Biblical Idolary; Atheism & Polytheism in 9/11 services

Reprint of an email from Family Research Council:

Thou shalt have no other gods before me… for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children…of them that hate me; and showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments. Exodus 20:3-6
Dear Praying Friends,

Matthew Henry lived over 300 years ago, yet his commentaries on the Bible may be today’s preachers’ most widely read, referenced and cherished commentaries. Of the first two Commandments, prohibiting idolatry, Henry wrote:

The first commandment concerns the object of our worship, Jehovah, and him only… neighboring nations had many gods…strange gods, new gods… Jehovah being the God of Israel, they must entirely cleave to him… This was the sin they were most in danger of now that the world was so overspread with polytheism… The sin…is giving the glory and honor to any… which are due to God only… This prohibition… is the foundation of the whole law, that we take the Lord for our God, acknowledge that he is God, accept him for ours, adore him with admiration and humble reverence, and set our affections entirely upon him. We cannot have any other God but he will certainly know it… This is very provoking to him; it is a sin that dares him to his face, which he cannot, which he will not, overlook… (see Ps 44:20; 44:21)

“I…am a jealous God”… demonstrates God’s care for his own institutions, his hatred of idolatry and all false worship, his displeasure against idolaters, his resentment of every thing even in his own worship that looks like, or leads to, idolatry… Idolatry being spiritual adultery…the displeasure of God fitly called jealousy. If God is jealous… we should be also, afraid of offering any worship…otherwise than as he has appointed in his word.

God looks upon idolaters as haters of him… he will visit their iniquity… he will very severely punish it, not only as a breach of his law, but as an affront to his majesty, a violation of the covenant, and a blow at the root of all religion…Those who truly love God will make it their constant care and endeavor to keep his commandments, particularly those that relate to his worship… God has mercy in store for such… This mercy shall extend to thousands, much further than the wrath threatened to those that hate him…

Some civil and religious leaders promote idolatry under the guise of fostering religious liberty and tolerance. While civil and religious statesmen must love and respect people of all faiths, genuine Christian leaders will not shrink from publicly affirming their allegiance to Christ nor ever promote false religion, knowing that generations of our children and grandchildren will suffer if they do.

Atheistic & Polytheistic 9/11 Observances — You already know about Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s refusal to welcome prayer or religious leaders to NYC’s memorial service for the families of 9/11 victims (You can still ask the Mayor to change his mind here).

But what is planned at Washington National Cathedral on 9/11/2011 will be a wide departure from what took place there almost 10 years ago, when on “The National Day of Prayer and Remembrance,” President Bush prayed and Billy Graham preached a God-honoring message to a watching World.

This year, the 10th anniversary of 9/11, the service will not magnify the King James Bible or the Episcopal Prayer Book. Things have changed. Chartered by Congress and later named by Congress as America’s “National House of Prayer,” the leaders of the Episcopal Church (George Washington’s church) and in our modern civil government have radically changed their attitude toward historic Bible-believing Christianity — the Faith of our Fathers. In fact, there will be no evangelical Christian leaders on the program at this year’s memorial. Instead, the event, dubbed “A Call to Compassion” will feature an interfaith prayer vigil including the dean of the Cathedral, the Bishop of Washington, a Jewish rabbi, a Buddhist nun and “incarnate lama,” a Hindu priest, the president of the Islamic Society of North America and a Muslim musician.

Last month, President Obama continued the tradition begun by President Bush, by closing Islam’s Ramadan with an “Iftaar” dinner at the White House. The President made the event a time to remember the patriotic American Muslims who served and sacrificed on 9/11 and the historic contributions Muslims have made to America “especially…over the last ten years” (see No Evangelicals, White House video, Remarks).

May God use these public affronts to the God of the Bible to stir Christians to His people to speak up, to speak the truth in love, and to articulate the gospel in a way that God can use to bring desperately-needed Awakening to our nation. By faith, prayer, action, and God’s mighty power, may God-fearing Americans turn the tide! (Num 23:19; Dt 4:30-31; 1 Chr 16:25-34; Jer 33:3; Eze 33:1-16; 2 Tim 4:1-4)
Left-Wing Politics and Christianity — FRC President Tony Perkins has long said the homosexual agenda and religious liberty cannot coexist; yet liberal evangelicals insist otherwise. Jim Wallis, founder of Sojourners, is a case in point. Long an advocate for nearly all causes liberal, yet a professor of evangelical faith, Wallis was sought out by President Obama to serve on his new White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships board. Conservative Christian leaders and scholars like FRC Senior VP Rob Schwarzwalder, strain over Wallis’ capacity to bend and stretch Biblical truth to fit his politics. Earlier this year, Rob wrote about Wallis’s earlier decision to reject a pro-homosexual ad in his magazine, suggesting that his ideology on the issue was still inconsistent, both with itself and with Biblical truth. This month Wallis eliminated any uncertainty by publishing another ad by radical homosexual advocates, GLAAD (see Rob’s Blog: Homosexuality and Genuine Love, GLAAD Ad, Christianity Today).

May none be deceived by the illogic of Christians who advocate a liberal social, fiscal and national defense agenda! May Pastors across America powerfully preach Biblical truth regarding the issues being debated today! May Christians use their liberty to influence the making of public policy for righteousness, and may they be used of God to elect God-fearing men and women in the 2012 Election! (Ex 18:21; Dt 4:8; Ps 110:1-3; Pr 29:2; 1 Th 2:11-17; Gal 5:1, 13; Jude 1:21-25)
On November 11th, many churches will observe the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church. In many nations, believers are suffering for their faith in Jesus. If we fail to hold accountable those who boldly or subtly undermine Christianity and promote idolatry, how can we face our brethren who have suffered for their allegiance to Christ? Remember the promises of God’s mercy! Thank you for praying!

Sincerely,

Rev. Pierre Bynum
National Prayer Director
Email: pbynum@frc.org

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