9-1-1—or—Where Was God? 2011

Hello 92251 List Members & Blog Readers,

This is my annual 9/11 post, which is called a 9-1-1 post for the clear reasons stated below.  This is the ten year anniversary of the day ISLAMIC TERRORISTS attacked America. 

I certainly hope that awful day was a wake up call for you as it was for me.  I became more aware and alert on several fronts.  I spoke out more.  I can recall so much of the day in detail, both what I saw on TV and how I interacted with people at work.  It was a very personal attack, and it still is.  I am no longer an active duty “First Responder,” but much of what I saw and learned is still with me because of my chosen profession, and it will not go away.  It is still something I hold dear in my heart. 

I saw that second plane hit on live TV.  Even though I was not in New York City, I felt it deep inside.  That took me back to the actual deadly plane crash I assisted with in San Diego.  Unlike San Diego, I could not respond to New York or DC, and in part, that very much irritated me.  It is what responders do.  When everyone else is leaving, we go in. 

It irritates me now to see the idiots in charge that now restrict the First Responders and the Christian and Jewish chaplains from praying at the event.  I am irritated that the clowns in charge think more of an “Islamic Center” than our fallen and the rest whom it cost so dearly.  It is irritating that we are being told not to speak of Al Qaeda.  Politicians are back to forgetting the ONE GOD that so blessed this nation.  They barely recall the nation God once blessed.  I will bet none of them will call this Patriot Day. 

Some of the contents of the post have changed, but not so much.  The contents of list changed too after that day, particularly with some of the things I now write or comment on.  I have no issue about saying ISLAMIC TERRORISTS – it is what they were and still are. 

My wife and I have jackets that we wear each winter with portions of this post written on it.  It is very special to me. 

This was one of the posts I got to put up on a then recognized notable blog.  If you click the link you won’t find it any longer.  TownHall bought out The Conservative Voice, and took down the stuff us lesser known writers used to post. 

Today – I am New York.  Today – I am the District of Columbia.  Today – I am Shanksville, Pennsylvania.  Today – I am America.  And it all brings a tear to my eyes.  Can we not also yet be One Nation Under God? 

When all others may falter, you remember!  This is to the many fallen, that we can not ever bring back.  Remember!  לזכור

Godspeed,

Gill Rapoza

Veritas Vos Liberabit 

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9-1-1—or—Where Was God?

By Gill Rapoza

Original post was in 2001

Minor updates in this edition (and the original link no longer works)

http://www.theconservativevoice.com/article/18118.html

http://grapoza.blogspot.com/ 

In every person’s life we will always remember certain days and events.

In the late fall of 1963, as I sat in the 4^th grade classroom of Saint Louis School, our principle, Sister Mary Nathan, came into our class to talk with us.  She said President Kennedy was just shot, and was dying, and we must go to pray for him and our country.  I will never forget that day.  I know where I was that day.  I was part of a group of young students that prayed and remembered God.  Others did the same, but many still questioned God.

In the fall of 1978, I was home one morning, at about 9:00, when the television broke the news; “An airline has crashed in the North Park area of the city, killing everyone onboard, plus others on the ground.”  As a member of the San Diego Police Department, I knew what my job was.  I went to the crash site to help.  It was hot and miserable.  The area stunk of jet fuel and burning buildings.  The place was a horror, like nothing I had personally seen before or after.  Pacific Southwest Airlines Flight 182 went down killing 156 people.  I saw pieces of bodies everywhere.  It was hard to cope.

I knew where I was that day.  I was not so sure where God was that day.  I was one of those that sat and wondered.  I did not know why He was not there to help.  My relationship to God was not all that it should have been.  I, as others, questioned God.

This September 11^th marks the ten-year anniversary since the infamous events of September 11^th, 2001.  The same day can rightly be called 9-1-1, the day we called for help as a nation.  Millions of Americans once again have their thoughts drawn to the horrors and heroism of that day and the ensuing aftermath.  For many, the images are as graphic and painful today as they were on that day of the cowardly attacks.

For thousands of Americans who lost family and friends that day, this first anniversary will remind them of the grief over the senseless death of loved ones.  Most all of us will too have grieved today over such a tragic loss.

