Over one hundred national leaders and locals showed up for the Operation Rescue National/Operation Save America Leadership Meeting in Louisville, Kentucky. Arriving from all over America, leaders and their families participated in morning street activities, afternoon and evening worship and leadership sessions. Vision and mission was cast for the New Year. Preliminary planning for the national event moved closer to completion. Everything we had envisioned and prayed for to the Lord was graciously fulfilled.

Thursday Night

Rev. Rusty Lee Thomas welcomed the leaders and saints to Louisville, Kentucky. He introduced the vision for the national event that is taken from the book of Esther, “For such a time as this.” Taking a cue from Esther and her dealing with the Covenant of Death threatening her people, the call was to follow her example in the hopes God will end the Covenant of Death in our day.
There is one death camp remaining in Kentucky. The Bluegrass state stands on the verge of making history by becoming the first surgical, abortion free-state in America. And make no mistake; OSA working in conjunction with the local churches is working to see this come to pass in Jesus’ name!

Rev. Thomas also expounded on the 2017 leadership theme, which was “Prepare for Increase.” Building on the cry of the Apostles to increase their faith, this session centered on preparing for increase in service, increase through pruning, and increase of influence. Rev. Thomas shared that the tide is turning. We are in a new season. To those who have remained faithful in the battle, a time of reaping has come. Because certain saints embraced a persecuted truth and faithfully proclaimed an unpopular message, they are now in a position of greater influence.

Friday Morning

Truth Truck Bearing Witness to the Truth at the Gates of Hell

Leaders rolled out of bed, bundled up against the frigid cold, and were standing in the dark by 6 am at a public high school. Another team set up at the last remaining death camp in Kentucky. All heaven came down and all heck broke loose.

The media had a field day as the school lied about our message and actions. This was Rev. Thomas’ response to the false accusations:
The Christians who came to the school in the love and truth of Christ were polite, kind, and respectful. Those who say different were either not there, were sorely misinformed, or are outright lying. They are merely projecting upon us the evil of their own deceitful hearts.
There was no screaming, yelling, or forcing young people to take our literature. We made it available and to those who were interested we shared the truth of God’s word and exposed the horrible sin and crime of abortion that has destroyed 1/3rd of their generation. These young people are our future and we do not want them to repeat the same immorality that has led to the slaughter of our own sons and daughters. This bloody insanity must end if we want our young people to enjoy a future and a hope.

Perhaps God will be pleased to open their eyes, break their hearts, and use them to restore our nation back to our own national creed, which includes the inalienable right to life. For without this right no other so-called right means much to a dead baby murdered by the ones that should be their greatest protectors, their own fathers and mothers.

We are such a wicked, evil, and hypocritical people that are so full of blood lust and lies. We are great at pretending in our deceitful pride that we are taking the high moral ground by “protecting” the children from the horrible truth that our sins have brought upon them and our perverted, bloodstained nation. Well did Jesus speak of this when He stated, “You strain at a gnat (Ministering the Gospel at a government run humanistic temple) and swallow a camel (While babies are murdered and our nation parades its sin like Sodom).
Take a good long hard look in the mirror my friends before you rashly speak and then repent, and believe the Gospel. The Kingdom of God is at hand.

Gov. Bevin Addressing OSA Leaders

At the death camp, the Lord rewarded our efforts with one confirmed save. Afterwards, OSA had a divine appointment with the Governor of Kentucky. The Governor of Kentucky publicly addressed us for 30 minutes. He really did not share with us much politically. He ministered from God’s word and called us to authentic, genuine Christianity. Afterwards, he graciously gave us some private time as well. We were able to pray for him and challenge him with the Doctrine of the Lesser Magistrate and the abolition of abortion. He told Pastor Matt Trewhella and the rest of us that he read the book and has passed it to others.

Pastor Matt gave him a signed copy, plus other important materials, along with this cover letter that we signed. Keep the Governor and our OSA vision and mission in prayer as we plan and prepare for our national event in Louisville, KY “For Such A Time As This.” Here is the letter.

February 3rd, 2017

Dear Honorable Governor Bevin,

All praise be unto our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!
We were honored to have you speak to our gathering today. There are too few magistrates who understand their duty in the sight of God. We believe He has raised you up and placed you in office as governor at this important juncture in our nation’s history.

