Further. Every. Day.: Recent Episodes
Further. Every. Day.
In a world of skepticism and doubt, the Christian may find themselves barraged with challenges to the faith. Join us as we discuss current events in a roundtable, but we each do so from a specific perspective or chair. The Chair of Theology focuses on Biblical principles applied to the topic at hand. The Chair of Philosophy, looks and the Teleological, Epistemological, Ontological, and otherwise Philosophical perspectives. The Chair of Politics brings the perspective that Christians have the unique qualifications and obligation to participate in our government and her laws. The Chair of Culture focuses on the Christian's response to the Culture and the Counter Culture Christianity should create. And the Economic Chair brings to the table the economic value to following God's Law, like every other sphere of life, if you read the instruction manual the Creator of the Universe wrote, you might find that you understand the World better. The Bible has the answers to our economic challenges as well as moral ones.
From these Chairs, we discuss the Christian Worldview and hope to provide an answer or apologetic for each situation we discuss. We would be honored if you joined us as we discuss how our culture falls Further Every Day.
SOURCES AND FURTHER READING
Philosophy
Ernst Haeckel, The Riddle of the Universe (1900): https://www.gutenberg.org/files/42968/42968-h/42968-h.htm
Descartes, Discourse on the Method, Part IV: https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/A_Discourse_on_Method/Part_4
Lucretius, On the Nature of Things, Book III: https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.02.0131:book%3D3:card%3D830
La Mettrie, Man a Machine (1747): https://bactra.org/LaMettrie/Machine/
d'Holbach, The System of Nature (1770): http://www.ftarchives.net/holbach/system/a01.htm
Feuerbach, The Essence of Christianity (1841): https://www.gutenberg.org/files/47025/47025-h/47025-h.htm
Marx, Theses on Feuerbach (1845): https://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1845/theses/theses.htm
Freud, The Interpretation of Dreams (1900): https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Sigmund_Freud
Charles Taylor, A Secular Age (2007): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Secular_Age
Alasdair MacIntyre, After Virtue (1981): https://libquotes.com/alasdair-macintyre/quote/lbo9k5z
Edmund Burke, Reflections on the Revolution in France (1790): https://sites.pitt.edu/~syd/burke.html
Derek Parfit, On What Matters (2011): https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Derek_Parfit
Sam Harris, The Moral Landscape (2010): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Moral_Landscape
History
Mozarabic Chronicle of 754 (Wolf trans.): https://www.8thcentury.com/arab-spain-the-view-from-inside/
Treaty of Tudmir (713): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_Orihuela
Dario Fernandez-Morera, The Myth of the Andalusian Paradise (2016): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Myth_of_the_Andalusian_Paradise
S. J. Pearce, "The Myth of the Myth of the Andalusian Paradise" (2020): https://iberian-connections.yale.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/The_Myth_of_the_Myth_of_the_Andalusian_P.pdf
Washington Irving, A Chronicle of the Conquest of Granada (1829): https://www.gutenberg.org/files/3293/3293-h/3293-h.htm
Data
Pew Research Center, U.S. Muslims (2017): https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2017/07/26/terrorism-and-concerns-about-extremism/
Pew Research Center, The World's Muslims (2013): https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2013/04/30/the-worlds-muslims-religion-politics-society-beliefs-about-sharia/
Open Doors, Nigeria: https://www.opendoors.org/en-US/persecution/countries/nigeria/
Gallup, Belief in God (2022): https://news.gallup.com/poll/393737/belief-god-dips-new-low.aspx
Gallup, Church Membership (2021): https://news.gallup.com/poll/341963/church-membership-falls-below-majority-first-time.aspx
Gallup, Belief in Five Spiritual Entities (2023): https://news.gallup.com/poll/508886/belief-five-spiritual-entities-edges-down-new-lows.aspx
Pew Research Center, Religiously Unaffiliated (2021): https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2021/12/14/about-three-in-ten-u-s-adults-are-now-religiously-unaffiliated/
Theology and Scripture
Augustine, Confessions, Book I: https://www.gutenberg.org/files/3296/3296-h/3296-h.htm
Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologiae I-II, Q2, A8: https://www.newadvent.org/summa/2002.htm
C. S. Lewis, Mere Christianity, Book III: https://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/801500-mere-christianity
Deuteronomy 1:17, KJV: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy%201%3A17&version=KJV
Mark 8:36, KJV: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark%208%3A36&version=KJV
Resources: [1] NOTUS (which obtained the draft); Fortune; GMO. "Treasury Has an Internal Report Warning About the Dangers of an AI Bubble." https://www.notus.org/economy/treasury-internal-report-warning-dangers-ai-bubble Accessed 2026-07-10. [2] Oliver Wyman. "How An AI Bubble Burst Could Shake Global Financial Markets." https://www.oliverwyman.com/our-expertise/insights/2026/jan/impact-ai-bubble-burst-on-global-financial-markets.html Accessed 2026-07-10. [3] CNBC. "Musk's xAI, SpaceX combo is the biggest merger of all time." https://www.cnbc.com/2026/02/03/musk-xai-spacex-biggest-merger-ever.html Accessed 2026-07-10. [4] Forbes. "SpaceX IPO Is Forcing Changes To Index And Underwriting Rules." https://www.forbes.com/sites/garthfriesen/2026/04/25/spacex-ipo-is-forcing-changes-to-index-and-underwriting-rules/ Accessed 2026-07-10. [5] Public Order Emergency Commission (Justice Paul Rouleau). "Public Order Emergency Commission Report; Federal Court ruling." https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/convoy-protest-emergencies-act-appeal-9.7046769 Accessed 2026-07-10. [6] Eurasian Times. "96 Drones, One Operator: China Demonstrates Massive Drone AI Swarm." https://www.eurasiantimes.com/96-drones-one-operator-china-demonstrates-massive-drone-ai-swarm-in-precision-strike-test/ Accessed 2026-07-10. [7] Britannica. "Luddite (Industrial Revolution, Machine-Breaking)." https://www.britannica.com/event/Luddite Accessed 2026-07-10. [8] Britannica. "Haymarket Affair." https://www.britannica.com/event/Haymarket-Affair Accessed 2026-07-10. [9] MIT Media Lab (Kosmyna et al.). "Your Brain on ChatGPT: Accumulation of Cognitive Debt." https://www.media.mit.edu/publications/your-brain-on-chatgpt/ Accessed 2026-07-10. [10] AI Business Weekly / SemiAnalysis. "Claude Code Statistics 2026." https://aibusinessweekly.net/p/claude-code-statistics Accessed 2026-07-10. [11] American Psychological Association. "AI chatbots and digital companions are reshaping emotional connection." https://www.apa.org/monitor/2026/01-02/trends-digital-ai-relationships-emotional-connection Accessed 2026-07-10. [12] ProMarket (Stigler Center). "Your 401(k) Is Propping Up the AI Bubble." https://www.promarket.org/2026/05/05/your-401k-is-propping-up-the-ai-bubble/ Accessed 2026-07-10. [13] The American Prospect. "Elon Musk Is About to Make Saving for Retirement Even Harder." https://prospect.org/2026/06/10/elon-musk-spacex-ipo-retirement-savings-index-funds-stock-market/ Accessed 2026-07-10. [14] TechCrunch. "xAI burned $6.4B last year; SpaceX's IPO filing shows the spending is far from over." https://techcrunch.com/2026/05/20/xai-burned-6-4b-last-year-spacexs-ipo-filing-shows-why-the-spending-is-far-from-over/ Accessed 2026-07-11. [15] CCTV News via Global Times. "Atlas drone-swarm system opens the launcher and deploys drones." https://www.globaltimes.cn/Portals/0/attachment/2026/2026-03-25/82ca82dc-c249-4647-9f19-e6bfa1c91b34.jpeg Accessed 2026-07-11. [16] Pieter Bruegel the Elder. "The Tower of Babel (1563)." https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pieter_Bruegel_the_Elder_-_The_Tower_of_Babel_(Vienna)_-_Google_Art_Project_-_edited.jpg Accessed 2026-07-11. [17] Michelangelo. "The Prophet Daniel (Sistine Chapel ceiling, c.1511)." https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Sistine_Chapel_ceiling_-_Daniel Accessed 2026-07-11. [18] William Blake. "The Number of the Beast is 666 (c.1805)." https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_number_of_the_beast_is_666_Philadelphia,_Rosenbach_Museum_and_Library.jpg Accessed 2026-07-11. [19] Carlo Crivelli. "Saint Thomas Aquinas (1476)." https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:St-thomas-aquinas.jpg Accessed 2026-07-11. [20] Michael Shermer. "Michael Shermer (portrait)." https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Michael_Shermer_wiki_portrait2.jpg Accessed 2026-07-11. [21] Sam Harris. "Sam Harris (Waking Up, cropped head photograph)." https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sam_Harris_-_Waking_Up_-_cropped_head_photograph.jpg Accessed 2026-07-11. [22] John Searle. "John Searle (portrait)." https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:John_searle2.jpg Accessed 2026-07-11. [23] John Lennox. "John Lennox (portrait)." https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:John_Lennox.jpg Accessed 2026-07-11. [24] Thure de Thulstrup. "The Haymarket Riot (Harper's Weekly, 1886)." https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:HaymarketRiot-Harpers.jpg Accessed 2026-07-11.
Resources: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YaxGNQE5ZLA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFVe2vKhwRw https://www.youtube.com/shorts/-2u892kMUzg?sttick=0 https://www.youtube.com/shorts/eC_XQtUNnPM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkIxG7Bcmuo&sttick=0 https://au.org/wp-content/uploads/migration/pdf_documents/JeffersonDanburyBaptists.pdf https://encyclopediavirginia.org/primary-documents/letter-from-george-washington-to-robert-morris-april-12-1786/ https://biblemesh.com/blog/a-sparrow-falls-an-empire-rises-benjamin-franklin-1706-1790/ https://www.archives.gov/milestone-documents/treaty-of-paris https://ffrf.org/news/releases/ffrf-objects-to-religious-patches-on-shelby-ohio-police-uniforms/ https://ffrf.org/news/releases/ffrf-applauds-johnsons-dishonest-jefferson-prayer-getting-called-out Epic 250 Stuff: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFVe2vKhwRw https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6AcMcO1mDo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-ll0S2x37I
Resources:
https://freedomhouse.org/country/united-kingdom/freedom-net/2025#:~:text=According%20to%20an%20April%202025,the%20Malicious%20Communications%20Act%201988.
https://www.aol.com/articles/asylum-seeker-raped-5-goats-124800000.html
https://x.com/D_Tarczynski/status/2071163180139561304
https://www.ladepeche.fr/2026/06/24/il-viole-des-chevres-pendant-plusieurs-mois-avant-detre-interpelle-en-flagrant-delit-un-jeune-homme-de-19-ans-condamne-a-trente-mois-de-prison-13435275.php
Resources: https://history.hanover.edu/courses/excerpts/111toc.html https://press.uchicago.edu/Misc/Chicago/805328chap13.html https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/soccer/worldcup/2026/06/11/lamine-yamal-walmart-world-cup/90506603007/ https://rapecrisis.org.uk/news/rape-gang-inquiry-report/ https://www.instagram.com/p/DZrrhEcNXBc/ https://www.instagram.com/p/DZkrFpKuXEp/ https://www.instagram.com/p/DZsWiIrCNn9/
Resources:
https://www.youtube.com/@RecklessBen/videos
https://fedsoc.org/fedsoc-review/pleading-discovery-and-the-federal-rules-exploring-the-foundations-of-modern-procedure
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HH09tltEw1U&t=38s&pp=ygUQbGVnYWwgZWFnbGUgbGVnbw%3D%3D
Resources:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m39367Jmwes
https://soztheo.com/theories-of-crime/critical-marxist-theories/marxist-theory-of-crime/
https://ovc.ojp.gov/sites/g/files/xyckuh226/files/pubs/OVC_Archives/nvaa/ch04hslaw.htm
https://www.stanfordlawreview.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2016/04/68_Stan._L._Rev._897_-_Saetveit.pdf
https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/essay/amdt6-5-3-4/ALDE_00013459/
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/mar/05/gen-z-men-baby-boomers-wives-should-obey-husbands
Resources: https://www.axios.com/2026/04/27/wh-dinner-shooting-assassination-charge-suspect https://www.axios.com/2024/07/14/trump-rally-shooter-thomas-matthew-crooks https://www.npr.org/2026/02/23/nx-s1-5722914/armed-man-shot-and-killed-at-mar-a-lago-sunday https://www.justice.gov/archives/opa/pr/justice-department-announces-murder-hire-and-related-charges-against-irgc-asset-and-two https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/iranian-intelligence-agent-convicted-terrorism-and-murder-hire-connection-foiled-plot https://www.justice.gov/archives/opa/pr/foreign-national-sentenced-over-21-years-mailing-ricin-president-united-states-2020 https://www.axios.com/2026/05/24/trump-assassination-attempts-timeline https://www.wbaltv.com/article/man-pleads-guilty-to-planning-to-flip-trumps-limo-with-stolen-forklift/25388855 https://www.axios.com/2024/07/14/trump-rally-shooter-thomas-matthew-crooks https://www.jacksonville.com/story/news/nation-world/2016/06/21/authorities-uk-man-arrested-rally-planned-kill-trump/15714462007/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uN_Vb4ZnD4Q https://www.youtube.com/ @DrKBoogieWoogie https://www.preachershelp.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/lewis-screwtape-letters.pdf
Resources:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PZ5XaFgmKs
Survivalsullivan.com
https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/elliot-page-opened-being-groomed-115207686.html
https://x.com/DrClownPhD/status/2054720655589777765?s=20
Resources:
https://www.marxists.org/reference/archive/weber/protestant-ethic/ch03.htm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtmuORg8jNw
Resources:
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2026/04/wannabe-trump-assassin-cole-allen-is-graduate-caltech/
https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/140622.htm
https://x.com/WallStreetApes/status/2048274086900777291?s=20
Resources: https://youtu.be/x4ZY25OU4Ys?si=c37A2oh16hdYGNwJ https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/first-annual-message https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/01-10-02-0058 https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jay/01-04-02-0147 https://x.com/ianmiles/status/2042652421298754014?s=20 https://x.com/i/status/2041299578587091385
Resources:
https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2026/03/19/afroman-wins-lawsuit-lemon-pound-cake-video-police-raid/89223589007/
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/hochul-pleads-wealthy-new-yorkers-return-from-red-states-like-florida-texas-tax-base-eroded