For many of us, this day is a day of pain and wonder.  This is a day we cannot forget.  We must not forget.

In such a time of grief and struggle, it is most important that we turn to God ... and each other ... for comfort, support and encouragement.  I ask that we would all pray for those who are still grieving and reliving the suffering they experienced 9-1-1.

I was never at ground zero, but I can appreciate what the people saw and thought.  My experience at PSA Flight 182 had taught me much.  My relationship to God has much improved since 1978.

“Where was God that day?” many have asked.  Others asked, “Why did He not do something?”  Many sat and wondered as I once would, “Where was God?”

Job 38 gives us an answer when we think we should question God:

1 Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,

2 Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?

3 Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me.

4 Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? Declare, if thou hast understanding.

5 Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? Or who hath stretched the line upon it?

6 Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? Or who laid the corner stone thereof;

7 When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

8 Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it brake forth, as if it had issued out of the womb?

9 When I made the cloud the garment thereof, and thick darkness a swaddlingband for it,

10 And brake up for it my decreed place, and set bars and doors,

11 And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and here shall thy proud waves be stayed?

12 Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days; and caused the dayspring to know his place;

13 That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, that the wicked might be shaken out of it?

14 It is turned as clay to the seal; and they stand as a garment.

15 And from the wicked their light is withholden, and the high arm shall be broken.

16 Hast thou entered into the springs of the sea? Or hast thou walked in the search of the depth?

17 Have the gates of death been opened unto thee? Or hast thou seen the doors of the shadow of death?

18 Hast thou perceived the breadth of the earth? Declare if thou knowest it all.

A deeper intensity of purpose to proclaim the saving grace of Jesus for the forgiveness of sin and the renewing of the heart, mind and spirit prevails.  The need for the Gospel has never been more pronounced and more urgent.  Speaking to people about the hope of Jesus is the single most important thing I can do.  Events like 9-1-1 remind me of how helpless we are apart from God.

So, Where Was God on 9-1-1?

The above reading of Job will not satisfy everyone, so I will tell you where else was God on that fateful day.

God was with the rescue workers who ran into the burning buildings as most people were running out.  (1)

God was with the flight attendant who called her husband as her plane was being hijacked to tell him that she loved him. (2)

God was with the hundreds of rescue workers, cops, fire, and medical people, who died trying to save others. (3)

God was with the two men who carried a wheelchair-bound woman down 70 flights of stairs to safety. (4)

God was with the strangers in cars, picking up those they did not know, stranded in the city and taking them home to their families. (5)

God was with the people who were begging to volunteer, to do anything to help. (6)

God was with those who perished ... those who cried out to Him in their moment of deep despair and anguish. (7)

God was with the hundreds of thousands of people, sending money, donating blood, saying prayers, from thousands of miles away, for people in New York and Washington D.C., to help people they have never met, living in cities they have never been to. (8)

God is with the people who are comforting someone ... even when they don’t know what to say. (9)

God is with the people who watched and cried for the suffering.  Though they may remain anonymous in name, they will never be in their sacrifice.  God knows them by name! (10)

God is in the neighborhoods where flags wave not just for patriots, but to remember those who are gone. (11)

God was with the rescue workers who looked at 100 million tons of rubble, yet saw hope in finding survivors. (12)

God was with ALL the heroes, most of whom will never be interviewed, never make the news ... whose stories might only be told to their closest friends and family ..., some who died without anyone but God knowing of their braveness and heroism. (13)

God was NOT with the ungodly terrorists that caused these inhumane events. (14)

However, God was indeed there, when and where He was needed most. (15)

If we as a nation would continue to love God and obey His commands as revealed through His Son Jesus, this nation would once again be blessed. (16)

Those who were on my email list in 2002 got the story of Todd Beamer, but for those who did not, this is how God was with him on that terrible day.

The Faith of Todd Beamer – Let’s Roll

“I don’t think we’re going to get out of this thing.  I’m going to have to go out on faith.”

It was the voice of Todd Beamer, the passenger ... and Wheaton College graduate ... who said, “Let’s roll” as he led the charge against the terrorists who had hijacked United Flight 93, the one, you will remember, that crashed in the Pennsylvania countryside.

