This week on 'The Hal Lindsey Report'
On September 5, 2013, the City Council of San Antonio, Texas, passed an ordinance by a strong majority: 8 to 3. I believe it is a dramatic step toward the exclusion of Christians from participation -- both political and economic -- in the public forum.
In essence, the ordinance allows the City Council to exclude individuals from sitting on the council, being appointed to a government position by the City Council, or doing business with any entity the City Council controls (namely, the city government of San Antonio). And what will be the crime demanding such a drastic remedy? Simply having an opinion that differs from that of the members of the City Council.
No, this is not a fiction from George Orwell or a sci-fi movie about some distant American future you've found on late-night TV. This is real. And it's happening now.
Here's what one section of the ordinance prescribes (capitals and italics are mine): "No person shall be appointed to a position if the City Council finds that such person has, prior to such proposed appointment, engaged in discrimination or demonstrated a bias, by WORD or deed, against any person, group, or organization, on the basis of race, color,RELIGION, national origin, sex, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, GENDER IDENTITY, veteran status, age or disability."
That just about touches (and maybe someday criminalize) all the bases doesn't it? And it allows the City Council to act on anything it finds displeasing from ANY point in your life up to the moment of your appointment or hiring.
Ken Klukowski of the Family Research Council says, "...any person who has either expressed any belief in favor of traditional marriage or in terms of Judeo-Christian morality regarding sexuality in general, verbally or in writing, could be barred from participating in public life on that city council."
Not only does it obviously take direct aim at anyone who believes and speaks out in support of the Biblical view of marriage and sexuality, but also anyone who has expressed distrust when Muslims insist that Islam is purely a religion of peace and peaceful coexistence. And its authors even had the gall to throw in "veteran status" and "disability" to make its opponents appear heartless and ungrateful.
This is precisely why Constitutional protections of our rights to hold an opinion and express that opinion with impunity are so important. The Founding Fathers realized that these rights could not and should not be entrusted to the whims of those in power at the moment.
However, all of the political and Constitutional issues aside, this ordinance perfectly and alarmingly illustrates one thing: the march of "political correctness" toward the goal of silencing Christians is both relentless and imminent. This is happening now.
Folks, this is prophecy unfolding today, not sometime in the hazy future.
I think it won't be too long before Christians will have to answer to the government for the things we believe. Jesus Himself said there will come a time when we will be hated and even persecuted for His name's sake. There's nothing the PCers hate more than the name and claims of Jesus.
This week, I'm going to examine the New Testament warning to the Hebrew believers in Judea when they tried to hide from the prying eyes of the religious authorities. The writer of Hebrews accused them of devaluing the sacrifice made by Jesus when He paid our sin debt once for all.
How did they devalue that sacrifice of grace? By returning to the animal sacrifices of the old covenant after they had been illuminated to the fact that the death of Jesus Christ on the cross at Calvary fulfilled and took away the validity of those sacrifices. So to return to those things that were merely a shadow of His sacrifice -- and celebrate them -- was the same as crucifying the Son of God all over again and putting Him to open shame.
And why did they do this grievous thing? So that they would blend in with the other Jews and not draw attention to the fact that they were new believers in Jesus Christ. They put Christ to open shame to avoid persecution by the religious authorities of their day.
As the world turns up the heat on Christians and the demonic spirit of "political correctness" and intolerance makes it more and more dangerous to press the claims of Christ, the temptation for us will be to keep our mouths shut. But Jesus told us to go into all the world and preach the Gospel. He also told us to make disciples of all nations. And you can do neither if you don't speak up.
But there will come a day -- and soon, I believe -- that it may well be illegal to proclaim that Jesus Christ is the only way to salvation and heaven. It's already becoming difficult to express Christ's views on the sanctity of life and the Bible's definition of marriage.
When that day comes, we need to be prepared to stand firm and boldly give a reason for our faith. But, in order to do that, we need to have a strong foundation built on the promises of God. Not only do we need to know them, but we need to believe them.
This week, I'm going to share with you some of the greatest promises of God that will help you when those days of persecution come. But they'll also help you now, as you face the trials and rigors of daily life. It's never too late to begin stocking up on the spiritual resources that will provide sustenance, power, and stamina for what lies ahead.
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
Subject: This week on 'The Hal Lindsey Report' 
Fri Feb 28, 2014 11:24 am
