It is well know that Supreme Court Judge Thomas has sent a clear signal that it's only amount of short time before the Supreme Court makes homosexual 'marriage' the law of the land. The issue of marriage is out of the hands of the legislators and the people they represent, and is now in the hands of unelected, unaccountable judges. Many major news's commentaries, believe this grievous ruling has already been decided and will be handed down between April/June 2015.
Of course we desire that the Supreme Court to repent and change course 1800 degrees, however more importantly we need to get to the root of the problem. The root of this 'reprobate mind' is that God has found us guilty of two main sins. The first is that they 'they glorified him not as God' and 'neither were thankful', which point to the breaking of the 1st and 2nd commandment. Not only do we need to pray that there is repentance (by the Supreme Court), but we need to pray bigger, much bigger. We need to cry out to God for nationwide repentance of idolatry and a national turning to Jesus Christ, as the only mediator between God and man.
I do not have to tell you all that this is a very serious issue. Why because of homosexuality is an abomination to God? Yes - in part – but there is more. The allowance of homosexuality being the law of the land - is a clear marker (a sign) that God is at the tipping point of giving our nation 'over to a reprobate mind' as a judgment (Romans 1:28). A reprobate mind as put by the Geneva Bible is: 'To a corrupt and perverse mind, by which it comes to pass that the conscience, having been removed by them, and they having almost no more remorse for sin, run headlong into all types of evil.'
Of course we desire that the Supreme Court to repent and change course 1800 degrees, however more importantly we need to get to the root of the problem. The root of this 'reprobate mind' is that God has found us guilty of two main sins. The first is that they 'they glorified him not as God' and 'neither were thankful', which point to the breaking of the 1st and 2nd commandment. Not only do we need to pray that there is repentance (by the Supreme Court), but we need to pray bigger, much bigger. We need to cry out to God for nationwide repentance of idolatry and a national turning to Jesus Christ, as the only mediator between God and man.
In light of this, I urgently request all protestant denominations to declare an official day of humiliation, fasting and prayer. I urgently request this because I am not fearful of personal persecution by the world. Even though people have already lost their jobs – and the future looks even scarier with this ruling. I urgently request this not because, I am fearful of the congregations being persecuted, even though a small rewriting of the tax code, could punish any congregation which stands against 'gay marriage.' No, none of these things worry me. My urgency is not because I fear what man can do for Jesus has said; "fear not them which kill the body" (Matt. 10:28a). Instead, my urgency is founded upon what God would do if we fail to act, if fail to call upon the name of the Lord, in sackcloth and ashes, ".. but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell" (Matt. 10:28b).
What I am requesting is found in many places in the Bible (Moses, Samuel, David, Esther, Nehemiah, Ezra, Jesus, Paul), including a reference in the book of Joel:
"Sanctify ye a fast, call a solemn assembly, gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land into the house of the LORD your God, and cry unto the LORD" Joel 1:14
"Sanctify ye a fast, call a solemn assembly, gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land into the house of the LORD your God, and cry unto the LORD" Joel 1:14
John Calvin wrote on the importance of fasting in his Institutes of the Christian Religion:
"The remaining part of discipline, which is not, strictly speaking, included in the power of the keys, is when pastors, according to the necessity of the times, exhort the people either to fasting and solemn prayer, or to other exercises of humiliation, repentance, and faith, …We everywhere meet with examples in Sacred History, and it is unnecessary to collect them. In general, we must hold that whenever any religious controversy arises, which either a council or ecclesiastical tribunal behoves to decide; whenever a minister is to be chosen; whenever, in short, any matter of difficulty and great importance is under consideration: on the other hand, when manifestations of the divine anger appear, as pestilence, war, and famine, the sacred and salutary custom of all ages has been for pastors to exhort the people to public fasting and extraordinary prayer."
"The remaining part of discipline, which is not, strictly speaking, included in the power of the keys, is when pastors, according to the necessity of the times, exhort the people either to fasting and solemn prayer, or to other exercises of humiliation, repentance, and faith, …We everywhere meet with examples in Sacred History, and it is unnecessary to collect them. In general, we must hold that whenever any religious controversy arises, which either a council or ecclesiastical tribunal behoves to decide; whenever a minister is to be chosen; whenever, in short, any matter of difficulty and great importance is under consideration: on the other hand, when manifestations of the divine anger appear, as pestilence, war, and famine, the sacred and salutary custom of all ages has been for pastors to exhort the people to public fasting and extraordinary prayer."
I have noted that in my church's liturgy under Christian Prayers – the first one listed is "A General Confession of Sins and Prayer before the Sermon and on Days of Fasting and Prayer" (page 169 in our Psalter). Clearly the need to have this prayer in the liturgy means that in time past days of fasting was a far more common practice and has fallen out of use. It is time to dust off this prayer and get on our knees before Almighty God.
This time in our nation is sad, whereby our government are about to legalize sodomy as; acceptable, normal, and even protected. Certainly, this is a time where a 'religious controversy' has arisen and 'manifestations of the divine anger appear'. It is clear that Judge Thomas is giving us this warning, not so it softens the impact and the shock of the court's judgment. He is given us this warning so we can act, and act quickly to seek to prevent this evil. We can choose to do nothing, sit on our hands and wait for it to happen, or we can get in front of it and take this matter to the Lord in prayer and fasting, asking the Lord for deliverance.
Brian H.
Update1: Praise God this letter was sent (in part) to the Heritage Reformed Congregation Synod and a fast day was approved for the last week in May 2015. Lord willing may other denominations also join this great need to call upon the name of the Lord.
Update2: Praise God again, just received word that the RPCNA has also 'voted to join with the Heritage Reformed Congregations in recommending to its congregation a time of prayer and fasting during the last week of June'.
Brian H.
Update1: Praise God this letter was sent (in part) to the Heritage Reformed Congregation Synod and a fast day was approved for the last week in May 2015. Lord willing may other denominations also join this great need to call upon the name of the Lord.
Update2: Praise God again, just received word that the RPCNA has also 'voted to join with the Heritage Reformed Congregations in recommending to its congregation a time of prayer and fasting during the last week of June'.
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