(Editor's Note: In our New & Views column we quote from many different sources. Please understand that this does not necessarily mean that we approve of all of the publications from which we quote. We will give the name of the source in the first quote and thereafter we will give the abbreviation of that name.)

Police Chaplain Stands By His Convictions-A city police chaplain in Michigan stands by his conviction that "homosexuality" is a sin, even in the face of councilman Craig Covey, who is openly gay. Other councilman agree that the stand of "Rev." Tom Hansen, pastor of Bethel Missionary Baptist Church in Ferndale, Michigan is unacceptable. The pastor is quoted as saying, "I believe the gay lifestyle is in direct opposition to the expressed Word of God and God does view it as a sin." "A group of residents that belong to the national spiritual affiliation called Soulforce complained to the City Council that Hansen's views represent `spiritual violence' against those who are gay, lesbian" and others of such a nature. (Michael P. McConnell, Daily Tribune) Mel White and his partner Gary Nixon are listed among the co-founders of Soulforce, those who have contributed $1,000 or more in 1998-2001. What the council have not tried to find out is if the Pastor Hansen has quoted the Bible correctly. God did give such up to their "vile affections" in Romans 1:26,27. Their problem is not with the pastor's statement being incorrect, but the source from which his convictions came. Moses had the same problem with the complaining Israelites: "your murmurings are not against us, but against the LORD." (Exo. 16:8)W. W. Mosley, hereafter --WWM)

Christians: "Living Martyrs" Of North Korea-While news of North Korea's nuclear threat sweeps through our nation, their continued persecution of Christians goes nearly untold. With only two registered churches in the entire country of North Korea, tens of thousands of Christians are forced to meet secretly lifting quiet voices and hymns up to their Heavenly Father. If a Christian is caught with a Bible or even verbally reciting a prayer, they along with their entire family face arrest, torture, and a probable 15-year prison term. Those caught distributing Bibles or preaching the Gospel are often executed.

Enduring some of the harshest persecution in the world, continued famine, and a possible threat of war, Christians caught in this "axis of evil" have become living martyrs as they cry out to God and the world-wide church to hear their cause. (NewsMax.com, 10/24/02) [Even in American public schools and many other public facilities, it is not only an offense but politically incorrect to carry a Bible or recite audible prayer. How long will it be until a stricter discipline will be imposed?--WWM]

Ghost-Writer Appears Again-Jerry Falwell's nemesis, Mel White, appears once again. Once more desiring to quell the stand the pastor of Thomas Road Baptist, Lynchburg, VA takes against homosexuality. (Roanoke Times, 10/28/02) White has publicly declared he is gay. He and other gay-rights activist "greeted worshipers filing in and out of services at Thomas Road Baptist." White and Gary Nixon (his partner in sin) have taken up residence across the road from Falwell's church. White said they "have been attending services at Thomas Road on Sundays and on Wednesday night." He claims that Falwell's stand on homosexuality "arms some disturbed people with a license to kill us, and a license for us to kill ourselves." Sodom and Gomorrah must have felt the same about God. Jesus said while they "did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; . . . the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all." (Luke 17:28,29) Sodom and Gomorrah lost their argument with God, and so will White and his companions. --WWM

Success In Life-A Barna Research Online survey reports that success in life is rarely attributed to faith in God. "Only one out of every fourteen adults said that anything related to spirituality or faith would result in `success.'" Giving God the glory for success is the biblical attribute of every soldier of the faith. David gave the Lord the credit for delivering Goliath into his hand. He knew God would do so before he started. (1 Sam. 17:37) He announced in v. 45 he was coming in the "name of the LORD of hosts." Let all acknowledge with the psalmist, "The LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad." (Psa. 126:3) "What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?" (Rom. 8:31) The "Godless American" marchers may desire a Godless America, but as for me and my house we will serve the Lord God and His Son, Jesus Christ. (Josh. 24:15)--WWM