0228 Christianity and Pacifism, Can Christians Approve Of A War Ever? - Further. Every. Day.
Resources: https://www.opensecrets.org/donor-lookup/results?name=Brian+McGinnis&cycle=&state=NC&zip=&employ=&occupation=&jurisdiction=&cand=&type= https://youtu.be/P7sxgVUy4gk https://www.businessinsider.com/admiral-samuel-paparo-china-war-israel-ukraine-wepaons-patriot-missiles-2024-11 https://twitter.com/i/status/2030425134910042317 https://twitter.com/i/status/2030410279679361417 https://twitter.com/i/status/2030465524665057392 https://twitter.com/i/status/2028619051044381114 https://twitter.com/i/status/2029420420877709606 https://www.gotquestions.org/just-war-theory.html
Resources:
https://youtu.be/nb-pC1JCjQw
https://youtu.be/2qsQDmhPlr8
https://twitter.com/i/status/2022807077429874960
https://crimeresearch.org/2026/02/transgender-shooters-commit-disproportionate-shares-of-mass-public-and-active-shooting-attacks-in-2024-at-least-12-times-their-share-of-the-population/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3YYxOfwrsrU&t=634s&pp=ygUVam9yZGFuIHBlcnRlcnNvbiBtYWlk0gcJCaIKAYcqIYzv
https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/24-1287_4gcj.pdf
https://www.justice.gov/age-verify?destination=/epstein/files/DataSet%209/EFTA00707486.pdf
Epstein Files here:
https://x.com/nicksortor/status/2011693543379652619 https://twitter.com/RickyDoggin/status/2011840765618766184?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2011840765618766184%7Ctwgr%5E8783f198d0e7866e2943b7be3f05743905ffab5a%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fweb.groupme.com%2Fsignin https://x.com/nicksortor/status/2011980726812475782?s=20 https://x.com/EffieGib/status/2011935598223777974 https://x.com/EndWokeness/status/2012196685481476445 https://x.com/libsoftiktok/status/2001054374831821123 https://x.com/MarcNixon24/status/2012221523424112669
The Original Indictment (2020): The foundational DOJ document charging Maduro with narco-terrorism, which established the $15M bounty. https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/nicolas-maduro-moros-and-14-current-and-former-venezuelan-officials-charged-narco-terrorism The Human Rights Record (UN Council): The UN Independent International Fact-Finding Mission detailed crimes against humanity, providing the moral casus belli for intervention. https://www.ohchr.org/en/hr-bodies/hrc/ffm-venezuela/index The Collapse of the Oil State: A deep dive into how PDVSA (state oil) was looted, creating the economic conditions for regime vulnerability. https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/venezuela-crisis The Rise of the "Cartel of the Suns": Insight Insight Crime's dossier on the Cártel de los Soles, the military drug trafficking ring allegedly led by Maduro. https://insightcrime.org/venezuela-organized-crime-news/cartel-of-the-suns-profile/ The Original Indictment (2020): The foundational DOJ document charging Maduro with narco-terrorism, which established the $15M bounty. https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/nicolas-maduro-moros-and-14-current-and-former-venezuelan-officials-charged-narco-terrorism The Human Rights Record (UN Council): The UN Independent International Fact-Finding Mission detailed crimes against humanity, providing the moral casus belli for intervention. https://www.ohchr.org/en/hr-bodies/hrc/ffm-venezuela/index The Collapse of the Oil State: A deep dive into how PDVSA (state oil) was looted, creating the economic conditions for regime vulnerability. https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/venezuela-crisis The Rise of the "Cartel of the Suns": Insight Insight Crime's dossier on the Cártel de los Soles, the military drug trafficking ring allegedly led by Maduro. https://insightcrime.org/venezuela-organized-crime-news/cartel-of-the-suns-profile/
Resources: https://www.slideshare.net/slideshow/source-criticism-jedp-l/17771754 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKqo6EtbBqM https://www.thetorah.com/article/encountering-the-documentary-hypothesis-in-the-joseph-story https://paradigmone.wordpress.com/2015/09/23/what-kind-of-truth-is-the-bible/ https://biblearchaeology.org/research/topics/biblical-criticism-and-the-documentary-hypothesis/2328-the-documentary-hypothesis https://jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/asherahasherim-bible https://theologicalstudies.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/48.2.6.pdf https://creationconcept.wordpress.com/2011/01/20/on-the-chiastic-structure-of-revelation/ https://alittleperspective.com/genesis-371-36-triennial-vayeshev-and-he-dwelt-outline/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Documentary_hypothesis https://www.gotquestions.org/JEDP-theory.html https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justin-taylor/the-yawn-of-jedp/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julius_Wellhausen https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_83ac29uLs
Terrible exegesis
https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/trump-officials-push-back-minneapolis-020017714.html
More folly
https://www.foxnews.com/us/texas-church-depicts-holy-family-cage-wrapped-barbed-wire-nativity-display
https://www.foxnews.com/media/border-czar-tom-homan-fires-back-cnn-host-defense-ice-tactics-theyve-been-shot-at
You know who has a strict immigration policy? Heaven…
https://archive.org/details/bookofpopesliber00loom/page/n17/mode/2up https://www.expressnews.com/news/texas/article/texas-megachurch-christmas-show-criticism-19995279.php https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%2014%3A5-12&version=KJV https://hymnary.org/person/Neale_JM https://www.earlychristianwritings.com/text/ignatius-magnesians-lightfoot.html#google_vignette https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quartodecimanism
https://www.learnreligions.com/why-is-christmas-on-december-25-700439
https://www.patheos.com/blogs/davearmstrong/2017/12/december-25th-birth-jesus-interesting-considerations.html
https://talesoftimesforgotten.com/2019/12/08/just-how-pagan-is-christmas-really/
https://talesoftimesforgotten.com/2018/12/05/the-origins-of-the-christmas-tree/
https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/reviews/great-christ-comet-revealing-star-bethlehem/
0213: Thanksgiving, Nicki Knows Facts, Steve's Shenanigans, And The Screwtape Letters References: PragerU Video (First Thanksgiving) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a33Fuz8wKDA&pp=ygUhUHJhZ2VyVSBmaXJzdCBkYXkgb2YgdGhhbmtzZ2l2aW5n Wikipedia - Mayflower Story https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mayflower The Mayflower Compact https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mayflower_Compact Of Plymouth Plantation https://www.thiesmeyer.net/eng3/readings/Of%20Plymouth%20Plantation.pdf Also: Bradford, William. Of Plymouth Plantation (p. 87). Portcullis Books. Kindle Edition. Additional References for Research: https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/ops/king_philip.htm https://militaryhistory.about.com/od/battleswars16011800/p/King-Philips-War-1675-1676.htm https://colonialwarsct.org/1675.htm https://wallbuilders.com/resource/no-revisionists-thanksgiving-is-not-a-day-of-mourning/
Resources:
https://dailycaller.com/2025/09/26/ingersoll-enough-choose-violence-police-crime-crackdown/
https://dailycaller.com/2025/10/22/ingersoll-fbi-threats-visited-my-house/
https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/01-34-02-0472
References:
Alien Enemies Act
https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?path=/prelim@title50/chapter3&edition=prelim
The Apologetics Table (Source of Story)
https://x.com/JB_Durham80/status/1978895149934743769?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1978895149934743769%7Ctwgr%5E78bdf39ae26ee7f3c5ee652696fcf34aee92655a%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fweb.groupme.com%2Fsignin
Text of Declaration of Causes (South Carolina) https://teachingamericanhistory.org/document/south-carolina-declaration-of-the-causes-of-secession/ Text of US Constitution, Article IV, Section II, Clause III https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/article-4/section-2/
Resources:
https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jay/01-05-02-0271
https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/01-26-02-0410
https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/05-13-02-0263
https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/05-13-02-0140
https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/01-26-02-0380
https://www.nypost.com/2025/09/18/us-news/tyler-robinson-played-furry-shades-of-gay-porn-game-report
https://www.usccb.org/committees/religious-liberty/Backgrounder-Attacks-on-Catholic-Churches-in-US#tab--_022 https://crimeresearch.org/2024/04/trans-teen-arrested-for-threatening-to-shoot-up-a-school-wrote-a-129-page-manifesto-dealing-plans/
https://youtu.be/cFRuiVw4pKs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24eg7Jn-zWM https://www.forbes.com/sites/johnkoetsier/2025/04/29/80-of-gen-zers-would-marry-an-ai-study/ https://www.media.mit.edu/publications/your-brain-on-chatgpt/ https://arxiv.org/pdf/2506.08872
0198 The Top 10 Most Important Military Battles of the United States - Further. Every. Day. Top 10 Most Important Military Battles in US History Cut 1 - Introduction Cut 2 - Criteria for creating the list Cut 3 - #1: The Battle of Saratoga Cut 4 - #1: The Battle of Saratoga (Did You Know) Cut 5 - #2: The Battle of Normandy Cut 6 - #2: The Battle of Normandy (Did You Know) Cut 7 - #3: The Battle of Midway Cut 8 - #3: The Battle of Midway (Did You Know) Cut 9 - #4: The Battle of Vicksburg Cut 10 - #4: The Battle of Vicksburg (Did You Know) Cut 11 - #5: The Battle of Inchon Cut 12 - #5: The Battle of Inchon (Did You Know) Cut 13 - #6: The Battle of Atlanta Cut 14 - #6: The Battle of Atlanta (Did You Know) Cut 15 - #7: The Battle of San Juan Hill Cut 16 - #7: The Battle of San Juan Hill (Did You Know) Cut 17 - #8: The Battle of Mexico City Cut 18 - #8: The Battle of Mexico City (Did You Know) Cut 19 - #9: The Battle of Chancelorsville Cut 20 - #9: The Battle of Chancelorsville (Did You Know) Cut 21 - #10: The Battle of Trenton Cut 22 - #10: The Battle of Trenton (Did You Know) Cut 23 - Honorable Mention List Steve's Shenanigans Cut 24 - Introduction (Real or Fake News - The True or False Test) Cut 25 - Today's Topic: Camping Cut 26 - #1: It is illegal to primitive camp on BLM land without a permit. Cut 27 - #1: It is illegal to primitive camp on BLM land without a permit. (Answer) False Cut 28 - #2: National Parks have regulations regarding numbers of persons per campsite. Cut 29 - #2: National Parks have regulations regarding numbers of persons per campsite. (Answer) True Cut 30 - #3: It is legal to take and artifact, rock or plant from a National Parks. Cut 31 - #3: It is legal to take and artifact, rock or plant from a National Parks. (Answer) False Cut 32 - #4: It is illegal to have a campfire in primitive camping area. Cut 33 - #4: It is illegal to have a campfire in primitive camping area. (Answer) False Cut 34 - #5: There are different regulations for National Park camping vs National Forest camping. Cut 35 - #5: There are different regulations for National Park camping vs National Forest camping. (Answer) True Cut 36 - BONUS: Can you name the 5 things that make primitive camping actually primitive? Cut 37 - BONUS ANSWERS: No Established Facilities No Electricity or Cell Service No Marked Campsites or Roads Self-Sufficiency is Required Minimal to No Human Impact The Screwtape Letters: Chapter 3 Cuts 38 - 52 Nicki Knows Facts Cut 53: Introduction to Today's Topic When the Brain Breaks How Injuries Reshape Who We Are WARNING: Some information may be graphic. Dismiss your little ones if this is an issue. Cut 54: Phineas Gauge Cut 55: Labotomy Cut 56: Calendar Calculator Cut 57: Jason Padgett Cut 58: How He Sees Things Cut 59: Musical Talents Cut 60: Artistic Talents Cut 61: Jonathan Wilshire Cut 62: Kim Peeke Cut 63: Daniel Tammet Ryan's Music Review Cut 64: Introduction to the Music Review Cut 65: Be Thou My Vision (Eleanor Hull) Cut 66: Verse 1 Cut 67: Verse 2 Cut 68: Verse 3 Cut 69: Verse 4 Cut 70: Verse 5 Cut 71: Dirt Roads in Heaven Cut 72: Verse 1 Cut 73: Chorus Cut 74: Verse 2 Cut 75: Bridge
Jefferson's Virginian Statute of Religious Freedom https://virginiahistory.org/learn/thomas-jefferson-and-virginia-statute-religious-freedom We are living in the modern dystopia Bladeruner 2049 IVF 3 Parents: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/babies-dna-3-people-parents-first-ivf-trial-minimize-risk-inherited-disease/ XAi's Waifu and Anti-Religion Panda: https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/internet/grok-companions-include-flirty-anime-waifu-anti-religion-panda-rcna218797 Future Persons, perhaps a win in the Abortion Arena: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/judge-blocks-trump-birthright-citizenship-class-class-action-rcna218368 We are living in 2049's backstory. (Highly recommend 2049, if you have Vid-Angel, there are graphic scenes, but the dystopian element is coming to life, as we devalue human life) Steve's Shenanigans Hunting Laws The Screwtape Letters Chapter 2#
0195 Give Me Liberty Or Give Me Government Secrets - Further. Every. Day.Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death: Patrick Henry 1:00-1:30On March 20,1775, the 2nd Virginian Congress met at St.John's Episcopal Church in Richmond
On the 23rd, to win the necessary votes of the Virginian Congress to send troops to the Revolution, Patrick Henry gave this speech.
Cuts 1-13
https://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/patrick.asp
Patrick Henry followed this with a stabbing motion with his bone letter opener to symbolize the spirit of the Roman Philospher Cato:
“Cato drew his sword from its sheath and stabbed himself below the breast. His thrust, however, was somewhat feeble... [and] he did not at once dispatch himself... His servants heard the noise and cried out, and his son at once ran in, together with his friends... [A] physician went to him and tried to replace his bowels, which remained uninjured, and to sew up the wound. Accordingly, when Cato recovered and became aware of this, he pushed the physician away, tore his bowels with his hands, rent the wound still more, and so died.”
Epstein, Covid, and New World Order 1:40-2:00Cut 14: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pE-b4_QkF64
Cut 15: Reasons why? Nick Bryant on Shawn Ryan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4skVMyx10xs
Is it Israel? Don't know, but Blondi has been getting mucho moolah from the Mullah per Laura Loomer:
Cut 16:
https://x.com/LauraLoomer/status/1944075287274123760
In other news, since we have nothing more yet on Epstein, did USAID fund Covid Research?
Duh, but here's more evidence following up from the recent Daily Beast Article this week on the subject:
Cut 17: https://x.com/i/status/1886126884108554352
You may ask why?
Cut 18: https://x.com/i/status/1886126886239293707
Steve's Shenanigans 2:00-2:10 Cut 19
Cut 20
https://blog.qrfs.com/291-how-the-california-fire-code-of-2019-may-affect-your-grilling-plans-in-2020/
Cut 21 True in Cali
etc
Music Review 2:10-2:20As You Find Me
I Set My Hope
The Screwtape Letters Chapter 1 2:20-3:00
0194 The Declaration, Unhappy People, and Meme Review- Further. Every. Day.The Declaration of Independence 1:00-1:40Cuts 1-9
The Big Beautiful Bill 1:40-1:55Cut 10-13 Big Beautiful Bill Reactions
Cut 14: Gator Alcatraz
Cut 15: ICE ICE BABY
Songs 1:55-2:10Good Time and Please Please Please
Steve's Shenanigans 2:10-2:20Silly Laws
The Great Divorce Chapter 2:20-3:00
0193 A Brief History On Zionism, Should Christians Support It?- Further. Every. Day.1. Cut 1
- https://youtu.be/fGH94HoSJ2s?t=63 Until timestamp: 1:56
- Discussion on the issue of what is Britain going to do?
- Play youtube again until 5:26
- What about the Arabs and Sharif Hussein?
- Cut 2
- https://youtu.be/fGH94HoSJ2s?t=446 Until timestamp:9:30
- Cut 2
- Cut 3
- Cut 4
- https://youtu.be/fGH94HoSJ2s?t=715 Until Timestamp: 13:07
- Remember, in this region, Jews were considered second class citizens and persecuted by the local Arab population. (We can have a conversation about the Jews moving into the territory, displacing Arabs with purchases and evictions.) Continue video with commentary until end: This region was in tumult. The Arabs killed Jews, the Brits then killed Arabs, the Brits locked down the Jews, the Jews killed the Brits, and then the Jews took over in 1948. Israel has fought for survival since.
- Andrew Wilson's objections to Christian Support of Zionism Opening Arguments: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2ocm1feSOU&t=5827s until 27:26
- Cuts 5-17 (What does the Bible say?)
- Opinion: Bad theology aside, Israel is uniquely scrutinized and is required to hold an unreasonable standard, that is largely responsible for the predicament today. Donald Trump's strategy is unique and brought about the end of the 3 No Policy from other Arab nations: (No Treaty, No Peace, No Israel.) Let President Trump cook here. We may finally have peace with a Peace Through Strength mentality. Zionism may or may not have displaced people, historians would debate if those same people would be there today without the Balfour Declaration with the warfare occurring in those lands. However, Anti-Zionism, by definition, is a call for the ethnic cleansing and REGIME CHANGE of Israel. Half of the Anti-Zionist camp or more are the same people wringing their hands at the idea of Regime Change in Iran. Just a note. The Jewish People have every right to protect themselves, we may not have a Theological “Ought”, but I believe we DO have a strong military and perhaps even a moral (love thy neighbor sort of way) ought to strengthen the only Western-esque Republic in the region. (And we are told to pray for the peace of Jerusalem.)
US Land Being Sold, What Does It Mean?Mike Lee:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=neTOwRc_Daw
Glen Beck's Perspective:
https://youtu.be/_qeecCifsJA?t=910
Who gets it? Some say that there are no provisions to protect against Chinese purchases.
Jefferson's Opinion
Nicki Knows FactsThe Great Divorce Chapter 13
0192 America Has Struck Iran's Nuclear Facilities, Now What? - Further Every Day1. This is in America's Interests, other entities like Saudi and Qatar could nuclearize if we allow this precedent
- State Sponsor on Terror
- Democrat talking Point for the last 80 years
- No one is looking at Russia
- No one is looking at China
US Strikeshttps://youtu.be/iY4m9xNhGsE?si=xSpMDhGTiWn5_xER
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7eSJ011Muc&t=687s&pp=ygUWdHJ1bXAgIG9uIHNhbGUgb2YgbGFuZA%3D%3D
https://youtu.be/Mv8usnkaXok?t=332 until 11:04
https://youtu.be/iY4m9xNhGsE?si=xSpMDhGTiWn5_xER
Tucker Cruz Interview
How much money has Cruz taken from AIPAC
What is Ted Cruz's position on Israel
How does funding Israel benefit the USA?
US Land Being Sold, What Does It Mean?Glen Beck's Perspective:
https://youtu.be/_qeecCifsJA?t=910
Nicki Knows FactsThe Great Divorce Chapter 11
0191 Immigrants or Settlers? What Does History Say? Israel vs Iran, How Did We Get Here?Immigrants or SettlersThe Mayflower Compact:
https://themayflowersociety.org/history/the-mayflower-compact/
The Johnson-Reed Immigration Act of 1924:
https://history.state.gov/milestones/1921-1936/immigration-act
The Hart-Celler Act:
https://www.lbjlibrary.org/news-and-press/media-kits/immigration-and-nationality-act
Israel vs IranFull Timeline
Nicki Knows FactsThe Great Divorce Chapter 11
0190 Nala Ray and TPUSA: A Case Study In Biblical Leadership, Elon Musk vs Trump, Biblical Consistency, and Meme ReviewNala Ray Conversion, New Job Description, and TimelineBaptism:
https://www.instagram.com/reel/C1UoFfZrBMa/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
Controversy over OF being up:
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/2ddOR8iwrnU
It is now down…
Her courses though:
https://www.theanointedpathway.com/courses
TPUSA Invite:
https://www.ywls2025.com/
https://the-end-time.org/2025/06/05/navigating-new-converts-like-nala-ray-the-risks-of-spotlighting-their-faith/
Bible Verses to this effect:
Titus 1:6 – “If anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination.”
1 Timothy 3:2 – “Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach.”
1 Timothy 3:12 – “Let deacons each be the husband of one wife, managing their children and their own households well.”
Titus 2:3–5 –
“Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.”
1 Timothy 3:6 –
“He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil.”
Elon Musk vs Donald TrumpSummation from CNN/Inside Edition:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xebbrwnVFO0
Source of Elon's Black Eye?
https://nypost.com/2025/06/07/us-news/elon-musk-body-checked-treasury-secretary-scott-bessent-like-a-rugby-player-during-fiery-clash-at-white-house-report/
Tweetus Deleteus:
https://nypost.com/2025/06/07/us-news/elon-musk-deletes-tweet-claiming-trump-was-in-the-epstein-files/
Nicki Knows FactsThe Great Divorce Chapter 11 Pt 2The Meme Review, AITA, and Reddit Relationship Advice with Charlie, Nicki, and CompanyGym Issues
https://www.reddit.com/r/AITAH/comments/1l62j09/update_aitah_for_telling_a_woman_at_the_gym_that/
Divorce of Daughter's Punishment
https://www.reddit.com/r/AITAH/comments/1l1zhdz/aita_for_telling_my_husband_if_he_forces_his/
Man Blames Wife For Keeping Her Knowledge of His Cheating Secret
https://www.reddit.com/r/AITAH/comments/1l5s5hs/aitah_for_telling_my_husband_i_already_knew_that/
Relationship Advice:
https://www.reddit.com/r/relationship_advice/comments/1ku42hv/update_my_boyfriend_31m_is_going_away_for_all_of/
Bad hobby time management:
https://www.reddit.com/r/relationship_advice/comments/1l3955c/i_37f_gave_my_husband_39m_an_ultimatum_about_his/
0189 Alexander Hamilton's View on Judiciary, Falling Stars, Rising Stars, and The Great Divorce Chapter 11Alexander Hamilton's View on the JudiciaryCut 1: Video (Schumer) - Do you remember this scene???
Cut 2: Washington Stand article
Cut 3: Washington Stand article continued
Cut 4: Fed Paper #78
Cut 5-16: Fed Paper #78 - continued
References:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQQY8vbIjC8
https://washingtonstand.com/news/scotus-slows-judicial-overreach-in-environmental-cases-as-ire-grows-over-universal-injunctions
https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/24pdf/23-975_m648.pdf
Today's Falling Star - Hannah DuganCut 17: And for today's falling star, interestingly enough, welcome Hannah Dugan (a judge)
Cut 18: Fox News article on her arrest
Cut 19: What did she actually do?
Cut 20: Who is Hannah Dugan?
References:
https://www.foxnews.com/us/wisconsin-judge-claims-absolute-immunity-calls-doj-indictment-ugly-innovation
Today's Rising Star - Brilyn HollyhandCut 21: It's time to step up and be heard! Welcome Brilyn Hollyhand.
Cut 22: Opinion piece written by Brilynn Hollyhand
Cut 23: Opinion piece written by Brilynn Hollyhand - continued
Cut 24: Opinion piece written by Brilynn Hollyhand - continued
References:
https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/im-from-gen-z-i-know-why-democrats-losing-young-men-were-not-mystery-were-movementSo How About Those Tariff's!Cut 25: So how about those tariff's!
Cut 26: Remember Chuck Schumer?
Cut 27: Remember Richard Neal?
Cut 28: Remember Elizabeth Warren?
Cut 29: Remember Judy Chu?
Cut 30: Reuter's Article
Cut 31: Interesting statistics
Cut 32: Rick Santelli - What Say You?
Cut 33: Stay Tuned!
