Lehigh Valley Conservative

Supreme court chief justice John Marshall (1819) wrote:

“The power to tax is the power to destroy; in that the power to destroy may defeat and render useless the power to create;…”.

The tax-limiting effects of Article 1 Section 8 of the Constitution seemingly were nullified with passage of the Sixteenth Amendment in 1913. It must be understood that authority is never neutral and magistrates will base their power on something.

When you have the government and the Department of Justice drop its investigation of AIG on May 22, 2010, you know the fix is in and they are not out to protect the citizen, but the guys like Geither, who called the AIG bail out essential——along with Paulson, Bernecke and the boys in the smoked filled room—-they put the fix together.

I would like to point out just a few common sense type thoughts that pertain to the problem. The citizens have the right to be concerned even when not understanding the workings of the Golden Sachs and the FED. They understand the fact that more debt is not the answer and that they took it on the chin with these bail outs—-to the tune of Trillions $$$$.

My points:
1/ The financial crisis is the largest in the history of the world, thereby telling you that you are in un-chartered financial waters with no historical understanding of what we can expect and that is scary.
2/ The magnitude of debt on a global bases is such that if the economy truly goes south to the extent it starts the snow ball down the side of the mountain it will drag in all the country’s. These elements and that event is not too hard to imagine happening as a series of events pulls all country’s into the avalanche of economic disasters—bankruptcy and debt the main culprit through risk taking that bordered on greed and power the likes of which have not been seen in history.
3/ If in fact the economy goes south to the extent 1 & 2 suggest, it would not be to difficult to believe (not knowing any of the details) that the confidence in the all mighty dollar will vanish and inflationary forces could and would come on in full force. The indicators (Silver & Gold) are already showing the break in confidence of the dollar as both silver and gold rise in price. The market place with it’s wheeling and dealing—-with the likes of JP Morgan is having a harder time in suppressing the price of silver and gold. There will come a time (shortly) when the reality of the situation will be exposed. Ted Butler (the silver guru) has been for years trying to expose J. P. Morgan and their market manipulation of the silver market—-IE: holding the price down.
4/ Following the so called leaders of the political party has proven ease to make happen as we saw in the last presidential election; therefore the panic will certainly be understandable as musical chairs begin and all financial exists are barred and/or closed down with the selling off of anything of value.
5/ Civil unrest will be the indicator close to complete break down and will show that the citizens have gone past the loss of confidence and on to the next phase of loosing confidence in not only the dollar but government and the social fabric. Understanding how it works will have nothing to do with the rioting—-only the fact that nothing is working will be enough to set things in motion.
6/ The spreading of the disease (economic disaster) will be quick and deadly as the Black death in Europe centuries ago. It can only makes sense if you think and understand that we already have the disease and we are only waiting to see the manifestation of it—-with the final results—-death to the social fabric.

Lest you think me crazy in suggesting we are sick with a terminal illness, let me explain. Most people refuse to place a connection between God and state but hold them as having no connection at all. This was the beginning of serious deterioration in society, no one noticed. The church was comfortable and lacked Biblical grounding so they were only to glad to go along not saying one word of protest that mattered. Culture started to fall apart, the church supplied no politician with solid Biblical grounding. Government became full of anything but Godly magistrates as Romans 13:1-7 demanded. As it turns out, government became nothing more than a rallying point for the greedy and power hungry folks working the system and no one noticed. The vicious spiral downward started and no one noticed. Year after year it continued downward until we come to today.

My point; the economy and money is the last thing that is holding us together, when that snaps there will be, no God, no Culture, no politician, no leader, no church, no money there to hold anything together.

WE SHALL SEE—-don’t you think?????

Watch the link/video—- http://www.realecontv.com/videos/europe/what-it-means-when-your-country-goes-broke.html
If this has any truth to it——and I say “IF”—-we have a much bigger problem then anyone thinks and/or realizes.
The video is 10:35 minutes—–listen carefully to the last minute or so—-these guys are desperate and will not take it year after year as do the American citizen—–even the American citizens will reach some point of breaking.

