A glimpse of the future has played out in Houston but the ramifications should not be overlooked. As written in an earlier article, two pastors were arrested for warning people about the evils of homosexuality. There were other sins outlined on their sign but this Biblical warning against homosexuality is found in both the old and new testaments was the source of their arrest.
A homosexual judge took exception to their message and four police officers arrested the pastors. The pastors were release for insufficient evidence but what lessons do we need to learn from this abuse of power?
1. The first officer stated in the video that they were doing nothing wrong legally. But they were still arrested.
2. The men’s first amendment rights were ignored: freedom of religion and freedom of speech.
3. A police state is defined as:
A political unit characterized by repressive governmental control of political, economic, and social life usually by an arbitrary exercise of power by police and especially secret police in place of regular operation of administrative and judicial organs of the government according to publicly known legal procedures.
An activist judge arbitrarily exercising power physically enforced by police who knowingly act against the individuals’ rights is a police state.
4. The charges were dismissed for “insufficient evidence”. This was an abuse of power since the police acted illegally by their own admission. There was insufficient evidence to proceed with a case because there was no foundation for any legal action.
5. The pastors were (and still are) following the Bible:
Ezekiel 33:6
But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet to warn the people and the sword comes and takes the life of one of them, that man will be taken away because of his sin, but I will hold the watchman accountable for his blood.
I believe the quote below by Dietrich Bonhoeffer should be the basis for everyone’s actions in a free country. I have etched the first part on my lower receiver of my AR-15 as a reminder of my responsibility to act against evil if I want my children to be free.
Silence in the face of evil is itself evil: God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act.
6. The two quotes above represent a Biblical view of personal responsibility. We must understand the consequences on Earth for not confronting evil. This is a story of evil on a small scale. The two pastors will have won a battle but they lost the war: the judge and police are still operating under their own rules without any oversight or reprimand.
What are the consequences on a larger scale? You may not believe that God will hold you guilty for inaction. You may not believe that homosexuality is a sin as stated in the Bible. But we only have to look to Washington to see the evil inside the Beltway in all branches of the government. This is not the government of a free united States.
Martin Niemöller
First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out —
Because I was not a Socialist.
Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out —
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out —
Because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me — and there was no one left to speak for me.
It is time for America to recognize that the government of the people, for the people and by the people is now coming for the people.
David DeGerolamo
Verdicts for pastors who preached of sin
Warned of judgment for ‘drunks, homosexuals, abortionist, witches’
A Houston, Texas, court system managed by an “out” lesbian judge has dismissed municipal tickets that had been written against two pastors who were preaching against sin, including homosexuality, on a prominent street corner.
The verdicts came today in a bench trial for David Stokes of BulldogMinistries.com and Dave Allen of HornofSamuelBook.com.
Allen told WND today after the court hearing that both cases were dismissed for lack of evidence. The ruling came from Judge Adam Silverman of the Houston Municipal Court, which is run by Barbara E. Hartle, who, according to the Dallas Voice, is listed by the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund as “one of only a few out members of the Texas judiciary.”
She was appointed to the position by Houston Mayor Annise Parker, identified by the Los Angeles Times as “the first lesbian to head a major American city.”
Allen told WND that he and Stokes were called up to the bench and told almost immediately that their cases were dismissed. They awaited the necessary paperwork and then left.
“I walked down the aisle and out the double doors holding my finger pointed to the sky,” he said. “We’re going back to preaching again very soon.”
Allen said the decision was not a precedent on the city’s ordinances regarding sign materials, and the result will not discourage him from returning to preach and blow his shofar.
He said the warnings about sin and judgment come out of love and obedience, and nothing else.
Allen told WND he blows the shofar and others preach to passersby because of the Old Testament warning that those who know the truth of God’s will and don’t deliver it to others will bear the responsibility of that failure.
