It's Now or Never: A Call to Reclaim America

It’s Now Or Never

A Call to Reclaim America

Dr. Jody Hice

Copyright © 2012 by Dr. Jody Hice.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

WestBow Press books may be ordered through booksellers or by contacting:

WestBow Press

A Division of Thomas Nelson

1663 Liberty Drive

Bloomington, IN 47403

www.westbowpress.com

1-(866) 928-1240

Library of Congress Control Number: 2011960874

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Author photo on backcover taken by Michael Donnellan.

ISBN: 978-1-4497-3207-3 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4497-3206-6 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4497-3205-9 (e)

Printed in the United States of America

WestBow Press rev. date: 1/11/2012

Contents

Preface  My Personal Awakening 

Foreword Dr. Richard G. Lee

Introduction  IT IS NOW OR NEVER! 

Chapter One  Beware of Your Worldview 

Chapter Two  Bigger Than Life 

Chapter Three  Marriage: It’s Not About Love 

Chapter Four  The Truth about Hate Crimes 

Chapter Five  Religious Liberties Under Siege 

Chapter Six  The Second Amendment Disarmed 

Chapter Seven  The Rise of America’s Police State 

Chapter Eight  Parental Rights Vs. Guardian Government 

Chapter Nine  Radical Islam 

Chapter Ten  The Religious Left 

Chapter Eleven  Essential Deterrents to Socialism 

Chapter Twelve  Getting Pastors and Church Leaders Involved 

Chapter Thirteen  State Sovereignty: The Fed’s Greatest Fear 

Chapter Fourteen  Combating a Secular Worldview 

Chapter Fifteen  A Final Word: The Key to Reclaiming America 

Preface 

My Personal Awakening 

Many people experience a ‘defining moment’ at some point in their life; an instant when everything changes and a major shift-in-direction occurs. Perhaps you have had one. I most certainly have. This book begins with that specific point of reference in mind. My life experiences have revealed the good, the bad and the ugly; but in the end, they have made me a better person. As I share my story, I have no desire to ‘toot’ my own horn, being fully aware that I have nothing to ‘toot’ and I recognize that my ‘journey’ is not over yet, but the tests along the way have been inexpressibly valuable.

Although I had been distantly involved in political and cultural issues prior to 2003, everything changed in October of that year. I was pastor of the Bethlehem First Baptist Church in Bethlehem, Georgia, which is located in rural Barrow County, about 45 miles northeast of Atlanta. Everything seemed normal when that particular day started, but suddenly, like an unexpected incident that re-adjusts one’s core, I was informed that the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) was suing our county over a posted copy of the Ten Commandments in the county courthouse. Typically, that information would not have been a major distraction, but it was that day. My heart immediately began beating faster than usual. Several members in our church were going to be directly involved in the lawsuit and adversely affected by this. There was no doubt from that initial thought that I had to do something.

Months before, the idea had come forth about placing the Commandments in the courthouse and several of my church members enthusiastically moved to make it happen. One individual personally purchased the print, and another actually used his own hammer and nail to hang it in public display inside the courthouse. We had a number of county leaders who attended ‘BFBC’ and months had gone by without incident, but now, the dreaded ACLU was attacking our county; and more specifically, they were attacking our church members! I cannot overstress that—when the ACLU challenged Barrow County, they literally marched inside the doors of our church and forced us into a season of serious soul-searching. We were being directly confronted with authentic, ‘count-the-cost’ choices.

I knew a little about the ACLU. Enough to realize that they stood for virtually everything I opposed, and they opposed many of the values for which I would readily die. It was also common knowledge that they frequently harassed small counties that could not afford a lawsuit and through intimidation would try to force them to forsake treasured and historic principles. The more apparent their strategy became, the more I understood that action was required. I could not sit back. I had to fight. It was my defining moment.

I will never forget standing before the County Commissioners on the night of ‘the big vote.’ It was a place I had never been before. The room was filled to capacity and many were forced to stand outside the room. Barrow County citizens wanted their commissioners to resist the ACLU. I was granted permission to speak. I spoke briefly about the importance that the Commandments have had in American history, and the import of the First Amendment. Then, I plainly told them that, if they would fight the ACLU and not cower or their cave to their demands, I would find a way to pay for the legal expenses so that the taxpayers of Barrow County would not. They liked the offer, and I had no idea what I had just ‘stepped in’ but it changed my life.

