Solidarity Made Easy: Standing With Pastors and For Freedom

If you haven't heard yet, 5 Houston pastors were subpoenaed for their sermons and other correspondence sent to their church members in an effort to find language against, in part, the Mayor herself and homosexuality.  

The infringement on the First Amendment is unprecedented.  But it very well could set a precedent for future action.

That's where you and I come in. 

Houston Mayor Annise Parker, and the City Council, and the judge who ordered a subpoena need to see they have "awakened the giant" (and yes, it was in a comatose-like sleep).  

No time to draft your own letter?  

Feel free to copy/paste. 

The Honorable Mayor Annise D. Parker

City of Houston

P.O. Box 1562

Houston, TX  77251

Dear Mayor Parker:

I want you to know that more important than any agenda, as well meaning as it may be, is never worth taking or losing freedom over.  Ever.

Americans have been asleep for years as our freedoms have been slowly eroding-most of which we have shamelessly given away.  But that ended when you and the numbers of people it took to draft and execute the subpoena went after preachers behind their pulpits. 

The exercise of our Christian religion involves preaching the WHOLE word of God and living out our WHOLE lives in submission to God, for the flourishing of all humanity, and to His glory.  I should think you would be supportive of a worldview that believes ALL people are born with dignity because they are born in God’s image-a religion that woos us to “come and reason together” instead of “convert or die”. 

We will stand and push back against anyone who tries to take our freedoms (or yours) away.  Not because we hate those who oppose us, but because we so deeply love and value what needs protecting.

I join with Russell Moore when he says, “The separation of church and state means that we will render unto Caesar that which is Caesar’s, and we will.  But the preaching of the church of God does not belong to Caesar, and we will not hand it over to him.  Not now. Not ever.”

In all sincerity of heart,

The Poverty of Nations and the Body

Last night, I heard Wayne Grudem talk about The Poverty of Nations he co-wrote with Barry Asmus. It is a historical and Biblical look at what works to pull countries out of poverty. Part of the discussion was about how over 250 years ago, every country was impoverished, if one looks at per capita data.

But some countries came out if it.  How? Not really a spoiler, but part of the answer is found in the production of goods and services.  Sending money or food helps for immediate crises, but long term, taking in foreign aid has never in history lifted any country out of poverty.  What it does, in part, is create an insatiable monster in the form of corrupt government leadership that consumes the "aid" before it ever gets to the citizens most at risk.

This morning, I saw an article about Mars Hill Church and its fall.

And it got me thinking...

As the church, we keep growing but what are we producing?  How much "aid" do we take in? How much gets to those who need it?  Is what is true for the health of countries also true for what we now call the church? Do we create programs that soak up the resources in the form of tithes and offerings when we were called to bring the tithe in so that there would be food in His house?

Have we, with the best of intentions, created a den of robbers?

How much more effective would we be in current battles for souls, family, marriage, freedom, poverty, slavery, and racism if so much of our "aid" wasn't necessary to run the church as a business?

Were we really supposed to grow budgets and buildings or the Body?

We need to be very, very careful. And very, very humble.  Because if we are not, we will find that the demands between the building and the Body can become mutually exclusive.

Six Facts You Need To Know If You Live In Tennessee

Tennessee's "Yes on 1" is a campaign to draw attention to the 1st Amendment on the ballot this November, which is designed to return our Tennessee Constitution to an abortion neutral interpretation.  

Here are some basic facts you need to know before voting: 

Fact #1:  In Tennessee, nail salons are required to be licensed and inspected by the state.  

                Abortion clinics ARE NOT. 

Fact #2:  25% of the abortions in Tennessee are from residents of surrounding states, because

    our laws are so friendly to abortionists and those seeking their services.                                                                               

Fact #3:  Failure to give Informed Consent (explanation of risks, procedure process, and                               alternative options) is usually considered malpractice.  However, Informed Consent                         in the case of abortion is NOT required in Tennessee.

Fact #4:   Over 60% of abortions are coerced.   

Fact #5 :  Amendment 1 will NOT make abortion illegal in Tennessee.  It will make our

Constitution neutral on abortion once again.  However, should Roe v.                         Wade ever be overturned at the federal level, as it stands in Tennessee now, abortion would still be legal here.

Fact #6:  YOU CANNOT VOTE FOR GOVERNOR AND BE NEUTRAL ON AN AMENDMENT.

                Passing over an amendment, if you vote for governor, counts as a “NO”.

               

A short history review of Tennessee and abortion: 

After Roe v. Wade and prior to 2000, TN had some common sense protections for women seeking abortions. They were: 

1.  48 hour waiting period requirement.

2.  Informed consent (had to be told risks short and long term, procedure details, and of other      options like adoption)

3.  Clinics, like all other medical facilities, were licensed and inspected.

4.  Hospital setting for late term abortions were required.

5.  Parental consent was required.  (This is still in effect)

In September 2000, the ACLU and Planned Parenthood sued Tennessee saying that such laws were "unconstitutional" because they infringed on a women's right to an abortion "inherent" in our state constitution. The suit found its way to the highest court in the state. Four out of five TN Supreme Court Justices went outside their powers and in effect amended our state constitution without the consent of the people. They sided with ACLU/PP and interpreted, “That no man shall be taken or imprisoned, or dis-seized of his freehold liberties or privileges, or outlawed, or exiled, or in any manner destroyed or deprived of his life, liberty or property, but by the judgment of his peers, or the law of the land", as meaning there was a "RIGHT" to abortion. 

