Kentucky Mayor Attacked for Being Christian

 

Hawesville Mayor Rita Stephens has been under attack for sharing her beliefs while writing a
monthly column for the Hancock Clarion newspaper, which talks about things happening around the city.

Some are calling her writing about Christianity as offensive and divisive, asserting an unsubstantiated and unproven proclamation that she has made herself "unapproachable" to a portion of the city.

According to clueless Edward Dewitt, who isn't a Christian, mentioning Christ and Christianity in her columns is creating a divide in the community.

That's of course what Christianity has been doing since its inception when Jesus Christ came into the world as a man, so there is no point being made by Dewitt that has any relevancy.

Only someone who believes in salvation through politics (without God) like Dewitt would assert someone talking about their Christian believes somehow interferes with political participation.

Dewitt, in an attempt to strong-arm Stephens, wrote to the so-called Freedom of Religion Foundation, which in an attempt to intimidate and manipulate Stephens, has sent a letter concerning the false idea that her talking about Christianity in a news column is a violation of church and state. When did Stephens become a church? We don't know.

The letter from the Freedom of Religion Foundation made a veiled threat by "asking" the Hawesville City Council what it is going to do to deal with the matter.

What should be done is nothing, and Stephens should continue to write on her beliefs in the column. Writing about Christ will offend people, and they'll just have to get over it. Christians shouldn't be afraid to offend, especially when it's in regard to simply talking about their faith in a conversational manner.

Anyone in Christ is a New Creation

2 Corinthians 5:17

New King James Version (NKJV)

17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.


To be in Christ is to be part of an entirely new creation. We can take hope in the fact all things that came before being born again from above are not only forgiven and forgotten, but also no longer part of who we now are.

Heaven has come to earth in the person of Christ as He indwells our spirits, and He, as the new creation, begins to form Himself within us, with the goal of all of us being conformed to His image.

If we hold to and dwell daily in Christ, the things of this earth will totally become unimportant and undesirable to us, as we behold Him and are changed from glory to glory.

Simply receive and embrace Christ daily, and those things that tempt and distract you will lose their hold upon you.

When this happens, the world we live in, and the people we touch and are touched by, become a little bit of heaven on earth. Christ living in us, the new creation, can make it that way.

Beshear Says Christians are a Threat to State

In an outrageous attack on Biblical Christianity, Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear vetoed a bill strongly supported by the vast majority of the people of Kentucky, which would have given Christians and other religious groups stronger protections.

The legislation would protect "sincerely held religious beliefs" from being infringed unless there is "a compelling governmental interest."

Beshear sided with homosexuals and others partaking in deviant behavior, along with the anti-Christian American Civil Liberties Union of Kentucky. It's a page right out of Obama's political playbook, who is apparently Beshear's mentor and hero.

Here's what Beshear said after pretending he valued religious freedom: "... I have significant concerns that this bill will cause serious unintentional consequences that could threaten public safety, health care, and individuals' civil rights."

Let's put this in the right light. Beshear is saying he's siding with the anti-Christian forces against the Christians of Kentucky, worrying more about the immoral practitioners of sin forbidden by the God of the Bible.

What he basically said was Christian protections threaten "threaten public safety, health care, and individuals' civil rights." Listen to what this thug says: Jesus Christ and His people are a threat to public safety, health care, and the rights of those flaunting their sins in the face of Almighty God who most of the people of Kentucky believe in. Who does Beshear think he is?

Republicans and Democrats in Kentucky strongly supported the bill, as do the vast majority of the people of Kentucky.

The Family Foundation spokesman, Martin Cothran, said Beshear's veto was sad news in such a strong Christian state.

This puts churches around the commonwealth of Kentucky on notice that the First Amendment religious freedoms they thought their government respected may now be negotiable. We just hope elected lawmakers in the Legislature will act quickly to correct the governor's action. We think they will.

Democratic Rep. Bob Damron of Nicholasville, who sponsored the bill, said it won't make a profound change in the state, contrary to the histrionics and exaggerations of opponents to Christianity.

But it does reinforce that somebody's basic right of religious expression is paramount and the government has to have a compelling interest to override that.