The matter of interposition is critical in this desperate hour. We have a federal judiciary that is lawless and out of control. They have declared the preborn to be open game to those who kill for profit and have perverted the created order of God regarding marriage. All other branches of government bow down to SCOTUS even when it issues unjust/immoral, and unconstitutional opinions. The interposition of the state magistrates is needed and necessary.

We have enclosed a short 3-minute video on a thumb drive which convincingly demonstrates that ‘judicial supremacy’ is a fiction. We ask that you watch it.

Be assured of this Governor Bevin – the federal judiciary must be defied.

May the Lord give you strength of heart and mind in the days ahead, and may you do right by Him. Just know as you courageously stand, you do not stand alone. There is a just God who presides over the nations who will honor those who honor Him. There are also Christians and Americans of good will throughout Kentucky and America who will rally to support you in Jesus’ name!

Separated unto the Gospel,
Rev. Rusty Lee Thomas
National Director, Operation Save America

Pastor Matt Trewhella
National Director, Missionaries to the Preborn
Author of the Doctrine of the Lesser Magistrate

Friday Afternoon Session

Rev. Thomas built on the theme of preparing for increase. The essence of his 2nd message dealt with increase of service in light of growing older and our physical limitations. We must invest in the next generation and successfully pass the Kingdom baton to them. We need to prepare them to go further up and in to complete the task to end the evil in our nation.

He also ministered on the reality that the closer we get to victory; we need to prepare for the increase of warfare. The enemies of the Lord are aware that their time is short, thus, they are full of fury (Revelation 12:12). Desperate times calls for desperate measures.
The Washington DC March for Women reveals the paradigm shift. Since Roe vs. Wade, it has been our side marching for a change. No longer, the pro-aborts are now taking it to the streets. What do they sense happening that we are not discerning? They think their problem is President Trump. He is just the tip of the iceberg. Trump is a tremor compared to the earthquake coming. It appears they see the writing on the wall and their once guarded goods are in danger and they are freaking out. Even so, Lord Jesus, arise as the stronger man to plunder their evil agenda, end abortion now, and set the captives free.

Friday Night Session

Our Friday night session featured Pastor Matt Trewhella who brought a strong prophetic word to OSA. He mentioned that we are a prophetic group called to prophetically confront the church and state in our sins, failures, and abominations. He then used God’s Word to point out the pitfalls, snares, and traps associated with this prophetic call. God used Pastor Matt to challenge OSA to take inventory and to examine ourselves in the light of Scripture to make sure we do not fall for the enemies wiles and to stay true to the vision and mission of God in these tumultuous days. It was a much needed message as we move forward to advance the Gospel of the Kingdom to defeat the culture of death savaging our nation.

Saturday Morning Street Activity

Once again, we woke up early in the freezing cold to confront the gates of hell. The Lord rewarded the prayers and efforts of the saints with three confirmed saves. There was much rejoicing that warmed our hearts while our bodies still froze. Afterwards, we went to a medical facility that staffs the local abortionist named Tanya Franklin. We set up signs, cranked up the sound system, and passed out flyers that exposed the unholy alliance.

We called this health care facility to repent and break all ties with this abortionist. If they do not by the time of our national event, this will be a major pressure point that we will exploit to prayerfully force Miss Franklin to an ultimatum. Either go full time in legitimate healthcare or go full time in abortion. To do both, will becoming increasingly hard to do as your murderous activities are disclosed to the medical community and patients. Here is the flyer we passed out.

Saturday Afternoon Session

We started the afternoon session by showing a video message from Pastor Jeff Durbin from Apologia Church. He briefly shared how God recruited him in the battle through the work of Lisa Metzger and the message from Rev. Rusty Lee Thomas that was featured in the documentary Babies are Murdered Here. He then mentioned the threefold plan to end abortion now in America. OSA will be partnering with him to bring it to pass. And lastly, he is going to try and be there with his crew to be one of our rally speakers at the national event this July from the 22-29, 2017.

