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Crossroads of Biblical Values in
America When I think of America...
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hen I think of America, I think of the Constitution and the freedoms ur Christian heritage in the United for which our founding fathers States—from the letters of many of fought. Modern patriots view our country much our founding fathers to the freedom to the same way. Less government control over worship and practice our religion freely today— what citizens do, and more individual rights— enables citizens to build on that legacy while these are the basic fundamentals that America’s sharing the Gospel with those around them. Our founders desired more than anything else. These America of the people decided that the freedom include the extremely important right to freely to express our religion without governmental express our religion, especially the freedom to fear was vital to make this nation thrive. As worship without fear of government intrusion or churches preaching the Gospel were built up intervention. Our Christian heritage in America and God was reverenced in this country, His is foundationally dependent on those who blessing stood over this country, making it to sacrificed in building this country of United prosper as principles from the Scriptures were States on the basis of freedom. applied in the early documents and laws. Some of those men are not very well known. The structural foundation of America is Some gave their lives in battle so that you and I largely based on principles from God’s can pray and read our Bibles each day without Word, and this backbone has held the nation fear that our government will find us and take together while threats of secularism and it away. Christians in many other countries moral decay have permeated our courts and around the world do not have the privilege, or school systems. even the right, to openly read God’s Holy Word.
They are persecuted for doing simply what God has commanded every believer to do. These men Educating the next generation has always been the and women continue to sacrifice their lives for Biblical duty of the parents and authorities that the cause of Christ. We in America need to take God has placed in the lives of those young people. advantage of every opportunity God has given us to read thea Scriptures, Whether pastor, pray, and share our faith with others. school Sunday teacher, educator, or another influence of authority, the next generation must adhere to the tenets of Scripture and believe them on a personal level. Sadly, how often do we see young people who have not personally decided to follow Christ even though they were brought up in church and know what their parents believe? We need to influence this generation to make a difference for Christ and be examples to those who follow.
Christian education, expected at home and also in Christian school environments, should dictate the knowledge along with Godly wisdom through Scripture reading and memorization to help them grow in spirit and in truth. In the early days of CLA, the battle over Christian education As those our ministry travel in across this great was at thein forefront of minds America. We land, with we also that areconviction reaching stood men see whochurches had determined their communities never Revival to have Christian like schools andbefore. influence the meetings,under church camps, children’s ministries, children their care in the precepts of the and outreaches of many different kinds are faith. being used by God to light this country on fire for Christ. Wethehave had the to be used Throughout history of privilege the Christian Law to help manywe of have thesemet ministries they serve Association, skepticsasand scoffers Christdobynotreaching their the Jerusalem with the who agree with stands taken on Gospel. principle, the Scriptural values we Biblical
What can we do
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share, or the legal arguments we use as we fight As we consider our nation, we cannot ignore for religious liberty in America. It is our dutythe as serious moral issues with which our churches believers to hold to Biblical commands as we are now Things that asyears ago we stand firm dealing. on the Word of God our authority never would haveIt imagined aretonow issues that in these matters. is important keep our eyes churches have deal One of firmly fixed on to God andwith His daily. commands forthe us best waysIntothe combat keep and ourselves to follow. battle sin for is thetominds hearts fully thegeneration Scripturesofand meditatewe onmust His of theinnext Americans, Word each day. and We train need them to “keep heart uphold Scripture to bethyChristwith all diligence” the calling Psalmisttosays, out like. It is our dutyasand help“for Bibleof it are the issues of life.” We are a nation who believers follow God’s command. should seek God’s face for guidance daily as we seek revival in America. Christ-honoring men and women have stood in the gap for America. We have represented pastors To the unknown volunteer, or who were put in church jail for worker, following the Bible. person behind scenes Christians at your ministry, know We have seen the countless arrested for that thethe sacrifice to the your giving Gospelyou in make America. WeLord haveisstood labor of love. God is always watching. He sees yourQuestions time and efforts, andabout you can restsharing assured that your labor• is At not School? in vain in the Lord. Remember • At Work? that God’s blessing and encouragement is far At Restaurants? better than• man’s recognition for your service.
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Dr. and Mrs. David Gibbs, Jr.
We join with believers serving CLA staff memberin James Coates,the Jr. Lord and pressing toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. behind thousands who desire to simply follow Christ in the they live. We want to hand help The future of way the nation is always in the you liveThe your life isinclear accordance of God. Bible that the with heart God’s of the commands and protect you legally should king is in his control. It is our duty to serve you and need us as you take your stand for God. We fulfill the calling of God in each of our lives. will for legal help. of Ourinfluence, purpose Eachnot of charge us has you a different sphere is help serve God. We those do notaround want us to andtowe areyou all called to reach financially burden with the Gospel of you. Christ. For some, the office is where you spend most of your time. For In a country thatstore so badly cries outisfor light others, the local or restaurant thea place to want to Take help you light and youshine, mostwe often visit. timebe to that follow God’s will advisetoyou to of beGod’s an effective command tellhow others greatestwitness gift to in your community and avoid legal trouble. Our ministry has the privilege of sending out information about witnessing in modern America, how to represent Christ in your workplace, and what your rights are as a Christian in public schools. Our attorneys daily give out solid, experienced legal advice about these questions we receive from people whose main desire is to follow God’s leading.
your faith...
