THE CURSE OF CHURCH AND STATE, PART 4: THE FIRST DUTY OF CITIZENS

The following paragraph was penned over 120 years ago, but accurately describe the events of our world today. And tomorrow. In the last scenes of this earth’s history, war will rage. There will be pestilence, plague and famine. The waters of the deep will overflow their boundaries. Property and life will be destroyed by fire and flood. We should be preparing for the mansions that Christ has gone to prepare for them that love Him. Maranatha, 174 (1897). … It is March 30, 2026. The Strait of Hormuz, a corridor through which a third of global shipping once passed, i has been largely closed to traffic for thirty days. The population at large has yet to realize the full catastrophic implications of this closure. When they do, they are likely to panic. In the weeks leading up to the commencement of the war in Iran, the price of a barrel of West Texas Intermediate fluctuated between $55 and $66/barrel. Today, it is $101.56/barrel. Brent crude is even higher, surpassing $115/barrel as of the time of writing. The Strait of Hormuz is the conduit for 40% of global fertilizer shipments, and 50% of urea shipments. 50% of global sulphur, used in pesticides, insecticides, and fungicides, come through the Strait of Hormuz. All such traffic is at a standstill. Already struggling farmers are confronted with the twin spectres of rapidly rising fuel costs and limited fertilizer. Maybe the timing of the invasion of Iran is just a coincidence. Maybe it was unforeseen that Iran would close the Strait of Hormuz if it was attacked. Maybe the people who plan wars don’t have sophisticated war gaming capabilities and artificial intelligence war simulators which project likely outcomes. Or maybe, if the elites who want a global population collapse could pick any moment to interrupt shipping traffic and create conditions for widespread famine on planet earth, they would pick the spring planting season. Coincidence or not, in addition to the cessation of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, China has also restricted fertilizer exports. ii Suddenly, the prospect of famine in various places globally is rising. To say that people are unprepared would be a gross understatement. Grocery stores in the western world stock approximately 3 days worth of food. Nearly all domestic food transportation globally runs on diesel. On February 23, 2026, the U.S. retail diesel price was $3.809 per gallon. By March 23, 2026, it had risen to $5.375 per gallon. Those costs will be passed on to consumers sooner or later, and inflation will erode the savings and financial stability of the population. Nations are being squeezed. Many countries in Asia have implemented fuel rationing. Sri Lanka has introduced a QR-code-based rationing system limiting private cars to 15 litres per week. Bangladesh restricts motorcycle purchases to 2 litres per day and private cars to 10 litres per day. Myanmar has instituted an "odd-even" rationing system for fuel purchases based on vehicle registration numbers. Cambodia has seen significant closures with a third of petrol pumps shut down. South Korea has ordered public servants to reduce passenger car use and capped refined fuel exports. Thailand has encouraged remote work, limited air conditioning to 26°C, and suspended fuel exports. Vietnam is encouraging remote work and limiting personal vehicle use, while some smaller stations have temporarily closed due to declining supplies. Nepal has limited the use of official vehicles to essential services and is considering an odd-even system for private vehicles. Pakistan has reduced available fuel for government vehicles by half. We have repeatedly been told that the war in Iran will be over quickly. But US soldiers were informed by their commanding officers that this war will bring in Armageddon. If the theocons who control the White House are anticipating Armageddon, why would anyone think that this is going to be a transitory situation? Or that everything will go back to normal if the Iran issue is resolved? The reality is that a paradigm shift has taken place in the upper echelons of power in America. There is now a union of church and state, and the Iran war is a religious war. A “holy war”, at the conclusion of which the theocons claim will usher in a “golden age” of peace and prosperity. Stock markets and political analysts have yet to understand, or even begin to consider, what this means in all its various ramifications. In the meantime, we propose that readers watch the following video on food scarcity, and seriously consider taking steps to plant a garden soon. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=c77M4mC7yLg ________________________________________________ i https://www.etcgroup.org/content/experts-warn-strait-hormuz-fertilizer-and-fuel-blockage-could-lead-global-food-crisis ii https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/china-restricts-fertiliser-exports-further-crimping-war-tightened-supply-2026-03-19/

