I just signed the petition from the ACLJ in support of Israel:
President Obama continually fails Israel in his policies and in the signals he sends to the rest of the world. Now references to “Jerusalem” and an unequivocal statement that Israel is our most trusted ally in the region have been stripped from the Democrat Party platform.
Iran is escalating its threats to destroy Israel and the Israeli people; we need to show our unwavering support for our ally. Tell President Obama and the DNC to amend their platform, and state America’s clear support for Israel. Sign our petition today.
Petition for Israel, Change Democratic Platform
To: President Obama and the DNC
At a time when Israel is facing new and dangerous threats, you cannot turn your back on Israel. By refusing to include Jerusalem in the party platform and ignoring the reality that Jerusalem is indeed the capital of Israel, you underscore your lack of commitment to our trusted ally. Israel deserves our unconditional support.
The Democrats and the DNC (Democratic National Committee) have gone off the deep end on this one. Are there no Christians in the Democratic Party?
Surely President Obama, his family, and his party are appallingly ignorant of what the Bible says about this. On this subject ignorance can be dangerous and costly.
The Bible clearly declares:
Gen 12:3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
In his ignorance, President Obama, and in their ignorance, the Democratic Party with their new Platform, have just become subject to the curse of God as given in the Bible. God stands by what He has declared in His written Word the Bible.
Here is what the Bible declares they should have done:
Psalm 122:6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.
By very clear implication, those who do not pray for and love Jerusalem will not prosper.
All Bible believing Christians need to get their Biblical priorities straight and plan without fail to vote on November 6, 2012.
According to recent media reports I have heard and read, in 2008 there were 30,000,000 Evangelical Christians who did not bother to vote. President Obama won by 10,000,000 votes, if I am remembering the numbers I heard correctly.
I have recently read on line comments by Christians who say it is sinful to vote when the only choice before us is the “lesser of two evils.” Since it would be sinful to vote for evil, they do not plan to vote.
Edmund Burke was far wiser in his Christian walk. He said that all it takes for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.
Jesus said to render unto Cesar the things that are Cesar’s, and unto God the things that are God’s.
In this country we have been given the right and opportunity to vote. This right has been bought at great cost and sacrifice by those who have defended and even died for the freedoms we enjoy.
When any Christian fails to exercise their vote, they are voting for the greater of two evils.
God plainly tells us in His word,
James 4:17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.
Let’s cut out the nonsense, and stand up for and do what is right!
UPDATE:
Tonight, the Democratic National Committee suspended the rules of the convention and inserted language regarding God and the State of Israel back to its platform. They had to vote three times to do it – and they had to lie to deem it passed, even though it was clear that the measure did not pass a voice vote in the chamber. The original 2012 Democratic Party platform had excised all mention of God and Jerusalem as the capital of the State of Israel.
Governor Ted Strickland of Ohio made the motion to change the platform:
This summer, I was proud to serve this party as the platform drafting committee chair. I came before you today to discuss the two important matters related to our party’s national platform. As an ordained United Methodist Minister, I am here to attest and affirm that our faith and belief in God is central to the American story and informs the value we have expressed in our party’s platform. In addition, President Obama recognizes Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and our party’s platform should as well. Mr. Chairman, I have submitted my amendment in writing and I believe it is being projected on the screen for the delegates to see. I move adoption of the amendment as submitted and shown to the delegates.
Perhaps the message got through from somewhere.
SOURCE LINK:
http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2012/09/05/Democrats-change-platform-God-Israel
I am not surprised in the least that the Muslum President and mostly Godless and leftist Democrats would again dunp Israel. He stopped the Whitehouse’s involvement with the National Day of Prayer . Yet among his vacations every year since elected he and his family vacation during Rahmadan and the Whitehouse holds a dinner to signify the closing of Rahmadan! Have you heard his stance on salvation?
