An Open Letter (Response) to Brother Sam Gipp

From an American Soldier

“Some Americans believe that our Founding Fathers instigated a war on April 19, 1775, in order to throw off British government, and that the Declaration, approved on July 4, 1776, was a public justification of this overthrow. American Christians have had difficulty understanding why many of our Founding Fathers, while adhering to biblical principles in their public and private lives, could, at the same time, rebel against constituted government. Historical investigation shows that they did not rebel.”
p. x “The Revolution Myth” by Gene Fisher and Glen Chambers.

Let me preface this article by acknowledging that I have never met Brother Gipp in person, and due to geography, I will probably never meet him in this life. From what I know of Brother Gipp, he is an outstanding biblical teacher and I am greatly indebted to him for his Answers Book, A Student’s Defense of the Authorized Version, and Gipp’s Understandable History of the Bible. If you have not read these three books, they are outstanding lessons regarding why we must never lose our Scriptural Foundation (as found in English in the King James Bible).

I am writing an open letter (in response) to Brother Gipp’s “Open Letter to the Military” in an effort to fulfill Proverbs 27:17 “Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.” It is written to all Christians who have become wrapped up in the pseudo-Christian “American Patriot” movement and to all Christians who are inadvertently fighting spiritual symptoms (i.e. flesh and blood) instead of spiritual illness (i.e. unbelief in our Lord Jesus Christ). I pray that this open letter will open your eyes to the truth as God’s word has opened my eyes.

This letter is written by a bible-believing born again Christian, an American by birth, and a soldier by choice. In 2006, I was saved through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. To clarify, I do not speak of the false “faith” of American Churchianity that makes Jesus just another false idol right next to mom, country, and apple pie. It took 27 years, but God finally brought my prideful, self-righteous self to my knees and exposed my need for a Savior. He made it abundantly clear that I could not save myself, that I must trust in the blood of Jesus to wash away my sins. Like “Christian” in John Bunyan’s “Pilgrim’s Progress,” a burden was lifted off my soul that will never return.

I believe it is essential to get a message across to Christians in America in an era that may very well be our darkest hour. A message that flies in the face of everything I have held dear as both an American and a soldier. A message that is a 180-degree about-face from what I believed before I began to diligently search the Bible for answers on this subject (2 Timothy 2:15). A message that will contradict the statements and teachings of many bible-believing brothers in Christ who I view as elders and/or teachers. However, contrary to popular perception, the Bible does not promote unity (2 Corinthians 6:17, 1 Timothy 6:5), it promotes truth (John 8:32, 1 Timothy 2:4), and it is for truth that we must stand. It is high time we compare “American Patriotism to truth and to expose its flaws to the light of the Bible.

As we all have been taught from elementary school on, America, according to the Constitution is a republic, governed by the people, for the people. It is clearly not a monarchy (although one could argue it is practically an oligarchy), and no matter how many times the ignorant repeat the lie, it is not a democracy. It is a republic. As a republic, the people, by way of elected representatives, are in control of their destiny. Sounds good right? If only it were still true. For all practical purposes, our republic and our Constitution exist in name only; nothing more than nostalgic remembrances of a “better day.” Proof of this can be seen daily on the news: The 1st and 2nd amendments are on life support, insane judicial activism is unrestrained, and political campaign “donations” (legalized bribery) rule the day. The physical battle for liberty in this nation ended at Gettysburg where freedom-loving blacks (contrary to liberal propaganda) and whites died fighting the shock troops of the New World Order. If God had wanted unbridled American liberty to continue, the Confederates would have won.

Americans long ago rejected the word of the LORD, and consequently He has rejected the American people (Jeremiah 18:10). This is not a new phenomenon. The Bible was thrown out the door of schools in 1963. Socialism was institutionalized by Franklin D. Roosevelt in the 1930’s. “Christian” scholars and pastors rejected God’s words as preserved in the AV in favor of the apostate ASV in 1901. This republic tolerated full-fledged martial law with no pretense of the Constitution in ½ of the country from 1865-1877. In fact, the Constitution was officially destroyed in 1865 during the War of Northern Aggression when Lincoln shredded the Bill of Rights and attacked an independent sovereign nation. Long before Lincoln, the dual plagues of Unitarianism and Deism spread throughout the land and if it weren’t for some bible-believing, fire-breathing Baptists (and Methodists) the Bible would have all but been extinguished in this country (read William Grady’s What Hath God Wrought). Like Israel (and all sinners), this nation fell into unbelief as soon as it was born. George Washington himself trampled all over both the people and the Constitution when he attempted to put down the so-called Whiskey Rebellion and the republic was only 5 years old.

