Sexual Abuse in the Baptist Church

This is something I know too well about.

Thirty-five years later, Debbie Vasquez’s voice trembled as she described her trauma to a group of Southern Baptist leaders.

She was 14, she said, when she was first molested by her pastor in Sanger, a tiny prairie town an hour north of Dallas. It was the first of many assaults that Vasquez said destroyed her teenage years and, at 18, left her pregnant by the Southern Baptist pastor, a married man more than a dozen years older.

In June 2008, she paid her way to Indianapolis, where she and others asked leaders of the Southern Baptist Convention and its 47,000 churches to track sexual predators and take action against congregations that harbored or concealed abusers. Vasquez, by then in her 40s, implored them to consider prevention policies like those adopted by faiths that include the Catholic Church.
“Listen to what God has to say,” she said, according to audio of the meeting, which she recorded. “… All that evil needs is for good to do nothing. … Please help me and others that will be hurt.”
Days later, Southern Baptist leaders rejected nearly every proposed reform.
The abusers haven’t stopped. They’ve hurt hundreds more.

Read the rest

This story is a personal for me and it does hit home quite a bit. When I was 9 years old; a man, who is now deceased, attempted to molest me in a Independent Baptist Church’s School. This school has been closed for many years. But, the mental scars from this, have never left me.

The Pastor of this now defunct Baptist Church ended up resigning in disgrace over an adultery scandal. What I will say to those conservatives who will dismiss this as an attack piece of Christians, is this: This story is very true and it is one that I know too well about. The abuse, the attempt to cover it up and put blame on the victim are all too real.

The sad part is that there is not much that the Southern Baptist Convention can do about it. As the bylaws of the SBC are designed as such, that the SBC is merely a Missionary Organization and does not control their local Churches. It is simply a missionary support clearing house, of sorts.

My prayers are with these victims and their families. I know the pain, I have been there and it is very terrible.

Others:

Russell Moore and The American Conservative

RIP: Jack Chick – April 13, 1924 – October 23, 2016

Please note: I am just now finding this out and, yes, it was a big shock to me. 😯 😥

Seen at Chick Publications:

Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

Jack Chick passed away peacefully in his sleep on Sunday evening, October 23, 2016. He was 92.

We at Chick Publications all loved Jack.

We are like a family, and he was our closest relative. He loved every one of us, and we regularly got to tell him our appreciation and love for him. We got to see what kind of person he was on a daily basis —some people for over 45 years! It was very important for us to be with him before he made his final journey.

Unlike the king in the Chick tract The Fool, Jack had made every preparation for his eternal future. So we visited him to pray, to tell him we loved him, and to bless him on his way to his eternal reward.

To say that this was a huge shock for me, would be the understatement of the century. Jack gave his life for the Salvation of souls. I discovered Jack Chick’s tracts and comics as a boy at Open Door Baptist Church in Detroit, back when Larry Dennis was the Pastor. His message was always consistent; no one else can save you, only Jesus can!

Save me a spot around Throne of Grace Jack, I’ll be there to join you, one day.

Reply to John’s E-Mail

The Video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QlAWAPJbfyY?rel=0

Today, I received an email from a “John” asking the following:

Hello Fellow Christian,
My name is John and I have a mom who is a confessing Christian who loves to talk about the lord and give advice but she is in adultery. Me and my wife brought up the scriptures to her and pray daily but nothing. I felt moved to talk with you because I was reading one of your blogs on Pastor Charles Stanley who y mom attends his church. My question is, should we continue to keep her in our lives or cut her off? We have children and I do not want this to have an affect on their Christian life. Anything will be great. Thank You.

Now, I sent the man a reply and the email address bounced; so, I will post the reply here:

Hi John,

That’s a tough call.

First off, I would talk to YOUR Pastor and ask HIM for guidance.

Now, personally, I think that totally cutting your children off from their grandmother, is not a good idea. I would however, limit their interaction and time spent with her; and I would be always there to supervise visits.

