Posted by admin on January 7th, 2009 — Posted in Religion Tips
Real nobility feeds on its own intrinsic value, as a rightful cause that ought to be served with diligence. Whether it will be rewarded, here below or in the beyond, is a question really noble individuals consider irrelevant, though they are not insensitive to the idea of reward. Their purpose is to live bravely, wisely, fairly, and kindly for the sake of worthiness. Tribute, wealth, and heaven are dispensable pleasures that may or may not crown the delight they take in this purpose. Likewise, whether a lack of nobility on their part would be punished, here below or in the beyond, is a question they consider irrelevant, though they are not insensitive to the idea of punishment. They are noble unconditionally, even in situations of unrestricted liberty, when they could behave ignobly with impunity and do not believe in hell. Unbraveness, unwiseness, unfairness, and unkindness are negative options that offend their sense of right. Accordingly, they shun them.
By right I mean what is true to life and the pursuit of health and happiness, true to solidarity and the ability to sympathize with others and assist them, and ultimately true to God*. Here God is regarded as the universal principle, and particularly as the principle of life. Its essence can be described as love for the good reason that it gives every life form - including the human species - the opportunity to live and the capacity to develop and flourish. This gift is assuredly a sublime proof of love.
What about suffering and death? In my opinion, they do not indicate a lack of divine love but a limit to the divine power behind this love or a failure of the beings vested in this power to use it successfully. Therefore, God should be thanked for its love and forgiven for the limit to its power, just as loving parents are forgiven for their shortcomings. In addition, humans should always aim to make the most of the divine power vested in them. True braveness, wiseness, fairness, and kindness, which constitute real nobility, are the measure of excellence.
* God, in the Genesis, is first and foremost the creative and ruling force of the universe. As such, it is unspecific and uncontroversial. People of different philosophical or religious persuasions recognize with one accord that the universe is as it is because it has the power to be so. This power can be called God, in the unspecific sense of the word. It provides a legitimate answer to the ultimate question, which is twofold: “Why is there a universe instead of nothing, on the one hand, and why is there order in it instead of chaos, on the other hand?” Essentially, it is a cause that accounts for the existence and the nature of everything, while its presence remains totally unaccountable. There is no point in trying to elucidate this mystery since, to this end, one would need to postulate another cause that would itself be unaccountable, and so on ad infinitum. Consequently, the cause that gives the universe the power to exist and evolve, according to laws, is best described as a prime and timeless cause that can be ascertained through its manifestation in the form of changing things and beings, but never explained.
Laurent Grenier’s writing career spans over twenty years. During this time he has broadened and deepened his worldview, by dint of much reflection and study, and in the end has crafted “A Reason for Living,” his best work to date.
Official web site: http://laurentgrenier.com/ARFL.html
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Posted by admin on January 6th, 2009 — Posted in Religion Tips
Kundalini Awakening - the sure shot method for awakening of the kundalini.
Before we discuss about kundalini awakening… we need to understand the meaning of kundalini! The kundalini Shakti is that hidden positive energy stored in every human being by awakening which every human being can reach the level of Mahavira, Gautama Buddha, Jesus Christ and Prophet Mohammed.
The awakening of the kundalini is possible by practicing the right Yoga and meditation. In the normal circumstances the awakening of the kundalini is supposed to happen within a period of 11 million manifestations in the form of a human being. A serious seeker of spirituality always desires Kundalini awakening at the earliest. Why?
Every true seeker of spirituality understands that unless the kundalini awakening occurs… one shall not be able to reach the level of Nirvikalpa samadhi and the stage of self realization. Kundalini awakening is a hundred percent must before one can gain enlightenment in this life.
Apart from practicing the Shavasana pose in Yoga and also Neti as advocated by Maharishi Ramana… one needs to practice absolute celibacy for the kundalini awakening to occur.
Kundalini awakening is not something which can be taught in form of books… it only comes from experience. As we proceed on the path of pure spirituality while practicing absolute celibacy and meditation… we shall find one-day that our kundalini awakening has occurred.
Kundalini energy stored within our spine slowly recoils itself. It is as if God is directly lifting us straight up for us to realize God with a short period of time. It is a very noble experience for every true seeker of spirituality.
For the kundalini awakening to occur… we need to preserve the monthly quota of energy given to every man and woman. We just cannot let this energy find pure physical channels of pleasure.
The path of kundalini awakening shall become clear from the following example-
In the normal routine if we are required to take 11 million steps up the ladder of spirituality… then it is also possible that we take the elevator straight up and cut short the path.
This elevator… the shortcut is the path of the kundalini which can be awakened by preserving the cosmic energy provided to every human being every month. As the stored energy increases… so does the journey expedite?
Every true seeker of spirituality has to one-day switchover to the recourse of kundalini awakening for the normal path may take millions of manifestations… a long journey indeed!
As the kundalini Shakti raises from the base of the spine towards the centre of the forehead… one shall experience very fearful flashes. It is really frightening sometimes for the kundalini awakening is accompanied by the shadow of a mammoth king cobra with many heads glaring at you from a short distance.
The coiled Serpentine kundalini Shakti has been compared to the power which one experiences while watching a coiled snake coming out of slumber. It is too frightening an experience and many seekers of spirituality leave their journey midway.
The coiled Serpentine energy known as kundalini Shakti is not to be feared of. We have to under all circumstances look at the face of the cobra with a feeling that we have to overcome the fear imbibed within us. Fearing the coiled kundalini Shakti shall be of no help.
