Print 
PDF
More than a few Americans are asking themselves and others, how did we get here? And where is "here" in relation to our God-given constitutional freedoms?
How did we move from God-given, government-protected freedoms, to godless government's dictates almost overnight?
The simple answer is we moved from freedom to compliance because of our fear of the unknown.
The Left has declared this time to be a "carpe diem" time---never let a crisis go to waste. Seize the day.
Let me very frank.
Be informed.
We've been "Carpe Diem'd."
Carpe Diem in Latin (Carpe diem minimum coredula postero) literally means "seize the day, trusting as little as possible in the future."
Webster defines it with this: "Enjoyment of the pleasures of the moment without concern for the future."
Carpe Diem is also the title of a book written a few years ago by Tony Compolo, Rev. Dr. Tony Comoplo, which defines the general attitude of the so-called religious progressive Left.
Tony has traveled the land, speaking on probably hundreds if not thousands of college campuses---including Christian colleges---and churches that have lost their way spiritually.
His gospel is not the gospel delivered to followers of Jesus Christ by Paul and others whom God chose to empower to write the New Testament---the infallible Word of God.
Compolo is publicly known and presents himself as "an American sociologist, pastor, author, public speaker, and former spiritual adviser to US President Bill Clinton."
In addition to his books, he has a number of videos circulating in the Christian church community. Among them is a compelling presentation of why same-sex marriage is affirmed by God.
Jim Wallis, a close friend of Comoplo, is another false leader.
His gospel is primarily focused on a social gospel which suggests that the "Great Commission" of Jesus is to bring social justice or "fairness" to the world, through compassion. And eliminate the sovereignty of this or any other nation. Open borders are anti-biblical.
The test of this other gospel is compassion and affirmation rather than repentance and restoration through belief in the shed blood, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
The secular Left and the religious Left intersect at the idea of "compassion" being a substitute for biblical Christianity.
Compassion is a godly virtue, but it is not the "Great Commission"---the purpose of the Church.
Our Founding Fathers understood that biblical principles are the only sure foundation upon which this, or any other nation, can be successfully created.
They also recognized that it would be folly to live for the moment, that's why they concluded their Declaration of Independence with these words:
"And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor."
When's the last time you heard a politician say anything close to that?
Dependence upon God was a general consensus in the founding of our nation.
Now when elected officials do express their dependence on God and His Word for guidance---like VP Mike Pence and some others---they are openly mocked.
Double-minded people are always unstable---grasping for what they get in the moment. Seizing the day. Exploiting a crisis.
Relativism and so-called progressivism is an unstable state of mind. It has been said that "liberalism is a mental disorder."
Progressive officials keep pushing the boundaries of bondage---in the name of the common good.
Governor Inslee has now been forced to change his mind regarding one of his coronavirus laws related to reopening restaurants. Why? Publican reaction.
On May 13, ABC News reported that "restaurants in Washington State will be required to keep a log of each dine-in customer to facilitate contact tracing during phase two of the state's coronavirus reopening plans."
They continued,
"As part of the requirements, the log must be maintained for 30 days and must include each customer's telephone number and email address, and what time they came in to eat, according to officials."
There are more details, but most of us have heard them already.
This edict for "tracing" people, making lists of people's activities, and creating a "standing army"--- the governor's words, not mine,--- to enforce this surveillance, pushed freedom-loving people to the edge.
By May 15---Friday---The governor began walking back his Orwellian demand that patrons of restaurants give their personal information for tracking purposes.
The Seattle Times tried to cover for him by suggesting there was a misunderstanding and that the governor had issued a "clarification" on the "controversial" component of "the restaurant reopening guidance issued earlier this week."
The list is now voluntary, not mandated. I seriously doubt it was a misunderstanding. It was a miscalculation.
While our Founders loved their eateries, they did not pledge their "Lives, Fortunes and Honor" so they could go out to eat.
They pledged themselves to religious freedom, to the extent that they even declared that the government does not "give rights," the government is to protect the rights that have been given by God Himself.
About religious freedom.
The war of religious liberty didn't begin with the coronavirus from Wuhan. It began much earlier when humanists began hi-jacking our educational system.
The Left has come to believe that the church "is" non-essential because of the Left's secular humanist worldview.
And because the church, in too many cases, has remained silent, when we should have spoken out on the cultural issues. Or we have become conformed to the world in our thinking and beliefs. We have blinked as abortion on demand has become women's "health care" and same-sex "marriage" has become the profile of equity and inclusion and tolerance.
When the "scientists" spoke in early March telling us we must self-quarantine, close businesses, close schools, and close churches---basically shut down the country, generally, we all complied.
As the dust cleared, we began questioning why Home Depot, Costco, and Marijuana stores are "essential" and churches are "nonessential?"
Biblical Churches are long-suffering. But there is a point where they will no longer comply.
It has begun.
Yesterday, as many as 100 churches in Illinois announced they will no longer comply with Gov. JB Pritzer's stay at home orders.
Beginning next Sunday, they plan to hold in-person services. They will no longer comply.
Pastor Florin Cimpean, one of the pastors who will no longer comply, grew up in Soviet-controlled Romania.
He says,
"All of these restrictions, they sound more like communism. Not even communists were able to completely shut down churches. We are essential. The spiritual, emotional and mental impact of this [coronavirus] will probably be greater long-term than the medical one."
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot called this effort "dangerous."
She said yesterday, "This is not playing Russian roulette. This is playing with a gun that's fully loaded and cocked."
She said officials "were not elected to do what is easy, they were elected to do what is right."
What is right in her eyes, however, is not right in the eyes of the pastors.
The pastor says if being arrested is the outcome, "let them come."
These are defining times.
Be Informed. Be Vigilant Be Discerning. Be Bold. Be Prayerful.