References:
https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/democrats-vow-fight-trumps-tariffs-tooth-nail-slam/story?id=120422318
https://democrats-waysandmeans.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/neal-statement-trumps-trade-war
https://www.reuters.com/business/retail-consumer/democrat-warren-raises-concerns-that-us-tariff-deals-will-favor-big-tech-over-2025-05-28/
https://www.nationalmemo.com/democrat-tariffs
https://www.forbes.com/sites/siladityaray/2025/03/05/democrats-call-out-trump-after-he-says-tariffs-will-cause-a-little-disturbance/
https://www.reuters.com/business/us-goods-trade-deficit-narrows-sharply-april-imports-plunge-2025-05-30/
https://www.fool.com/research/us-trade-balance/
Nicki Knows FactsReferences:
https://bfro.net/
The Great Divorce Chapter 11
0188 John Adams' Thoughts On Government 04/27/1776, What's the REAL Story behind the term “Black Fatigue”?, Steve's Shenanigans, and The Great Divorce Chapter 10 John Adams' Defense of the Constitution Cut 1 The American Revolution has begun and Adams was asked about his thoughts in forming the colonial governments. Cut 2 Adams takes aim at a critical error in poet Alexander Pope's prose here Cut 3 “Shut up and dribble/sing/write pros” is not a new concept Cut 4 Starting with first principles, Adams moves into the meat of the matter Cut 5 It's important to note that even the Pagan can see that moral virtue is the cornerstone of society, we may differ on what moral virtue is, but we all agree to its necessity. Cut 6 So why not form this new government in virtue and reason to that end. Cut 7 Fear while effective for a time, will always rely on tyranny and fall to revolt Cut 8 What is Honor? Can Honor or Respect mean anything without a Virtue to Honor? Cut 9 Then if we are to build a nation worth honoring, must it not be built on Virtuous Principles? Cut 10 He then leads into further exposition, but here let's look at his philosophy behind the tripart government with a bicameral legislature. This government must be comprised of a representative group of men, mirroring the population. Cut 11 Here comes the reasoning behind our government's backbone Cut 12 One Democratic Assembly, holding all of the power will by nature become corrupt and cliquish. Cut 13 One Democratic Assembly will also look, not only to the majority's benefit, but also to its own members' benefit Cut 14 Such an arrangement will also lead to lifetime appointments, making virtual princes out of the assemblymen. Cut 15-17 Such a Representative Branch could be stymied by ties in cases of war or voting and by nature need executive branch and judicial branches to execute and adjudicate laws. Cut 18 This, still not being enough, we will need something else Cut 19 Executive Veto is critical to our Republic Cut 20 And here we have the philosophical concept of what would eventually be the Senate. Cut 21 The 17th Amendment removed the senate from this type of position, as being elected by the congress and overthrew this check and balance. https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Adams/06-04-02-0026-0004 https://www.senate.gov/about/origins-foundations/senate-and-constitution/seventeenth-amendment.htm The Culture's New Term: Black Fatigue (Let me explain with another topic: Feminism Fatigue) https://youtube.com/shorts/kkKtUWo1gmc?si=D4RF5Hjw3_8MVxQM This behavior is excused by Feminism. We are seeing the effects of the Marxist Class/Race/Gender War that is aimed at destroying our civilization. We as Christians and Conservatives should not start dividing by race, this is what the Left wants. We should be making the distinction between those who've chosen to be the useful idiots of the Satanic Marxist uprising against the Christian Built Western Culture, Aaron McGurder is sick of this https://www.youtube.com/shorts/tKsk5AsdPv8 The Culture is sick of excuses being made: https://x.com/1GrahamDaily/status/1924460062447194578 The World is sick of this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IMPwqxA7AN4 Steve's Shenanigans The Great Divorce Chapter 10
0187 - Is THIS Anti Semitic
Study Finds Divorce is Hurting Kids Badly
Abortion Clinic of 50+ Years Closes - But Why?
And More - Further. Every. Day.
Intro:
Is saying the phrase “Christ is King” anti-semitic? Do people have a solid understanding of what true anti-semitism looks like and/or sounds like? Why is it that we have endured uncontested divorce for 56+ years and we are just now finding out that it is setting our kids up for failure? The statistics are in and the data shows how bad divorce really is. And how about the news that an abortion clinic in Colorado - that's been in operation for 50+ years - is closing its doors? But ask me why? The answer is grotesque and heartbreaking, to be sure. All of that and more today as we move Further Every Day.
Is “Christ is King” Anti-SemiticPre-Topic Intro
- Anti-semitism is definitely on the rise
- Part of it due to culturally “accepted” opinions
- Part of it due to October 7th and their subsequent response
- What is Israel's position and what does there 77 year history show
- Let's, first, define what anti-semitism is:
- Oxford Dictionary:
"Hostility to or prejudice against Jewish people." - Merriam-Webster:
"Hostility toward or discrimination against Jews as a religious, ethnic, or racial group." - Pomeroy's Strongly Opinionated Dictionary:
"Actions or words spoken that are meant to move a person or group of people toward genocidal attitudes and/or actions against Jewish people." - Now the question, without any additional context, is “Christ is King” anti-semitic?
- Would that statement offend Jewish people?
- Candace Owens stirred up the proverbial bees nest with this thread of tweets between her and Ben Shapiro.
Cut 1
Cut 2
Cut 3
Piers Morgan conducted an interview with Candace and gave her a chance to explain herself. Here's some of that interview.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5akZ4gw5xs
- Piers Morgan asked a very simple question in the interview - and she refused to answer it.
Cut 4 (14:20 - 18:11)
- Comments
- This was the response from Trent Horn (YouTube channel “Counsel of Trent”). He is a Catholic apologist and I want you to listen to this clip.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vErF9WttOU
Cut 5 (12:00 to 13:08)
- But is “annihilation” of Hamas really what Israel is looking for?
- What would their history of the last 77 years say? Have they annihilated the PLO? Have they annihilated Syria? How about Jordan? Or Hezbollah? Or the Houthis? Or Jordan or Iraq or Iran? No. Will they? Is it sabre-rattling or take-it-to-the-bank talk?
- Has God ever endorsed genocide?
Cut 6: Deuteronomy 20:16-17
Deu 20:16 But of the cities of these people, which the LORD thy God doth give thee for an inheritance, thou shalt save alive nothing that breatheth:
Deu 20:17 But thou shalt utterly destroy them; namely, the Hittites, and the Amorites, the Canaanites, and the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites; as the LORD thy God hath commanded thee:
Cut 7: 1 Samuel 15:2-3
1Sa 15:2 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I remember that which Amalek did to Israel, how he laid wait for him in the way, when he came up from Egypt.
1Sa 15:3 Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass.
(For additional reference: https://www.gotquestions.org/Canaanites-extermination.html )
- Is Candace Owens being anti-semitic when she says “Christ is King”?
- Is the phrase offensive to some?
- Should she be constantly repeating it to Ben Shapiro?
I think we all should take a step back and measure our words carefully. Death and life is in the power of the tongue.
Divorce is Setting Kids Up for FailurePre-topic Intro
https://dailycaller.com/2025/05/16/rooke-parents-study-nber-divorce-children/
Cut 8
Cut 9
Cut 10
Cut 11
Cut 12
- I requested ChatGPT to provide the following: What are the latest statistics on divorce and please provide the references for those statistics?
- Here are some general statistics on divorce
https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/marriage-divorce.htm
Cut 13
Cut 14
- Questions:
- What are the common reasons for divorce?
- Why has divorce become so acceptable in the US?
- What does the Bible have to say about divorce?
https://www.gotquestions.org/Bible-verses-about-divorce.html
Cut 15
Cut 16
Cut 17
Cut 18
- Topic Wrap-up
Colorado Abortion Clinic ClosesPre-topic Intro
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2025/05/13/colorado-late-term-abortion-clinic-closes-after-50-years/
Cut 19
Cut 20
Cut 21
- Questions:
- Why do we as Christians not see the intrinsic value of human life?
- Where are we, as Christians, failing the most on the issue of impacting the abortion industry?
https://www.redbookmag.com/body/pregnancy-fertility/a48398/christian-women-speak-out-on-why-they-had-abortions/
Cut 22
Cut 23
Cut 24
Cut 25
Cut 26
Apologetic Questions
https://www.erichernandezministries.com/ (regarding the questions on the soul)
Benjamin Franklin's 1783 letter to Superintendent of FinanceRobert Morris: Are we a financially reliable nation?
The narrative on illegal immigration is shifting to a new “victim”: https://youtu.be/rpnDtQ0ZVsk?si=6NmsC5boBMfMwwq4
Planned Parenthood caught shifting business models: https://youtu.be/5ncnvR-8dAg?si=xjPw2hBPPcXwlTtS
New Pope and LGBT:https://youtu.be/5NsEHrgOVvs?si=GH2YedegJMvxENsC
The Great Divorce Chapter 9 finish
Closing.youtu.be https://youtu.be/rpnDtQ0ZVsk?si=6NmsC5boBMfMwwq4
0185 The “Right” Has Lost Its Way, What Is The Right and Left Divide?
The Origins of the Right and Left May Surprise You
Historical Origins of the left and right wings:https://time.com/5673239/left-right-politics-origins/
Remember, the French Revolution was secularist and much of the desired end of the revolution was a secular utopia that ended in tyranny. There were no “good guys” in the French Revolution, the corrupt Monarchy, supported by the Impotent Church, vs the godless Secularists who murdered their way into a dictatorship that threatened to take over the World. But the “Right” has really stuck as a term for those who align with the Biblical Traditional values, whether in name or in form only.
Ideological difference for Alt Right and Alt Left in Europe (Both were far Left for American Politics, look at the policies)
What Has The Right Become?
With all of that foundation laid, what has become of the “Right” in America? We've fought the Civil War and Civil Rights Battle, but what are we doing now? What are we known for?
https://x.com/scrowder/status/1918342202356297872?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1918342202356297872%7Ctwgr%5E123b7ac32c0093c9618587f70adfea668e50cedf%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fweb.groupme.com%2Fsignin
She was filmed by this fellow:
https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/us-news/who-is-sharmake-beyle-omar-rochester-man-being-linked-to-shiloh-hendricks-racial-slur-video-101746219721059.html
Now this is all in context to the Austin Metcalf story and the money raised for the murderer:
https://nypost.com/2025/04/30/us-news/over-500k-raised-for-karmelo-anthonys-after-alleged-stabbing/
https://x.com/TowerGangToad/status/1918700512548888800
Popular conservatives have explained this as “black fatigue”. What's wrong with this?
Have we forgotten our Biblical Roots? What makes one Conservative anymore?
The principles of Liberty in Christ ought to be the “Right's” calling card, not ethno-populism.
https://x.com/1776General_/status/1918683361263985139
The Left Too Has Lost Its Way-The Spiritualisation of the Left
But what's interesting is that while the Right has grown more Secular, the Left has become more religious. How is this the Secular Rational Enlightened Left? https://www.yahoo.com/news/exclusive-fbi-manhunt-americas-most-061546930.html
How does the logic follow?
Dawkins: I'm a Cultural Christian
https://youtu.be/COHgEFUFWyg?t=13
What does this mean?
Nigel Farage has a good take on the failed ideas of nation building and multiculturalism in the Christian West: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2ED8A8RXeY
Nicki Knows Facts: The Man Who Sold the Eiffel Tower TwiceThe Great Divorce Chapter 9Closing
0184 Tariffs vs Slavery Hamilton's Report on Manufacturing: How the Civil War Started Over Tariffs, When You Divorce God, and More - Further. Every. Day.
Intro:
Have we debated Tariffs to the point of Constitutional Crisis before in this nation? Are we repeating history? What happens when you divorce God? What would a society divorced from God look like? Have you ever heard of the war where the birds won and the humans lost? That and more today on Further Every Day.
Hamilton's Report on American Manufactureshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Report_on_Manufactures
https://www.gilderlehrman.org/history-resources/spotlight-primary-source/hamiltons-report-subject-manufactures-1791
https://todayinhistory.blog/2021/05/18/may-19-1828-tariff-of-abominations/
When We Decouple Government From GodHow the influx of Godless people in Europe is going:
https://x.com/AzatAlsalim/status/1915064342321451347
How it's going in Britain:
Street Preaching: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UxoTbIxr7Vs
Making You Opinion Public:https://www.youtube.com/shorts/ihonF-_aKnY
If they suspect you're praying: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13TnF1R0Rjk
How it's going here in America: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mT_RRqgf7m4
And if you think they have the Civil Good In Mind, check this:
https://dailycaller.com/2025/04/24/amish-fema-disaster-relief-hurricane-helene-north-carolina/
When We Decouple Sexuality From Godhttps://x.com/realSonjaShaw/status/1913090620144664722
When We Decouple Marriage From Godhttps://nypost.com/2025/04/21/sports/shannon-sharpes-lawyers-release-x-rated-alleged-texts-name-of-accuser-in-50m-civil-rape-lawsuit/
Nicki Knows Facts: The Great Emu WarThe Great Divorce Chapter 8ClosingOne more thing:If you could only eat one meat for the rest of your life, what animal and cut would it be?
0183 The American Conflict No.1, Andrew Wilson vs Tomi Lahren, What Is Free Speech, and More - Further. Every. Day
The American Crisis No. 1:
https://americainclass.org/sources/makingrevolution/war/text2/painecrisis1776.pdf
Tariffs and Rumors of War:
https://dailycaller.com/2025/04/12/trump-apple-nvidia-electronics-reciprocal-tariffs/
Gender Roles:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=joTCXKSR81o&t=200s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6iyvKtke-Xs
The Correct Perspective from the "DGHTERS" Conference:
https://youtube.com/shorts/OaN8Eyff3fk?si=5BzdIyxCE1dXqcVI
Is All Speech Free?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yOXGlgWX5jo
Dire Wolves:
https://news.ucsc.edu/2025/04/dire-wolf-genome.html
https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2025/04/10/trump-endangered-species-protections-dire-wolves/
0182 Origin of the Bill of Rights, American-Islamic Cities, Body Positivity Movement, Nicki Knows Facts, etc
The Arguments for and Against the Bill of RightsCuts: 1-9Historical Outcome: Who Was Right?* Anti Federalist fears of federal overreach proved prophetic in light of 20th- and 21st-century issues—FISA surveillance, vaccine mandates, and restrictions on religious liberty. * Federalist fears of judicial overreach tied to ambiguous rights also came true—especially in how courts have redefined marriage, life, and gender using the Bill of Rights, often without legislative authority.
What Does It Mean To Be An American? - American- Islamic CitiesGregg Abbott has blocked an Islamic City headed for Dallas:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ET_zwvxGS0E
Honor Killing in Arizona from Recent Memory:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Kj7MV_38EA
Body Positivity and Identity Politics vs Identity in Christhttps://www.tiktok.com/@roybelzerfitness/video/7259514459448757547?lang=en
Where is our identity? Notice how the Monistic Materialist puts the same moral value of intrinsic good into their body while the Dualistic Theist understands the intrinsic value of a human is in the spiritual or metaphysical side and not the flesh. Note how they always talk about their community, we talk about Christ our God and Savior. They abhor those who speak differently, to the point where stars who lose weight are treated like outcasts, while we attempt to win others to our cause.
Tarrifying Trade-Warshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eOKzOfwKXuw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ts5wJ6OfzA
Nicki Knows FactsThe Great Divorce Chapter 7ClosingWhich of the 13 colonies would you live in today if you had to move to the east coast?
0181 What We Can Learn From the Treaty of Paris 1783, Signal-Gate, The Loneliness Epidemic, Apologetics 102 Answering the Questioner not the Question, Nicki Knows Facts: Rasputin of the Bronx, and The Great Divorce Chapter 6
IntroductionThe Treaty of Paris 1783Cut 1:
The Treaty of Paris 1783
Cut 2:
Pictured here are John Jay, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Henry Laurens, and William Temple Franklin.Although the British Contingent refused to pose so this is the unfinished portrait of the signing. This cuts in contrast to the unifying language of the document/
Cut 3
Here you have the map as drawn up by the new treaty. You can see the Brits retained Canada as well as a number of forts on the Great Lakes, more on that shortly.
Cut 4 Introductory Paragraph pt 1
Listen to this language. Are these men REALLY acting as secular politicians? Politicians, yes, but Secular ones? No.
Cut 5
This was a lofty goal, but as history informs us, the peace only lasted 3 decades.
Cut 6
The King Relinquishes ownership of the colonies
Cut 7
Boundaries
Cut 8
Fishing and trade vessels will be left alone by the Brits (This was broken in the lead up to 1812.)
Cut 9
Debts owed to Loyalists and Separatists will be repaid.
Cut 10
Restore confiscated land and allow the Brits 12 months to leave.
Cut 11
No more confiscations of land
Cut 12
No more confiscations
Cut 13
The Brits were to leave all forts and cities within the boundaries (They didn't and this was their foothold in 1812.)
Cut 14
Peace
Cut 15 Free Navigation
Russo-Ukraine Treaty, Will We Learn From History?Cut 16
It looks as though Russia and Ukraine have no interest in peace:
https://kyivindependent.com/ukraine-russia-have-incentive-to-prolong-war-instead-of-finalizing-bad-peace-deal-us-intelligence-assessment-finds/
Signal-GateSee Cuts 17-23
What Is An American? https://youtu.be/RPTpOOKmXs8?t=78 - 7:58
Cut 24: But what is the ideal that built America?
Cut 25: But what is America at its essence?
Cut 26: So America is essentially high test scores?
Cut 27: By this logic, any country can be “America” I think you've missed the point
Some notes:
I like Vivek, but he misses the mark due to his worldview. Americans are blessed not by hard work, not be being a great community to move into, but we are Americans because we have descended or immigrated into a nation with Godly Ideals. I like Vivek, but this Pro-Immigration/Wealth/Education over Pro-Western Christian Ideals view of America will also dilute the American Exceptionalism that we value.
The Loneliness EpidemicCut 28
https://twitter.com/i/status/1901719273799622680
What does this reflect? Selfishness, Self-Centeredness, Loss of Purpose, Loss of Community?
DOGE Members Speak0:00-5:22
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uX7xFkYt77k
Cut 29
Cut 30
Cut 31
Cut 32
Cut 33
Cut 32
Questions for the panel:
Why is this being protested?
How are people going to look back on this era?
How should we as Christians and Conservatives explain this?