NATIONS AND IMPERIALISM America is both a nation and an empire. By necessity, nations are inherently self-interested. They have their own geographic boundaries to protect, and they are supposed to guard and advance the best interests of their citizens. Imperialism is a byproduct and a magnification of the tension between nations. There have been many empires in human history, and each at various times has subjugated and violently dominated their neighbors and pillaged their resources. None of this is unusual in the context of human history. But when the most powerful nation in history starts wars, steals other countries resources, and demands territory from its allies under threat of force (Greenland), and at the same time loudly declares for the entire world to hear that it is “a Christian nation”, it seems reasonable for thinking people to ask what exactly that means. WHAT IS CHRISTIANITY? Christians have faith in Jesus Christ as the prophesied Messiah. They believe He is God in human flesh; “God with us” – Isaiah 7:14. His teachings matter to them, and not just as external forms. Christianity says the teachings of Christ are to govern and motivate their conduct, and that Christ will give His followers a new heart, a new birth, so that His commandments become internal and natural. Selfish people become self-sacrificing people. Rage-aholics become peaceful and serene. The greatest miracle is a changed life. Christ instructed His followers to follow the golden rule: “do unto others as you would have others do unto you” – Matthew 7:12. Christ says His kingdom is “not of this world” – John 18:36, but that His kingdom is within the hearts of His followers – Luke 17:21. The territory He wants is not geographic – He already owns the universe and the cattle on a thousand hills are His – Psalms 50:10. The contested ground on this earth is the individual heart, and it is hearts He came to save and renew. Given the foregoing, how could America possibly be a Christian nation? Has it been born again – John 3? Does it die to self daily – 2 Cor 15:31? Does it “seeketh not its own” – 2 Corinthians 13? We make no complaint if America, or any other nation, is simply honest, and states the truth: “we are concerned about our own interests. The protection of our borders and our resources. The prosperity of our people. We are inherently selfish, greedy and domineering.” But American politicians and Christian pastors within it are loudly and repeatedly declaring that America is a Christian nation. i Such a claim invokes, nay invites, the scrutiny of America’s conduct against the measuring rod of the life and teachings of Christ. Further, it invites the scrutiny of the Deity Himself. It should come as no surprise that claiming to represent Christ invites the scrutiny, and even judgment, of Christ. As the commandment says, “Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who taketh His name in vain” – Exodus 20:7. “BY THEIR FRUITS YOU SHALL KNOW THEM” Six years after the First Amendment became part of the US Constitution, the Treaty of Tripoli was signed in 1797. Article 11 contains the following provision, which was adopted by the US Senate and signed by President John Adams: "The government of the United States of America is not in any sense founded on the Christian Religion". ii Jefferson, Madison and Adams never claimed that America was a Christian nation, but the theocons who control the White House today do. It is therefore fair to test their claim. The Bible says that not everyone who professes to follow Christ is really a follower of Christ. Jesus Himself said – you will know them by their fruits – Matthew 7:16. In other words, according to Christ, you will know if they are Christians by their conduct. Not just by their profession. Which raises an interesting question: if there is conduct which is unchristian in individuals, is there not conduct which is unchristian in nations? What does one call the folks who declare they are Christians and then constantly violate every principle of His teachings? We understand that people make mistakes and so do nations. But you’d think nations that claim to be Christian nations could at least have the decency and empathy to apologize. If you accidentally bomb a school and kill 150 schoolgirls, you’d think the least a Christian nation could do is ask forgiveness and make reparations to the families. Isn’t that the Christian thing to do? Or do “Christian Nations” not have to act like Christians? The person who is now head of the Department of War, and the most powerful military in human history, Pete Hegseth, once authored a book wherein he invoked religious language to describe a Christian nation in a holy war against Islam. It ought to be unnecessary to point out that “holy wars” are inherently church/state affairs. They take place in nations in which the religious leaders have substantial control of the civil power, and thereby the military. Hegseth’s book is called, “American Crusade”. It spends little if any time discussing the need to send missionaries to the Middle East, or the Great Commission from Christ to share the Gospel with “all the world”, which presumably would include Iran. Somehow that part gets skipped. Mr. Hegseth issues his call for