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Separation of Church and State

Question I keep hearing that the U.S. Constitution requires the separation of church and state. Could you show me the part of the Constitution that says that?

Bible Bell's Reply- Part 1 We cannot show you the Constitutional requirement for separation of church and state. Why? Because such a provision simply does not exist in the United States Constitution. The First Amendment is the only place where the Constitution speaks to the subject of "freedom of religion." The First Amendment is quoted below in its entirety. Notice that NOWHERE does the First Amendment state (or even imply) any requirement for separation of church and state.

First Amendment to the United States Constitution Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

Bible Bell's Reply- Conclusion As you can clearly see by reading it, the First Amendment was designed to provide freedom OF religion, not freedom FROM religion.

How far is "TOO far?"
A Young Woman's Question Me and my boyfriend of 8 months feel we are going to be married. We both feel that is what God wants us to do with our lives with one another. Now I love him so much, and he loves me too, but our question for you today is -- How far is too far? We know sex is out of the question, but can we do the other things together if we don't let it lead to sex? Please write back and help me solve this one.
Bible Bell's Reply Since you are a Christian, you need to ask yourself if your boyfriend is a Christian, too. If he is NOT a believer on Christ Jesus, then he is not the husband that God has for you.		Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? 2 Cor 6.14
God invented sexual relations for two main reasons... 1) As a means for procreation -- that is, to have children.		Then God blessed them, and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply" Gen 1.28a
2) As a means for wife and husband to express their love and commitment to one another, and to become "one flesh" Thus, marital relations are not SOLELY for the purpose of having children. As designed by God, sex is also intended to be enjoyed as an expression of enduring love.		Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed. Gen 2.24-25
Sexual relations between husband and wife are holy unto God.		Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled Heb 13.4a
On the other hand, having sexual relations OUTSIDE of marriage constitutes the sin of fornication. Fornication is an insult to God's purposes for the holy act of marital relations. Fornication reduces the sexual act to a mere biological urge, not all that different from the need to eat, or go to the bathroom.		Every sin that a person does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 1 Cor 6.18b-19
A couple is being arrogant and prideful if they believe that they can engage in heavy petting and still not "go all the way." This is true even for dedicated Christians...		Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. Prov 6.18
God clearly states that your spirit may desire to remain chaste until after marriage, but your FLESH is weak and can all too readily yield to the temptation of heavy petting.		(Jesus said...) Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. Mt 26.41
Accordingly, God's command to you is to FLEE sexual immorality. In other words, don't ever allow yourself to get into any situation where you or your boyfriend can get carried away.		Flee sexual immorality. 1 Cor 6.18a
The more deeply you and your boyfriend fall in love, the more careful you have to be. Why? Because the "urge to merge" increases as love grows. How careful is "careful enough"? Some Christian couples who went on dates alone, in the early stages of their relationship, decided that, after they fell deeply in love, they would only double-date. Why? Because they recognized that the more they were drawn to each other, the more danger there was that they would get carried away if they continued dating one-on-one. In other words, the more you and your boyfriend love each other, the more careful you must be. Anything more than hand-holding can be "too far" as you become more drawn to each other. A single "good night kiss" should only be done on YOUR doorstep, at the last moment before you and he part company for the day.		If your boyfriend loves you enough to commit himself to you for life, then he will respect God's commands, and your wishes to obey them. If he doesn't respect your wishes to obey God, then he does NOT love you enough to be your lifelong mate. In the final analysis, you must ask yourself -- WHOSE wisdom you are going to trust? Yours? Your boyfriend's? Or God's? I highly recommend that you and your boyfriend counsel together with your Pastor. To read additional Bible Bell pages about love, dating, marriage, and sex... Click HERE
Why doesn't God get rid of Satan?
Nony's Questions I have two questions that came up when me and my husband were discussing God: 1) Is there a war going on between God and Satan? 2) If so, Satan must be very strong. Otherwise, why doesn't God just wipe him out?
Bible Bell's reply
