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Why do the Heathen Rage? These essays were written over a period of thirty years and originally appeared in more than sixty newspapers nationwide. The author, who chose to remain anonymous, was a prominent Christian businessman in the Atlanta area. He entitled his columns "Why do the Heathen Rage?" and used this question from Psalm 2 and Acts 4:25 as a basis to comment on the events of the day. He believed that Psalm 1 promised blessings to the faithful in Christ, but Psalm 2 and Acts 4:25 asked a critical question and answered it with a prophecy of cursings and judgments upon the heathen; those who rebelled against the laws of God. Truly a prophet in his own time, the author received thousands of letters from his readers. However, at times, newspapers would refuse to print his column or prefer to edit it because of his outspoken condemnation of evil in government, literature and individuals who supported unbiblical practices.
Bob Hill, Editor Evangelical Review TOPICAL INDEX
Morality: Social Issues and Sin JULY 15, 1968 In Jeremiah 6:16 we read:
"Democratic Institutions exist by reason of their virtue. If ever they perish it will be when you have forgotten the past, become indifferent to the present, and utterly reckless as to the future." This quotation was copied from the Monument of Thos. E. Watson on the Capitol grounds in Atlanta. Are our Democratic Institutions now headed for wreck and ruin on the rocks of socialism and communism? "Lord God of hosts, be with us yet, lest we forget, lest we forget!" (NOTE: Most of the following facts of history, etc., are taken from the Book "The Hand of God in History," written about one hundred years ago by Rev. Hollis Read, A.M.)
The great navigator Columbus is said to have been a diligent and devout student of prophecy, and he was actuated in no small degree in his venture westward, "by the hope he cherished of extending the Kingdom of Christ." And in the mind of his royal patroness (Isabella of Aragon), the conversion of the heathen to Christianity was an object "paramount to all the rest." The first discoverers of this continent were Roman Catholics, and America was taken possession of and made subject to Catholic governments. Nothing seemed more probable at one time than that France would be the owner of New England -- and these hills and valleys would have languished under the crucifix and the mitered priests, and groaned beneath the heavy rod of The Roman Pontiff -- even as has Mexico, Central and South America for hundreds of years! (It appears today as if we might be on our way back to superstitious and spiritual slavery!) "Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty!" New England was early an object of desire of the French. As early as the year 1606, De Mont explored and claimed for France, the rivers, the coasts, and the bays of New England. The hostile savages first prevented their settlement. They did not yield their purpose. Three times in the following year the attempt was renewed. Twice they were driven back by adverse winds, and the third time wrecked at sea. Again did Pourtrincourt attempt the same enterprise, but was, in like manner, compelled to abandon the project. At a still later period, a French armament of forty ships of war, under the Duke D'Anville, was destined for destruction in New England. It sailed from Chebucto, in Nova Scotia, for the purpose. In the meantime, the pious people, apprised of their danger, had appointed a day of fasting and prayer, to be observed in all the churches. While Mr. Prince was officiating in Old South Church, Boston, on this fast day, and praying most fervently that the dread calamity might be averted, a sudden gust of wind arose so violently as to cause the clattering of the windows (till then, the day had been perfectly clear). The Reverend gentleman paused in his prayer, and looking around on his congregation with a countenance of hope, he again commenced, and with great devotional ardor, supplicated the Almighty to cause that wind to frustrate the object of their enemies. A great tempest ensued, in which the greater part of the French fleet was wrecked. The Duke and his principal general committed suicide, thousands were drowned, and many died of disease, and a small amount returned to France, without health and spiritless, and the enterprise was abandoned forever! "The first colony in North America, save Mexico, was a Protestant colony, planted by Caspar de Coligni, as a City of Refuge for Protestants. It was destroyed expressly as Protestant! Thus was North America baptized by Jesuit priests with Protestant blood; yet despite all the machinations of Rome, God has confirmed the covenant and made this land the asylum and home of the Protestants." Bancroft. "The institutions of this country, both civil and religious, were cast in the mold of Puritanism. Had any other of the colonies been allowed to stand in this relation to the whole, how different would have been the cast of American liberty and religion! As it was, men of the most unbending integrity and untiring industry; men humble and unobtrusive, yet courageous and immovable at the post of duty; yielding when wrong, yet inflexible when right; plain and frugal, yet intelligent and liberal; men who had been nurtured in the school of persecution, and suffered the loss of all things, that they might breathe the uncontaminated air of freedom; men who hated oppression, abhorred ignorance and vice -- who were in their very souls, republicans and Christians -- these were the men, chosen out by sovereign Wisdom, to control the destinies of the New World. And they have done it. The enterprise and intelligence, the undying love of liberty, the religious spirit -- I may say, the population of our Puritan colonies, have spread themselves over the whole continent. And what is worthy of special remark, these only prosper in our country. You look in vain over the wide expanse of our territory to find thrift and prosperity, temporal and spiritual, except under the auspices of our Puritan influence. Who people our wide western domains, and plant there the institutions of learning and religion? Who found our colleges and seminaries, publish our books, teach our youths, sustain our benevolent enterprises, and go on pagan lands to make wretchedness smile, and ignorance to speak wisdom? By whose skill and industry rolls the railroad cars over the length and breadth of our great land, and whiten the ocean with canvass? Who, if not the sons of the Pilgrims, nerved with the spirit of the Pilgrims? Tell me in what proposition, in any section of our country, the people are leavened with the leaven imported in the Mayflower, and I can tell you in what proportion they are enterprising, prosperous, moral and religious people.
