This week on 'The Hal Lindsey Report'

This week on 'The Hal Lindsey Report'
The world is once again focused on the Middle East. And once again, it's Syria. 

This time, the Syrian government is accused of using chemical weapons in an attack on the rebels. Reports indicate that hundreds, mostly civilians, were recently killed and injured in a WMD attack on the Damascus suburb of Ghouta. 

It is undeniable that a chemical weapons attack occurred. It is undeniable that hundreds are dead and hundreds are injured. It is undeniable that this is a cruel atrocity worthy of international scorn and, many think, punishment. 

However, I do not believe that it is undeniable that the Syrian government of Bashar al-Assad committed the atrocity. He is certainly capable of it and the Syrians have the resources to do it. But for me, what's lacking is the motive. 

In the last few weeks, things have been going Assad's way. His government seems to be gaining ground against the rebel coalition. The world's attention has been diverted from Syria's civil war to Egypt's civil struggle. 

Why, when he is at least holding his own, if not starting to win, would he choose now to perpetrate the one act -- the use of chemical or biological weapons against his own people -- that would return the world's attention to Syria and guarantee its wrath would be poured upon him? It just doesn't make sense. 

And when you take into account the fact that the Syrian rebel opposition is now dominated by al-Qaeda -- an organization that also has absolutely no qualms about using chemical weapons to further its goals -- it's enough to give any rational person reason to pause. The nagging truth is that the rebels are the party in this conflict that stands to gain most from a chemical attack blamed on the Syrian government. That's because it will almost surely provoke some sort of Western intervention in the civil war that may tip the balance in favor of al-Qaeda and their opposition allies. 

President Obama and British Prime Minister Cameron have been working to secure a United Nations-approved military intervention in the conflict. However, on Thursday the British parliament conducted a preliminary vote and decided to say, "No, thank you" to the UK's involvement in an armed response. 

We're now waiting to see what the Obama administration will choose to do and if it will go it alone or seek Congressional approval. Suffice it to say there's plenty of skepticism to go around. U.S. law seems to require the President to consult the Congress before committing our military forces to a conflict that does not threaten us directly. However, he chose to participate in the Libyan intervention without Congressional approval and he's suffered no repercussions from that decision. 

One thing I do know, however, is that any sort of international military intervention in Syria will certainly put Israel -- who has intentionally stayed on the sidelines and kept its mouth shut -- at great risk. We all know that Assad has threatened to attack Israel if outside powers attempt to intervene in the civil war. Now, a leading military figure in Iran has threatened to destroy Israel if the West meddles in Syria. 

So we need to earnestly pray for the peace and safety of Israel as well as pray for God to grant our leaders wisdom in dealing with this delicate situation. I agree that the world community cannot let gas attacks go unanswered, but we must be careful to get the facts right before we act. And we must be careful not to act in a way that strengthens the hand of al-Qaeda. 

And if that's not discomforting enough, there are some other unbelievable things happening right here in the good ol' United States. Remember the young photographer in New Mexico who politely declined to photograph a same-sex wedding ceremony because it contradicted her deeply held religious convictions? She even helped arrange for another photographer to take the job -- at a lesser cost! Well, the New Mexico Human Rights Commission fined her for violating the state's anti-discrimination laws. The case finally reached the New Mexico Supreme Court and the court ruled that, at least in New Mexico, you don't have the luxury of holding and acting upon your religious beliefs! 

In fact, the Supreme Court decided that New Mexico's anti-discrimination law "compels" this young couple "to compromise the very religious beliefs that inspire their lives." (And that's what the Justice wrote in support of the decision!) Folks, this isn't the government just telling you to "shut up" if you're a Christian, this is the government "compelling" you to say even what you don't want to say -- or sincerely believe it's wrong to say. 

The court explained that this is simply "the price of citizenship." Pardon my French, but that's balderdash. This isn't the price of "citizenship," it's the price of "political correctness." And more and more I see that "political correctness" will be executioner's stone across which Christians and others of conscience will prostrate themselves for speaking the truth. You can forget the days of simply having and expressing an "opinion." Those are long gone! 

Don't believe me? Just ask those federal employees who are Christians and have the misfortune of working at the U.S. Justice Department. Recently, with the full approval (if not encouragement) of the Department of Justice, DOJ Pride (the LGBT activist organization within the Department of Justice) distributed a brochure to DOJ supervisors. 

Under the guise of providing tips on how to be a "highly effective manager," the publication gave very specific lists of "do's and don'ts" when it comes to dealing with Lesbians, Gays, Bi-sexuals, or Transgenders (LGBT) at the Department. In essence, it strongly suggested that supervisors assume that everything they say or write will be scrutinized by the LGBT community and "their allies." It advised them to attend LGBT events and display symbols in their offices that assured the LGBT community it was a "safe space." Finally, the brochure warned -- and there's no other way to describe it -- that just keeping quiet about your objections to the "lifestyle" was no longer acceptable. You must speak up in favor of your LGBT associates' choices. If you don't, your "silence will be interpreted as disapproval." 

We used to say that "silence is golden." But apparently silence isn't good enough in America today when it comes to certain societal issues like same-sex marriage and abortion. We are now being "compelled" to speak up in favor of these things or we'll suffer the consequences. Just ask the justices of New Mexico's Supreme Court! 

And what makes all of this even more interesting is that God doesn't like silence, either. The Bible strongly encourages us to spread the claims of Jesus Christ. Which, by the way, are in direct opposition to the claims that our society wants us to spread. In fact, Jesus commanded us to "go into all the world and preach (speak up) the gospel." (Mark 16:15) And the Bible, too, warns of consequences if we don't. Jesus said that if we deny Him before men, then He will deny us before His Father in heaven. (Matthew 10:33) 

Wow! This is truly shaping up to be quite a contest, isn't it? But we knew it was coming. In fact, Jesus Himself said that if we name His name, the world will hate us, because the world hates Him. That's why I keep encouraging you to begin building up your "combat faith" for the times we are facing. 

On this week's program, I'm also going discuss an alarming trend among the world's youth: anarchism. Tune in and you'll even learn who Guy Fawkes was and what "Guy Fawkes Day" is. You may think you have no idea, but you may be surprised. Especially if you go to the movies! 

And finally, I'm going to show you an important truth about sharing the Gospel. Trust me, it will take a lot of the pressure off of you when you have the opportunity to tell others about Jesus. 

And who couldn't use a little less pressure? 

Don't miss this week's Report on TBN, Daystar, CPM Network, The Word Network, various local stations, www.hallindsey.com or www.hischannel.com. Please check your local listings.


God Bless,

Hal Lindsey