And to be perfectly candid—–my sarcastic—–WE SHALL SEE is not something that should be taken lightly——–for the danger and debts are mounting with each passing day.
  “AND”
Is this the capitalism that the “Constitution” defends—I believe not—–and “Rush” and the rest of those talk show guys had better understand this and start digging down to the meat of the truth of the issue. The wheeling and dealing of the boys upstairs at Golden Sacks——–tells me that is not happening——(digging deep enough)—–nothing is being exposed—nothing at those levels.

Not to many years ago Bethlehem Area School District (BASD) was up to their eye balls in “Swaps” and “Derivatives” (having 17) and still having 3 (I believe) with a total of $463 million in debt——and they plan on raising the citizens taxes in Bethlehem, Pa. another 4-5.2% or as the local paper said an average of $134—–and I was corrected——it was only $70.00 for the home owner.—–and just heard last night that this will be the 7th year taxes have gone up and from another person telling me his mother’s (fixed income) property tax has gone from $1000 to $1600 in the last 5-6 years—-with her making the remark as to how she was going to pay the continued tax increases.

How in the heck are they going to survive if things get tighter and with that, the question becomes are things going to get tighter? Interesting isn’t it?

WE SHALL SEE——don’t you think??????

Below is an e-mail I sent to a dear friend who had ask we a number of questions. I pulled these two questions out of the e-mail to answer. There is one facet of the answers that I think I should have include——which I did not.

You will find the missing segment after—-Yes indeed these times will be interesting (below)

The initial e-mail
You said—What makes this time so different?

Three things:
1/ The magnitude of the evil—it’s Global.
2/ The velocity information travels at—almost instantaneous.
3/ The corruption within the US government being almost complete with no room for Christianity and righteousness. We hang on some nebulous conservative-ism mixed with a phony unrighteous capitalism, which is well outside of what was developed by Adam Smith and hinged on Biblical principles. Wall Street is bankrupty with greed and power—and running a close second is our government. I find it interesting “Occupy Wall Street” is wrong on the approach but right on the issues—-Wall Street power brokers are well outside of a righteous capitalism and no one is calling them on it—-the FED—-Golden Sacks—JP Morgan—-or the Government with their bail outs. None of it is righteous.

You said: What exactly do you suggest is the best way forward? Or do you think we’re beyond that and it’s hopeless?

It is never hopeless for those who believe although I do know there were times of despair and tragedies as His history unfolded. The only way forward is for government/leadership to recognize they are “Ministers of God” as Paul puts forth in the book of Romans 13:1-7 and the church being more forceful in putting forth the Gospel and taking on the leadership with “Thus saidth the LORD” as did the reformers like John Knox when he read the Queen of Scot’s the riot act—-and many other Godly preachers who paid dearly —–some times at “Smith Field” England were they paid with their lives. NO we don’t have leaders in DC or anywhere with that type of intensity or commitment.

We have today a break down of culture in the USA that has not happen, in the 400 years, since the colonist first hit the shores (1620) Plymouth Rock. We have done worse then dumb down the children intellectual—–through our secular Education. We have taken any possible notice to the children that they have a soul and that they need a savior (Jesus Christ). Praying and prayer is out—mentioning Christ is out—-Christianity is out—-the Bible is out—the 10 commandments is out—they have effectively destroyed anyway of guiding the young folks but through a progressive/secular education and a way of life which can only lead to self and destruction—not God—-and of course we will reap what we have sown.

Yes indeed these times will be interesting——WE SHALL SEE—don’t you think????

Now to the addition words which should have been included;

Charles Hodge in his “Systematic Theology” (1871) Vol. 3 Page 342 said this:

“Those laws are ordained, administered, and enforced by God, and there is no escape from their obligation, or from the penalties attached to their violation.”

Hodge goes on Page 343
 “…this is not meant that the government should teach Christianity, or make the profession of it a condition of citizenship, or test for office. Nor does it mean that the government is called upon to punish every violation of Christian principle or precept. It is not called upon to punish every violation of the moral law. But as it cannot violate the moral law in its own action, or require the people to violate it, so neither can it ignore Christianity in its official action. It cannot require the people or any of its own officers to do what Christianity forbids, nor forbid their doing anything which Christianity enjoins.”

