allowed her to leave class, bow down to the east, and say her prayers, although she was told she had to do it quietly. I’m Christian, I was forbidden from saying any form of any prayer at all while on school property.

This is a sign of the repression that we are allowing to befall us in this world. And this was over 10 years ago! I worked with a woman about 8 years ago that was also Muslim, and there were certain days she had off that they gave her for her religion, there were certain tasks that she did not do because of her faith, and no one dared say a word about it. Now do you think I got every Sunday off? This was a place that runs 24 hours a day and cannot shut down, by the way. Do you think that I got Christmas off when I did not have seniority? Of course I didn’t. My faith did not matter, I was told to work my faith around my job, not my job around my faith.

But another was allowed to her holy days and prayers and such. I think it wasn’t because they were Muslim, I think it was because they were different from everyone else and by denying them their rights it could call negative attention to the school and business.

You’re Christian? Well so are a lot of workers, and they are fine with working on Sunday and working on any holiday, so what makes you more special than them?

Nothing of course, except for I’m calling for our rights while they do not fight the system.

Funny thing is, I’ve had admitted atheists ask for Christmas off and get it while I was made to work. Now I know that I question the holiday, but most Christians accept it, and to think that an atheist got off for it is kind of ironic to me.

Another place we’ve lost our rights is in the media. The FCC has completely melted down and failed. I heard the other day, and I’m sure I did not misunderstand, a person refer to another person in a derogatory manner that used a name for a part of male anatomy! I kid you not!

I’ve only heard it once, and nothing since then, but the FCC should have never let that through. It is bad enough with the cussing on television now. Why isn’t this banned? Why is television allowed to say these things? I don’t want to see or hear that, and I’m the guy with one channel! I’m still getting bombarded by sex and violence. Mainly sex on network TV. That is violating my principles. So what recourse do I have? Not watch at all? Maybe I should do that. Maybe all Christians should turn off their TV’s when they see something offensive and leave them off for a while.

The advertisers will notice through the ratings system and would immediately pull sponsorship in any show that the majority of Americans refused to watch.

I’m hearing it reported that some 70% to as high as 85% of Americans claim to be Christian! Well let’s start showing it! Turn of that TV and do something else, maybe like go read your Bible. Believe me, we have power as a group of consumers, and we should flex our muscles. Boycotts were the rally cry for our parents’ and grandparents’ generation, so let’s follow in their footsteps. Vote not only with your ballot but with your dollar. It can make a difference.

But without us working together, we lose. Our principles are violated and we are (or should be) without television. But what happens? The people do not come together, for fear of what their buddies might think.

No one wants to be named a radical or fundamentalist or anything that would indicate a deep love for the Lord. Heaven’s no! We have a reputation to think of!

Well, the Bible tells us about that too. (Mat 10:33)  But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven. Makes me feel a little better about those of you that think I’m a nutjob. I confess Jesus Christ as the Son of God who died and rose for our sins before every one of you. Don’t want to end up with a big ole ‘rejected!’ stamped on your forehead? Then openly admit you believe in God and that you believe in Jesus and that you are Christian.

So we have so many people that keep quiet and we get the results that we have. Now atheists might scream that television is not a right, and I would of course agree, but it is filled with things against my principles that I want to change. Some might say I’m trying to deny others of more ‘adult appropriate’ entertainment. Let them stick it on HBO or something, I just think there should be a channel besides the cartoon ones that I can watch safely with my kids and not worry about the values that are being imparted.

Even those kiddie channels aren’t safe anymore. I learned today that one of them really popular 13 or 14 year old girls just announced that she was pregnant. She was a clean cut kid too, at least she seemed to give that impression. But looks can be deceiving I guess.

Another problem is that we have a nation full of Christians that think they are because their mother was, like it was similar to their hair color or race, passed down through their DNA or something. There are those too that are Sunday morning Christians, as in that all they do is sit in the pew and daydream about the football game, and are not actual Christians. There are a lot of people that are not truly saved who think they are.

