Two spies entered the enemy city. Their commander Joshua had sent them there with clear but dangerous objectives, to “Spy out Jericho.” Now entrapped by the walls of a hostile city, their security jeopardized at all times, they may have been surprised to learn that half their operation was a secret to themselves! True, they knew Joshua's objectives for the espionage, but in addition to that, the LORD had ordained for them another secret mission.
In the story of the two spies in Jericho, Rahab the harlot risked her life to show her faith, and save the spies. But recently while considering the story, I realized an interesting point. Indeed, while the LORD used her to save the spies, equally if not more importantly he sent the spies to save Rahab. Actually in the end, that was the greatest significance of their mission, because none of the information they gathered was used to bring down the walls of Jericho. When you look at it from this perspective, practically every event of the story, is a providential link in a much bigger picture.
Joshua 2:1 Now Joshua the son of Nun sent out two men from Acacia Grove to spy secretly, saying, “Go, view the land, especially Jericho.”
So they went, and came to the house of a harlot named Rahab, and lodged there.
From the perspective of the mission Joshua sent them on, the place they lodged had little significance, but if they had not chosen to stay the night where they did, they would never have met Rahab and definitely never have saved her and family.
Joshua 2:2And it was told the king of Jericho, saying, “Behold, men have come here tonight from the children of Israel to search out the country.”
If you're a spy, the worst thing that can happen is that you're discovered, but this was a crucial link in Rahab's salvation. If the spies hadn't been found out by the King, she wouldn't have had an opportunity to show her faith, and the spies would not have promised her protection.
Joshua 2:3-4a So the king of Jericho sent to Rahab, saying, “Bring out the men who have come to you, who have entered your house, for they have come to search out all the country.”
Then the woman took the two men and hid them.
While not stated in the text, it seems that Rahab's lodge was having a slow day. Even if there would have been one other person at the inn, Rahab and the spies' suspicious actions might have well been noticed. In addition to that, in some way after God gave her enough time that once she found out about the spies, she had enough time to hide them before the Soldiers got inside!
Joshua 2:4b-7 So she said, “Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they were from. And it happened as the gate was being shut, when it was dark, that the men went out. Where the men went I do not know; pursue them quickly, for you may overtake them.” (But she had brought them up to the roof and hidden them with the stalks of flax, which she had laid in order on the roof.) Then the men pursued them by the road to the Jordan, to the fords. And as soon as those who pursued them had gone out, they shut the gate.
This was a dangerous excuse to give, for if the spies were seen entering her house, wouldn't someone have watched the house till the backup arrived, to make sure they didn't leave? But here again, both the spies and Rahab were provided for. The informants had let the targets out of their sights. But again, you would think the soldiers would have questioned her more or searched the house, but they swallowed the bait, hook line and sinker. Now with the danger of capture out of the way, and having saved the spies the stage was set for her confession of faith, and her salvation. She said to them,
Joshua 2:11b-13 The LORD your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath.
Now therefore, I beg you, swear to me by the LORD, since I have shown you kindness, that you also will show kindness to my father’s house, and give me a true token, and spare my father, my mother, my brothers, my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death.”
Joshua2:14-15 So the men answered her, “Our lives for yours, if none of you tell this business of ours. And it shall be, when the LORD has given us the land, that we will deal kindly and truly with you.” Then she let them down by a rope through the window, for her house was on the city wall; she dwelt on the wall.
Joshua 2:23 So the two men returned, descended from the mountain, and crossed over; and they came to Joshua the son of Nun, and told him all that had befallen them.
Approximately a month later, when these two men entered the city again, most of the surroundings were unrecognizable. The walls and defenses lay in piles of rubble. The bodies of defenders, women, and children, were scattered about, a picture of God's judgment. Yet in the midst of it these men showed a picture of God's salvation to a defiled woman and a heathen family. Rahab herself married into the covenant and numbered in her descendants is the entire royal line of Judah. But these spies' mission had an even greater impact then that, for Rahab, the one whom God sent the spies to save, was an ancestress of him who saved the world.
Please tell me what you think of this!
Showing posts with label speech. Show all posts
Showing posts with label speech. Show all posts
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Civil Disobedience with Regards to Gun Control
I. Introduction
When it comes to Civil Disobedience, many people especially Christians feel uncomfortable. The have been brainwashed to accept government regulations and restrictions as almost as an eleventh commandment. Today, I will be attempting to show you, not only from the US constitution but also from the Scripture itself, that such unbending loyalty is not required or advised.
II. The Status Quo
A. The National Situation
It truly seems that year by year the hostility to guns and gun ownership increases. In the past century gun restrictions have gone from nil or near nil to waiting periods background checks, disarmament, and automatic weapons bans.
B. State Situations
While most states are still open quite open to handgun ownership, at least one, California, requires gun registration. In effect giving them the power to at any moment confiscate citizens weapons. Most other states have only banned the unlicensed carrying of handguns. In effect destroying any chance of handgun protection while traveling.
III. Constitutional Arguments nullifying Gun Control
A. The 2nd amendment
One of the first things American must realize about gun control on the federal level is it’s blatant unconstitutionality. The Bill of Rights specifically enumerates several fundamental rights the Feds are not to infringe upon. The second of these enumerated rights is this. “ A well Regulated Militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.