The understanding of the above paragraph has been twisted and distorted to the point were it almost appears that anything and everything is allowed but the Christian Religion. Hodge makes it quite clear as to how far government can go when he says this.

Page 345:

”If a religion should enjoin infanticide, or the murder of the aged or infirm, neither the people nor the government should conform their conduct to its laws.”

Christianity has supplied the moral and religious norm on which Western Civilization has been built, its percepts and Laws our based on Biblical law and the 10 commandments. The further we drift away from God and His law, the more the dangers draws closer and we jeopardize the future generations of children and destruction of the country.

The above cannot be deigned—–laws come through some religion because man is religious at his core, it will only be a matter as to whose laws they will be—God’s or Man’s in conjunction with some false god.

So I say—We Shall See

If the liberal media will not tell the truth and if the conservative media do not have the ability to make the case for Capitalism and Freedom or they will not—–we are doomed.

In the “Accuracy in Media” (AIM) Nov-B-2011 hard copy to the house page 3 we have this article:
 “Gingrich Charge of a Socialist America Conformed”

I’ll be quoting a few short paragraphs from the article to make the point, we maybe a socialist country or close to it already and this is not something we play at or with—it is serious business. The socialist war machine is driving with force, wanting to destroy this country, and we had better at least understand what is happening and try to counter the assault.

The article opens with this;
 “Democrats say they have dirt on Newt Gingrich, but he has the dirt on them. He has accurately described the socialist infiltration of America: ‘The left has thoroughly infiltrated nearly every cultural commanding height of our civilization. That is, they hold power, influence and control of academia, the elite news media, Hollywood, union leaders, trial lawyers, the courts, the Congress, and the bureaucracy at all levels of government. They are radically redefining our very culture by deciding, what is news, what is entertainment, what our children learn in school, and what kind of government we should have.’”

Can you imagine the above to be true—I do—and if you do—-then we both must agree this is serious. If you think me a little off my rocker—-guess again—read on.

“Confirmation of Gingrich’s statement, which came in a article about his book, “To Save America: Stopping Obama’s Secular-Socialist Machine”, has come from an unlikely source—-John Nichols, a writer for The Nation magazine. Speaking to the recent Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) conference, Nichols said that the progressive movement is on the move…”——Really who would have ever guessed.

The article and Nichols goes on to say and I quote:

“Polls tell us that Democratic socialism is more popular today that at any time in recent America history. Nichols says. He cites polls that 20%-25% of Americans view socialism positively, with the number at 43% among those ages 18-29.”

Now that and those numbers (if true) should be alarming to any red blooded America, but let me continue on to put the shocker to things.

“The polls also find that Americans are increasingly critical of the capitalist system that made America the envy and target of the rest world.”

Now I ask you, are we Socialist? And is anyone going to do anything about anything? WE SHALL SEE

Capitalism—-one form of economic systems and it is just that, a system. The standards injected into that system are coming to capitalism from another source. Those sources will give capitalism its moral and ethical boundaries, how it will be run. Capitalism could never be said to force morals or ethics onto the greedy person who by working the system made money and by doing so created any number of jobs which the system would demand anyway.

The greedy venture capitalist can never be honored as a righteous person he can only be advertised as a good person through some platform. The laws that direct the operation of capitalism, again are just that, they act as a form of punishment when violated and a reward when used within those laws of operation. The laws are internal and native to the system and/or the laws imposed through government regulations. They have nothing to do with the righteousness or evilness of the person’s character working the system. He alone stands to do right by the system or if evil, to pervert and twist it into the greed and abuse we see in today’s system.

The perversion of both Capitalism (the economy) and Republic form of government can only lead to less and less liberty. In both cases it will not be the system that is causing the perversion and destruction but the character of the people who are in control of those systems.

