04-08-2008, 03:48 PM
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| Puritanboard Freshman | | Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Portland
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"But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves." (James 1:22)
Those who believe no forms of deception are just may find the following letter useful. Please print this letter out, sign and send. Quote:
NAME___________________
STREET__________________
CITY__________ STATE____
ZIP_____________________
Dear brothers and sisters in the military,
parents of those engaged in battle,
military leaders, congressmen,
and our Commander in Chief,
It has come to our attention that our troops are required to wear uniforms which are meant to deceive the enemy. It is our understanding that these uniforms make human beings appear to be nothing but harmless inanimate aspects of the surrounding environment, when in fact the opposite is true. We understand your intentions in trying to support our troops lives in this way, but as Christians we believe that all manner of deceit is wrong, even in wartime. This would not only include camouflage, but also the use of spies, disinformation, and any other form of deceit. The Bible, which we hold to be the very word of God, condemns all forms of deceit. It teaches us that it is Satan who is "the deceiver of the whole world" and "a liar and the father of lies." Satan is the source of all forms of deceit, and the Bible cautions us to be careful that as Satan "deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray." So since "no lie is of the truth" we are told to "put away... all deceit." Therefore our conscience is bound, not only to commit no form of deceit, but to not approve of those who deceive. We are told in our scriptures that those who practice "deceit... though they know God’s decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them." Therefore, we cannot give our support to the actions of troops which deceive the enemy without being guilty ourselves. Those who practice such things "deserve to die" we are told, and so the true way we can love and support our troops is to tell them to turn from deceit such as this. All humans have practiced deceit in their lives but thanks be to God, he has provided forgiveness for sins through Jesus Christ. The best way we can love our troops is with a call to repentance and faith in Christ!
Sincerely,
___________________________________
BY AFFIXING MY NAME HERE I PROCLAIM THAT ALL FORMS OF DECEPTION ARE WRONG, AND BY SENDING THIS LETTER I INTEND TO SHOW THAT I AM NOT MERELY A HEARER OF THE WORD BUT A DOER AND THUS AM NOT LIKEWISE DECEIVING MYSELF
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C. Gorsuch
Glencullen Baptist
Portland, Oregon
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