Christian News - 15 July 2007

Christian News

15 July 2007
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* TEENAGERS TODAY, ADULTS TOMORROW
* HISTORIC FRANSCHHOEK DECLARATION ADOPTED AT CHRISTIAN ACTION NETWORK CONFERENCE

* TEENAGERS TODAY, ADULTS TOMORROW - Ann Skelton, from the Centre for Child Law, said that for all intents and purposes, children will become adults when they turn 18, thanks to a proclamation of the Children's Act signed by President Thabo Mbeki a few days ago.

While many sections of the act that deal with regulations are still waiting to be signed into law, a major change that has been implemented is the reduction of the age of majority from 21 to 18.

They will be able to sign contracts and, in general, be more autonomous - parental permission will no longer be required.

But with more rights, come more responsibilities.

In the past an 18-year-old could have voided a contract on the basis that he or she was a minor and didn't know what they were doing, says Skelton. This will no longer be the case.

More controversially, the Children's Act now allows children of 12 or older to go for an HIV and Aids test without their parent's involvement.

And if a child is considered mature enough, this right is extended to children under 12 - a health practitioner must make the judgement as to whether the child understands the implications.

Twelve-year-olds will also be able to gain access to contraceptives without parental involvement.
(The Star, 30 June 2007) (to index)

* HISTORIC FRANSCHHOEK DECLARATION ADOPTED AT CHRISTIAN ACTION NETWORK CONFERENCE - On 3 July 2007, leaders from over 17 different churches and ministries from all over Africa, affiliated to the Christian Action Network gathered together in Franschhoek to discuss and adopt statements on the Authority of the Bible, The Sanctity of Life, Marriage, Homosexuality, Economics, Education, Freedom of Expression and the Discipline of Children. The statements were adapted and adopted from those of the Coalition on Revival and the International Church Council. These statements together form the Franschhoek Declaration.

Dr Peter Hammond, Director of the Christian Action Network, responded to the unanimous vote to adopt the Franschhoek Declaration in these words, "We are involved in a world war of worldviews. The Franschhoek Declaration prayerfully considered and adopted, close to the Huguenot Monument which celebrates our Reformation heritage, provides a powerful Bible-based response to the onslaught of Humanism which is threatening many aspects of our churches and family life today."

The Christian Action Network conference formed part of the Reclaiming Africa for Christ Biblical Worldview Summit.

Following are several extracts from the Declaration:

"Will You not revive us again, that Your people may rejoice in You?" Psalm 85:6

Introduction - As individuals and as a conference of Christian leaders we reaffirm our faith in, and our loyalty and commitment to our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

The Authority of Scripture - We hold to the Bible as the only complete, perfect and inerrant Word of God - the solid foundation for all areas of life.

The Sanctity of Life - We affirm the Biblical teaching that human life begins at conception and not at birth. We affirm that the infinite, personal, Triune God of the Bible created man in His image; thus human beings reflect and represent God to some degree and are qualitatively distinct from and superior to all the rest of creation. Since man is made in the image of God, each human life is of inestimable value from conception to death.

Response to the African Union's Maputo Protocol (also called Protocol on the Rights of Women in Africa)

In the light of our Affirmation of the Sanctity of Life, we:
Pledge to resist by prayer and action attempts to pressurise African countries to legalise abortion. We will resist attempts by any pro-abortion bodies to make aid money contingent on the legalisation of abortion.

We pledge ourselves to disciple our families, congregations and communities to uphold the Sanctity of Life.

We recognise that Article 14.2 (c) of the Maputo Protocol, which states that "State parties shall authorise access to medical abortion" is an undemocratic, manipulative interference in the sovereignty of African nations.

We recognise that the figures and statistics used by the World Health Organisation on maternal deaths from illegal abortions are often based on false extrapolations and are therefore misleading. We pledge to expose and publicise the misleading figures on maternal deaths used by the World Health Organisation.

Marriage - We affirm that marriage is designed to be a life-long union. We deny that marriage is less than a life-long union or that it is simply a temporary state based upon faithfulness to a mutual contract between partners. We affirm that sexual distinction is a part of the essence of humanity and marriage. We deny that members of the same sex can be married, in God's eyes.

Homosexuality - We affirm that Scripture describes homosexuality, in thought or behavior, as sin.

We deny that Scripture's discussion of homosexuality is culture-specific, or relevant only to non-committed or "unnatural" homosexual relationships. We deny that a practising homosexual may be a pastor, a teacher, or hold any other office of service in Christ's Church, or be a communicant member.

Response to Land Invasions or the Seizure of Private Property by Governments, Criminals, or Terrorist Groups - We affirm the Biblical principle of the right and responsibility of individuals to own private property and to wisely steward that property under God, to Whom all the earth belongs.

We affirm the seizure of farms by legislation or other means to be against God's Law. We recognise, for example, that the seizure of farms in Zimbabwe has largely contributed to the economic collapse of that country and has destroyed the livelihood of thousands of farmers and millions of farm workers.