Within days we formed an organization called Ten Commandments—Georgia, Inc., and we were quickly underway, fully anticipating all Christians and churches to assist Barrow’s battle against the ACLU. Unaware to me, ‘reality’ was just around the corner, and what a shock it would be!

The Barrow County case occurred on the heels of Chief Justice Roy Moore’s battle in Alabama. I attended a rally where he was speaking and had the opportunity to introduce myself and briefly describe the situation in Barrow County. He immediately became involved in helping us. Not too much time later, we had a rally on the courthouse steps. Roy Moore, Alan Keyes, Tony Perkins, Rick Scarborough, Commission Chairman Eddie Elder and myself led the rally. It was a powerful day, and media presence was significant as the Barrow County case was drawing national attention due to the commissioners’ unwillingness to surrender to the ACLU. Because of my commitment to ‘pay’ the legal expenses, I became the ‘face’ of the battle in many ways. Newspapers, television, interviews and speaking engagements became common, and I was invited to speak everywhere from Georgia’s state capitol to Washington D.C.

It was also during this time that a local radio station asked me to come on the air each Friday and discuss the Barrow County case, which I agreed to do. Actually, it was from that initial program that Let Freedom Ring Ministries was birthed and The Jody Hice Show began to address cultural issues on a broader scale. The daily program continues to this day, dealing with America’s culture from the Christian worldview perspective. Those days were anything but glamorous. In fact, some of the most painful and heartbreaking months of my life were experienced while trying to fund the legal expenses. My hopes of Christians ‘pulling together’ for a unified cause became virtually shattered during that time.

It is true that the response from many private citizens was amazing. They had rallies, prayer meetings, placed yard signs throughout the state and did everything they could to encourage the Commissioners to keep the issue alive. It is also true that over time the fire began to dwindle, largely because pastors and church leaders refused to get involved. Of course, there were a few exceptions—and those Christian leaders are still, heroes of mine. Sadly, they were a very few number. Although I was voted First Vice President of the Georgia Baptist Convention during that time (2004-05) because of my involvement and cultural stance, I often felt lonely and scared. At times the burden seemed like it would crush me as the constant pressures of raising money, talking to media, facing lawyers and court depositions, speaking engagements, pastoring a growing church, trying to maintain a healthy family and a host of other activities took their toll. I cannot count the number of times that various pastors and other Christians would say something like, thanks for taking a stand, Jody… we’re praying for you. They meant well, but those words often felt empty and accomplished little by way of encouragement. From my limited perspective, I needed more than prayers; I needed help!

In the end, we raised nearly three hundred thousand dollars for the county, but lost the case. The Ten Commandments had to be removed. It was devastating. The ruling from District Judge William O’Kelley was simply un-American and the ACLU arrogantly gloated their victory. It seemed I was living in another country, but, the battle was not over; God had another plan. Because the Barrow case had drawn so much national attention, key state legislators became involved. Over the course of the following year, the Georgia Legislature passed a law declaring a display of nine American historical documents (including the Ten Commandments) as legal. Today, that display is up in Barrow County and numerous other places throughout the state!

Another defining moment occurred in 2008. The Alliance Defense Fund (ADF), a Christian legal organization with which I had become very involved, announced a plan called the Pulpit Initiative. Its purpose was to challenge the IRS code which threatens churches with loss of tax-exempt status if they engage in ‘political’ activities. If there was one thing I had learned through the battle over the Ten Commandments, it was that pastors were often paralyzed with fear of what the government threatened to do. The erroneous idea of separation of church and state made them feel as though they could not get involved with moral or political issues without potential harm to the church. I knew that unless pastors got involved, we would never be able to reclaim our country. The IRS code had been used, unconstitutionally, to censor speech from the pulpits and to intimidate pastors into silence. Christian leaders had to be liberated for action, without fear of punishment, and the Pulpit Initiative was a brilliantly thought-out strategy for accomplishing this victory.

So, when ADF asked if I would participate, I was immediately on board. Our church also took a vote and decided to join the battle, they understood the need. With conviction and faith they were willing, if necessary, to risk tax-exemption for BFBC if it meant liberating American pastors to freely engage our culture. To this day, I am forever proud and thankful to the courageous members of Bethlehem First Baptist Church! They are an awesome part of the Body of Christ!

