If the above title sounds oxymoronic, well, it is. But according to the secular left US government, such a beast actually exists. A leaked government report of the Obama administration warns that the nation must watch out for new, dangerous, “rightwing extremists,” which include pro-lifers, and others with various conservative concerns, such as limited government.
Millions of Christians are greatly concerned about the sanctity of human life, the rise of Big Brother government, and so on. So it seems that they are part of this new threat to domestic security. Of course various radical secularist groups like the ACLU have been making this case for decades now. In their view, the most dangerous group of Americans around are Bible-believing Christians who take their faith seriously, and who will not bow down to the totalist state.
The early church was equally seen as a threat to the Roman Empire, because it refused to bow down to any other Lord than Jesus Christ. It rejected the Emperor cult, and was persecuted accordingly. The same is happening today throughout the West, and Obama’s America is a main case in point.
The leaked report is entitled, “Rightwing Extremism: Current Economic and Political Climate Fueling Resurgence in Radicalization and Recruitment”, and is put out by the Department of Homeland Security. As Oliver North remarks, “According to this DHS ‘Assessment,’ the most dangerous threat we face here at home isn’t from radical imams preaching violence in U.S. mosques and madrassas, Islamists recruiting in our prisons, Somali terrorists enticing young immigrants to become suicide bombers, or Hamas, Hezbollah or al-Qaida operatives plotting mass murder. No, according to DHS, the real threat comes from what our government labels ‘rightwing extremist ideology’.”
He continues, “The ‘Assessment’ purports to alert law enforcement officials that ‘rightwing extremists’ – the term is used more than 35 times – are intent on exploiting Americans who have strongly held beliefs on everything from Christian faith to rising unemployment, U.S. sovereignty and the Second Amendment. It vilifies those of us in these categories by references to neo-Nazis, racists, militias, white supremacists and other ‘hate groups.’ Notably, the report includes a warning that right-wing extremism ‘may include groups and individuals that are dedicated to a single issue, such as opposition to abortion or immigration.’
Well there you have it. Pro-lifers are right up there with suicide bombers and al-Qaida. North is not alone in expressing outrage at such malicious slander. Many have been quick to condemn this scurrilous report. David Limbaugh writes, “I know I’m naive, but the only violent right-wing extremist groups I’ve ever seen are those played in Hollywood by uninformed, whacked-out leftist actors. I’ve always wondered where all these Hitler throwbacks live. I’ve also never seen any of their recruiting signs posted at the local supermarket trolling for right-wing nut jobs prone to ‘Clockwork Orange’ ultra-violence.”
The report seems to be little more than speculation and wild accusations: “How convenient for this report to admit it has no specific information about plans for acts of violence by right-wing groups but then to go on to imply it’s only a matter of time. It’s kind of like those stubborn media reports decrying black-voter suppression in Florida in 2000, though the Commission on Civil Rights could never find any actual evidence to support its charge.”
Diana West is also alarmed by the caricatures and the unfounded alarmist nature of this report; “The fact is, we’ve seen this cast of characters before – many times before – in all of the schlock Hollywood movies that year after year harvest a diseased crop of villains from the American heartland, endlessly returning them to the screen as the ‘crazed veteran,’ the ‘religious zealot’ and the anti-immigration ‘Nazi.’ These are the stock villains – all racist, naturally – who are now similarly demonized in the government’s report.”
She ends with what seems to be a very ominous, extremist quote indeed: “What we have to do is bring back the recognition that the people of this country can solve its problems. I still believe the answer to any problem lies with the people. I believe in state’s rights and I believe in people doing as much as they can for themselves at the community level and at the private level. I believe we have distorted the balance of our government today by giving powers that were never intended to be given in the Constitution to that federal establishment.”
West asks, “In the language of Homeland Security, which ‘right-wing extremist’ preparing for ‘right-wing radicalization and recruitment’ said that? Ronald Reagan.”
One of the main reasons why the early Christians were such a threat to the political and social order of the day was because they refused to have any other god except the one true God. Thus the Emperor could not be divinised and worshiped.
We are quickly getting to that same place in the secular West today, which increasingly sees the main threat to its existence as coming from those who will not bow the knee, such as biblical Christians. True believers have always had an uneasy relationship with the state. That is because we are dual citizens: we are citizens of this world and also citizens of heaven.
Such double loyalties will always cause tension. Sure, we are called to be faithful and law-abiding citizens, and show by our good conduct that we are no threat to the state. But when the state moves further and further away from biblical truth and values, Christians will more and more be regarded as disloyal and treasonous. That is certainly the slant this government report is taking.
And chances are it will only get worse. So Christians, be forewarned. Darker days ahead may well be on the way. But if so, it should not surprise us. Jesus warned us long ago, “Remember the words I spoke to you: ‘No servant is greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also” (John 15:20).