Morality: Social Issues and Sin DECEMBER 30, 1972 The late great Evangelist "Billy Sunday" said, "Put a pole cat in the parlor: which changes first? Parlor or pole cat?" He did not give the answer to this problem, probably thinking all would have sense enough to figure it out! Surely there has been tremendous change in Churches since his day! Could it be caused due to Spiritual Pole Cats getting in the Church! The 10th chapter of Leviticus tells of "the fire of God" flashing up and burning to death two of The High Priest Aaron's sons because of their offering "Strange Fire" in a worship service! In the 5th chapter of Amos God tells His people He "hates" and "despises" their offerings of worship and will not accept them. There is nothing to their worship -- except offense -- unless they rise up and put away evil, crime, lawlessness, etc. with which their land is filled, and with which their land is defiled. Verses 12-24:
What do you think? If men knew this was the law in Atlanta, and knew and believed it would be promptly and faithfully enforced, would it not do away with hold-up pests? If it was known that this was the law regarding murder, rape, homosexuality (crimes for which God Almighty's Law demands the death penalty), and men believed and knew it would be promptly and faithfully enforced, would it not cleanse the city of murder, rape, homosexuality, etc., etc.! Would you like to live in a city, a state, a nation where these abominations have been stamped out? I would! I expect to in due time. Abraham, The Friend of God, The Father of The Faithful, "looked for a city which hath foundations whose builder and maker is God." At least three times God promises that "the earth shall be full of his knowledge and glory of The Lord as the waters cover the sea." Where will you be then in view of your present attitude, and actions, and witnessing concerning the abominations that fill the earth, almost as the waters do the seas? Your present attitude, and actions, end witnessing concerning the Abomination of "Taking the Name of The Lord thy God in vain" by claiming to be a Christian and remaining a member of His Church; concerning Sabbath Desecration, dishonoring of parents, and the abominations of murder, rape, homosexuality, stealing, covetousness, etc.? May another question be asked for your consideration? Can one be a Christian that rejects Capital Punishment? Was not Christ's Crucifixion on the Cross Capital Punishment? Though innocent He offered Himself to die for the guilty! "God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son" -- gave Him for Capital Punishment that God's righteous and holy Law might be carried out: "the soul that sinneth shall die" -- "that whosoever believeth in Him might not perish but have everlasting life." "Believeth in Him," that He substituted His Sinless Self and took Capital Punishment that my Sinful Self might live eternally a redeemed soul!
"Ye that love the Lord, hate evil." Psalm 97:10. "For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not grievous." 1st John 5:3. Morality: Social Issues and Sin NOVEMBER 20, 1971
Bishop Hall. "Man, when left to himself, is a motley mixture of the beast and the devil!" William Law. "A man may foretell as plainly as can be what will become of us, if we grow indifferent and lukewarm in repressing evil. Make it a shame to see men bold in profaneness, and God will bless you. Be confident that our liberty and prosperity depend upon reformation -- if not, what difference is there between a man and a beast? "Beware of making laws in the face of God -- telling The Almighty you will meet all His Dispensations, and stay things, whether He will, or no.