Now, you can totally cut her off, after all the Bible does say:

Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. – (2 Corinthians 6:14-18 KJV)

and…:

Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement: But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery – (Matthew 5:27-32 KJV)

And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. – (Mark 9:43-48 KJV)
and:

Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven. Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household. He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. – (Matthew 10:32-38 KJV)

—————-

Now, here is the harsh, brutally honest, cold dish rag in the face, honest truth — advice that I will give you:

If you wish to take the hard stance and stand for what you know to be right and decide to separate yourself from those, that you know to be committing sin; you had better be very prepared to deal with the fallout or consequences. No man or woman, who has decided to take harsh stance and decided to cut off all communication, fellowship and interaction like this; has had it easy. In fact, it can cause you many, many, headaches.

Now, I am not saying that you should not do it. You just should be very prepared for what the fallout might be.

I will be praying for you, that the Lord would give you Godly wisdom in this situation.

I hope sees this reply. 🙂

Guest Voice:David Cloud – In Essentials Unity

This is a reprint of an article written by Missionary David Cloud, a Fundamentalist Baptist Missionary and founder of Way of Life Literature. David Cloud’s writings and tireless research into the history of Pentecostalism and my personal doubts with its core doctrines were the reasons why I left that movement in 2004.

Here David Cloud makes a strong Biblical case for Christian separation. One of my personal gripes with the evangelical Christian movement as a whole, is an outright acceptance of Churches, who teach doctrines, which are in direct conflict with the Word of God. This article tells the truth about this sort of “Unity” among the apostate Churches. It is my pleasure to reprint this on my blog.

(Link to original article)

The evangelical philosophy is often stated by the dictum, “In essentials unity; in non-essentials liberty; in all things charity.”

Though commonly attributed to Augustine, it was apparently first stated by the 17th-century Lutheran Rupertus Meldenius (a.k.a. Peter Meiderlin).

It became the rallying cry of the Moravians, who had a wonderful missionary zeal but retained such Romanist heresies as infant baptism and an ordained priesthood and who promoted unity above the absolute truth of God’s Word for the purpose of “revival.”

The “in non-essentials liberty” principle was adopted by the fundamentalist movement of the 20th century. Fundamentalism focused on a unity built around “the fundamentals of the faith” while downplaying “minor issues.” The pragmatic objective was to create the largest possible united front against theological modernism and for evangelism and world missions.

“Historic fundamentalism has always been characterized by a core of biblical, historic, orthodox doctrines. … Most fundamentalists would be content with terms like ‘major doctrines’ or ‘cardinal doctrines’ to describe their consensus. … [T]here are other doctrinal distinctives that some may claim for themselves as fundamentalists. But to make these beliefs articles of fundamentalist faith would cut the movement’s channel more narrowly than history will allow” (Rolland McCune, Detroit Baptist Seminary Journal, Fall 1996).

Continue reading “Guest Voice:David Cloud – In Essentials Unity” →

Open Message to Todd Starnes: You’re wrong about Harry Vincent

First off this is what I am referring to here:

Video:

The Story via Starnes site:

All it took was 140 characters for Texas Christian University to suspend a conservative student who posted a series of social networking posts that insulted the Islamic State, the Baltimore rioters and Mexicans.

TCU banned Harry Vincent from most campus activities, ordered him to perform 60 hours of community service and attend a diversity training class.

The 19-year-old, who is a member of the College Republicans and the Young Americans for Freedom, said he was told by the university that his conservative views were “inappropriate.”

It sounds to me like Harry Vincent is guilty of being a Christian Conservative white guy – and on a university campus that’s a crime worthy of death penalty.

“They’re trying to make me out to be the classic bigoted hateful white male,” Harry told me in a telephone interview from his home in Maryland. “That’s the complete opposite of what I am.”

The university’s only public comment came in a prepared statement noting “When student’s conduct violates the university’s behavioral standards, they are subject to a disciplinary process, and will be held accountable for their actions.”

