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Quick Answers To Your Questions About Jesus, Questions About God
One quick note before we begin: I need to forewarn you that you’ll probably have the daylights irritated out of you—and you’ll perhaps want to take me out back, string me up, and shoot me at dawn—because I’m constantly updating this book.
But let me explain so that you might have some sympathy for me. (At least let me give my excuse a shot and see if I can’t pull on your heartstrings a little.) Since I’m not omniscient, I have no way of knowing all of the questions that people may have about God at the time of writing this booklet and for that I apologize. However, as I receive new questions, I add them to this book.
For your ease of use, I’ll try to remember to add the words
“New Question”
in bright red letters next to the new questions on my answers about God page
online at
http://www.thebossychurchlady.net/quickanswers.html so you can easily spot them and print them out. If I don’t remember to do that, please don’t be upset with me as my website keeps me pretty busy just maintaining it… and then there are the articles and the books that I’m currently writing. Not that I begrudge all of the work, I’m just saying that I can be a little scatter brained at times because my mind is going in a hundred different directions at once.
To be sure that you have the current version, please visit
http://www.thebossychurchlady.net/questions.doc
Or visit: http://www.thebossychurchlady.net/quickanswers.html
If you want to download the most current version in PDF form, go to:
http://www.thebossychurchlady.net/Answers_about_God.pdf
If you need the printer friendly version (the one you're looking at right now) go to:
http://www.thebossychurchlady.net/aboutGod.html
Okay now, on to the questions and quick answers about God.
Questions About Eternal Damnation-Questions About Hell
Q. Is hell really real?
A. It certainly is. In Beyond Death's Door by Dr. Maurice Rawlings
(who is a leading heart specialist) several people recount their experiences of
surviving clinical death and returning to tell us about it.
Q. Why would a good God create hell?
A. 2 Peter 3 tells us that God would rather have everyone come to repentance; however, there will be some who won’t.
Think about this: If God were to allow everyone into heaven, then He would have to allow the bad people in too and if He did
that, wouldn’t that just be like life on earth? If there was no hell, then what’s the point of heaven or an eternal reward?
Q. Why would God send good people to hell?
A. All have fallen short of the glory of God, even good people. Romans three
proclaims: "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God."
Q. Who made hell the devil or God?
A. It says in Isaiah 45:5-8 that God created all things.
Q. What about predestination?
A. If we're given free will then it’s our choice to believe in Him or not, isn’t it?
Well,
no. No one has faith in Jesus unless God works a miracle and gives him or her the faith
to believe in Him. I have listed several verses below which will substantiate my claim:
In John 6:28-29, Jesus said that it’s the work of God
that people believe in Him. "Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent." (KJV)
In John 6:44, Jesus said, “No man can come to me, except the Father, who
hath sent me, draw him; and I will raise him up at the last day.” (KJV)
And in John 6:65, Jesus told the disciples “Therefore said I unto you that no man can
come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.”
In John 15:16, Jesus said, “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.”
In Matthew, 4:18-19, when Jesus called His first disciples, Peter and his brother Andrew, He said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
In John 1:43, Jesus called another of His disciples, Phillip; He said to him, "Follow me."
Ephesians 1:4-5, Paul said, "According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will” (KJV)
God chooses who will be saved according to His sovereign will.
However...
It says in Romans 10 that whoever calls upon the Lord shall be saved.
Questions About How To Be
Saved -About Salvation
Q. How do I become saved?
A. If you're ready to accept the FREE gift of Salvation, pray to the Lord Jesus Christ with all of your heart, confess your sins, known and unknown, ask Him for forgiveness and submit your will to Him. I must caution you that upon accepting the gift of salvation you must shed your old life and repent of your sinful ways, if any, because the finished work on the cross will not be mocked.
Q. How do I know I'm saved?
A. Ephesians 2:4-5 tells us that we have been saved only because of God’s grace. We can’t be saved on our own; it’s because of a God given miracle called faith that we can be saved.
Q. Can I lose my salvation?
A. Once saved Always Saved? I believe so. The Lord already paid the price for our sins, past present and in the future. He died for us while we were yet sinners.
Matthew twelve tells us that the only unforgivable sin is blasphemy against God’s Holy Spirit and Luke confirms this in chapter 12 of his Gospel.
Q. If God planned out our lives from beginning to end, then why do we have
free will?
A. God does not make us sin. He creates the circumstances in which we live, but
it’s up to us to be obedient to Him or go about in our own sinful ways. God created us to be His children, but the majority of us are so
rebellious that we’ve given God no other option except to punish us.
Q. Well, why would God create people while knowing that some will go to hell?
A. Romans chapter nine, fourteen
through twenty-three says: "What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with
God? God forbid. For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy,
and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. So then it is not of him that
willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy. For the scripture saith
unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my
power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth. Therefore
hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth. Thou wilt
say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will? Nay but, O
man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that
formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? Hath not the potter power over the clay, of
the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? What if
God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much
longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: And that he might make known
the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory."
In second Peter chapter three, verse nine proclaims: "The Lord is not slack concerning
his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing
that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance."
Q. Why on earth would God make Satan and give us free will
if He doesn’t want any to perish?
A. I look at it this way: Just because children act terribly at times isn’t a reason
to forgo having them altogether. All parents hope and pray that their children
will grow up to become
good people; God fearing men and women who fulfill the purpose that God has for
them.
Q. If Romans 3:10 says “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one.” why would the Bible say that Noah was a righteous man?
A. First, let me quote two verses and then I’ll answer. In John 20:29 Jesus said, “Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.” And in Matthew 13:17, Jesus said, “For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.” There were several people who not only walked in the statutes of God; Noah, Lot, Joseph, to name a few, but they also believed in the Son of God even though they hadn't yet seen Him yet. They were obedient to God to the very ends of their lives and longed to see the Messiah, which they knew was coming. Therefore, they were righteous.
Now that we know that Jesus is the way, the truth and the life, (John 14:6) if you believe in your heart that Christ is Lord and confess it with your mouth and repent of your sins, you're made righteous through His precious blood that was shed on the cross.
New Question!
Q. Don’t we get a second chance, aren't we reincarnated after this life?
A. No. The life we're given is the only one we get. Besides, this world is so full of evil, only a hateful God would force us to go through another life in this world. Sure, you might be thinking that if we’re good in this life, we’ll come back as someone wealthy, healthy and seem to have it all, but remember, even those who are born to wealth, have wonderful health, and seem to have all the luck in the world still have their problems. Another thing: if we were reincarnated, wouldn't that negate our eternal reward?
