Elisha Vision – Commentary

Who said the following?: “The future must not belong to those who slander the prophet of Islam.”

Iran’s Ahmadinejad? Egypt’s Morsi? Some little-known, fatwa-flinging cleric increasing the bounty on Salman Rushdie’s head?

None of the above. The words are President Obama’s, and he spoke them this week to the U.N. General Assembly. (So begins commentary by Diana West)

I agree with her conclusion that the President of the United States (in his UN speech) was defending Muslim sensibilities more than defending the American vision of free speech. One word stands out to me in his speech: blasphemy. Our vision of free speech permits blasphemy. Consider another quote and comment from Diana West:

…the president also said: “The strongest weapon against hateful speech is not repression; it is more speech — the voices of tolerance that rally against bigotry and blasphemy, and lift up the values of understanding and mutual respect.” Let’s crack that code. “More speech” as a weapon sounds perfectly fine until the president defines it. What does he mean by “voices of tolerance” rallying against “blasphemy”? (Since when does a supposedly secular politician decry “blasphemy”?)

It is time to wake up, friends. There really is an international plan fully underway to criminalize free speech. Consider the following headlines and links.

Islamic states to reopen quest for global blasphemy law

UN Preview: Islamic States Will Push for US Free Speech Restriction

Islamic Leaders in Dearborn Mich. Plan Rally to Support Speech Prohibition

The Freedom to be Silenced

I hope you take the time to view these reports. It is now time to get serious. As we pray over the presidential election next month, we must be fully informed of the consequences of our votes.

It is my firm conviction that American Christians have the duty to vote. This falls in the same category as paying taxes. The principle Jesus applied to taxation  is equally true for voting, under our US system of government. Notice the context of Luke 20. They wanted to arrest Jesus for speech against Caesar. This is not a new problem!

Watching for their opportunity, the leaders sent spies pretending to be honest men. They tried to get Jesus to say something that could be reported to the Roman governor so he would arrest Jesus. “Teacher,” they said, “we know that you speak and teach what is right and are not influenced by what others think. You teach the way of God truthfully. Now tell us—is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” He saw through their trickery and said, “Show me a Roman coin. Whose picture and title are stamped on it?” “Caesar’s,” they replied. “Well then,” he said, “give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God.” So they failed to trap him by what he said in front of the people. Instead, they were amazed by his answer, and they became silent. Luke 20:20-26 NLT

Les Lawrence, Voice of Christian Zionists      (READ MORE)