The practice of absolute celibacy brings about a radical change in the personality of a serious seeker of spirituality. As we conqueror the coiled kundalini Shakti… we shall find an enormous glow on our forehead visible to the mankind.
The glow on the forehead of any human being directly represents the inner thinking process of any human being. More the glow… the higher the human being is supposed to be on the spiritual pedestal.
We may indulge in kundalini awakening right now or in subsequent manifestations… there is absolutely no escape. We have to indulge in kundalini awakening in one of the manifestations so that our soul (atman within our body) regains its pristine pure from at the earliest and liberates forever from the cycle of birth and death.
In the last 150 years two persons have very successfully awakened their kundalini and realized God. Sri Ramakrishna Paramhansa and Maharishi Ramana while proceeding on the path of pure spirituality in search of God had their kundalini awakened fully. It was only after their kundalini had awakened were they able to reach the stage of Nirvikalpa samadhi.
Every true seeker of spirituality understands the importance of kundalini awakening. If we are to realize God within our lifetime… we have to awaken our kundalini fully in this very life. Unless we take the lift straight up… we shall not reach the level of an awakened one… a living Buddha!
Kundalini awakening… however fearful it may seem to be… is representative of the positive powers of the Cosmos overtaking the Satanic powers forever. Every God realized soul reaches the level of a Mahavira, Gautama Buddha, Jesus Christ or Prophet Mohammed only after having conquered the negative forces for ever by awakening of the kundalini.
Kundalini awakening is better possible in a Man… The prime reason why in the whole history of mankind only two ladies had their kundalini awakened fully… Gargi, the bachelor philosopher and Maitreyi… the famous wife of Sage Jnanavalakya!
Gargi was that special lady who having awakened her kundalini indulged herself in the famous dialogues with Pundit Mandan Mishra on the topic of sex. Gargi finally defeated Pundit Mandan Mishra for she was a truly God realized soul. Pundit Mandan Mishra had yet to awaken his kundalini.
Sage Jnanavalakya was that dominant force in the times of king Janaka that even before the contest amongst 10,000 pundits and sages gathered on stage had begun… Sage Jnanavalakya ordered the prize money to be taken home. Sage Jnanavalakya was a truly God realized soul. His kundalini had awakened fully and he knew that none in the assembly had reached his level of spiritual attainment.
Maitreyi… his dutiful wife was never after the mundane affairs of life… she yearned for gaining self realization within her lifetime. She knew well that her husband could impart her pearls of wisdom gaining which she could get her kundalini awakened and finally reach the stage of enlightenment.
The Gargi and the Maitreyi colleges in New Delhi, India are reminiscent of those enlightening times in the history of mankind which remind us that kundalini awakening is also possible for a woman.
Summing up I need to emphasize the fact that the precious semen is required to be stored if we truly desire Kundalini awakening at the earliest. It is only when the stored semen rises through the spine to the level of the centre of the forehead… shall we gain enlightenment within this life.
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Vijay Kumar… The Man who Realized God in 1993 on Kundalini Awakening - definition and the path? Subscribe free Newsletter
About the Author
Vijay Kumar started in search of God at the age of 13 years. It was in 1993 that he was graced with the vision of God, the Almighty. Since then the hidden truths of all Scriptures of all Religions of the World have become like ABCD to him. Providing Free Spiritual counseling to the World Community through the medium of internet through websites
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Posted by admin on January 4th, 2009 — Posted in Religion Tips
This article was written on behalf of our freedom of speech in America. You have permission to publish it liberally if the resource box is left intact. Our freedom of speech is being taken away in small gradual steps. We must reverse this dangerous trend, if we are to remain a free nation. Total words in body of the message, 628.
The courts are judging God and kicking out everything that represents him in public. The Ten Commandments and Nativity scenes can no longer be displayed publicly. Prayers cannot be given in the name of Jesus in public in some states. It appears that they are trying to make it wrong to wish someone a merry Christmas. This is taking away freedom of speech that we have always had in America. You can’t help wondering if the next step is to take-away Christian rights to worship in their churches. This baloney about political correctness is just a way to take away our freedom of speech.
This nation was founded on Christian principles and they are taking it away. Our founding fathers would turn over in their graves if they knew what is going now. In America everyone has a right to worship in any way they see fit or not worship at all. That doesn’t mean that we take the name of Jesus out of public places. He is the one that created us and continues to give us air to breathe (COL 1:16). If we want to remain a free nation, we had better reverse this trend. The Bible says that the nation that will not serve God will perish (ISA 60:12).
If you examine nations that look down on Christianity you will find that the people are not free. Christians often must have an armed guard at the door of the meeting place if they can even meet in public. They have trouble finding someone that will hire them and may not be able to buy a burial plot. Sometimes they are arrested or killed for worshiping Christ in his church! Is that what these legislating judges have in mind for America? We had better quit judging God. He is the one that judges men. If we keep up our present trend, he will judge America! It reminds us of the mob that judged Jesus guilty and put him on a cross.
The majority of Americans believe in God and are against this attack on him. That includes both parties that rule in Washington. We should all make a New Years resolution to stand up for our rights and keep our Creator in public places. All it takes for bad things to happen is for good people to remain silent. We had better exercise our right of free speech or we will lose it! We must stop this nonsense of letting a few Atheists decide what is permitted in public. This has only happened because Christians have remained silent. It is time to speak up!
