1) Oregon's Assisted Suicide Law Upheld by U.S. Supreme Court 2) Navy Chaplain Retains his First Amendment Right to Worship 3) Why do Jewish Organizations Promote Hate Between Jew and Christian? 4) Honor the Santity of Human Life this Sunday
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Judge Samuel Alito is under attack by liberal Senators during his confirmation process. Please contact your two Senators immediately, urging their support for Judge Alito's confirmation through a fair and open hearing.
The War on Christians and the Values Voter in 2006
Vision America continues to receive commitments from prominent speakers for its March 27-28 “The War on Christians And The Values Voter 2006” conference. Those committed to date include: Senator Sam Brownback, Senator John Cornyn, Congressman Tom DeLay, Congressman Todd Akin, Congressman Louis Gohmert, Rod Parsley, Ron Luce, Gary Bauer, Alan Keyes, Phyllis Schlafly, Laurence White, and Janet Folger.
Oregon's Assisted Suicide Law Upheld by U.S. Supreme Court
Justices, by a 6-3 vote, said that federal authority to regulate doctors does not override the 1997 Oregon law used to end the lives of more than 200 seriously ill people. New Chief Justice John Roberts backed the Bush administration, dissenting for the first time and in so doing gave all who care strongly about the sanctity of life great encouragement that he is the real deal.
This is indeed a dark day in America. Once again the Supreme Court of the United States has attempted to trump God by giving the state powers that previous generations understood should remain in the purview of Almighty God. Our founders understood Natural law as well as Biblical revelation, and never envisioned a day when the highest court in the land would give medical doctors licence to kill human beings. The Hippocratic Oath, which hangs in medical offices around the world, contains the following words: “I will neither give a deadly drug to anybody if asked for it, nor will I make a suggestion to this effect.”
On Tuesday, the Supreme Court of the United States of America decided that God had it wrong, and that human beings could better determine for themselves when and where to die. People of faith across America who hold to Judeo-Christian Biblical values have a duty to press on with the goal of seeing a majority of the Supreme Court in place who uphold the Constitution which was written by men who upheld the value and worth of every life. Once again, the Court got it wrong.
This will be a important topic of discussion at our upcoming conference in Washington DC. "The War on Christians and the Values Voter in 2006" will be a major event gathering of prominent pro-family leaders. Will you join us?
Navy Chaplain Retains his First Amendment Right to Worship
Chaplain Gordon James Klingenschmitt waged a successful war against the Navy to keep his first amendment right to worship freely in America, and every person of faith in this nation owes this courageous American a debt of gratitude. After 18 days of a liquid only fast, Chaplain Klingenschmitt recieved word from his reluctant superiors that he would be allowed to keep his career and pray in Jesus' name, as he always had in the past.
This marks the second wonderful demonstration of courage under fire for all discerning believers. Roy Moore, the Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court, was removed from office and lost his job, his pension, and his reputation, when he refused to cease acknowledging God, in 2003.
Now we have seen a second man of faith refuse to bow to gods of political correctness, only this time, it was the system that blinked. What would happen in America if every Christian principal, teacher, employee and employer that is being threatened with disciplinary action or removal from their jobs for wearing a Christian symbol or posting a verse of scripture on their desk, refused to back down? Perhaps we might see revival. Who knows what God might do in this great nation if Christians chose to stand up and be counted. No longer can we say, 'Everybody else backed down!" Chaplain Klingenschmitt stood up, and we are better for it.
My good friend and colleague, Rabbi Daniel Lapin, wrote a column this week which is worth reading. I have copied the article below, with permission, so you too can be encouraged by the truths that he sets forth for both Jews and Christians. God is calling forth people of faith for a united effort of American Renewal. I am grateful for a growing family of Jewish friends who stand for Biblical values and who are on the front lines of the Culture Wars in America.
During November, the head of the Anti-Defamation League declared Christians to be the enemies of Jews. “Their goal is to implement their Christian worldview, to Christianize America, to save us!" he said. He proceeded to name names: "Major players include Focus on the Family. Alliance Defense Fund, the American Family Association, Family Research Council and more. They and other groups have established new organizations and church-based networks, and built infrastructure throughout the country designed to promote traditional Christian values."
Where do these traditional Christian values come from? Why, from the Bible of course. Remember that book? The one God gave to the Israelites at Mount Sinai a little over 3,000 years ago. Would you tell me please which ‘traditional Christian values” could be opposed by any Jew who took the Torah seriously? In attacking Torah values, the ADL’s leader clearly indicates that his organization is driven by Democratic Party doctrine, not by Jewish values. Jewish values derive from the Bible. But one isn’t supposed to say that.
Have you noticed? In a weird sort of Alice-in-Wonderland reversal of reality, people now utter apologetic disclaimers whenever they quote something Biblical. It wasn’t so long ago that failing to incorporate Biblical metaphors into your conversation labeled you an ignoramus. Now, for the first time in 500 years, people utterly ignorant of the Bible still think of themselves as educated.
Stop the defensiveness already. Whether Jew or Christian, you need to know this book. It is the only book never to be out of print since 1452 when it became the first book ever printed. It is the book in which is enshrined the moral code of western civilization. It is the book which inspired Isaac Newton to probe and reveal secrets of science. It is the book that encouraged Oliver Cromwell to rebel against King Charles 1.