Obama is not a very good history student. Every nation that has snubbed Israel has fallen from the power elite of nations on Earth; Germany and England are on the list. God is on Israels side if 1967 and 1973 had not shown this. United States watchout, if you do not remember history you will repeat it. By tue way Unions were form out of the communist movement. I am all for collective bargining but I am not for the lazy not count workers getting what the loyal hard , good work ethic, union guys get. Espically when the bumbs get to work and hard worker non-trouble makers stay working.
I pray many Union workers realize the Democrats are all talk amd no action – and always have been, vote the Dems anf Obama OUT!!!
Brad, consider this: Luke 17:20 And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God comes not with observation:
Dear Brad,
Unions themselves seem too closely connected with the Democratic Party indeed.
Not all union members are.
I am sure there must be many genuine Christians who, as I found myself, are members of a union. But Christians in such a position need to exercise their voice and let their testimony be seen.
I found out right away at my first job at Michigan Bell Telephone Company in Detroit that without me giving any sign, far as I knew, that I was a Bible believing Christian, my fellow-workers recognized it immediately, the very first day, and asked if I was going into the ministry!
When I became a school teacher the same thing happened with my students.
If a person is a genuine Christian, there ought to be a difference, and if there is, people will see it and often appreciate it, without ever “preaching” to them.
I agree that at this time we both need to and must vote all democrats out of office. They have failed to keep their sacred trust.
Abraham Lincoln once said something to the effect that he stood with a person so long as they were in the right; as soon as they were not, he no longer stood with them.
The Republicans are also a sorry lot. They claim to support the issues many Christians focus on, but when in actual office and power they do little to nothing to follow up on their claims.
Many Christians, though, are themselves a sorry lot. They focus upon a few narrow issues like the right to life and think that is the only moral issue out there. The Bible has much more to say about justice than what Christians have been taught or have learned from their own Bible reading. They need to learn how to do Real Bible Study which focuses on all that the Bible teaches, not just a few favorite topics.
Now as for Luke 17:20, here it is from the NET Bible, with a little bit of context, which may help clarify the meaning of the text:
At the very time Jesus spoke these words, He as the King of Israel (John 1:49) was immediately and physically present, and so then the Kingdom of God was in their midst. But they did not recognize Him, and as a result the Kingdom was taken from them (Matthew 21:43), not to be ushered in until His future return in glory at the Second Advent.
When our Lord Jesus Christ returns, He will fulfill all those prophecies which speak of His Glory (see the extensive references given at 1 Peter 1:11), since He has already fulfilled those which pertain to His suffering.
Then He will literally fulfill the promise and prophecy given at Luke 1:31-33,
The “throne of his father David” is not in heaven, but will be established again upon this earth at Christ’s return.
Most Bible teachers teach that Christ’s reign takes place on earth during the Millennium and only for that 1000 years. This is clearly and most absolutely mistaken as to the length of His reign. The reign on this earth of our Lord Jesus Christ lasts forever, doubly emphasized in Luke 1:33 with the additional words, “and of his kingdom there shall be no end.” This very truth is emphasized in a similar way at Daniel 7:14.
Thank you A. Way and Jerry.
A. Way I am alittle thick maybe but how does Lk. 17:20 apply to my comment? I really do not get it. I am sure I am just not seeing it.
Jerry,
My comments were not directed at believers specific. A person needs to work whereever FAther blesses them with a job. Christians in a union are no dkfferent tjan Christians in non-union jobs. Both must let their light shine in the work situation.
You are absolutely correct about Christians voting based on moral issues. I know Christians in office that are so issues oriented they do not perform the job citizens need. Absolutely moral issues are important but there is so much more to consider.
I need help with Real Bible Study using the NTSK.
I want to study exhaustively the NEW Creation in 2 Corinthians 5:17 for the long haul. However, in the short term do I just look at the references after ‘a new’ and only if there is an ‘*’ by the reference?