The whole world knows how brave Beamer and his fellow passengers were on September 11th.  But this week we learned more fully what buttressed that bravery: Faith in Jesus Christ.  Todd died as he lived, a faithful evangelical believer.

In an article titled “The Real Story of Flight 93,” Newsweek reveals gripping new details from the actual transcripts of the now-recovered cockpit voice recorder.  “Todd had been afraid,” Newsweek relates.  “More than once, he cried out for his Savior.”

After passengers were herded to the back of the jet, Beamer called the GTE Customer Center in Oakbrook, Illinois.  He told supervisor Lisa Jefferson about the hijacking.  The passengers were planning to jump the terrorists, he said.  And then he asked her to pray with him.

As Newsweek relates …Beamer kept a Lord’s Prayer bookmark in his Tom Clancy novel, but he didn’t need any prompting.  He began to recite the ancient litany, and Jefferson joined him: “Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name.”

As they finished, Beamer added, “Jesus, help me.”

And then, Beamer and his fellow passengers prayed a prayer that has comforted millions down through the centuries ... the prayer that David wrote in a time of great anguish:

“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want ... Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil.”

And then the famous last words:

“Are you guys ready?  Let’s roll.”

We now know from the cockpit voice recorder that Beamer and other passengers wrestled with the hijackers and forced the plane to crash into the ground, killing themselves but foiling what was believed to have been the hijackers’ plan to fly Flight 93 into the Capitol or the White House.

As Christians, we know that God can bring good out of evil.  In Todd Beamer, the world witnesses a faith that held up in the extremity of fear.  A faith that is even now comforting his widow and two young sons.

Lisa Beamer told NBC’s Dateline, “You know, in the Lord’s Prayer, it asks us to forgive our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.”  “As Todd prayed this prayer in the last moments of his life, in a way,”  Lisa said, “He was forgiving those people for what they were doing, the most horrible thing you could ever do to someone.”

It wasn’t Todd Beamer’s job to fight terrorists.  He was just a passenger, who along with several others, did what he didn’t have to do but foiled a terrible evil that might have been done to his country.

As Flight 93 hurtled towards destruction, Todd Beamer could not have known that his quiet prayers would ultimately be heard by millions … that the story of his last acts on earth would be a witness to the Lord he loved and served and a lasting example of true heroism.

I’d like to recall the last portion of the speech given by President George W Bush at the National Cathedral on September 14, 2001.

“On this national day of prayer and remembrance, we ask almighty God to watch over our nation, and grant us patience and resolve in all that is to come.  We pray that He will comfort and console those who now walk in sorrow.  We thank Him for each life we now must mourn, and the promise of a life to come.

“As we have been assured, neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, can separate us from God’s love.  May He bless the souls of the departed. May He comfort our own.  And may He always guide our country.

“God bless America.”

Even more so, may we, and America bless God by turning to Him, and doing what is right.

So now, is the time to answer a question with a question.  The next time you are asked, “Where was God.” you will be able to ask a question back.  “Where were you?”  God was there all along, waiting for you to seek Him.

You will also be able to have confidence in the one true God, by your trust in Him.

Psalm 9:10  “And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.”

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Notes:

1.      Psalms 18:29  “For by You I can run upon a troop; And by my God I can leap over a wall.”

2.      Proverbs 31:10  “An excellent wife, who can find? For her worth is far above jewels.” 

3.      John 15:13 “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.”

4.      Isaiah 40:31 “Yet those who wait for the LORD Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary.”  

5.      3 John 1:5 “Beloved, you are acting faithfully in whatever you accomplish for the brethren, and especially for strangers;” 

6.      Isaiah 1:17  “Learn to do good; Seek justice, Reprove the ruthless, Defend the orphan, Plead for the widow.”

7.      2 Chronicles 20:9  “Should evil come upon us, the sword, or judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we will stand before this house and before You (for Your name is in this house) and cry to You in our distress, and You will hear and deliver us.”

8.      2 Samuel 10:12  “Be strong, and let us show ourselves courageous for the sake of our people and for the cities of our God; and may the LORD do what is good in His sight.”