If popular folk-lore is to be believed, this nation was conceived in iniquity. Have you read1 Samuel 15:23? It tells us that rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft. If this nation indeed was born out of rebellion over something as spiritually unimportant as taxation, we must seriously ask the question: Were the “founding fathers” biblically literate, let alone Christian? Christians should never appeal to rebels for their marching orders. For all who insist on believing the Boston Harbor rebellion propaganda, I must point you to the outstanding book: The Revolution Myth by Gene Fisher and Glen Chambers. These authors offer the only plausible answer as to how Bible-believing Colonists could have picked up arms against England. They inform us that the colonists didn’t rebel from the King, the King declared war on the colonists on 22 December 1775 with the Prohibitory Act. If this is true, our real Independence Day is not July 4th. It is December 22nd (not to be confused with the pagan Hol(i)y-Day, Christ-Mass mentioned nowhere in the Bible).

Today we literally live in the modern equivalent of Sodom and Gomorrah. The “Ism’s” have taken over the public square: Animism, Atheism, Agnosticism, Buddhism, Calvinism, Catholicism, Communism, Fascism, Feminism, Hinduism, Judaism, Materialism, Mormonism, Muhammadism, Satanism, Socialism, etc. As a people, we literally care more about Hollywood celebrities, sports, and music stars than we do about God, family, or country. What happened? As has happened many times in history, we allowed Satan to fulfill 2 Corinthians 4:4 “In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.”

The next time an atheist asks for proof of biblical prophecy, just turn on a television and show themMatthew 24:38 “For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,” We are so carnal, I would not be surprised if 10 righteous men could not be found in most cities in America. Genesis 18:32 “And he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak yet but this once: Peradventure ten shall be found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for ten’s sake.”

1 Corinthians 1:18 “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.” Per 2 Corinthians 4:4, this message will only make sense to born again Christians. It can be summed up with three scriptures:

1) 1 Samuel 15:23 “For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.” As previously mentioned, Christian Americans need to repent of their acceptance of the American Rebellion myth. I don’t care how much we respect George Washington, et. al. If they were rebels to a legitimate God-ordained government, they are not to be placed up on pedestals. Instead, they are to be held as examples to our children as men we should NOT emulate. As Christians, we need to separate ourselves from any modern movements that seek to falsely make rebellion a Christian heritage or value.

2) Jeremiah 18:6-10 “O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel. At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, and to pull down, and to destroy it; If that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them. And at what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it; If it do evil in my sight, that it obey not my voice, then I will repent of the good, wherewith I said I would benefit them.”

1 Corinthians 10:11 tells us that Old Testament history happened as examples for our admonition. That said, what does the Old Testament say about the course of nations? It is explicit. Jeremiah tells us that nations are like clay in the potter’s hand. God builds them up and destroys them based on their obedience and spiritual condition. If they obey God (like our forefathers) he will build them up. If they do evil (like our current culture) he will repent of the good he previously did for them and will proceed to pull down and/or destroy that nation. What you are seeing today is nothing more than a fulfillment of God’s word. We rejected God, and God is fulfilling his promise to destroy us. We cannot blame the atheists or liberals for their nefarious attempts to destroy this country. They are just change agents for God’s coming judgment.

3) Romans 1:25 “Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.” Romans 1:25 pretty much sums up American history from 1776 – Present. We changed the truth of God (the KJV) into a lie (fake bible versions, false preaching/teaching, prosperity gospels, etc.) and worshipped the creature (Social Gospel, 19th century Utopia movements, Evolution, Feminism, New Age earth worship, etc.) more than God. Instead of worrying about God’s coming judgment, we should be thankful he hasn’t rained down fire and brimstone on us already.

I will now proceed to analyze Brother Gipp’s letter in light of the Bible:

“There may be dark and trying days ahead for our country. The actions of this president have been hostile to both our Constitution and freedom in general.” You are correct. This is a dark and trying time and the actions of this president are indeed suspect. However, what does the Bible say? Proverbs 21:1 “The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.” Do you subscribe to the view that “We the People” are king and the President is the servant? If so, we don’t get off any easier in Proverbs 29:12 “If a ruler hearken to lies, all his servants are wicked.”

