Must Read: Brief Article on the Original Meaning of the Establishment Clause

May 16, 2013 By

Jerry Newcomb has written a must read article briefly explaining the original intent and meaning of the establishment clause of the Constitution along with the phrase “separation of church and state.” (Note: the phrase “separation of church and state” appears nowhere in the Constitution, Bill of Right, or Declaration of Independence.) In the article, Newcomb states: “A lot of times when the pro-religious freedom side fights back, we win. (That’s because the Constitution and history are on our side.) But that takes a lot of courage and energy. And many people would rather just go with the flow and turn the other cheek, which is understandable. Yet over time, we find our liberties being chipped away piece by piece.”

He goes on to wonder why the church isn’t more involved in helping to preserve the religious freedom and liberty of our great country. I concur. After all, if religious freedom is lost, who is it that will be most harmed? The obvious answer is all those serving in full-time ministry. So why aren’t more pastors, Christian teachers, and other ministry people more concerned that their livelihood is being threatened? I confess I am completely baffled by this question and corresponding reality. Click here for original article.

 

About Nathan Cherry

Nathan Cherry is the chief editor and blogger for the Engage Family Minute blog, the official blog of the FPCWV. He serves also as the Regional Development Coordinator as a liaison to the pastor's of West Virginia. He is a pro-life, pro-traditional marriage, pro-religious freedom conservative. He is also a husband, father, pastor, author, musician, and follower of Jesus Christ.

Filed Under: Religious Freedom Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

John Hayward: Hyper-Sexualized, Asexual America

May 8, 2013 By

John Hayward, writing at Red State writes: “Behind this drive to shower the Tiger Beat set with birth control supplies lies the conviction that young kids are sexy beasts whose urges cannot be controlled or suppressed.  Fifteen, thirteen, eleven years old… they’re all swingers now, and nothing can be done to slow them down.  All we can do is provide kids with the supplies necessary to cut down on sexually transmitted diseases and unwanted pregnancy.  The religious hangups and moral standards of parents cannot be allowed to interfere with the wisdom of the State in this matter.

“This all seems a bit inconsistent with the philosophy of socialized medicine, in which the behavior of citizens must be controlled to reduce health care costs.  Individual health is supposedly a matter of public concern, because unhealthy behavior comes at the expense of the general public.  The fit are unfairly expected to pay the freight for the fat.  With this in mind, why is the same State that tinkers with restaurant menus, and takes other steps to either warn citizens away from unhealthy meal options or forbid them outright, so intent on facilitating a profoundly unhealthy lifestyle for children?” Click here for original article.

About Nathan Cherry

Nathan Cherry is the chief editor and blogger for the Engage Family Minute blog, the official blog of the FPCWV. He serves also as the Regional Development Coordinator as a liaison to the pastor's of West Virginia. He is a pro-life, pro-traditional marriage, pro-religious freedom conservative. He is also a husband, father, pastor, author, musician, and follower of Jesus Christ.

Filed Under: Marriage Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

What Do You Expect to Happen on the National Day of Prayer?

April 27, 2013 By

PrayerNext Thursday has been designated as the 2013 National Day of Prayer (NDP).   Now many of you will take brief note of that fact, and then return to whatever you were doing before noting it when Thursday arrives, it will seem just about like any other day of the week.  Nice idea, this NDP, but…

“What do you expect?” could be on the lips of some.  After all, we all have so many things that are happening in our lives and so much to do, and that’s a work day in the middle of the weeks and…it’s always so busy on Thursdays in the office, and the kids have soccer practice on Thursdays.  Besides, one little prayer more or less isn’t going to make much difference anyway.  Will it?

And thus it goes…again, and again…and before you know it, instead of prayer we have silence.  Then we wonder how and why God can allow such disasters as 9/11, Boston Marathon, etc., disrupt our lives the way they do.  Are they warnings?

Well, now, just for a few minutes, let’s take a journey back.

We were once a nation guided by God.  Our Capitol in Washington was used as a church for more than a decade.  Congress prayed daily for wisdom and guidance.  Bibles were used as the first text books in our schools followed only then by English and Arithmetic. [Read more...]

About Tom Stark

Tom Stark began writing for the Engage Family Minute blog in February 2012. As a small business owner Tom is passionate about the intersection of faith and politics in the life of Christians and the community around him. Having been touched by both the abortion issue and the issue of homosexuality in his own family, Tom is passionate about defending the lives of the unborn and upholding Biblical Truth. Tom also writes for www.westvirginiaconservative.com

Filed Under: Religious Freedom Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Bill Maher Actually Says Something Worth Reading

April 25, 2013 By

I rarely pay attention to anything Bill Maher says for obvious reasons. But recently he blasted a guest for comparing the violence in Islam to other faiths. A recent article says: ”Liberal talk show host Bill Maher went toe to toe with a guest Friday night taking issue with the guest’s comparing Islamic extremism with other faiths. Maher was interviewing Brian Levin, director of The Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism, at California State University, San Bernardino. Levin questioned the legitimacy of highlighting Islamic extremism as an anomaly among world religions…Maher went on to accuse Levin of being wrong about his facts. He said that while all Muslim people are not terrorists violence is more than just a fringe element of the Islamic faith.”