Further proof of this fallacy can be found in Luke 16:19-31 where the Lord tells a parable called “The Rich Man and Lazarus”
How can I know that this is a real life story and not just another parable?
In most of the parables, Jesus referenced the characters by saying things like: “A man from so and so,” or “A woman from such and such place.” However, in the parable of “The Rich Man and Lazarus”, Jesus specifically mentioned both characters by name so we know it’s a true story.
But what about Purgatory?
Sorry, the Bible says that there is no such thing. In Luke 23:43 Jesus said, "And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise." Notice He didn’t say, tomorrow, or next week, or even after you finish atoning for your sins? He said “today”.
What’s more, the apostle Paul said in 2 Corinthians 5:8: “We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.” (KJV) That means that after we die, if we believe, we'll be with the Lord.
Questions About Repentance
Q. Do I really have to stop partying now that I’m a Christian?
A. Yes. Once we became believers and renounced all of our sin, the blood of Jesus cleansed us; we were made sinless, righteous, just like Jesus. We are no different than the woman who was saved in John 8:11. Upon becoming saved, Jesus tells us to go and sin no more. When we knowingly sin, we're just mocking the cross or causing Christ to die for us in vain. That means no more smoking pot, drinking heavily and anything like that.
Q. Now that I'm a Christian, why do I have to be such a good example?
A. Rather than look like the world, we are called to stand up for the Word of God by becoming a holy example for others. In so doing, we will be letting the light of Christ shine through us for the world to see.
Q. Do I really have to forgive everyone?
A. Yes you do: In Matthew 6:14-15, Jesus said: "For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." (KJV)
Questions About God- Questions About Jesus
Q. What is the holy trinity?
A. Think about it like a triangle. The Holy trinity is three different aspects of God where all three sides complete the shape.
Q. Who made God?
A. No one. Since we humans are created, it's hard for us to imagine that God wasn't
created by someone or something; however, Exodus 3:14 says, "And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM." By faith, we just have to accept the fact that God wasn't created and leave it at that.
Q. Doesn't God hover over our shoulders waiting to bust us or punish us for doing something wrong?
A. No. Think about this: If God really was waiting to punish you for even the tiniest transgression, why do you think He died to have a relationship with you?
Here’s what Hebrews 8:12 says, “For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.” If you turn from your sin, believe in Christ Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you’re under no condemnation.
Still worried?
In Matthew 18:11-13, Jesus said: “For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost. How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray? And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray.” (KJV) Yes, God really does rejoice over someone believing in His Son.
Questions About Life
Q. Why would God allow innocent children to die?
A. That is one of the most difficult questions and I wish I had an easy answer. I can’t imagine anything more devastating than losing a spouse or child. I often wonder if He might take children sometimes to prevent him/her from suffering a much worse fate. One thing I am certain of is all children who have died are in the arms of Jesus and if the parents are believers then they will spend eternity with their child after they die. We just have to realize that God is sovereign; everything in existence belongs to Him, even our children.
Q. What does God think about divorce?
A. He does not condone it except in the case of adultery.
Q. I'm divorced, should I remarry?
A. The answer is in Matthew 19 where Jesus said: "Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication,
and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put
away doth commit adultery."
Q. I prayed for health, but God hasn't healed me yet...what's up with that?
A. God heals on His own time, not ours.
Just because we pray in faith doesn't mean that God has to kneel down on His
knees before us
and do as we bid. He'll answer your prayers, but on His time. Consider the blind
man in Mark 8:22-25 that only saw men as trees at first. It took a little more time to heal
him.
Q. I feel so alone. Are you sure that God’s nearby?
A. Here's one of my favorite verses: "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze." Isaiah 43:2 (NIV)
Q. My life seems like it's spinning out of control... Are you sure that God's
really in charge of everything?
A. Yes. Could you have done something you shouldn’t have? If you did, God may be letting you suffer from the natural consequences of your sin.
Regardless of whether you have or haven't done something wrong, don’t worry, God loves you so much that He will
NEVER leave your side.
"For the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.” (Joshua 1:9, KJV) Luke 12 proclaims that God is
so interested in every aspect of your life that He even knows how many hairs you
have on your head! “But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.” Psalm 48:14 says, “For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death.”
Q. Does God's Word support abortion?
A. Nope and I hope you don't either. God appointed us all to be born when and
where we were according to His purpose. Though abortion is not mentioned or forbidden in the Bible per se,
Isaiah 44:24 tells us that upon conception, a baby is fully human.
Q. Why does God allow terrible things to happen in the world?
A. The Lord never promised that life would be perfect. When God created man, He created mankind to be good; everything was perfect.
There was no death, sickness or anything of the sort in the beginning; however, after
Adam and Eve introduced sin into the world, everything became tainted. By nature, we
human beings are full of sin; one selfish motive or another is behind everything good
that we do. Our own impure hearts have separated us from God and bad things
happen as a consequence or our actions. Another explanation can be found in John 9:1-3
chapter nine, verses one through three, where it says: "And as Jesus passed by, he
saw a man which was blind from his birth. And his disciples asked him, saying, Master,
who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? Jesus answered, Neither
hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made
manifest in him." God permits terrible things to happen so that the world can see His
glory. (KJV)
Q. Jesus lived a long time ago, how do I know that He really understands what I'm going through now?
A. Though Jesus lived on the earth around two thousand years ago, I can assure you that He is alive, always has been and always be. That’s how He understands what we’re going through. Hebrews 4:15
tells us that the Lord has been tempted as much as we are. While on the cross, He was tempted to save Himself and while in the desert before He began His ministry, the devil tempted Him, but He stood on the Word. This is why it's vital that Christians study the Word as much as possible so we can stand on God's Holy Word and resist temptation.
Q. If the Bible says: "Thou Shalt Not Kill", then why do Christians kill others during war?
A. Hebrews 13:17 tells us to obey our leaders: "Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you." (KJV)
Romans 13:1-2 tells us that God ordained all powers that be in our government, therefore we're subject to them.
New Question!
Q. What does the Bible say about supporting a mooch?
A. I have to say that the very best thing to do is to pray and wait for God to answer by
either putting a burden onto your heart to help the person or by removing the burden that you have to help him or her.
Other than that, I can give you a few Bible verses that pertain to this situation and then offer some first hand advice and let you draw your own conclusion.
To begin with, 1 John 3:17-18 says: "If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth." (NIV) And in Matthew 25:40, Jesus said: “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.’” (KJV)
On top of the above verses, the Bible tells us that we are to bear each other's burdens, but it doesn't tell us how far we should go or how long we should help another. I suppose it all depends upon who the person is that needs your help
and what their needs are. For instance, if someone who is physically or mentally disabled and cannot work
needs our help, then it's our duty to do what we can for him or her. Or if it's a widowed, homeless, or elderly person who just doesn't have enough money to get by, we should help and do it gladly.
