Satan himself knows that Christianity grows and is strengthened through the persecution of those who stand strong and faithfully endure suffering in Christ's name.
"She [Kim Davis] won't bow, I promise you. I'm just an old, dumb, country hillbilly, but I know God."UPDATE 3/16/16: Kentucky Changes License Form -- 'Gay Marriage' Battle NOT Over in Other States
-- Joe Davis, husband
"What we end up having is the first example of the criminalization of a Christian for believing in the traditional definition of marriage."
-- Mike Huckabee, former Arkansas governor and presidential candidate
UPDATE 10/9/15: Scholars Say Support Kim Davis — Supreme Court's 'Gay Marriage' Ruling is Illegitimate
For background, read ACLU Sues Christians for Refusing 'Gay Marriage' and also read 'Christian Rights' Lawsuit: Refused 'Gay Marriage'
In contrast, read North Carolina Law Allows Magistrates to Refuse 'Gay Marriage'
UPDATE 9/9/15: Homosexualist Oregon Persecutes Christian Judge
Click headlines below to read previous articles:
Lesbian Government Official Nixes Christian Business at Denver Airport
Houston Lesbian Mayor Subpoenas Pastors' Sermons
9th Circuit Court Forces Christians into Abortion Business
Also read how President Obama and his federal government agencies are elevating the Gay Agenda above religious liberty.
It's obvious: Religious Liberty is in the Homosexualists' Crosshairs
-- From "'Free Kim Davis': This is just what gay rights groups wanted to avoid" by Joseph Gerth, The Courier-Journal posted at USA TODAY 9/6/15
For the second straight day, Kim Davis awoke in the Carter County Detention Center, put there by U.S. District Judge David Bunning for her refusal to follow a court injunction requiring her to issue marriage licenses to gay couples.
Hundreds of people gathered outside the Carter County Detention Center in a "Free Kim Davis" rally on Saturday and prayed for jailed Rowan County clerk, who was locked up just a few hundred feet away.
As Davis' mugshot flew across the Internet, it became clear that the gay rights movement must confront the idea that Christianity is under siege, said Kenneth Upton, senior counsel for Lambda Legal, a law firm specializing in LGBT issues.
"This is what the other side wants," Upton said, pointing to an image of Davis in handcuffs. "This is a biblical story, to go to jail for your faith. We don't want to make her a martyr to the people who are like her, who want to paint themselves as victims."
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Just what gay activists hoped to avoid: Clerk Kim Davis, the new face of Christian persecution" by Claire Galofaro, Associated Press 9/4/15
The American Civil Liberties Union, representing couples she turned away, asked that she be fined rather than imprisoned, in part to avoid "a false persecution story," said Dan Canon, one of the attorneys. But U.S. District Court Judge David Bunning ordered her to jail anyway, reasoning that she would be unmoved by monetary penalties.
"I think he was trying to make an example of Kim Davis, and he may well do so," said Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, which lobbies against gay marriage. "Courage breeds courage, especially when it comes from unlikely places. She may be the example that sparks a firestorm of resistance across this country."
. . . Perkins and others on the religious right promise there are dozens of Kim Davises ready to go to jail in defense of their religious freedoms.
Liberty Counsel attorney Mat Staver said after meeting with Davis in jail Friday that "she is a prisoner of her conscience." He quoted the letter King wrote from his Birmingham jail cell in 1963, rallying civil rights activists to challenge unjust laws and pay the consequences if necessary to force peaceful change.
He described Davis as the first American imprisoned for a religious objection to gay marriage.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Kim Davis' Jailing Isn't a Win for Marriage Equality" by Christian Piatt, Huffington Post 9/5/15
I understand the sense of vindication [by homosexualists] in having the power of law finally behind the judge's ruling. But it also does more to hamstring the advancement of marriage equality than it does to help it. After all, it is the law of the land now; the next effort should be to help normalize the idea of marriage equality within the culture and to mend the damaged relationships between those of us who advocated for it and those who did - or even continue to - resist it.
But perhaps the most important reason this is not good for the cause of marriage equality is that it's precisely the kind of fuel fundamentalists have sought to feed the fires of Christian persecution and martyrdom. Just today, Davis' lawyer compared her jailing on contempt charges to the mass imprisonment and genocide of Jewish people in Nazi Germany.
It's the job of the rest of us, however, who don't feel as the fundamentalists do to help create the climate in which it can be not only imagined; it can be experienced, contrary to any rhetoric being spewed from any pulpits or pundit outlets. As I see it, living out a different reality and choosing the path of Jesus is the best possible way to help neutralize the continued efforts of some to throw themselves on the ideological pyre, even if none actually exists.
To read the entire pro-homosexual, religious-left opinion column above, CLICK HERE.
From "Ted Cruz: Kim Davis’ arrest is ‘tyranny’ intended to drive Christians from office" by Ben Johnson, LifeSiteNews 9/4/15
Same-sex "marriage" was imposed on the nation by a 5-4 Supreme Court judgment authored by Justice Anthony Kennedy. The arrest of Kim Davis on "contempt of court" charges was ordered by U.S. District Court Judge David Bunning, a George W. Bush appointment who is the son of former moderate Republican senator and baseball great Jim Bunning of Kentucky.
"Those who are persecuting Kim Davis believe that Christians should not serve in public office," [Texas U.S Senator Ted] Cruz said.
His analysis is shared by former Sen. Rick Santorum. He warned, "More and more people of faith will face the penalties Ms. Davis is now encountering if we do not make the necessary accommodations so people can not just worship but live out their faith in their lives."