Later that session, some OSA leaders shared how this pass year they experienced the increase that verified the message and theme of our leadership meeting. Doc Johnston shared on the incredible adventure of making his first film called The Reliant. He challenged everyone to move forward in faith to see God given dreams come true. His wife Elizabeth shared about her phenomenal success with her latest social media ministry called The Activist Mommy. Some of her video posts has seen over 10 million views as her godly influence continues to grow. Coach Dave Daubenmire ended the session with many rousing examples on how we are beginning to win the battle. He urged us to press on and not grow faint in well doing. For in due time, we shall reap.

Saturday Evening Session

Our last session consisted of hearing from local pastors and Christian leaders that we will be privileged to partner with in the great cause of Christ and the little ones made in the image. They welcomed us to their area and expressed gratefulness for our willingness to come along side to help them rid their state of the last remaining death camp defiling the land.

Sunday Morning Church Service

The host church CrossRoad graciously opened the door for Rev. Thomas to preach. Some of the OSA saints that were still in the area attended the meeting. Rev. Thomas shared from the Scriptures and his own testimony how God recruited him into the battle and how the Lord sustained him in the battle. The congregation was moved, some actually to tears, as God’s message penetrated many hearts. Some of the local leaders who shepherd the flock mentioned that some of the saints there that were hesitant to be involved in times past were now going to join them in the fight. We rejoice in the good fruit that was birthed during our time at the Leadership Meeting.

Clearly, the first great step has been taken. Powerful truths and good Kingdom fruit have been set in motion. We planted, watered, and we are trusting God for the increase. Please join with us now to pray and intercede for the national event in Louisville, Kentucky from July 22-29, 2017. Also, plan on joining with us at the appointed time in Jesus’ name!

What we determine the problem to be, determines how we attempt to solve a difficulty. What we determine is the nature of the battle; helps define the strategy to win a battle. Even doctors confess that unless they correctly diagnose the source of a patient’s ailment, it does not matter what cure they prescribe. It will not be effectual in bringing healing to those who suffer from sickness and disease. In fact, the cure could prove more devastating than the cure.

Most of what is desperately wrong with our nation follows this terrible model. The world system in rebellion to our Creator who made us and the Savior who died for us comes up with traps, snares and pitfalls that exploit the depravity of man and then comes up with government programs that tax us to death to bail us out.

Political

If we view abortion as a political/social issue, we must remember that politics is “the art of compromise.” This view of the battle has dominated for 50 years. It should not be surprising to us that the massacre continues as a result. The problem with this distorted view is we do not have the moral authority to cut deals and turn children into political footballs while political parties and “pro-life” organizations raise money and influence at the expense of babies’ lives.

Every so-called law that incrementally seeks to save some lives always ends up inadvertently strengthening the lawless decision of Roe vs. Wade. It is folly to argue and fight abortion based upon the premises of those who advocate baby murder. If we start with their first principle and extrapolate from there, we will never arrive at our desired goal, which is to welcome these babies into the world by love and protect them by law.

If you are interested in the one political solution to fight this battle, I recommend the book by a good friend of mine, Pastor Matt Trewhella, called the Doctrine of the Lesser Magistrate. I also have our booklet available that will help as well. It is called The Offering of Cain: The Paradigm Shift to End Abortion.

Education

If we think that increased education will solve the problem of abortion we need to think again. With the increase of technology and the view into the womb, the darkened reason that allowed for abortion was exposed to the light of reality. No longer could these babies be considered “products of conception” or a clump of cells.” Their humanity was revealed and even the abortion industry knows it. How do we know that they know? One is by their actions and the other is by their new and improved rhetoric.

First, they confess the baby is human and alive, but insist the so-called right to abortion outweighs the right to life. Secondly, they may feign ignorance, but the abortion industry after they are done doing the unspeakable to babies; they then sort through their grisly trade and sell baby parts. So, when it comes to public relations, they continue to deceive by promoting the “blob of tissue” ruse, but when it comes to making extra money off of the deaths of children, they sell their baby parts to the highest bidder, ghoulish to say the least.

Besides, we know firsthand that education alone cannot end the nightmare of this evil. We show what abortion does to babies at death camps throughout America. Parents contemplating the unspeakable against their own helpless offspring have their minds educated, and yet most still proceed to lead their children to the slaughter. Education, in and of itself, cannot set men free from sin. In fact, education apart from Christ, can lead unregenerated men to become nothing more than shrewd and cunning sinners.