On April 29 TCU sent Harry a letter accusing him of violating the university’s code of student conduct – specifically he was accused of “infliction of bodily or emotional arm” and “disorderly conduct.”

The charges stemmed from a half dozen tweets he had posted online referencing radical Islam along with a Facebook message about the Baltimore riots.

“These hoodrat criminals in Baltimore need to be shipped off and exiled to the sahara desert,” he wrote. “Maybe then they’ll realize how much we provide for them (welfare, college tuition, Obama phone’s, medicare, etc.”

In regards to Islam he wrote, “This is clearly not a religion of peace.”

He also used the word “beaner” a derogatory term to describe Mexicans.

A former middle school classmate took great offense at Harry’s tweets and launched what became a Twitter lynch mob. The unnamed woman, who has no ties to TCU, urged her followers to contact the university and complain.

“This a**hole has been posting racist and disgusting comments on Twitter/Facebook,” she wrote on Tumblr. “When I confronted him about it, he referred to me as an ‘Islamic s**thead.”

The university took swift action. Associate Dean of Students Glory Robinson ordered Harry to apologize for what he had written on his private social networking pages.

“Dean Robinson said I was going to need to write an apology letter and a letter stating what sort of punishment I thought I deserved,” Harry told me. “She told me not to use Freedom of Speech as a defense – or else I would be more severely punished.”

To make a long story short – Harry hired a lawyer and appealed.

“My appeal board consisted of one very flamboyant male teacher and the head of the inclusiveness and diversity department,” he said. “It wasn’t a very unbiased board at all that heard my case.”

As expected – the university rejected his appeal and sent Harry a certified letter.

“The choices you made caused harm to other individuals,” the university wrote. “These types of comments are not acceptable at TCU and directly contradict our mission of being ‘ethical leaders and responsible citizens in a global community.’”

Harry said he was told that he had to say he was guilty before the university actually found him guilty.

“Dean Robinson believes I am somehow damaged – she thinks there’s something wrong with me because of what I put out there on social media,” he said. “She told me how my conservatives views were inappropriate.”

While he stands by his beliefs about Islamic radicals and the Baltimore rioters, Harry told me he regrets the foul language he used – as well as the unintentional Mexican slur “beaner.”

“I did not know that word was such a hurtful word,” he said. “I do regret that one because I do realize that could have caused harm to some people.”

Harry said he called his online attacker a “s***head” after she bashed the Armed Forces and wrote that America deserved what happened on 9/11.

“Any red-blooded American’s blood would have boiled at the sight of what she wrote,” he said. “I let my anger get the best of me.”

It sounds to me like Harry Vincent is guilty of being a Christian Conservative white guy – and on a university campus that’s a crime worthy of death penalty.

Harry isn’t sure if he’s going back to TCU. Should he agree to their demands – the 19-year-old would be on disciplinary probation until 2018 – the year he graduates.

“I’m thinking about enlisting in the Marines,” he said.

But one thing is certainly – Harry is not backing down.

“I’m not going to stand down and watch an institution throw away the Constitution and throw away basic God-given rights,” he said.

TCU is a private school and as such they are not bound by the First Amendment. However, as a Christian school they ought to be bound by the Good Book.

Harry Vincent spoke his mind – but instead of honoring his free speech – TCU chose to silence this young man and capitulated to the fury of a Twitter lynch mob.

The irony is that Harry received a stiffer punishment than a lot of the street thugs who terrorized Baltimore.