Nicki Knows Facts: Rasputin of the BronxCut 33
Introduction
Cut 34
Picture of Ghibli Michael Malloy with his soon to be killer friends at the pub before the incident
The Great Divorce Chapter 6Closinghttps://kyivindependent.com/ukraine-russia-have-incentive-to-prolong-war-instead-of-finalizing-bad-peace-deal-us-intelligence-assessment-finds/
0180 Fed 23, The JFK Files, Department of Education Deconstructed, Nicki Knows Facts, The Great Divorce Chapter 5 Federalist 23 The End of the Department of Education Cut 7: 0:00 Department of education https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2PfOvWPrpM Cuts 8-10: https://fee.org/articles/the-failure-of-public-schooling-in-one-chart/ Trump's F47 Cut 11: 4:00 F 47 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2PfOvWPrpM Cut 12 https://www.defensenews.com/air/2025/03/21/boeing-wins-contract-for-ngad-fighter-jet-dubbed-f-47/ Cut 13 https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/4131094/statement-by-chief-of-staff-of-the-air-force-gen-david-allvin-on-the-usaf-ngad/#:~:text=The%20F%2D47%20will%20have,manpower%20and%20infrastructure%20to%20deploy. Who Killed Kennedy? Cut 14 13:45 Can you just tell us who killed Kennedy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2PfOvWPrpM Cut 15 Suspicious timing of this incident: https://fox59.com/news/national-world/barricade-incident-near-cia-headquarters-after-armed-man-spotted-police/ https://x.com/_ROB_29/status/1902475985980977617/photo/1 Lots of theories, dead spies, and few concrete facts. Why is the death of Kennedy such a topic of interest? Presidential Assassination Distrust of our government The 1960s were a turning point for many things and JFK was a lynchpin in politics and culture NATO and Ukraine Update Cut 16 20:10 Great Conversations with Zelensky and Putin https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2PfOvWPrpM Cut 17 Zelensky claims Putin is making unreasonable demands: https://www.bbc.com/news/live/clynp1nldmxt United States Deportations Cut 18 21:15 Do you think you have the authority to round people up and deport them? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2PfOvWPrpM Cut 19 Judge Blocks Trump from deporting Hamas Supporter: https://www.politico.com/news/2025/03/20/georgetown-researcher-deportation-00241924 Cut 20 Ezekiel 33:6 Cut 21 Deuteronomy 32:8 Cut 22 Acts 17:26 Cut 23 Numbers 15:30-31 Nicki Knows Facts The Origins of Basketball Cuts 24-27 The Great Divorce Chapter 5: Intellectualism and its pitfalls Cuts 28-35 Do we read the Word to change us or only for our benefit or profit? Closing Bibliography: https://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/fed23.asp
0179 John and Abigail Adams' Letters, Government Shutdown, Xenophobic Nationalist Apologetics, Ben & Jerry's: Abortion Ice Cream, Nicki Knows Facts, and The Great Divorce Chapter 5 Introduction Government Shutdown Avoided Cut 1 Narrowly avoided a shutdown Senate passes GOP-led bill to avoid government shutdown Cut 2 Do you remember these moments? https://youtu.be/KPQScyuH-QE?si=LZ8wV2GmMB1H3pXe Cut 3 See where Dems are now? https://www.youtube.com/shorts/IqLxHd9GbSA They do not believe what they said, they are liars. Remember this when discussing abortion, LGBT issues, and government shutdowns. Xenophobic Nationalist Apologist Moment Cut 4 https://youtu.be/Js15xgK4LIE?t=2429 From here until about 44:14 Cut 5 The issue with the Left not understanding Ethics vs Morality and being totally clueless as to what they believe: https://youtu.be/Js15xgK4LIE?t=1531 - 31:10 Cut 6 This immigrant aptly dealt with the Social Security Issue: https://youtu.be/Js15xgK4LIE?t=3375 - 1:04:15 Love is NOT Blind Here we see encapsulated in a horrible show, a horrible bride, a horrible groom, and perhaps a horrible church, why the West is dying: Cut 7 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0WD82ZmpJU Where was this man's Church? Was he ever confronted on this? Has he never thought about it? Was he so spineless he couldn't stand up to her or did he just not have a strong enough opinion. More: https://www.reddit.com/r/LoveIsBlindNetflix/comments/1jah81z/bens_tiktok_response_part_2_ben_brings_the/ A Culture Flavored in Abortion With footage from the Women's March on 030825 has been flooding our screens this past week, I'm led to ask: what exactly does this day mean at this point? Cut 8 https://www.instagram.com/benandjerrys/reel/DG8xxaSvwKK/ Cut 9-14 Ben and Jerry's Political Statement on Abortion We see this idea that abortion is inextricably intertwined with women's rights, to the point where we're back to debating the right of Churches to abstain for paying for abortions: Cut 15 https://washingtonstand.com/news/shocking-court-rules-church-must-include-abortion-in-employee-health-care-plan- Cut 16 For International Women's Day, Dylan Mulvaney was on the View, and here is what Whoopi had to say: https://youtu.be/_hEldny3f74?t=467 What is the agenda truly here? How does confusing and separating Gender Roles divorce us from our understanding of God? John Adams' Letter to Abigail Adams 1776 Summary of each Paragraph: Cut 17-18: Paragraph 1: If we had declared independence 7 months ago, we could have taken Canada, but the fractious nature of the Convention and the Tories ultimately stymied our best shot of winning Quebec. This loss of opportunity provides Britain with a foothold on our northern border, disadvantages us. Cut 19 Paragraph 2: None of that truly matters, however, because of the terrible epidemic of Smallpox that broke out amongst our troops. God is aware of this, and we should be looking to Him to see why these events have turned out the way they have. Cut 20 Paragraph 3: The bright side of the delay is this: The idea of Reconciliation between Britain and America is dead. Everyone knows what must be done now. We all understand what is ahead and have a sober mind to that end. The Union is formed and strong in a manner not possible 6 months ago. Cut 21 Paragraph 4: July 2nd , 1776 will always live in memory as a beautiful day for liberty and of God's Providence. Cut 22 Paragraph 5: You may think me silly with joy, but I understand how dark the coming days and years will be. God will carry us through. https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Adams/04-02-02-0016 Nicki Knows Facts Time Zone Trouble: Why were they first conceived and what is Daylight Savings Time? Cut 23-25 The Great Divorce Chapter 5 Cut 26-33 Closing What's your bucket list trip PNGs of the cuts (NOT the real ones, my png isn't playing….lol)
0177 Federalist 51: Overreach of the Branches, Trump vs the Judicial, Tate vs Florida, Trade Wars, and more
IntroductionFederalist 51Cut 1:
Paragraph 1
How shall we run a government with compartmentalized, equally powerful, and co-regulating branches which we see in the new proposed Constitution? These branches of government must be contrived so that they maintain each other in a sense of authority, duty, and honesty towards the people. Allow me to elaborate.
Paragraph 2:
To best protect the interests of the people and the institution of this government, each branch should be formed, elected, and run independently of the other two. These should hold checks and balances over each other, but with as much independence as possible in election of the office holders.
Cut 2 and 3:
Paragraph 3:
The members of each branch should also be free to act, even incentivized to act, with the authority of each's own office. If each branch is staged to seek its own interests, while maintaining alignment with the interests of the people, the different branches will hold each other accountable. Man is basically evil so we must set the selfish interests of politicians against each other for the sake of the people.
Paragraph 4:
The people and elections are the ultimate regulator on the vices of politicians, but organizing the branches so that their individual interests check each other is crucial. We need to even separate the legislature into two houses to protect the rights of the people and the rights of the states, while making the election of each as isolated from the other as possible.
Paragraph 5:
The power of the veto in the hands of the Executive Branch is a wise implementation of policy. However, as such a thing could be abused, the veto of the Executive Branch will only be allowed to be executed after a vote in the House of Congress has brought a vote to the Senate. This will allow some dissent in the voice of the Legislative from the Executive.
Cut 4:
Paragraph 6:
This government, with competing interests, will provide protection from mob rule and should guide the nation towards justice, and away from corruption.
Cut 5:
Paragraph 7:
For this to work, we will need to build a government that is incapable of turning against a minority by building this set of checks and balances, which will render the many factions powerless to act to the harm of the smaller ones. This is a reliance on the chaotic nature of man and his evil to prevent evil.
Cut 6:
Paragraph 8:
By designing the government in light of human nature and our propensity to divide ourselves, while maintaining the human rights of the minority, it will be very difficult for a majority to pervert the laws to oppress the minority.
Paragraph 9:
If Rhode Island broke off into a democracy, it is clear that it would fall into the tyranny of the majority. This new Constitution is designed to appeal to our common understanding of Godliness over our independent needs. This design should prevent the tyranny of the majority.
The Overreach of the Judicial CourtsCut 8
https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/5177420-supreme-court-blocks-trump-funding/
And here we see the overreach that Madison was concerned with in Federalist 51.
Cut 9
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2025/03/biden-judges-fishy-order-that-led-supreme-courts/
Real and Trade WarsAs we all know, Zelensky had a bad day at the White House where he engaged in self destructive behavior:
Cut 10
Sorry, wrong clip, some would say right clip…
Cut 11
Again, some would say wrong clip, but other right clip. No, it was worse than that.
Cut 12
https://youtu.be/v_kTNIYsFnQ?si=x_ZdWgC2EdR4-R2W
Now, we know how this ended, but I wanted to focus on what JD Vance said here. How is Zelensky recruiting soldiers these days?
Cut 13
Wrong clip, I wish it was this but it's actually quite tragic
Cut 14
Cut 15
Cut 16
Trump said Zelensky would be back
Cut 17
https://youtu.be/6QKwSuJswQk?si=2UL4CB7oUIO1W_rs
And what do you know, he's back
Cut 18
https://youtu.be/a7ziSd1QFrg?si=2BC6LefPLErs1n9p
China threatens war with the US
Cut 19
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4gmd3g2nzqo
Canada continues to threatens to pull the plug:
Cut 20
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHDoZoqZt4E
Culture WarsAndrew Tate is being prosecuted by Florida Gov Ron DeSantis, Candace Owens interviews Tate:
Cut 21
https://youtu.be/BG8mb9I5qeU?t=181 from here to 7:29
Question: Love or hate Tate, is this a precedent that we want to set?
Nicki Knows FactsThe woman who had the most children…
Cut 22-25
The Book Corner: Chapter 4 of The Great DivorceCut 26-31
ClosingIf you could only eat one thing until the day that you die, what would it be?
List of Life Principles Cut 1: (Nicki's #1) Start every day with daily prayer and Bible reading. Nicki - explain how that works for you. Cut 2: (Nicki's #2) Stay in a right relationship with God no matter the cost (peace of mind). Nicki - why is this important? Cut 3: (Nicki's #3) Know who you are in Christ - my life has a purpose! Nicki - what does it mean to know who you are in Christ? Cut 4: (Nicki's #4) Invest in family relationships. The only thing you can take into eternity with you is your family. Nicki - how do people that have very little or no family deal with this? Cut 5: (Nicki's #5) Walk in truth (no deception or lying). Nicki - why is this important? Cut 6: (Nicki's #6) Work hard and keep improving. Nicki - what would this look like? Cut 7: (Nicki's #7) Think and pray before you speak or act. Words and actions have long term affects. Nicki - how has this impacted you over the course of your life. Cut 8: (Nicki's #8) Tithe with the spiritual impact in mind. Nicki - what kind of spiritual impact should we be looking for? Cut 9: (Nicki's #9) Control my anger - don't let it control me? Nicki - what do you see as the biggest reasons for this? Cut 10: ((Nicki's #10) Make it a priority to laugh every day. Nicki - why should laughing be a priority. Cut 11: (Steve's #1) Make sure God is first and foremost in your life. Steve - why is this a priority for you? Cut 12: (Steves #2) Be a truth teller - not a liar. Steve - what do you see as some of the biggest hurdles to doing this? Cut 13: (Steve's #3) Treat folks like you would like to be treated. Steve - How has this impacted you personally? Cut 14: (Steve's #4) Learn a trade or get an education and work for a living. Steve - how important are trades to our society right now? Cut 15: (Steve's #5) Treat your parents with respect. Steve - tell us a little bit about your parents. Cut 16: (Steve's #6) Don't expect respect. Respect is earned, not given. Steve - what are some ways that respect can be earned? Cut 17: (Steve's #7) Learn to shoot a gun. Steve - why is this important? Cut 18: (Steve's #8) Learn to camp, fish, hunt, and farm. Cut 19: (Steve's #9) If you're married, love your wife and stay married. Steve - why is this such a challenge for people today? Cut 20: (Steve's #10) Learn to become a good father and grandfather (or mother and grandmother). Steve - what are some of the most valuable results for being a good parent and grandparent? Cut 21: (Charlie's #1) Love God and make Him known. Cut 22: (Charlie's #2) Truth is the greatest asset you will ever possess. Always run toward truth. Cut 23: (Charlie's #3) If you don't have peace, then don't do it. Cut 24: (Charlie's #4) If you don't want to fall into the Grand Canyon then stay away from the edge! Cut 25: (Charlie's #5) Help and serve others. Cut 26: (Charlie's #6) Try to always think with the end in mind. Cut 27: (Charlie's #7) You only get one life. Know your purpose in what you're doing. Cut 28: (Charlie's #8) Failure is a great teacher. Never be afraid to go to school. Cut 29: (Charlie's #9) Forgiveness is the great vaccine of anger and resentment. Cut 30: (Charlie's #10) On time is late. Never be late. Nicki Knows Facts: Cuts Bucket List Items: Cut : Would love to purchase a large piece of land (good for camping, fishing, hunting, and farming) and have my kids and grandkids move there. Cut : Take an Alaskan cruise with my wonderful wife. Cut : Take a Hawaiian cruise with my wonderful wife. Cut : Do a 7 - 10 day mountain hike. Cut : Purchase an old school bus and convert it into an RV. The Book Corner (NEXT WEEK): The Great Divorce, Chapters 5-6 Cuts
0176 Did Washington Foresee the Russo-Ukraine Dilemma? Anti-Christ Pop Culture Meltdown, Trans-Monkeys, Dangers of Free Speech, The Ballad of Elmer the Cadaver, and The Book Corner
Introduction
Washington's Farewell AddressCut 1:I want to let you know that I will not be running for re-election.
I'm grateful for the opportunity to serve, but I need to step down, and let me tell you why I've resolved to do so.
I have served two terms, and that is enough for anyone—I will retire now.
Cut 2:Be wary of the forces that seek to weaken the national unity essential to defense—both internal and external, ideologically and materially. The only means for continued freedom is national unity and individual solidarity in the bonds of blood, creed, and nationality.
Cut 3:Your nation has the right to your allegiance because it provides for your safety, and your duty to fellow citizens extends from civic charity to the defense of the nation. We all hold the same general beliefs, religion, and goals—national identity is key to maintaining the liberty so many have fought and died for.
The esoteric considerations aside, we must also address the conflicting interests of the States, which are outweighed by the interest of the whole. You must learn to consider the individual interests of the States within the context of the whole of the United States.
Your individual States will have their own autonomy, only within the value and benefit of the whole of the United States. The balance between States' rights and federal oversight has been laid out in our new Constitution, ratified by all. Each authority has its sphere of jurisdiction, subject to change only by the ratification of amendments.
Cut 4:The purpose of the checks and balances between the States and the branches of the federal government is to ensure a level playing field for all factions present in political debate. The violation or manipulation of these checks and balances is inevitably harmful, no matter how noble or ignoble the pursuit.
Cut 5:Be aware that popular factions can misuse the system of checks and balances to create tyrants, who will then seek to dismantle the very system they used to claim power.
Cut 6:It's important to avoid altering the basic structure of the Constitution through violations or amendments, as this will dilute the purpose of the checks and balances and eventually break a perfectly serviceable constitution.
Commentary: What did we see with the threat of packing the Supreme Court, removing the Electoral College, or now with the attempts from the legislative and judicial branches to hinder reform of the executive branch?
Cut 7:The more control you give political parties, the more autocratic they will become.
This stems from the darker impulses of human nature, existent in any nation, but partially mitigated within the design of the American Constitution.
It's natural for political parties to become entrenched within the body politic, their interests gaining greater bearing than the actual interests of the people.
Cut 8:It is natural, then, for political parties to act in retaliation and revenge against each other between elections, formulating a bizarre despotism and oligarchy.
Cut 9:You must be aware of this tendency of political parties and prevent it if you wish to avoid a permanent political ruling class levying autocratic policies upon the people.
Cut 10:If you allow this sort of political party structure to arise, you'll live to witness ill-founded rivalries that fester into political riots, insurrection, and corruption.
Cut 11:Now, on the issue of foreign influence—avoid becoming so entrenched in the quarrels of other nations that you lose sight of the needs of your own country. Otherwise, nationalists will eventually be dubbed "uncaring" when asked to give their own necessities to governments that have no obligation to America or her citizens.
Cut 12:Keep our interests in Europe as economically centered as possible, because Europe is a political tinderbox—frequently aflame—and will drag America into endless wars for nations that have proved to hold little interest in our well-being.
Why should Americans die on foreign soil for people who care so little for us and consistently start conflicts?
Cut 13:Avoid permanent alliances. Keep the alliances we do make, and remain out of other countries' disputes as often as possible.
Trump vs. ZelenskyCut 14:Trump and Zelensky have had a falling out. Upon looking at the first draft of President Trump's proposal, Zelensky had this reaction:
Watch here
Cut 15:How did that get in there?
Cut 16:No, Zelensky was even more self-destructive than that…
Watch here
Cut 17:Trump responded accordingly:
Watch here
Cut 18:It's important to remember that Russia and Ukraine have been contesting the border for decades, and the atrocities committed by Kiev—shelling civilian targets—predate the current war:
Read more
Cut 19:The war also hasn't stopped Zelensky from engaging in collective punishment on citizens in the Donetsk region (supposedly a region he wishes to have back under Ukrainian rule).
Read more
Cut 20:The exchange between Trump and Zelensky comes after Zelensky sanctioned his main political opposition in any future election, former president Petro Poroshenko.
Read more
Media MeltdownCut 21:"I don't care, Margaret... if you think free speech enabled Hitler, that's nonsense."—Margaret vs. Rubio
Rubio on JD Vance's speech on the decline of free speech in Germany and Europe:
Watch here
Pop Culture NewsCut 22:LGBT actor Cynthia Erivo will be playing our Lord in Jesus Christ Superstar.
What does this say about our culture's view on gender, cultural revisionism, and our Lord?
Cut 23:Tom Hanks plays an "icky racist white man" on SNL 50.
What does this say about our culture's view on race, cultural revisionism, and Christianity?
Proper apologetics for each?
NIH Lied, Monkeys DiedCut 24:NIH-funded research controversy
What are they looking for? What are they doing? Is this the first actual medical study for the long-term effects on transgender humans via monkeys?
But what about chemsex? What about HIV susceptibility? Monkeys cannot be infected with HIV—so are we looking at more gain-of-function research? What was happening here?
Nicki Knows Facts: The Ballad of Elmer the CadaverCuts 25-34
The Book Corner: The Great Divorce, Chapters 3-4Cuts 35-44
ClosingFinal Question:
If you could get only one item of furniture for your wedding/anniversary, and the price was no issue, what would you ask for?
0175 Articles of Confederation, An End To The Ukraine War?, Vance vs The Pope on Ordo Amori, The First Female Congresswoman, TBC: The Great Divorce, and Apologetics 101 - Further. Every. Day.
The Articles of Confederation – A Failed Democracy Of StatesCut 1#: Introduction:The Articles of Confederation, ratified in 1781, served as the first governing document of the United States. However, it soon proved inadequate, leading to widespread calls for reform. The Founding Fathers—especially George Washington, James Madison, and Alexander Hamilton—expressed serious concerns about its weaknesses. Many of these concerns were articulated in their letters, speeches, and debates, culminating in the drafting of the U.S. Constitution in 1787.
Key Weaknesses and Contemporary Critiques1. Lack of Taxation AuthorityOne of the most significant weaknesses of the Articles was Congress's inability to levy taxes. The federal government had to rely on voluntary contributions from the states, leading to financial instability and an inability to pay off war debts.
Cut 2#: James Madison, “Vices of the Political System” (April 1787):
"It is no longer doubted that a unanimous and punctual obedience of 13 independent bodies, to the acts of the federal Government, ought not be calculated on. Even during the war, when external danger supplied in some degree the defect of legal & coercive sanctions, how imperfectly did the States fulfil their obligations to the Union? In time of peace, we see already what is to be expected."