Christian jihad with the mantra, “Deus Vult”, or “God wills it”, which he also has tattooed on his body. Deus Vult is a Latin exhortation from 1095 that Pope Urban II used to rally crusaders during the First Crusade. Secretary Hegseth faced backlash recently for stating that “no mercy and no quarter” will be given to “our enemies” in Iran, which signifies that soldiers who surrender will be executed rather than taken prisoner. Multiple legal experts immediately protested, reminding Hegseth that such statements constitute a war crime under international and congressional law. iii That is no doubt true. But there is an even higher law that Hegseth has violated, and it is contained in the teachings of Christ Himself, who Hegseth claims to represent. Note the contrast. Jesus : Blessed are the merciful, for they will obtain mercy – Matthew 5:7. Hegseth: “We will give no mercy, and no quarter to our enemies”. No mercy for Iranians even if they surrender. Jesus : “Love your neighbor as yourself.” “This do and thou shalt live” – Luke 10:28. Hegseth (and maybe you!): “Surely Jesus, surely, Iranians are not our neighbors?” And how does the Bible answer that troublesome question? “But he, willing to justify himself, said to him, “Who is my neighbor?” – Luke 10:29. This is the famous preamble to the parable of the Good Samaritan told by Christ, and you presumably know how the story goes. The Bible says, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” That means not murdering him. It means not coveting his oil. Or his land. It means not stealing from him, even when you are more powerful. These are not suggestions for the Christian, they are absolutes. And above all these, the spirit of the commandments contain positive obligations. If your neighbor is in the ditch, you help him. These are commandments for Christians, so wouldn’t they also be commandments for Christian nations? Nations who have claimed to represent Jesus Christ? Christ says, “He who lives by the sword will die by the sword” – Matthew 26:52. America spends more on its military than the next top nine countries combined. i It has been involved in countless foreign conflicts, openly and clandestinely providing weapons and money for proxy wars to Israel, Ukraine, Nicaragua, Afghanistan, Iraq and a host of other nations. It even provided weapons to Iran, the country which it is currently “bombing the hell out of.” ii America is the world’s largest arm’s exporter. iii It is the largest consumer of oil, which appears to be a major factor in all these wars. iv And speaking of consumption: America has the highest number of obese people of any nation in the world. v America produces the most pornography of any country. vi It uses more illicit drugs than any other nation, with Canada having the very dubious distinction of having the second highest illicit drug use globally. vii America has the world’s largest national debt, at $39 trillion dollars and growing rapidly. It has the highest incarceration rate of any nation, with 2 million people behind bars at any given time, including approximately 400,000 people who have been charged but not convicted. viii Don’t mistake us: we love America. We love the principles it is founded on – liberty of conscience, separation of church and state, republicanism. We love that America guards freedom of speech, and freedom of the press, and yes, those rights are biblical, and yes, they come out of the suffering of the Reformation! But is America a Christian nation? Does it demonstrate the fruits of the spirit? Is it meek and merciful, and a peacemaker? Is it going into all the world, preaching to all nations, and baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit? These are questions for you to weigh on the great scale of truth. There is no need for us to tell you the answer – the founding fathers said, “we hold these truths to be self-evident.” ______________________________________ i Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, Former Vice President Mike Pence, President Donald Trump, Rep. Lauren Boebert, Jeff Sessions, Senator Sam Brownback, Pastor Jared Longshore, Pastor Douglas Wilson, Stephen Wolfe, Joel Webbon, and many others have all claimed that America is a Christian Nation. The theologians have spoken explicitly in favor of a union of church and state. ii John Adams, 1797, Hunter Miller, ed., Treaties and other International Acts, 2:365 iii https://www.commondreams.org/news/hegseth-no-quarter-international-law iv https://www.statista.com/statistics/262742/countries-with-the-highest-military-spending/ v https://youtu.be/ZKv7FlAxJpM vi https://247wallst.com/military/2025/04/19/which-countries-buy-the-most-us-arms-and-what-are-they-buying/ vii https://www.worldometers.info/oil/oil-consumption-by-country/ viii https://healthylifebariatrics.com/most-obese-countries/ ix https://www.insidermonkey.com/blog/top-15-countries-that-supply-the-most-pornography-online-understanding-global-trends-and-the-role-of-ethical-content-creation-1441936/ x https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/drug-use-by-country xi https://www.prisonpolicy.org/profiles/US.htm l