My reply to Mr. Starnes is here:

PLEASE NOTE: At the 10:40 mark, I said “white people”, I meant “black people” Oopsie. 🙄

Quote of the Day

Comes via David Cloud’s Friday Church News Notes:

DID YOU OBEY 1 TIMOTHY 2:1-4 TODAY? (Friday Church News Notes, May 9, 2014, www.wayoflife.org, fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143) – I am convinced that if the Lord’s Bible-believing churches would earnestly, regularly, and often pray for the nation, great things could happen. This is true for any nation, but here I am referring specifically to America. We are in dire straights. There is no wisdom in high places. If we would stop leaning on the arm of the flesh (e.g., political activity, conservative talk radio, Fox News, complaining and fretting) and instead cast ourselves fervently upon the arms of the Almighty, we might see real supernatural change for the better. Could we not have some special prayer meetings just for this purpose? Could we not pray with fasting? At the very least, could we not bring this matter before God at every meal and in every church service? Is our liberty and our grandchildren’s liberty not worth the effort? Sure, the signs of the end times are everywhere, but the mystery of iniquity has been working for 2,000 years and the reigns of the times are in God’s hands, not the devil’s. Jehovah is the God of the times and the seasons (Daniel 2:20-21). He is the One who “now letteth” or restrains the devil’s program (2 Th. 2:7), and He can restrain as long as He pleases and as much as He pleases. Do we believe that God’s hand has gone slack in these apostate times? “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth” (1 Tim. 2:1-4). “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14). “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not” (Jeremiah 33:3).

Why Libertarians never win elections

Here is a perfect example:

Philippines to be formally occupied again, as part of US aggression against China.

via USG To Return To Viciously Abused Former Colony – LewRockwell.com.

So, basically, Lew, you are saying that you support communist China? Tragic. Mr. Rockwell might be spot on, when it comes to economics. But, if he supports a communist Country, he’s a bit more off than I thought. China’s form of Government is diametrically opposed to values that this Country represents. Not only this, I have not forgotten what those bastards did to John Birch.

How anyone could utter a single word in a positive way, about those treacherous bastards, is beyond my ability to comprehend. It is anti-Americanism at it’s finest. 😡

Not to worry, however; I will not be removing his blog and website from my blogroll. I just don’t like his tongue-bathing of China, that’s all.

Apostasy Watch: Congregations Across America Attempting to Attract New Members With Beer

This is quite sad:

A new report released by NPR outlines that a number of congregations across America are now using beer as a way to attract new members.

The effort is an experiment in finding methods that will appeal to those who otherwise would not set foot in a church. Some beer-based gatherings are held right in the the church building, and others are hosted at the local pub.

One of the locations highlighted in the report is Fort Worth, Texas, where Church-in-a-pub, sponsored by “Pastor” Phil Heinze of Calvary Lutheran Church, is held each week at the local bar.

“I find the love, I find the support, I find the non-judgmental eyes when I come here,” attendee Leah Stanfield told the publication. “And I find friends that love God [and] love craft beer.”

Approximately 30-40 people meet for the weekly gathering, which includes Bible readings, fellowship and communion–all over pizza and beer at Zio Carlo pub.

via Bibles and Booze: Congregations Across America Attempting to Attract New Members With Beer | Christian News Network.

Some at least see this as wrong:

However, some pastors have expressed great concern and caution over increasing attempts to reinvent church—using carnal methods to attract men.

“Rather than relating with people by becoming like people, the Church is to present the glory of God,” Scott Brown of the Center for Family Integrated Churches told Christian News Network. “When people come into the church, they should see a completely new kingdom, a completely new community. They should see how different God is than they are and how much more wonderful He is, and how His ways are much more beautiful than their ways.”

Pastor Eric Ludy, President of Ellerslie Mission Society, has made similar statements in expressing his concerns about the Church seeking to attract the world by appearing “cool.”

“The problem is Jesus wasn’t cool. Whether we want to acknowledge it or not, Jesus didn’t do it the world’s way. He came in and offended the world,” he told reporters. “He came in and did everything the wrong way. … We actually want to indict Jesus and say, ‘You know what? If you had known as much as we know you would have done it differently.’ We want to appeal to the world’s sensibilities and somehow draw them to the Gospel. Jesus didn’t do any of that.”