Our side is beginning to fight back. Lawsuits have been filed on the same ground the Atheists have usedfreedom of speech, and they have won. This is the first step to start taking back America for God so that he will not pass judgement on us. We should encourage those that represent us in Washington to speak out against judges assaulting God and our freedom of speech. We should also encourage those who are fighting for our rights in the courts. In America, the majority is supposed to rule. With the number of Christians here, our voice should be heard.
This matter of our government listening to conversations of suspected terrorists with their cohorts in other countries is not wrong. It is a small price to pay for national security. It saves American lives! No one should object if they have nothing to hide. Terrorists would kill millions of people with weapons of mass destruction without giving it a second thought. How can we keep them from doing it, if we let them discuss the details on the phone? If there is not a law permitting it, one should be passed.
The author of this article also wrote, “Climbing the Heavenly Stairs.” Jesus said that if you know the truth, it will set you free. Get acquainted with the members of the Godhead so that you will know the truth. Get the feel of your faith so that you can go on to maturity and live life to the full. Discover the truths that Jesus taught that will change your life. Learn what he said about accomplishing seemingly impossible things. Read more at
http://www.thelynnbradleybook.com You can also use the title of the book in your browser window for a different website on this book.
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Posted by admin on January 2nd, 2009 — Posted in Religion Tips
It’s not easy holding beliefs concerning sometimes outdated ideals, especially religion. There are so many different religions that it’s hard to prove that one is more credible than another. Some are contradicting, while some are minor variations of others. There are theists, those who believe in a god or gods, as well as atheists, those who deny any gods. But while theism shows a strong benefit to the individual, atheism really doesn’t have any significant benefits for the individual. Its real benefit is the lack of concern it has towards other beliefs. Unlike theism, it creates a more peaceful and less conflicting society. In theory, atheism is more beneficial to mankind as a whole.
These two groups, theists and atheists, are very different from each other. Theism relies on the need to prove itself right, and therefore in certain cases trying to prove other theories wrong. Some theists also feel it is their duty to spread their theology to other people in the world. Theism is such a wide and diverse group, however, which includes all religions and any other people that still believe in a higher power without committing to a religion. With so many different groups and ideas being spread around the world, theism in general is very opinionated, often times publicly expressed.
Atheism, on the other hand, is a very quiet and self-focused theory. It requires no spreading of ideas or really disproving others. Some individual atheists choose to get into the argument of proving their belief right while disproving other beliefs wrong, but that’s only occasionally the case. Atheism is not just a belief in no god, but it can also be no belief in a god. In the latter case, there is no need for atheists to prove their theory right because there is no theory to prove.
It is easiest for a theist to prove their beliefs are the correct ones when the description of their god or gods and religion’s background is unspecified, lacking strongly detailed information. The less there is to actually focus on, the easier it is to prove the theory. Theists must degrade the beliefs of others to make theirs true. This can be in the form of denying such things as evolution, homosexuality, and other forms of existence or lack there of after death. Some also believe that certain acts and beliefs that don’t follow their own code of morals are universally immoral and therefore inappropriate for humankind.
On the other hand, atheists hardly have anything to prove. Atheism covers only two theories. The first is the belief that no god exists, and the second is no belief in a god or lack there of. They do not need to disprove the wide range of theories and beliefs that theism covers, though some choose to. An atheist can believe in many different ideologies in the world, including things like evolution, acceptance of homosexuality, and no afterlife, and still these things have no importance to atheism. They are individual concepts that can not conflict with the basic beliefs of atheism.
Second, theists tend to have this idea that they must make the world share their views on religion and life. For centuries, certain religious groups have felt obliged to spread their views over many foreign lands. Missionaries are common examples of this act, notable mostly in the Imperial Age. They have gone to great lengths to conquer the minds and rituals of others. In many cases these missionaries have suppressed groups of people, defining them as inferior thinking to the greater religious systems. Certain religious groups have even gone so far as to take over other groups’ religious ceremonies, such as Christians turning pagan holidays into Christmas and Easer, in hopes of taking away their credibility. Even in this age some theists feel they must publicly humiliate atheists to get their point across. Former president George H.W. Bush was quoted as saying “No, I don’t know that atheists should be considered as citizens, nor should they be considered patriots. This is one nation under God.”
At times, conflict has arisen from the contact of two or more theist groups. In the mild situations, simple sharing of ideas and arguments of beliefs have taken place between the groups. However, in the most extreme, this conflict between the groups has caused major wars that devastate all mankind. The most powerful examples of this would be the Crusades, World War II, and the war between Israel and Palestine.
Contrary to this, atheists never create conflict within their group by sharing their beliefs. Since they all share the same essential belief to atheism, or have a lack of belief, then atheists have nothing to prove to each other. In this sense, they are all equal and have no need to create conflict. Any problems that come between them because of other views about life and society have nothing to do with atheism since they are not factors of being an atheist.
Finally, there are the different levels of gain for the individual in each belief. Most profitable is the spiritual enlightenment that theists receive. Through the discipline of their theology, theists are able to gain a form of holy wisdom that creates different views on how the world works, including theories and beliefs in the afterlife, the creation of life, and the purpose of mankind in the world. Many theist groups adopt the idea that it is their duty to help others, and that they must bring good into the world. This is beneficial to both the individual and the world.