And going by what James 4:17 proclaims, we should support someone in his or her time of need. However, this verse is a two-edged sword for all concerned. What I mean is that on one side, if you continually enable a mooch, you're doing more harm than good for him or her and on the other side, if you don't keep helping someone who is needy, you’ll end up feeling guilty.
Now, I'll tell you straight up what I know from first hand experience. If you continue to enable a person by frequently giving him or her money, you’ll do more damage to your relationship with that person than almost anything I can imagine. If you keep giving to the "moocher" you'll end up becoming resentful of him or her personally, then you'll end up loathing the person due to their unreasonable expectations. Sure, you were glad you had the money or a home to help at first, but after a while, it seems to be expected. It begins to feel like you're being taken advantage of.
Secondly, if it's allowed to continue for some time then the mooch will become a helpless victim and this will create an endless, vicious circle. If it continues, this moocher will turn you into an enabler, which is not a fun position to be in. Just ask any family member of a drug addict or alcoholic and they'll tell you that these people literally bully them into a position of either constantly helping them or losing the love of the addict.
Thirdly, your relationship with the moocher will become so full of tension that
you'll hardly be able to bear being in the same room with him or her. On top of
that, before he or she has a chance to say anything, you'll automatically be on guard. Right off, you'll ask yourself: "How much does he/she want this time?" And then you'll wind up whipping out your wallet and stuffing money into his or her hands to make him or her “just go away”.
That said I’m sure you’ve heard the old proverb that’s generally attributed to Lao Tzu
that goes like this: “Give a man a fish, and feed him for a day. Teach him to fish, and feed him for life.”
With that in mind, the question now becomes, "How do you make them stop?” Or, “How do you
stop this horrific merry-go-round from going around one more time?”
Tell them, “Look, I can help you this time, but you need to get a job and support yourself or stop doing whatever it is that is putting you into this position.”
If anything, you can have him or her do some work for you in order to earn that
money. Hold firmly to what you tell the person. However, if he or she doesn't have a car to look for a job or a printer to print out a resume, then by all means, help the person out
by giving him or her rides to job interviews or help with bus fare and whatnot.
At first, you may even have to take the moocher by the hand and lead him or her around literally by the nose... telling him or her what to do step-by-step until he or she is back on his or her feet, but the reward for both of you will be
his or her independence and your peace of mind.
On that same vein, I do have to say that God really does work in awesome and mysterious ways. On more than one occasion in my life, God has
unexpectedly blessed me with extra money hours or even days before someone I know had a need for it. I just thanked God for giving it to me and passed the money on to the person who needed it. And when that person thanked me, I told her to thank God for it because that's where it came from.
Questions About How Much God Really Loves You
Q. Does God really love everyone so much?
A. Absolutely! God loves us so much that He sent His only begotten Son, Jesus, to this world to be the perfect offering for all of our sins; past, present and future. Willingly, Jesus came into this filthy
world to die a horrible and bloody death so that all who would believe in Him
can have eternal life. There's nothing we can ever do to earn salvation; we'll never measure up no matter how hard we try.
Knowing that we were sinners, and that most people would never believe in Him, the Lord died for
all of us anyways.
Don't believe me?
1 Thessalonians 5:10-11 declares: "He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we
may live together with him." (NIV)
Q. I feel like I don't measure up to the world's expectations. But how does God feel about me?
A. To begin with, Zephaniah 3 tells us that God rejoices over us with singing. It says in Isaiah that God has our pictures on the palms of His hands. Can you believe that? God looks at us night and day.
Here's what else God says about us: "For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the LORD that hath mercy on thee." Isaiah 54:10 (KJV)
Questions About Christian Living-About Christianity
Q. How Do I live by His purpose?
A. Contrary to popular opinion, we were put here to please the Lord, not the other way around. Revelation 4:11 says: “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.” So if you're living to please God, then you're living according to His purpose.
Q. How do I abide in the Lord?
A. If you study His Word daily and you’re obedient to Him, you’ll abide in the Lord. Not only that, but you'll keep the treasures of Heaven in your mind and heart. For those who don't think it's too terribly important to abide in the Lord,
Matthew 13 gives a warning: "At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn."
(NIV)
Q. I feel like I'm not making a difference, are you sure that witnessing isn't
just an exercise in futility?
A. The apostle Paul said in 1 Corinthians 3:5-9 that God gives the increase, not us. If we plant the seed and someone else waters, all we can do is wait on God to give him or her the faith to believe.
I know I've already said this before, but because we have no idea who God, the master gem cutter, will shape into a beautiful, sparkling diamond, we must witness to everyone without prejudice. That means we must reach out to the gays, the homeless, our enemies, murderers, and
anyone else we encounter in life. After all, who doesn't want to hear: "Well done, good and faithful servant!"?
Q. Is it really worth it to upset a friend by witnessing to him/her?
A. Yes. Will you be able to live with yourself if your friend dies and you never took the time to tell him or her about Jesus?
Q. What if I don't want to do things God's way?
A. Take my word for it; warring against God is never a good idea. It leads you down a destructive path, where at the end, you'll
have nothing but regrets. God loves you and wants only what's best for you. I used to be one who did my own thing and God ended up using the arthritis in my neck to bring me around to
obeying to His Word, and trusting in Him completely. He
says: "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11 (KJV)
Q. How do you know that I can trust God?
A. It says in 2 Thessalonians that the Lord will guard and protect us from the evil one. Yes, you heard me right: God’s got our backs. Proverbs 29:25 says, "Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe." (NIV)
Q. Why do Christians have to struggle so much?
A. Since God promised that He would take care of everything, we really don't have to struggle. When we worry more about the things in our lives and the things of this world more than we care about the Lord then we
cause strife within our hearts and keep ourselves from reaching the Promised Land. Philippians 4:11-13 proclaims: "I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation…I can do everything through him who gives me strength." (NIV)
Feel better now?
Q. What if God won't forgive me?
A. Upon forgiving you, God promised to forget your sins. Hebrews 8:12 proclaims: "For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more." (KJV) In Matthew 12,
we see that blasphemy against the Holy Ghost is the only unforgivable sin. That means
that even if you've murdered someone, God will still forgive you.
Q. What if I've prayed for forgiveness, but I still feel condemned?
A. Ah, those condemning feelings... the devil loves to mess with your mind. This falls under the category of spiritual attack. Here's one of my favorite verses: John 5:24, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life." (KJV) Listen; when you became a believer in Christ, you were sealed with God’s Holy Spirit, you became a child of God. As a child of God, you don’t ever have to tolerate being tormented
by feelings of shame ever again. John 10 tells us that nothing can pluck us out
of the Lord's hand.
