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Saturday, May 28, 2016

SOUTHERN BAPTISTS JOIN MOSQUE BUILDING EFFORT~WORSHIPPING RELIGIOUS LIBERTY

THE PROPOSED MOSQUE IN LIBERTY CORNER, BERNARDS TOWNSHIP, NEW JERSEY; ONLY ONE OF MANY THAT THE SOUTHERN BAPTISTS WANT TO HELP BUILD

"NASHVILLE, TN – The Southern Baptist Convention has announced plans to launch an ambitious new program to build mosques all across the nation in order to help foster religious tolerance and “a general sense of niceness” towards all. The massive mosque proliferation plan will be launched through a denomination wide “Mosques Across America” building fund that will appeal to SBC members on the basis of love for “religious liberty” and “the God-given right of anyone to worship any god anyone wants, including Allah.”"
"“And here in America, all religions are to be treated equally. Everyone in America has a God-given right to worship false gods and build mosques or covens or even satanic temples,” added Moore with a smile while unrolling blueprints for a mosque that he personally plans to help build in Middle Tennessee. “Those are the rules in America, and we have to play by those rules as good American Baptists.”"
THE EFFECT OF "SLOWLY BECOMING CATHOLIC" (SBC) IS THAT YOU FIND COMMON GROUND WITH THE POPE
SBCMosqueConstruction

Worshipping Religious Liberty: 

SBC Joins Mosque Building Effort

BY BUD AHLHEIM
SEE: http://pulpitandpen.org/2016/05/27/worshipping-religious-liberty-sbc-joins-mosque-building-effort/republished below in full unedited for informational, educational, and research purposes:

