ARTICLES FROM THE PERSUADER
VOLUME 8 (2015)
America Ensnared
When we look back in history we should learn a lesson from the past. For 6000 years God has destroyed nation after nation because of the sin against Him. (“And nation was destroyed of nation, and city of city: for God did vex them with all adversity.” II Chron. 15:6) If we will look at history close, we will find that before God destroyed a nation, they were ensnared before they were destroyed. Ensnared means to entangle or catch in a snare.
Israel, in the days of judges, was punished for their sin by God as He used other nations to put Israel in captivity--ensnared. After the division of Israel, the Northern Kingdom suffered time after time at the hand of God as He used wicked kings and rulers and other nations to punish them for their sin. Judah, under Ahaz “did not that which was right in the sight of the LORD.” (“Ahaz was twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem: but he did not that which was right in the sight of the LORD, like David his father.” II Chron. 28:1) (“Wherefore the LORD his God delivered him into the hand of the king of Syria; and they smote him, and carried away a great multitude of them captives, and brought them to Damascus. And he was also delivered into the hand of the king of Israel, who smote him with a great slaughter.” II Chron. 28:5) The reason was--their sin, “because they had forsaken the Lord God of their fathers.”
Then the Northern Kingdom got to the point God allowed Assyria to capture them and carry them away out of their land. Then Judah did not take notice to what the Lord did to the Northern Kingdom and they sinned to the point the Lord sent Babylon to capture them. After 70 years, the Persians destroyed Babylon, then the Grecians destroyed the Persians, and then the Romans over ran the Grecians, and Rome was destroyed within, all because of ungodly leaders forsaking the principles of God’s leadership and leading the people deeper and deeper into corruption until God finally said “that is enough.” In a sense God set a snare and said “when you cross a certain line, time is up.”
America, we had better take heed to history and learn from it. If God set a snare for Israel, His chosen nation, because of their sin, we had better beware, for I believe that God has set a snare for America because of our sin. If someone sets a snare for a rabbit, they usually us a trip-stick, and when tripped the rabbit is caught and most likely eaten, thus its life is destroyed. I believe that God has at least three trip-sticks set for America. There may be more but at least three I want to deal with in this article. When these three trip-sticks are tripped, America will be ensnared and may well be on its way to being destroyed.
1. Abortion.
In 1973 Jane Roe, not her real name, of Texas did not want to deal with the fruit of her sin--fornication. She wanted to abort her baby but the state law said no. The case was carried to the Supreme court and by a vote of 7 to 2 the U. S. Supreme court held that state laws prohibiting abortions were unconstitutional, based on the 14th amendment concerning the right of a woman to decide whether or not to terminate her pregnancy. But God said, (“Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.” Psa. 127:3) (“For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.” Psa. 139:13-16) (“Thou shalt not kill.” Exo. 20:13) (“He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness.” Mat. 19:18) (“Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.” Jer. 1:5) Abortion is murder.
Since 1973 abortion rates have risen to an average of nearly 4000 a day. That is more abortions per day than the total lives lost in the destruction of the world trade center (3000 died in that bombing). Most Americans were greatly disturbed by that tragedy, yet very little concern is shown concerning almost 4000 babies being aborted per day--murdered. Instead more laws have been passed, making it easier for women to get an abortion even up to 9 months at tax payers’ expense--federally funded. In fact, it is easier for a teenager to get an abortion in some states than to get their ears pierced, because they have to have their parent’s permission to get their ears pierced, yet they can get an abortion without their parent’s knowledge.
Pro-abortionists (those who believe abortion is ok) try to say a fetus is not an individual. But the facts are, at conception, cellular development begins and that new life is composed of hundreds of cells. After 18 days there is occasional pulsations of a muscle, the heart, which beats regular beats at 24 days. At 56 days all organs are functioning. At 18 weeks the fetus can cry--the vocal cords are working. This proves there is life in the fetus; therefore, abortion is murder. Whatever one’s reasoning is, incest, rape, or whatever reason one may use to kill their baby, God said it is murder.
The law has got to the point where women can have a partial birth abortion, a procedure used after 4 ½ months even until 9 months. Some say it is to save the mother’s life. But Dr. Martin Haskell, whose name is associated with partial birth abortions, who had performed over 1000 partial-birth abortions (this info is from 1996) said that he performs them “routinely” for non medical reasons, and that 80 % are purely elective---those women want there sin but just do not want a baby.
Medical experts state that it is never necessary to kill a baby that has been almost entirely delivered to preserve the life or health of the mother. They also testified before congressional committees that babies at that age can experience great pain and that the anesthetic given to the mother has little or no effect on the baby. The difference between partial birth abortion and homicide is a mere 3 inches. In Sept 1993 Brenda Pratt Shafer, a registered nurse with 14 years of experience was assigned by her nursing agency to an abortion clinic. Since nurse Shafer considered herself “very pro-choice she did not think this assignment would be a problem. She was wrong. Here is a condensed version of what she testified before a congressional sub-committee on the constitution. Quote: “I stood at the doctor’s side and watched him perform a partial-birth abortion on a woman who was 6 months pregnant. The baby’s heartbeat was clearly visible on the ultrasound screen. The Dr. delivered the baby’s body and arms, everything but its head. The baby’s body was moving. His little fingers were clasping together. He was kicking his feet. The doctor took a pair of scissors and inserted them into the back of the baby’s head, and the baby’s arms jerked out in a flinch--a startled reaction, like a baby does when he thinks that he might fall. Then the doctor opened the scissors up and stuck a high powered suction tube into the hole and sucked the baby’s brains out. Now the baby was completely limp. I never went back to the clinic. But I am still haunted by the face of that little boy. It was the most perfect angelic face I have ever seen. Mr. Chairman, these people who say I did not see what I saw (the Dr. and clinic denied what Mrs. Shafer said)--I wish they were right. I wish I had not seen it. But I did see it, and I will never be able to forget it. That baby boy was only inches, seconds away from being entirely born, when he was killed. What I saw done to that little boy should not be allowed in this country.” End quote.
After the congressional hearings on Dec. 7, 1995 the senate passed an act to end partial-birth abortions by a margin of 54 to 44. On March 27, 1996 the house approved the Act by 286 to 129. Looks like partial birth abortions are about to cease. Right? Wrong! On April 10, 1996 President Clinton vetoed the Act thereby allowing murder to continue and there were not enough Senate votes to override the President’s veto.
The trip-stick of abortion has been tripped.
2. Homosexuality. & 3. Euthanasia.
Due to lack of space I will deal with these two trip-sticks in our next paper,
Abortion, homosexuality, and euthanasia--three trip-sticks. When all three have been tripped, then America will be ensnared and ripe for destruction.
What can we do? (“I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live.” Deut. 30:19) Choose life, cast your ballot for life, stand up for life, God and right. If you don’t, you will have to answer to God. You say “You don’t give much hope for America.” No, according to scripture all nations are going to come to an end because of sin. But even if our nation ceases to exist as we know it now, God still gives hope to a remnant that will go through. I do not know about you but I want to be part of that remnant that stands for God and right.
If you have any questions concerning what I have written or want more in depth understanding, contact me. We have a lot of material written and on CDs concerning this subject and we would be glad to send it to you free of charge just for the asking. We care for your soul.
THE PERSUADER Jan.-Dec., 2015