Grant Swart

In the light of developments earlier today in the international war on terror, I thought it appropriate to re-post this article by Pastor Bill Randles, himself a citizen of theUSA. Hundreds of secular articles written under the guise of Christian opinion, have been placed on the internet by proponents of the ecumenical church such as Brian McLaren, following the merciful removal of the threat of the terrorist, Osama Bin Laden. Those articles are mostly in keeping with the immensely popular social gospel of tolerance above truth, which discredits the Christian position rather than represents it. The article by Bill Randles, which I have added at the bottom, offers a Christian perspective an is certainly worth reading again.

Shortly after the international incident, President Obama of the USA, in his televised address, missed yet another great opportunity to thank, (or at the very least mention), the Lord God for assisting their armed forces efforts in protecting the freedom of Christians. As on so many previous occasions, President Obama has used similar incidents in blatantly obvious attempts to gain political ground and achieve personal glory, at the expense of the Christian citizens of his own country and other Western nations. It seems we don’t have many options other than to accept the wide-spread apostasy of the American nation from the top down, while keeping our Christian faith intact, but at the same time I do not think Christians should remain silent on the matter.

President Obama is not alone in that error and current mismanagement of his own eternal future, as not one of the prominent Western leaders, military or diplomatic persons who commented following the killing of Bin Laden, seemed to give the slightest hint that they recognized the role of the Almighty God and Father of our precious Lord Jesus, in keeping their freedom to worship Him intact.

Now, while I do admit that the Oval Office is not a church and even less is 10 Downing Street a rectory, it is nevertheless with nauseating regularity that immensely undiscerning utterances issue forth from those very public and prominent offices.

Extracts from the related article by Bill Randles:

“We are a sinful nation, it is no wonder there was a 9-11, the wonder is that there isn’t one every single day! How did we think we could survive, flouting God’s law against abortion, fornication, homosexuality and the host of other evils we have baptized the whole world into ? We deserve to be judged by God, not blessed.”

“And yet in mercy God gives us a taste of the martial valor of the “land of the free and the home of the brave”, by blessing this operation. It is mercy from heaven that we were able to deliver the fatal blow to this Islamic murderer.”

“Remember that this very president, so eager to take personal credit for this successful operation, is homosexualising this same military, setting the table to fatally undermine our watchman for his own political advantage. We are yet in grave danger.”

Bill’s words left me thinking on the stance adopted by the leaders of so-called Christian or democratic countries, and in particular that of President Obama. The events of the past 24 hours brings to mind the events which are described in Acts 12:21-24:

Act 12:21  On an appointed day Herod put on his royal robes, took his seat upon the throne, and delivered an oration to them.

Act 12:22  And the people were shouting, “The voice of a god, and not of a man!”

Act 12:23  Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him down, because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and breathed his last.

Act 12:24  But the word of God increased and multiplied.

It is with increasing regularity that I encounter bloggers and chat with other beautiful people, who seem to have been imprinted with a perception of their own worth, before God, which is far beyond that which is real. It is as if the popular social gospel, spiced up with the mystic and spiritualistic beliefs of the ecumenical and evolutionary church, has influenced their lives to point where they truly believe they are not “so little” gods.

Of course, the prosperity, new age and word/faith gospels which have additionally been interwoven into the global interfaith church; the pseudo-importance which the preachers and authors of that global church have assumed; all add to the deception influencing and shaping our leaders. Certain evangelists and their devoted employees, who have taken reams of pages, nay vaults of files, out of the numerical success of the Roman’s papal book, now themselves resemble modern day pope-gods. No longer is it acceptable for an international Western leader to simply portray a stately and regal importance, rather it is obviously imperative that they spin an anti-Christ act into their persona.

The interfaith message of peace and tolerance of all other false faiths, at the expense of the truth and at the expense of Father God, was once again displayed in its full inglorious reality during Obama’s speech. The American leader made it clear that, irrespective of whatever god of choice one serves, the united effort of the citizenry against terrorism was to be particularly praised. In other words he advocates employing a lighter green evil against a darker green evil.

The horse which carries capitalism and world peace was once again being flogged mercilessly by the cruel interfaith whip in hands of the spokesmen for the world. But, I suppose in reality, can any truth be expected to issue forth from a presidency who chose Rick Warren to share their inaugural platform praying to an interfaith god and, subsequently bases its decisions regarding matters of faith on an the Tony Blair Interfaith Foundation? Where are the Christian voices to speak out against these atrocities in their own countries?

Many seem to have forgotten how truly insignificant men are. Obama andCo.also seem to have forgotten how truly great the responsibility is that their leadership roles carry, having been given those roles by God. That of course, is a truth they would vehemently deny, because they seem to maintain that God could never wield that kind of power.