Combining Religions-According to a survey by the Barna Group, "Christians have increasingly been adopting spiritual views that come from Islam, Wicca, secular humanism, the eastern religions and other sources, even aware of the slide toward `syncretism'. . a belief system that blindly combines beliefs from many different faith perspectives." (via TVC Weekly News 11/7/02) There is little doubt that this is happening not only nation wide but globally. With this one exception Islam and many other false religions will not tolerate Christianity! If you doubt the tendency is growing to reconcile differing philosophical or religious beliefs, just ask a member of your church who rarely attends sound Bible teaching what they believe. You may be shocked to hear how many believe the Allah of Islam is the same as God the Creator, that Islam beliefs are the same as Baptist's beliefs. Wake up and wise up to Satan's old tactics in a new garment. Beware of Satan taking advantage of you through his ever-developing devices. (2 Cor. 2:11)--WWM

Update On "Godless American March" On DC-The "Godless March on Washington" on Saturday, November 2, 2002 was a far greater success than the first two attempts the atheists made at invading Washington, DC.

American Atheists first came to Washington, DC as an organization during Easter weekend of 1983. The group, then led by Madalyn Murray O'Hair, held an "Atheist Convention" in the city, but less than one hundred people participated in the weekend event. Their demonstration in front of the White House Easter Sunday morning drew less than fifty participants. During their event I reserved Lafayette Park across the street from the White House for a prayer vigil, and more than five hundred Christians came to pray and witness.

Madalyn Murray O'Hair died in 1995, but the atheist organization she founded lives on. American Atheists was taken over by Ellen Johnson . . . this year Ellen Johnson tried a new approach. She attempted to gather together every godless organization in America, regardless of whether they refer to themselves as atheists or not, to give a show of power in Washington. As a result, there were almost 2,000 people in her "Godless March on Washington" this year. (Religious Freedom Coalition, 11/9/02) [It matters little how large such a diversified group grows. They along will all others who deny the name and power of a Holy God will soon bow their knees to Him. "For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God." (Rom. 14:11,12; cf Isa. 45:23)--WWM]

Legalizing Marijuana-Proponents for the legalizing of marijuana use have this to say: "Throughout the U.S., Canada, Europe, and Australia, many states and countries have recently legalized industrial hemp and medicinal marijuana. Why does Alaska's Ballot Measure 5 go further, legalizing hemp for all uses? Because there simply is no reason to punish responsible adults for using marijuana in the privacy of their own homes." (NationalFamilies.org) Supporters of legalizing marijuana have been successful in getting this before the voters of several states. Their predisposition is to force this on society. It is a flimsy argument to say denying the use of any mind-altering drug is punishment to "responsible adults," or to suggest that it would stay in the "privacy of their own homes." Sin has no trouble opening closed doors even in the best of homes. Little foxes still spoil the vines and tender grapes of many family vineyards. (Songs of Sol. 2:15)--WWM

MacArthur And Confronting Sin"Preaching must confront sin if it is to include a complete gospel message," John MacArthur said on a radio program Oct. 23. (Baptist Press, 11/8/02) As a guest on "Truth on the Line," hosted by R. Albert Mohler, Jr., MacArthur made several statements concerning what pastors and preachers should do and not do. He said, "There are theological evasions taking place. [Pastors] are avoiding some of those texts that would require them to preach some of those doctrines that might cause offense in the contemporary world." Too often, MacArthur said, pastors let the culture dictate their message. He said at SBTS that confronting "false beliefs with the truth of God's Word is one of the main duties of the pastor." This all sounds good, but does John MacArthur practice what he preaches? How would he respond if his view on the blood of Christ was challenged? The following quote is taken from the Plains Baptist Challenger, August 1995. "The April 1986 edition of Faith For The Family quotes him as saying in a 1976 article entitled, `Not His Bleeding But His Dying,'" "It was His death that was efficacious. . . not His blood. . . Christ did not bleed to death. The shedding of blood had nothing to do with bleeding. . . it simply means death. . . Nothing in His human blood saves...It is not His blood that I love. . . it is Him. It is not His bleeding that saved me, but His dying." So far as I know MacArthur has not changed his view. But neither has God who cannot lie nor change. (Titus 1:2; Mal. 3:6) Without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sin (Heb. 9:22), and it is Jesus' blood that cleanses us from all sin (1 John 1:7). Be careful about what and to whom you listen! It is impossible for sweet and bitter water to come from the same spring. (James 3:11)--WWM