“The country, as a whole, is emotionally charged and bent on self preservation rather than the good of the nation.” You hit the nail on the head! It took me three years to come to grips with this reality as I was once stuck on self-preservation too. Like many American Christians, I rationalized that maybe if I prepared, stocked up, and trained, we could take on the minions of the New World Order until the Rapture occurred. Why? Because the Bible indicates that somebody will be doing some type of resisting in the time of the Anti-Christ: “And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.” (Revelation 12:14)

However, taking this view now is anti-biblical for three reasons: 1) it violates Luke 17:33: “Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.” 2) It is based in materialism, and not biblical faith. Paul too was “free born” (Acts 22:28) but not once do we find him picking up arms to defend that status. 3) Who are we to oppose prophecy? Do we want to end up like the Israelites facing Babylon in Jeremiah 21:4? As Gamaliel wisely noted inActs 5:39 “But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.”

“The President and Democratic Party in general seem bent on forcing their agenda on a populace that is more and more resistant to that agenda.” If only it were this simple. The Republican party did the same thing only 2 years ago but most “conservatives” ignored it because the Democrats always appear to be worse. We are consistently presented with two choices in this country: 1) Militant Corporate Fascism (Republicans). 2) Bloodthirsty Communism (Democrats). We then have the unpalatable “choice” of voting for the next Hitler or the next Stalin. Ron Paul burst on the public radar two years ago and “conservatives” and “liberals” alike all but laughed him off the stage for promoting the Constitution.

The American resistance to our present circumstances has nothing to do with biblical repentance or a sudden national belief in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. As can be seen by the “Tea Party” movement and healthcare revolts; our real motivations are to save our precious treasures and possessions. If this was a Christian resistance movement we would have started pushing back in 1963 when the courts tossed out the Bible or in 1973 when we legalized the wholesale murder of babies (50 million and counting). Ironically, as a generation, the Baby Boomers rejected God, and God is now going after the only thing they care about: their money (in the form of their retirements, health care, and savings).

“It could be very likely that, in an effort to seize control of the nation, President Obama or some other forces acting on his behalf may stage a “crises” that “forces” him to take dictatorial control of the nation.” First, the President is nothing more than a Manchurian Candidate. A mere puppet of the global elite (princes of this world, 1 Corinthians 2:8). The few times Obama has skipped the teleprompter he suffered verbal lapses worse than the “Bushism” theatrics. Second, he already has dictatorial control because we voluntarily signed it over long ago in the name of “peace” and “security” over the staged crisis of 9/11 (admittedly just the latest in a long string of staged crises in this country – Gulf of Tonkin anyone?). George Orwell pretty much hit the fake crisis nail on the head with his classic novel, “1984.”

“There may be a “frame-up” of conservatives in which some “Bible-toting, Constitution quoting” mock conservative commits some heinous crime designed to turn the nation’s anger away from the administration and towards anyone who would dare disagree with the president.” This has already happened three times in the last two decades: 1) Waco. 2) Ruby Ridge. 3) Oklahoma City. Before that the John Birch Society was all but decimated by a calculated campaign of media slander. Frame-ups are to be expected as non-Christians and their satanic handlers have no moral basis from which to base their decisions. Romans 3:11 “There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.” For insight into how they play the game, read:Rules for Radicals by Saul D. Alinsky

“There is even a chance that the nation may shortly slip into a civil war or anarchy. If this happens the only force able to combat such a coup would be the U. S. Military.” I do not doubt that this nation is on the brink of civil war and/or anarchy. However, there are two things to keep in mind: 1) God is in Control so “Fear Not” (Matthew 10:31). There will be no government change (or for that matter, government preservation) without his approval. 2) The coup you refer to already happened in 1865 when “we the people” became Rockefeller’s corporate America, Inc (Lee and Stonewall Jackson, both Christian military men, lost that battle).

“To our Military. Please remember at all times that you swore an oath to defend the United States Constitution, NOT the government, be that the President, Congress or Supreme Court. Your allegiance should always be to use any power within your ability to defend and preserve our Constitution against all enemies, foreign or domestic. If the president attempts to establish dictatorial control over the country, not granted him by the Constitution, then he is no longer president and instead, a rebel, threat to your country. You owe him no loyalty, obedience or defense. He is to be arrested along with all those who assist his attempted revolution and tried in a criminal court.” The only thing that men learn from history is that they never learn from history. The following presidents declared martial law and/or established dictatorial powers over this country: 1) Lincoln. 2) FDR. 3) Kennedy. 4) Bush II

“If the President calls in troops from a foreign country to subdue the population, all such troops are to be viewed as foreign invaders and dealt with accordingly. No nation should have troops in this country. No president should request or allow such a thing. Any president that allows or initiates such an act is attempting to become a dictator.” Where do we get the notion that the President can’t call in foreign troops? The kangaroo courts have already determined the Constitution is subject to change and interpretation (ironically, just like “Christian Scholars” say that our “inerrant” biblical text is open to change and interpretation). The president is our elected representative. Based on our system of government, he speaks for all of us. If we don’t want foreign troops on our soil, we should probably be voting for a president that won’t bring them onto our soil. We voluntarily voted Obama in office as a nation. Why? Because political correctness, peace, prosperity, and the social/welfare gospel are more important to us than either Jesus Christ or personal freedom. Just as God gave Israel the king they wanted in 1 Samuel 8:10-22, God has given us the desires of our heart (tyranny)