It is the book which stirred Samuel Taylor Coleridge to write, “In the Bible I have found words for my inmost thoughts, songs for my joy, utterances for my hidden griefs.” It is the book from which sprang the Founders’ vision for America. It is your legacy. Know it and quote from it.
I told you all that only so I could tell you this: Biblical morality declares peace to be more important even than truth. Or to put it a bit more accurately, peace is one of the elements that defines truth. If you didn’t understand this, you’d have to accept that God lies. In fact, God appears to have lied to none other than His first devotee, our father Abraham. Here is what happened.
In Genesis chapter 18, God’s angel informed one-hundred-year-old Abraham that during the following year, his ninety-year-old wife, Sarah would have a son. The next verse reads: “Now Sarah was listening from behind the door.” This is followed by Sarah laughing to herself at the very notion of an elderly couple having a son. She explicitly says in verse twelve, “…and my husband is far too old.”
God seems to lie in the very next verse, distorting what made Sarah laugh. “And God said to Abraham, ‘why did Sarah laugh at the news saying ‘How could I give birth with me as old as I am? ” God told Abraham that Sarah laughed at her own age. In fact, she didn’t laugh at the thought of her own age as much as she laughed at her husband being too old. That is exactly what she said in verse twelve . Yet God changed the facts when He reported Sarah’s laughter to Abraham.
Ancient Jewish wisdom points out that the Bible is a moral guide not a history book. Thus it teaches humanity that peace, in this case between husband and wife, is more important than recitation of facts. What is more, it explains that an ultimately truthful report would have to take into account how horrified Sarah would have been had she embarrassed her husband. For this reason, God reported Sarah’s laughter as having been the result of contemplating her own age rather than doubting her husband’s virility.
That is how important peace is to Judaism. Peace isn’t the highest value of all; it can’t be pursued, for example, at the price of betrayal, defeat, or dishonor. But gratuitously picking fights and encouraging disharmony is abhorrent. Doing so to one’s friends is even worse. Peace between American Jew and American Christian is not only achievable, it is a beautiful reality. If you think about it, this peace is an amazing historic development. But more importantly, it is a brotherhood of destiny. What on earth motivates those so-called Jewish organizations who jeopardize it?
If America is to prevail against Islamic terror and once again save Western civilization, American Jews and American Christians must link arms. This great struggle which threatens to plunge, not just Europe but the whole world back into darkness and primitivism is ultimately a struggle between the culture of the Koran and the twin civilizations of the Bible. Only if we, who sprang from the Bible, stand firm can we hope to prevail.
If America is to stand with Israel, American Jews and Americans Christian must link arms. The Washington Post reported how Donald E. Wildmon, chairman of the evangelical American Family Association, warned in a Dec. 5th 2005 radio broadcast that Foxman was fighting the very people who are the strongest supporters of Israel. "The more he says that 'you people are destroying this country,' you know, some people are going to begin to get fed up with this and say, 'Well, all right then. If that's the way you feel, then we just won't support Israel anymore.' " I know Don Wildmon and he is a philo-Semitic supporter of Israel. He is not saying that he will stop loving Jews and Israel. He is warning that many people finally tire of being endlessly kicked by those they considered their friends, and eventually change their minds.
If America is to restore its culture, banish vulgarity, and resist those who would remake it in Europe’s image, American Jews and American Christians must link arms.
In the face of these mighty challenges, Mr. Foxman of the ADL, and Rabbi Eric Yoffie of the Reform Jewish movement see fit to try and destroy peace between American Christian and American Jew. In mid-November, Rabbi Yoffie insisted that anyone who opposes homosexuality is like Hitler. That is right, Rabbi Yoffie is saying that adhering to the words of Leviticus makes me a Nazi!
Mr. Foxman denounced by name, organizations like Focus on the Family. Alliance Defense Fund, the American Family Association, and Family Research Council. I have spoken for these fine organizations on numerous occasions. Whenever I have done so, my speeches were Torah-based words of an Orthodox rabbi. These organizations which Mr. Foxman not so subtly suggests are anti-Jewish applauded my remarks. I have broadcast and socialized with Dr. James Dobson, the founder of Focus on the Family; he is a Bible-loving supporter of Israel and friend of the Jewish people. Alan Sears, the head of Alliance Defense Fund is a dear friend and is deeply committed to Biblical values. His organization does outstanding work and is supported by many members of Toward Tradition as indeed it ought to be. The American Family Association and Family Research Council both stand for the basic unit of social organization—the family. What Jew committed to Jewish values would not support these excellent organizations that advocate for the life model recommended by the Bible?
Peace is a foundational Jewish value. Those who try to bring about peace and maintain it are acting in accordance with Biblical values. Those who undermine it and attempt to replace it with enmity are acting in accordance with some other set of values. I am not sure what it is but I am sure it isn’t Jewish.
Honor the Sanctity of Human Life this Sunday
January of 2006 marks 33 years of American tragedy since legalized abortion became the "law of the land." Thousands of churches across the country will band together this Sunday to remember the millions of innocent babies who have been lost.
The most prominent event will once again be the annual "March for Life" in Washington DC. Over 100,000 pro-life citizens are expected to attend and stand together for life with a march ending at the steps of the U.S. Capitol. The event will be held Monday January 23rd at 12 noon on the Mall.
I encourage you and your congregation to make a special remembrance for this Sanctity of Life Sunday. While we honor an entire generation of little ones lost in this battle, we should also renew our commitment to a culture that celebrates and respects the gift of life.