9.      Isaiah 57:18 “I have seen his ways, but I will heal him; I will lead him and restore comfort to him and to his mourners,”

10.  Lamentations 3:48  “My eyes run down with streams of water Because of the destruction of the daughter of my people.”

11.  Romans 13:7  “Render to all what is due them: tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.”

12.  Psalms 9:18  “For the needy will not always be forgotten, Nor the hope of the afflicted perish forever”. 

13.  Hebrews 12:1  “Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,”

14.  Proverbs 6:16-18  “There are six things which the LORD hates, Yes, seven which are an abomination to Him: Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, And hands that shed innocent blood, A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that run rapidly to evil,”

15.  Deuteronomy 31:6  “Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the LORD your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you.”

16.  2 Chronicles 7:14  “If My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

Some of the quotes of Todd Beamer have come from varied sources and were not mine. 

All of the Bible quotes were from the King James Version

As always, if you have comments, questions, and even complaints, send them my way.  I will answer what I can when I can.

The usual Copyright © rules apply with the exception that this writing may be republished, reposted, or emailed providing the person or organization doing so does not charge for subscriptions or advertising and that the column is copied intact and that full credit is given to the writer.  And please let me know if you want to post this someplace. 

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Where Are We Going As A Nation?

Where Are We Going As A Nation? 

By Gill Rapoza

October 12, 2010

I read a lot of material on a daily basis.  I buy good books when I can, as well as read the stuff I see on the net.  I do take a lot of things on the web with a grain of salt.  Several of you on this list send me interesting material sometimes too.  I enjoy reading what I see in Scripture.  Seems I learn things all the time.  A lot of it is a warning, and certainly not that silly “happy all the time talk” some preachers on TV put out.  God tends to give warnings, particularly when things are not right.  He lets thing happen He would not otherwise.  Even Israel, His witness, got warned and knocked about from time to time when they were not paying attention to doing right. 

All of this led me to wonder; where are we going as a nation?  That was not a rhetorical question, I wonder.  We have willingly as a nation, and as many individuals, gone so far down this road away from what is right, that I think maybe God might let just continue on.  It could be to our own national demise if we don’t turn around. 

As nations go, we are still largely free.  But that freedom is slowly eroding.  We let it go, so we should not complain when it is gone.  Who would have ever thought this country would hire a Socialist nut job, who does not like Christianity or Capitalism, who openly bows to the Muslim leader of a country whose citizens caused the greatest single destructive hit on US soil, who has no real experience other than a community agitator, whose only true love seems to be himself, to be president?  Just in case anyone was wondering, we did it ourselves as a nation.  This article is not about Barry, it is about us messing up. 

I don’t think we are done as a nation just yet, but it is not for a lack of effort.  “I want, we want, government give me… gimme, gimme, gimme …”  Those that think that way are praying to the wrong god!  That would be government with a little “g” or goods, with another little “g”.  On this road we travel we will soon enough see most all our freedoms go away.  You will have a right to do what the little g says you can have, and it may change overnight if we get that far. 

What have we lost?  It is forbidden in places if you openly speak out against Muslim terrorist activity on our soil (mosque next to twin towers), gay marriage (no such thing), or abortions (50 million plus killed).  If you peacefully protest against government wrongs, government officials (hello Nancy) will accuse you of being non-tolerant (I hate that word), bigoted, and get this, a “terrorist.”  If you dare say the man living at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue is the wrong fellow for the job, you must be hateful, racist, or both according to not only those in high politics, but the shills in the media cheering them on.  The new national health care (phooey on us) will REQUIRE you belong to the government system, as in health insurance, no matter if you want it or not.  That is not freedom!  If you happen to belong to the NRA, are a returning member of the military, say the two party system is corrupt, and/or want to openly preach Jesus Christ as the only way (my personal favorite), then you too will be labeled with the bad guys.  Who would have thought?  That is right here in America! 

People are sort of waking up; but I return to the question of where will we go as a nation?  Perhaps I should also ask; what will the citizens of this sometimes great nation do?