Actually, the constitution does not have the word abortion in it at all; it is literally neutral on the "right" to abortion. 

However, once the 4 of 5 justices sided with PP/ACLU, the common sense protection laws were thrown out.  The one dissenting judge, Justice William M. Barker, wrote, “I simply cannot fathom that the people of Tennessee, who outlawed the practice of abortion until Roe v. Wade, intended to remove all power from themselves to enact reasonable regulations on abortion.” Justice Barker also showed us how to correct this... through an amendment to the constitution. 

Why an Amendment to the Constitution?

Two good reasons:

1.  Without an amendment specifying that abortion is not an inherent "right", common sense regulations are impossible to be reintroduced as bills and become laws again. 

2.  Should this amendment fail, YOU WILL SEE ABORTION BECOME TAXPAYER FUNDED IN TENNESSEE.  Just as, "you have a right to an attorney.  If you cannot afford one, an attorney will be provided for you", if you have a right to an abortion, one will be provided for you.  Planned Parenthood has made it very public and clear that they are waiting for Amendment 1 to fail so they can then push for taxpayers to fund abortions for women who cannot afford one on their own.

We have ONE chance at this. 

Up to this point, Tennesseans have not had a voice in the discussion.  Rogue justices took your right to make laws through your elected state representatives and senators.  Thanks to the determination and long suffering of many others, Tennessee voters will have their chance to speak up loud and clear. 

Should the amendment fail, it will tell Planned Parenthood, the ACLU, and the country at large that "even in the Bible-belt", the people have spoken and they believe abortion is a constitutional RIGHT. 

It has taken 14 years and indescribable perseverance to get this amendment on the ballot. Amendments to the constitution can only happen during a gubernatorial election.  There is no ground to stand on to pick up this banner again in Tennessee if it fails in November.  There is no other shot at this, people. Speak up on this now or forever be responsible for the consequences.

What the Amendment actually says and why: 

Amendment 1:  "Nothing in this Constitution secures or protects a right to abortion or requires the funding of an abortion. The people retain the right through their elected state representatives and state senators to enact, amend, or repeal statutes regarding abortion, including, but not limited to, circumstances of pregnancy resulting from rape or incest or when necessary to save the life of the mother."

It does NOT reverse Roe V. Wade.  What it does is specify that our constitution does NOT give specific rights to abortion and there is nothing in our constitution that can be construed as requiring tax payer funding. It DOES put the right in the people's hands to make such laws regarding abortion through their elected officials... you know, the way it was designed to work before we had immoral men thinking they were above the law.

YOU CANNOT VOTE FOR GOVERNOR AND BE NEUTRAL ON AN AMENDMENT

Now for the kicker: 

 In order for an Amendment to pass, it must have 50% +1 of the votes cast for governor. So if 1 million people vote for governor, and only 500,000 people vote YES, and nobody votes NO, the amendment FAILS by one (1) vote. It would have to be 500,001 for it to pass. 

LITERALLY EVERY VOTE COUNTS. 

If you SKIP voting on an Amendment, it counts as a NO. There is no neutral ground if you vote for governor and skip an amendment. NONE.

The above are facts.  Here are my opinions. 

If I were still pro-choice, I'd vote YES. Women deserve informed consent, a safe, clean environment, and medical procedures performed by licensed, properly trained professionals.  They deserve a safe place to share the specifics of their life situation and given ALL options before an irreversible procedure, such as abortion, is performed. 

Planned Parenthood, with the help of the ACLU, has created a safe haven for otherwise illegal, not to mention despicable, activities to take place at the expense of women and girls for the sake of the Almighty Dollar. Abortion is a billion dollar industry.  LifeAction has SO MANY undercover videos of clinics breaking the laws that ARE in place (reporting incest, rape, sex trafficers, etc...), that to not insist on inspections to be sure women are protected is UNACCEPTABLE.

Your primary calling or ministry may lie elsewhere.  I'm not asking you to pick up another long term commitment.  But there are hundreds of Right To Life people who have worked for FOURTEEN years to get us here. They need us to help them through these last few weeks.  

After November 4th, "Yes on 1" will be over.

TELL YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY MEMBERS TO VOTE YES ON 1.

A poll was taken once to find out why people vote the way they do. 80% of the respondents said, "because a friend or family member told me" how to vote.  

Your influence matters.  

1.  Tell 10 friends to vote "Yes on 1".

2.  Encourage your friends to be sure they are registered to vote!  You can still register up through October 6th.

3. Share and TAG friends on Facebook and other social media platforms.  Share this blog or refer them to Yeson1tn.org .

4. You can volunteer or donate at Yeson1tn.org !

One more thing, passing this Amendment will not automatically put common sense laws back on the books. This just lays the foundation to get them re-introduced as bills. 

We have a long way to go.

We have been entrusted and equipped as Christians and Americans to do the right thing now.  We pray for God to heal our land.  He has in part, answered that prayer by opening doors for us to respond.  

This is our time.  

Psalm 78:9 says, "The sons of Ephraim were archers equipped with bows, yet they turned back in the day of battle."  Let it not be said of us, that though we were equipped with knowledge, and a chance to open our mouths and speak for the oppressed through the process of voting that we turned back from the battle.

The easiest mission trip, that costs you nothing, takes minutes and has a return on investment that is immeasurable for the most vulnerable of our society-is to the voting booth.  

Will you journey there?  

Will you encourage others to do the same?

The Lord is watching to see if we will be faithful...