The individual benefits of being an atheist are little, if any. There is no true measurable gain for not believing in a god. The choice of not believing in a god does not extend past that simple thought. Being an atheist does not prevent anyone from helping others or bettering society. Adaptation of different beliefs, including humanitarian morals, allows the atheist to participate in the same fields of beneficial work that theists do because of their religious principles. But in all fairness, theists too can adapt other beliefs that their religion does not cover, and therefore share this individual power with atheists.
Atheism and theism both have benefits and disadvantages for the individual and mankind as a whole. It truly comes down to the person’s own choice. As is, there is no real tangible proof that either is right, nor will there probably ever be. Theism lies solely in faith while atheism simply denies such things.
The key factor here is both involve mankind. In theory, the best solution to the progress of mankind is to have one belief system. Many would suggest that one religion would suit this, but in reality it wouldn’t. The fact that a religion is a following of people to a god defeats the purpose right there. The fundamental duty that an individual theist has to his/her god puts that god before any other human. This creates a society that honors a divine and abstract being before its own kind. When a god is placed higher in importance than humankind, it lowers the value of the society’s ability to be united. That is why atheism is the more beneficial of the two. Theism puts the emphasis on the fact that a greater being controls the fate of man, while atheism shows that humankind itself is the only source to rely on for survival in life.
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Posted by admin on January 2nd, 2009 — Posted in Religion Tips
“People on this night are going to be on several different levels. No doubt we are on the lowest level, so we are hoping in this night to attain the honor and illumination granted in it. When we reach a higher level and as it is a holy night in the heavens as well, we will begin to sense something [of the great power being manifested] on this night. Whoever is at the highest spiritual level must be present for this night in the Divine Presence of the Lord.” http://www.crescentlife.com/spirituality/laylat_al_qadr.htm
“Sources in the defense establishment believe tomorrow will be the day on which the Palestinians will ask to disconnect Arafat from life support and announce his death. Tomorrow night marks Lailat al-Kader, the night Muslims believe God revealed the Koran to the prophet Mohammed. The death of the Palestinian leader on that day will, therefore, be symbolic.” http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/498629.html
“The bill specifically forbids Arafat from being buried anywhere in Israel. “Because of his disease,” the bill reads, “the State of Israel allowed Arafat to leave for the sake of medical treatment. This bill requests a ban on his return to Israel or to the Palestinian Authority areas, whether to stay or to pass through. The bill also wishes to prevent his burial in these areas, lest the site turn into a pilgrimage attraction, a symbol, and a source of inspiration for the war against Israel’s existence.”" Arutz-7 news: Tuesday Nov 9, 2004
“”We chose Ramallah because it is close to Jerusalem, where we are hoping to bury him in the near future,” said Hassan Khraisheh, deputy speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council and member of a special committee entrusted with overlooking the funeral arrangements. Palestinians said that after Arafat would be buried there, a mosque and monument would be built inside the compound.” http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/P rinter&cid=1099973628375&p=1078113566627
“Sha’ath said there is no talk of removing Arafat from life support. “We are not really believers in euthanasia. The man is not suffering; he is in a coma … It’s out of the question that anybody is thinking of taking any such decisions,” he said.” http://edition.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/meast/11/09/arafat/index.html
Waiting till the Night of Power to pull the plug on Arafat’s life support would have effectively placed him on the “highest spiritual level” quoted above, and therefore, “in the divine presence of” allah. However, as the PA officals didn’t remove his life support, even his burial in Ramallah, complete with a mosque and monument to boot, will do one of two things in the minds and hearts of Muslims worldwide who revered Arafat in this life.
1) Arafat will be elevated to prophet status, and his teachings, sayings, decrees, etc, spread throughout the Islamic world, and be followed even more devoutly than in his lifetime. Thus ensuring PA leadership, that their goals to wipe out the Jews and Christians wherever they may be found, will be carried out in even greater numbers, dedication, and determination than in the past.
In this situation, pulling the plug on Lailat al-Kader would have been a ploy to ensure that policies, goals, ideology, and commitment to Arafat’s cause is further entrenched and carried out. Such a ploy would have taken advantage of Muslim thought and desire on this day, and basically forcing what many call “the new Islam” down everyone’s throat, as refusal to honor a prophet brings harsh discipline.
Burial complete with mosque and monument will very likely do the same thing in the minds of the moslem people, as not only will they come to mourn, but also come to worship.
2) Arafat will receive the burial fitting for a prophet, and many will come merely to mourn his passing, but no elevation to prophet status will occur.
This is less likely to happen, as in order to have his death be symbolic on the night of Lailat al-Kader, moslems would have to admit that Arafat was spoken to by allah himself, and that his death is a sign that his words are to be whole-heartedly honored and obeyed.
It’s bad enough that the IDF is bracing for riots and increased violence in PA-controlled areas following the news of Arafat’s death. But to have millions of moslems suddenly claim Arafat as a prophet will make matters worse for Jews, and Christians around the world. It’s already bad enough that a BBC reporter cried over his release to a Paris hospital. The added sympathy, honor, mourning, and allegiance to his teachings will only congeal supporters world-wide as well.
I see therefore, a potential polarization of East versus West, of People of the Book versus Islam in the coming days. Saudi Arabia is already treating the war in Iraq as a holy war. PA-bred terrorists are already in Iraq killing Americans and other national groups the same way they’ve been killing Jews in Israel for years.