 

The following is the article by Pastor Bill Randles:

Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth:  Lest the LORD see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.(Proverbs 24:17)

When it goeth well with the righteous, the city rejoiceth: and when the wicked perish, there is shouting.(Proverbs 11:10)

The righteous shall rejoice when he seeth the vengeance: he shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked. So that a man shall say, Verily there is a reward for the righteous: verily he is a God that judgeth in the earth.(Psalm 58:10-11)

Instant elation has erupted worldwide upon the news of the violent death of arch terrorist Osama Bin Ladin, delivered by US Navy Seals. In the streets and on the Internet,Twitter and everywhere decent people congregate, a festive atmosphere has broken out, among strangers over the news.

Is there something untoward at this open joy at the destruction of the  world’s most wanted terrorists? After all the Word of God warns in more than one place, not to boast in the fall of an enemy. Should we be so elated?

I think we should , unapologetically. I am not saying that we should gloat in a proud way, but as a christian pastor and firm believer in the Word of God, I celebrate the death of Osama Bin Laden, and what it represents to the world. Here is why…

* It is not personal – The exhortation to not rejoice over the fall of your enemy , is to be understood in the context of interpersonal relationships .

We will have friends as well as accumulate enemies in this world. The christian must live above petty strife, gloating, and “Schadenfreude”, which is the envious joy over the misfortune of another.

But Bin Laden is in a category other than a personal enemy. Not only is he evil himself, Bin Laden represents a form of evil which is bedevilling the world at this time in history, Islamic terrorism.

We should be against evil, we should utterly hate all forms of evil, and particularly evil done in the name of a false god.

* Rejoice that the cause of evil has been set back– Part of our current problem is that  our culture has embraced a moral relativism which has stripped us of our confidence in our own civilisation. Whole populations in the west do not know good from evil with confidence as a result of this.Political correctness is a disastrous heresy.

Ten years after 9-11, in which Islamic murderers sucker punched us as a nation, slaughtering 3000 innocent ones in the name of Allah, there is yet an official denial that Islam is the problem. There have been  16,000 international incidents of mass murder and terror since 9-11, all committed by Muslims, and our leaders remain in denial.

Islamic terror is evil. Osama was a proponant of that evil. His very survival was an open taunting of all that is good, orderly and civilized, particularly christianity. He seemed to “get away with it”, thus encouraging others around the world to join him in the mayhem.Remember what he once said about people “backing the stronger horse”?

Now God has reminded Isam that they aren’t really “the strong horse”. Those who couldn’t contain their glee after 9-11, who headed out into the streets to celebrate the humiliation of “the great Satan”, are in mourning now. I am glad to know that God remembered. God always remembers.

* This demoralizes the other evil ones –
Should we not be elated and jubilant that evil has had this setback? In a world where bad guys seem to flout life and law with no fear, is it not a good thing that the principle symbol of this lawlessness be publicly put down?

I hate evil, therefore I am glad Osama Bin Laden has been sent to God’s Holy Judgment.

I know well, that this is not the end of the war on terror, nor is this a death-blow to the cancer that is Al Queda.Wars are determined until the end.

But there are others, Al Zwahahiri, Al Alawiki, the hideous Nasrallah, and the loathsome Mullahs of Iran,who up to this time have terrorized millions, enjoying success after success without too much setback. Perhaps now they are unable to sleep securely at night, unsure whether or not the next Seal team has their address. It’s about time!

* But Here is why we can’t gloat – I do believe that this projection of military power is impressive, and I have all of the respect in the world for our brave military, the very cream of the crop ofAmerica..

Having said all of that, it is only the mercy of God that allowed us to bag Bin Laden. Unless the Lord watches the city the watchmen  keep watch in vain… blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord… . 

We are a sinful nation, it is no wonder there was a 9-11, the wonder is that there isn’t one every single day! How did we think we could survive, flouting God’s law against abortion, fornication, homosexuality and the host of other evils we have baptised the whole world into ? We deserve to be judged by God, not blessed.

And yet in mercy God gives us a taste of the martial valor of the “land of the free and the home of the brave”, by blessing this operation. It is mercy from heaven that we were able to deliver the fatal blow to this Islamic murderer.

Remember that this very president, so eager to take personal credit for this successful operation, is homo sexualising this same military, setting the table to fatally undermine our watchman for his own political advantage. We are yet in grave danger.

Of course I rejoice, but can’t gloat. I hate evil, but am under no illusion as to who we have become as a nation. This should be a call to prayer, and grateful repentance. I close with another call to rejoice in the fall of evil;

I will praise thee, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works.  I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing praise to thy name, O thou most High. When mine enemies are turned back, they shall fall and perish at thy presence. For thou hast maintained my right and my cause; thou satest in the throne judging right. Thou hast rebuked the heathen, thou hast destroyed the wicked, thou hast put out their name for ever and ever.

 O thou enemy, destructions are come to a perpetual end: and thou hast destroyed cities; their memorial is perished with them. But the LORD shall endure for ever: he hath prepared his throne for judgment. (Psalm 9:1-9)