Cut 3&4#: Alexander Hamilton, Federalist No. 30 (December 28, 1787):
"The present Confederation, feeble as it is intended to repose in the United States, an unlimited power of providing for the pecuniary wants of the Union. But proceeding upon an erroneous principle, it has been done in such a manner as entirely to have frustrated the intention. Congress, by the articles which compose that compact (as has already been stated), are authorized to ascertain and call for any sums of money necessary, in their judgment, to the service of the United States; and their requisitions, if conformable to the rule of apportionment, are in every constitutional sense obligatory upon the States. These have no right to question the propriety of the demand; no discretion beyond that of devising the ways and means of furnishing the sums demanded. But though this be strictly and truly the case; though the assumption of such a right would be an infringement of the articles of Union; though it may seldom or never have been avowedly claimed, yet in practice it has been constantly exercised, and would continue to be so, as long as the revenues of the Confederacy should remain dependent on the intermediate agency of its members."
Cut 5#: George Washington's letter to John Jay (August 15, 1786):
"Requisitions are actually little better than a jest and a bye word throughout the Land. If you tell the Legislatures they have violated the treaty of peace and invaded the prerogatives of the confederacy they will laugh in your face."
Comparison to the Constitution:
- Articles of Confederation: Congress could not impose taxes and had to request funds from the states.
- U.S. Constitution (Article I, Section 8): Congress gains the power to “lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts, and excises.”
- No Executive or Judicial BranchesUnder the Articles, there was no executive branch to enforce laws and no national judiciary to settle disputes, leading to inefficiency and legal conflicts among states.
Cut 6#: James Madison at the Constitutional Convention (June 19, 1787):
"The existing Confederacy does not sufficiently provide against this evil. The proposed amendment to it does not supply the omission. It leaves the will of the States as uncontrolled as ever."
Cut 7#: Alexander Hamilton, Federalist NO. 22 (December 14, 1787):
"Several States have endeavored, by separate prohibitions, restrictions, and exclusions, to influence the conduct of that kingdom in this particular, but the want of concert, arising from the want of a general authority and from clashing and dissimilar views in the State, has hitherto frustrated every experiment of the kind, and will continue to do so as long as the same obstacles to a uniformity of measures continue to exist."
And later in Fed 22:
Cut 8#: “A circumstance which crowns the defects of the Confederation remains yet to be mentioned, the want of a judiciary power. Laws are a dead letter without courts to expound and define their true meaning and operation. The treaties of the United States, to have any force at all, must be considered as part of the law of the land. Their true import, as far as respects individuals, must, like all other laws, be ascertained by judicial determinations. To produce uniformity in these determinations, they ought to be submitted, in the last resort, to one SUPREME TRIBUNAL. And this tribunal ought to be instituted under the same authority which forms the treaties themselves. These ingredients are both indispensable.”
Comparison to the Constitution:
- Articles of Confederation: No executive or judiciary, making enforcement and dispute resolution nearly impossible.
- U.S. Constitution: Establishes three co-equal branches with checks and balances.
- Inability to Regulate CommerceWith no power to regulate trade, states imposed tariffs on each other, creating economic discord and weakening national unity.
Cut 9#: George Washington's letter to James Madison (November 30, 1785):
"I hope the resolutions which were published for the consideration of the House, respecting the reference to Congress for the regulation of a Commercial system will have passed. The proposition in my opinion is so self evident that I confess I am at a loss to discover wherein lyes the weight of the objection to the measure. We are either a United people, or we are not. If the former, let us, in all matters of general concern act as a nation, which have national objects to promote, and a National character to support—If we are not, let us no longer act a farce by pretending to it. for whilst we are playing a dble game, or playing a game between the two we never shall be consistent or respectable—but may be the dupes of some powers and, most assuredly, the contempt of all."
Comparison to the Constitution:
- Articles of Confederation: No power to regulate interstate or international trade.
- U.S. Constitution (Article I, Section 8): Grants Congress the power to “regulate commerce with foreign nations, and among the several states.”
Constitutional Convention Debates on the ArticlesThe Constitutional Convention of 1787 was largely a response to the Articles' failings. Many Founders voiced concerns about its weaknesses and emphasized the necessity of a new framework.
Cut 10#: George Washington's Address at the Constitutional Convention (1787):
"It is too probable that no plan we propose will be adopted. Perhaps another dreadful conflict is to be sustained. If to please the people, we offer what we ourselves disapprove, how can we afterwards defend our work? Let us raise a standard to which the wise and the honest can repair. The event is in the hand of God."
Cut 11#: James Madison at the Convention (June 6, 1787):
"The confederation was founded on temporary principles. It cannot last: it cannot be amended. If we do not establish a good Govt. on new principles, we must either go to ruin, or have the work to do over again. The people at large are wrongly suspected of being averse to a Genl. Govt. The aversion lies among interested men who possess their confidence."
Conclusion: The Articles' Failure & The Constitution's SuccessThe weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation were widely recognized by the Founders, who sought a stronger federal government through the U.S. Constitution. By granting the national government taxation authority, an executive branch, a judiciary, and regulatory power over commerce, the new Constitution directly addressed the Articles' failings.
Cut 12#: Benjamin Franklin on the new Constitution (1787):
"Thus I consent, Sir, to this Constitution because I expect no better, and because I am not sure, that it is not the best."
This new government would not only survive but become one of the most enduring political systems in history.
Russo-Ukraine War Ends, New Wars In Taiwan?With the war, hopefully ending in Ukraine, new peace talks can begin:Cut 13#: JD Vance and Zelensky ClipHegseth addressed NATO in Brussels this week:
Cut 14#: No, we're not leaving Ukraine behind, negotiations are just starting
Cut 15#: NATO needs to step up, the German reporter asks if the US will raise spending from 3.4% to 5% as Hegseth suggests the EU does
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOzzVfhkwn4
Cut 16#: Fighting two different wars on two different fronts, Gaza and Ukraine, has weakened our strategic reserves, oil, ATACMS, small arms munitions, and in many other ways says Command Adm. Samuel Paparo in Nov of 24: https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-weapons-taiwan-missiles-stockpiles-28564bbed21f72b9a3c6b3cd9c086bc7Cut 17#: This may be why Trump is so focused on peace with Russia and China
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=70Gr2eAYORI
The Pope vs VP Vance on the Ordo AmoriMuch ink and discussion has been spilled on this, but let's hear a surrogate from the Pope speak to this:
Now let's open God's Word in a very Augustine way, looking at the nature of affections as laid out in scripture:
Cut 18#:
https://x.com/TaylorRMarshall/status/1890437635883086485
- Love for God as Supreme* Cut 19# Matthew 22:37-38 – “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment.”
- Cut 20# Deuteronomy 6:5 – “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.”
- Cut 21# Luke 14:26 – “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.” (Jesus is not commanding literal hatred but is emphasizing that love for God must come first.)
-
Cut 22# Exodus 20:3 – “You shall have no other gods before me.”
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Love for Family* Cut 23# Ephesians 5:25 – “Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.”
- Cut 24# Ephesians 6:1-2 – “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. ‘Honor your father and mother' (this is the first commandment with a promise).”
- Cut 25# 1 Timothy 5:8 – “But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”
-
Cut 26# Genesis 2:24 – “Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.”
-
Love for Community* Cut 27# Leviticus 19:18 – “You shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.”
-
Cut 28# Luke 10:27-37 (Parable of the Good Samaritan) – Demonstrates love for one's neighbor beyond ethnic or social boundaries.
-
Love for Nation* Cut 29# Jeremiah 29:7 – “But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.”
- Cut 30# Romans 13:1-7 – “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.”
- Cut 31# 1 Peter 2:13-17 – “Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution… Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.”
Now, how does allowing an invasion of Military Aged Men into our country fit into this rubric? How does the Vatican deal with threats against his excellency?
Cut 32#
Oh…
Cut 33#
Nicki Knows Facts: The First CongresswomanCut 34#-37
The Book Corner: The Great Divorce Foreword-Chapter 2ForewordC.S. Lewis explains that The Great Divorce is an allegory, not a theological treatise, and should not be taken as a literal depiction of the afterlife. He argues against the idea that good and evil can be reconciled, emphasizing that one must fully choose either Heaven or Hell—there is no blending of the two. He also mentions his inspiration from William Blake's The Marriage of Heaven and Hell but clarifies that his book is meant to show their absolute separation rather than their unity.
Chapter 1The narrator finds himself in a grim, joyless city (Hell or “the Grey Town”) on a rainy evening. He joins a line for a bus that promises to take people away from the city. As he waits, he observes the other passengers arguing, bickering, and expressing general dissatisfaction. These people, it seems, are unhappy but reluctant to leave, preferring their own grievances and pride over change. When the bus arrives, it appears unusual—bright and floating above the ground.
Chapter 2As the bus takes off, it begins to ascend, moving higher and higher into the sky. The narrator notices that the interior of the bus seems to grow larger than its exterior, a hint at the supernatural nature of the journey. The other passengers continue arguing, revealing their selfishness, resentment, and attachment to their past sins. Some complain about the rules of the Grey Town, while others insist they deserve better treatment.
The chapter ends with the bus flying toward an unfamiliar, beautifully radiant land, which we later understand to be the foothills of Heaven.
Apologetics 101The 3 Rules of Apologetics
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Define Terms
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Answer the Questioner, not the Question
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Remember who wins the person's soul, hint it's not you.
Final Question: Favorite fictional workSources for Further Reading:* https://press-pubs.uchicago.edu/founders/documents/a7s3.html * https://www.bartleby.com/lit-hub/respectfully-quoted/george-washington-173299-2/ * https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/04-03-02-0357 * https://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/fed22.asp * https://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/fed30.asp * https://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/debates_619.asp
Knox and Washington on Gaza and DOGE, Guillotines, and Your Theological QuestionsIntroductionDid our Founding Fathers warn us about the human condition? Did Washington experience the same pressures that we see exerted on our current God-Fearing leadership? Is DOGE illegal and unprecedented? Is Trump invading Gaza? When was the last Guillotine Execution and which country used it last? That and your theological questions today on Further. Every. Day.
Section 1: Henry Knox's Correspondence with George Washington* Cut 1: Who was Henry Knox? * Cut 2: Knox's raid of Fort Ticonderoga and the Noble Train * Cut 3: Knox's military career * Cut 4: Knox to Washington: The Thirteen-Headed Monster needs one head * Cut 5: Knox to Washington: It's not high taxes but man's dark heart and communistic leanings * Cut 6: Knox to Washington: Justification for uprisings such as Shays' Rebellion * Cut 7: Washington to Knox: “Good God!” We look like a reprobate nation
Section 2: Are We Seeing This Today with the Reaction to DOGE?* Cut 8: Democrats decrying DOGE + Which branch is DOGE under? + To which branch do these Senators and Congressmen belong? Hmm…
- Cut 9: Is DOGE unprecedented?
- Cuts 10-16: No…
- Cuts 17-18: What has USAID been spent on?
Section 3: Gaza and Trump* Cut 19: Is Trump taking over Gaza a betrayal of MAGA? + Trump and Netanyahu
- Cut 20: Not a betrayal. Some wildly out-of-the-box thinking and negotiation may be in play.
- Let the man cook.
Section 4: Nicki Knows Facts* Cut 21: When was the last execution by guillotine, and which country used it? * Cut 22: Answer * Cut 23: Last man executed * Cut 24: Last woman executed * Cut 25: Biblical examples
Section 5: Theological Q&AYour Questions:
- Did Judas go to Heaven or Hell?
- Is Sunday or Saturday the day of worship?
- What really happened to Jephthah's daughter?
Closing* Final question: Best state in the Union?
Sources:
https://www.nytimes.com/1969/08/10/archives/foe-of-pollution-sees-lack-of-time-asserts-environmental-ills.html
https://www.thetorah.com/article/did-jephthah-actually-kill-his-daughter
https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/administration/eop
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Office_of_Management_and_Budget
https://www.britannica.com/summary/Franklin-D-Roosevelts-Achievements
Federalist No. 10Introduction to James Madison* Cut 1 Madison was the smallest U.S. president at 5'4” and 100 lbs. * Cut 2 War of 1812 * Architect of the Bill of Rights and the U.S. Constitution. * Studied Hebrew, Locke, Witherspoon, and other Biblical and Enlightenment thinkers at Princeton.
Segment 1: Federalist No. 10 in Context* Opening Question: Why did Madison see factions as the greatest threat to a free republic? * Let's see: Cut 3 * Cut 4: Special Interests are already present. * Cut 5 Faction Definition * Cut 6 Methods for dismantling faction * Cut 7 * Historical & Biblical Context: + Human nature and governance (Jeremiah 17:9 Cut 8, Cut 9 Romans 13:1-4). + Founders' rejection of pure democracy for a constitutional republic. + Key Quote: "If men were angels, no government would be necessary." (Federalist No. 51)
- Modern Parallels:
- How well does Madison's system function today?
- Have we drifted into oligarchy or mob rule?
Segment 2: The Danger of Factions – Then & Now (Special Interests)* Definition: A group united by passion or interest against the rights of others. * Cut 10 The Human Condition * Historical Examples: + Biblical: Pharisees & Sadducees, Korah's Rebellion, Moses vs. Aaron & Miriam. + Early America: Shays' Rebellion, Newburgh Conspiracy.
- Modern Examples:
- Political factions influencing laws for self-benefit (Big Pharma, Wall Street, political elites).
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Radical ideologies reshaping government, media, and education.
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Question: Did Madison underestimate the power of mob mentality in parties?
Segment 3: The Republican Solution – Can We Still Make It Work?* Madison's Key Safeguards: + Representative government filters public passions. + Checks and balances prevent faction dominance. + Rule of law ensures stability.
- Biblical & Historical Parallels:
- Moses' system of judges (Cut 12 Exodus 18:21-22) – decentralized authority.
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Electoral College & Senate as safeguards against mob rule.
-
Critique: Does the Republic still function as intended?
- Congress members profiting from insider stock trading.
- Bureaucracies serving corporate interests over public welfare.
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Judiciary increasingly partisan.
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Question: Is the republic still preserving liberty, or has it become an oligarchy?
Segment 4: Leadership, Corruption & The RFK Jr. Debate* Key Quote: “No man is allowed to be a judge in his own cause.” * Internet Clip 1: * Modern Example: RFK Jr. vs. Big Pharma—legitimate accountability or political opposition? * Question: Does the electorate still have power, or is it manipulated by media and money?
Segment 5: Economic Policy & The Rise of Radical Ideas* Key Quote: “Every shilling with which they overburden the inferior number, is a shilling saved to their own pockets.” * Tariffs & Protectionism: + Madison's warnings on self-interested legislators. + Trump's new tariffs (Feb 2025) – protecting American jobs or empowering another faction?
- Radical Economic Shifts:
- Paper money, debt abolition, wealth redistribution are now mainstream.
-
Federal Reserve policies, student loan forgiveness, universal basic income.
-
Question: Did Madison underestimate the ability of factions to nationalize radical policies?
Final Segment: Madison's Republic – Can It Be Restored?* Madison's System Depends On: + ✅ A moral electorate. + ✅ Functioning checks and balances. + ✅ Decentralized power.
- Reality Check:
- ❌ Misinformed & manipulated electorate.
- ❌ Government officials profiting from policies.
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❌ Radical policies nationalized instead of local.
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Final Question: How do we restore Madison's vision?
- Restoring biblical morality in leadership.
- Reasserting state sovereignty.
- Educating and activating an informed electorate.
Nicki Knows Facts Segment* Unsinkable Sam: Cut 14 then 15 The cat that survived the sinking of three warships.
Elon Musk's Salute vs. Bryce Mitchell* Elon Musk's salute controversy: + Media scrutiny and backlash. + Cut 16 Reference: Guardian article
- Bryce Mitchell's extreme counterpoint:
- Cut 16Twitter clip
- His bizarre past incident: MMA Junkie
-
Cut 18 Meme
-
Historical reality check:
- Cut 19
- Cut 20 a
- Hitler's atrocities: Aktion T4, Mengele's experiments, genocide of millions.
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Reference: Wikipedia - Aktion T4
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Takeaway: Best to avoid invoking Hitler in any context.
JD Vance and His Apologetic Maneuvers* Core Themes & Arguments: + Biblical Prioritization of Family & Nation - 1 Timothy 5:8: Family first, then community, then nation. - Critique of USCCB's financial incentives.
- Settlers vs. Immigrants
- Settlers built America; immigrants benefited from it.
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John Adams: "Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people."
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Law Enforcement & Government's Role
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Romans 13:3 – Enforcing law isn't cruelty; it's justice.
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Birthright Citizenship & National Sovereignty
- 14th Amendment wasn't intended for illegal immigrants' children.
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Citizenship is a privilege, not an accident of birth location.
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The Refugee Vetting Debate
- National security must come before indiscriminate refugee acceptance.
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Aquinas' Just War Theory – nations have a right to defend themselves.
-
Chinese National Loses Her Visa
Chinese UCLA Student's Visa Revoked – Does a foreigner aligning with anti-American rhetoric have constitutional rights?
- Final Takeaways:
- Vance upholds biblical and constitutional principles.
- Christian ethics align with national security concerns.
- America must prioritize its founding values over globalist ideals.
Reference Links for Further Research: [Federalist No. 10 – Avalon Project] [Federalist No. 51 – Avalon Project] [Jeremiah 17:9 – Bible Gateway] [Romans 13:1-4 – Bible Gateway] [Exodus 18:21-22 – Bible Gateway] [RFK Jr. vs. Big Pharma – YouTube] [Trump's Tariff Policy (Feb 2025) – Fox Business] [Congress Stock Trading – CBS News] [Electoral College Explained – National Archives]
Federalist 2#, Ilhan Omar vs. The Alien Act, and Trump's First Week
Introduction* Brief overview of topics: 1. Federalist 2#: Historical analysis and implications. 2. Controversy around the Alien Act and recent deportation events. 3. Trump's first week in office, pardons, and early policy impacts.
Segment 1: Federalist 2# OverviewRecap of Federalist 1#: Key themes and setup for Federalist 2#.
Federalist 2# Talking Points:
- John Jay's Background
- Birth: 1745; Death: 1829.
- Roles:
- First Chief Justice (1789-1795).
- President of the Continental Congress (1778-1779).
- Treaty of Paris Negotiator (1783).
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Governor of New York (1795-1801).
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Themes of Federalist 2#:
- Importance of a united federal government.
- Biblical justification for governance (Genesis 9:3-6, Romans 13).
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Challenges posed by the weak Articles of Confederation.
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Key Insights:
- Conflicts of interests under the Confederation.
- The necessity of a unified American identity rooted in shared values, including Christianity.
- God's providence in the formation of the nation.
Video Clip Reference: YouTube Link.
Segment 2: Ilhan Omar vs. The Alien Act (1798)Discussion Points:
- Historical Context of the Alien Act:
- Passed in 1798 to address foreign threats during the Quasi-War.
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Modern-day parallels and controversies over deportations.
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Recent Deportation Headlines:
- NBC's coverage (Link).
- Resistance at the border (Link).
Notable Clips:
- ICE head Tom Homan speaks with deportees (Link).