Compassion and Finances

If we perceive that we can help end abortion by giving to Crisis Pregnancy Centers, which do provide Mercy Ministries, we still do not completely understand the nature of the battle. Though Mercy Ministries does provide Christian credibility through Christian charity, it is not sufficient to end the holocaust. What we need is the church to rediscover her prophetic voice to influence the moral conscience of our nation.

Think of this in terms of Christians setting up Death Camp Relief Centers to help those who just happen to escape the horrors of the German holocaust. That would be a good work indeed, but it would still be impotent to end the holocaust. No, they would have to find the courage and humility to deal with the death camp itself to set the captives free once and for all from the murderous rampage.

How then do we fight the battle? Rev. Flip Benham reveals the answer. He has stated, “Abortion will come to an end when the Church of Jesus Christ determines it will end and not one second earlier.”

Let’s look at two scriptures that will help guide the how to win the battle and end the nightmare of abortion. First, “And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18). Hell on earth was literally the places that sacrificed children and shed innocent blood. The high places of Tophet (Place of the drums, which drowned out the screams of babies), which is in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom where innocent babies were sacrificed was called Sheol, Hades.

The gates of hell will prevail against the Republican Party and every other institution of man, except one, which is the church of the living God! We have to stop hiring Republican mercenaries to fight a battle that only the Church can win. The death industry in America is empowered by the Satanic, ancient evils of Moloch and Baal. It is the invasion of Christ, His Kingdom, and great salvation that breaks demonic strongholds and sets the captives free.

Second, let’s look at 2 Corinthians 10:3-6. God’s Word states:

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.

What are some of these weapons? They are the name of Jesus, prayer and fasting, praise, worship and unsheathing the Sword of the Spirit at the gates of hell. Proclaiming God’s Word is the hammer that breaks the stubborn rock of resistance. It is the fire that burns up the chaff of the Evil One (Jeremiah 23:28, 29). It is folly on the behalf of the pro-life movement to hide God, be ashamed of the name of Jesus, compromise His truth, ignore His commandments, and refuse to fight the battle the Gospel way and then expect His help and aid. Far too many have exchanged the mighty weapons of God for political strategies that deny His truth.

Matthew 7: 24-27 reveals the difference between fighting this battle with the wisdom of God or to prolong the battle though the foolishness of men. When we started in this battle, there were 2176 free standing abortion mills. Today, there are about 500 remaining still defiling our land. How was this decrease possible? It has been Gentle Christians living out their faith at the gates of hell. They will not prevail against God’s obedient church! As the church wins the battle in the heavenlies, on the streets, and in our States, eventually our government and laws will reflect the Lord’s victory in Jesus’ name!

How should we proceed to fight the battle to end the American holocaust? The salt has to come out of the shaker and the light from under the bushel (Church Buildings) to minister the Gospel of the Kingdom at these death camps till they are now more. Politically, we need to put forth bills at the state level that treat abortion as murder and demand equal justice under the law. Lastly, we must educate and call upon our state officials to understand and implement the Doctrine of the Lesser Magistrate. This three-fold Kingdom strategy is the HOW to fight the battle to end abortion in Jesus’ name!

The title, The Tale of Two Governments, is borrowed from the title from Mr. Dickens, The Tale of Two Cities. What is the best case scenario for civil government as opposed to the worst case scenario? What constitutes a wise government as opposed to a foolish one? What does a government based upon the Bible look like as opposed to a government rooted in humanism, which the Bible refers to as the beast? What is more preferable for our future hope, a government exercising its authority in the light of justice or a government that descends into the darkness of tyranny, a government that inspires a spring of hope or plots a winter of despair?

As our nation moves from being a free nation towards Communism, I believe we are at the crossroads to answer these questions before they are answered for us. God, in His Word informs us that this “tale of two governments” does exist in our poor fallen world. Proverbs 29:2 teaches, “When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan.” As you check the pulse of America today, are Americans groaning or are they rejoicing?

Thankfully, it is also in the Scriptures that we find the delineation between what constitutes a righteous government as opposed to a tyrannical one.