Education - We affirm that God has given parents custody, jurisdiction and authority over their children, as stewards, to raise them as servants of Christ, to seek to discern their calling, and to train, discipline and educate them in the Biblical worldview. Parents may not rightfully yield their jurisdiction or authority to the civil government.

We deny that, Biblically, the civil government has ownership, jurisdiction or authority over children, or that the civil government has authority to usurp the stewardship to raise or educate children entrusted by God to the parents.

We further deny that the civil government or the church may interfere with a parent's education of their children, except in some matters of abandonment or criminal justice, or may impose requirements, standards or methods for training, educating or disciplining their children.

We further deny that the civil government has a right before God to impose compulsory attendance laws, licensure of teachers of private schools or curriculum requirements for home and private schools.

We will support the development of a Christian Matric (school-leaving exam) and Board of Examiners who fully understand the application of the Biblical Christian Worldview to all school subjects.

Freedom of Expression - We affirm the right of individuals and religious organisations to express their political and religious views in the public domain.

Pornographic, defamatory, blasphemous or profane expressions are an abuse of the freedom of expression and a violation of God's Law. Pornography exploits people made in the image of God, and degrades human dignity.

In accordance with God's Law, all pornography should be illegal under civil law.

The Discipline of Children - We affirm the right and responsibility of parents to lovingly discipline their children according to God's Word.

We declare any attempts by the state to ban corporal punishment of children by parents to be an over-stepping of their God-given mandate.

"If My people, who are called according to My Name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from Heaven, I will forgive their sin and I will heal their land." 2 Chronicles 7:14

CONTACT: International Co-ordinator of the Christian Action Network, Taryn Hodgson on 072 215 4801 or 021-689 4480, E-mail: info@christianaction.org.za. Website: www.christianaction.org.za.
(Christian Action Media Release, 12 July 2007) (to index)

International

* POISONING THE SURGEON GENERAL NOMINEE
* SCRAPS BLAIR'S PLANS FOR SUPERCASINOS
* TABLET LINKED TO OBSCURE O.T. FIGURE FOUND
* LA. BECOMES FIRST STATE TO OUTLAW LATE-TERM ABORTION PROCEDURE
* JEZEBEL ROSE UP AGAINST AUTHORITY AND WAS ARRESTED

* POISONING THE SURGEON GENERAL NOMINEE - The Senate hearings for Dr. James Holsinger, President Bush's nominee for Surgeon General commenced on 12 July. Holsinger's nomination has become unfairly politicized due to both his medical findings on homosexual behavior and his religious beliefs. While Concerned Women for America (CWA) takes no position on his nomination, we do believe that it is inappropriate and unconstitutional to subject Dr. Holsinger to a religious litmus test.

Holsinger's findings on male homosexual behaviors are medically sound and are supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). He has unapologetically stated that homosexual behavior is "unnatural" and "unhealthy" and runs counter to natural human biological design.

Matt Barber, CWA's Policy Director for Cultural Issues, said, "It is both inappropriate and unconstitutional for the Senate to require that any nominee pass an anti-Christian religious litmus test based upon the demands of extremist left-wing special interest groups. In the past, Dr. Holsinger has objectively placed scientific substance over political correctness relative to the high-risk nature of homosexual behaviors. The determinations he and numerous other medical experts have reached are completely in line with the findings of the CDC. The CDC has documented that people who engage in homosexual behavior - by far - are at highest risk for devastating and often deadly sexually transmitted diseases. Will liberals now call for the CDC to be shut-down because the medical facts undermine their political agenda? Essentially what these radical special interest groups and like-minded senators are saying is that Christians need not apply for public service. This is both hateful and discriminatory." (Concerned Women for America, 12 July 2007) (to index)

* SCRAPS BLAIR'S PLANS FOR SUPERCASINOS - Gordon Brown has killed off the chances of a super casino opening in Britain, in his most explicit break from the Blair era to date.

Despite four years of intense lobbying by casino organisations, an unprecedented competition between councils and a huge parliamentary effort, the Prime Minister today signalled that vast Las Vegas-style gambling dens will not come to Britain.

Although Mr Brown stopped short of declaring to the Commons that no regional casinos would be built today, The Times understands from government sources that the plan for regional casinos is "dead in the water". Plans for 16 smaller casinos may return to Parliament over the next few months. (TimesOnline, 11 July 2007) (to index)

* TABLET LINKED TO OBSCURE O.T. FIGURE FOUND - It's doubtful that many Christians remember the name "Nebo-Sarsekim" from reading the Old Testament, but thanks to an archaeological discovery at the British Museum, they may in the future.

British Museum officials announced recently the discovery of a two-inch-wide, 2,500-year-old cuneiform tablet that contains details of a financial transaction by a "Nabu-sharrussu-ukin," who is called in the tablet the "chief eunuch" of Babylon King Nebuchadnezzar.

