While at the Feast, a chilling event occurred that is significant,
not only for me, but for all of God’s people living in the
United States. What made the newsworthy event stand out was
that it occurred in our hometown of Houston. An elder
attending the Feast in Jekyll Island noted that I was from
Houston and sent me an article from Investor’s Business
Daily.
The article was posted online on 10/15/2014. The title: “Witch
Hunt Begins in Houston As Pastors Subpoenaed.”
The article notes that Houston city hall is demanding five local
pastors turn over sermons in which they talked about
Houston’s new nondiscrimination law. The law is supposed to
bar biased treatment based on “sex, race, color, ethnicity,
national origin, age, familial status, marital status, military
status, religion, disability, sexual orientation, genetic
information, gender identity or pregnancy.”
The bill allows men to use the ladies’ restroom and women to
use the men’s room.
A coalition of roughly 400 local churches gathered more than
50,000 signatures asking that the law be placed on a voter
referendum in November. However, the petition was tossed
out and the opponents filed a lawsuit.
As a result of opposition to the bill, Houston city attorneys
began issuing subpoenas to pastors, who are part of the
lawsuit, to turn over their sermons and all communications
with their congregations regarding the law and the petition.
This is a clear violation of the First Amendment and a clear
attempt to limit free speech and the free exercise of religion.
The chilling point is that we have come to a time in society in
which people who hold fast to biblical beliefs are coming
under attack by the government. The attack in this case is
against pastors, their sermons and communications, but if the
trend continues the attack will move to any who hold to the
views of the pastors.
Should we be surprised by this turn of events? Recall what
Christ told His followers, “These things I have spoken to you,
that you should not be made to stumble. They will put you out
of the synagogues; yes, the time is coming that whoever kills
you will think that he offers God service. And these things
they will do to you because they have not known the Father
nor Me. But these things I have told you, that when the time
comes, you may remember that I told you of them.
(John 16:1-4).
Are we in danger of imminent death? Not at this time. But
we can be called to account for our biblical beliefs.
This event is just a reminder of how crucial it is to be focused
upon the truths that were laid before us during the fall festival
season. Christ is coming. Satan will be removed. Christ will
rule for a 1,000 years and more. If we endure to the end, we
can be a part of a Kingdom where righteousness reigns.
Most importantly, we are told, “For He Himself has said, "I
will never leave you nor forsake you." So we may boldly say:
"The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to
me?" (Hebrews 13:5-6).
We must continue our journey to the Kingdom of God with
the confidence that God will be with us to the end.
Have a most pleasant and profitable Sabbath.
Gary Smith
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