My wife, myself and a pastor who had travelled a long distance, were the only ones to greet him as he stepped into the morning light and freedom. Though looking pale and thin, he was in good spirits and thankful to be free. We first drove him to the Methodist Centre in Downham Market, where he treated us to lunch, then to his Church where he quietly prayed and finally back to his home. I managed to read just a few of the messages and letters from well-wishers that he had received whilst in prison. He had over 40 beautiful letters from Australia, encouraging and upholding him in prayer. Thank you and God bless to all those who sent him these.
I don’t know what he intends to do now. But I think he needs to attend to his health. Let us pray that somehow we don’t allow his suffering for Christ to have been in vain, but continue pressing for an end to the abortion mills. We need a William Wilberforce to speak for the most vulnerable, those without a voice or a choice.
Ted, who because of his Christian views has also been denied hospital treatment for his hips, had to serve six weeks in prison, but Lord Ahmed who threatened the House of Lords with 10,000 Muslims and who killed a man was released from prison after only 16 days.
Britain is terrified of men like Ted who wouldn’t, couldn’t, hurt and fly, and yet bows the knee to those who would destroy them.
David Skinner, UK
Thanks David
Heroes like Ted are jailed in the UK, and in the US they are regarded as terrorist risks. What was it that Isaiah said? “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter” (5:20).
Bill Muehlenberg, CultureWatch
Bill I’m amazed at how fast the hostilities towards Christianity is growing. I wonder if Allan Keyes the Illinois Senator has got under BOH’s skin by questioning his right to the presidency on constitutional grounds (re: his not showing his birth certificate to prove he was born an American citizen). BOH is certainly showing his true colours. How long will it take for Americans to wake up?
Keith Lewis
We are waking up now, Keith. The anti-tax Tea Party was nation-wide and huge. Even in my throroughly “blue state”, the Tea Parties weren’t insignificant. The liberal media seem determined to play it down or even attack it as being anti-government, but the American people ARE angry and fed up with their pockets being picked and their moral beliefs being run over. Several states are even threatening to leave the Union, if our constitution doesn’t start being paid attention to by our government.
One of America’s founding fathers, Benjamin Franklin, once said that that a people who would trade freedom for security deserve neither. I wholeheartedly agree.
M.E. Huffmaster, USA
M.E.Huffmaster, don’t you think that whereas some states are threatening to leave the Union, the homosexuals and liberals have already left ? They didn’t use threats; they just left; they have gone. Search every room. There is no sign of them. But watch out because soon they will come back to evict you and change the locks.
David I feel that I am going to ask a sliiy question here but what do you mean “the homosexuals and liberals have already left”? Just call me thick. They have been against the Christian Right in the West from its inception and are now on a roll.
Keith Lewis
Keith. Sorry for appearing to talk in riddles. If we use the Anglican Church of North America TEC or ECUSA as a paradigm for the rest of the USA, what I said is actually happening.
Whilst those Anglicans, faithful to the word of God, have in good faith, been beguiled into spending ten years conversing endlessly with revisionists in the Church (especially with regard to the ordination of women and homosexuals and now it appears Buddhists) and being led to believe that they are talking to people who listen and are open to reason, ECUSA had already left and set up a rebel camp. Then, when it felt it had become strong enough, it returned and has begun the process of emptying Christians from their church properties.
Being drawn into endless conversations with the Satan was not Christ’s style. “It is written,” period. Being drawn into endless conversations with Hitler was also not Churchill’s style, or that of Oliver Cromwell with Charles 11.
The American people are going to have to define the battle lines, the lines over which they are not prepared to cross. But before they can begin to fight they need to find out where the lines are, which maybe go back further than the American Constitution. Perhaps that bit about the right to happiness is where it all went wrong.
Thanks for the enlightenment David. It is much much more difficult to win battles when persons in the church’s own ranks publically dissent on important biblical doctrine. “Together we stand and divided we fall”. Fortunately God is building a great stone (without human hands) that is destined to bring down the world’s governing systems Daniel 2. That stone being God’s Kingdom and if we are to believe it His Church. So let us stand fast! Just heard that out Attorney General is after us Pento’s so CofE’s should be safe here in Australia for a while at least.
Keith Lewis
Note also, the Left’s favorite example of a “christian terrorist”, Timothy McVeigh, had not the slightest Church affiliation. In fact, his final pre-execution public statement was a strongly humanist poem about being the master of his fate, spitting in God’s face, as it were. See also Timothy McVeigh, Christian terrorist (?).
Jonathan Sarfati, Brisbane
Ted, the jailed British pro-lifer is home! Because British prisons are full, prisoners are automatically released after having served half their sentence. (Ted) Edward Atkinson was therefore released from Norwich prison on the 14th of April: http://www.lynnnews.co.uk/Register.aspx?ReturnURL=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.lynnnews.co.uk%2Fnews%2F39SICK39-PROTEST-OVER-ABORTION.5045196.jp
My wife, myself and a pastor who had travelled a long distance, were the only ones to greet him as he stepped into the morning light and freedom. Though looking pale and thin, he was in good spirits and thankful to be free. We first drove him to the Methodist Centre in Downham Market, where he treated us to lunch, then to his Church where he quietly prayed and finally back to his home. I managed to read just a few of the messages and letters from well-wishers that he had received whilst in prison. He had over 40 beautiful letters from Australia, encouraging and upholding him in prayer. Thank you and God bless to all those who sent him these.