This is important because even a liberal like Maher recognizes that people are trying to spin the narrative to equate all faiths, an effort that will lead to Christians, Jews, and Catholics being called terrorists and losing their religious freedoms. When a liberal like Maher can see that this is what is happening it is evident that the attack on religious freedom in America is now a full scale war. Click here for original article.

About Nathan Cherry

Nathan Cherry is the chief editor and blogger for the Engage Family Minute blog, the official blog of the FPCWV. He serves also as the Regional Development Coordinator as a liaison to the pastor's of West Virginia. He is a pro-life, pro-traditional marriage, pro-religious freedom conservative. He is also a husband, father, pastor, author, musician, and follower of Jesus Christ.

Filed Under: Religious Freedom Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Military Being Told Christians Are “Extremists”

April 24, 2013 By

Christians listed as extremistsWe’ve written frequently in the past few months about the many instances of unfair treatment of Christian students on campuses around the country, in high schools in various states, and other instances of suppression of First Amendment rights.

It would not surprise me that you or someone close to you hasn’t at least heard of such a case within your circle of friends.

But I would have doubted that this kind of bigotry and bias could be found within the United States Army or any other branch of the U.S. armed forces for that matter. Wow, was I wrong!

On April 5, I read an article that touched on a “briefing” (read, training class in civilian-speak) conducted by the Army in which Catholics, orthodox Jews, and evangelical Christians were included on a list of extremist organizations right along with Al-Quaeda, Hamas, militant Islamists, the KKK, and the like.

How this can happen in America could puzzle the uninformed and those who do not study the current political climate, but a developing trend of these types of “reclassification” of conservative groups and believers is becoming commonplace among those who do not accept the Bible or its precepts and those who believe “political correctness” overrules the First Amendment.

[Read more...]

About Tom Stark

Tom Stark began writing for the Engage Family Minute blog in February 2012. As a small business owner Tom is passionate about the intersection of faith and politics in the life of Christians and the community around him. Having been touched by both the abortion issue and the issue of homosexuality in his own family, Tom is passionate about defending the lives of the unborn and upholding Biblical Truth. Tom also writes for www.westvirginiaconservative.com

Filed Under: Religious Freedom Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Teacher Fired from Religious School for Being Lesbian?

April 23, 2013 By

A recent article reports: ”The firing of a gay physical-education teacher from a Columbus Catholic high school would be a violation of a city ordinance if a complaint were filed and investigators determined the dismissal was based on her sexual orientation. Carla Hale of Powell, who worked at Bishop Watterson High School in Clintonville for 19 years, said she was fired in March after an anonymous parent complained that an obituary for Hale’s mother listed the name of Hale’s female domestic partner.”

Notice that even though this is a Catholic school and the fact that the teacher is a lesbian is obviously a violation of the school’s religious convictions, that the school may still be cited for a violation by the state. Notice also that the teacher obviously hid her sexual orientation from the school, obviously realizing it was in contradiction of the school’s religious convictions – which could easily be called lying or false representation – and yet the school is said to be the one in the wrong. This is the logical end of “non-discrimination” bills. It strips the religious rights of people, organizations, and even schools and forces them to violate their faith. Click here for original article.

About Nathan Cherry

Nathan Cherry is the chief editor and blogger for the Engage Family Minute blog, the official blog of the FPCWV. He serves also as the Regional Development Coordinator as a liaison to the pastor's of West Virginia. He is a pro-life, pro-traditional marriage, pro-religious freedom conservative. He is also a husband, father, pastor, author, musician, and follower of Jesus Christ.

Filed Under: Marriage Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Members of Congress Demand End to Military Briefing on “Religious Extremists”

April 23, 2013 By

A military briefing that calls Catholics, Evangelical Christians, and Jews “religious extremists” in the same breath with Muslims and Al-Qaida is coming under fire from members of Congress. As one report noted: “Members of Congress have expressed astonishment that the U.S. Army Reserve would use a training brief that slams Catholics, evangelical Christians and others and are demanding the practice come to a halt – now. ‘Our nation needs to have an honest conversation about religious extremism and what we can do to avoid religious violence. However, labeling these major world religions as extremists is wrong and hurtful.’”

While it is sad that our military would use such material to smear Christians, Jews, and Catholics, it isn’t all that surprising. President Obama has put many people in places of leadership and, as the most anti-Christian (and religious freedom) president in U.S. history, it should come as no surprise that these people also oppose people of faith. While they make excuses for Islamic bombers and send money and military weaponry to the Muslim Brotherhood, they call American Christians “religious extremists.” Welcome to Obama’s America. Click here for original article.

