The Bulletin Board:(Please SCROLL DOWN this page to find the article titled on this post in LARGE CAPITAL LETTERS. Thank you.)
SIGN A PETITION TO THE UN FOR THE PROTECTION OF CHRISTIANS :" The church in Syria has shone brightly for 2,000 years. But today violence and persecution threatens its survival. Thanks to an incredible response, Open Doors is helping 8,000 families in Syria survive each month. We believe the signatures and prayers of 500,000 people will encourage the UN to act and protect the rights and lives of all Syrians, especially the vulnerable Christian community." Go to: http://lp.opendoorsusa.org/emails/nov-13-action/save-syria.html?utm_source=action&utm_medium=email&utm_content=button&utm_campaign=november
WORLD-WDE PRAYER REQUESTS:
LATEST NEWS ALERT - US Pastor Saeed Remains in Iranian Hospital, Instead of Prison - By Jordan Sekulow, Filed in IRAN, Mar. 31;http://aclj.org/iran/us-pastor-saeed-remains-in-iranian-hospital-instead-of-prison We need to continue to pray for Pastor Saeed - that his health will improve and that he will be re-united with his wife and two young children who live in the United States. We also remain hopeful that in addition to getting the medical care he so desperately needs, that Iranian officials display the kind of humanitarian treatment that often accompanies the start of the Iranian New Year which began on March 21st. This is the time of year when the Iranian government frequently offers clemency to prisoners of conscience. [If you have not yet, please sign the petition for his clemency- http://beheardproject.com/saeed#sign]
PRAY ALSO : - For comfort and peace for Saeed’s wife and children here in the U.S.\
- For a strong witness and testimony from Pastor Abedini in the prison where God has placed him
- For Christians around the world who are being persecuted for their faith in Christ
- For leadership from the White House and State Department in defending the freedoms of Abedini and other Americans
- GO TO SaveSaeed.org to sign a petition over 600,000 others asking for his immediate release
The U.S. State Department believes the Russian army is now prepared to launch an invasion of eastern Ukraine if President Vladimir Putin decides to pull the trigger, according to a senior Administration official."At this point, they are amassed and they could go at a moment’s notice if Putin gave the go ahead," the official said...Top Ukrainian security officials said Thursday that Russia now has 100,000 troops on its side of the Russia-Ukraine border.(Sources: CBS News, Washington Post, Huffington Post, Daily Beast)
As the Lord leads, please pray:
*For God to suppress President Putin’s ambitions to "restore" the Soviet empire.
*For the people of Ukrainen [esp. for the church 'to be THE church'] as they wait to see if the Russian troops will advance.
*About President Obama and to use wisdom in crafting our foreign policy, and wisdom for his advisers.
NEWS/PRAYER ALERT!"Kim Jong-un Calls for Execution of 33 Christians" - 3/7/2014; http://www.presidentialprayerteam.com/Prayerwatch?pw=3651 "North Korea tyrant Kim Jong-un has reportedly ordered that 33 Christians believed to be working alongside South Korean Baptist missionary Kim Jung-wook be put to death. The South Korean missionary - who was arrested last year - and his accomplices have reportedly started 500 or so underground churches..."[PRAY that the plans for execution would be rescinded, and these believers released.] [Che\ck out: They'll Be Dead By Morning (What Difference Will It Make) http://loristanleyroeleveld.blogspot.com/2014/03/theyll-be-dead-by-morning-what.html
NEWS ALERT/PRAISE! "Iran Allows Surgery on Ailing, Imprisoned Pastor" - CBNNews.com,March 07, 2014;http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2014/March/Iran-Allows-Dire-Surgery-on-Ailing-Imprisoned-Pastor-/ The Iranian government has finally allowed doctors to perform surgery on imprisoned Pastor Benham Irani.Irani suffered from a herniated disc and bleeding intestines and urgently needed medical care. PRAY for the final release of Pastor Irani and others imprisoned for their faith.
Oct. 23: "Christians Fleeing IRAQ Area Once Considered Safe," - CBNNews.com, http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2013/October/Christians-Fleeing-Iraq-Area-Once-Considered-Safe/ PRAY that believers in Iraq will know God's protection and provision; that believers will know[ whether they are called to flee or remain and persevere; and that their persecutors may come to hear the gospel and come to faith in Christ. - Stan]
Continue to Pray for EGYPT - Continue to pray for the tense situation in Egypt and especially for the Christian believers who are being targeted with violence by Muslim Brotherhood members.]
Update on Kenneth Bae: "US Ready to Bargain with N. Korea for Bae's Release,"- CBNNews.com, Aug 14, 2013 http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2013/August/S-Ready-to-Bargain-with-N-Korea-for-Baes-Release/ - PRAY for 1) God's healing of and presence with Pastor Bae, 2) His earliest release by the North Korean government, and 3) God's comfort for his family and friends.]
