Houston, We Have A Problem!!!

http://kingjimmyunauthorized.blogspot.com/2014/10/houston-we-have-problem.html

According to this news report (http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2014/10/14/city-houston-demands-pastors-turn-over-sermons/), the city of Houston has issued subpoenas demanding a number of pastors turn over copies of all of their sermons dealing with issues surrounding homosexuality, gender identity, and the city's lesbian mayor, Annise Parker.

Although all the details of this inquiry are not yet fully known, this has all the appearance of the government possibly violating the First Amendment rights of these Christian pastors, and for many, it feels like a mild form of persecution, and a foreboding omen of things to come.

Understandably, a lot of these pastors are upset about this demand, and many Christians across the country have expressed voices of outrage and are crying foul as well.

One pastor by the name of Dave Welch said:

"We are not afraid of this bully. We're not intimidated at all... We are not going to yield our First Amendment rights."

Another leader, Tony Perkins said:

"The state is breaching the wall of separation of church and state... Pastors need to step forward and challenge this across the country. I'd like to see literally thousands of pastors after they read this story begin to challenge government authorities- to dare them to come into their churches and demand their sermons."

According to the report, a number of pastors have said they will not comply with the subpoena request.

And as Americans, I believe they are taking the right position.

As a Christian, I believe their stance is completely wrong.

I am reminded of how Jesus said that when people falsely slander us and persecute us, of how we are to "rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great." (Matthew 5:12)

I am reminded of a verse in Hebrews 10:34 which its author recalls how his church "accepted joyfully the seizure of your property, knowing that you have for yourselves a better possession and a lasting one."

I am reminded of how the apostle James, the brother of Jesus, once said "Count it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials." (James 1:2)

I am reminded how in the book of Acts, the apostle Paul was wrongfully imprisoned on bogus charges, dragged to court, and instead of demanding his release (which was almost granted to him), he looked at it as an opportunity to share his testimony with the highest officials in the land, and demanded an audience with higher courts, and accepted more time in prison as a result.

And sadly in all of this, I am reminded again and again how many Christians in the Church of Jesus Christ in America simply are not prepared to suffer. We are much more American than we are Christian. Our attitude is far removed from anything we can identify as Biblical. We are much more interested in securing, protecting, and asserting our "rights" than we are at obtaining eternal and everlasting treasure and joys.

I hang my head in disbelief. If these pastors are acting this way when the slightest bit of opposition arises, how will we as a church respond when when real trouble eventually comes?

We simply are not prepared to suffer my brethren.

Our identity is bound up in our earthly citizenship instead of our heavenly citizenship. We would rather fight back than do something of greater worth.

These pastors should rejoice over the opportunity to share their sermons with the city of Houston. They shouldn't have to answer a subponea. They should gladly take their sermons down to city hall, and hand them to the mayor herself. They should even offer to read them back to her, if she so desires.

But it seems like their minds are otherwise occupied on other things. They aren't thinking eternally. They are thinking like mere men.

Thanks Frank!

These pastors should rejoice over the opportunity to share their sermons with the city of Houston. They shouldn't have to answer a subponea. They should gladly take their sermons down to city hall, and hand them to the mayor herself. They should even offer to read them back to her, if she so desires.

But it seems like their minds are otherwise occupied on other things. They aren't thinking eternally. They are thinking like mere men.

Yet, isn't there also a place for Christians to vote and protest certain laws such as allowing gender-inclusive restrooms?

I'm all for Christians rocking the vote and protesting certain laws if need be. But, there is also a time to joyfully comply with unjust laws.

I hear ya Jimmy! But I think the other side also makes a good point about what may happen if the pastors simply comply. It will possibly mean that pastors will not be able to preach the whole counsel of God's Word anymore from the pulpit. They are trying to save that First Amendment freedom as opposed to just let it slip away by their silence and compliance. They are looking into the future and trying to do what they can to save the freedoms we have as much as possible instead of just staying silent.

Tough one for me, but you do make a good point. At first I felt they shouldn't have called the mayor a bully. But then I thought about our Lord calling king Herod a fox. Will have to keep prayerful on this one.

Fair questions Oracio. I am reminded of this story from the Gospels:

John 18:19-23

The high priest then questioned Jesus about His disciples, and about His teaching.

Jesus answered him, "I have spoken openly to the world; I always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all the Jews come together; and I spoke nothing in secret. Why do you question Me? Question those who have heard what I spoke to them; they know what I said.”

When He had said this, one of the officers standing nearby struck Jesus, saying, "Is that the way You answer the high priest?”