Why do I ask this? We are called to make disciples of believers. Most churches(leadership) believe they are in the savation business only and largely ignore discipleship Matt 28:19. They ignore John 17:3. Yes Christians are very busy BUT barren today.
It takes REAL Bible Study personaly and The Holy Spirit giving the understanding (even if a pastor/teacher has understanding), to support what God desires for all believers. This can only happen in our new creation where God lives His life in us AND it will NEVER happen in the realm of the flesh and our corrupt intellect. In other words you can study and know about the entire bible through your intelect and not KNOW God. Knowing God is only accomplished through the mind of Christ, your renewed mind and your new heart. Anything outside of your new creation is dead.
Dear Brad,
You are utterly correct when you remind us that “Knowing God is only accomplished through the mind of Christ, your renewed mind and your new heart. Anything outside of your new creation is dead.”
The subject of discipleship is a most important one. I have placed notes at a number of places in The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge about this subject. It was a matter of great concern to me when I was teaching my original high school Sunday school class. You can access all of the New Treasury notes on this theme if you start from Jonah 4:11 for the key words that great city. At the end of that note, notice the passages given under “See related notes (1 Th 3:5n. He 3:13n. 6:9n),” and be sure to study those too.
At 2 Corinthians 5:17, I believe the best way to study this verse and its relationship to the rest of the truths in Scripture that connect to it is to (1) look up all the cross references in turn just as they are given.
Then go back and (2) look up the cross references given at each verse marked with a “+” sign. For example, for 2 Corinthians 5:17, a reference so marked with the “+” sign for the key words in Christ is Jn +14:20. This indicates that for further and deeper study, go to Jn 14:20 and consult the cross references given there.
Then, when you have completed checking out the cross references at Jn 14:20, come back to 2 Corinthians 5:17 and go to the next passage that has the “+” symbol, which is Romans +8:1n.
Notice carefully (3) that for Romans 8:1 I have placed an explanatory note in addition to cross references for study.
Follow this procedure for the remainder of the cross references given at 2 Corinthians 5:17.
You may wish to dig deeper by following this process I just described at either some or all of the passages at 2 Corinthians 5:17 which have the “+” symbol.
I have done this frequently in my own study. I have found, and set up the cross references so that they in particular are designed to be followed “three layers deep.” By this I mean, starting at 2 Corinthians 5:17, you could dig deeper going to Jn +12:40. That is the “second layer.”
The “third layer” would involve working from John +12:40, and reading the verses marked with a “+” symbol, turning to those passages and looking up their cross references. At John 12:40, for example, the first passage marked with a “+” follows the key words He hath, and is the reference to Amos +3:6. That passage makes for a very full study of the subject indeed which pertains to the question, what is meant when the Bible ascribes actions to God that appear unloving: as here in John, does God really blind some people spiritually?
About the “*” symbol: It indicates a clear verse. A new user, not practiced or inclined to look up a lot of references, will benefit first from reading those. But for a full study, all references should be read.
Also, when teaching a group where time constraints won’t permit looking up all the references, the references marked with the “*” sign are the clearest passages, so consider those. Don’t under any circumstances neglect the passages marked with the ** symbol, which in the electronic edition and printed edition have been translated as a check mark.
It actually works to look up additional cross references at any verse, even those not marked with a +, and it will provide yet more insight on a theme being studied. Usually the passages marked with the “+” sign will have more references given than those unmarked with this sign.
I hope these pointers on how to “dig deeper” into 2 Corinthians 5:17 or any other verse of interest to you prove helpful.
Brad – Please read Matthew 21:42-44, or 1 Peter 2:9-10. Take it in view of Luke 17:20.
jerry thank you again for going through the steps to looking up cross references with ntsk and cgb its always encouraging and blessing to follow them in bible study! joy of discovery!
Thank you, Ken, for your faithfulness in reading what is posted here, and for your encouragement for all to really study the Bible. If we had a few million more Bible believing Christians doing the same, this world would be a different and much improved place.