We will be studying two Scripture references to discover the contrast. They are Romans 13:1-4 and Psalms 94:20, 21. Prayerfully, between these two references, the reader will gain understanding between a virtuous government and an immoral government as God’s Word defines the critical concepts of good and evil. Otherwise, as men and nations are prone to do, we descend to a place where good becomes evil and evil magically becomes good (Isaiah 5:20). The following are the biblical marks that define them both.

Three Marks of a Tyrannical Government

Psalms 94:20, 21 states, “Shall the throne of iniquity, which devises evil by law, have fellowship with You? They gather together against the life of the righteous, and condemn innocent blood.” Generally speaking, Psalms 94 cries out to God to shine forth His Justice upon those who “break in pieces Your people, O LORD, and afflict Your heritage. They slay the widow and the stranger, and murder the fatherless” (Psalms 94:5, 6). A powerful question is mentioned as well, one I dare say the modern day church has been negligent to answer, “Who will rise up for me against the evildoers? Who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity” (Psalms 94:16)?

From there, the Psalmist zeros in on the three major marks of tyrannical government that God rejects and refuses to endorse.

First mark: A tyrannical government “devises mischief by law.” In other words, they codify evil into law. In the name of law, despotic governments violate the function of law. The French philosopher, Frederic Bastiat, stated, “It (civil government) has acted in direct opposition to its proper end; it has destroyed its own object; it has been employed in annihilating the justice which it ought to have established.” Today, in America, under the color of law, our experiment with liberty is being dismantled, one freedom at a time.
Human law divorced from the foundation of God’s moral law, is no law at all. Sir William Blackstone, English Jurist, who penned Commentaries on the Laws of England, clarifies this time-honored truth:

Man, considered as a creature, must necessarily be subject to the laws of his Creator, for he is entirely a dependent being… And, consequently, as man depends absolutely upon his Maker for everything, it is necessary that he should in all points conform to his Maker’s will… this will of his Maker is called the law of nature. These laws laid down by God are the eternal immutable laws of good and evil. This law of nature dictated by God Himself; is of course superior in obligation to any other. It is binding over all the globe, in all countries, and at all times: no human laws are of any validity if contrary to this… The doctrines thus delivered we call the revealed or divine law, and they are to be found in the Holy Scriptures… {and} are found upon comparison to be really part of the original law of nature. Upon these two foundations, the law of nature and the law of revelation depend all human laws; that is to say, no human laws should be suffered to contradict these.

America rejects this foundation for law today and has opted for legal positivism. Legal positivism implies law does not need to have an ethical basis. In other words, it is not necessary for law to have a moral foundation. Concepts of righteousness, morality, and time honored truths, are no longer necessary to support law. Frederic Bastiat exposed the folly of lawlessness masquerading as law. He stated, “When law and morality contradict each other, the citizen has the cruel alternative of either losing his moral sense or losing his respect for the law.” Just a cursory view of American jurisprudence and the culture it has spawned reveals both tragic realities manifesting under our watch.

As a result of America’s betrayal against God’s Law, our nation opted for a campaign calling for judicial reform. Led by Christopher Columbus Langdell, dean of the Harvard Law School, America rejected Blackstone in favor of Langdell’s “reforms.” He gave birth to the current case method, legal model. The case method uses the study of man’s experience, previous court cases, and prior judge’s rulings as the basis for “law.”

Roe vs. Wade is the epitome of Langdell’s judicial reforms and legal positivism. It moved the basis of law from an eternal, fixed standard to the whims of fallen men. The case method, legal model and legal positivism conspired to produce the “Constitution is a living, breathing document” mentality that serves to break the chains on the federal beast that threatens our liberties today. They also paved the way for judicial activism. Judicial activism legislates “law,” like Roe v. Wade, rather than judge cases according to the Constitution. Void of divine absolutes, law has become a human fabrication.

We cringe today at the legal concept of paterfamilias. Under Roman “law,” the father had the authority to express thumbs up, his child lives or thumbs down, his child dies. Yet, Roe vs. Wade granted this same so-called right to women. Think about the implications of this unlawful, yet legal insanity. The basis of law finds its source in the fickleness of flawed human beings. In this case, if the woman wants the conceived child, the baby lives; if the woman rejects her child, the baby is exterminated. With a straight face, America calls this law, a Constitutional Right. The God of the Bible describes a government who allows such evil as those who “devise mischief by law.” He will not have anything to do with it, except judge it, like every other idol fit for destruction.