Complete government control over anything is a very bad idea, and people are wondering about what comes next.  I am only speculating as to what others may be thinking.  I sometime think of the one famous line in the movie Network, where one of the main characters tells people to yell out their windows, “I’m as mad as Hell and I’m not going to take this any more.”  <www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMz_RQuTBlI&NR=1>  Some are that mad perhaps, but who will do what?  Where are we going?  Do we have the will to do better? 

There are the Tea Party folks, which I like even though I only went to one event ever.  If they would continue to do what is right while getting bigger, and not go way off track as the big parties have, it would be a great improvement.  But will it be enough?  Is the One God in Scripture included in their overall picture?  Perhaps with some of them.  We may see in time if they can overcome things through the ballot box. 

There might be some open armed rebellion if many are that angry and think they are backed into a corner.  That sort of reaction would certainly mean people get killed.  Not one of the better options.  I have no problem taking up arms, but it would be for the defense of my family or self, and others in some cases.  But I am not looking for a battle.  Open rebellion worked during the American Revolution, with the Colonists against the Brits.  I don’t know if it would work the same now.  Those people on the other end of the anger at are not the Brits from far away, but our own right here.  And it would not be like the Civil War either, with North and South.  The territories and boundaries would not be nearly so clear. 

We could possibly see a break-up of the country into several smaller nation states, and that is not something pleasing to me either.  It could happen by peaceful means or violent means.  I don’t think it would go down too peaceful.  I keep in mind the unpleasant thought that America is not listed in Scripture, and that makes me think she will not be much of a power in the end.  If it happens, it would only be because we rejected God first.  And then He let us go our own way. 

Perhaps some would hold up someplace and see if and when it will all be over.  The survivalist mentality is very alive and well in parts of the nation.  Many of these just want to protect their families and stay away from it all.  To go “off the grid” can be very appealing.  Lots of work would be involved.  Raising your own food and providing for other needs is not all that easy, but it certainly can be done here in America, or even what she may become. 

Some think there will be an over run attempt by other nations, or even parties in agreement with the United Nations.  There are many scenarios involved in this one.  Some peaceful and some not.  The sad part is that we have idiots and traitors in our own ranks that will go along with this one world happy crap.  It will not be happy.  The idiots and traitors would come from both the government and some churches.  Dead Michael Jackson may have gotten a bunch of people to sing with him that they were the world, but not me, not for Christians who are supposed to be in the world but not of it, and not for real American Patriots. 

We as Americans have never seen the likes of what is going on now.  I learned from reading some good articles and books that in Russia, when it was the Soviet Union, the people did a lot of things in an underground economy.  China has an underground economy in their Communist system now.  The people are not free really.  You can not worship freely there.  They have the government approved churches, just as the Russians did, but those were the only ones where the Gospel was preached.  The government approved churches had the social gospel only. 

You may notice that I did not offer a lot of answers just yet.  It is coming.  I am curious as to where you want to go, and what you want to do. 

My plan is simple.  And this is mostly because I think any combination of the above can happen to us as a nation.  I plan to be ready for near anything that comes my way.  I pray regularly for our nation, that our leaders will wake up, do right, or be replaced with ones that will.  I ask that I and others will be ready, awake for what shows up on the horizon.  Most of you know me well enough by now that I am not so good at following instructions when they are wrong.  I don’t believe any of us were called to do that.  Will I, and we, have hard times yet to come?  Probably.  I strongly recommend that you too pray for our nation, or if God has tolerated us long enough, for those who will still be here.  You have got to be right with God first before you can expect any of this to happen. 

So, where are we going as a nation?  What will you do?  Looks like something is coming our way.  I’d love to hear from you on this. 

Godspeed,

Gill Rapoza

Veritas Vos Liberabit

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The Universalism Rally – A Spiritual Issue For Christians

The Universalism Rally – A Spiritual Issue For Christians

By Gill Rapoza

September 5th, 2010

I have gotten several links or articles from members of this list and from other folks on the Glenn Beck rally of 08/28/10. With the exception of one article in the generally conservative venues I reviewed of what was sent me, they were all positive as to what Beck and company accomplished. However, I am not going to write a glowing report. Beck was wrong on August 28, and the rally had other serious spiritual issues.