Q. What about other types of spiritual attack?
A. It’s common to be attacked spiritually. The main goal of the devil is to
distract a Christian, to keep him or her so busy with the trivial things in life that he or she won’t be
effective within the kingdom of heaven. However, if we focus entirely upon the Lord,
we'll experience the true freedom that Christ offers. I've written an article about this very subject.
Click here
to read it.
Q. Do I have to be baptized?
A. Yes and you'll do it for the sake of obedience. If you read Matthew three,
you'll discover that even Jesus was baptized.
Q. What are strongholds of the mind?
A. Basically, they're thoughts and beliefs that are untrue. Battlefield of the Mind: Winning the Battle in Your Mind by Joyce Meyer explains what it is, how it happens and how to break free from that type of bondage.
Q. Do I really have to forgive everyone?
A. Yes and here's why: In Matthew 6:14-15, Jesus said, “For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” (NIV)
Q. What about medication... shouldn't my faith be enough to heal me?
A. That's a tricky question. Because God works in mysterious ways, we cannot know if He has chosen to use a doctor or psychiatrist to bring about healing. A verse that leads me to believe that the Lord is not against medicine is Jeremiah 46:11, where
He said: "Go up into Gilead, and take balm, O virgin, the daughter of Egypt: in
vain shalt thou use many medicines; for thou shalt not be cured." Another
thing: without God, we would have no knowledge of medicine whatsoever.
Q. We have a homosexual man attending our church. Should we expel him from our church?
A. No. Why would you kick someone who is seeking God to the curb? Church is a place where people learn about God. Who are we to judge
another? Are any of us without sin? No. Jesus came for the lost, and that includes you and me. Jesus hung out with tax collectors--who were notorious for ripping people off. One other point: Saul who later became the apostle Paul persecuted and murdered Christians... and look at what the Lord did with him.
Q. What is a Christians most important duty?
A. A Christian's greatest calling is the Great Commission given by Jesus in Matthew 28:16-20, where it says: "Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted. And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen."
Q. Isn't religion personal? Shouldn't I keep it to myself?
A. Think of it this way... if no one had told you the good news, how else would you have become saved? James 5:20 says: "Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins."
Q. Where can I find out how to become a more effective disciple for Christ?
A. There are several resources:
1) http://www.navpress.com/dj.asp
2) http://aibi.gospelcom.net/ebooks/ is a valuable resource for free Christian e-books on a variety of subjects from Bible studies to Men's Ministry.
3) http://www.godsquad.com/discipleship/index.htm
4) http://www.discipleshiptools.org/
Q. Do the gifts of the Holy Spirit pertain to today's Christian?
A. Yes! Spiritual gifts are as alive and well today as they were way back when in Jesus' time. The gifts bestowed upon each Christian are entirely according to God's will and given through God's Holy Spirit.
Q. How can I increase my faith?
A. To give you a short answer, I’ll give you the definition of faith: faith is the absolute certainty that God can and will do what He promised, that He will take care of us despite everything that happens. But how do we arrive at the point of being confident, of having no doubt whatsoever that the Lord will feed, care for, clothe, and love us no matter what? By knowing God intimately. By hearing His promises. By applying His promises to our lives and allowing those promises to affect our everyday thinking.
P.S., I will expound upon this principle in the next issue of The Bossy Church Lady’s Newsletter For New Christians. (The one due on 4-15-2008) It can be found by going to
http://www.thebossychurchlady.net/backissues.html or by going to
http://www.thebossychurchlady.net/signup.html
Q. How can I grow spiritually?
A. There are six things you can do to experience spiritual growth:
1) Regularly spend one-on-one time with God
2) Read His Word--the Bible
3) Do your best not to sin
4) Walk and worship in the Spirit
5) Believe God's Word and apply it to your life
6) Be confident in the fact that not only do God's promises pertain to the people in the Old and New Testament times, but His promises also apply to us in the here and now
For a more in depth look at what you can do do grow spiritually, see my article at
http://www.thebossychurchlady.net/sixthings.html
New Question!
Q. Will God still hear me even if I'm not very good at praying?
A. Yes. Even if we don’t pray eloquently, even if we don’t pray like the greatest prayer warriors, or pray like the preacher does on Sunday mornings, we can be confident that the Lord will hear our prayers. How do I know? In Romans 8, the apostle Paul said that even if we don’t know what to pray for, the Holy Spirit intercedes for us. He goes to God on our behalf.
New Question!
Q. If God knows what we're going to pray for, then why ask for anything in
the first place?
A. The Bible tells us that we have not because we ask not (James 4:2).
Not to mention, it doesn't hurt us one bit to humble ourselves and ask God for whatever we need.
New Question!
Q. What is the Baptism of the Holy Spirit?
A. Upon converting to Christianity, the Holy Spirit begins to dwell in a believer’s body, mind, heart and soul and he or she is given a spiritual gift from God. This is otherwise known as Baptism of the Spirit. Each gift given has a different degree or strength; no two people possess identical gifts.
Think of it like this: there are varying shades of the color blue, so it is with the gifts of the Spirit. Two people may have the same gift, such as Discernment, but the degrees are different. Imagine your hand: you have a thumb, an index finger, a middle finger and so on. Each serves a different purpose, but they are all part of the same body. Just like our fingers, all who are in Christ are members of the same body, but each person serves a different function. Like people, no two gifts are exactly the same.
New Question!
Q. When I forgive someone, do I have to trust that person too?
A. In Matthew 18:21-22, Jesus said that we are to forgive people “seventy times seven” every day. As far as trusting the person who hurt you, that's another matter entirely as trust must be earned.
Questions About Church
Q. What about Biblical discernment?
A. As Christians, it is our duty to remain vigilant; to discern everything that we hear so that we will never be led to believe erroneous teachings which can lead us astray. The way we do it is by taking notes while listening to the pastor in church and study our Bibles; not just on Sundays.
Q. What is spiritual discernment?
A. 1 Corinthians 2:14 says: “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” The way we have spiritual discernment is by listening to the Word of God with our hearts. It’s only because of faith that we can hear the Word of God and accept it as fact. And, 1 Corinthians 12:10 says: “To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues.” Discerning of spirits is another way to say spiritual discernment. When one is hearing a false doctrine, a red flag goes up in the mind of the discerner. Sometimes, the person with the gift will have a stomach ache while hearing a lie or may have a headache, but the Holy Spirit works in different ways in different people. That’s why I always encourage people do double-check everything they hear in church against the Bible because not everyone has this gift from the Spirit.