That's the same person mentioned in Jeremiah 39:3 -- although spelled differently in different translations -- as the chief officer of Nebuchadnezzar who was in Jerusalem when the Babylonians overtook the city around 587 B.C.

Conservative biblical scholars say it's another affirmation that the Bible is true -- even in the smallest of details, such as names.

Babylonian names notoriously are difficult to translate. The Holman Christian Standard and the New King James Version call him "Sarsechim." The New International Version calls him "Nebo-Sarsekim"

The small tablet is one of more than 100,000 inscribed tablets housed at the British Museum, The Times newspaper reported July 11, and was acquired in 1920. It was unearthed about a mile from modern-day Baghdad, Iraq, the newspaper said. But because of the painstaking effort to translate them and often to piece them together, it wasn't seen as having a biblical connection until recently. Michael Jursa, a professor from the University of Vienna, made the connection.

"This is a fantastic discovery, a world-class find," the British Museum's Irving Finkel said, according to The London Telegraph. "If Nebo-Sarsekim existed, which other lesser figures in the Old Testament existed? A throwaway detail in the Old Testament turns out to be accurate and true. I think that it means that the whole of the narrative [of Jeremiah] takes on a new kind of power."

The New International Version of the Bible translates Jeremiah 39:3 thusly:

"Then all the officials of the king of Babylon came and took seats in the Middle Gate: Nergal-Sharezer of Samgar, Nebo-Sarsekim a chief officer, Nergal-Sharezer a high official and all the other officials of the king of Babylon."

That verse immediately follows a verse describing the Babylonians breaking through Jerusalem's walls. Various translations also call Nebo-Sarsekim a "Rabsaris," which can be translated "chief official" or "chief eunuch."

The tablet actually dates to 595 B.C., several years prior to the siege of Jerusalem. It would have been made by pressing an object into clay. The tablet reads, according to the Telegraph: "(Regarding) 1.5 minas (0.75 kg) of gold, the property of Nabu-sharrussu-ukin, the chief eunuch, which he sent via Arad-Banitu the eunuch to [the temple] Esangila: Arad-Banitu has delivered [it] to Esangila. In the presence of Bel-usat, son of Alpaya, the royal bodyguard, [and of] Nadin, son of Marduk-zer-ibni. Month XI, day 18, year 10 [of] Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon."

Said Jursa, the scholar who discovered the tablet, "Finding something like this tablet, where we see a person mentioned in the Bible making an everyday payment to the temple in Babylon and quoting the exact date, is quite extraordinary." (Baptist Press, 17 July 2007) (to index)

* LA. BECOMES FIRST STATE TO OUTLAW LATE-TERM ABORTION PROCEDURE - Louisiana became the first state to outlaw a late-term abortion procedure today, when Gov. Kathleen Blanco approved legislation allowing doctors to be prosecuted for performing the surgery.

The new law allows so-called "partial birth" abortions in only one situation: when failure to perform it would endanger the mother's life. The procedure would be a crime in all other cases, even if the pregnancy is expected to cause health problems for the mother.

The Democratic governor signed two bills - by Rep. Gary Beard, R-Baton Rouge, and Sen. Ben Nevers, D-Bogalusa - that create criminal penalties for doctors who perform the surgery: fines of between $1,000 and $10,000, and jail terms of between one and 10 years. The statute is parallel to the federal ban that President Bush signed into law in 2003, upheld in April by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Lawmakers in other states are expected to consider similar bans. Louisiana is the first to enact one. (SunHerald, 13 July 2007) (to index)

* JEZEBEL ROSE UP AGAINST AUTHORITY AND WAS ARRESTED - Pat McEwen from 'Operation Save America writes', "Jezebel was arrested today. In Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Gloria, the Director of the West Women's Center abortion clinic refused to obey the lawful authorities and was arrested at approximately 8:30 am."

"Operation Save America is often portrayed as law breakers when we are truly law keepers, first God's Law then the laws of our land. About 200 gentle Christians planned to travel from the OSA Birmingham Event to Tuscaloosa on Wednesday. We learned that the killing center changed their schedule, so we did the same. We took the Gospel of Christ to the gates of hell in Tuscaloosa today, Tuesday, July 17.

When Operation Save America arrived at the clinic, it's director began threatening the Christians. The police, in order to avoid an altercation, asked her to calm down. She replied, "I will do what I want." When told she must obey rightful authorities, she stated she would not obey. She was immediately arrested.

Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. Romans 13:1

In many cities the God-given authority is used wrongfully - to oppress Christians and squash 1st amendment rights. In ONE city, Tuscaloosa Alabama, the police use their authority correctly, defending the innocent and keeping order. The spirit of Christ loves order. The spirit of Jezebel hates authority.

Judge Roy Moore, Alabama's favorite Judge, and Hank Erwin, Alabama's favorite Senator will speak at the Thursday Operation Save America Rally in Birmingham, July 19, 2007. These are men who understand true submission to authority, even at great cost. (ChristianNewsWire, 17 July 2007) (to index)