I was deeply privileged to be one of 33 pastors throughout America, who challenged the IRS. Because of my previous experience with media and because of the daily radio show, ADF asked if I would be a spokesman for the effort. Again, the media began to swarm and the ‘Initiative’ took on a national presence that was significantly larger than the Ten Commandment battle. The plan was simple; preach a biblical sermon, compare the presidential candidates in the light of Scripture, and endorse one of them from the pulpit; a direct violation of the IRS code. The purpose was not to make churches more ‘political,’ but to simply liberate pastors to address certain issues if they so chose, without fear of being punished or criminalized. The code, dating back to 1954 (The Johnson Amendment), had never been challenged and was being used more and more as a bully stick to silence and censor Christian leaders from speaking about certain biblical topics. Unless it was challenged in court, the code could not be changed. The ADF was hoping the IRS would come after one of the 33 pastors so that the case could go to court, and be legally challenged. The code implies that a pastor waives his first amendment right when he goes behind a pulpit. If we were going to unshackle ministers, this decision must be challenged and overturned.

I will never forget Sunday, September 28, 2008. Every media presence imaginable was in our church. The atmosphere was intimidating and somber, but historic and unavoidable. I preached a biblical sermon dealing with ‘life’ and ‘marriage’ and compared the positions of the two candidates for President of the United States, Barak Obama and John McCain on those issues. Other participating pastors did something similar. At the end of the sermon I strongly encouraged our people to vote for John McCain and urged them not to vote for Barak Obama. It was not that I was a strong McCain supporter; I was not. Much more than that was at stake on this day, and following that sermon, a ‘line in the sand’ had been drawn. The IRS code was officially, deliberately and purposefully violated. The ‘clicks’ of cameras and videos and paper-noise from reporters was deafening, but, the di was cast; it was done!

The next day I sent a copy of my sermon to the IRS, along with a letter that basically said, Enclosed is a copy of a sermon I preached. I am not trying to hide anything. I do not believe I have broken a law or violated the Constitution. In fact, I believe your IRS code is unconstitutional, and I challenge you to come after me. The others pastors did likewise. After a few months of harassing one of the preachers, the IRS dropped its case. Another Pulpit Initiative took place in 2010, this time with about one hundred pastors participating. Again, the IRS did nothing! In 2012 it will happen again, perhaps with thousands of pastors and churches involved. What was the bottom line? The IRS knows that their code is in direct conflict with the Constitution. Pastors are free to get involved and their churches will not lose tax-exemption for doing so. It is a new day for Christians to become informed, and get involved!

In March of 2010, my wife and I concluded that God was calling us, ‘for such a time as this,’ to devote more concerted attention to awakening Christians to cultural involvement. Thinking that decision would entail more focus on the radio ministry and speaking engagements, I resigned as pastor of Bethlehem First Baptist Church. Within two months of that transition, and without previously considering such involvement, I was asked to run for U.S. Congress for Georgia’s Seventh District, replacing Rep. John Linder who was retiring. After much intense soul-searching and prayer, we felt that this was God’s will. There were a total of eight Republican candidates running for the position and against all odds, I made it into a run off election and eventually lost to the current Rep. Rob Woodall.

I share my story to give a point of reference for this book. This work has not arisen from the perspective of a spectator but from one who has personally been in the trenches virtually everyday for the past nine years, including a couple of national battles. I’ve seen it close-up, and God has ‘rocked’ my life. I’ve stood and I’ve fallen; I’ve cried and rejoiced; I’ve been brave and fearful, but, I’ve been in the game! My life has been changed because of these defining moments.

This book proceeds from a heart that aches for what I know to be true about America, the Church (as a whole) and Christians. It also springs from a deep sense of hope that things can change for good. If we will but cast aside lesser things and whole-heartedly engage our culture in the love and tenacity of His Spirit, as did our forefathers, it can happen. America is on the verge of a defining moment herself, and this generation of Christians is responsible for this generation and for the America we will leave our children. Reclaiming our country can happen, but we must act quickly. IT IS NOW OR NEVER!