Q. Is going to church really that important?
A. Yes... because I said so. Just kidding. Fellowship with other Christians is
as vital as eating food. Moreover, in church, we learn how God wants us to behave.
Q. What about tithing?
A. I have personally heard of preachers who twist
Malachi 3:8-11 to take advantage of greedy congregants who think that the more
they tithe, the more they'll get in return. As it says in Leviticus 27:32 and in Deuteronomy 14:22, ten percent should be fine.
(You can give extra if you feel led to, but you don't have to.)
Questions About The End Times-About The Tribulation
Q. What is the rapture?
A. Just before the tribulation begins, Christ Jesus will basically snatch His people from the earth, leaving billions behind to suffer the most hellish seven years that mankind will ever know. Whether or not Christ Jesus
raptures those who love Him before or after the tribulation begins is debatable. However, there is one thing
certain: those who have unreservedly given their lives to the Lord Jesus Christ will be raptured and they will remain with the Lord forevermore.
Q. Are you sure that God will rapture His followers?
A. Sure I'm sure! If God raptured Enoch (Genesis 5:24) and He raptured Elijah (2 Kings 2:11) then He will rapture believers just like He promised in Matthew 24:40-41 where Jesus said: "Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left." (KJV)
Q. What's the tribulation and what's its purpose?
A. The tribulation is the day of the Lord. That period of time was spoken of by many Old Testament prophets and confirmed by Jesus in the New Testament.
To be more specific, the tribulation will be a seven year period of time that God will punish the wicked for their evil deeds, purify the hearts of believers around the world and sift through mankind to separate those whose hearts are fixed upon Him from those who would never believe in His Son.
Q. What signals the beginning of the tribulation?
A. The seven-year clock will begin ticking on the tribulation when the antichrist confirms a seven year covenant of peace with the nation of Israel. (Daniel 9:27)
Q. How do you know that the tribulation will last seven years?
A. In prophecy, one week equals seven years. The angel Gabriel gave Daniel a prophecy about the coming Messiah (Daniel 9:24-26) which has
been fulfilled, and then down in verse 27, he tells Daniel that the coming antichrist will confirm a covenant with Israel for one week.
However, after the antichrist swindles them into signing or confirming this seven-year peace treaty,
he’ll renege on the deal halfway through the "week" and desecrate their
newly rebuilt temple.
Q. Who would be foolish enough to follow after the antichrist?
A. According to Second Thessalonians chapter two, verses nine through twelve, God will send anyone who has decided not to follow Him a strong delusion. They'll be made to believe the antichrist; they’ll have no other choice…
Don't believe me? Read the book of Exodus.
Q. Is our Social Security number the mark of the beast?
A. No. The mark that you're referring to, the one that is mentioned in Revelation 13:16, will be either on,
or as some texts say "in" your right hand or forehead. This mark is something
that followers of the antichrist will intentionally receive in order to buy or sell.
Q. About the medical ID implants, is that the mark of the beast?
A. That too is not the same as the mark of the beast. Regardless of whether or not one has the chip inserted in his or her body, he or she is still able to shop and sell their stuff.
Q. Will the antichrist really behead Christians during the tribulation?
A. Yep. As gross and disgusting as it sounds, the antichrist will delight in it.
Q. If I'm left here after the rapture, will it be too late?
A. No. During the tribulation, an uncountable number of people will become believers. Unfortunately, most of them will be beheaded during this time.
Q. Isn't the Gog/Magog war the same as the war in Armageddon?
A. No. In the war of Armageddon, all nations will come against Israel. In the Gog/Magog war,
which will be at the end of Christ's Millennial Reign, many nations will go against God, but they will be destroyed forever. Also, see Revelation 20:7-9.
Q. What is the White Throne Judgment?
A. Everyone who wasn't brought to life during the first resurrection will face judgment at the end of the Millennial Reign.
God will judge them according to what they did while they were alive. Anyone not found in the Book of Life will be cast into the lake of fire.
Q. Who is the woman clothed with the sun in Revelation 12?
A. Revelation 12 is a highly controversial chapter in the book of Revelation. Whether the woman clothed in the sun signifies the nation of Israel or the Virgin Mary is debatable. However, three things are not up for debate: Revelation 12 pertains to Israel, Christ Jesus and to believers.
Q. Who is the dragon in Revelation Revelation 12:3?
A. The dragon in that verse is none other than Satan himself. The following verses, Revelation 12:4-9, gives us several clues as to the dragon's identity. In verse 4 it says that the dragon's tail drew a third of the stars and cast them to earth. The stars are angels. When Satan was cast out of heaven, one-third of the angels went with him. In Luke 10:18, Jesus said that he saw Satan fall from heaven, and Isaiah 14:12 proclaims that Lucifer was cast down to the earth. Verses 7-9 describe a war in heaven where the devil and his minions were cast out of heaven.
Also in verse four of Revelation 12, it says that the dragon stood at the ready to devour the child that she was to give birth to. Matthew 2 gives the account of how King Herod tried to kill Christ Jesus and when he heard that his plan was thwarted, he gave the order to kill all children that were age two and under in the vicinity of Bethlehem.
Questions About God From Atheists
Q. Why did God allow His Son to die such a horrible death?
A. Because all of us have broken God’s perfect law and each of us stands guilty of being sinners, the wrath of God is upon us all. For this reason, He required a sacrifice to blot out one’s sins. In Leviticus seventeen, eleven, God said: “For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.”
Q. Why do we need Jesus?
A. Not only is God willing to forgive us of all of our sins, but He desires to reconcile Himself to us. 2 Corinthians 5:18-19 tells us: “All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them.” (NIV)
Q. Why are Christians such hypocrites?
A. Sad to say, I know how you feel. No one is perfect, even us Christian’s. Speaking for myself, I can say that I tend to get on my high horse sometimes and it takes a good dose of reality to bring me back down. Know this though: every Christian is a recovering sinner. We go to church not only for edification, but also to learn how God wants us to act. Thankfully, God is quick to forgive.
Q. Don't all religions lead to God?
A. No. If they did, then why do you suppose that the various factions war
with one another, insisting that theirs is the only true religion? Our God, the
Christian God, is the only One that rose from the dead, thereby conquering death.
Unlike other gods, the true God, the God of the Christians, does not want His
followers forcing people to believe in Him. On top of that, He has
proven Himself as being the only true God by performing so many miracles that there is not enough time or space to write it all down.
