Today's sign of the apocalypse...

Today's sign of the apocalypse...the non-Christians feel "left out" on the National Day of Prayer. Shocking! This news comes from the headlines of our local propaganda piece better known as the paper (www.tennessean.com) I don't put much stock in the article itself. It's a paper trying to create news (notice I didn't say report news) so that they can sell their paper. About now, everyone is screaming "seperation of church and state" which is neither in the Constitution of the U. S. (check it for yourself) nor what Jefferson intended when he wrote that phrase in a letter to Baptists in Virginia.

Why is this even in the paper? To stir up conversation. Well, here's the conversation they seek. Why are we talking about this? No one whined in the evangelical community because we weren't included at the latest gay rights parade (which, by the way, if we are talking about breaking laws are typically blatant in their disregard for public decency statutes). I don't recall hearing any Christians get upset because the Southern Baptists weren't on the agenda at the last Yom Kippur or Ramadan celebration. Why is it that no one gives a hoot about Christ or Christians until we try to do something worthwhile and then, all of the sudden, we are the ones who are intolerant?

Let's take this one step further. When is the last time the Christian community's feelings were considered when a movie was released in Hollywood mocking Christians or their faith? When is the last time that the news reported a "hate crime" committed against a Christian--the same newspapers that want to call every crime against homosexuals a "hate crime?" After all, aren't all crimes "hate crimes?" Anybody here ever heard of a "love crime?"

Okay. I'm ranting and raving. I know it. So I won't keep rambling. Let me put it all into a few sentences to share the bottom line with you. The name of Jesus Christ offends. He told us it would. We shouldn't be surprised. Very few people have a hard time talking about God and a Higher Power. We love knowing there is Someone watching over us. But the name of Jesus drives a wedge between "Holy name droppers" and true followers of Christ. That name, the name that is above every name, the name that is the only one that brings salvation and the only one that offers hope, is the one that is most rejected and put down.

So, to all my non-Christian readers. Feel free to pray today or any other day. You are granted that right as a citizen of this (once) great nation. You can pray to the birds and the bees. You can worship Oprah or Obama. It is absolutely your right as an American and, because I am an American, I will support your privilege to do this. But don't ask me to stop saying the name of Jesus or teaching the truth about salvation. As a Christian, I am not given that right nor would I choose to do so if I could.

10 Let me clearly state to all of you and to all the people of Israel that he was healed by the powerful name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, the man you crucified but whom God raised from the dead. 11 For Jesus is the one referred to in the Scriptures, where it says,
‘The stone that you builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.’
12 There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:10-12 NLT