“The United States military is like no other in the world. As shown in all wars in which they have fought, they can literally obliterate an enemy and yet, within minutes of the battle being over, be handing out candy to children.” You are correct. We are like no other military in the world. However, it’s not for the reasons you think. The candy and compassion are nothing more than P.R. glosses to hide the ruthlessness of the American soldier who is literally the most skilled killing machine on the planet. This is why third-world despots tremble at the thought of the US Marine. Nobody wins wars by being nice (search the word “destroyed” in the Old Testament)

“It is this benign might that will be needed if trying days come upon us. Ruthless against the invader yet benevolent to the populace.” Again, this is nothing more than Hollywood fiction. We fire-bombed hundreds of thousands of civilians at Dresden. We nuked two civilian cities in Japan. We decimated the Vietnamese populace. Iraqi civilian deaths are estimated to be 100,000+. Shall we include all the third-world dictators and tyrants who have wipoed out their own populace while supported by American F-16 diplomacy? Don’t get me wrong, I am no peacenik. War is clearly a biblical concept (mentioned 200+ times). We just shouldn’t pretend that American troops are something other than fallen and sinful men (especially since most of our troops are NOT born again Christians).

“Use your might to defend civilians, not to oppress them. If ordered to attack or subdue American citizens refuse to obey the order!” You can’t have it both ways. We can’t both defend the Constitution against domestic enemies while simultaneously refusing to attack or subdue American (domestic) citizens. This is the clamor of desperation of one who is doubting God’s control in the destiny of our nation (trust me, I was previously in your shoes and I too harbored these conflicting feelings). Again, trust God. He is in control: Mark 13:7 “And when ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars, be ye not troubled: for such things must needs be; but the end shall not be yet.”

“If chaos sweeps our nation then do not use your might to establish private armies that seek to enslave the citizens. Use your might for right.” What is right? Man’s view of right or God’s view of right? If God is rebuking and/or chastening us, who are we to resist? Revelation 3:19 “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.”

To Those in Law Enforcement

The police forces of Third World nations are notoriously corrupt. In many cases they are nothing more than thugs, drug dealers and enforcers for criminal elements. Again, the police, like the military, are nothing more than a reflection of a society as a whole. You are asking unregenerate men, who do not believe in King Jesus, to go against their sin nature. The only way you will change them is to follow 2 Timothy 4:2 “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.”

“Following the events mentioned above the United States will become a violent, dangerous and scary Third World nation. Rule of law will breakdown and people will be killing one another for food, fear or revenge. Just as you are the civilizing force in our society today, you will be desperately needed in the days following any breakdown of society.” Agreed. Consider three more verses:

1.      2 Peter 2:10 tells us that those that walk after the flesh despise government.

2.      Matthew 10:28 “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”

3.      Matthew 10:29 “Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.”

“Because you have trained in the use of force and know how to get people to obey you there may be a great temptation to abuse what you have been taught and try to oppress the civilian population. In light of the lack of respect and appreciation you may feel you have endured by some elements of the public, please do not allow yourself to fall into corruption with the rest of our society. There will be an ample number of weaker civilians that will desperately need your help and protection. Your nation will need you as never before. Abandon your morals and it will be bloody chaos.” No argument. But here is our chance as Christians to step up and live what we believe. The testimonies out of China, Vietnam, Sudan, Nigeria, India, etc. of police and military personnel being converted to Jesus Christ after their oppression of local Christians is awe-inspiring. From biblical testimony, we have the jailor of Acts 16 who came to salvation through the improper beating/jailing of Paul and Silas. Check out Voice of the Martyrs, Foxe’s Book of Martyrs, etc. for more information on Christians persecuted for their faith.

“Don’t submit to the desire to use your power to bully, cajole or get even with the weaker folks in our society. You will be physically stronger than most but you will need to be morallystronger. You will have weapons others do not have, don’t use them in a shameful manner.”Again, this is a chance for us to live our faith. You are asking non-Christian men to act against their sin natures. It won’t happen unless God works on their hearts. I know it is scary to contemplate, butRevelation 17:6 doesn’t exclude the blood of American saints.