“The Bible says, ‘Raise Him up and He will draw all men unto Himself,’” he continued. “The key is we lift up the Gospel. We give the straight and narrow path. We give it undiluted and people will start respecting us because we are not giving them something that will tantalize the flesh. We are giving them something that will bring life to their spirit.”

The Bible did foretell of such things:

I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. (2 Timothy 4:1-5 KJV)

Jesus spoke of people that do things like the above and it wasn’t good:

Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. (Matthew 7:21-23 KJV)

You say, “Now, Patrick, what is wrong with using beer to reach the unsaved?”

Well, This:

Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. (2 Corinthians 6:14-18 KJV)

This scripture above pretty much sums up why, after 21 years of being involved with the Evangelical/Pentecostal/Read any version of the Bible that you want — crowd; I left. There is no separation from the sin-depraved world anymore. They teach it — sometimes — But, they do not practice it at all.

In fact, the last Church I went to here locally before hanging it up with the confusion crowd; had no dress code at all. In the winter time, going to that Church was fine. Everyone usually covered up; as it gets quite cold here in the Detroit area. However, in the summertime; it is was rough for a single guy like me. The women simply wore, what they wanted, and it usually was little or nothing at all. I mean, don’t get me wrong; they were good-looking women and all; but it is pretty hard to concentrate on the Lord, when you have women dressing like two-dollar whores all around you.

Now, please; know this, and I really mean this one: I am not writing this from a Spirit of judgement — but rather a spirit of sadness. It saddens me to see that the Church of today is steeped in such apostasy. However, the Bible did say that these days were coming and for we as true believers to be on the lookout. 50 years ago, this sort of a thing would never fly in a Church, at all. It is quite to see how far the Church has went from the principles of the Bible and has adopted a, “whatever works” mentality.

It is just a sign of the Lords return…

Another good reason why I cannot stand Ted Cruz

I wrote about this yesterday. However, I believe it goes without saying that Ted Cruz and his Dad have no place in American politics at all.

In April, Rafael Cruz, the father of Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), spoke to the tea party of Hood County, which is southwest of Fort Worth, and made a bold declaration: The United States is a “Christian nation.” The septuagenarian businessman turned evangelical pastor did not choose to use the more inclusive formulation “Judeo-Christian nation.” Insisting that the Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution “were signed on the knees of the framers” and were a “divine revelation from God,” he went on to say, “yet our president has the gall to tell us that this is not a Christian nation…The United States of America was formed to honor the word of God.” Seven months earlier, Rafael Cruz, speaking to the North Texas Tea Party on behalf of his son, who was then running for Senate, called President Barack Obama an “outright Marxist” who “seeks to destroy all concept of God,” and he urged the crowd to send Obama “back to Kenya.”

via WATCH: Ted Cruz’s Dad Calls US a “Christian Nation,” Says Obama Should Go “Back to Kenya” | Mother Jones.

I do not want this man or his son anywhere near the White House at all. He does not speak for this paleoconservative at all. Do not misunderstand me here; I am all for the defense of Christian moral values and such. However, this guys beliefs are similar to those of the friends of Rick Perry, who happen to believe that apostate doctrine of “Kingdom Now” theology. Which is a very highly mistaken belief that somehow or another that Christians are on some sort of “God mandate” to occupy the Government until Christ comes back for his Church. It is the whole “God and Country” movement, taken to another level.

The reason for this is because historically, Christians did not believe in such things. Allow me to quote from a book called “The trail of blood” by James Milton Carroll:

24. Some serious questions have many times been asked concerning the Baptists: Would they, as a denomination, have accepted from any nation or state an offer of “establishment” if such nation or state had freely made them such an offer? And, would they, in case they had accepted such an offer, have become persecutors of others like Catholics or Episcopals, or Lutherans or Presbyterians, or Congregationalists? Probably a little consideration of such questions now would not be amiss. Have the Baptists, as a fact, ever had such an opportunity?