We must realize that man’s material choices (what he does and how he acts) flows from his spiritual moral beliefs. Morals and ethics concerns are intertwined with economic choices. In fact, the founder of modern economics, Adam Smith, was the instructor of moral philosophy at the University of Glasgow; and his book “The Wealth of Nations” (1776) was developed out of his prior book, “The Theory of Moral Sentiments”. (1759)

Isaiah 1:22 “Your silver has become dross…”

Have we not cheapen our coins and printed our paper without the backing of gold—the paper is back by nothing but the government’s word which is fast becoming worthless. With the government about to raise the debt ceiling another $1.2 Trillion cheapening our money even more and setting——–still another poor example of leadership.

The Puritan work ethic was foundational to America’s success. From the year 1623 when the Puritan’s jettisoned the Communistic economic system, which almost caused the colony to perish——-they put in place a Biblical individual enterprise system, and from that date there has been no famine in this land.

Our nation has been cultivated with liberty as no other nation in history, yet we find in these days a perverted capitalistic system with greed and power ruling the halls of banking and government. Why is this? God is out and something other then righteousness has taken its place. Liberty is a Christian idea and a gift of God.

Proverb 13:11 KJV
 “Wealth gotten by vanity (fraud) shall be diminished but he that gathereth by labor shall increase.”
Proverb 14:23 KJV
 “In all labor there is profit: but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury.” (Extreme poverty)

We Shall See——-and very shortly

From a dear friend here in Pennsylvania (Below)—-with each passing day I think two things are happening 1/ People are wising up to the manipulation of the citizens 2/ We are realizing Western Civilization—-with God’s Biblical law is longer the rule here in America.

His thoughts—Enjoy:

Mitt Romney yesterday made what I think (and hope) may have been a major gaffe. Regarding the widening income gap between the shrinking middle class and the rich, he stated: “You know, I think it’s about envy. I think it’s about class warfare”. This is a familiar topic on these pages so I thought it was worth comment.

If the statement were valuable and accurate I would applaud him for having the integrity to tell the truth even when it hurts politically, like Ron Paul does. I think, though, that his statement shows how out of touch he is with everyday reality for middle-class Americans. In the world of a generation or two ago his sentiments would have been far more accurate than they are today; today it has more the sound of an empty slogan. Today, his comment is a slap in the face of millions of hard working, responsible Americans who have some VERY legitimate gripes. Mr. Romney, if you’re listening, here’s what I, and many like me think:

I don’t think, mainly, in terms of classes. I think that any person is far, far more than the amount of money he has or the neighborhood in which he lives. I know people who are dirt poor and are fine and interesting people. I know people with lots of money and a big house who have no class at all, and appear empty. And vice-versa, I know some very fine people who “have it all”, and some poor people who deserve to be just that. Therefore, I just don’t think in terms of “class warfare”.

As to envy, although I suppose anyone experiences tinges of it from time to time, it is something that I don’t carry around with me. And, in fact, when the green monster strikes, it is usually for reasons far removed from wealth.

Yet, I am probably one of the ones to whom you would direct your comment. Why? Because I’m angry about some things that you don’t get:

1. I’m angry that politically favored people can make very risky investments, take huge profits when they get lucky, and have the government (that’s you, Mitt) steal from me to cover their losses. Yes, those are some rich people that I’m pretty ticked off at.
2. I’m angry that many of the same crowd have twisted our financial markets beyond recognition with schemes that make them rich for providing no capital and doing no productive work.
3. I’m angry that we have come to the point that the accepted way to become super-rich is no longer to have a great idea, or to be savvy and innovative at producing or serving, but to figure out how to manipulate the system…or to have a buddy who names you as “CEO”.
4. I’m angry that top management of large companies no longer can be satisfied with salaries on the order of 50 or 100 times the average worker, but take tens or hundreds of millions, “just because they can”. This is not free enterprise, it’s theft, and just because in some twisted way it’s “legal” does not make it ethical or moral. There is a huge difference between free enterprise and working the system.
5. I’m angry that we have to sacrifice to pay exorbitant property taxes to support a bloated education bureaucracy with teachers working far less and making far more than the average taxpayer, and able to retire with large (large to us…not to you) pensions in their early 50’s.

6. I’m angry that dishonesty and theft are rewarded and hard work and responsibility are penalized.
7. I’m angry that all the above is based on a phony monetary system that continually robs the savings of us who have responsibly saved for the future.

