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Exclusive Intelligence Examiner Report
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I Would Thou Wert Cold or Hot
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“I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia...”
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Revelation 1:11
July 4, 1776
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“And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write... I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.”
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Jesus rebuked the church of Laodicea as virtually worthless. For all of their wealth, they were blind to the fact that they were spiritually destitute. Just because He addressed the Laodicean church does not mean it was meant solely for those lost souls. Sadly, there are many “Laodicean” pastors, ministers, and churches presenting lukewarm messages and espousing liberal doctrine in our midst today.
Laodicea was known for its bankers, its medical school, and its textile industry. Even after portions of the city were destroyed by an earthquake, its inhabitants refused any help in rebuilding. Likewise, with their so-called Christian belief system, many of the citizens felt they needed nothing from others.
Frog on the Stove
We are in an era in which membership into the occult has skyrocketed and traditional churches have plummeted. Churches in America today should pay heed to the words of Christ and His condemnation of being lukewarm.
This phenomenon did not just materialize overnight, though. It has been a long and degrading process. Recall the story of the frog on the stove. Placed in a pot of water and the fire turned on, the frog notices not the gradual heating of the water until it is too late and he is cooked. If the water had been hot beforehand, surely the frog would have hopped out immediately.
Many years ago, while discussing the failings of America’s churches, our Pastor Emeritus Texe Marrs explained how many of today’s pastors are not called into the ministry. He recalled how young men, faced with being drafted to fight in Vietnam, decided to hide out at seminaries. This, Texe lamented, was a leading cause in the acceleration of liberal doctrines being accepted into the church.
A Political Rat
Meanwhile, there was another nefarious rat looking to silence the church. Running for reelection as Senator from Texas, Lyndon Baines Johnson was opposed by two anti-communist groups who were tax exempt. After contacting the IRS he was informed that their activity was legal.
To combat this problem, LBJ introduced an amendment to the tax code in 1954. In essence, the amendment targeted Christian churches and organizations, limiting their ability to speak in favor of any political candidate.
Moreover, it squashed Christian pastors from speaking on biblical issues as they relate to culture and social issues. While silencing conservative critics, Johnson usurped the First Amendment and squashed the free exercise of religion. A corporate mentality became the focus of American churches.
At one time our nation had a long tradition of church involvement in political activity. Election sermons were commonplace. Pastors would appeal to their congregants to support or oppose candidates based on their position on issues. In essence, LBJ’s amendment turned the IRS into the speech police.
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“If you don’t believe that the Christian religion and politics are inextricably linked, then you have not read the gospel... All you have to do is go to...the story of Jesus Christ. In order for Christ to be crucified, the last step that those folks had to take was to speak with the governor. And so, all politics and religion are linked at the hip, and you can’t unlink them.” — Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson (R-NC)
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Fitly Joined Together
Churches should be heavily involved in moral issues like abortion, homosexuality, fornication, et al. It should be a community of like-minded individuals. The Apostle Paul instructs us on this:
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“And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.”
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Politics affect many areas of our daily lives, but we need to depend upon the Bible for answers and instruction. No matter how unpopular we may become, we must be willing to speak about our culture truthfully through Jesus Christ and His Holy Word. Proudly wear the moniker of being a fundamentalist, right-wing Christian.
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“Our Founding Fathers acknowledged God as the source of our rights. They understood that Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness comes from Him. Government, in their learned opinion, was to protect these inalienable rights. The first paragraph of the Declaration of Independence confirms America’s reliance on the laws of God: “When in the Course of human events...to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them...”
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Political Correctness Invades the Church
Too many of today’s pastors are embracing political correctness and abandoning biblical absolutes. Homosexuals have been invited to join the church. Many churches have appointed them into leadership rolls. With the acceptance of false bible versions, whole congregations are ignoring the condemnation Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 6:9-10:
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“Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.”
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Jesus never once apologized for telling the truth. If someone needed chastened, they were dealt with. In Matthew 15:12-14:
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“Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying? But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up. Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.”
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It would do all Americans well to get either hot or cold. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). Churches should return to preaching the entire gospel, ignoring what man thinks. Parishioners need to demand the unfiltered truth come from their pastors, and no longer wish for words to tickle their ears. Eternal salvation or damnation are the choices. Choose wisely. 
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