(Mat 7:21)  Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Those that do not do the will of the Father shall not enter into the kingdom of Heaven. Period. How else do we know that a great amount of people aren’t what they say or think they are?

(Mat 7:14)  Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. This means not many, and certainly not the majority. This is why it’s so important to pay attention to the Bible! It will teach you what it takes to be one of the few, the faithful, the redeemed.

These are the people who will claim the values while watching porn and cheating on their spouses. These are the people that say they are the faithful while stealing from their jobs and neglecting their children.

This is why we are losing the battle. This is why the world attacks and we fall back because so many that claim the Son care more about the world and what is thought of them! (1Jn 2:15)  Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

I’m not ranting and raving because I want a world I can love, I’m doing so because I’m an American and my rights, and the rights of others are being trampled! If you are a teacher, you have every right to a prayer. That is your religious freedom. I think you have the right to a symbol of your faith, as long as it is not distracting. A small cross or something should be fine. Especially necklaces and earrings. There are places that ban those from the teachers along with everything else.

If you don’t like the religious imagery, DON’T LOOK AT IT! It is a right to practice religion without messing with others. Now disturbing is not what the ACLU might define it as, disturbing is making another person partake in your religion. So yes, I believe prayers should be silent. And that’s only because everyone has the right to pray to whatever they believe in, or nothing at all. If you have a standardized, daily prayer, that is skirting the line, and I have a Biblical objection as well: (Mat 6:7)  But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.

Praying the same thing every day, as in a standard prayer, is repetition. So I don’t think it should be aloud, but instead a moment of silence, which in of itself is being attacked. Christians can yell at me about the morning prayer, but whatever.

Do I think kids should be allowed open prayer during things like FCA club meetings and events like ‘See you at the pole’? Yes. I think anywhere a student wants to pray is just fine. If a kid wants to stand on the playground with a Bible and lay down a sermon, he should be able to, as long as kids are free to come and go from him. As long as no one is forced to listen to him.

The only exception being of course when it’s disruptive, like in the middle of a lecture or during class or something.

I think that the Christian kid should be allowed to speak if he so desires, and because I’m an American, I believe the Muslim kid should be allowed the same thing, heck even at the same time on a different spot on the playground. Let the Hindus speak too, let the atheist kids talk about secular humanism and their views as well.

This is actual freedom of religion. We are getting ‘freedom of’ mixed up with ‘freedom from’ religion.

You see, you don’t have to look, you don’t have to listen. What you do is you go about your day, and don’t worry about it. I wouldn’t stand there and gawk and scream ‘woe is me!’ when the Muslim girl I knew prayed. That religion is not for me, so I would just go about my merry little way, and let her have her religion just as I have mine.

You non-believers out there have to learn that you don’t have the right to take away what I believe. You have the right to go about your day and not pay attention if you don’t like something. I don’t like what my parents listen on the radio, so if I go with them, I tune it out. I just let it go. It’s no big deal. If you don’t believe in religion, just don’t pay attention. If you don’t believe in ‘50’s rock and roll, just ignore it.

I personally really dislike ‘E pluribus unum’ being on the back of the Great Seal. I don’t like the All-Seeing Eye either. I believe, as is my right, that those things are indicators of a world system that is against my God. Now, how many non-believers thought, or would think, that’s just stupid and there’s no reason to remove it? That’s my point as well.

Since that is our national motto it has every reason to be on our money. Keep suing if you want, but I imagine it’ll do you about as much good as me suing to have Creationism in a public school.

Christians: Keep speaking out. Speak with your voice, speak with your wallet, speak with anything you can. Do not be ashamed of the Lord, as He is not ashamed of you. Proclaim Him and He will proclaim you to the Father. We can make a difference. We must not roll over. Do not assume that we just are living in the End Times and there’s nothing we can do. What happens if we’re wrong and the Second Coming is 200 years away? Or longer?

We will let ourselves and our children down. (Rev 16:15)  Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.

Keeping watch is not rolling over to the world my friends. Until next time, God bless.

This entry was posted on Saturday, October 4th, 2008 at 12:53 am and is filed under Uncategorized | . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.