A UN Resolution and a State Lawsuit - Both Are Bad

It seems that the mainstream media does not do an adequate job of sharing with us the happenings of the various agencies of the United Nations.  For example, did you know that the United Nations Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (UNESCO) recently passed a resolution denying any ancient Jewish connection to the Temple Mount or the Western Wall?  Well, they did.




The resolution was initiated on behalf of the Palestinians.  It states that the Temple Mount, the place where the First and Second Temples stood, is holy only to Muslims.  In response to the resolution, Israel's permanent delegate to UNESCO, Ambassador Carmel Shama HaCohen, said, "Israel and the Jewish people do not require UNESCO's or any other country's confirmation of the special connection between the Jewish people and the State of Israel and Jerusalem in general, and the holy sites such as the Western Wall and the Temple Mount in particular.  There is no connection of another people to another place in the world that comes close to the strength and depth of our connection to Jerusalem from a religious, historical and national perspective, a connection that has stood the test of 2,000 years."  (www.worldnewsisrael.com/un-rejects-ancient-jewish-connection-to-temple-mount-and-western-wall.)  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared, "To say that Israel has no connection to the Temple Mount and the Western Wall is like saying that the Chinese have no connection to the Great Wall of China and the Egyptians have no connection to the pyramids.  By this absurd decision, UNESCO has lost what little legitimacy it had left."


Friends, the Jewish roots associated with the Temple Mount go back to the time of David, some ten centuries before the time of Christ, or some 17 centuries before the time of Mohammed.  David selected this site for the construction of the Temple, a project that he left in the capable hands of his son, Solomon.  Artifacts discovered in and around the Temple Mount bear the historicity of the strong Jewish claims to this place.  I have seen many of those artifacts in the Israeli Museum in Jerusalem.  But it seems that the world wants to negate those many centuries of Jewish history.  But you cannot erase history.  It is there.  It is part of our past.  And it seems that anti-Semitism now must go back into that ancient history.  But, according to the scriptures, this city of Jerusalem will become the capitol city of the world when Jesus Christ returns. 


I would like to share a second article with you.  It can be found at www.wnd.com/2016/10/another-state-tells-churches-to-shut-up-about-transgenders.  "For a second time in just weeks, a state finds itself on defense in a legal action triggered by its attempt to dictate what ministers and others say inside their churches.  In America.  Home of the First Amendment's protection for freedom of speech and freedom of religion.  The newest case was filed against Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination commissioners Jamie R. Williamson, Sunila T. George and Charlotte G. Richie and Attorney General Maura Healey.  It's over a new 'gender identity' definition adopted in Massachusetts.  The measure makes 'gender identity' a special class, with more protections than ordinary citizens.  Under the provision, the attorney general has claimed 'houses of worship' are places of 'public accommodation' and members therefore cannot even express ideas concerning 'religious expression regarding biological sex and gender identity.'  The case was launched by the Alliance Defending Freedom after Healey and the state commission both decided to interpret the law 'to force churches to open church changing rooms, shower facilities, restrooms, and other intimate areas [to people] based on their perceived gender identity, and not their biological sex, in violation of the churches' religious beliefs.' 


"'Under [the law] places of public accommodation may not discriminate against, or restrict a person from services because of that person's gender identity.  For example, a hotel or motel may not refuse to book a room for a person because of the person's gender identity,' the state threatened.  It continued, 'Even a church could be seen as a place of public accommodation if it holds a secular event, such as a spaghetti supper, that is open to the general public.'  The demands include having church officials, and even members, use whatever pronouns a person would demand, irrespective of their actual gender."


Friends, this case mirrors one that occurred recently in the state of Iowa, specifically the Fort Des Moines Church of Christ.  "At issue is the state's nondiscrimination requirements that specify any 'public accommodation' can be ordered not to say anything that might make a homosexual or a transgender feel 'unwelcome,' such as even reading from the Bible a condemnation of such behavior."


So, a pastor cannot even preach from such texts as Romans 1 or  First Corinthians 6 for fear of offending someone in the audience.  A church is fearful of opening its doors to a fund-raising dinner for its youth because they do not want to have "open bathrooms."  What has happened?  The bottom line is this: we do not want to hear about sin!  We don't want to be told that we are wrong!  We don't want to admit that we need help!  And, thus the First Amendment is trampled upon.  Those freedoms which are cited in that First Amendment were foundational to the reasons why our nation was created in the first place.  These were essential rights.  Without those, our nation ceases to exist - or, at least, ceases to exist as our Founding Fathers envisioned this country they were giving birth to. 


So, what is your church going to do?  What is my church going to do?  How is your church going to respond to this threat?  How is my church?  We want to be biblical in all that we do.  We want to mirror both truth and grace.  But, if it means going to jail or losing our tax exempt status, so be it.  We will not waver from the Truth. 


Friends, it is time to prayer and to study as we have never prayed and studied before.  It is time for us to be bold as we have not been bold before.  The proclamation of the Gospel is dependent upon it.