First of all I will tell you that for the most part I like Beck for his political views, at least the ones he talks about regularly. I like his offbeat sense of humor. I like the idea that he is smart enough to hire and employ a very good research team. I have a couple of his books. His premise and delivery of the big “Restoring Honor” rally of August 28, I do not applaud at all! It was wrong.

It was quite an accomplishment to gather the huge crowd that Beck got, probably numbering in the several hundred thousands. It was wonderful to see the ability of a tremendously large group like that to peaceably assemble. The constitution speaks well of this. The patriotic flags and the pro American stance taken was great! But what was the rally about?

Beck had on stage with him some 240 religious leaders, said he, and even if that number was off, I still saw a bunch of them. Beck said we must all honor and turn back to God. I like that idea, but what or who does Beck and all those other leaders pray to and honor. While there is but one true God, it is not the same for each of them of those on stage with Beck, and Beck’s god, along with at least a few others’ god is not my God. The Mormon god has no place in prayer or otherwise with the One God.

Beck honors the god of Latter Day Saints (LDS), Mormonism. The Mormon god was the one that has physical sex with Mary the mother of Jesus Christ <www.exmormon.org/mormon/mormon385.htm>. That is not my God. The “Jesus” of the Mormon faith was/is a brother of Lucifer the Devil, but their “Jesus” had a better plan for salvation so some council or other said to go with the Mormon “Jesus” plan. In the LDS records their founder Joseph Smith claimed to do what our Jesus could not do, hold a church together <http://carm.org/joseph-smith-boasted>. The present LDS teaching is that the Bible may be a holy book, but not as perfect as the Book of Mormon (LDS – History of the Church, November 28, 1841, Vol. 4, p. 461), what they call “another testament of Jesus Christ.” I have a problem with all this.

But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed.

Galatians 1:8

If there was nothing else to go on but LDS’ Beck leading other religious leaders that would be enough for me to say “run don’t walk to the nearest exit” if I can toss my best Walter Martin imitation in there. If you get God wrong, Jesus wrong, the virgin birth wrong, Lucifer wrong, multiple gods (a wrong Mormon teaching), LDS founder Joe Smith wrong for thinking he can do better than Jesus, the Bible wrong, “another gospel” wrong, I don’t have to give Beck or anyone else that follows the LDS a whole lot of more chances at being right. This was a “we are all of the same god” Mormon like rally made to look like it was acceptable to and in line with Christianity, the faith most involved in America’s founding.

On the stage with Beck were, if I understood him correctly, among the 240 religious leaders, there were Muslim Imams, Roman Catholic priests, Evangelical Christians, Jewish Rabbis, and just about every other type represented. I tried to find a list of who was actually there in that group, but have so far only identified a few by name. I looked at the pictures Beck published of those with him <www.glennbeck.com/content/articles/article/198/44930/> and some were Native American leaders. There is one picture in the group that looked like the Native American leaders were in a collective opening prayer with some type of minister that I did not identify.

The Salt Lake Tribune had a lot to say of the recognized leaders that showed up:

Southern Baptist (SBC) executive Richard Land was pleased at how religious Glenn Beck’s “Restoring Honor” rally turned out to be.

Bishop Harry Jackson, a black evangelical leader, was pleasantly surprised that the Fox News talk show host and Mormon convert said things “some of my close friends could have written.”

And Liberty University President Jerry Falwell Jr. was among the faith leaders to enlist in Beck’s new “Black Robe Regiment.”

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/faith/50196925-142/beck-evangelicals-mormon-evangelical.html.csp

I suspect the Mormons had a field day with this and it will be used as propaganda. The SBC used to think of Mormons as a cult, but now in the age of “we are the world,” basic doctrines do not matter any longer for some.

As to the “Black Robe Regiment” that it says that Jerry Falwell Jr. was joining (above). I have big problems with that. Falwell, an evangelical leader, son of the preacher most associated with the term “Religious Right,” will lead by example that it is OK to be under the spiritual authority of someone who believes wrongly. And if you look up history you will see the members of the Black (Robe) Regiment were the Christian preachers of the American Revolution! And that makes it a claimed spiritual endeavor, one that long predated the Joseph Smith-LDS system. The second issue I take with it is that Chuck Baldwin already began this in a Christian (not Universal) fashion, as in “No King but Jesus,” three years earlier, www.chuckbaldwinlive.com/c2007/cbarchive_20070724.html. I posted this way back then!

