The Faint Echo of an Approaching Storm

TimeWatch Editorial
December 27, 2015

Arizona Republican State Senator Sylvia Allen is on the record as having suggested that there should be a law requiring mandatory church attendance for every American every Sunday. The Arizona legislature was debating whether or not to expand a gun owner’s right to carry. Senator Allen suddenly suggested that the reason behind the rising problem of gun violence is the corruption of the soul that expresses itself in so many today.

“It is the soul that is corrupt and how we get back to a moral rebirth in this country, I don’t know,” Allen told the state’s appropriations committee on Tuesday, March 23. 2015.

She did not just express her frustration regarding the current situation, but also provided a solution to the problem.

"I believe what's happening to our country is that there is a horrible erosion of the soul of America," said Allen whose comments were first highlighted on Twitter  by Democratic Sen. Steve Farley of Tucson, who was at that same meeting.

"You can use knives, you can use whatever, it is the soul that is corrupt. And how we get back to a moral rebirth in this country I don't know since we are slowly eroding religion in every opportunity that we have," she noted before suggesting: "Probably we should be debating a bill requiring every American to attend a church of their choice on Sunday to see if we can get back to having a moral rebirth." Leonardo Blair , Christian Post Reporter, March 27, 2015

The response to her suggested solution has been rather tepid, even from those who secretly embrace the idea. Perhaps they believe that her verbal expression is somewhat premature, and more likely to impede the progress that they have steadfastly been pursuing covertly. For example, “The Lord’s Day Alliance” website has stated its mission as follows:

“The Lord’s Day Alliance of the United States exists to encourage Christians to reclaim the Sabbath–the Lord’s Day–as a day of spiritual and personal renewal, enabling them to impact their communities with the Gospel.” The Lord’s Day Alliance website

The stated Mission of the Lord’s Day Alliance is followed by its ‘History’ which clearly declares:

“The Lord’s Day Alliance of the United States (LDA) was founded in 1888. That year representatives of six major Protestant denominations met in Washington, D.C. to organize the American Sabbath Union; this name was later changed to The Lord’s Day Alliance of the United States. The LDA has been the one national organization whose sole purpose is to maintain and cultivate the first day of the week as a time for rest, worship, Christian education and spiritual renewal.” The Lord’s Day Alliance website

It is not coincidental that this organization was started in the year 1888. For that was the year in which Senator Blair introduced a bill in the Senate.

"To secure to the people the enjoyment of the first day of the week, commonly known as the Lord's Day, as a day of rest, and to promote its observance as a day of worship." Introduced by Senator Blair, of New Hampshire, May 21, 1888;

This National Sunday Law Bill was defeated, and immediately gave rise to the organizations that have been seeking ever since then to bring it to pass. Senator Sylvia Allen’s faint alarm is but the early sound of a much louder shout that will resound throughout the world in the very near future. The condition of society has truly devolved into a level of depravity not seen perhaps since the days prior to the flood. It is clear that something is desperately lacking, that a solution is needed to stem the tide of progressive evil. But the suggested solution of mandatory Sunday Worship will not work. We have been warned however that this will indeed be the solution that will be enforced.

“Satan puts his interpretation upon events, and they think, as he would have them, that the calamities which fill the land are a result of Sunday-breaking. Thinking to appease the wrath of God, these influential men make laws enforcing Sunday observance. They think that by exalting this false rest day higher and still higher, compelling obedience to the Sunday law, the spurious Sabbath, they are doing God service.” {Manuscript Release, Vol 10, page 239.2}

“This very class put forth the claim that the fast-spreading corruption is largely attributable to the desecration of the so-called "Christian Sabbath" and that the enforcement of Sunday observance would greatly improve the morals of society. This claim is especially urged in America, where the doctrine of the true Sabbath has been most widely preached.”—Great Controversy, Page 587 (1911).

Senator Sylvia Allen’s voice is just the faint echo of an approaching storm.

Cameron A. Bowen