Q. Wasn't Jesus dying and being resurrected was nothing more than a hoax?
A. No. Back then, if a Roman guard allowed a prisoner to escape, it was customary
for the guard to be killed. Knowing this, why would the guards
admit that the body of Jesus had gone missing?
Still don't believe me?
Then why do you suppose the Jewish
leaders bribed the soldiers like it says in Matthew 28:11-15? Because they knew
that Christ had indeed risen from the dead, just like it said He would in the prophecies
about Him. "Now when
they were going, behold, some of the watch came into the city, and shewed unto the
chief priests all the things that were done. And when they were assembled with the
elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers, Saying, Say ye,
His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept. And if this come to the
governor's ears, we will persuade him, and secure you. So they took the money, and
did as they were taught: and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this
day." (Matthew 28:11-15)
Miscellaneous Questions
Q. Why did you make this website?
A. Because it tears me up just thinking about anyone going to hell. I love everyone enough to meddle in his or her life.
Q. What does God think about sorcery, divination, tarot card readings, etc.?
A. In first Chronicles chapter ten, verses thirteen through fourteen, it says that king Saul died because he didn’t inquire of the Lord, rather, he consulted with a medium to find out what he should do. In Revelation twenty-one, the Lord told John: "But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murders, and fornicators, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone, which is the second death."
Q. Do animals have souls?
A. I believe they do. Genesis nine tells us that God will demand an accounting
from any animal that takes the life of a human.
Q. Is there really such a thing as Purgatory?
A. Sorry, no. Read the story called The rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16:19-31.
Q. What about suicide?
A. One way for the devil to destroy God’s children is to get him/her to commit
suicide. If you kill yourself, the last thing you’ll commit is murder. Moreover,
you’re telling God that you didn’t trust Him enough to fix your life. If
suicide is something you’re thinking about quite often,
or something that someone you know talks about, I encourage you to call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
Q. Is life worth living even if I’m suffering and in misery?
A. Though I'm personally familiar with suffering, since God created everything, every life has value.
In 2 Corinthians 12:7-9 the apostle Paul addresses that issue by saying, “To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me." (NIV)
Q. What’s a good radio station for Christians to listen to?
A. Though I’m sure there are many, K-LOVE is my favorite.
If you have another question
that has not been answered here, please contact me at: sandra @ thebossychurchlady.net, without the spaces in the address, and I'll do my best to get back to you with an answer as fast as possible. If I don't know the answer, I'll ask someone who does.
Get free witnessing materials, free Bible study guides and other free Christian e-books by going to:
http://www.thebossychurchlady.net/free_Christian_books.html
*** If you haven’t given your life to the Lord, I’m pleading with you to do so now. Please don’t be too stubborn to do this one, simple thing. Life is too short and we never know when God will decide to end our lives! I promise, you won’t regret turning to the Lord. When I gave my life to Him, I admitted that I was a sinner, asked Jesus for forgiveness, and gave my entire life to Him. Following that, I’ve been doing my very best to not sin and when I do, I confess it to Him knowing that He will forgive me. ***
Look for my next two books:
The End Of All Things As Told By Jason Shaw and The Bossy Church Lady's Official Guide For Today's New Christian: The Ultimate Handbook for New Christians
Following is a short and sweet synopsis of each upcoming book:
The Bossy Church Lady's Official Guide For Today's New Christians: The Ultimate Handbook for New Christians will equip new Christians with the necessary armor and weaponry to be an effective warrior for the army of God.
Regardless of denomination, it will quickly bring you, the new Christian, up to speed so you can be an effective team member in the Kingdom of God. While the topics broached within The Bossy Church Lady’s Official Guide for God’s Newly Adopted Children range from predestination to what God’s Word—the final authority—says about sorcery and fall anywhere between, the book will answer your tougher questions such as: “Why did God allow His Son to die such a horrible death?” And, “Why does God allow such terrible things to happen in this world?” This non-fiction book invites all believers to forge a deeper relationship with the Lord.
Because this book is educational in nature, thought provoking questions, a short list of verses to read, and space to take notes are at the end of each chapter in The Bossy Church Lady’s Official Guide for God’s Newly Adopted Children.
It all begins on a sweltering Wednesday in The End Of All Things As Told By Jason Shaw. Summer is coming to a close; fall is just around the corner in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. The stage is set for the most important event that will happen to mankind.
With the UN disbanded, the world is on the brink of exploding into chaos; world war is imminent, poverty and starvation remain the issues of the day. President Faris Sayed has made some radical changes in his country. Seemingly overnight, he has transformed the nation of Syria into a model for diplomacy. Also headed by Faris Sayed, is the new alliance called the Associated Nations for Peace (AN), which promises to be the ultimate resolution for the concerns that are plaguing society. The catch: upon joining the AN, each member nation must adopt the AN Constitution, which prohibits freedom of speech and religion as their own Constitution.
Fast-forward a few weeks and every nation in the world has joined the AN except four: the United States, Turkey, Iraq and Israel. Now that the AN has given the United States, Turkey and Iraq a one-week deadline to join the AN willingly or by force, the United States has officially declared war in all fifty of the states to repel the coming AN invasion.
When Jason Shaw and eight other people accidentally discover the truth about what really happened to the millions of people that vanished, they embark upon a heroic journey to save billions of souls by exposing the lies of the AN.
Because Rick, Tim and Danny have the knowledge to build another laser-equipped satellite like the one that was used to vaporize Russia, the White House, and the Pentagon, the AN has all the more reason to want them all dead. Through it all, despite the horrifying judgments of God affecting the earth and mankind disastrously, the human element remains.
Okay, okay,
you’ve talked me into it: following is a FREE preview of The End Of All Things As Told By Jason Shaw
Chapter 1
A piece of paper sliding across the desk interrupted the newscaster. Fierce concentration replaced the normally pleasant expression on her face as she quickly read the bulletin. Looking up, she said, “This just in! Moments ago, Israel launched several nuclear weapons and wiped off the map! “Stay tuned for further developments. Remember, you heard it here on NewsFix first!”
The ticker at the bottom of the screen read: Breaking news… Israel uses nuclear weapons to decimate Russia… Boeing 747 crashes into the Bronco Stadium in Denver, Colorado…
Across the room, my dad sat straight up from his slouching position, turned the volume up, and began to listen intently.
How could a little bitty country like Israel get away with destroying a huge country like Russia? I remembered thinking
“Too bad it wasn’t the other way around: freaking Jews,” my dad said.
To impress our dad, Mark said, “Yeah, get the Christians and Blacks too.”
I was terrified. If Russia was powerless to defend against such a horrific attack, then the United States would be just as vulnerable. We could be next. “Dad, aren’t countries like Russia equipped with radars to detect nuclear weapons?” I asked.