Many have wondered about the phrase a well Regulated Militia... Does it mean that only the Military have said rights? Not at all, a militia is in essence a citizenry who at a moments notice can pick up their weapons and defend their country. Those who started the American war for Independence were in effect militia, and their reason for attacking the British? The British were coming to take their ammunition. Now don’t get me wrong, I in no way support anarchy. That is why the phrase a well “Regulated” militia, is so crucial.
B. The Tenth amendment
It is incredibly interesting that most people also think that for a right to exist it must be explicitly enumerated in the Bill of Rights. This is not at all true, in actuality governmental power does not exist unless explicitly given. The Tenth amendment restates this very clearly in these words, “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.” This means that even is the 2nd amendment did not exist, gun control is still unacceptably unconstitutional.
C. State Constitutions
The constitutional argument against state gun control is, that of the fifty states only five do not explicitly enumerate said right, and all of them, like the feds can only do what has been explicitly given to them to do.
IV. The Biblical Argument
A. The Regulative principle.
For those of you who have not heard of the Regulative Principle before, in effect it is the exactly the same as the tenth amendment only directly from scripture. On of the places it is stated is Deut. 12:32 “Whatever I command you, be careful to observe it; you shall not add to it nor take away from it.”
What this means is that neither States nor feds can Biblically command anything which has not been commanded by God. They are helpless to rule ever action of our lives because they have not been given that power.
To put this in perspective for why we do not have to obey Gun control, I ask you, do you have to obey an impostor or a usurper? Not at all because they have no authority.
V. Refutation of opposing arguments.
A. Rom. 13
Many like to use Romans thirteen to prove that Civil disobedience is sinful. Let me quote the passage they refer to. “1 Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same.”
The phrase that is often missed is the one which says “And there is no authority except from God.” If God has not given them authority to restrict gun ownership, they have no authority to do so. An analogy of this is if your parent gives you permission to go to a party, but then your neighbor comes and says you mayn’t. To maintain that your neighbor has that authority is absurdity.
VI. Conclusion
In conclusion, I have explained the situation, and showed the constitutional arguments against it, not to mention the Biblical arguments. God’s Word is clearly and ruthlessly opposed to gun control, because God has given them no authority. And because they are without authority to do as they have done, we in all clearness of conscience, can disobey them in this area.
When it comes to Civil Disobedience, many people especially Christians feel uncomfortable. The have been brainwashed to accept government regulations and restrictions as almost as an eleventh commandment. Today, I will be attempting to show you, not only from the US constitution but also from the Scripture itself, that such unbending loyalty is not required or advised.
II. The Status Quo
A. The National Situation
It truly seems that year by year the hostility to guns and gun ownership increases. In the past century gun restrictions have gone from nil or near nil to waiting periods background checks, disarmament, and automatic weapons bans.
B. State Situations
While most states are still open quite open to handgun ownership, at least one, California, requires gun registration. In effect giving them the power to at any moment confiscate citizens weapons. Most other states have only banned the unlicensed carrying of handguns. In effect destroying any chance of handgun protection while traveling.
III. Constitutional Arguments nullifying Gun Control
A. The 2nd amendment
One of the first things American must realize about gun control on the federal level is it’s blatant unconstitutionality. The Bill of Rights specifically enumerates several fundamental rights the Feds are not to infringe upon. The second of these enumerated rights is this. “ A well Regulated Militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.
Many have wondered about the phrase a well Regulated Militia... Does it mean that only the Military have said rights? Not at all, a militia is in essence a citizenry who at a moments notice can pick up their weapons and defend their country. Those who started the American war for Independence were in effect militia, and their reason for attacking the British? The British were coming to take their ammunition. Now don’t get me wrong, I in no way support anarchy. That is why the phrase a well “Regulated” militia, is so crucial.
B. The Tenth amendment
It is incredibly interesting that most people also think that for a right to exist it must be explicitly enumerated in the Bill of Rights. This is not at all true, in actuality governmental power does not exist unless explicitly given. The Tenth amendment restates this very clearly in these words, “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.” This means that even is the 2nd amendment did not exist, gun control is still unacceptably unconstitutional.
C. State Constitutions
The constitutional argument against state gun control is, that of the fifty states only five do not explicitly enumerate said right, and all of them, like the feds can only do what has been explicitly given to them to do.
IV. The Biblical Argument
A. The Regulative principle.
For those of you who have not heard of the Regulative Principle before, in effect it is the exactly the same as the tenth amendment only directly from scripture. On of the places it is stated is Deut. 12:32 “Whatever I command you, be careful to observe it; you shall not add to it nor take away from it.”
What this means is that neither States nor feds can Biblically command anything which has not been commanded by God. They are helpless to rule ever action of our lives because they have not been given that power.
To put this in perspective for why we do not have to obey Gun control, I ask you, do you have to obey an impostor or a usurper? Not at all because they have no authority.
V. Refutation of opposing arguments.
A. Rom. 13
Many like to use Romans thirteen to prove that Civil disobedience is sinful. Let me quote the passage they refer to. “1 Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same.”
The phrase that is often missed is the one which says “And there is no authority except from God.” If God has not given them authority to restrict gun ownership, they have no authority to do so. An analogy of this is if your parent gives you permission to go to a party, but then your neighbor comes and says you mayn’t. To maintain that your neighbor has that authority is absurdity.
VI. Conclusion
In conclusion, I have explained the situation, and showed the constitutional arguments against it, not to mention the Biblical arguments. God’s Word is clearly and ruthlessly opposed to gun control, because God has given them no authority. And because they are without authority to do as they have done, we in all clearness of conscience, can disobey them in this area.
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