Southern Baptists, through their Ethics And Religious Liberty Commission and their International Mission Board, have joined hands with Muslims and others to help build a mosque.
But they have to.  It’s inevitable when you hold closely to the tenets of American Christianity.
The SBC’s ERLC and IMB have joined in with the likes of the Center for Islam and Religious Freedom, the Interfaith Coalition on Mosques, the International Society of Krishna Consciousness, the Sikh Coalition, and other unlikely allies to support building a mosque.  According to The Becket Fund For Religious Liberty (An organization in which Russell Moore is on the Board of Directors) over 20 “interfaith” groups have united to push forward the agenda of the god of religious liberty in support of the mosque..
The specifics of the case itself are described in the March 10 article in the New York TimesMuslims Sue Over Denial To Build A Mosque in New Jersey.  The New Jersey township of Bernards, a suburb about an hour from Manhattan, has denied an application for a mosque to be built in their town.  The two SBC agencies have joined in the legal brief supporting the Muslims because of the religious liberty implications of the case.
For those who merely worship Americanism – with no regard for any God – the notion voiced by an opponent of the New Jersey mosque is likely amenable, stating that Islam and its Shariah law is “one of the greatest threats to American values and liberties.”  How can a mosque be allowed merely an hour away from where Islamists perpetrated the greatest act of terrorism on American soil?
However, for one driven by the theology of “American Christianity,” the prevalent flavor of faith within evangelical pews, especially Southern Baptist ones, mosque building becomes, perhaps, a “love your neighbor” issue.  When you define your faith by your nation, and that nation inherently defends “freedom,” the American Christian must abide by the demands of tolerance implicit within the framework of the Constitutional Republic.  But freedom, unrestrained, leads rapidly to corruption, destruction, and civil anarchy.
Indeed, American Christianity, as exhibited here by two SBC agencies, must worship the idol of religious freedom. Southern Baptists, led by Russell Moore and the ERLC, are increasingly vocal evangelists for this god, and they do it without clear Scriptural compulsion.  The compulsion they presume comes from the implied notion that America is particular to God, chosen by God, favored by God.  But, again, this notion glaringly lacks Scriptural credence.
It is the necessary worship of the god of religious liberty that compels Moore and the ERLC to be regularly out front chanting the mantra of a god not found in Scripture.  From aligning with Muslims in the mosque lawsuit to standing with Catholics over Obamacare abortion mandates, the hypocrisy of failing to stand firm with any and all in the protection and propagation of this fundamental tenet would be tantamount to engaging in harlotry.
The Baptist Press, on May 25, reported on the latest interfaith consortium led by the ERLC.  All Need Religious Liberty, Baptist, Others Contend highlights the latest multi-faith panel assembled by Moore to promote religious liberty in America.  Moore is quoted stating that religious liberty “is about having the freedom and the opportunity to be genuinely different, to be able to genuinely respect one another and be able to have disagreements with one another, including about the issues that we believe are of ultimate, ultimate significance, while at the same time saying, “These are not matters of coercion, and we do not need a government referee to come and settle those issues.”
Looked at in light of American Christianity, it seems incumbent that Christians vigorously defend religious liberty.  After all, they may shut us down if we don’t.  On the other hand, Moore and others look to the government for the very thing they bemoan – interference that demands protection but not authoritarian coercion.  But looking to government, rather than God, for protection seems a woefully unfaithful form of obedience, does it not?  Is our God not faithful should persecution come our way?
While it is unsurprising that the ERLC would join hands with the world – the agency does that zealously – it does come as a surprise that the SBC’s IMB, under David Platt, would find a motive to add its moniker to the legal battle.  Are they hoping that such a stance might be a “scratch my back” example of co-existence that might be reciprocated elsewhere in the world?  Do we have some denominational plans for a church plant in Mecca?  While that would be tremendous, the fact remains that the Saudis do not entertain the worship of this particular idol.
Herein lies a critical issue when your flavor of faith is first “American” and then “Christian.”  The Word of God nowhere offers such a contracted definition of faith.  While some may claim “Christianity” is the priority – as surely the ERLC and IMB would – it is their behavior that reveals the truth.  “American” takes precedence.
Proclaiming “there is no other name under heaven by which men may be saved” seems uncannily hollow when you’ve just joined hands to help build a Christ-denying mosque. Once again, Christianity becomes just another flavor of religion to an onlooking world and our witness as Southern Baptists diluted by our religious liberty defenses.
If your faith isn’t viewed through the lens of God’s sovereignty or His faithfulness and is seen instead through the lens of theologically-aberrant “American Christianity,” it is of little comfort that God is with you always.  What seems, rather, substantially more important is that the god of religious liberty is with you always.  And that god demands defense for itself at all costs with whoever is willing to battle alongside for it.  Indeed, the first commandment is supplanted in “American” Christianity, it seems, by one more akin to “you shall have no other gods before me, except the god of religious liberty.”