Bitter Pill-Someday in the future people may walk into an emergency room after a rape or a car wreck or a shooting and be given a pill to protect them from the haunting memories that may follow. (Boston Globe, 11/8/02) Dr. Glenn Saxe, the chairman of child and adolescent psychiatry at Boston Medical Center said, "It would have enormous public health relevance." He believes such drugs could be administered routinely in emergency rooms like anti-clotting agents are given to heart attack victims. This may sound innocent enough and welcomed by most, but think of the numbing effect it will have on sin. Genuine repentance for sin leading to salvation can be suppressed simply by taking a pill. This may not be only a reliever of trauma but a diversion from casting all you care on the Lord. (1 Pet 5:7) In many cases it would keep those who are convicted of to ensure that the students in the class of 2003 receive their diplomas, . . .That includes engaging the community deeply, and that's what this is about." The ACLU have been instrumental in fighting for the rights(?) of the gay/lesbian crowd. Now they want a generation of young people too unlearned to stand against their spiritual plundering.--WWM

Religious Expressions Banned at Columbine Memorial-The erection of this barrier between religious expression and any locale even remotely connected to government was also evident in a court ruling arising from a shooting tragedy in Littleton, Colorado. A memorial wall was established at Columbine High School, where the massacre of 12 students and one teacher occurred in 1999. The families of those killed were allowed to design tiles for the wall, commemorating their loved ones. Except, of course, for Christians who chose to include a religious message on their tile. In late June the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a school district policy that said the wall because it was on school grounds could not include religious symbols or messages. Some of the families of victims had mentioned God in their tiles, and one tile contained the simple message, "Jesus wept." (Crosswalk, 11/6/02) At one time, school officials would regularly quote Scripture in the classroom to extinguish rowdiness. There would be fewer problems in schools if well-educated teachers were hired and allowed to discipline while they educated children. Training up a child in the way he should go will still produce good old men. (Prov. 22;6) Of course the ACLU would never allow spineless legislators to approve of or support Christian methods of teaching.--WWM

Toddler Can Pray in School ... Only Quietly and Alone-A more positive outcome was gained by Christians who went to court over a case in upstate New York. That controversy began last January when a teacher ordered five-year-old kindergartner Kayla Broadus to stop saying grace over her meal at Dorothy Nolan Elementary School. In the eyes of the school officials, Kayla had violated the U.S. Constitution particularly because she had invited three of her classmates to join hands with her as she thanked God for their cupcakes and milk. Kayla's mother after the school refused to apologize to the little girl or admit wrongdoing sued in federal court. Following a judge's temporary order in April which allowed Kayla to continue to pray out loud, school officials agreed in June to grant that permission permanently. The only caveat: Kayla can neither disturb others with her praying nor invite others to pray with her. (Crosswalk, 11/6/02) Pray for other parents to stand up for Christian rights. There is little doubt that this mother disagrees with her state senator (Clinton) on such matters. Nor has the ACLU found out about this. Most such praying would disturb the ungodly and sinners. That would be politically incorrect. What a blessing to have teachers with the same desire as the disciples who asked the Lord to teach them to pray. (Luke 11:1)--WWM

Prayer Is Out Gambling Is In-In Tennessee and North Dakota, voters approved the implementation of a state lottery, and in Arizona voters passed a measure to extend the state lottery for 10 more years. Iowa voted to renew casino gambling for the next eight years. Idaho voted to allow slot machines on Indian reservations, and Arizona passed one of three referendums to expand gambling on reservations. (Baptist Press, 11/6/02) Many states included banning gambling when writing up their state constitutions. Are the nation's thickly populated areas smarter than the scattered families that established their states on moral values? This is not really surprising when regular claims that the lottery is "a game, not gambling." Yet soon after Texas legalized the lottery, they printed an "800" number for Gamblers Anonymous on the back of their tickets. Many think buying chances on a cake, quilt, or candy are innocent fund-raising methods, or that bingo is only a favorite past time. How can a child tell the difference between a parent buying an innocent(?) chance on the above and buying a lottery ticket? Be reminded of the "little foxes" in Songs of Sol. 2:15. --WWM