- Border updates (Link, Link).
Segment 3: Nicki Knows Facts!Trivia Question:
- How many times was the State of Texas' Capitol purchased?
Discussion Points:
- Quick historical insight into Texas' Capitol, its history, and notable trivia.
- Panelists' guesses and reactions to the correct answer.
Segment 3: Trump's First Week in OfficeKey Highlights:
- Pardons:
- Proud Boys and pro-lifers (YouTube Link).
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March for Life reflections (YouTube Link).
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Planned Parenthood & Cultural Shifts:
- Threats to defund Planned Parenthood (Link).
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Reaction to Cecile Richards' passing.
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Memes & Public Reactions:
- Highlighted by @GigaBasedDad (Link).
- Trump's silent strategizing (Link).
Final Thoughts1. Panelists' favorite Trump win this week. 2. Closing reflections on Federalist 2# and the Alien Act parallels.
- Federalist 1#: A Call for a New Constitution
The inefficiency of the current government led to the need for a new U.S. Constitution. The government struggled to pay its debts to soldiers and couldn't manage internal threats like Shay's Rebellion. These challenges, including a lack of trade protection and the failure to fund the government, highlighted the need for a stronger federal system. - The United States' Struggles Post-Revolution
After the War for Independence, the U.S. faced internal economic crises and external challenges, such as Spain blocking the Mississippi River. Failed attempts to fund the government, like the Impost Amendment of 1781, demonstrated the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation.
Newburgh Conspiracy (1783)
Shays' Rebellion (1786–1787) - The Need for a Stronger Government
Hamilton's Federalist 1 stresses the importance of a rational, unified government to ensure the safety and welfare of the union. He argues for a government built on reason, free from accidents or force, to safeguard the nation's future. - Opposition to the New Constitution
The new Constitution faced resistance from those who feared losing their power. Opponents included individuals seeking to maintain slavery or revert to British rule, making ratification a difficult process. - The External Revenue Service & Tariffs
Originally, the U.S. was funded through tariffs. The debate between free trade and protectionism plays a critical role in shaping economic policy today. China's unfair trade practices and exploitation make it increasingly difficult for American workers to compete.
The Core Arguments of Tariffs - The 32-Hour Work Week Proposal
A bill to reduce the U.S. workweek to 32 hours over four years promises increased worker satisfaction without a pay cut. Pilot programs have shown higher satisfaction and revenue growth. There are concerns about the impact on companies maintaining the 40-hour workweek.
32-Hour Workweek Bill Overview - Red Note vs. TikTok
With TikTok facing a potential ban due to Chinese propaganda influence, millions of American users flock to Red Note, a new platform named after Mao's Little Red Book. Security concerns and cultural clashes emerge as Red Note replaces TikTok.
Nick Fuentes Banned Before He Starts
Security Risk Concerns
Chinese Reaction to Red Note
Gender War Started
What Really Happens on Red Note
What Zoomers Think
The Native Response
Christmas Is Not A Pagan Holiday
Today, let's look at the common arguments for a Pagan Origin of Christmas. Let's put them into 3 categories:
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The 25th Date coincides with other pagan holidays like Saturnalia and Sol Invictus
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The gods who were born on the 25th make Christ look like a copycat in a long line of copycats.
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The Christmas Tree appears to be the Asherah Pole from Jeremiah 10:1-5.
So let's start with the date of the 25th. Where did the date come from?
Some sources attribute Theophilus of Antioch circa 171-183 AD as the first to use the 25th of December date as the date of Christ's birth, due to the notion that prophets are conceived on the day they die (Christ's death being attributed here as the 25th of March). Some even attribute Pope St. Telesphorus in circa 125-136 AD as having ascribed the December 25th date decades earlier. The dates of Saturnalia were the 17th-23rd , never on the 25th. A Pre-Christ Sol Invictus is only referenced in 1 manuscript, the Chronography of 354. This manuscript was written over 100 years after Hippolytus of Rome's Commentary on Daniel (circa 202~211 AD), which references the December 25th Birth of Christ. It is entirely possible that the observance of Sol Invictus's birthdate may have even been a mimicry of the December 25th date! There go those two points, showing a crippling lack of scholarship on the part of the proponents of a Pagan Origin of Christmas.
As for other gods who have held or picked up the 25th, some of these have resurrection stories and other vague similarities to Christ's story. I'll have to quote Lewis here on this general contention as Lewis said it better than I could: “And what did God do? …He sent the human race what I call good dreams: I mean those queer stories scattered all through the heathen religions about a god who dies and comes to life again and, by his death, has somehow given new life to men.” If one takes the proposition that man came from Noah, and Noah expected the redeemer of the Genesis 3 covenant, would not man expect such a redeemer? Also, would not the Devil himself love to abuse this desire for a Savior and propagate such false religions for the Devil's own gain? This view, even if you believe it to be wrong, is at least consistent.
On a side note, I do not believe, like many, that Christ's birth was on the 25th of December. It was likely on the feast of First Fruits in April. This would better fit the prophetic timeline and The Christ Comet is a theory of the Star of Bethlehem that plots the activities of a specific comet to that time frame. This comet would have behaved in such a way as to lead the Magi to Jerusalem and then to Bethlehem, but this is neither here nor there for this discussion.
On the note of the Christmas Tree, the Asherah Pole of Pre-Christ Iran is often connoted with the Tradition of the Christmas Tree, which was started around the 1500s by the French and Germanic Christians, the better part of two millennia separated from Jeremiah's words in Jeremiah 10:1-5:
"1 Hear ye the word which the LORD speaketh unto you, O house of Israel: 2 Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them. 3 For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. 4 They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not. 5 They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good."
On that note, how would uncarved trees have anything to do with carved wooden idols? Just because heathens used trees in false worship, does not mean that trees are somehow pagan. If pagans doing something or celebrating in a certain way makes any association with the item or practice anathema, stop singing, stop praying, and while you're at it, stop breathing! This extreme is almost a strawman, but the point of this should be why are we doing what we do? Some traditions are valueless, granted. Some are even dangerous, agreed. But let's base our critiques, if we have them, on facts and not unsupported nonsense. (For example, find an actual ancient source on the use of Christmas Trees for Saturnalia. Few if any exist, and none that we are aware of.)
Santa Clause, on the other hand, is a different story. St. Nicholas (Born circa 280 AD) is the oldest reference of the Jolly Man who gave aid to the poor and powerless. Tales of St. Nicholas include him giving dowries to girls being sold into prostitution, thereby saving them from such a life, and giving gifts to the poor. Others are more fantastic. However, all of these stories should be celebrated, in the context of what the Love of God can do through one man. St. Nicholas wasn't magical, he was transformed through his relationship to Christ. Santa Claus, as we have him today, came from numerous accretions and other legends, some even pagan in origin (think Krampus).
All of that aside, however we got Santa Claus is not necessarily important. What is concerning is that some have taken the caricature of St. Nicholas and turned him into a god who rewards good works and the sacrament of milk and cookies. We tell children Santa and Jesus are both real and then wonder why they no longer believe in Christ only a few short years of their belief in Santa being shattered. Where is our consistency? Have we been guilty of worshiping a false god that satisfies our own paganistic desires for self fulfillment in America? Has Consumerism consumed the message of Christmas?
So, is Christmas a pagan holiday root and branch? Not in the root, but maybe for some, the branch. We should ask ourselves: Is Christ still on the throne of Christmas, or have we erected our own god of self-actualization with a fat bearded man who gives gifts with little effort from us, a caricature of God the Father Himself? Do we spend nearly as much time worshiping the King of Heaven as we do ourselves, and even our children and families?
https://www.learnreligions.com/why-is-christmas-on-december-25-700439
https://www.patheos.com/blogs/davearmstrong/2017/12/december-25th-birth-jesus-interesting-considerations.html
https://talesoftimesforgotten.com/2019/12/08/just-how-pagan-is-christmas-really/
https://talesoftimesforgotten.com/2018/12/05/the-origins-of-the-christmas-tree/
https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/reviews/great-christ-comet-revealing-star-bethlehem/
When was Jesus REALLY Born? Where was He born and how did the shepherds know where to go? How many wisemen were there? How did they know where Jesus was born and do we have evidence in the Stars that Christ was come? All of this with song reviews on today's episode of Further. Every. Day. Notes: In this video, we delve into the question of when Jesus was really born and explore the mystery of the Star of Bethlehem. #Christ's Birthday. In this video, we'll explore the mystery of when Jesus was really born and the significance of the Star of Bethlehem. Discover the truth behind this historical event! #BethlehemStar The Christ Comet: https://www.crossway.org/authors/colin-nicholl/ The Star of Bethlehem: https://bethlehemstar.com/ The Debate around the Star: https://www.unionpublishing.org/resource/what-is-wrong-with-rick-larsons-star-of-bethlehem-dvd-documentary/
We answer your questions in this session: Do All Denominations Get You To Heaven? What Did Jesus Mean By Lukewarm?
The spiritual and political division in Western society continues to deepen, with social media and politics playing a crucial role in our cultural decline. The growing political division between generations manifests in concerning demographic trends, while philosophy and traditional values seem increasingly abandoned. Through communication and discourse definition, we must bridge these divides to prevent further societal fragmentation. Every. Day. Church Attendance Data: https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fnews.gallup.com%2Fpoll%2F341963%2Fchurch-membership-falls-below-majority-first-time.aspx&psig=AOvVaw32LwYSDuoOOOC1zm8h2Fjh&ust=1731897089530000&source=images&cd=vfe&opi=89978449&ved=0CBQQjRxqFwoTCPDVrcmp4okDFQAAAAAdAAAAABAE
Why Should Christians Vote? Or Not Vote? There is no way to truly know how many Christians actually vote in any given election. You will find Christians that are “die-hard” voters and you will find Christians that think being involved in any political process is “anathema” for any Christian, especially voting. Is there a responsibility one way or the other? Get ready for some great discussion about this topic as we strive Further Every Day! References: https://www.gotquestions.org/Christians-vote.html https://www.gotquestions.blog/Christians-and-politics.html https://www.gotquestions.org/Christian-politics.html https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2020/10/26/what-the-2020-electorate-looks-like-by-party-race-and-ethnicity-age-education-and-religion/
What We Can Learn From The Whatever Podcast…. Further. Every. Day. Introduction: Segment 1: What do Christians look like in the culture? Here's a clip from the Whatever podcast where two Christians are debating the behavior of leading a man on in a false engagement and not returning any of the $250,000 gained during the engagement. https://youtu.be/fZYP7zXNDto?t=80 1:20-6:08 What are the biblical safeguards against this? Matthew 18:15-20: 15 "If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. 16 But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. 17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. 18 Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 19 Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them." We have an instance of this in 1 Corinthians 5:12-13 12For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? 13But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person. And we see the desired result later in 2 Corinthians 2:5-7 5But if any have caused grief, he hath not grieved me, but in part: that I may not overcharge you all. 6Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many. 7So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow. Church discipline is never to harm but rather to hold people like this accountable, and to keep the Church and God's Name Holy. Segment 2: Is it okay to judge others? A common issue among Christians is that we fail to judge sin as sin. What is so wrong with divining right from wrong with our Bible? In this clip we have a young Christian lady who has kept herself pure and is waiting for marriage. However, she can't bring herself to articulate why others should. She's afraid of “judging” others: https://youtu.be/lMC5LDCQxeY?t=557 9:17-14:41 Luke 6:36-38 36 Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful. 37 Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven: 38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. Thoughts? This gal may be saved, but it would appear that she was hardly discipled. Segment 3: How should we interpret the Bible? How do we look in the culture? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AqnBSbOlDJM 0:00-2:45 This continues with no real resolution other than our pink haired friend calling Andrew mean and cruel and judgemental. Thoughts? 2 Peter 1:19-21 19We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: 20Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the Scripture is of any private interpretation. 21For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. So what does this mean for the Christian today? Final Thoughts: One Last Question: favorite TV show?
0156 Christianity, Patriotism vs Pacifism
Introduction: In a country where politics have become more and more heated, should the Christian join in the fray? Or should we sit back with a resignation that simply waits for the return of our Savior? Should we as Christians be involved with the political system? If so, how much or how little should our involvement involve our relationship to Christ?
Segment 1: Does God Condone Patriotism?
Does the Christian have a role in the modern politic? Should we be involved in the issues of our day? Let's take a look via the Chair of Theology to see what Christ did, as well as what God commanded in the Old Testament.
First off, to answer this question, we should understand some cultural context. Who were the Sanhedrin? From Wikipedia:
The Sanhedrin (Hebrew and Middle Aramaic סַנְהֶדְרִין, a loanword from Koinē Greek: Συνέδριον, romanized: synedrion,[1] 'assembly,' 'sitting together,' hence 'assembly' or 'council') was a legislative and judicial assembly of either 23 or 71 elders, existing at both a local and central level in the ancient Land of Israel.
There were two classes of Rabbinite courts called sanhedrins: Greater and Lesser. A lesser Sanhedrin of 23 judges was appointed to sit as a tribunal in each city. There was only one Great Sanhedrin of 71 judges, which, among other roles, acted as a supreme court, taking appeals from cases that lesser courts decided. In general usage, the Sanhedrin without qualifier usually refers to the Great Sanhedrin, which was presided over by the Nasi, who functioned as its head or representing president, and was a member of the court; the Av Beit Din or the chief of the court, who was second to the nasi; and 69 general members.
In the Second Temple period, the Great Sanhedrin met in the Temple in Jerusalem, in a building called the Hall of Hewn Stones. The Great Sanhedrin convened every day except festivals and the sabbath day (Shabbat).
After the destruction of the Second Temple and the failure of the Bar Kokhba revolt, the Great Sanhedrin moved to Galilee, which became part of the Roman province of Syria Palaestina. In this period, the Sanhedrin was sometimes called the Galilean Patriarchate or Patriarchate of Palaestina, the governing legal body of Galilean Jewry. In the late 200s CE, to avoid persecution, the name Sanhedrin was dropped and its decisions were issued under the name of Beit HaMidrash (house of learning). The last universally binding decision of the Great Sanhedrin appeared in 358 when the Hebrew calendar was established. The Great Sanhedrin was finally disbanded in 425.
Over the centuries, attempts have been made to revive the institution, such as the Grand Sanhedrin convened by Napoleon Bonaparte and modern attempts in Israel.
With this context we know that the Sanhedrin would have contained the Judicial, Executive, and Legislative branches of the Post-Exilic Judaean Government.
When Christ confronted this body and the members thereof, it was on policy that affected every part of Jewish life.
Luke 11:46-52
46 And he said, Woe unto you also, ye lawyers! for ye lade men with burdens grievous to be borne, and ye yourselves touch not the burdens with one of your fingers.
47 Woe unto you! for ye build the sepulchres of the prophets, and your fathers killed them.
48 Truly ye bear witness that ye allow the deeds of your fathers: for they indeed killed them, and ye build their sepulchres.
49 Therefore also said the wisdom of God, I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they shall slay and persecute:
50 That the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation;
51 From the blood of Abel unto the blood of Zacharias which perished between the altar and the temple: verily I say unto you, It shall be required of this generation.
52 Woe unto you, lawyers! for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered.
That's not to say that Christ did not love the country that He was born into, he was rather passionate about her turning to Him and away from the coming destruction in 70 AD.
Luke 13:33-35:
33 Nevertheless I must walk to day, and to morrow, and the day following: for it cannot be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem.
34 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not!
35 Behold, your house is left unto you desolate: and verily I say unto you, Ye shall not see me, until the time come when ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.
Ezra and Nehemiah both exhibited such patriotism:
Nehemiah 2:3-6
3And said unto the king, Let the king live for ever: why should not my countenance be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers' sepulchres, lieth waste, and the gates thereof are consumed with fire? 4Then the king said unto me, For what dost thou make request? So I prayed to the God of heaven. 5And I said unto the king, If it please the king, and if thy servant have found favour in thy sight, that thou wouldest send me unto Judah, unto the city of my fathers' sepulchres, that I may build it. 6And the king said unto me, (the queen also sitting by him,) For how long shall thy journey be? and when wilt thou return? So it pleased the king to send me; and I set him a time.
Segment 1 Conclusion:
After looking at these models, does it not seem that we do have a model for patriotism within the pages of God's Word? But there are pitfalls here.
Segment 2: What Does Christian Patriotism Look Like?
On the Philosophical note, there are some questions that should be asked of the believer. If we are to be patriotic, what rubric do we get from Scripture and what would application look like?
C.S. Lewis put it well in his Four Loves when he spoke of the wholesomeness of a love of the people, places, and things of one's home country. If one loves the good things of one's home, this is only natural to have a certain preference for these. Lewis Concludes that:
“Of course patriotism of this kind is not in the least aggressive. It asks only to be let alone. It becomes militant only to protect what it loves. In any mind which has a pennyworth of imagination it produces a good attitude towards foreigners. How can I love my home without coming to realize that other men, no less rightly, love theirs?...”
This is a pure sort of patriotism, one that has gone right and is indeed a beautiful thing.
G.K. Chesterton rightly pointed out that: "The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him." This is indicative of something far more important. When God has entrusted families with offspring, there is a responsibility of the parent to care for and nurture their children. In primitive days, we would have to hunt and forage for food. The men doing the dangerous work, and the women nurturing and training the children. In the modern world, we enjoy a peculiar peace and abundance. No longer do most men kill prey and fight other men for resources, in the civilized world that is, but rather we work for wages and vote for security (which is secured through policy focused on minimizing bloodshed.)
America is beautiful for this reason: Though we have effectively conquered the world, our primary modality in the conquered nations of Japan, Germany, South Korea, etc is that we allow them to rule themselves. Now, with the regional stability provided by America, the Church can send missionaries to previously unreached civilizations to spread the Gospel. Such a blessing has never been bestowed upon the World, for wherever the Gospel is heard, the mistreatment of women, slaves, children, and all other evils are now cast into the Light of the Gospel, from which these evils flee.
America is not perfect by any means and many sins have been committed in her name, but that is not a reason to throw her out as though she was some sort of heinous thing. But rather, we should strive to make America more like Christ. This is the work of the Church in the Culture, not so much the government, because the American Government is not a single leader or body, but rather a group of America's citizens.
On the issue of making America more like Christ, some will say that laws do not legislate morality. This is hogwash on the level of someone who says that people will not dance at a party if you play a catchy beat. People will obey laws for fear of consequences. But they will also regard the laws as codifications of Truth, if the premises of the laws are indeed true. Look at the abortion issue, people will end their own children's lives because “Abortion is legal, if it was immoral, it wouldn't be legal.” However perverse that statement may be, there is a ring of important truth: Instituting moral laws affects people's moral sensibilities. Post-fall of Roe v Wade, many people have stopped in person abortions as they are indeed, “illegal”.
But if God ordains Government, then why or how should I involve myself? Is it not predestined? If I don't particularly like a candidate, but they have a record of promoting moral policy, should I stand by the sidelines?
A.W. Tozer had an excellent analogy for this in his Knowledge of the Holy:
Perhaps a homely illustration might help us to understand. An ocean liner leaves New
York bound for Liverpool. Its destination has been determined by proper authorities.
Nothing can change it. This is at least a faint picture of sovereignty.