So please, Mitt, don’t lecture us about “hard work and free enterprise”, or in this case “class warfare and envy”. We know all about free enterprise, and love it. And we’re angry that a small group of elites use it as a slogan and an excuse while they work the system to rob us blind.

Porter Stansberry of Baltimore, Maryland writes in his “Investment Advisory” newsletter Dec. 2011——“The Corruption of America” being the feature article. I would recommend you Google the newsletter and try to find the article. The article is 15 pages long giving Mr. Stansberry plenty of ink to give his readers the details and explanation as to what he thinks is wrong. I thought it the wiser that I not attempted to condense in my words his thoughts, but to pull sentences and short paragraphs out of the article in an effort to show you his insight and depth to which he thinks we have fallen.

Before I start let me just say—-We are right in the middle of the Republican presidential primary, having gone through the Iowa and New Hampshire primaries, and who knows how many debates so far—–all with the shallowness of a dried up creek in the summer heat of the August sun.

We start on page 3 of the article. I have pulled out 10 short sentences and/or paragraphs.

1/ “America is not the country it was 40 years ago. These changes are warping our economy, politics and culture.”

2/ “…I want to document the growth of graft in politics.”

3/ “…I believe the decline of our country is primarily of culture.”

I have said, for years, the same thing and could not agree more with his statement.

4/ “We have lost our sense of honor, humility, and the dedication to personal responsibility that, for more than 200 years, made our country the greatest hope for mankind.”

Page 5 first paragraph

5/ “The corruption of America isn’t happening in one part of our country… or in one type of institution. It is happening across the landscape of our society, in almost every institution. It’s kind of a moral decay…a kind of greed… a kind of desperate grasp for power…and its destroying our nation.”

When you have exempted congress from insider trading you have open the doors to the corruption of the government. There is nothing more criminal in my mind then insider trading and the capitalizing on information you as a legislator have in formulating laws to your advantage.

6/ “Cheating has become a way of life in America.”

When life and it standards are gauged by who cheats the less—you have a corrupt society.

Page 6 We find these words;

7/ “According to the NAACP, Texas taxpayers spent $175 million in 2009 to imprison residents from a small part of Houston—only 10 zip codes out of 75.”

8/ “In Pennsylvania, taxpayers will spend $290 million in 2009 to imprison residents from just 11 of Philadelphia’s neighborhoods, representing about 25% of the city population.”

9/ “In New York, taxpayers will spend $539 million to imprison residents from only 24 of New York city, 200 different neighborhoods. Only 16%of the city’s population lives in these areas, but they will account for nearly half of the state’s $1.1 billion prison budget.”

10/ “America has many problems…but these neighborhoods represent more than a society in decline. Life in these places reflects a complete collapse of Western Civilization.”

Crime is only the manifestation of a corrupt society, political directions (left or right) will have nothing to do with——if the country shall survive—-it can’t survive—laws cannot correct culture in this type of failure.

Page 15 Mr. Stansberry closes with this:
 “…the right to bear arms has little to do with protecting ourselves from crime and everything to do with protecting ourselves from government.”

Western Civilization is failing and we are seeing the demise of America. This step by step dismantling of the greatness of America is invisible to most here in the USA. It is the process that occurred from 1933 -1939 in Germany, and most here in America will deny the process is even happening, and certainly not through the likes of Obama and his “Progressive” people that surround him. The culture is indeed changing—the question is—-is it for the better or for the worse—if for the worse nothing will correct any of it——-accept the hand of GOD—-pray HE will have mercy on America.

WE SHALL SEE—–this year—-don’t you think??????

By losing it, I mean our technology and intellectual competitiveness! Word is out that Kodak might file for bankruptcy if they don’t get their stock value up in the next six months and they might even be taken off the market! A friend of mine is a key scientist and inventor who is occasionally hired by camera companies for his ideas. He has done work for companies that design and build high speed cameras for military aircraft design and testing. Unfortunately, that was twenty years ago!