"I think it's absurd to put someone in jail for exercising their religious liberty," Sen. Paul, R-KY, told CNN on Thursday afternoon. "I think it's a real mistake to be doing this."
Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida agreed, “There should be a way to protect the religious freedom and conscience rights of individuals working in the office.”
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
Also read Sen. Ted Cruz Rallies Christians in Iowa for Religious Liberty
From "Cruz Backs KY Clerk Jailed For Christian Beliefs: ‘This Is Wrong. This Is Not America.’" by Christian Datoc, Reporter, Daily Caller 9/3/15
“Today, for the first time ever, the government arrested a Christian woman for living according to her faith,” Cruz began. “This is wrong. This is not America… I stand with every American that the Obama Administration is trying to force to choose between honoring his or her faith or complying with a lawless court opinion.”
Additionally, the Republican presidential candidate attacked both Republicans and Democrats that are calling for Davis’s resignation. “They are defending a hypocritical standard. Where is the call for the mayor of San Francisco to resign for creating a sanctuary city? … Where is the call for President Obama to resign for ignoring and defying our immigration laws, our welfare reform laws, and even his own Obamacare?”
Finally, he called “upon every Believer, every Constitutionalist, every lover of liberty to stand with Kim Davis” and oppose the state-encouraged “persecution” of Christians.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Mike Huckabee to visit Kentucky clerk Kim Davis in jail" by Eugene Scott and Jeremy Diamond, CNN 9/4/15
Huckabee has seized on the issue, setting up a petition on his campaign website calling for Davis's release that has already drawn more than 55,000 signatures, and has called Davis's case an example of the "criminalization of Christianity in our country."
"We must defend religious liberty and never surrender to judicial tyranny," he said in a statement. "I am proud of Kim for standing strong for her beliefs. Who will be next? Pastors? Photographers? Caterers? Florists? This is a reckless, appalling, out-of-control decision that undermines the Constitution of the United States and our fundamental right to religious liberty."
Huckabee also slammed the judge's decision to remand Davis to custody "reckless" and "appalling," saying it undermines the Constitution.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Bobby Jindal Defends Kentucky Clerk Kim Davis" by Sam Levine, Associate Politics Editor, The Huffington Post 9/2/15
Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal (R) said on Wednesday that a Kentucky county clerk had a right to refuse to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples despite an order from a federal judge to do so.
"I don't think anyone should have to choose between following their conscience and religious beliefs and giving up their job and facing financial sanctions. I think it's wrong to force Christian individuals or business owners. We are seeing government today discriminate against whether it's clerks, florists, musicians or others. I think that's wrong. I think you should be able to keep your job and follow your conscience," he said. "I absolutely do believe people have a First Amendment right, a constitutional right. I don't think the court can take that away."
"The United States didn't create religious liberty. Religious liberty created the United States of America. It's the reason we are here today. This is an essential freedom and an essential right and I don't think you give up this right by simply taking a job."
Jindal's comments differ from those of Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), another Republican presidential contender, who said that Davis should comply with the law or resign.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Persecuted" sermon by Dr. Charles Stanley, senior pastor of First Baptist Church Atlanta, Georgia 10/20/13
Why does Christianity elicit such a negative reaction? [Because a] righteous life is a threat to a dark world. Christians who live in obedience to God are lights who expose the darkness of sinful practices.
Although persecution is meant to hurt and silence Christians, God uses it to accomplish His good purposes by the way it:
Tests our loyalty. The evidence of our faithfulness to Christ is not found in what we say but in what we do when fiery ordeals come our way. That’s when we either stay true to God, or we seek the world’s acceptance.Jesus accurately predicted that His followers would be hated, yet they would stay and endure if it meant being true to Christ (Matt. 10:22). No matter how bad opposition becomes, we have a promise that nothing can separate us from the love of Christ, not even persecution (Rom. 8:35-39). When the Lord calls us to stay in a difficult situation, we can respond properly by:
Enables us to encourage others undergoing persecution. When we’ve been mistreated and yet have experienced God’s help and strength to endure, we’re able to encourage others who are presently walking that same road of suffering.
Demonstrates our faith in God’s Word. When we truly believe the Scriptures, we’ll willingly suffer persecution knowing that God will make us adequate for every situation.
Standing strong. The strength to withstand persecution comes from the Lord. We stand strong in Him, based on everything He’s said in His Word (Eph. 6:10).To download all of the sermon notes above, CLICK HERE for PDF.
Enduring opposition. This means we abide under the persecution. Or in today’s language, we hang in there and rely on God’s strength until He moves us out of the situation.
Loving and praying for our enemies. This is perhaps the most difficult assignment, yet it’s what Christ commands (Matt. 5:44). We’re to pray that Jesus might be made known to our enemies through our responses to mistreatment. Unbelievers can’t understand why Christians exhibit strength, love, and forgiveness in the midst of ill treatment. Wherever the church has endured persecution, it has grown because people see how believers respond, and want that kind of life as well. The worst way to react to persecution is to stop talking about Jesus for fear of upsetting people. However, we need to unsettle them by courageously and clearly sharing the truth because without Christ, they’re on their way to everlasting separation from God. One day all their enjoyments and pursuits will vanish, and they’ll have to stand before a holy, righteous God. We want them to know the only One who can change their lives — both now and for all eternity.
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| Click to watch Dr. Charles Stanley sermon on Persecution of Christians |
More Dr. Charles Stanley sermons at America Going to Hell; Christians Lose Convictions