On board the liner are several scores of passengers. These are not in chains, neither are
their activities determined for them by decree. They are completely free to move about
as they will. They eat, sleep, play, lounge about on the deck, read, talk, altogether as
they please; but all the while the great liner is carrying them steadily onward toward a
predetermined port.
Both freedom and sovereignty are present here and they do not contradict each other. So
it is, I believe, with man's freedom and the sovereignty of God. The mighty liner of
God's sovereign design keeps its steady course over the sea of history. God moves
undisturbed and unhindered toward the fulfillment of those eternal purposes which He
purposed in Christ Jesus before the world began. We do not know all that is included in
those purposes, but enough has been disclosed to furnish us with a broad outline of
things to come and to give us good hope and firm assurance of future well-being.
We will be judged and made to give an account for our actions and inactions:
2 Corinthians 5:10:
10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
Segment 2 Conclusion:
Are we commanded to be involved with the world? We are commanded to share the Gospel. If there is a tool, such as a 1st Amendment which recognizes our right to share the Gospel, then it would be wasteful indeed to miss the opportunity to preserve such a right. In fact, one can make an argument that sins of omission that lead to the suffering of others are a sin in and of themselves.
Ezekiel 33:6 says:
“6 But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman's hand.”
I don't think it too far of a stretch to say that we were born for such a time as this. Like Ester, our silence or inaction could well be the undoing of God's People. So we should act while we still have an opportunity to affect change in our world for the Gospel's sake.
Segment 3: Cultural Nationalism and Christian Nationalism
What would the purpose of a Christian Nationalism be? To elect representatives? On what basis? History tells us that Republicanism was founded by Christians to abolish the “twin relics of barbarism, Polygamy and Slavery.” This is all well and good, but what of the corruption that we see in the so-called Republican Party today? There's a lack of desire for change, this includes the issue of abortion, of medical freedoms and rights, of exposing children to pornographic images in school. Very few Republicans truly live up to the Christian ideals that founded the party. So what happened to the purpose? The Church stopped believing in the inerrancy of Scripture and began to water down the Gospel.
We see the results in the departures from the Church:
Only 55% of Americans believe in the inerrancy of Scripture via this poll from the American Bible Society:
https://www.baptistmessenger.com/55-percent-of-americans-believe-in-biblical-inerrancy-study-finds/
Those who self identify as Christians is plummeting:
https://news.gallup.com/poll/187955/percentage-christians-drifting-down-high.aspx
Segment 3# Conclusion: Can we ever effectively promote Godly principles in politics if our country no longer believes in the God of those principles?
Segment 4#: Where Christian Nationalism Has Gone Wrong
Love for your country is never a bad thing, in and of itself. However, such a love can go wrong. C.S. Lewis put it well when he gave this anecdote in Four Loves:
This third thing is not a sentiment but a belief: a firm, even prosaic belief that our own nation, in sober fact, has long been, and still is markedly superior to all others. I once ventured to say to an old clergyman who was voicing this sort of patriotism, “But, sir, aren't we told that every people thinks its own men the bravest and its own women the fairest in the world?” He replied with total gravity—he could not have been graver if he had been saying the Creed at the altar—“Yes, but in England it's true.” To be sure, this conviction had not made my friend (God rest his soul) a villain; only an extremely lovable old ass. It can however produce asses that kick and bite. On the lunatic fringe it may shade off into that popular Racialism which Christianity and science equally forbid…1
Remember, C.S. Lewis and his audience had lived through the Left's crazed obsession with Racial Superiority in Europe and America with the Eugenics movement fostered by Left leaning thinkers. The culmination of this was in Hitler, Sanger, and the atrocities committed in the name of a better race. Perhaps the old clergyman is harmless. Perhaps there was even an iota of truth at the time; Great Britain was the largest spanning empire to date. However, the note should be made that Conservatism and Christianity often overlap, but one is defined by man and the other by God.
Many people in the Conservative movement act in ways that a Christian ought not. This is not to say that we cannot both fight for what is true. However, one should also remember that we are held to the standard of Truth, God's Word, and not a political party platform.
Segment 4# Conclusion: Love of a party is only as good as the value it provides to Christians ultimate purpose on this earth, the Gospel.
Segment 5#: Does Love Of Country Provide Eternal Benefit or Value?
To answer the question, let's look at the sentiment concerning English Nationalism, as laid out by G.K. Chesterton, a Christian Apologist who lived around the turn of the 20th century:
We are, as a nation, in the truly extraordinary condition of not knowing our own merits. We have played a great and splendid part in the history of universal thought and sentiment; we have been among the foremost in that eternal and bloodless battle in which the blows do not slay, but create. In painting and music we are inferior to many other nations; but in literature, science, philosophy, and political eloquence, if history be taken as a whole, we can hold our own with any. But all this vast heritage of intellectual glory is kept from our schoolboys like a heresy; and they are left to live and die in the dull and infantile type of patriotism which they learnt from a box of tin soldiers. There is no harm in the box of tin soldiers; we do not expect children to be equally delighted with a beautiful box of tin philanthropists. But there is great harm in the fact that the subtler and more civilized honour of England is not presented so as to keep pace with the expanding mind. A French boy is taught the glory of Moliere as well as that of Turenne; a German boy is taught his own great national philosophy before he learns the philosophy of antiquity. The result is that, though French patriotism is often crazy and boastful, though German patriotism is often isolated and pedantic, they are neither of them merely dull, common, and brutal, as is so often the strange fate of the nation of Bacon and Locke.
Now, if you hear a familiar ring in this description of British sentiment towards its own history, rhyming with the 21st Century Anti-Americanism we see in the Left today, perhaps it would be best to look at what is happening in Britain today:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTJ4mfxvM-Y
Stealing phones and violating safety policies are the least of the worries. Folks like Tommy Robinson have been speaking out about these gangs attacking women and children.
https://nypost.com/2021/02/13/when-europe-ignored-sex-crimes-of-immigrants-all-women-suffered/
The UK had a society fit to raise children before they committed cultural suicide. They are now bringing into the country the worst of the nations who are sending refugees. What could these kids have done or who could they have led to the Lord, but are now stifled by injuries or death?
Something to ponder.
Final Thoughts:
One last thing: What, besides the United States, is your favorite country?
Four Loves - C.S. Lewis
https://www.cslewisinstitute.org/resources/reflections-october-2019/
The Defendant - Chesterton
https://www.online-literature.com/chesterton/the-defendant/16/
Knowledge of the Holy - A.W. Tozer
https://www.restoringthecore.com/wp-content/restored/AW-Tozer-Knowledge-of-the-Holy.pdf
Key Apologetic Questions for Parents 1. What is apologetics? 1 Peter 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: 2. What key arguments are there for (and against) God's existence? Arguments For God's Existence The Cosmological Argument Argument: Everything that begins to exist has a cause; the universe began to exist; therefore, the universe has a cause. The Teleological Argument (Design Argument) Argument: The universe exhibits evidence of design, which implies a designer. The Moral Argument Argument: Objective moral values and duties exist and require a grounding in a moral lawgiver. The Ontological Argument Argument: The very concept of God implies His existence. The Argument from Consciousness Argument: Human consciousness and subjective experiences cannot be fully explained by physical processes alone. The Argument from Religious Experience Argument: Personal experiences of God provide evidence for His existence. The Argument from Miracles Argument: Miraculous events point to divine intervention. The Argument from Reason Argument: Rational thought and the reliability of our cognitive faculties point to a rational source. Arguments Against God's Existence The problem of evil Argument: The existence of evil and suffering in the world is incompatible with an omnipotent, omnibenevolent, and omniscient God. The problem of incoherence Argument: The concept of God is inherently contradictory or incoherent. The argument from non-belief (divine hiddenness) Argument: The lack of evidence or clear signs of God's existence is inconsistent with a God who desires belief and a relationship with humans. The argument from science Argument: Scientific explanations for the universe and life eliminate the need for a God. The argument from Occam's Razor Argument: The principle of Occam's Razor suggests that we should not multiply entities beyond necessity. The Euthyphro Dilemma Argument: Questions the basis of morality if God is its source. The argument from religious pluralism Argument: The diversity of religious beliefs and the conflicting claims among them challenge the notion of one true God. 3. What are the practical implications of an atheistic worldview? Let's define atheism for the purpose of this podcast. Atheism: the belief that a God (or gods) does not exist. Agnosticism: neither believes nor disbelieves that a God (or gods) exists. (Hernandez, Eric. The Lazy Approach to Evangelism: A Simple Guide for Conversing With Nonbelievers (pp. 38-39). GC2 Press. Kindle Edition. ) There are personal implications Removes meaning/purpose from life. Life becomes "survival of the fittest". No need for law enforcement - there is no morality. There are societal implications Secular Governance: In its purest form, atheism eliminates any need for governance or law enforcement. Education: Anything that you teach your children is fine. There is no right/wrong. Science will be worshiped. Social and Cultural Contributions: Society will become much more tribal in nature. Survival of the fittest takes on tremendous importance in a tribal setting. Human creativity is worshiped. Tribes will define key points of life (like what is right/wrong). But fighting will take place when there is disagreement on those key points. There will be an emphasis on social justice, equality, and the well-being of all people, advocating for causes like environmental protection, human rights, and social reform. There are ethical implications Atheists may base their ethical and moral decisions on secular philosophies such as humanism, consequentialism, or virtue ethics. Morality is often seen as a human construct derived from empathy, social cooperation, and rational consideration of the consequences of actions. 4. Why would a good God allow evil to exist? What is evil? Where did morality come from? God gave man free will. If no free will, then no good. If no good, then no evil. If no good and no evil, why are we talking about it? 5. Why would a good God allow suffering to exist? "What's God doing on a cross?" (John Lennox) "God has become part of human suffering." (John Lennox) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1ipY-4OXOM&list=PLsfMesoEDURkzS6EXzZdranYJKLf8WutE&index=87 Death is not the end "God is responsible for the fact of freedom. Humans are responsible for their acts of freedom." (Video: Is God Good?) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rfd_1UAjeIA&pp=ygULaXMgZ29kIGdvb2Q%3D
The Apologist: Christians And Self-Defense Story 1#: Joel Olsteen's Church Shooting • WATCH: Barrage of gunfire as officers... Thoughts and Takeaways Segment 2#: West Freeway Church Shooting • Texan NRA Member Who Stopped Church S... Thoughts and Takeaways Segment 3#: Raul Mendez Shooting • He Stopped a Mass Shooting But The Me... Segment 4#: What Are Some Common Misconceptions on Christianity and Self-Defense? Jesus Called Us To Turn The Other Cheek The 6th Commandment is Thou Shalt Not Kill It is for the Governmental Authorities to use lethal force Verses on self defense: 1. Exodus 22:2-3 “If a thief is caught in the act of breaking into a house and is struck and killed in the process, the person who killed the thief is not guilty of murder. But if it happens in daylight, the one who killed the thief is guilty of murder.” 2. Luke 11:21 “When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own mansion, his property is safe.” 3. Isaiah 49:25 “Who can snatch the plunder of war from the hands of a warrior? Who can demand that a tyrant let his captives go?” 4. Luke 22:35-37 “Then Jesus asked them, “When I sent you out to preach the Good News and you did not have money, a traveler's bag, or an extra pair of sandals, did you need anything?” “No,” they replied. “But now,” he said, “take your money and a traveler's bag. And if you don't have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one! For the time has come for this prophecy about me to be fulfilled: ‘He was counted among the rebels. Yes, everything written about me by the prophets will come true.” 5. Luke 22:38-39 “Look, Lord,” they replied, “we have two swords among us.” “That's enough,” he said. Then, accompanied by the disciples, Jesus left the upstairs room and went as usual to the Mount of Olives.” 6. Matthew 5:38-39 “Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.” 7. Romans 12:17 “Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.” 8. 1 Peter 3:9 “Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.” 9. Proverbs 24:29 “Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me: I will render to the man according to his work.” 10. Psalm 144:1 “Praise the Lord, who is my rock. He trains my hands for war and gives my fingers skill for battle.” 11. Psalm 18:34 “He trains my hands for battle; he strengthens my arm to draw a bronze bow.” 6. Psalm 82:4 “Rescue weak and needy people. Help them escape the power of wicked people.” 17. Proverbs 24:11 “Rescue captives condemned to death, and spare those staggering toward their slaughter.” 18. 1 Timothy 5:8 “But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.” 19. Romans 13:1-7 “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except by God's appointment, and the authorities that exist have been instituted by God. So the person who resists such authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will incur judgment (for rulers cause no fear for good conduct but for bad). Do you desire not to fear authority? Do good and you will receive its commendation, for it is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be in fear, for it does not bear the sword in vain. It is God's servant to administer retribution on the wrongdoer. Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of the wrath of the authorities but also because of your conscience. For this reason you also pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants devoted to governing. Pay everyone what is owed: taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due.” 20. Nehemiah 4:16-18 “From that day forward, half of my men were doing the work and half of them were taking up spears, shields, bows, and body armor. Now the officers were behind all the people of Judah who were rebuilding the wall. Those who were carrying loads did so by keeping one hand on the work and the other on their weapon. The builders to a man had their swords strapped to their sides while they were building. But the trumpeter remained with me.” Trust in the Lord and not your weapon. 21. Psalm 44:5-7 “Only by your power can we push back our enemies; only in your name can we trample our foes. I do not trust in my bow; I do not count on my sword to save me. You are the one who gives us victory over our enemies; you disgrace those who hate us.” 22. 1 Samuel 17:47 “And everyone assembled here will know that the LORD rescues his people, but not with sword and spear. This is the LORD's battle, and he will give you to us!” Final Thoughts: One Last Question: Favorite Caliber
Five Common Reasons People Leave Christianity
- The Problem of Evil
The issue of Evil is a serious one that Christianity is uniquely qualified to answer. However, most Christians fail to provide a valuable response to this when confronted on the issue. So what is the problem of evil?
Thesis: If God is good, then how could evil exist? If God is all good, then He is not all powerful, and if He is not all powerful, then He is not good.
This question often comes in response to moments of greatest sorrow and tragedy. Comfort can only be found in relationships with others and a trust in the future God holds. The explanation of Evil will never be of much comfort, just like an explanation of the exothermic reactions of the chemicals in a grenade will never satisfy the heartache of a grieving family mourning the loss of their son, brother, husband, and father in times of war. This explanation CANNOT bring peace in of itself, but it can provide clarity to those who truly wish to understand God, and perhaps attempt to gaze into His metaphorical face and see if the face staring back at them is indeed “good”.
The Explanation: Calling God all powerful can often lead to some failures in logic, if improperly understood. God is all powerful in that He exists outside of space and time and is the uncaused cause of all that happens. In this He can do “anything”. However, if Truth, Logic, Mathematics, and Justice are direct imports from God's essence, as a Painting is a reflection of the mind of the artist on a canvas, then God cannot lie, make a square circle, nor can He commit evil, no more than can a rock be a blade of grass.
God allows man free will. This free will is apparently more important than human comfort or flourishing. Indeed, it separates us from the inanimate. If we did not have free will, we could not love or speak truth but merely react to stimuli as does a venous fly trap, opening and closing in response to stimulus. So in addition to love, hatred, apathy, and nihilism are also possible. If God were to intervene, not only would we not have free will, but we would not know what evil looked like in its complete form. This knowledge gives us the informed consent required for a relationship with a God who is the source of all good. This relationship is one of incredible spiritual intimacy and must be a complete surrender. This, is the reason evil exists. The question should not be why God allows evil, but rather why He allows free will. In this, we can find a complete answer. Does it satisfy you? Again, nothing can satisfy the loss that usually comes with this question, except to fill it with other relationships. In this aspect, God and the family of God can soothe the pain, but not take it away.
- The Christians In Church
Another common reason given for people leaving the church is the behavior of Christians. One poll by Brandon Flanery published on the site baptistnews.com had politics and other believers as 2 of the 3 highest causes for leaving the church.
- The God of the Old Testament
Many people do not realize the culture of the day.
Common misconceptions:
- Killing Your Own Children:
53:35-55:09
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_FCdrnP3X8&t=2781s
- Other religious practices
-
Women and God (Divorce, Dowry, etc)
-
The Anti-Intellectualism
The conflation of science and scientism has been a real factor in the cultural debate on the inerrancy of Scripture. Many Christians have ceded the linguistic territory of Science to the Secular Humanist and instead embraced a vain, and frankly, lazy approach to “faith” as this nebulous head planted in the sand mantra instead of a belief in facts. Christian scholars and Secular Humanist Scholars have the same evidence. How we interpret that evidence is largely affected by worldview.
Take the Big Bang, for an example. The words Big Bang were originally a pejorative. Only recently did the Secular Humanist even believe that the Universe had a beginning.
Even today, we are discovering that there are galaxies further away than previously imagined. The JWST telescope has created some serious issues for the Big Bang Theory in the context of 14 Billion years.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Ynwc0bajfjk
The theory has to keep changing to fit the evidence that the universe could not have formed the way the Secular Humanist interprets the evidence.
But even with this evidence in our hands, the church has widely failed to pursue knowledge in a domain that was previously dominated by Christians: Galileo, Copernicus, Newton, Faraday and more.
This has led to many people “deconstructing their faith”.
https://youtu.be/-GuGcPb2jjQ
https://baptistnews.com/article/i-asked-people-why-theyre-leaving-christianity-and-heres-what-i-heard/
- The Desire for Freedom
And the number one reason for leaving the church in the modern day, by some polls, is the issue of Biblical Sexual Purity. Whether it's the issue of waiting for marriage or an alternative to Biblical marriage, the issue of Freedom is a salient stumbling block.
Final Thoughts:
One Thing To Remember For The Week:
Do Human Rights Exist? What Exactly Are Rights? What Do Rights Cost?
Introduction: I was scrolling the internet the other day and this popped up into my feed:
https://x.com/libsoftiktok/status/1798190155569983964?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1798190155569983964%7Ctwgr%5Eea080956f8b2bf96a0d5aed8e2d7dee06da4115a%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fweb.groupme.com%2Fchats
Some would say that this man had no right to do it, most rational or sane people would anyway. But there are those who claim that this deviant behavior is within the man's “rights”. So that brings the following questions: What is a Right? Do they correlate to responsibilities? If Rights acknowledge value, from where does that value come? What happens to societies that put that value on a sliding scale? What Responsibilities do Right Bearers have?
What is a right:
Webster's 1828:
-
Just claim; legal title; ownership; the legal power of exclusive possession and enjoyment. In hereditary monarchies, a right to the throne vests in the heir on the decease of the king. A deed vests the right of possession in the purchaser of land. right and possession are very different things. We often have occasion to demand and sue for rights not in possession.
-
Just claim by courtesy, customs, or the principles of civility and decorum. Every man has a right to civil treatment. The magistrate has a right to respect.
-
Just claim by sovereignty; prerogative. God, as the author of all things, has a right to govern and dispose of them at his pleasure.
https://www.youtube&&.com/watch?v=Fst0tesgrlY
Theology: Where does the individual derive their rights? When God set up those rights, can they be taken away? What happens when you violate God's Law? Do you lose your rights or do you receive punishment? (I'd argue the latter in God's economy).
Philosophy: How do rights differ when they are derived from God, vs from the State or a social contract? What are the ramifications of moving from a Theological Origin of Rights to a Social Contract framework of rights?