Second mark: They gather together against the life of the righteous. The sword of civil government is not neutral. It is a ministry of justice that is to be concerned with the physical welfare of men and nations. Part of its function is to punish evil doers as God defines evil and to protect those who are good in God’s sight. If our civil government reverses that function and protects evil, it must of necessity punish the righteous. This is part of the reason why the Apostle Paul called for prayers for those who are in authority, “that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence” (1 Timothy 2:1, 2).

Proverbs 17:15 warns, “He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the just, both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD.” This double abomination dominates American jurisprudence today. Our government gathers against the life of the righteous by legalizing sins and abominations, such as, abortion and homosexuality. Local, state, and federal officials are routinely denying Christians their First Amendment Rights in order to uphold, celebrate, and defend what the Bible deems unlawful. 1 Timothy 1:8-11 teaches:

But we know that the law is good if one uses it lawfully, knowing this: that the law is not made for a righteous person, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and for sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, for fornicators, for sodomites, for kidnappers, for liars, for perjurers, and if there is any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine, according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God which was committed to my trust.

Tragically, our government is making a conscience decision that the pro-abort and sodomite agendas trumps Christians free speech, free exercise of religion, and a host of other rights articulated in the Constitution of the United States of America.

Our Lord takes this persecution against His people personally. Before Saul became Paul, he was breathing out great threats against the fledgling church (Acts 9:1). He hunted Christians down, imprisoned them, confiscated their property, and had many put to death. On his way to Damascus, however, to spread more terror amongst God’s people, he had a divine encounter. Suddenly, a great light shown from heaven and Saul was knocked off his high horse. It was at this point the Lord reveals something truly remarkable. He declared, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads” (Acts 9:3-5).

Saul never laid a hand on the person of Jesus Christ and yet the Lord accused Saul of persecuting Him. In other words, when you touch God’s people, the apple of His eye, you touch Him. As a result of this divine encounter, Saul became Paul, the hunter became the hunted, and the persecutor became the persecuted.

It is never a good practice or sound governmental policy to persecute God’s people and yet the world delights to do so as seen in Islamic and Communist regimes. Sadly, America is steadily moving forward in this dangerous direction. The day may come when Christians will be considered enemies of the state in the land of the free and the home of the brave. In some government documents, Christians have already been labeled as “extremists.”

History reveals that our Lord has a major problem with governments who “gather together against the life of the righteous.” Psalms 2 sends this specific warning to civil rulers, “Now therefore, be wise, O kings; Be instructed, you judges of the earth. Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and you perish in the way, when His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him.”

Third mark: Tyrannical governments condemn innocent blood. The first mention of civil government in the Bible is found in Genesis 9:6, which states, “Whoever sheds man’s blood, by man his blood shall be shed; for in the image of God, He made man.” It is here that we discover the ultimate purpose for civil government, which is to protect life and stop the shedding of innocent blood. God instituted the civil magistrate to make sure the earth would never again resort back to the horrific conditions of evil before the flood.

Our Founding Fathers agreed with this biblical understanding of civil government. Thomas Jefferson declared, “The care of human life and happiness, and not their destruction, is the first and only object of good government.” Therefore, any civil official that upholds Roe vs. Wade and promotes abortion violates their sacred trust and is not morally qualified to govern.

The Biblical Marks of Good Government

Romans 13:1-4 reveals the elements of good government, a civil government that is operating as God created it to function. Keep in mind, the Apostle Paul wrote this courageous admonishment during the cruel reign of Nero, a great persecutor of God’s people. God’s Word states:

Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil.

The Apostle Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, reveals the first mark of good government, which is, Almighty God is the supreme authority and civil government is a delegated authority. This implies the concept of limited government. It also introduces the concept of higher law. Almighty God is the final arbitrator mankind can appeal to when suffering under the weight of oppression by despotic governments.

Our own Declaration of Independence acknowledges this truth. Our Founding Fathers appealed “to the laws of nature and nature’s God.” This provided the justification to “dissolve the political bands” with England and become a separate and distinct nation amongst the nations of the earth. If there is no such being as the Triune God of the Bible or the concept of higher law, America remains a rogue nation in rebellion to England to this day.