One of the biggest complaints by people in the industry is that Kodak has not kept up with technology. Does anyone wonder what they mean by that? I do! It means that they have a difficult time hiring the people with the necessary knowledge and experience in the field at a wage they can afford! We are 37th in the world in math and science and the percentage of well educated Americans is falling fast when compared to countries like Japan, India and China. The really well educated and experienced people we have are in the defense industry and not willing to move into the consumer products industry. Almost everything we buy is made outside of the United States. Things look good when prices are low but it will catch up to us in time when jobs are lost and the average person no longer has the financial resources to buy anything, regardless of where it is made!

I suspect that we have gotten fat and lazy over the years and thought we were too important to work for a living producing a product. “We want a cushy job! It’s beneath our dignity to get our hands dirty! Let the Asians do it! Besides, I have more important things to do, like watching Idol or the latest thrash movie, full of violence, profanity and nudity!”

I know, it’s a free country but we have taken our freedoms to extremes in many cases! Most of our laws are due to us being too free to do what we want without being held accountable. We feel that we are entitled! We have become more interested in consuming instead of providing! It’s all about me!

The bottom line is that our country is going in the same direction of Kodak….downhill without any brakes! Kind of like the GM (Government Motors) Sonic!

Some 300+ years before the birth of Jesus Christ, Aristotle rightly discerned the difference between tyranny and legitimate authority in government.
Aristotle: (384-322 BC)
 “A tyrant seeketh his own, a king the good of the subjects; for he is no king who is not content and excelleth in goodness.”

Quoting Aristotle from Samuel Rutherford’s book Lex Rex (1644) Sprinkle Publication (reprint 1982 Pg. 198); What Aristotle didn’t realize is that the authority came from God.

One might ask, what is it you are telling me? It is quite simple, in Paul writings to the Romans chapter 13 verses 1 through 7 the Christian and today’s Pastors have distorted this teaching to the point that they believe allegiance is to the government and allegiance is owed at any cost, NOT SO. The one in charge of government is to be a minister of God and is to do Good, by God’s Law. All those governors who are not doing righteously (Good) by Biblical standards and continues to act outside of the Constitutional Covenant and God’s law must be seen as not having authority over the citizen and as Peter said, “We must obey God”.

The accumulated effect of unrighteousness outside of Jesus Christ can be seen of and by the citizens of America through the following transgressions of lawlessness.
1/ Approving of and/or promoting the indiscriminate massacre of our unborn children;
2/ Engaging in the destruction of our Christian heritage and culture;
3/ Enslaving us by means of a counterfeit money system; (FED)
4/ Maintaining an unbiblical and confiscatory tax on our homes and property; (School Property Tax)
5/ Failing to condemn, and even financing homosexuality, pornography and other such abomination;
6/ Conspiring to disarm its subjects;
7/ Selling it own subjects VIA international treaties;
8/ Leaving open the borders with no regard for citizens safety; (a clear violation of the Constitution)

These are but a few governmental wrongs against it’s citizens and as the case builds, it will prove & show itself to be coming dangerously close to having the government and the magistrate determined to be evil and tyrannical. Is this not seen today?

The line in the sand is not being drawn and we drift further and further into dangerous waters of conflicting worldviews and clashing religious beliefs. There comes a point of no return, when the boundary will have been breached, political debate and talking things through will not satisfy anyone. We must understand this;

Theologian Adam Clarke (1762-1832) Commentary and Critical Notes Nashville, New York Abington Press 1831 Vol. 6 p. 145

“Nothing can justify the opposition of the subjects to the ruler but overt attempts on the ruler’s part to change the Constitution, or to rule contrary to law. When the ruler acts thus he dissolves the compact between him and his people; his authority is no longer binding…this conduct justifies opposition to his government.”

Quoted by Ted R. Weiland page 11 “Duty Under Corrupt Government” 1997

Questions involving the Constitution IE: Compact we have—-between government and the citizen——indeed should come up this year for discussion. The Republican Party had better wake-up and understand they have a duty to defend the citizens or else the citizen will have no willingness or duty to follow them and the situation will deteriorate to something uncontrollable.

WE SHALL SEE—-Don’t you think?????