Arafat is not another Louie Riel(http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Pa rams=J1ARTJ0006837), to be decried, then enshrined, then decried, then a statue built, repeatedly going from hero to villain and back again. Arafat, plain and simple, is a villain on a massive scale. He will be a hero to the strain of Islam he revived and its sympathizers, and a villain to those who don’t adhere or sympathize with his ways and teachings.
I say be watchful in coming days. Whether intended by the PA leadership or not, Islam may have just turned a corner. Jews and Christians beware.
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Posted by admin on December 27th, 2008 — Posted in Religion Tips
Victory in Jesus
This is story number three (out of 50) from my book.
Eccl 9.12 “For man also knoweth not his time: as the fishes that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare; so are the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falleth suddenly upon them.”
One night about 11:30 PM, I received a phone call from my sister who lived 200 yards from me. She said, “I’ve been trying to call you for 30 minutes but all I got was a man cussing me out.” I immediately felt the presence of evil and sensed that what she was about to tell me was something the devil did not want me to hear. She said, “One of our cousins, 38 years old, suddenly fell sick at work, and he was in intensive care in the local hospital.” Well, I knew he had been running from God and was not prepared to meet his maker.
I began to pray for him as I drove over to the hospital. I asked God to save him before He takes him. Outside the doors of the intensive care where the family had gathered, I prayed for my cousin. We were born three days apart and grew up together. As I had no brothers, just four sisters, he was like a brother to me. About 1:30 AM, I went in to see him. His wife spoke his name and said, “Irvin is here.” I said, “You know God loves you, and I love you.”
Despite his condition, tears began to roll down his face as he lightly squeezed my hand. I felt the powerful, overflowing presence of Jesus Christ. He was alright with the Lord.
The devil did not want me to go to the hospital to pray for my cousin. He thought he had won, but praise God for the victory in Jesus.
My dear brother cousin died within a few hours. All his organs shut down. At work that afternoon, and in the presence of Jesus the next day!
James 4.7 “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
Copyright 2003, Irvin L. Rozier, CPT (Ret) US Army
About the Author
I am an author, preacher, retired US Army Captain. My recent book is My Walk with the Lord, www.selahbooks.com. I was a single parent to three children for over 13 years and have been preaching for over 17 years. I live in Blackshear, Georgia (south GA).
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Posted by admin on December 27th, 2008 — Posted in Religion Tips
Part Three continued
It is important to recover and relearn the “original intent” of the founding fathers. Study in this area is valuable. Nothing said in this article should be interpreted as ridiculing constitutionalists who are engaging in serious historical research. Battles should happen on many different fronts. The results of serious research should be presented at all levels of our democratic process, especially to our elected representatives. This goes back to my idea of picking our battles. Where can we be most effective? Adopting strategies that will bankrupt the system have not been carefully thought out. This is actually seen as a possible strategy by some tax protestors. It is not in anyone’s interest to help precipitate a financial collapse. The resulting ugly, bloody anarchy would more than likely lead to a severe police and military crackdown. It should not be forgotten that “totalitarianism is built upon the ashes of anarchy.” The freedoms we enjoy today could very well be lost. An oppressive government may be better than complete anarchy. The founding fathers of our nation had taxation without representation. Today we have taxation with representation. Let’s change our representatives.
Our current representatives tolerate and perpetuate the present system. It has been said, “politics is dirty.” This is true, however, it is no excuse for apathy and lack of involvement. Elected officials must be educated and confronted with constitutional facts. If they do not respond favorably to valid constitutional arguments, then they must be voted out. New political parties may be needed. Christians should run for public office and advance the cause of freedom. The Christian’s cultural involvement will open many significant opportunities for proclaiming the gospel and restoring our lost freedoms.
When tax protestors leave the system and encourage others to do so, they are starting little brush fires or crises for the government. This plays right into the hands of the socialists who use the occasion to call for more monies to be appropriated to the IRS to fight subversion of the system. This phenomenon has been appropriately labeled “government by crisis.” The federal government loves crises. This allows them to justify an ever-greater intrusion into our lives in the name of preserving the system. This trend is well documented. Those in power will not relinquish it without a fight.
Contrary to what some tax protestors are saying, very few people have successfully escaped the tax system. Those out of the system, for obvious reasons, do not broadcast it. In order to protect themselves, they must lay low. This approach is at odds with cultural involvement. Dropping out of society and hunkering down, hiding from the IRS, is a self-defeating strategy.
Writing on certain controversial but justifiable topics may require using an alias. The founding fathers of our nation used this approach. It may be appropriate to use separate newsletters and mailing addresses so as not to unnecessarily cause some tyrannical bureaucrat to begin oppressive investigations against innocent parties. Christian charity demands that actions on our part not endanger our families and brothers and sisters. Moreover, it should not be forgotten that many agents of the federal government could not care less about Boston Tea Party’s, Schiff’s or anyone else’s arguments, they simply believe in raw power. Some government agents shoot first and maybe ask questions later. Remember the federal government attack on Randy Weaver and the Branch Davidians.
Jury members do not feel sympathy for most tax protestors. Why? Jury members themselves pay taxes and as a rule resent those whom they perceive are trying to take advantage of the system. Jury members may also believe the tax protestor is cheating the system and this is why their tax rates keep going up. By dropping out of the system, the tax protestor is not attempting to reach any kind of unanimity with the average tax-paying citizen. A consensus has to be built politically before laws can be changed.