Dr. Jody Hice

2011

Foreword 

Although many have attempted to revise America’s true historical founding, the facts remain immovable. Unquestionably, this country was founded upon biblical principles and an unyielding commitment to a Judeo-Christian worldview. It is no exaggeration to say that America would not have come into existence without the determined ‘spirit’ of Christian warriors who took great risks in pulpits, politics, and the populace as a whole. We are a nation founded predominantly by Christians, upon Judeo-Christian principles. John Adams, the second President of the United States and a leading champion for Independence said, Our Constitution was made for a moral and religious people, it is wholly inadequate to the government of any other. As one of the major architects of our political system, he understood the role of a Christian worldview in America’s policy. And as a result of the Bible’s influence, America became the greatest nation in the history of the world, precisely because of the principles upon which it was founded. For over two hundred years those principles have been closely guarded and defended.

Nationally, we have cherished religious liberty and individual freedom, based upon the concept of ‘inalienable rights.’ We have steadfastly recognized certain rights as ‘untouchable;’ they are not man-made and therefore, are beyond the jurisdiction of human courts, legislation or censorship. Based upon the Old and New Testaments, America was the world’s first attempt to merge the principles of Christianity with civil government, and the experiment has been an incomparable success! Unfortunately, today we are losing our grip on ‘exceptionalism.’ Secularists and anti-American organizations, with the complicit help of liberal media and politicians, are transforming our nation into a mirror image of failed political policies from other nations. And the horrifying reality in the current trend is, unlike the days of America’s Revolution, the Christian community is frightfully silent. It is time to take a stand ~ again!

Few understand the times in which we are living any more than Dr. Jody Hice. He has been on the front-line of America’s culture war for years and has faced the scrutiny and intimidation that comes when facing organizations like the ACLU and many other groups just like them. He has stood in defense of the posting of the Ten Commandments in public places and for the right of pastors to speak biblical truth from the pulpit without fear of harassment from the IRS. He has not waivered during the pressure, but has grown stronger in his resolve to defend the liberties and principles that have made this country unique.

I have known Jody for nearly thirty years. Originally, he was a church member where I was a pastor then later; we were fellow pastors in the Atlanta area. While serving as pastor of a growing church, he has remained committed to engaging Christians in the culture war through his preaching, personal example, and a daily radio show heard in multiple states throughout the Southeast. In 2010, he ran an impressive political race for U.S. Congress and lost in a run-off election. In spite of losing, a strong message was heard throughout the campaign. Our separate journeys have been different and yet, God has individually burdened us both to be agents for change regarding the moral and spiritual wellbeing of our nation. As a result, in recent years our paths have providentially crossed again. Today, we are once more co-labors as pastors in metro-Atlanta, and we are both deeply committed to restore America to her true foundation. Jody is co-host with me on a daily TV program called There’s Hope America, where we deal with cultural and political issues from a Christian worldview perspective.

It is my prayer that every concerned Christian will read this well-written and easy-to-understand book highlighting the issues that are largely ignored by the media and politically correct ideology; but issues that are chipping away at our national foundation. I pray that you will catch Jody’s passion and understand the seriousness of the hour in which we live, and respond to his call for involvement. It is time for the Church’s finest hour and if she does not respond appropriately and immediately, the thread by which America is currently hanging could easily break. The condition of our nation rests largely upon the shoulders of Christians, not the government. We must stand. We must get involved. We must be the ‘salt and light’ that our Lord called us to be. If we don’t, you can rest assured that the secularists and liberals in media, academia and politics will transform America into a structure of their own making. Their resolve and dedication to morph our nation into a compliant partner for globalized government and restricted freedom is in full force. Everything America stands for is currently at stake in this battle, and just as it was during the Revolution, the time for action is now. How dare we miss the opportunity to be ‘relevant’ as the Church of God, at such a time as this?

I heartily commend the message and messenger of, It’s Now or Never: A Call to Reclaim America. I encourage you to pray for revival, to read this book and pass it along to others, and to ask God to help you, your pastors, church members, friends, and relatives to become informed of the destructive issues of our day, and the steps we can all take to help make an enormous impact for positive change. Regardless of numerous efforts to make you think otherwise, we are the majority. There are nearly 70 million evangelicals in America today, and we must never acquiesce into silence. We can easily be the largest and most influential force for returning America to the great nation our Forefathers passed down to us. The time to be heard is now; the time to act is now. May God use this book to open eyes and hearts to both unmitigated truth and righteous action.

Dr. Richard G. Lee

Introduction 

IT IS NOW OR NEVER! 

Having served on the frontlines of the present culture war, I can honestly say that I am not overstating the