"Gay-Straight Alliance"?-Modern(?) terminology confounds the minds of many of us who have all but gotten used to the "anything is possible" syndrome. How can homosexuality and moral integrity find common ground? Yet such alliances have established clubs in tax supported schools. "NEW YORK Last week, officials at Boyd County High School in Ashland, Kentucky granted a seven-month-old request by students to start a Gay/Straight Alliance club at the school after the national American Civil Liberties Union and its Kentucky affiliate sent a letter explaining the school's legal obligation under the federal Equal Access Act to let the club form." (ACLU website, 11/7/02) Seems strange that the Equal Access Act does not apply to a student Christian club. Nearly half of the school's 990 students stayed home from classes for one day to protest the school's decision. Note the ACLU's response to this: "If Boyd County High School needed any more proof that its students need a safe space to be themselves and talk about sexual orientation issues, the hostility and fear behind these actions have made it abundantly clear." Yet the ACLU is speedy to squash any Christian activity at any public school or facility. Satan's law firm is well and happily involved in anti-Christian, anti-patriotic promotion.--WWM

Same-Sex Unions Ads In Newspapers-The New York Times, Boston Globe, and a growing list of other papers are opening their wedding pages to same sex commitment celebrations of homosexuals. Another disturbing effort to normalize homosexuality was Big Brothers Big Sisters' (a mentoring group for fatherless or motherless children) recent decision to ban discrimination against homosexual applicants.(Calvary Contender, hereafter -CC)

O'Reilly Not So Right-Popular talk show host Bill O'Reilly says labeling someone as a "sinner" is contrary to American values. He has grown a large audience in recent years, including many Christians who like his conservative views on many key issues. But recently he has attacked those who say homosexuality is a sin as the Bible does and who would oppose such things as giving homosexuals the right to adopt children. He says the religious right has lost influence because they often "base their opinion on what they believe God wants." O'Reilly paralleled people who base their opinion on religious beliefs, and try to impose them on others, to the Taliban terrorists (10/9 AgapePress). He supports gun control, opposes the death penalty, and is said to be an environmentalist at heart. He recently spoke to a convention of "gay and lesbian" journalists. He says it's better to have a child in a stable home, even if it's run by homosexuals, than to be in chaotic foster care (9/17 H.Times). O'Reilly says: "Even if there is no God or Heaven or Hell, I still believe religion is a positive force. My [Roman Catholic] religion is comforting. [Its] traditions are magnificent."-CC

Capital Punishment Foes Not Pro-Life-It is a fallacy that the pro-lifer who defends the right to life of an unborn baby in the womb, but does not defend the right to life of a convicted murderer on death row, is being morally inconsistent. But there is no inconsistency here: The unborn baby is innocent, the convicted murderer is not. It is the pro abortion/anti death penalty liberal who is morally inconsistent, since he supports putting to death only the innocent (6/3 NA). -CC

Pro-Life Ultrasound Photography-Ultrasound scanners and photo studios are being set up in shopping malls where pregnant women can purchase early baby portraits. Such pictures of the baby in the womb are an unanswerable argument against abortion. A visual scan of the developing child shows it sucking its thumb, moving around, sneezing, and doing other things babies outside the womb do (9/28 World). No one who sees an ultrasound picture can deny in good faith that what she is seeing is not just a "fetus," but a baby.-CC

Jonah: The Veggie Tales Movie-This is said to be an attempt to market religious values to a mainstream audience. The video appeared in 1993 and has sold 8.5 million copies. O Timothy editor David Cloud, who reviewed some of the videos, said VeggieTales will draw many Christians to vile movie theaters, will create a taste in children for rock music, and is a dangerous bridge to the world. The movie takes liberties with the biblical storyline. It softens a bit the crimes being forgiven. "While it's clear that the Ninevites do evil, the film asserts that the king of Nineveh didn't know that the things they did were wrong." (10/5 World) The Ninevites' chief sin is said to be their habit of slapping each other with fish (10/12 HT). Be warned, be wise, beware!-CC

Abortion Is Leading Cause Of Death Among Blacks-Over one thousand black babies are killed by abortion every day, making it the leading cause of death for blacks. One out of three surgical abortions is performed on a black woman, killing a black child. More blacks are killed in a typical three day period than were ever lynched in America's history (10/11 AgapePress). Yet blacks tend to vote in large numbers for candidates who support pro abortionist legislation. -CC