And having done all, STAND FIRM!

by A.M. Kisly

The 2010 Census is here. Many of us have been asking questions about whether or not we “have” to fill this out. I have posted an article by Chuck Baldwin which provides some good information to help us better understand what the law requires and what governments limitations are.

This article is only in part, you will have to click on the link to read it in full. Though our culture seems all but lost; though we may never return to the days where government upholds the original intent of the U.S. Constitution; though it “appears” that this world’s liberal view supersedes our Biblical worldview, we as Christians cannot and must not retreat.

As Christians, we must stand for righteousness where ever and whenever we can by proclaiming our Christian values based upon Scripture, regardless of the persecution that may come. The current situation America finds herself in I think comes as a shock to most of us. The war is spiritual, the battle is not over, and the people of God need to rise up and stand.

We’re quite comfortable calling people and governments, organizations and movements ‘evil.’ But to suggest that there is an “evil one” behind all of this, sounds like an archaic world-view that we have certainly progressed beyond. Yet, to disbelieve in the reality of the devil may be the devil’s most effective weapon of all.

Frankly, I don’t like this, not one bit. I really wish I could just be left alone to live in the peaceful tranquility of my nice safe home with my loving family and the fellowship of my wonderful congregation. I would much prefer that as a child of God, God would surround me with a force field that blocked every assault and attack of the devil and all his evil schemes.

I really wish that Paul concluded his letter to the Ephesians by telling them how to escape the trouble of the evil day, rather than how to face it. But Paul closes off the way of escape that I would prefer to take. There is no escape.
You can’t escape.

You are forced to cling to Christ and His power to deliver you from all evil. So, like it or not, Paul tells us to engage in spiritual warfare. He calls us to “stand.” He repeats himself three times. “STAND against the schemes of the devil.”
“Take up the whole armor of God so that you may WITHSTAND in the evil day.”
“And having done all, STAND FIRM.”

Christians, we need to put our armor on. We need to engage in the battle. The battle is won on our knees. Yes, there are things we can do, yes there are things we must do; but prayer is our ultimate weapon. We can no longer afford to rest on our laurels….(for you younger readers this is an idiom which means to rely on one’s past achievements instead of working to maintain or advance one’s status or reputation).

In the Christian sense, it means not to rely upon the fact that you gave your heart to Jesus so many years ago, and instead of maintaining your walk as a believer; grow in your faith, and making your calling and election sure….you have become lazy and your passion for God is dimmed and your testimony of Christ is of no effect.

As Christians, we live in a war zone. But the war has already been fought and won by Jesus Christ, and we share in His victory over the devil. Even though we live in the last days, the final day has not yet come. And until it does, we must stand firm. Because Jesus would not have even one casualty, He has fitted us with “every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms” that we may withstand “the spiritual forces of evil.” We need to “put on the whole armor of God.”

Don’t just let it sit around in your closet. Put it on, “that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.” The 2010 Census is here. Many of us have been asking questions about whether or not we “have” to fill this out. The following article provide the necessary information to help us better understand what the law requires and what governments limitations are. The articles are only in part, you will have to click on the links to read them in full.

CENSUS IS FOR COUNTING NOT PRYING

By Pastor Chuck Baldwin March 19, 2010 NewsWithViews.com 

 The constitutional requirement for the Census is found in Article. I. Section. 2. Paragraph. 3. "The actual Enumeration shall be made within three Years after the first Meeting of the Congress of the United States, and within every subsequent Term of ten Years, in such Manner as they shall by Law direct."

The purpose of the Census is that of counting the US population in order to apportion among the states the number of representatives in the US House of Representatives. That's it. Nothing more. Nothing less. 

There is nothing in the Constitution requiring or even suggesting questions regarding race, ethnicity, whether one owns or rents his or her home, income status, disability status, education, or anything of the sort.

The only purpose of the Census is to count the US population. Anything beyond that is nothing more than an intrusive government prying and snooping into our lives: something the federal government is doing with greater and greater frequency and intensity these days.

As to the phrase, "[As] they shall by Law direct," Paul Galvin rightly notes, "This language merely goes to the mechanics of the counting (who will do it; when it is to be done; how, when results are to be reported; and so forth); it does not enlarge what may be counted. Constitutionally the only permitted enumeration is the number of people in the United States. Why? Because that count is the determinant for apportionment and therefore the only pertinent information needed." 

Read Full Article Here: CENSUS IS FOR COUNTING NOT PRYING