For Both Groups

Regardless of what you have been told, the greatness of the United States is not due to the “Sacred Cow” of “Free Enterprise.” our forefathers did not come here to start Pizza Hut! They came for the right to freely worship the God of the BIBLE. (Not the Koran.). Correct. And their descendents, all the way down to us, traded in the God of the Bible for a bunch of man-made false idols. See Isaiah 1 and Jeremiah 18 for our options (i.e. repent or face the consequences).

Man is basically selfish. Only the Bible admonishes man to think of others ahead of himself. Only the Bible gives him the inner strength to resist the desire to be vengeful, vindictive and oppressive. Because of 150 years of Bible preaching (1620-1776) our people grew up moral.Agreed. The one thing that the atheists never admit to is that the success/failure of modern Europe was rooted in the Bible. Without the Bible, the Europeans were just a bunch of wild tribesmen living in squalor at the edge of the Roman Empire. The problem we face is that since 1776, Bible preaching has degraded into the Joel Olsteen/TBS Prosperity Doctrine mixed with Timothy Leary’s “if it feels good, do it.”

That morality gave them the carefree spirit that saw our forefathers advance technology by thousands of years, from the sailing ship to walking on the moon in 200 years. Yes, on the one hand, Bible morality and literacy is the engine for progress. On the other hand, that same technological progress eventually leads to laziness followed by lack of Bible literacy. Proverbs 16:18“Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.”

Look at nations today that were never run by the Bible. They are Third World nations locked in the past we left behind. What little technology they have was given by that Christian nation, the United States of America. Correct again. And look at America since we have kicked the Bible out of government, schools, and pulpits: We are looking more and more third-world by the day.

Our society has been duped. It was told this would be a better nation if there was no prayer in our schools. Are we? We would be more “progressive” if we allowed our children to have no morals. Are we? We would be more civilized if we didn’t spank our children. Are we? We would be happy if we got everything we ever wanted. Has it worked? The answer is “No” inevery case. Correct again. When we worship man, we end up with chaos. This is a hard lesson to be re-learned by each generation. 1 John 5:21 “Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.”

The only real hope America has for survival is a return to hard biblical preaching. Not the lame, “Let’s have a group hug” of liberalism, but the “Hellfire and brimstone” that New York, Hollywood, Congress, the Supreme Court, the President…and you are afraid of. If you choose “greed and the gun” over the “Bible and benevolence” we are truly doomed. Amen Brother. Please, for our country’s sake, focus on this kind of preaching. I would much rather see this nation repent than to be destroyed, but I will not shake my fist at God (Romans 9:20). Please do not get side-tracked on legislating, petitioning, or voting our way out of this spiritual mess we are in. Instead, preach the Gospel and follow the admonishment of 2 Timothy 2:4 “No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.” If Christians plant and water, God will give the increase (1 Corinthians 3:6-7).

“Review some of your recent actions and see how self-motivated they were. The best thing you can do is to turn from greed to God. That thing in your past that you are ashamed of has already been paid for by the punishment Jesus Christ endured. Yet, because He was God and not man He rose from the dead. Think about it. What good is a religion that couldn’t get its Founder out of the grave? Now, go check where the founders of every religion in the world are right now. If Jesus Christ has the power to get Himself out of the grave He has the power to forgive your sins, come into your heart and save you and, if you should die, raise you from the grave when He returns. When He returns He will reward those who have accepted Him as their personal Saviour and chosen to serve Him.” No argument. We need to take a cue from the Jehovah’s Witnesses and Mormons and start spreading the Gospel door to door if this nation has any hope.

Over the past 50 years our public schools and institutions of higher education have turned this nation to heathenism. We will not see how thorough and devastating this conversion has been until the collapse comes. our Nation’s hope will be the morality of our military and law enforcement officers. But the hope of every individual will be in putting their eternal soul in the hands of the Lord Jesus Christ…as it always has been.” Hold it. You just got-side tracked by some lurking nostalgia for your pseudo-Christian American patriotism heritage. Our nation’s hope has nothing to do with the morality of the military or law enforcement officers. Our nation’s hope will be to repent and turn towards the Creator God of the Bible, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.Jeremiah 18:8 “If that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them.”

Let me finish by saying: Brother Gipp (and/or any born again bible-believing Christian), if anything in this response contradicts biblical truth, I ask you in all sincerity to correct my error. Please show me in English from the King James Bible where I am wrong and I will accept it without question. Too many times today we forget to “be Berean” Acts 17:11 “These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.”

In Christ,

A Pilgrim

Jeremiah 37:19 Where are now your prophets which prophesied unto you, saying, The king of Babylon shall not come against you, nor against this land?