Attorney David G. Hagopian has written a valuable two part article “Render To All What Is Due Them” in the Ordained Servant. Hagopian’s scholarly article deals with the biblical requirement of paying taxes to the state. In his thoroughgoing article, Hagopian addresses and provides a biblically based answer to the jurisdictional or “nature of government” argument that some tax protestors use. Some of Hagopian’s relevant comments follow:
Some tax resistance advocates argue that if a given tax is not lawfully imposed, it is not rightfully due. We are only to render to Caesar what is his, they tell us, and we can only give back to Caesar that to which he is entitled in the first place. To be sure, the state often attempts to get more than its due, and this argument may be well-founded, depending upon the circumstances.
To begin with, this argument depends upon the type of government in power. While we have already noted that our obligation to obey rulers and pay taxes to them does not depend upon the type of government in power, the type of government in power does dictate the resource available to the tax resister in any given circumstance. To illustrate, a believer in Imperial Rome simply did not have all of the means of recourse available to a believer in twentieth century America. Whereas a tax revolt may very well have cost you your life in Imperial Rome as it did with Judas of Galilee, it may cost you your life savings in twentieth century America! This is simply to say that the consequences of resisting a given tax will vary depending upon the circumstances in which the believer finds himself. And let us never be so myopic as to forget that some modern believers may find themselves in countries more like Imperial Rome than modern America.20
Another relevant article in regard to a proper Christian course of action is “The Civil Order–A Covenantal View” by Michael Paul Turi, a former advocate of the “patriot tax protest movement” in the Chalcedon Report.21 Turi deals with the apostle Paul’s instruction to Christians in Romans 13:1-7 regarding subjection to the state. Turi argues that our present tax system is Christ’s chastisement of His church. Those who refuse to pay taxes may very well be rebelling against Christ’s chastisement. The fruit of submitting to Christ’s chastisement will surely bring about a reawakening to God’s principles for government that alone can bring freedom.
The Tenth District Federal Court, according to Devvy Kidd (former candidate for U.S. Congress in the State of California), will not listen to any more tax protest cases.22 Why? The Court is tired of hearing what they perceive to be fraudulent, moronic arguments. Unfortunately, in a number of cases this is precisely what has happened. Every one loses when bogus arguments take the place of serious research. Many tax protestors have become nothing more than guinea pigs for someone’s latest theory on how to escape the system. Finally, those who write on tax protest strategies should offer disclaimers if they are not trained in the law and competent to give legal advice. They should also obtain an indemnification bond (similar to malpractice insurance) to protect those who follow their advice and end up in the “crossbar hotel.”
Are there reasons for hope? Educating politicians with biblical and constitutional arguments will prove very effective. Why? God honors faithfulness to His covenant in history. The word of God does not return void (Isaiah 55:11). In summary, it should be remembered that Christians are to follow Christ’s commands set forth in Scripture. We should use all the legal means presently available to us in correcting our unjust system. The current unconstitutional tax structure can be changed by involvement in the political system. Confrontation with tax officials using arguments such as those offered by a number of tax protestors will be unsuccessful. Why? Because they are Anabaptistic (a radical individualistic approach to government) and destructive to social order which is necessary for society to exist. Tax protest strategies which advocate that people leave the system are incapable of producing a positive, lasting change in society because at the core of these arguments is a non-biblical presupposition of human autonomy. In addition, they are not seeking to bring about change through the elected magistrate. The covenantal approach is uniquely reformed and one that takes seriously divinely appointed representatives. Rushdoony sets before us some important thoughts on history and a proper course of action:
The Anabaptist despaired of any hope in civil government. They sought a radical separation from the world which, while stressing a voluntary church and a “spiritual” reformation, was marked by a surrender of civil order as evil and beyond redemption. Extremists in Anabaptism sought to establish their own civil order of the saints by revolution, but most withdrew and regarded both the state and the church which worked with the framework of civil order as false and even evil. To most princes and churchmen, it was the Anabaptist solution which was evil. It was imperative thus for Calvin to avoid any association of his movement with Anabaptism, with which he emphatically disagreed.
As a result, Calvin strongly stressed civil obedience while allowing for ordered change through civil magistrates. The Renaissance was an era of statism, tyranny, and corruption. Revolt made sense to many and was very much in the air. For Calvinism to have fanned the fires of civil revolt would have been fatal. An analogy to the present can be made. I find, wherever I speak, churchmen, as they hear of the persecution of Christians, and encroachments on religious freedom in the United States, are quick about asking if it is not about time to resort to arms! I find it imperative to emphasize civil obedience, I stress the fact that a very, very large number of church members do not vote; very, very few ever contribute to a political campaign, and fewer are active in politics. When the means of peaceful solutions can readily give us victory, to talk about suicidal violence is morally wrong. We have a battle to wage peacefully in the courts and in legislative bodies. Calvin was concerned with avoiding an ungodly disaster; so too must we be concerned.23
As shown by Rushdoony, John Calvin, the Protestant Reformer, believed in “ordered change through civil magistrates.” This writer knows of individuals in the tax protest movement who are not active politically, and in some cases have never even voted. Hopefully, the wisdom of Calvin is not lost to those who profess reformed convictions. It has been said, “The power to tax is the power to control and destroy.” This is true. One of my disagreements with tax protestors is one of biblical strategy on how to regain freedom and liberty. On certain issues, they may be theoretically correct. Being theoretically correct does not justify breaking even inequitable laws, especially when we have a process available to change the situation.