Jesus answered him, "If I have spoken wrongly, testify of the wrong; but if rightly, why do you strike Me?”

I think there is definitely a place for protest and resistence. But Jesus never fought back in all that happened to Him. He protested what was going on, but He went on with it anyway.

I think these pastors could definitely do both. They should joyfully comply. Offer the other cheek. Share their sermons. But that doesn't mean I think they should be totally silent about the abuse of their rights, even as Christ questioned about being wrongly struck.

But they shouldn't be hiring an army of lawyers and be prepared to fight to the bitter end.

I see what you're saying Jimmy. Makes sense. In other words, the pastors should surrender their sermons in hopes that the messages in them may spread all the more. Yet at the same time they should continue to preach the whole counsel of God's Word and not be intimidated from doing so.

Good point again, thanks Jimmy.

Yes. Of course, persecution may happen as a result. The state may clamp down on our brothers. But seeing their reaction so far, over a simple subponea, I'm can't imagine they (or us!!!) are truly prepared to suffer, and to do so with the right Christ like attitude, should it come to more drastic actions i.e. the exemption of 501(c)3 status, or worse....

For me, God's law is first, then man's laws. If man passes a law that disagrees with God's law, then I put it in Filing Cabinet #13 (garbage can). They can go ahead and lock me up, I will not compromise and say that homosexuality (or any other sin) is okay.

Update: Mayor, city attorney distance themselves from sermon subpoenas...

http://www.chron.com/news/politics/houston/article/Parker-calls-ERO-sermon-supboeana-overly-broad-5824816.php

-although I agree with much of what Jimmy stated-

Take a look at the first amendment!

-quote-
The First Amendment guarantees freedoms concerning religion, expression, assembly, and the right to petition. It forbids Congress from both promoting one religion over others and also restricting an individual’s religious practices. It guarantees freedom of expression by prohibiting Congress from restricting the press or the rights of individuals to speak freely. It also guarantees the right of citizens to assemble peaceably and to petition their government.
-quote-

Now if Pastors & Christians are the only people in America that does not have freedom of voice to spread the gospel message concerning the whole counsel of God...I mean don't you think we should be praying against this injustice when souls are at stake...should we just not declare our first amendment rights and just allow them to charge us with a crime when the first amendment rights is the law of the land also! It is a double standard!

Acts 22:25 (KJV)
25 And as they bound him with thongs, Paul said unto the centurion that stood by, Is it lawful for you to scourge a man that is a Roman, and uncondemned?

26 When the centurion heard that, he went and told the chief captain, saying, Take heed what thou doest: for this man is a Roman.

Notice how Paul said is it lawful...well brethren...is it lawful for the state to condemn a man for preaching the gospel in America when he happens to be an American protected by the First Amendment.

Blessings to all!

Good points on the other side rbanks. Thanks for sharing.

I was watching a little news about this last night- Tony Perkins of FRC said these pastors were more than happy to share their sermons- in fact they encouraged the mayor to come to their services or watch their sermons online.

The problem is that she had the unmitigated gall to request these in the first place which is a direct violation of the 1st Amendment and was intended to chill free religious expression. She is now doing some major back pedaling due to the uproar.

It will be interesting to see how this all plays out.

KingJimmy wrote:

"I hang my head in disbelief. If these pastors are acting this way when the slightest bit of opposition arises, how will we as a church respond when when real trouble eventually comes?"

Your understanding of this scriptural precept is missing the key point.

Luk 11:33
"No one, when he has lit a lamp, puts it in a secret place or under a basket, but on a lampstand, that those who come in may see the light.

Persecution comes because one speaks his or her mind in public. Do not condemn those who are willing to stand for righteousness.

I don't have a problem with them taking a stand for righteousness.

I do have a problem with the rather angered and outraged response they are making in response to the backlash. They are getting into a fight, which is not what they are called to do.

Whenever I've done street ministry, and have been cracked down on by police and other officials, I always responded kindly and with joy. I always sought a way to work with them and comply whenever possible, even though they were cracking down on me without any legal basis for doing so.

KingJimmy wrote:

"I do have a problem with the rather angered and outraged response they are making in response to the backlash. They are getting into a fight, which is not what they are called to do."

Rom 14:4
Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand.

Who knows what another is "called" to do?

When persecuted, we are to rejoice.
When cursed, we are to bless.
When somebody sues us for our shirt, we give them our coat too.
Whem somebody forces us to go one mile, we go a second.

We are called to do things like that.