We have been supremely blessed in America to have been founded on principles drawn from Scripture.  But those principles, in themselves, do not make us an intrinsically “Christian” nation.  By strict definition, we have never been a “Christian” nation, but rather we have, for a blessedly brief tenure, been a nationof Christians.  We once were Christians first, and Americans second.  It wasn’t a subtle distinction, but an intentional one.  It’s one we seem to have lost since now we worship religious liberty, rather than the God who is with us always  … regardless.
Should Christians stand and fight for religious liberty?  Of course.  Absolutely. We should not forsake a vigilant fight to maintain fundamental American freedoms.  But, as Christians first, should we not be intentionally cautious as to how and with whom we defend them? Scriptural commands for us to be separate from the world are thoroughly ignored by the SBC in pursuit of a right that, while certainly expected in America, is unessential to our faith. I’m not too comfortable knowing a portion of my tithes went to help argue a legal case for the construction of a mosque.  What is the price of our witness, our faithfulness, and our trust in God’s sovereignty as we usurp His commands by our worldly alliances pleading for legislated freedom?
We should be cautious about how we align with this god of religious liberty because it is nothing less than the current “spirit of the world,” the one beckoning for tolerance and co-existence.  If you’re an American only, you likely find that acceptable.  But if you’re a Christian first, you might find yourself Biblically bristling at the notion of co-existence.  Indeed, you should.
How long is the leap from governmentally legislated religious liberty to authoritarian-induced tolerance for anyone and anything, regardless how bizarre, ungodly, or vile?  When will a transgender bathroom be dictated for your sanctuary’s foyer?  Religious liberty is not that dissimilar, you see, from personal liberty, in the tenets of Americanism.
Should we not be overly cautious with our alliances when lurking around the next corner may be a stronger, more powerful personal liberty lobby that, beseeching the government for its protection too, may one day dictate distinctly unpalatable expectations on the church?  Can we be certain that having our cake of mandated religious liberty might not later mean we may be forced to eat a slice of legislated personal liberty blasphemy? Does it not seem likely that gay marriage ceremonies, transgender bathrooms, and the like, as protected personal freedoms, forcefully find their legislated ways into the church?
The church is called to be separate from the world, not to join in building temples to its pagan gods.  But in the name of religious liberty the SBC stands united with pagans for the construction of a mosque.  How long before, perhaps, it is equally required to stand for the building of an abortuary in the name of defending personal “liberty?”  Would never happen, you say?  How long ago would you have denied the possibility of your tithes and offerings going to an SBC agency that would use them to stand in support of mosque building?
Religious liberty, for all the wonderful blessings it has bestowed in America, can quickly become a favored tool of a definite, destructive, God-hating enemy.  Is it necessary for us to stand with evil to build their temples in order to protect ourselves?  Must we stand with pagans pleading for legislated safety, unsure that God will actually be faithful?
Sometimes God blesses us, and increases His glory, by taking things away and allowing persecution to come.  It worked for that early, first Jerusalem church when persecution intensified the spread of the Gospel.  It worked again in the 16th century when the Reformation exploded God’s Word across the world.
We ought to pray it works again because the god of religious liberty doesn’t play favorites – it will eventually slay all comers by granting unfettered “freedom” while Truth goes ignored, un-worshipped, and increasingly unknown.  When our assurance is based on legislated tolerance in our favor, we must recognize the double-edged sword of tolerance slices not only along lines of religious liberty but also along personal liberty lines too. Trusting government for religious liberty seems rather culturally hypocritical when they come to change the bathroom signs in our churches in the name of personal liberty.
Is religious liberty perhaps just another mask of the enemy as he whispers appealingly for us to co-exist?   When do we determine “what fellowship has light with darkness?”  (2 Corinthians 6:14)  Freedom, unrestrained, rapidly becomes enslavement.  The world under Romans 1 judgment thinks it is free to do as it wills, unaware that very freedom leads to God’s full and final, wrathful justice.  Rather than standing for unfettered freedom with no regard for the embrace of a pagan world it seems to necessitate, at least for the SBC, should we not, instead, stand in obedience to the Truth that truly sets us free?  (John 8:31-32)
Let us continue to stand for religious liberty in America.  But let us stand first on our firm convictions that our alliance with God is paramount, that He will accomplish His ends without the necessity of our alliances with evil.  “Come out from among them.”  (2 Corinthians 6:17)
There just may come a day, delivered to us via the god of religious liberty, and its close cousin of personal liberty – though under the certain, absolute, providential, sovereign permissive will of the true God – when we will be faced with an opportunity to echo Joshua’s words.  It might be best if we committed to it now …
But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.  Joshua 24:15
It’s worth thinking about …
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Civil Rights Investigation Open Over Proposed Mosque in Bernards Township, N.J.
Published on Mar 21, 2016
The Islamic Society of Basking Ridge bought a four-acre plot in Bernards Township with plans to raze the house and build a mosque. But those plans were derailed after nearly 40 public hearings and four years of denied permits.


