Fun fact: The English Bill of Rights expressly allows Protestants to carry arms. It probably inspired our 2nd Amendment. But since I learned here that many Fundies refuse to be labeled "Protestant," it logically follows that they cannot bear arms, at least in England.☺

1 John 3:14: "We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death."

The State has its sphere and God has His, but many Americans want to play the Libertarian and defy authority at every turn.

Let's call it a counterfeit church instead; it only has a superficial, deceptive veneer of Christianity.

BTW, where in Scripture, since he makes a point of it, does he get the idea that God expects the visible church to maintain ecclesiastical institutions like seminaries, SBC, PCA, or even his own? A blind spot perhaps?

But Marxist politicians would rather have no wages then low wages, so they can keep everyone on welfare. Which is where we're going now.

When even unbelievers wear ornamental crosses, and any clown can flaunt that fish icon, I think the value of such religious symbols is dubious in any case. What impresses me is what can't be seen: the heart.

We're a bunch of deadbeats. Recall that early America repudiated its national debt to Bourbon France, on the dubious ground that the Revolutionaries were a different gov't.

Too big to fail. But in America, where salesmanship and efficiency rules, perhaps most churches of whatever size are businesses.

But I agree, there is moral truth because of God's Moral Law. If you seek the health of your neighbor, one is unlikely to do wrong during this time.

But I grant, you really need your Thinking Cap on, or tax software, to process those form instructions. Progressive taxes allow the unproductive to prey on the productive, who don't have as many votes.

But the rot had set in long ago. I recall his pointing out that even in WW2, army recruits were less literate than in WW1. This is why comic books and Disney films were needed for teaching recruits technical skills.

Now if churches practiced the more informal, Biblical concept of visible-church membership, there would be no address lists for officials to confiscate. This is yet another example of worldly business or social-club practice which hardly anyone challenges, since pastors like it that way.