Good government also acknowledges God as the ultimate sovereign. If not, man has only two failed options to embrace. The state is sovereign or the individual is sovereign. One leads to tyranny and the other to anarchy. This is part of the reason why our nation opted for “One Nation under God.” Only “One Nation under God” can secure the delicate tension between a just social order on the one hand, while allowing maximum individual freedom on the other hand. Only “One Nation under God” can maintain the essential balance between authority and liberty.

The second mark of good government upholds God’s commandments in the civil sphere. The symbol of God’s authority in the church are keys (Matthew 16:19). The symbol of God’s authority in the state is a sword (Romans 13:1-4). The church is a ministry of grace, while civil government is a ministry of justice. The church is to be concerned with the spiritual welfare of men, while civil government is to be concerned with the physical welfare of men. Whereas God’s church is to teach the commandments of God, civil government is to enforce God’s commandments as they relate to the civil realm. The church is called to expose evil, while civil government is to punish and deter evil that constitute crimes.

Though there is a true separation of church and state, surprisingly it is not found in any of America’s historical documents. It is discovered in the Bible. There is no separation, however, between God and his delegated authorities that He established for His glory and our benefit.

Only the ultimate Lawgiver, Creator God, can define for us the concepts of good and evil. If civil government rejects this revelation, the danger becomes, as stated prior, good becomes evil and evil, good. This moral confusion will lead civil government astray from their sacred trust and inevitably lead to tyranny. Isaiah 10:1, 2, “Woe to those who decree unrighteous decrees, Who write misfortune, which they have prescribed, To rob the needy of justice, And to take what is right from the poor of My people, That widows may be their prey, And that they may rob the fatherless.” Bible commentators refer to this passage as the “woe of tyrants” text. Rulers descend to this deplorable condition when they refuse to acknowledge God’s law and their duty to uphold it in the civil realm. They abandon justice, so God abandons them.

Lastly, Romans 13 addresses good government as God ordained. We are duty bound to obey all lawful authority. This passage of Scripture on civil government, however, does not address our Christian duty when civil government becomes idolatrous, tyrannical, and becomes a lawbreaker itself. In those instances, when the laws of men conflict with the laws of God, we must obey God rather than man. This was clearly taught by the same Apostles who admonished the church to obey all lawful authorities.

This truth is tempered by Acts 4:19, 20 which states, “But Peter and John answered and said to them, ‘Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.'” Acts 5:29 is even more explicit, “But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: ‘We ought to obey God rather than men.'”

In the first epistle of Peter, the Apostle taught that in the times of oppression and tyranny, Christians are to trust God and continue to do good. He admonished this, even though our good may be considered a crime and civil government may consider Christians enemies of the state. This is true biblical submission, which leads to redemptive suffering. Though certainly not easy, this is our Christian duty when living under a tyrannical state. It is also God’s rebuke to a government that moves from being a “Minister of God” to an agent of oppression.

Rusty Thomas, director

Operation Save America
PO Box 740066

Dallas, TX 75374

254-304-0016

info@operationsaveamerica.org

www.operationsaveamerica.org

There is a time for everything under the sun. Now is the time to once and for all rise up and end the holocaust in Texas and beyond. Those who name the name of Christ and desire to see the bloodshed cease and righteousness return to Texas, this Tuesday flood the Capitol with phone calls demanding co-sponsors for HB948 that will abolish abortion in Texas.

God demands justice for the preborn and we can no longer play political games with their lives. We must challenge our legislators to implement equal justice under the law and that law must be extended to protect the lives of the preborn. Please pass this to all your contacts in Texas to call and then come to Austin from February 24-27, 2017 to to help see this bill get the attention it needs and see it passed in Texas.

We must not fail our Lord and His little ones no more. Let a holy determination grip your soul with courage to “do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God!”

Here is the Facebook page for more information https://www.facebook.com/events/853762928059396/?active_tab=about

 Here is the bill https://www.legis.state.tx.us/tlodocs/85R/billtext/html/HB00948I.htm

Here is a video by Pastor Jeff Durbin from Apologia who is helping Texas from Arizona.

Please pass this on in your sphere of influence. Thanks!