I don’t know what he intends to do now. But I think he needs to attend to his health. Let us pray that somehow we don’t allow his suffering for Christ to have been in vain, but continue pressing for an end to the abortion mills. We need a William Wilberforce to speak for the most vulnerable, those without a voice or a choice.
Ted, who because of his Christian views has also been denied hospital treatment for his hips, had to serve six weeks in prison, but Lord Ahmed who threatened the House of Lords with 10,000 Muslims and who killed a man was released from prison after only 16 days.
http://thejournal.parker-joseph.co.uk/blog/_archives/2009/2/3/4079210.html
http://keeptonyblairforpm.wordpress.com/2009/03/12/lord-ahmed-released-from-jail-im-a-community-worker-get-me-out-of-here/
Britain is terrified of men like Ted who wouldn’t, couldn’t, hurt and fly, and yet bows the knee to those who would destroy them.
David Skinner, UK
Thanks David
Heroes like Ted are jailed in the UK, and in the US they are regarded as terrorist risks. What was it that Isaiah said? “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter” (5:20).
Bill Muehlenberg, CultureWatch
Bill I’m amazed at how fast the hostilities towards Christianity is growing. I wonder if Allan Keyes the Illinois Senator has got under BOH’s skin by questioning his right to the presidency on constitutional grounds (re: his not showing his birth certificate to prove he was born an American citizen). BOH is certainly showing his true colours. How long will it take for Americans to wake up?
Keith Lewis
We are waking up now, Keith. The anti-tax Tea Party was nation-wide and huge. Even in my throroughly “blue state”, the Tea Parties weren’t insignificant. The liberal media seem determined to play it down or even attack it as being anti-government, but the American people ARE angry and fed up with their pockets being picked and their moral beliefs being run over. Several states are even threatening to leave the Union, if our constitution doesn’t start being paid attention to by our government.
One of America’s founding fathers, Benjamin Franklin, once said that that a people who would trade freedom for security deserve neither. I wholeheartedly agree.
M.E. Huffmaster, USA
M.E.Huffmaster, don’t you think that whereas some states are threatening to leave the Union, the homosexuals and liberals have already left ? They didn’t use threats; they just left; they have gone. Search every room. There is no sign of them. But watch out because soon they will come back to evict you and change the locks.
David Skinner, UK
Thanks guys
Doug Giles does his take on the DHS: “The Department of Homegrown Stupidity”: http://townhall.com/columnists/DougGiles/2009/04/19/dhs_the_department_of_homegrown_stupidity
Bill Muehlenberg, CultureWatch
David I feel that I am going to ask a sliiy question here but what do you mean “the homosexuals and liberals have already left”? Just call me thick. They have been against the Christian Right in the West from its inception and are now on a roll.
Keith Lewis
Keith. Sorry for appearing to talk in riddles. If we use the Anglican Church of North America TEC or ECUSA as a paradigm for the rest of the USA, what I said is actually happening.
Whilst those Anglicans, faithful to the word of God, have in good faith, been beguiled into spending ten years conversing endlessly with revisionists in the Church (especially with regard to the ordination of women and homosexuals and now it appears Buddhists) and being led to believe that they are talking to people who listen and are open to reason, ECUSA had already left and set up a rebel camp. Then, when it felt it had become strong enough, it returned and has begun the process of emptying Christians from their church properties.
http://babybluecafe.blogspot.com:80/2008/01/standfirm-katharine-jefferts-schoris.html
http://www.gafcon.org/news/gafcon_communique_issued_-_ACNA_recognized
Being drawn into endless conversations with the Satan was not Christ’s style. “It is written,” period. Being drawn into endless conversations with Hitler was also not Churchill’s style, or that of Oliver Cromwell with Charles 11.
The American people are going to have to define the battle lines, the lines over which they are not prepared to cross. But before they can begin to fight they need to find out where the lines are, which maybe go back further than the American Constitution. Perhaps that bit about the right to happiness is where it all went wrong.
David Skinner, UK
Keith, how about this for a picture?
http://www.standfirminfaith.com/index.php/site/article/469
And this: http://www.teapartyday.com:80/
David Skinner, UK
Thanks for the enlightenment David. It is much much more difficult to win battles when persons in the church’s own ranks publically dissent on important biblical doctrine. “Together we stand and divided we fall”. Fortunately God is building a great stone (without human hands) that is destined to bring down the world’s governing systems Daniel 2. That stone being God’s Kingdom and if we are to believe it His Church. So let us stand fast! Just heard that out Attorney General is after us Pento’s so CofE’s should be safe here in Australia for a while at least.
Keith Lewis
Note also, the Left’s favorite example of a “christian terrorist”, Timothy McVeigh, had not the slightest Church affiliation. In fact, his final pre-execution public statement was a strongly humanist poem about being the master of his fate, spitting in God’s face, as it were. See also Timothy McVeigh, Christian terrorist (?).
Jonathan Sarfati, Brisbane