About Nathan Cherry

Nathan Cherry is the chief editor and blogger for the Engage Family Minute blog, the official blog of the FPCWV. He serves also as the Regional Development Coordinator as a liaison to the pastor's of West Virginia. He is a pro-life, pro-traditional marriage, pro-religious freedom conservative. He is also a husband, father, pastor, author, musician, and follower of Jesus Christ.

Filed Under: Religious Freedom Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Christians Persecuted for Their Religious Convictions – in America!

April 23, 2013 By

religious persecutionThe media doesn’t do a very good job of reporting religious persecution in America or worldwide for that matter. I suppose many don’t believe such a thing exists. That would be a mistake of epic proportions and provide a false sense of security that will lull the victim to sleep as those bent on destroying religious freedom enact their plans. Just in case you didn’t know religious persecutions was currently taking place in America and worldwide, allow me to share just a few of the many incidents taking place currently.

Washington Attorney General Sues Florist For Anti-Gay Discrimination:

A florist in Washington State refused to provide her services for a same-sex ceremony and is now being sued by the state attorney general. This occurrence highlights the dangers of “non-discrimination” laws that ultimately allow Christians and people of faith to be sued for simply living according to their beliefs. This also shows how the government will try to force people of faith to violate their convictions via federal or state law in order to accomplish their political agenda.

American Arrested for Anti-homosexual Statements:

A 47-year old American was on a tour in the U.K. when he was asked about his views on homosexuality by some gay couples in Scotland. When he shared his view of homosexuality being a sin he was arrested and fined substantially for his words. Consider for a moment the implications of being criminally charged for simply sharing your religious beliefs. Again, non-discrimination laws end up harming no one but those who disagree with the politically correct view. [Read more...]

About Nathan Cherry

Nathan Cherry is the chief editor and blogger for the Engage Family Minute blog, the official blog of the FPCWV. He serves also as the Regional Development Coordinator as a liaison to the pastor's of West Virginia. He is a pro-life, pro-traditional marriage, pro-religious freedom conservative. He is also a husband, father, pastor, author, musician, and follower of Jesus Christ.

Filed Under: Religious Freedom Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Sen. Ted Cruz Warns the HHS Mandate Will Upend Religious Freedom

April 17, 2013 By

As the courts continue to side with people of faith against the HHS mandate, Sen. Ted Cruz is sounding the alarm over the danger posed to religious freedom by the mandate. He recently said: ”Is ‘the freedom to worship’ the same as ‘freedom of religion’? No it isn’t. The freedom of religion entails much more than being able to ‘worship;’ it includes being able to live out your faith. And that means to conduct your affairs – for-profit or nonprofit –so as to honor your deepest beliefs. If freedom of religion is reduced to ‘freedom of worship,’ does your right to religion stop when you walk out the front door of your church, temple, or mosque?”

Obama continues to emphasize his commitment to “freedom to worship.” But as Sen. Cruz and others have said, that is very different than religious freedom. Many are seeking to push religion inside the walls of the church and make sure that all religious rights are held captive within those walls. They want all public displays of faith halted permanently. This mandate is just the beginning of attempting to make that happen. Click here for original article.

About Nathan Cherry

Nathan Cherry is the chief editor and blogger for the Engage Family Minute blog, the official blog of the FPCWV. He serves also as the Regional Development Coordinator as a liaison to the pastor's of West Virginia. He is a pro-life, pro-traditional marriage, pro-religious freedom conservative. He is also a husband, father, pastor, author, musician, and follower of Jesus Christ.

Filed Under: Life Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

26 Colleges Sue Obama Admin Over HHS Mandate

April 17, 2013 By

A recent article explains: “The battle against the HHS mandate continues, as 26 religious colleges have objected to the abortion-pill portion of the mandate. Alliance Defending Freedom has submitted official comments to the Department of Health and Human Services on behalf of 22 Catholic colleges and higher-education programs and four Protestant colleges explaining their objections to the Obama administration’s abortion-pill mandate.”

The Alliance Defending Freedom continues to lead the charge against the pro-abortion HHS mandate by representing colleges and businesses that object based on their religious convictions. The Obama administration continues to try and force people of faith to violate their convictions through complying with this awful mandate. To date the Obama administration has lost nearly 20 court cases involving the HHS mandate and more are following. Hopefully more Protestant colleges and businesses will take a stand with their Catholic counter-parts in letting the Obama administration know just how pro-life we really are. Click here for original article.

About Nathan Cherry

Nathan Cherry is the chief editor and blogger for the Engage Family Minute blog, the official blog of the FPCWV. He serves also as the Regional Development Coordinator as a liaison to the pastor's of West Virginia. He is a pro-life, pro-traditional marriage, pro-religious freedom conservative. He is also a husband, father, pastor, author, musician, and follower of Jesus Christ.

Filed Under: Life Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,
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