Every young man should strive by the best possible improvement of his talents and opportunities, to make himself a great and a good man. This is a true and noble ambition. A great and a good man is the noblest work of God . . . strive then, my young friend, to fit yourself for the times in which you live. God give us preachers, teachers, and students that put "the study of their own hearts" -- above the study of their books. "Search the Scriptures" for it is the mirror by which God reveals to us our hearts:
"For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away; but the Word of the Lord endureth forever. And this is the Word which by the Gospel is preached unto you." 1st Peter 1-24-25. "For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world, and the world passeth away. And the lust thereof. But he that doeth the will of God abideth forever." 1st John 2:16-17. Morality: Social Issues and Sin MARCH 20, 1968 The subject of this article is suggested by the 1st verse of the 40th chapter of Isaiah: "Comfort ye, comfort Ye my people, saith your God." In our judgment, "all God's children" are conservatives unless perhaps they are "babes," or "lambs," lost, strayed, or stolen by leftists or devils! In the Presidential campaign last year Senator Goldwater asked one of his opponents to put down in writing what the word conservative, extremist, or ultra-right meant to him. For our own benefit and profit we undertook to do this and came up with the following: "Ultra-right means Perfection, Holiness. Extremist is the pursuit of Perfection and Holiness is God-likeness!" The Bible says: "Follow peace with all men, and Holiness, without which no man shall see The Lord," Hebrews 12:14. "Without which no man shall see The Lord!" We sure do want to "see the Lord" and behold His Glory when we are through this life and enter Eternity! I have seen too much of the devil already down here below, too much of him in our own experience and life as we have sought to obey the commands: "Resist the devil, give no place to the devil!" In The Sermon on The Mountain Christ called on His followers to be "ultra-extremists," or so we interpret His Command: "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in Heaven is perfect!" Matthew 5:48. However, if ever we try to appraise our own accomplishments along this line we think of the words of Job in 9:20: "If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me; if I say, I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse." When the children of Israel left the bondage of Egypt there went up with them a "mixed multitude." Later this "mixed multitude" fell a lusting and caused much trouble -- their "lust" appeared to be very contagious! In our judgment the Church today is badly afflicted with "a mixed multitude which have fallen a lusting!" Instead of using "discipline" and getting rid of them, it appears we are trying to keep them contented by "feeding their lust!" Christ ordered "discipline" in His Church and gave grounds for excommunication. Christ exercised "discipline" when He made a whip of cords and drove some wretches out of His Father's House! -- "The lapse of Church discipline was a certain symptom of social and political anarchy," said an English Historian as he looked across the centuries of the experiences of that people. "Judgment must begin at the House of God!" Last week we called attention to the visitation of God's wrath on account of corruption in the city of Jerusalem. It was indeed terrible; no mercy or pity shown to old or young, maids, little children, and women! It is so terrible we prefer to just quote from God's Word in the 9th chapter of Ezekiel:
Judgment began at The House of God with all except those who had God's Mark on their forehead! Have you noticed in recent days accounts of mobs issuing out from Churches, Houses dedicated for the worship and promulgation of the Gospel of the Cross, and marching forth to defy legally constituted city, county and state authority, when they well know it will foment discord, strife and ill will. The Bible says to the Christian, why do you not rather suffer yourself to be wronged or defrauded, rather than promote discord? Do you think such folks, regardless of what they profess, have God's Mark on them? Our witness is that they do not, for the Christian is called upon to suffer, suffer, bear the Cross, and to endure suffering and wrong treatment even as Christ did when crucified! In God's Name, let us suggest that colored and white better be more concerned about whether you are going to spend Eternity in the blessing of Heaven, or in the fires of Hell, than about the questionable right to vote! We say a "questionable right" because of the conviction that there are myriads of white and colored who are not qualified to vote on account of lack of character, integrity, decency, and no telling what else! In nearly every election the writer questions his own qualifications to vote on some of the matters on account of ignorance. Usually he skips such things and doesn't vote on them unless he feels he can obtain advice from parties who have the good of the community at heart, and not some political or other kind of self interest. "It is appointed unto man once to die, but after this the judgment!" Every man must give account of himself unto God! W. M. Religious InfoNet ¤ Box 456 ¤ Forest Lake, MN 55025 Email: kevin@waltermartin.com Phone: 651-307-1507 |