ATTORNEYS FOR ALABAMA CHIEF JUSTICE ROY MOORE SUE COMMISSION OVER CHARGES, SUSPENSION FROM BENCH

Moore Restored
SEE OUR PREVIOUS POSTS:
ATTORNEYS FOR ALABAMA CHIEF JUSTICE ROY MOORE SUE COMMISSION OVER CHARGES, SUSPENSION FROM BENCH
BY HEATHER CLARK
SEE: http://christiannews.net/2016/05/28/attorneys-for-alabama-chief-justice-roy-moore-sue-commission-over-charges-suspension-from-bench/republished below in full unedited for informational, educational, and research purposes:

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Attorneys for embattled Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore have sued the state Judicial Inquiry Commission (JIC) to challenge the constitutionality of the charges leveled against the “Ten Commandments Judge” and to seek his immediate reinstatement to the bench.
“The charges against Chief Justice Roy Moore must be dismissed. The JIC has no jurisdiction over an administrative order of the chief justice. Only the Alabama Supreme Court has jurisdiction, and that court agreed with the order,” Mat Staver, founder and chairman of Liberty Counsel, said in a statement on Friday.
“We are asking the federal court to strike down the automatic removal provision in the Alabama State Constitution and we are asking that Chief Justice Moore be immediately reinstated,” he stated.
Staver also said that Liberty Counsel will also assert that the JIC violated the confidentiality rule that requires that details of an investigation be keep confidential until charges are issued.
“In this case, the JIC intentionally leaked the pending charges to the media, which is a serious violation of the JIC rules,” he said.
As previously reported, Moore was suspended from the bench earlier this month and now faces possible removal after the homosexual advocacy groups Southern Poverty Law Center, People for the American Way, the Human Rights Campaign, and a drag queen who goes by the name Ambrosia Starling, pressed the JIC to take action against Moore.
The situation began in 2013 when two lesbians in the state sued Gov. Robert Bentley, Attorney General Luther Strange and Mobile County Probate Judge Don Davis—among others—in an attempt to overturn Alabama’s marriage amendment after one of the women was denied from adopting the other woman’s child.
January 2015, U.S. District Judge Ginny Granade ruled in favor of the women, prompting Moore to send a memo to probate judges throughout the state, advising that they are not required to issue “marriage” licenses to same-sex couples as he believed that Grenade’s ruling only applied to the two women.
“[N]othing in the orders of Judge Grenadae requires Alabama probate judges to issue marriage licenses that are illegal in Alabama,” he wrote. “Pursuant to … the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, Alabama probate judges are not subject to those orders because the probate judges are not parties or associated with any party in those cases.”
“[T]he injunction and the stay or the lifting thereof can only apply to the sole defendant, the Alabama attorney general,” Moore said. “I urge you to uphold and support the Alabama Constitution and the Constitution of the United States to the best of your ability. So help you God.”
Moore also wrote a letter to Gov. Robert Bentley, urging him to “uphold and support the Alabama Constitution with respect to marriage, both for the welfare of this state and for our posterity.”
“Be advised that I will stand with you to stop judicial tyranny and any unlawful opinions issued without constitutional authority,” he stated.
The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) then filed a judicial ethics complaint against Moore over his letter to Gov. Bentley, and the homosexual activist group Human Rights Campaign (HRC) submitted 28,000 petition signatures to the JIC calling for Moore’s removal.
As confusion ensued over Moore’s letter to probate judges, one judge, John Enslen of Elmore County, asked the full Alabama Supreme Court for further guidance. In March 2015, six of the nine judges of the Alabama Supreme Court released a historic order halting the issuance of same-sex “marriage” licenses in the state. Moore recused himself from the matter and was not included in the order.
“As it has done for approximately two centuries, Alabama law allows for ‘marriage’ between only one man and one woman,” the 148-page order read. “Alabama probate judges have a ministerial duty not to issue any marriage license contrary to this law. Nothing in the United States Constitution alters or overrides this duty.”
In January, Moore sent another letter advising that the full court’s would remain in effect until it issued directives in light of the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges.
“Until further decision by the Alabama Supreme Court, the existing orders of the Alabama Supreme Court that Alabama probate judges have a ministerial duty not to issue any marriage license contrary to the Alabama Sanctity of Marriage Amendment or the Alabama Marriage Protection Act remain in full force and effect,” he wrote on Jan. 6.
He also noted that his order does not weigh in on how June’s U.S. Supreme Court ruling has impact on the Alabama Supreme Court’s directive, and said that it was not his place to make that determination.
“I am not at liberty to provide any guidance to Alabama probate judges on the effect of Obergefell on the existing orders of the Alabama Supreme Court. That issue remains before the entire court, which continues to deliberate on the matter,” Moore wrote.
Earlier this month, the Alabama Judicial Inquiry Commission (JIC) announced that it had filed ethics charges against Moore as a result of the SPLC complaint, and suspended the chief justice while he faces a trial before the Alabama Court of the Judiciary.
It said that Moore was “bound by the United State Supreme Court’s interpretation and application” of the Constitution to same-sex “marriage,” but Moore notes that his letter had nothing to do with the Supreme Court order, and that the full court was to later issue directives about the matter after receiving legal briefing.
Liberty Counsel says that the JIC has no authority to render legal opinions when it disagrees with a judge’s view of the law, and that the automatic suspension requirement in the Alabama Constitution violates due process.
“The automatic removal provision places far too much power in the JIC, which can just file charges and have a judge removed,” Staver said.
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Former Director of Group That Filed Complaint Against Chief Justice Roy Moore Hired as Prosecutor

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Kayla Moore Defends Her Husband,
Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore


Rally for Judge Moore
Published on May 23, 2016
Complete video from the Stand With Judge Moore Rally, for God, Marriage, and the Constitution. Over 1000 Christians from across the State, and others from around the nation joined us to stand with Chief Justice Roy Moore, and demand that he be reinstated to his rightful position, and the illegitimate, politically motivated charges be dropped.


The Pretended Offenses of Chief Justice
Roy Moore - Jake MacAulay


Drag Queen "Ambrosia Starling" Leads Charge
Against Judge Roy Moore



                                 

Ambrosia Starling Discusses A Run For Alabama Governor in 2018
Published on May 16, 2016
"When we treat each other decently in public, that's when we know everything's going to be all right. If you want Ambrosia Starling for Governor; if you think that's what it's going to take... baby I'm all there and all for it." So proclaimed an Alabama drag queen who has publicly jousted about marriage equality & transgender rights with suspended AL Chief Justice Roy Moore.