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Continue to Pray for EGYPT - Continue to pray for the tense situation in Egypt and especially for the Christian believers who are being targeted with violence by Muslim Brotherhood members.]
Update on Kenneth Bae: "US Ready to Bargain with N. Korea for Bae's Release,"- CBNNews.com, Aug 14, 2013 http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2013/August/S-Ready-to-Bargain-with-N-Korea-for-Baes-Release/ - PRAY for 1) God's healing of and presence with Pastor Bae, 2) His earliest release by the North Korean government, and 3) God's comfort for his family and friends.]
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Photo: Getty Images [1]
This year tax day falls on Tuesday of the Christian Holy Week—the day on which, according to the Gospel accounts, Jesus was asked about paying taxes to Caesar.
Using an age-old political tactic, Jesus’ opponents posed a question that’s answer was sure to alienate some segment of the public. “Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” asked the Pharisees and Herodians. The tribute tax was a reminder of Roman subjugation of Israel. If Jesus endorsed the tribute it would turn the crowd against him—the same people who had just given him the first century version of a ticker-tape parade, welcoming him to Jerusalem. On the other hand, refusing to answer could lead to charges of insurrection against the Roman overlords.
After asking for the Roman coin used to pay the tax, Jesus responds with a question of his own: “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” The coin featured a profile of Caesar. Jesus’ last word in the episode is well known: “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”
It was a powerful message about ultimate allegiance and civil authority. One of the first truths taught in the Bible is that human beings are made in the image of God. Jesus’ lesson was clear: If Caesar could claim a coin made in his image, God’s claim went to their very lives. That was a tribute the Pharisees and Herodians, like Caesar, had failed to render properly. They were already seeking a way to end Jesus’ life and, in a matter of days, the Romans would crucify him—so denying the authority of the One who sent him.
Today we have a strong sense that civil authority must not demand—and religious believers should not render to it—ultimate allegiance. Conscience should be free to respond to a higher authority. The founding of the United States was especially concerned with such limits. Our constitutional order was designed to allow citizens to reconcile dual allegiances to God and to civil authority without forcing believers to abandon or moderate their primary loyalty to God. The First Amendment guarantees the free exercise of religion.
Throughout American history we have had a robust understanding of religious liberty [2]. It includes the freedom to speak and act publicly according to the dictates of one’s faith. But, more recently, some have characterized this liberty as the freedom of worship [3]—that is, privately, within the four walls of a sanctuary or private home.
During this Holy Week two families who seek to run their businesses consistent with their faith await a verdict from the U.S. Supreme Court. The Obamacare HHS mandate requires the Greens, who own Hobby Lobby [4]; the Hahns of Conestoga Wood Specialties [5]; and nearly all other employers to provide coverage for abortion-inducing drugs and devices in their health plans. Coverage of such life-ending means would violate the religious convictions (evangelical and Mennonite, respectively) of these two families [6].
The Supreme Court heard their case last month and is expected to issue a decision by the end of June. This is a ruling that will affect not just the Greens and the Hahns, but our government’s understanding of what it means to respect citizens’ freedom [7] to continue rendering to God what is God’s. [AS I SEE IT: Let us continue to be in prayer that this decision will indeed recognize that the religious rights of Americans extend beyond the] walls of their places of worship. (Hopefully, such a right decision will not just be along ideological lines.) To do otherwise would surely be a dangerous precedent for religious liberty in America. - Stan
[bold and italics emphasis mine]
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Article printed from The Foundry: Conservative Policy News from The Heritage Foundation: http://blog.heritage.org; URL to article: http://blog.heritage.org/2014/04/15/rendering-god-gods/
URLs in this post:
[1] Image: http://blog.heritage.org/wp-content/uploads/2014_04_TaxHolyWeek_Marshall.jpg
[2] a robust understanding of religious liberty: http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2010/12/why-does-religious-freedom-matter
[3] freedom of worship: http://blog.heritage.org/2013/06/15/congress-obamacare-assaults-religious-freedom/
[4] Greens, who own Hobby Lobby: http://www.hobbylobbycase.com/
[5] Hahns of Conestoga Wood Specialties: http://www.alliancedefendingfreedom.org/News/PRDetail/8451
[6] Coverage of such life-ending means would violate the religious convictions (evangelical and Mennonite, respectively) of these two families: http://blog.heritage.org/2014/03/25/freedom-everyones-business-governments/
[7] respect citizens’ freedom: http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2012/12/understanding-american-liberty
Copyright 2014 - The Heritage Foundation
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