Is it not recorded in history, that on one occasion, the King of the Netherlands (the Netherlands at that time embracing Norway and Sweden, Belgium, Holland, and Denmark) had under serious consideration the question of having an established religion? Their kingdom at that period was surrounded on almost all sides by nations or governments with established religions–religions supported by the Civil Government.

It is stated that the King of Holland appointed a committee to examine into the claims of all existing churches or denominations to see which had the best claim to be the New Testament Church. The committee reported back that the Baptists were the best representatives of New Testament teachings. Then the King offered to make the Baptist “the established” church or denomination of his kingdom. The Baptists kindly thanked him but declined, stating that it was contrary to their fundamental convictions and principles.

But this was not the only opportunity they ever had of having their denomination the established religion of a people. They certainly had that opportunity when Rhode Island Colony was founded. And to have persecuted others–that would have been an impossibility if they were to continue being Baptists. They were the original advocates of “Religious Liberty.” That really is one of the fundamental articles of their religious faith. They believed in the absolute separation of church and state.

This is the proper way that true believers should be, to leave the business of politics of this fallen world to the people that want to run it. We believers should be about our Father’s business. We Christians have a right to vote; and we should vote our beliefs; what we should NOT do, is make disrespectful statements about the President and try occupy this Government. It all comes down to that thing, that many Christians seem to forget about; our Christian testimony.

This is why I had an issue with the whole “God and Country” movement of the 1980’s and this is why I have such an issue with the “Kingdom Now” types. This is because it is an unholy alliance between believers and non believers.

In closing, this is what the Bible says about all that:

Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. (2 Corinthians 6:14-18 KJV)

The round up of blogger reaction to this story is found here at Memeorandum.

Update: Fixed a rather bad typo and omission of words. Whoops. What I get for blogging before my mug of coffee is done. 😛

Christian persecution in Central Asia

The persecution of Baptist Christians is happening in Central Asia.

The Associated Baptist Press reports:

A Baptist pastor in Kazakhstan faces up to a year in prison after refusing to pay a fine equivalent to about two months’ average salary for conducting worship without government permission, the international news service Forum 18 reported Oct. 30.

Police opened a criminal case Oct. 28 against Pastor Pavel Leonov, who was fined in March following a Feb. 28 raid on his congregation in Ayagoz in the region of East Kazakhstan.

Leonov’s church is part of the Council of Churches Baptists, which has a policy of civil disobedience by refusing to pay fines imposed for meeting for worship without the compulsory state registration.

In August he told the court he could not pay the fine because he thinks he did nothing wrong and is the sole breadwinner for his wife and five children and was sentenced to 24 hours in jail.

Forum 18 says Leonov is one of more than 100 people from various faiths in Kazakhstan fined so far this year for offenses such as leading or participating in religious meetings without state permission, sharing their faith with others without being personally registered as missionaries or distributing religious literature away from licensed venues.

This Country’s policy of requiring Church’s to pay fees to have Church licenses, is nothing more than a Communist-like attempt to control what sort of religion is taught. This is nothing more than straight up persecution of Churches. Now, I know what I wrote about the gun issue in the previous posting, that is an American issue and I do believe in abiding by American laws. However, I do have an issue with Government regulations that infringe on basic human rights; whether here in America or abroad.

I ask that all my readers pray for this man and his family; that God would give this man favor in the eyes of this Government. Praying

I have always said, that Christian, and in this case Baptist; Missionaries were the true and real Christians. The difference between an typical America Christian and the missionaries abroad, is that the Missionaries actually put their faith into action. I have always said, that if I ever had it to do over again, that I would have stayed in the Baptist Church and that I would have went overseas to be a missionary. They have my respect, and I always have believed that the secret to a prosperous Church that is thriving and making a difference; is the support of missionaries. Churches that do not support them, often die very quickly, or become cesspools of false doctrine.

May the Lord Jesus Christ richly bless these Missionaries and all missionaries around the World, who are boldly proclaiming the true Gospel of Jesus Christ!