You shall have no other gods before Me (Ex 20:3).

Do not invoke the names of other gods; do not let them be heard on your lips (Ex 23:13b).

Scripture's history of the kings of Israel and Judah warns rulers and nations to avoid the errors that led to Israel's decline - from Biblical revival & righteousness to sin, from sin to idolatry and from idolatry to inexorable Divine judgment & destruction (Ps 2:10-12; Cor 10:11; 2 Tim 3:16).

As Christians and Americans we thank God for President George Bush. He has done much for which Christians can and should be grateful. Also, he is a brother (though young) in the Lord.

Yet we fear and tremble. In his strategy toward Muslims at home and abroad, the President has grievously erred. Whether born of Biblical naiveté or bad advice, his White House "Iftaars," mosque visitations, speeches to honor and defend Islam (equating the Muslim god with the God of the Bible, honoring Mohammed as a "prophet" and the Qu'ran as "holy"), and endless representations of Islam as a "peaceful," "good," "just" and "moral" religion have gone too far.

Moreover, the President has offended the Only True God by egregiously violating the First and other Commandments that clearly require reverence for the Triune God alone. However noble his motive, George Bush is bringing upon America the guilt and consequences of IDOLATRY.

The great Puritan scholar, Matthew Henry, wrote of Exodus 20:3ff,

"[Men] must not bow down to [other gods, even] occasionally, that is, show any sign of respect or honor to them, much less serve them... by... any act of religious worship...

"God [is a]... a jealous God... This intimates... His hatred of idolatry and all false worship, His displeasure against idolaters... He resents every thing... that looks like, or leads to, idolatry... If God is jealous... we should be also, afraid of offering any worship... other than as He has appointed in His word...

"God looks upon [idolaters] as haters of Him, though they perhaps pretend love to him; He will visit their iniquity... He will very severely punish it, not only as a breach of His law, but as an affront to His majesty... He will bring such judgments upon [such] a people as shall be their] total ruin... Though He bear long with [them], He will not bear always."

Christians have a duty to pray for the President and to protest his exaltation of "other gods." Because he is a fellow believer, we also have a duty firmly to warn and to correct him (2 Chr 19:9-10; Pr 9:8-10; 24:21-25; 27:5-6; Ez 3:18-19; Eph 4:15; 1 Tim 5:1; 5:19-21; 2 Tim 4:2-4).

Please join us in Repentant Prayer:

Lord, we have sinned grievously against You. PLEASE FORGIVE US! You alone are God & there is no other!

Grant our President REPENTANCE & FORGIVENESS!

REVERSE the damage that has already been done. In Jesus' Name, Amen! (Dt 8:19; 11:16-17, 26-28; 28:14, 36, 64; 29:24ff; 1 Kg 14:7ff; Ps 106:all; 107:all).

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