Category: Government
Subject: Government
Sermon: Biblical Leadership
The first of three lessons establishing what God considers the most important attributes for a Christian to have to be an effective leader, in the church and in life.
Sermon: God’s Pattern For Our Whole Life
God is our Creator, and deserves our respect and obedience. His revealed will impacts us in every aspect of our lives.
Sermon: The Church and Politics
There are civil laws governing how involved churches may become in the political arena. More importantly, there are guidelines that the church and individual Christians are given by God. These must be respected and obeyed!
Bona Fide Religious Purpose?
In 2007, the state of Iowa updated the state’s Civil Rights Act to include sexual orientation and gender identity. The statute prohibits “unfair or discriminatory practice” in any public accommodation. However, it contains an exemption for religious organizations. A provision in the law states that the law does not apply to “any bona fide religious institution with respect to any qualifications the institution may impose based on religion, sexual orientation, or gender identity when such qualifications are related to a bona fide religious purpose.” The term “bona fide religious purpose” is nebulous.
In fact, a brochure published by the Iowa Civil Rights Commission interpreted the law in a broad fashion. The brochure stated:
In The News: Ungodly Leaders
On Tuesday, November 3, the state of Maine voted on a referendum regarding a state law that would have allowed homosexual couples to marry.
According to an Associated Press article, the pro-homosexual lobby had a tremendous advantage:
The stars seemed aligned for supporters of gay marriage. They had Maine’s governor, legislative leaders and major newspapers on their side, plus a huge edge in campaign funding. (David Crary, AP National Writer)
In The News: Stay on Executions Over
Georgia executed killer William Earl Lynd last night, ending a more than seven-month nationwide hiatus on capital punishment prompted by the Supreme Court’s examination of lethal injection.
Lynd’s execution at 7:51 p.m. was the first since the court ruled April 16 that the three-drug protocol most commonly used in executions by states and the federal government did not constitute cruel and unusual punishment.
The court last night turned down Lynd’s last-minute request for a stay, as the Georgia Supreme Court had earlier in the day. He was executed at the Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Prison in Jackson.
Robert Barnes
Washington Post, May 7, 2008
Analysis:
William Earl Lynd was sentenced to death by a jury of his peers because of the heinous nature of the crime he committed. He shot his live in girlfriend, Ginger Moore in the face while high on drugs. After Moore crawled from the house to the porch, he shot her again. He loaded her body into the trunk, then when he heard a noise from the trunk, he opened it and shot her again. After driving across state lines, he buried her, then shot and killed another woman. Since he took her across state lines, he was charged with kidnapping, and these extra circumstances were sufficient to get him the death penalty.
Sermon: The Christian and Government
Romans 13:1-7 and other passages establish the responsibility of Christians toward the government and ruling authorities. The sermon examines those duties.
Sermon Audio: Click Here .