It seems as if the authors of the various books protesting taxes have rarely targeted their elected representatives with their arguments. Have these authors sought out meetings with their representatives or their staff? If the tax protestor goes to the court with his arguments, then he should make sure the arguments are constitutionally sound. How can this be accomplished? If an elected representative will back the case by saying that in their opinion the case has merit, this adds enormous credibility and weight to the case. If the elected representative agrees with the arguments then this creates better opportunities to convince our fellow citizens. We cannot afford to present flawed and dubious arguments to the court. This hurts all future cases by creating a prejudice against tax cases. The Tenth District Federal Court is a case in point.
In conclusion, the commands of Scripture transcend tax protest arguments and strategies. Therefore, the believer must pay taxes, pray for relief, and work to change society. We are in a war of ideas, a cultural war of conflicting world views. Any strategy that leaves out declaring the whole counsel of God is doomed to failure. Fallen men do not like freedom. They love slavery even to the state. If this is doubted, consider the likelihood of scrapping the present socialist “Social Security” system. Demolishing this cultural idol is unthinkable even for many Christians. Today, men look to the government for salvation and all their needs. This view of government is nothing short of idolatry on man’s part. How do we overcome this world view which in reality fuels the escalation of taxes and government regulations? The tax protest movement does not address the real roots of the problems today. Regeneration must take place first. The result of regeneration will be a love for freedom and self-responsibility. Jesus came to set men free.
From God’s perspective our government is in a qualified sense de jure. If this is true, then not only should we pay taxes, we should recognize that the present government has been providentially established and continues in power by God’s sovereignty. From man’s perspective our government would appear to be a de facto government. We must endeavor to see things from God’s perspective. Why? Because God is God and He is sovereign. In addition, God is the Creator and we are His creatures. The Christian is obligated to do the will of God. The doctrine of God’s sovereignty does not mean that we resign ourselves to defeat. On the contrary, this doctrine gives us the theological basis for working all the harder for the cause of freedom, and if it pleases God, then perhaps He will grant us deliverance. The book of Judges tells of God’s chastisements and the subsequent deliverance of His people.
The state is God’s creation for good and order in society, and therefore has moral authority to do many things including the levying of taxes. Today, and at many times in history, the state has been an instrument of man’s self-imposed slavery. Men sell themselves into slavery for the illusion of security. The rebuilding of society happens through the preaching of the gospel. The work of discipleship for a nation begins by teaching God’s principles for all of life. This, and this alone, will reverse the trend towards socialism or the complete takeover by the federal government. As the Christian learns these principles he has a basis for speaking out against oppressive and unjust taxation. We must be actively engaged in fighting against the idolatry of statism and maintain a principled opposition against all forms of tyranny. For those who believe in the continual advancement of Christ’s kingdom in history there is hope. We must press the claims of Christ’s Lordship in every area of life including the state. Christ is indeed the Lord of the state.
End notes part three
20. David Hagopian, Esq. “Render To All What Is Due Them” in the Ordained Servant, (Carson, ND: Pleroma Press, 1995), Volume Four, Number Four, p. 80, 81.
21. Michael Paul Turi, “The Civil Order–A Covenantal View” in the Chalcedon Report, (Vallecito, CA: Calaveras Press, 1995), p. 16-19.
22. Devvy Kidd, Lecture given at Citizens For The Constitution, Denver, CO, 1995.
23. Rushdoony, Christianity And The State, p. 101.
Mr. Kettler is an ordained Presbyterian Elder and the owner of Undergroundnotes.com where his theological, philosophical and political articles can be read. He has worked in corporate America for over 25 years and is now realizing his dreams as a successful home business entrepreneur. Mr. Kettler can be reached through his business site at: http://www.internationalhomebusinessonline.com. Permission is hereby granted to reprint this article as long as my web site is retained in the biographical information.
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Posted by admin on December 20th, 2008 — Posted in Religion Tips
The day is thine, the night also is thine: thou hast prepared the light and the sun. For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. His seed shall endure for ever, and his throne as the sun before me.
The sun ariseth, they gather themselves together, and lay them down in their dens. From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the Lord’s name is to be praised.
The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun, Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race. His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.
The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the
eyes.
The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.
They shall fear thee as long as the sun and moon endure, throughout all generations.
Behold that which I have seen: it is good and comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labour that he taketh under the sun all the days of his life, which God giveth him: for it is his portion.
Wisdom is good with an inheritance: and by it there is profit to them that see the sun. Then I commended mirth, because a man hath no better thing under the sun, than to eat, and to drink, and to be merry: for that shall abide with him of his labour the days of his life, which God giveth him under the sun.
Who is she that looketh forth as the morning, fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners? I went down into the garden of nuts to see the fruits of the valley, and to see whether the vine flourished, and the pomegranates budded. Or ever I was aware, my soul made me like the chariots of Amminadib. Return, return, O Shulamite; return, return, that we may look upon thee. What will ye see in the Shulamite? As it were the company of two armies.
Moreover the light of the moon shall be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun shall be sevenfold, as the light of seven days, in the day that the Lord bindeth up the breach of his people, and healeth the stroke of their wound. That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the Lord, and there is none else.