Is there a war? There is no "hand-to-hand war" going on between God and Satan. If there were, it would be over in an instant. God would merely speak a word, and Satan would immediately cease to exist. (ref Isa 11.4, 2 Thes 2.8, Rev 19.15-21) The only "war" that PRESENTLY exists between God and Satan is a contest for the minds and hearts and souls of people... God calls people to love Him, and to receive forgiveness of sins through belief in Jesus Christ. Satan, on the other hand, seeks to have people hate God, reject Jesus, and worship Satan.		In the FUTURE, there will be an actual war between God and Satan. It is sometimes referred to as the Battle of Armageddon... You can read about this future battle in Bible passages such as Zechariah chapter 14 and Revelation chapter 19. For a clear and concise commentary on the prophecies concerning this battle, and other aspects of the Last Days, we recommend: "The Footsteps of the Messiah" by Dr. Arnold Fruchtenbaum. You can buy it from the link listed below... Ariel Ministries
Why doesn't God just wipe Satan out? To understand why God doesn't destroy Satan, we need to look at some facts about... #1 Love #2 Choices #3 Consequences
#1 Love God is love.		God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him. 1 John 4.16b
God loves people.		For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3.16
One of God's purposes in creating angels and humans was that they would love Him.		Jesus said to him, "You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind." Mt 22.37
#2 Choices God could have created angels and people so that it would be their nature to love Him. In other words, loving God would have been "programmed" into us. If God had done this, our love for Him would be meaningless. If a toy doll says, "I love you" when you press a button in its tummy, does that doll REALLY love you? Of course not! Love must given as a matter of CHOICE, or it is not love.
Accordingly, God create people and angels with the innate ability to make CHOICES... We can choose to love God, or not to love God. We can choose to obey God, or not to obey God. We can choose GOOD... or EVIL		(God said...) I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; that you may love the LORD your God Deu 30.19-20a
#3 Consequences Since God INTENTIONALLY created us with the ability to make choices, it would be grossly unfair if God destroyed everyone who made a decision that did not please Him... If everyone who disagreed with God was immediately annihilated by Him, FEAR would become the "button" in each of our tummies. People and angels who refused to respond to the FEAR button just wouldn't be around any more. Thus, our "choices" would be a lie. Our "love" would be a lie. And we would simply become God's Barbie dolls.
Accordingly, God ordained that the CONSEQUENCES of our choices would be allowed to stand... Thus, people and angels are free to practice evil, and to reject, hate, and disobey God, without fear of annihilation. Concerning Satan -- God does not like Satan's choices, but God respects Satan's right to choose. After all, it was God who vested Satan with the ability and right to make choices.		(God said...) Ephraim is joined to idols, Let him alone. Hos 4.17 (God said...) My people would not heed My voice, and Israel would have none of Me. So I gave them over to their own stubborn heart, to walk in their own counsels. Psalm 81.11-12 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting Rom 1.28
The BIG question: Isn't Hell a punishment? The Bible clearly and repeatedly says that HELL is the ultimate destiny of those who reject God. This being the case, isn't God punishing those who reject Him? Bible Bell's Response In Bible Bell's OPINION, it is abundantly evident that Hell does NOT constitute a "fear button" for most people, since they obviously feel quite free to defy God and practice sin. (Next column)		It is our further OPINION that being consigned to eternal residence in Heaven would be totally repugnant to those who reject God. Why? Because they would forever be "trapped in church"... They would be in the midst of uncountable myriads of people and angels who worship and love God, where hymns of praise and worship are sung 24/7/eternally. Moreover, they would forever be in the overwhelmingly personal presence of the very God whom they repeatedly rejected and so clearly despise.
The BOTTOM LINE Many people choose to say NO to God. God will accede to their choice and give them a place of their own. A place with -- NO God. Thus, God will not annihilate Satan or anyone else who rejects Him. Rather, God will ultimately and eternally BANISH them from His presence, and from the glory of His power.		These (rejecters of God) shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power 2 Thes 1.9

Choose! The Bible proclaims that God is love. God is light. God is truth. God is kindness and mercy and ALL that is good and pure and holy. Hell is the place of NO God. NO love. NO light. NO truth. NO kindness or mercy -- NOTHING that is good and pure and holy. Satan has made his choice. What is YOUR choice?

If it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve... As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. Josh 24.15a, 24.15c

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