Vol. 1 No.2                                                                                                                               September 14, 2004

          From the Desk of Pastor Rick Scarborough

 INTERNET SITE ADVOCATES BURNING CHURCHES

            It's a sad sign of how hated Christians are by some in our crazy culture that there's actually a website that advocates burning down churches and other houses of worship.

            Apparently based in McLean, VA., www.churcharson.com says taking a torch to churches is "one way people get involved with activism to end the abusive practices of Judeo-Christian religions (and nations such as Israel)." If that weren't evil enough, the author of this incitement to violence looks forward to the day when atheism triumphs in America and no one will bother about "the executions of diehard Christians and Jews."

           Given the way Hollywood and some in the news media demonize Christians, is it any wonder that fanatics are emboldened to advocate physical attacks on the Church? If we lose the spiritual war we are in, prepare for the new catacombs.

GOD-TALK HAS PRINCIPAL UNDER FIRE

           It's not what you'd expect in public education today, but Geoff McKee, principal of the local high school in Boca Raton, Florida, at times sounds like an evangelist.

            McKee often makes confessions of faith at staff meetings. He refers to teaching as "God's work." He rejects the theory of evolution. And he's trying to start a class called Introduction to the Bible.

            Naturally, this has provoked the ire of local secularists, including some teachers at the school. "There should be freedom from religion in the workplace," says art teacher Hege Holm-Johannesse (according to a story in the Sun-Sentinel newspaper). Holm-Johannesse claims the principal is "crossing the boundary all the time."

            Like the mythical concept of church-state separation, "freedom from religion" is not a constitutional right. But McKee (who teaches Sunday school at a local Baptist church) does have a First Amendment right to express himself, in a reasonable and respectful manner. Blessings to Principal McKee, a man who can teach us all a lesson in faith.

GORE ON BIBLE-BELIEVERS

           In a recent profile piece in The New Yorker magazine, former Vice President Al Gore described the faith of President George W. Bush as "a particular kind of religiosity. It's the American version of the same fundamentalist impulse that we see in Saudi Arab, in Kashmir, in religions around the world: Hindu, Jewish, Christian and Muslim," Gore declared.

            Given his rejection by follow Southern Baptists in the 2000, it's easy to understand why the man who once said he "venerates" the Earth would be bitter.

            But comparing Bible-believers to Wahhabi Moslems is nothing short of obscene. Ever hear of a Baptist suicide bomber? Neither, I venture, has Gore. His tirade only demonstrates, if further proof was needed, that for the liberal-left, true Christians are the enemy.

ACTION THIS WEEK

Chuck Colson and the Wilberforce Forum have launched the National Preaching Initiative. In September and October, they are urging pastors to preach sermons on Redefining Marriage: A Crisis for Children. For four free sample sermons and background material, go to http://marriage.wilberforce.org.

The hope of returning free speech to pastors is closer than ever. There's a real possibility of passing the Houses of Worship Free Speech Restoration Act (HR235), as an amendment to the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004 (HR4520), currently in conference committee.

We urgently request that you immediately call the offices of House Speaker Dennis Hastert (202-225-0600) and House Whip Tom DeLay (202-225-4000), and the White House (comment line - 202-456-1111), and ask them to support inserting the language of HR 235 into the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004. HR 235 will allow full political participation by churches.

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