Here is something some who are supposed to be Christian leaders who praised the Beck rally forgot:

15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. 17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. 18 Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour. 19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us. 20 But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things. 21 I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and that no lie is of the truth. 22 Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son. 23 Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father either; he who acknowledges the Son has the Father also.

I John 2:15-23

Some of these Christian on stage, with Beck leading them in prayer, forgot that Beck’s god is not their God, and that Beck’s group does not know Jesus as the Christ. By now you will have figured my biggest problem was not that others wish to practice a different religion than I, but those that claim they practice the same faith as I are willing to be led in prayer, Christian (religious) singing, and otherwise imitation Christianity (religion) by a non-Christian. Yeah, I have a problem with it. I will be, and have for a long time been very respectful to others doing any religious service different to mine. I am not good at the same when a non-Christian leads any Christian thing for me.

I saw people singing “Amazing Grace” (my favorite) <http://www.upi.com/News_Photos/Features/Glenn-Becks-Restoring-Honor-rally-in-DC/3759/8/> with people that do not believe in grace but works, and other things. And the LDS still need Joseph Smith to give them permission to be with God in Heaven <http://www.utlm.org/onlineresources/sermons_talks_interviews/jofdvol7p282_291smithholdskeystoheaven.htm>. If we need all that, it is not grace, something which God gives freely, then works will not suffice, and neither would making Joe Smith happy.

And here is a little more evidence that our own “good” is not enough, and Smith (who may be elsewhere) has nothing to do with it.

14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come. 15 But the free gift is not like the offense. For if by the one man’s offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many. 16 And the gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned. For the judgment which came from one offense resulted in condemnation, but the free gift which came from many offenses resulted in justification. 17 For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.) 18 Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life.

Romans 5:14-18

6 But we are all like an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; We all fade as a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, Have taken us away. 7 And there is no one who calls on Your name, Who stirs himself up to take hold of You; For You have hidden Your face from us, And have consumed us because of our iniquities.

Isaiah 64:6-7

Here is a Southern Baptist that said things very right,

“A Mormon television star stands in front of the Lincoln Memorial and calls American Christians to revival. He assembles some evangelical celebrities to give testimonies, and then preaches a God and country revivalism that leaves the evangelicals cheering that they’ve heard the gospel, right there in the nation’s capital.”

“The news media pronounces him the new leader of America’s Christian conservative movement, and a flock of America’s Christian conservatives have no problem with that.”

“It’s taken us a long time to get here, in this plummet from Francis Schaeffer to Glenn Beck. In order to be this gullible, American Christians have had to endure years of vacuous talk about undefined “revival” and “turning America back to God” that was less about anything uniquely Christian than about, at best, a generically theistic civil religion and, at worst, some partisan political movement.”

“Too often, and for too long, American “Christianity” has been a political agenda in search of a gospel useful enough to accommodate it. There is a liberation theology of the Left, and there is also a liberation theology of the Right, and both are at heart mammon worship. The liberation theology of the Left often wants a Barabbas, to fight off the oppressors as though our ultimate problem were the reign of Rome and not the reign of death. The liberation theology of the Right wants a golden calf, to represent religion and to remind us of all the economic security we had in Egypt. Both want a Caesar or a Pharaoh, not a Messiah.”

Russell D. Moore – Moore to the Point – Sunday, August 29th, 2010

http://www.russellmoore.com/2010/08/29/god-the-gospel-and-glenn-beck/

Read the whole article; it was great!

And if that was not enough, read the following from that same Salt Lake Tribune article,

“But, as his religious rhetoric attests, Beck has gone fishing for a new audience recently. Weeks before the rally, he gathered about 20 prominent religious leaders for a dinner at which, according to Land (Richard Land of the SBC), he said God was leading him to talk about revival in America.”

The night before the rally, he held a “Divine Destiny” event that promised to leave participants with a “strong belief that faith can play an essential role in reuniting the country.”