They shall not hunger nor thirst; neither shall the heat nor sun smite them: for he that hath mercy on them shall lead them, even by the springs of water shall he guide them. So shall they fear the name of the Lord from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him.
Thus saith the Lord, which giveth the sun for a light by day, and the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light by night, which divideth the sea when the waves thereof roar; The Lord of hosts is his name: For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering: for my name shall be great among the heathen, saith the Lord of hosts.
But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall. Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God.
Glimpses of God © by Joyce C. Lock
http://our.homewithgod.com/heavenlyinspirations/
This writing may be used in its entirety, with credits in tact,
for non-profit ministering purposes.
About the Author
Joyce C. Lock is a published author, poet, and columnist. In addition, she founded and maintains the e-mail ministries “Heavenly Inspirations” http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HeavenlyInspirations/ and “Share a Smile” http://groups.yahoo.com/group/smilesharing/. Joyce’s writings encourage us in our relationship with God and each other.
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Posted by admin on December 14th, 2008 — Posted in Religion Tips
Things in the Old Testament were given for us to have examples of what to do and what not to do. Paul shows us this.
1 Cor 10:6 6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. (KJV)
1 Cor 10:11 11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. (KJV)
Obviously Paul is reciting some of Israel’s history for us to profit from their example. Much of the Old Testament is still for our examples today. For instance, Malachi records that God commanded for the tithes to be brought into the storehouse.
Mal 3:10 10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. (KJV)
The first question about this for us Christians today is this. What is this “storehouse?” Again the Old Testament pattern will answer this for us.
“Storehouse” is not the only word used to describe what this “storehouse” means. In 1 Chronicles 26:20, the word used is “treasures.” In Nehemiah 13: 13 the word used is “treasuries.” In 2 Chronicles 31:11, Nehemiah 12:44 and 13:5 the word “chambers” is used to describe the concept behind “storehouse.” Finally, in Nehemiah 10:38, both the words “chambers” and “treasure house” is used.
>From the above, we can readily see that “storehouse” is a place for God’s treasures of tithes. But what are these treasures to be used for. This is the second question for us Christians concerning bringing our tithes into the storehouse.
Compare all the Scriptures given above. Without exception, the treasures, meat, prey and/or spoil brought into the store house were for the support of the ministry.
This includes both buildings and ministers. They were for the support of the Levites all the way down to the most humble servant. These ministers and their helpers were the recipients of the benefits of the storehouse treasures.
None, absolutely none, of the ministers and helpers were to be left out. All of them were to receive their part.
These two things, then, were to be cared for from the storehouse treasures: the buildings and equipment and those who ministered in them and with them.
Today, many wonder why they tithe and the large blessings promised to them in return, do not seem to come their way. Could it be the storehouse they use does not support every member of the ministry like the above Scriptures plainly show?
Many storehouses today simply don’t recognize some God ordained mimistries. They will recognize workers in their organization, but not some of those in the Scriptures. These storehouses will fail to generate the large blessings promised to the tithers.
This is the reason why God instructed us to abound to “every good work.” “Abound” here translates a word that means “to make wealthy.” We are to support God’s “every good work” to the point of “making it wealthy.”
In so doing, the promise of large blessings kicks in again for us. He said He would “abound” to us. He will also “make us wealthy.” At the very least, He will meet our needs.
This is the “storehouse.” This “storehouse” takes care of both buildings, ministers and contains the Malachi romise: “blessings so large there will not be room enough to receive it!”
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Posted by admin on December 13th, 2008 — Posted in Religion Tips
It is not certain that anyone has tried to prepare a list of all forms of religion that one can come across worldwide. A great deal of people make a living out of religion. We can state the obvious by saying that they seem to have made an excellent choice of profession. What makes the practice of religion so overpowering is the human perception of the awesome GOD.
The most illustrative evidence of GOD is in the writings of Moses as part of the Bible. The presence of GOD was almost palpable. There has never been a comparable experience to that the Jews had with GOD. We shall not attempt to turn this occasion into a review of those events. However, there is nothing to diminsh the authenticity of those events.
Man looks up to GOD in moments of grave difficulties, and the future threatens everything calamitous. The most obvious way to approach GOD is through religion. Those who believe in GOD, but practise religion as a matter of convenience, seek those who are more conversant with seeking GOD. Some have no confidence in their religion to provide the help sought. Therefore, they turn to other form of religion. The others seem to have enough confidence to approach the LORD GOD at any time.
Those who believe in religion accept the existence and the supreme power of GOd over the entire creation. It is rather curious that they do not reckon with the fairness of GOD to treat all men equal. It becomes obvious anyway when moment of unequalness occurs. Otherwise, all men irrespective of what you may choose as profession, are equal before GOD.
We live in a physical world. Under suitable conditions, all things in the physical are visible. It seems that GOD does not belong to our physical world. Religion is the vehicle of access. Since GOD is not physical, He must have His existence in the Spiritual. In that case, the approch that matters must be spiritual.
I am a Nigerian. I went to Britain for my university education. I obtained from the University of London B.Sc. Hons Physics, and M.Sc. Solid State Physics. Back in Nigeria, I taught at universities and polytechnics before I retired. I’m in United States to publish my book titled: The True Mission of Christ. The content is by Divine revelation in my dreams over a period of years. The book details what is wrong with the practice of Christianity. This puts it in a class of its own. It is different from the other Christian religious books. My web site for the book is: http://www.babasanyacraig.com.
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