This is exactly what the Bible teaches, and every government in the world is expected to comply with the rights the followers of Jesus Christ have in worshipping and practicing their faith.

Damron and others are ready to override the veto, and are preparing to do that before the legislative session closes next week.

As for Beshear, this will be considered the defining moment of his Governorship, and now he needs to be removed by the voters of the state for his refusal to acknowledge the God-given rights of Christian believers, as well as other the rights of others with different religious beliefs.

Remember Beshear's attack on the people of God next election cycle. Let it be a big statement to those who refuse to acknowledge that Jesus Christ is King of kings and Lord of lords, and not wannabees like Beshear and other Democrats like him.

It's unbelievable that Beshear would veto a religious freedom bill, pointing to his belief that he is above the will of God and Jesus Christ His son.

Beshear did the usual song-and-dance about how he respects religious rights, but his actions confirm that he in reality doesn't. It's not what a person says, but what he does that reveal his true beliefs. Governor Beshear, now we know who you are, and you need to be removed from office for your arrogance and opposition to the Christian faith.

Religious Freedom Bill Passes House and Senate, Ready for Governor's Signature

Religious Freedom Bill Passes Kentucky House and Senate

 

All that's left for a new law that protects the religious freedom of the people of Kentucky is for Governor Beshear to sign it, as the Kentucky House and Senate passed the bill quickly, understanding Kentucky courts, in many cases, have gone activist and reinterpret existing laws.

To that end the new law would protect religious individuals and groups by making it harder for the state to arbitrarily act against its citizens who object to regulations interfering with legitimate beliefs.

It says the "government shall not burden a person's freedom of religion" and that the burden must be "substantial" if is to be allowed to do so. Going further, it also protects the right for people to reject these intrusions based upon religious beliefs.

Opponents of the bill are of course those that have been persecuting Christians in America and the states, who now see they won't be able to manipulate the courts to legally force their lifestyles and beliefs on religious people.

This is definitely an outstanding forward step to protect the freedoms of religious people in Kentucky, and needs to be quickly signed into law by Governor Beshear.

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Snake Handler Jamie Coots Pleads Guilty

Jamie Coots, a so-called snake-handling Kentucky preacher, has pleaded guilty to illegally having poison snakes in Tennessee.

Per the plea, Coots will be able to keep the boxes he transported the snakes in, while receiving a one-year unsupervised probation. Coots had requested the return of the boxes after he was arrested because they had sentimental value to him.

Coots acquired the snakes in Alabama and was transporting them back to his Full Gospel Tabernacle in Jesus Name Church in Middlesboro, Kentucky, when he was stopped for having windows with too dark of a tint.

The snakes Coots was transporting, three rattlesnakes and two copperheads, have yet to find a permanent home. At this time they're at a zoo in Sevierville, Tennessee. It appears the zoo will have the first choice of whether to keep them or not, although they could be placed at a different, permitted facility, said TWRA Agent Joe Durnin.

Christians and Community

When talking about Christian community, I'm talking about living a life in Christ together that transcends the usual going to a building, listening to what is called a sermon, going home, and believing you've pretty much did your part as a member of that particular church.

Instead I'm referring to a people whose entire life is Christ, and by extension, those they're fellowshipping with in the way the Bible reveals and describes it, are also a part of the everyday life of believers.

This isn't just an illusion or wishful thinking, as I've lived in this type of Christian community in more than one city in America, as have numerous others.

And to quickly clear up a misconception that could easily arise, when talking about Christian community, I'm not talking about communes or something of that nature. Rather I'm talking about a people who understand they are the people of Jesus Christ, and by His wooing Spirit, are drawn to one another through Christ to share life together on a daily basis; going far beyond the unbiblical idea of attending something, which doesn't exist anywhere in the scriptures.

Christ has called us to something greater than that, and in Larue County I believe He wants a people that respond to His call of real, daily fellowship to Himself, and to one another.

Some have already started to respond to the call. Why not join us? Email me at geeb@hotmail.com if you have any questions or comments.

You can also go to Acts29Review to get a more in-depth look at Christian community and a close walk with Christ.