1 .888.CLA.1969 (252)
How can we help you? Here are some examples of questions we can answer for you: • May I legally hand out tracts or invite coworkers to church while I am at my job? • I’m a public school teacher, but as a Christian, am I allowed to tell my class about Jesus? • While I’m at the mall, can I hand out flyers for upcoming church services?
These kinds of questions, as well as multiple variations and new ones, arrive at our offices daily from various modes of communication. We are honored to answer these and others that pertain to your Biblical faith. Our calling and labor of love is to help God’s people follow His command to tell others about Jesus Christ. Throughout our ministry, we have been privileged to help thousands who have called with legal questions about how they can follow Christ in their lives. Do you have a question? Call us and let us serve you as your legal missionaries.
We also receive a variety of other questions such as the following: • Will Obamacare affect my church? • How will the recent Supreme Court ruling on same-sex marriage affect our church? Will I be forced to perform those types of ceremonies? • A bar is being opened down the street. Is there anything I can do to stop it? • If I speak out about these moral failures in America, will I be arrested, or will it be labeled as hate speech? • Can our young people have Bible clubs in their public school? I thought God wasn’t allowed in schools anymore?
Pray For Us Daily Each day is extremely important as our attorneys fight for what’s right and defend our churches and Christians. Your prayer is vital to the future of this nation. Support Us Financially CLA is supported by churches and individuals across the nation. When you choose to support us financially, you are helping support the cause of Christian liberty. Purchase Resources Our website is full of helpful resources that cover a wide range of topics. Visit www.ChristianLaw.org to see which ones would benefit you or your ministry.
gearing Up for Learning And Being Teachable
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by Dr, David C. Gibbs, Jr.
e live in a country where freedom to practice our faith abounds. Each believer has been tasked by God to pray s churches and gear up to for our national authority. Onschools June 26, 2013, thebegin schedules, around U. S. Supremeregular Court ruled that sameclassrooms sex marriages being prepped are protectedtheby country the Fifthare Amendment to the and readied the new school Rooms are being United Statesfor Constitution whenyear. it held a portion and wiped clean, the are being of thevaccuumed federal Defense of Marriage Actdesks (DOMA) in straight lines in the rooms. Schoolbooks to beplaced unconstitutional. In this case, Ms. Windsor, are landing at homes marriage and schools as both home one partner in a same-sex relationship, educators finalize preparations sought to claimand the schools federal estate taxthe exemption for school to commence. In the of children available to surviving spouses, butminds was barred summer is coming tosamea close as fromeverywhere, doing so by the DOMA, which excluded the new school yeardefinition begins. of “marriage.” sex partners from the Ms. Windsor paid over $300,000 in estate taxes Teachers educators know and then soughtand a refund. When the the IRSnecessary denied thework to create a good environment for the students, refund, Ms. Windsor brought a lawsuit against the butStates, what seeking have thethestudents themselves done to United refund and challenging get as ready forunconstitutional the school year? is important DOMA being byItdenying her to develop ourselves not just teachable in the school equal liberty of persons as guaranteed by the Fifth setting, but ready and willing to learn from what Amendment. God teaches us. The U. S. Attorney General then notified Congress To be we must willing to admit that the U.teachable, S. Department of be Justice would not that have all the answers, need to carrywe outdon’t its constitutional obligationand to we defend ask God for wisdom. Wisdom is not knowledge. DOMA. A group of the House of Representatives is knowing votedKnowledge to intervene in thesomething. lawsuit toWisdom defendtakes that aThe stepU.S. further. Wisdom is knowing what to do DOMA. District Court and the Court and when to do it. God promises to give us His of Appeals ruled the pertinent section of DOMA if we simply him for James 1:5 says to bewisdom unconstitutional andask ordered theit.U.S. to pay “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, Ms. Windsor her refund. The U. S. Supreme Court thatcertiorari giveth toin allthe men liberally, and upbraided granted case and affirmed the two not; it shall be giveninhim.” We must be willing to lowerand courts’ judgments Windsor’s favor. ask the right questions. Justice Kennedy delivered the opinion of the In inmywhich ministry withGinsburg, the Christian Court, Justices Breyer, Law Association, there is not a day that IRoberts, do not have Sotomayor, and Kagan joined. Justices dozens of problems placed in my lap. I sit on the Scalia, Thomas, and Alito dissented. other end of a phone line and listen as a Christian parent asks for advice. Welfare agents want to The majority opinion found that by U.S. history remove his from of hismarriage home. Preachers and tradition, thechild definition has been call