“Yeah, they are,” he answered. Judging by the look on his face, he must have been thinking the same thing I was.
“Then how come Russia didn’t see the nukes coming and fire back or even try to stop them?” I asked.
“Those Jews are sneaky,” dad answered and immediately, he dove into his usual lecture about how treacherous that he thought that they were. When my dad started in on Native Americans, Blacks, Hispanics, Jews, or even politics, anyone that he decided to talk to about them might as well have just kissed the next few hours goodbye. He could be downright ridiculous at times while he rambled on and on about how stupid that they were, about how they hoard all of the money, how they would rip everyone else off. Other than that, my dad was a decent fellow. Well… mostly.
Since it was always best to change the subject if at all possible, the instant he paused, I seized the opportunity to keep him on the subject that I wanted to talk about. “Dad, do you really think that we’ll really go to war with the AN?”
“I hope not… I really don’t think that’ll happen, son,” he answered, taking the bait. He quickly glanced over at me and in that split second, I saw my own feelings reflected in his expression: pure, raw terror. “Everything will be fine, Jason. You’ll see,” he croaked.
Deep down inside I was panic-stricken at the idea of the entire world invading the U.S. On a deeper level than that, being a young, healthy male, I felt utterly impotent. I knew that I was powerless to help dad protect the family from harm. I almost asked him what we would do if the AN invaded the United States, but I didn’t want to paint the devil on the wall, as the old saying goes. “I hope so,” I said to my dad. Another moment of uncomfortable silence passed before I said, “Well dad, I’m going into the kitchen to see if mom needs any help.”
As I stood to head into the kitchen, Mark ran in front of me and even before he reached the kitchen, he blurted, “Mom! Russia just got totally wiped out by the Jews!”
“Are you serious?” she asked incredulously.
“Yeah, no kidding they just said it on the news,” I told her as I entered the room.
So that she could hear the news herself, mom went into the living room and sat down in front of the TV. “You know… someone was bound to destroy someone else with all of the wars going on,” once she received confirmation that we weren’t lying.
“But mom, I heard that the AN was supposed to put a stop to all of the wars over there,” I said.
“You know, it was only a matter of time before that supposedly miraculous peace plan of theirs fell apart,” my mother commented pessimistically.
“We are going to have to interrupt this news segment to listen to an important announcement from the President of the Associated Nations for Peace, which is already in progress,” the anchorwoman on the news said.
“Shush!” dad said because Mark and I were talking.
“…for joining me here tonight,” Syrian President Faris Sayed said. “This announcement is in regard to the sudden and total destruction of Russia. For those of you who do not already know, due to the fact that Israel’s largest commodity has been oil for nearly a decade, Israel has rapidly become one of the world’s richest countries. Because of this, Russia was planning to invade Israel and claim the country as its own.
“Upon joining the Associated Nations for Peace, all member countries, including Russia, wholeheartedly agreed to adopt the AN constitution as their own. In doing so, every member country has sworn to abide by the laws that are in the AN constitution. Under article five, section two it clearly states that if a member country initiates any form of unprovoked hostility or aggression toward another country, the AN will destroy the aggressor immediately. While knowing of their plans in advance, I authorized the complete destruction of Russia via a laser-equipped satellite the moment that they began to ready their planes of war. Though Israel is not a member country, I chose to protect Israel from invasion. Had Russia reconsidered and forestalled their deplorable plan, this unfortunate series of events would not have taken place. It is my intention to use Russia as an example of how sincere that the AN is about keeping peace. Though regrettable, the AN would not hesitate to utilize our satellite weaponry to decimate yet another country that acts aggressively toward another country. Again, we regret—”
“We are going to have to interrupt this interruption to bring you an emergency announcement from the President of the United States,” the newswoman said as the station cut Sayed’s speech off suddenly.
Standing ramrod straight behind the podium, President Darnell Jackson waited to begin his speech. He was a black, God-fearing man whose composure commanded respect. His voice was pleasant, fatherly even, and his gaze was steady. Perspicacious and astute, during his highly distinguished career as a U.S. Senator, and then as Secretary of State, he solved problems that were too complex for even the most sagacious at times, thereby earning him the esteem of his peers. What’s more, while he served as Secretary of State, he never capitulated; he employed his diplomatic skills to tactfully encourage even the most enthusiastic warmongers to consider alternatives to hostilities. Though he had attempted to resolve this particular issue at hand by diplomacy, the AN refused to compromise.
When all was quiet, he began, “Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to thank you for joining me tonight as I have a very important announcement to make. As you all know, not long after the UN disbanded six months ago, nations began to gather and form their own alliances. Shortly thereafter, wars began to erupt between the different factions. As a solution to the dilemma, Mr. Faris Sayed, the President of Syria, formed the Associated Nations for Peace with himself as leader.
“On the surface, the AN promise of peace and protection for the member countries, and for individual citizens, the promise of equality and the right to live as one feels sounds like a dream come true. However, upon closer examination of the AN constitution, we have discovered that the countries wishing to join the AN must be willing to relinquish their sovereignty and implement the AN constitution; moreover, upon joining the AN, the countries as well as their citizens become property of the Associated Nations for Peace. Throughout the world, every country has joined the Associated Nations for Peace, except four: the United States, Turkey, Iraq and Israel.”
It was obvious that he was upset. While he spoke, he pounded on his podium, leaned over it, and raised his voice to nearly shouting in order to elaborate certain points. One after the other, he looked each reporter in the eyes and told them, “The AN constitution is virtually identical to the United States’ Constitution with certain exceptions: under the United States’ Constitution, everyone has the right to free speech. In stark contrast, there are no such rights for citizens within the AN Constitution… the right to free speech is illegal in the AN Constitution!” He paused for a moment to allow the last bit to sink in.
While the majority of the reporters simply stared at him, a few were jotting down questions to ask.
“Within the Constitution of the United States,” the President said, “each and every citizen is afforded the right to worship freely and practice any religion that he or she shall choose. Conversely, it states within the AN constitution, and I quote: ‘No religion other than the official AN religion will be tolerated. Those who are found to be non compliant with the aforementioned AN laws will face severe penalties…’ The penalties are appalling to say the least!” While he said the last, he pounded his palm on the podium to further stress his point. “There are other issues as well—”
Two reporters interrupted him with questions and he silenced them by putting his hand up with his palm facing them. “Listen to me!” he hollered angrily like a fed up parent would say to a spoiled child. “Just seven days ago, the Associated Nations for Peace issued the United States a one-week deadline to decide upon an ultimatum: either become a member country of the AN willingly or by force!” He spit out the word Peace with heavy sarcasm. It was understandable that the President was irate:. The AN was invading the United States for refusing to relinquish the liberties that made the country so unique and wonderful. “Had the United States made the choice to join the AN, the AN Constitution would have legally superseded the Constitution of the United States. Freedom of religion—with the exception of the official AN religion—freedom of speech, the right to privacy, the right to due process, as well as certain other liberties that we’re all accustomed to would have become illegal effective immediately! Also, the United States as well as each person living within its territory would have become property of the AN.” He paused for a moment and then said, “Last week, I called for Congress to put the not so nice offer to join the AN to vote, and it was unanimously rejected!