Now if you are a Christian leader, and you are at a dinner with a well-known Mormon personality, and he says he has got a message from God for America and you, what do you do?

1. Ask for the check and leave

2. Wait for desert and hear the plan out

You would need to choose option number one and also not promise support and attendance at the rally. And you best not bring your membership with you if you have your thinking hat on right! Remember, it was Joseph Smith that started off just like that, a “message” from God. Problem was he did not have any such thing, but was rather a charlatan looking to get rich and take other men’s wives in the process. Even the Blues Bothers said they were on a “mission from God,” and that was just a movie! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-xtJYIwfYo

Back in the early 1980’s, when I was driving a bus for a living, I drove a charted bus to the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. The Mormon group rented the whole place for a couple of days at least. The event culminated with this tremendous full stadium of cheering, shouting, flag waving, singing “Godly” and patriotic songs. Man, it was a sight to see and hear. But it was a Mormon rally that sounded something like what a big Christian or patriotic rally might sound like. I would be the first to admit that it was exciting and fun, but even by then I understood enough of what they really taught to not be fooled by a great event. When I saw the clips of the Beck rally, I saw it as the same kind of staged event that I saw in the Rose Bowl.

It is important to know that getting people feeling good about the LDS religion is what they do. And they know how to do it well. The LDS teach that there would be a “burning of the bosom” also called “bosom burning” (LDS – Doctrines and Covenants 9:8) where they test the “Spirit” and see if it feels right. When I was at that Rose Bowl rally I felt pretty good about the patriotic music and such, as it was very well done, but I still did not change my mind and join up. I saw all those very happy looking people at Beck’s rally and wondered how many at that point thought that it was all the same.

23 “Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There!’ do not believe it. 24 For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 25 See, I have told you beforehand.”

Matthew 24:23-25

I will venture that many of those people at the rally, including those of the different faiths and creeds may have thought, hey we are all the same really. Nothing could be further from the truth. Some were Christians, some Jews, some Mormons, some Muslims, some pagans, and just about anyone else in a group that big. If we say we are all the same, then we deny our individual and very conflicting beliefs. Something has to give.

“Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?”

Amos 3:3

The way people try to fix it is that they drop a little of this and a little of that, so all are the same. In the end there is one big universal religion where the only ones that are wrong are those that disagree with the big group.

When a Christian lets down his guard and says everyone is going to the same place no matter what, they deny what Jesus Christ said.

1 “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. 4 And where I go you know, and the way you know.” 5 Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

John 14:1-6

Jesus also had something to say about the rest and what choice they needed to make.

13 “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.

Matthew 7:13-14

In the end there will be this great One World Religion, led by the Anti-Christ and the Beast. They are not going to come on the scene like mean old dogs, but nice and friendly, pleasant to the touch, and easy to hear. These two bad guys and their many deceived followers are going to be sweet, at first. They’d be your best friend if you’ll let them. But the end result will be very bad.

13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.

2 Corinthians 11:13-15

15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them.

Matthew 7:15-20

So what do you in all this? You pray for wisdom, and not good feelings. You pray for guidance that God will show you what to do or say. You first make sure you know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and it was not just a feel good exercise.

Then you continue to study, pray, and fellowship with like-minded folks. You certainly will not go wrong by praying for your nation and your leaders. But if they refuse to listen, you pray for their replacement. Failing that you pray for the protection of yourself and those around you, because you will need it about then. It will get very bad at some point. You pray for your enemies while you pray for your friends. You pray that none around you will be confused and go wrong. You pray for your own continued mercy and grace from God. And let God do the work and get the praise in anything you do or say.

As to Beck himself, I don’t know what his full intents are, other than promote a message he was taught was good, as are Mormons taught in general. Beck just might be one of the many deceived followers, one who is a very popular radio and television personality. In any case, what he preaches is still wrong, and anyone who is a Christian leader of any kind is wrong for following along. Pray for him as well. But singing happy religious songs with anyone of a wrong belief system is very detrimental to one’s Christian walk, including all those at the big rally. It would not be a good Christian testimony.

Godspeed,

Gill Rapoza

Veritas Vos Liberabit

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All of the Bible quotes were from the New King James Version
Scripture taken from the New King James Version. – Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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