within the authority of the States to decide. While Congress has passed statutes concerning marriage to further federal policy, the Court held DOMA to run counter to the long established precept that domestic relationships were matters reserved to the States. The majority opinion essentially found DOMA to be by Dr, David C. Gibbs, Jr. a mean-spirited attempt “to impose a disadvantage, a separate status, and so a stigma upon all who prison,marriages accused of crimes thatbythey enterme intofrom same-sex made lawful thehave not committed. These people’s entire future unquestioned authority of the States” and castigated rests on my counsel. I find myself praying, ‘both “Lord, I the House’s intent with DOMA to express just do not know what to do about that situation.” moral disapproval of homosexuality, and a moral Preachers, supervisors, and administrators call me conviction that heterosexuality better comports with every (especially day asking Judeo-Christian) for advice as to what they should traditional morality.’” do concerning extremely important matters. According to the Court, DOMA’s operation In hisinequality Word, Godon gave us the prescriptionjust for gaining imposes some “marriages” to true wisdom. In teaching our children it is vital impose inequality and for no other purpose. It to train them same-sex how to obtain that wisdom. If wenot do not disadvantages married couples but teach ourmarried children couples how to obtain true such wisdom, heterosexual in areas as the Devil will tempt them with the alternative choices obtaining government healthcare benefits, receiving thatprotections appeal to for theirdomestic-support fleshly needs. My heart grieves special obligations I see young people graduating from our underwhen the Bankruptcy Code, and receiving veteran’s Christian schools with a marvelous accumulation benefits. The Court summarized: DOMA’s principal of factsand andnecessary information, idea of how to purpose effectbut arewith “to no demean those obtain true wisdom. persons who are in a lawful same-sex marriage. This requires Court to hold, as itthat nowwithout does, that DOMA Thethe Bible does not say God we can do is unconstitutional as a deprivation of the liberty of little. It says that without Him, we can do nothing. the person protected the Fifth Amendment The Bible doesbynot say that without toa the mental Constitution.” attitude, we can do nothing. It does not say that without encouragement, welaw canofdothe nothing. Same-sex marriage is now the land. ItIf does not say that without education or training, we can there has ever been a time Christians need to pray do Nation nothing. It its does not say for our and leaders, thethat timewithout is now.ability, we can do nothing. The Bible says that without Him, we can do nothing. To draw down God’s wisdom, Your Legal Missionary, acknowledge that you lack, and simply ask. Your Legal Missionary,
If you havehave questions about legallegal matters in ministry or have questions about youryour religious liberty, If you questions about matters in ministry or have questions about religious liberty, our office at 1.888.CLA.1969 call our office at call 1.888.CLA.1969 or contact us at www.ChristianLaw.org
Please pray as CLA attorneys assist a NORTH CAROLINA homeowner that is being forced to remove a sign from the yard because it says “Jesus Loves You.” Please pray for CLA attorneys advising a MICHIGAN church that is having trouble registering vehicles with the DOT. Please pray as we advise a Christian school graduate in LOUISIANA who is being told that his diploma will not be accepted by a secular college. Please pray for CLA staff as we counsel a NEW JERSEY resident who is being told he is no longer able to witness in his workplace. Praise the Lord that CLA had the privilege of assisting a pastor in CALIFORNIA who had legal questions about the process of adoption. Please pray as CLA attorneys work alongside a COLORADO church that is being told by the IRS that their taxes were filed incorrectly. Please pray as CLA’s legal staff assist a NEW JERSEY church that needs updated permission slips filled out for children attending Vacation Bible School. Praise the Lord that CLA had the honor to assist a church in NORTH CAROLINA as they updated their policies for working in their church nursery. Please pray as CLA attorneys advise a Christian school in OREGON that
contacted our office seeking legal advice on how to correctly handle a teacher leaving the school. Please pray as CLA assists a church in TENNESSEE and various other states by reviewing and updating their constitution and bylaws to protect the church from recent rulings on same-sex marriage. Praise the Lord that CLA was able to assist a church with a Christian school in GEORGIA when they called with a legal question about student transcripts. Please pray as CLA attorneys advise a Christian in WASHINGTON STATE who is being told she is not allowed to read her Bible during break time at work. Please pray as CLA legally helps a Christian organization in ALABAMA that is working to protect its property from being rented out to groups that support homosexuality. Please pray as CLA’s legal missionaries assist a pastor in CONNECTICUT who is trying to have his homeschooled children participate in public school sports and being told it is not allowed. Praise the Lord that CLA attorneys were able to help a homeschooling family in TEXAS that was being investigated for homeschooling their children.