“In order to comply with article four, section four, AND in accordance with the first amendment of the Constitution of the United States, also in compliance with the Constitutional Provision, article I, Section 8 which states, ‘The Congress shall have Power: To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water.’ Additionally, ‘To provide for calling forth the militia to execute the laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections, and repel Invasions.’ Immediately following the rejection of the not so nice offer from the AN, I solicited Congress to vote on another issue: in order to protect each citizen’s freedom of religion, freedom of speech and to retain our sovereignty, I asked the Congress to authorize an official declaration of war in order to protect all fifty of the United States from invasion. Namely, to protect this wonderful country of ours from invasion from invasion from the AN. Understandably, that vote was unanimous in favor as well” He paused for a second and then quietly said, “The time limit that the AN had given the United States to join the AN had ended one hour ago.”
Speechless, stunned, the reporters had stopped taking notes and simply stared at the president as though he was suddenly speaking to them in an unintelligible language. What he had just told them was that the United States was officially at war with the Associated Nations for Peace, meaning that combat could begin at any moment, if it hadn’t already.
“But please do not panic, the AN has assured me that they will not engage the U.S. in combat until daybreak tomorrow,” the president added in an effort to try and reassure everyone. Because the president realized that what he’d just said was a lot for anyone to absorb within just a few moments, out of consideration for the media as well as the people who were listening on TV, he paused once again to allow them a small amount of time to process what they’d just heard before he continued.
Slowly, the journalists began to stir. Abruptly, one of them stood and blurted, “Are you telling us that we’re already at war?”
Calmly, President Jackson said, “Hold on sir… we’ll get to that in a minute, but after I finish speaking.” Before they had a chance to interrupt further, he quickly moved on, “There will be no lottery with the Selective Service: Everyone who is able bodied, whether they are in school or not, that has registered for the selective service and is between the ages of eighteen and twenty five will be immediately inducted into the United States military. Let me reiterate: Due to the extreme nature of this national emergency, every able bodied male who is between the ages of twenty-six and thirty-five, will also be conscripted straight away into the United States military. Immediately following this announcement, there will be a number at the bottom of the screen. Without delay, all men who are of good health, whether they have registered with the selective service or not, and are between the ages of seventeen and a half and thirty-five are required to call the number at the bottom of the screen to find out where he will be stationed. Non-participation will result in severe penalties including imprisonment and fines. I will add that all healthy citizens, whether male or female, are strongly encouraged to call the number and enlist.”
The media erupted. Sounds of shock went throughout and questions began to shoot forth from nearly all of the correspondents at the same time. Rather than answer any of their questions, the President roared, “If you’ll just be quiet, you can hear the rest of what I have to say!” Eventually, the media settled and afterward they began to scratch notes and questions in their notebooks. As he looked about the room, the President took a deep breath and steadied himself. In a more calm, even voice, he said, “Several departments and agencies within the Federal Government will be exercising all rights under the law that is contained within Article I, Section 9, which reads, ‘The privilege of the writ of habeas corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in cases of rebellion or invasion the public safety may require it.” In his usual, fatherly tone, he said, “Now, that means that governmental control will be established over all US citizens and in order to protect the citizens in all fifty of the United States, Martial Law has been ordered by congress in all fifty of the United States effective immediately and will continue until the crisis is past.”
Being only sixteen my worst fear was actually happening. What the President was saying was impossible for any of us to believe and as I listened to the speech, I wondered if our government had gone out of their minds. I couldn’t fathom how they could have ever imagined that the United States would possibly stand a chance at resisting an invasion by the entire world at once. I had a hard time believing that the president as well as congress could ever be so callous as to deliberately and superciliously disregard the billions of lives that they were empowered to protect. Yet, there it was, staring all of us boldly in the face. That led me to wonder if the government was expecting the people, the regular citizens, people like my dad and me, to take up arms. If we continued on that course, I knew that we were soon to experience a slaughter on a scale such as never been seen or heard of before. If we surrendered, certainly, our right to free speech as well as other inalienable rights would be lost, and we’d have to talk and worship in secret, but at least we’d be alive. I looked over at my dad and he looked bewildered.
Once again, the correspondents were in turmoil. Sympathetically, the President looked on and waited quietly for them to calm before saying, “Please, for your safety, stay inside of your homes from dusk until dawn until further notice. Any citizen found to travel outside their homes from dusk until dawn will be considered the enemy or agents of the invaders and will be immediately shot.”
“Mom, what’s Martial Law?” Mark asked.
“Shh, Mark, listen!” dad shouted with his eyes glued to the TV.
Again, the newsmen and women stood and began to rapid-fire their questions at the president. But by then, what little patience that he’d gained over the last few moments was lost. Jaws clenched, he firmly said, “Settle down now or I’ll have every one of you removed from this room!”
Immediate silence ensued. The media plopped back down into their seats and remained for a few moments.
“FEMA will be controlling all government agencies as well as all buildings during this time of emergency,” he said to them. “All businesses, churches, vehicles, buildings both public and private, agriculture, railways, airports, and excess food during this time of war will be under the control of this agency. Be assured that, in the best interests of the public, we will exercise the utmost caution and care.”
Bracing himself for impact, the president said, “The Federal Government will be utilizing the media to coordinate communications and to keep the public updated. Effective immediately, all communications media will be surrendered to government control and for security reasons, the First Amendment will be suspended until we are no longer at war.”
For a second or two, there was silence.
Then pandemonium exploded: all sense of order unraveled as the crowd of reporters went wild. Camera flashes assaulted the president from every direction and the chatter and questions from the media rose to a full-fledged uproar. While one reporter began to ask a question, another reporter raised his or her voice to interrupt the first reporter and then a third interrupted the second and so on. Instead of joining the madness of their contemporaries, three reporters gathered their belongings, their photographers and equipment, and simply fled from the room.
The president had had it with them by now. Loudly, he yelled, “Ladies and gentlemen of the press! I remind you again that you will be forced to join the reporters who have already left this meeting if you do not settle down!” Finally, |