Here is 3 questions (Below) that every American should be asking as the Progressive politicians in Washington DC defy any reason or order in the founding fathers political system wishing to convert it and the Constitution into some socialist order.

My dear friend (see the end of the article for contact information) has written a timely article for the coming year, it is and has come to be a critical time in history that both Christianity and the Constitution be defended to the maximum by all citizens of America.

I believe that Christianity is the real target of the politician and that destroying Constitutional government is simply away of getting at the course that Christianity has put the American citizen on.

Thank You Joel for this simple but effective way of defending the faith.

Three Effective Christian Comebacks
We’ve all been there. Someone, somewhere, at the hardware store, board meeting, or family get-together makes an offensive remark, something designed to malign, misrepresent, demean, or outright attack your Christian faith. You know you should say something, but you don’’t know what to say. You can learn how to respond effectively and survive such an encounter by being prepared with three effective Christian comebacks.
In any contest, athletic, military, or verbal, the timing of a response is critical. The effectiveness of a response declines as time elapses. For example, General Patton’s counter at the Battle of the Bulge was not necessarily brilliant, but it was quick. The Germans never thought he could bring the firepower that he brought in such a short amount of time. The victory was in the timing. In the same way, Christian comebacks depend on quickness as well as content.
The key is in being prepared. You must know what you will say before the encounter arises. You must be ready. “Always be ready to give an answer (Peter 3:15),” stresses the importance of being prepared. When that disparaging remark is made at the coffee klatch, it’s too late to be guessing what you are going to say.
So what do you say when your faith is challenged? The absolute best way to answer a skeptic is to ask a question. A question will give you an advantage in three ways:
1) It will put you in control of the encounter.
2) It will gain you time to gather your thoughts.
3) It will put your challenger on the defensive.
These comebacks are designed to help you be prepared with what to say even if you don’’t know in what way or setting a challenge will come. They are not designed to win the argument for you. Sometimes they may simply force a challenger to retreat. If you encounter someone who is truly seeking the truth, this approach will open doors of future opportunity for you to explain the truth of the issue. On the other hand, you may be facing an experienced, knowledgeable, and aggressive challenger. You may feel like you lost ground, but you are to be commended for standing up and not conceding the field without a challenge.

Comeback #1
What exactly do you mean by that?
Keep your tone even and interested.
Comeback #2
Why do you believe that?
Again, keep your tone even and listen intently to his response, because you really do want to know the answer to this question. It will give you more insight and discernment as to where his heart and mind is.
Comeback #3
How do you know that?

This is the most directly challenging question and usually is reserved for someone making an untruthful claim about Christ, His Word, or His people. Put this question out there only once and wait and listen through his answer. You may not need to say anymore. It’s effect will allow him to listen to himself as he tries to defend his position. The purpose is not to start or maintain an argument. You challenged his challenge. Sometimes your challenge will prevent him from making further bold statements in your presence. Don’’t be afraid to use this question anytime a repeat offender makes his comments in your hearing. He will stop after one or a few challenges. And you will have stood for the truth just by challenging the untruth.
Putting it into practice
Let’s take a typical challenge and pose our questions accordingly. Here’’s one. The other day I heard a man on a call-in show on CNN say on public television, ““Those so-called good Christians are really just a bunch of racists”.”

How would you respond if this was said in your hearing?
#1. What exactly do you mean by that?
Challenge his statement. Make him defend it to you and the people in the room.
#2. Why do you believe that?
Again, listen and let him talk. Don’’t argue.
#3. How do you know that?
Challenge his source of information.

At some time during this encounter, your challenger will back off (or walk off), close the discussion, or (best of all) he may want to hear your Christian view of the issue. This approach may lead to further discussion and opportunity to share your faith, or your skeptic may avoid you altogether.

Warrior of Christ, God does not expect you to win every argument. However, He does want you to stand for Him. You are to be commended that you stood and defended your faith and the truth of God’’s Word.

If this has been helpful to you, contact Joel and tell him about your encounter and how this helped you defend your faith .
www.streetwisetheology.com
joel@streetwisetheology.com
StreetWise Theology
71 Hawk Valley Lane
Denver PA 17517
484-772-9088