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John MacArthur and other California Pastors have been threatened with a $1,000 fine or jail sentence because they have refused to submit to the Governor’s edict demanding churches not meet, citing the increase in China Virus cases in the state this summer.  This may be the most confrontational case with religious liberty yet, considering how well known are MacArthur’s teachings.  Those who believe this physical life is most important will stand with the California state government, which says this threatens physical health, therefore it is more important than the right to proclaim the Gospel of Christ in public.  Those who believe man is a three part being, spirit, soul, and body, must ultimately come down on the side of MacArthur and the other threatened Pastors.  It is a war “in the heavenlies” now come out openly on the earth.  It’s nothing new.  It is only new to America:  Since our Founders understood the importance of always coming down on God’s side with civil law, they secured with civil law the right of the church to carry out its mission of teaching the Gospel of Christ in public.

At its root it is the age-old battle of whether or not the Bible is absolute truth.  If it is, its authority is higher than man’s laws.  If it’s not, then the worship of government—or statism—is a valid concept.  Jesus made it plain for us.  While praying to the Father, He stated concerning the Bible:

“Thy Word is Truth.” (John 17:17)

Jesus also said, “…the Scripture cannot be broken…” (John 10:35)

Throughout history, those who have agreed with Jesus accept that the Scripture is absolute truth.  Robert E. Lee summed it up for many of us when he stated:

“There are things in the old Book which I may not be able to explain, but I fully accept it as the infallible Word of God, and receive its teachings as inspired by the Holy Spirit.”

(Lee, Robert Edward. Marse Robert, Young, p. 344.)

The first official act of the Continental Congress, after the Declaration of Independence was signed, was to authorize the printing of 20,000 Bibles.  The Founders believed that “separation of church and state” meant that the government was to stay out of the church’s mission to get the Gospel to every person.  They would have never been for a government telling the church whether it could meet or not.  They would have viewed that as the gravest abuse of government authority.

So how do we fix this mess in America so as to restore liberty to our nation?  Simply put:  It must begin with us as individuals.  The Bible teaches,

“…where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.” (2nd Corinthians 3:17)

We must begin to meet with God daily in His Word for the purpose of allowing Him to change us into His image, as 2nd Corinthians 3:18 teaches.  The cleansing from the idols of vain things that will result will raise the church to a position of power and purposefulness.  This will get the attention of those searching for God; as well as the respect of those who are against God.  We then teach our children and others the simple principles of living a cleansed life in Christ.  And STAND UP for religious liberty; meaning the right to teach the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the public arena!  And do it NOW!!  Start this turning that we need in YOUR CORNER of the nation!

Only as we return to living Biblical principles in our personal lives, our families, and the other institutions of the culture, will we turn back to the closet this growing religious oppression in this nation!

Think about it; because if you don’t, someone else will do your thinking for you—and for your children!  And you won’t like what that brings to you.  I’m Don Pinson; this has been Think About It.