depravity

2014-02-14 Fools

Ben's Blog / By

ACH Study Groups

Ben & Fran Gilmore – Cofounders

7659 Gingerblossom Drive

Citrus Heights, CA 95621

916-722-2501 histbuff@garlic.com

www.ACHStudyGroups.com

February 14, 2014

This is a letter to our friends –

Fools

A story – My guide and I saw a shepherd following his flock down the road. I asked, “Isn’t the shepherd supposed to walk in front and lead his sheep?” My guide replied, “That isn’t the shepherd, that is the butcher.”

I am in awe of any shepherd who can hold a congregation together for 20 minutes, much less a year or two. Because of the universal depravity of human nature.1 It is like herding cats! Shepherds serve a different Master, thus I want to speak carefully.2

The fact remains – Only a small percentage of Americans who attend church have been turning out to vote in recent elections. Further – Like those who do not attend church, most American citizens are woefully ignorant of their responsibilities as citizens. They have little understanding of basic political mechanics.

Suddenly, election day is upon them and they know little of the candidates or issues on their ballot. Those who choose to vote make last-minute choices based upon mailed fliers or TV commercials (Though they are aware these are usually emotional “pitches” of marginal credibility!)

Of even greater significance — Church attending citizens have limited knowledge of the Biblical principles that so influenced the founders of our “American Christian Republic.” (Note to the reader – Please do not throw stones at the messenger! You know these things are true!)

It is fair to speculate, why this situation exists. That is – Why is the American church silent, as we are forfeiting our God-given rights to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”

Several generations of K-12 and college students have been taught that religious responsibility is separated from civil responsibility. “In proportion as Americans let go of faith in the absolute power of God, they have accepted the belief in an all powerful State.”3

Think about it – Any law that violates the, “Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God” is to be considered, no law at all. Were that not so, man’s law would be above God’s law which the Bible calls idolatry.

Further – “… all experience hath shown, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves…”4 Why? I speculate it is because of ignorance and apathy (“I don’t know, and I don’t care”). It is also “fear of man.” That is – “What will my –boss – wife – congregation – denomination think?”

The soul of America’s citizens is crying out for leaders who will lift the torch of God’s law above any other, and lead righteous armies of citizens in restoring what the hand of God has exhibited in North America.

The Perfect Quote
Some people have the vocabulary to sum up things in a way that you can quickly understand them. This quote came from the Czech Republic . Someone over there has it figured out. It was translated into English from an article in the Prague newspaper, Prager Zeitungon .

"The danger to America is not Barack Obama, but a citizenry capable of entrusting a man like him with the Presidency. It will be far easier to limit and undo the follies of an Obama presidency than to restore the necessary common sense and good judgment to a depraved electorate willing to have such a man for their president. The problem is much deeper and far more serious than Mr. Obama, who is a mere symptom of what ails America. Blaming the prince of fools should not blind anyone to the vast confederacy of fools that made him their prince.

“The Republic can survive a Barack Obama, who is, after all, merely a fool. It is less likely to survive a multitude of fools, such as those who made him their President."

Please share this paper. I hope you will take the time to view this youtube link.

[youtube http://youtube.com/w/?v=dkA8JR2p_tQ]

Notes –

  1. “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? [Jeremiah 17:9]
  2. “Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? To his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.” [Romans 14:4]
  3. Verna M. Hall, “The Christian History of The Constitution Of The United States Of America” page II.
  4. From “The Declaration of Independence” (1776)

2014-02-14 Fools Read More »

It is Not Debatable

Ben's Blog / By

[xyz-ihs snippet=”ByBenGilmore”]

Same sex marriage is derived from homosexuality, which is a derivative of rebellion, which is a derivative of universal depravity, which is a choice.

As I listened to the talking heads on TV news, it occurred to me that depravity is destined to win todays debate. In our “Principles of American Government” online course, we make a point of recognizing and not accepting false presuppositions. If you permit a false idea to be introduced at the beginning of a discussion – The whole structure of the discussion is built upon sand, NOT solid rock.

What is the false presupposition in the “same sex marriage” discussion?

God does not exist. Therefore the “laws of Nature and of Nature’s God” are invalid. Therefore the opinions, and not the sound reasoning, of humans is supreme (i.e. humanism).

Our unique American culture, based upon Christian self-government, has become so eroded that we are debating the un-debatable!

Liberty is not license. Nothing and no one is without a set of rules (laws) that govern it. Step outside those rules – chaos. Stay within those rules – peace. America’s founders understood that. Their reference to “natural law” and “revealed law” presupposed that God exists. (“We are endowed by our Creator … “.

Natural law may be discovered by observation and reason. We see the “edge” of the earth and conclude “the earth is flat”. Human reason is not always correct. Navigation based upon that false presupposition will not work! The truth – the earth is round – was not changed by faulty human reasoning.

Revealed law is found ONLY in the Holy Scriptures. Since there is a mountain of evidence that they resulted from the direct inspiration of God, “revealed law” is infinitely more authoritative than “natural law” which is based upon human observation and reason.

It is important to note that – natural law and revealed law will never be in conflict – since they come from the same source.

BUT – You say, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof: … “. [1st Amendment to our Constitution] Therefore, you can not involve God and either natural law, or revealed law (the Bible), in discussing “same sex marriage.”

I believe “religion” here, refers to systems of doctrines and beliefs, created by man.

Separation of church and state makes sense. Our founders feared a state-sponsored church. Separation of God and state is insanity! Both the Declaration and the Constitution presuppose a supreme lawgiver. We are wrong to equate God and His will, with man-created systems. Fellowship with believers (i.e.”church” ), is a good thing. – BUT – It is not a substitute for a personal relationship with God.

Both human reason and the inspired word of God will validate the wisdom of staying within the laws of Nature and of Nature’s God. Any law outside those limits should be no law at all.

This is the discussion we should be having — Do God and His rules exist? We will agree in advance to accept a better, more proven, set of rules. What have you to offer?

Let us agree – It would be unwise not to live and govern by the best set of rules available.

[xyz-ihs snippet=”ContactBen”]

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Ben Gilmore 1929-2023

On March 30, 2023 Ben Gilmore, the co-founder of ACHStudyGroups (co-founded with his wife Fran), went to be with the Lord in Glory.

A Memorial: https://www.mykeeper.com/profile/BenGilmore/