Culture: Traditionalism has become popular in the modern culture, but what is being yearned for in the non-Christian Culture when non-believers opine for Traditional Values? What doors does this situation open for the Christian?
Politics: Once Rights have been taken out of the God-Given Framework and been transferred to the Social Contract Framework, how do consequences and responsibilities change? When permissions have been given to adults to expose themselves to children, what happens to parents who react justifiably to such interactions?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSnMyGDW15A
Economics: What happens to your family when your Rights are taken?
5:11-8:58
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GwmiZBeYjaA
Conclusions:
Final Thought: What is the right you hold most dear?
Suicide - Why Does It Happen?
Pre-Program
If you are someone that is dealing with suicidal thoughts right now, then dial 988 for immediate help.
Introduction:
Moms and Dads - please note that today's podcast is dealing with a very sensitive subject. We recommend that you listen to the podcast first before allowing your children to listen to it. Remember, if you or someone you know is dealing with suicidal thoughts then please dial 988 for immediate help.
Suicide happens - and over the last two years, it's been happening more and more. Why does it happen? When did this all start? Let's look at these questions and more as we walk Further Every Day.
Suicide - General Discussion:
The suicide rates in the US have been going up over the last two years (2022 and 2023). But why? Here's some general statistics and then we'll delve into other questions.
Theology:
What examples of suicide do we have in the Bible?
- Abimilech (Judges 9:52-54)
- Samson (Judges 16:29-30)
- Saul (1 Samuel 31:1-4)
- Saul's Armor Bearer
- Ahithophel (2 Samuel 17:23)
- Zimri (1 Kings 16:18)
- Judas Iscariot (Matthew 27:3-5)
Is a Christian condemned to Hell because they committed suicide?
Philosophy:
What are the most common causes for suicide that we see?
- Mental Illness/Personality Disorders (anxiety, bipolar disorder, depression, etc.)
- Traumatic Experience (physical abuse, sexual abuse, war)
- Bullying
- Drug Addiction (including prescription)
- Eating Disorders
- Unemployment
- Social Isolation/Loneliness
- Relationship Problems
- Terminal Illness
- Chronic Pain
- Financial Problems
- Lack of Purpose in Life
- Genetics (maybe from mental health issues in the family)
Culture:
What are some reasons that we struggle with addressing the suicide issue, especially in the church?
- Partly because there is a lack of understanding about the underlying causes of depression - which is a chemical imbalance (serotonin) in the brain
- Partly because of historical stigma (be it from family or church or other)
- Partly because we don't have adequate knowledge of good resources
What are some of the other impacts on a family or the loved ones of a person who has committed suicide?
- Emotional - family and loved ones can end up feeling a lot of guilt
- Physical - mental and physical health can suffer due to depression and guilt
- External Circumstances - difficult situations are now exacerbated due to a key person involved in day-to-day activities in support of others are no longer there to offer that support
- Social - a stigma has been attached to those that remain (they must now deal with that)
Politics:
What has been done by our government to address this and should the government do more?
On the issue of what's been done:
- The creation of the 988 hotline
On the issue of what can be done:
- Become a better educator on the issues of suicide - spread the key information
- Help point people to support groups
Economics:
What is the economic impact of suicide on the US?
What is the economic impact of a suicide on a family?
Final Thoughts:
One Last Thing:
Today's One Last Thing will be unique. Today, we pray for those who are experiencing depression and lack of hope.
Key Website References:
https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/suicide.htm
https://www.cdc.gov/suicide/facts/data.html
https://mentalhealthdaily.com/2014/07/23/15-common-causes-of-suicide-why-do-people-kill-themselves/
The God of Law Introduction: What was God's purpose for law? Why does man have laws? What makes a law Godly? Is there a connection between God's Laws and Man? What does the existence of Law reveal about God Himself? Theology: What 3 purposes does law serve in God's economy? The Law: Serves as a mirror Restrains Evil Serves as Revelation of God's Heart The Law Serves as a Mirror: James I:23-25 says: "For if any be a hearer of the Word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: for he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straig way forgetteth what manner of man he was. For whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, an continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed." Romans 3:20 states: “Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.” So we see that the Old Testament Law is meant to provide us spiritual awareness of our condition in relation to God the Father. The Law Restrains Evil: Leviticus 19 is a great example of a sundry list of laws with differing purposes. Some of these are moral, others appear to deal with health issues. We even see laws that recommend the treatment of leprosy. The Law Serves as Revelation of God's Heart: Let's look at the laws surrounding leprosy. Why did God allow leprosy to exist? What occurs with leprosy and why did God have such definitive prescriptions surrounding it? First, what is Leprosy? From the CDC website: Hansen's disease is caused by slow-growing bacteria called Mycobacterium leprae and Mycobacterium lepromatosis. The disease can affect the nerves, skin, eyes, and lining of the nose. In some cases, body parts may lose their sense of touch and pain, increasing the likelihood of injuries such as cuts and burn. https://www.cdc.gov/leprosy/about/index.html Typically from poor sanitary conditions, Leprosy is a slow moving inward disease that eats the individual from the inside out. It is not always apparent at first, and can grow for a long time. Does this sound at all like sin? How did God go about treating it? The individual who is fully given over to the infection, once identified was put out of the camp until they died or were cured. Who cured leprosy? In addition to Christ, Elisha, under the power of the Holy Spirit, also directed Naaman the Leper to bathe in the Jordan in a baptism of faith. It seems that God's laws and natural law have some very interesting coincidences, or perhaps convergence. Philosophy: If God built for us a picture of His World, Law and Heart in His Law, what should we as Christians think of Law? How would Law be important to our understanding of our worldview? Is it possible that God laid out Law, Theological, Natural, and Governmental, so that we could understand the fixed position of God as an entity? Let me explain. If God is unchanging, the same yesterday, today, and forevermore, then that in of itself, is a law. If God revealed His Law to us, then we can gaze upon the Law and gaze into the nature and contours of God's very essence. This thought is sobering, when one confronts it. God's unyielding nature provides a harsh position in light of that which does not conform with His Holiness, sin. THIS is why relationship is the linchpin for our worldview. Through relationship with Christ, we can become like God and therefor fellowship with this unyielding pillar of unchanging Holiness. The Law is our mirror, protector, and revelator bringing us closer to, or further from, God. Culture: So how has man twisted the image and comparison that God ordained in Law? Corruption, Greed, Unjust Standards, and all other forms of perversions have crept into our legal system. In America, we used to have a Common Law system, which still somewhat persists today. In this system, there had to be an injured party and defendant. Now the nanny state can draw up complaints and put you in jail for anything that they really want. We now enshrine evil practices with children and Prn and Drag Queen Story Hour. We punish righteous people for defending themselves, and we allow doctors to “assist in sucide”. What does this culture say about our view of the image God create? Politics: Starting in Genesis 9:3-6 man was given the mandate of Law. God gave us the opportunity to partake in the governance of ourselves, and to partake in the image He created. How has man perverted God's original intents for the Law? Economics: What does the above say about what we've come to value as a society? Final Thoughts: One Last Thing: Favorite outlandish or normal law
The God of Law
Introduction:
What was God's purpose for law? Why does man have laws? What makes a law Godly? Is there a connection between God's Laws and Man? What does the existence of Law reveal about God Himself?
Theology:
What 3 purposes does law serve in God's economy?
The Law:
- Serves as a mirror
- Restrains Evil
- Serves as Revelation of God's Heart
The Law Serves as a Mirror:
James I:23-25 says: "For if any be a hearer of the Word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: for he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straig way forgetteth what manner of man he was. For whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, an continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed."
Romans 3:20 states: “Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.”
So we see that the Old Testament Law is meant to provide us spiritual awareness of our condition in relation to God the Father.
The Law Restrains Evil:
Leviticus 19 is a great example of a sundry list of laws with differing purposes. Some of these are moral, others appear to deal with health issues. We even see laws that recommend the treatment of leprosy.
The Law Serves as Revelation of God's Heart:
Let's look at the laws surrounding leprosy. Why did God allow leprosy to exist? What occurs with leprosy and why did God have such definitive prescriptions surrounding it?
First, what is Leprosy? From the CDC website:
Hansen's disease is caused by slow-growing bacteria called Mycobacterium leprae and Mycobacterium lepromatosis. The disease can affect the nerves, skin, eyes, and lining of the nose. In some cases, body parts may lose their sense of touch and pain, increasing the likelihood of injuries such as cuts and burn.
https://www.cdc.gov/leprosy/about/index.html
Typically from poor sanitary conditions, Leprosy is a slow moving inward disease that eats the individual from the inside out. It is not always apparent at first, and can grow for a long time.
Does this sound at all like sin?
How did God go about treating it? The individual who is fully given over to the infection, once identified was put out of the camp until they died or were cured.
Who cured leprosy? In addition to Christ, Elisha, under the power of the Holy Spirit, also directed Naaman the Leper to bathe in the Jordan in a baptism of faith. It seems that God's laws and natural law have some very interesting coincidences, or perhaps convergence.
Philosophy:
If God built for us a picture of His World, Law and Heart in His Law, what should we as Christians think of Law?
How would Law be important to our understanding of our worldview? Is it possible that God laid out Law, Theological, Natural, and Governmental, so that we could understand the fixed position of God as an entity? Let me explain. If God is unchanging, the same yesterday, today, and forevermore, then that in of itself, is a law. If God revealed His Law to us, then we can gaze upon the Law and gaze into the nature and contours of God's very essence. This thought is sobering, when one confronts it. God's unyielding nature provides a harsh position in light of that which does not conform with His Holiness, sin. THIS is why relationship is the linchpin for our worldview. Through relationship with Christ, we can become like God and therefor fellowship with this unyielding pillar of unchanging Holiness. The Law is our mirror, protector, and revelator bringing us closer to, or further from, God.
Culture:
So how has man twisted the image and comparison that God ordained in Law? Corruption, Greed, Unjust Standards, and all other forms of perversions have crept into our legal system.
In America, we used to have a Common Law system, which still somewhat persists today. In this system, there had to be an injured party and defendant. Now the nanny state can draw up complaints and put you in jail for anything that they really want. We now enshrine evil practices with children and Prn and Drag Queen Story Hour. We punish righteous people for defending themselves, and we allow doctors to “assist in sucide”.
What does this culture say about our view of the image God create?
Politics:
Starting in Genesis 9:3-6 man was given the mandate of Law. God gave us the opportunity to partake in the governance of ourselves, and to partake in the image He created. How has man perverted God's original intents for the Law?
Economics:
What does the above say about what we've come to value as a society?
Final Thoughts:
One Last Thing:
Favorite outlandish or normal law
Is the Bible Inerrant? What About Bible Translations?
Introduction: Is the Word of God Inerrant? What exactly is the Word of God? Is it the Bible that you hold in your hands at Church? What if someone spills coffee on it, is the Word of God lost? What if it's mishprinted ? Have you ever heard of the Evil King James Bible? Let's talk about that as we watch our culture stray further every day.
The Problem:
Many Theologians have ceded, or even gleefully proclaimed the notion, that the Bible is “not infallible, inerrant”, and is capable of harboring errors in its depiction of God's Word.
From Wikipedia:
There are 3 types of inerrancy or infallibility:
Some theologians speak of the "infallibility" of the Bible. This can be understood in one of three ways.
- Some authors use "inerrancy" and "infallibility" interchangeably.
- For others, "inerrancy" refers to complete inerrancy and "infallibility" to the more limited view that the Bible is without error in conveying God's self-revelation to humanity.[3][12] On this understanding, "infallibility" claims less than "inerrancy".
- Citing dictionary definitions, Frame (2002) claims "infallibility" is a stronger term than "inerrant": "'Inerrant' means there are no errors; "infallible" means there can be no errors".[13] Yet he acknowledges that "modern theologians insist on redefining that word also, so that it actually says less than 'inerrancy.'" Harold Lindsell states: "The very nature of inspiration renders the Bible infallible, which means that it cannot deceive us. It is inerrant in that it is not false, mistaken, or defective".[14]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biblical_inerrancy
Here in an edition of Life and Letters, we see a representative argument from the liberal scholar:
“The doctrine of inerrancy is more post-biblical, even modern. And it has been particularly influential among U.S. evangelicals, who often appeal to the doctrine of inerrancy in arguments against gender equality, social justice, critical race theory and other causes thought to violate the God's infallible word.
The doctrine of inerrancy took shape during the 19th and 20th centuries in the United States. A statement crafted in 1978 by hundreds of evangelical leaders remains its fullest articulation. Known as the Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy, the statement was a response to emerging “liberal” or nonliteral interpretations of the Bible. According to the statement, the Bible speaks with “infallible divine authority in all matters upon which it touches.””
https://lifeandletters.la.utexas.edu/2021/07/what-is-biblical-inerrancy-a-new-testament-scholar-explains/
https://defendinginerrancy.com/chicago-statements/
Theology:
If God's word contains errors, what does this say about God?
Philosophy:
If God is incapable of keeping errors out of His Bible, then what does this mean for morality, eternity, and salvation?
Culture:
What Cultural allowances should be made if God's Word is inerrant? What happens if you may pick and choose as you please?
Politics:
Why have nations continuously attempted to rewrite God's Word? What does this allow the government to accomplish?
Economics:
What economic incentives are there for scholars to make their living upon “debunking” the Bible?
The Story
So when DID the Inerrancy issue become a topic of debate? Well, the issue became a heavy point of contention in the 1800s, you know, when the Counter-Reformation and the Humanist Enlightenment movements were in full force.
An article at conversation jeeringly puts it this way:
Roots of Fundamentalism
“Christian fundamentalism has roots in the 19th century, when Protestants were confronted by two challenges to traditional understandings of the Bible.
Throughout the century, scholars increasingly evaluated the Bible as a historical text. In the process they raised questions about its divine origins, given its seeming inconsistencies and errors.
In addition, Charles Darwin's 1859 book “On the Origin of Species” – which laid out the theory of evolution by natural selection – raised profound questions about the Genesis account of creation.
Many American Protestants easily squared their Christian faith with these ideas. Others were horrified.
Conservative theologians responded by developing the doctrine of biblical inerrancy. Inerrancy asserts that the Bible is errorless and factually accurate in everything it says – including about science.
This doctrine became the theological touchstone of fundamentalism. Alongside inerrancy emerged a system of ideas, called apocalyptic or “dispensational premillennialism.”
Adherents of these ideas hold that reading the Bible literally – particularly the Book of Revelation – reveals that history will end soon with a ghastly apocalypse.
All those who are not true Christians will be slaughtered. In the wake of this violence, Christ will establish God's millennial kingdom on Earth.”
https://theconversation.com/fundamentalism-turns-100-a-landmark-for-the-christian-right-123651
Theology:
What does the Bible say about the philosophies of man and diverse doctrines?
Philosophy:
If the purpose and intent of a movement is not honestly seeking the good of an institution such as the Church, what challenges befall the Church if she accepts the precepts of such antagonists uncritically?
Culture:
Now that we abolished the inerrancy of God? What did Nietzsche's Dead God provide in the Culture? What are the results?
Politics:
After God was dead in the 19th Century, what did man do in the 20th Century across Europe through Asia?
Economics:
What does the Chinese Communist Party do with the Bible today? What is the purpose of this?
Final Thoughts:
One more thing: Favorite book of the Bible
The Christian And Yoga, Should You Practice It?
Introduction: If it offends my brother, I will not eat meat. All things are legal, but not all are expedient. To the Pure all things are pure. Thou shalt not have the names of other gods on thy lips. Yoga, Yay or Nay? Let's breathe in, look deep within ourselves, and the cry out to God of God, why did I look into that wicked heart.. As we stray Further Every Day.
To yoga or not to yoga?
To Yoga camp: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkrlGJfMIyk
An Argument not to yoga: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjjbev4zWms
0:00-3:05
Theology: What did God say about the practices of other religions' rituals?
Deuteronomy 12:29-32
"When the LORD your God cuts off from before you the nations which you go to dispossess, and you displace them and dwell in their land, take heed to yourself that you are not ensnared to follow them, after they are destroyed from before you, and that you do not inquire after their gods, saying, "How did these nations serve their gods? I also will do likewise." You shall not worship the LORD your God in that way; for every abomination to the LORD which He hates they have done to their gods; for they burn even their sons and daughters in the fire to their gods. "Whatever I command you, be careful to observe it; you shall not add to it nor take away from it.
Jeremiah 10:3-5
For the customs of the peoples are futile;
For one cuts a tree from the forest,
The work of the hands of the workman, with the ax.
They decorate it with silver and gold;
They fasten it with nails and hammers
So that it will not topple.
They are upright, like a palm tree,
And they cannot speak;
They must be carried,
Because they cannot go by themselves.
Do not be afraid of them,
For they cannot do evil,
Nor can they do any good.”
1 Kings 11:1-5
But King Solomon loved many foreign women, as well as the daughter of Pharaoh: women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians, and Hittites— from the nations of whom the LORD had said to the children of Israel, "You shall not intermarry with them, nor they with you. Surely they will turn away your hearts after their gods." Solomon clung to these in love. And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines; and his wives turned away his heart.
Ezekiel 8:13-17
And He said to me, "Turn again, and you will see greater abominations that they are doing." So He brought me to the door of the north gate of the LORD's house; and to my dismay, women were sitting there weeping for Tammuz. Then He said to me, "Have you seen this, O son of man? Turn again, you will see greater abominations than these." So He brought me into the inner court of the LORD's house; and there, at the door of the temple of the LORD, between the porch and the altar, were about twenty-five men with their backs toward the temple of the LORD and their faces toward the east, and they were worshiping the sun toward the east. And He said to me, "Have you seen this, O son of man? Is it a trivial thing to the house of Judah to commit the abominations which they commit here? For they have filled the land with violence; then they have returned to provoke Me to anger. Indeed they put the branch to their nose.
Philosophy:
If the original intention of yoga was to invite the spirits into one's body, what are the ramifications of repurposing yoga for exercise and stretches? What did Christ say about an empty home?
Culture:
When people of the Hindu Faith see the Christian doing yoga, what assumptions are possibly made? How should the Christian navigate this?
Politics:
Yoga is now being taught in schools:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hY11gpWmRZw
How should the Christian navigate the presence of yoga in school?
Economics:
Yoga DOES have physical benefits. How should we navigate the value of Yoga vs exercise and stretching? What has the economy around mindfulness become?
From Insider:
“The business of mindfulness is fast becoming a pillar of the $4.5T wellness industry. The US meditation industry is now worth $1B. By 2027, the global alternative healthcare industry—including meditation, acupuncture, breathing exercises, yoga and tai chi, and chiropractic services—will be worth $296.3B.”
https://insider.fitt.co/meditation-mindfulness-startups/
Final Thoughts:
Last Question: Favorite Car
Regenerative Farming: We'll All Die In 50 Years. Did God Warn Us?
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/soil-depletion-and-nutrition-loss/
Theology: What were the tenets of Biblical Farming? Why did God do this? What is the Spiritual Reasoning?
There From Farming God's Way:
'Conservation agriculture is Farming God's Way without God. But it's the God part of this picture that really changes attitudes,' says Craig Sorley. He explains the core principles:
- Minimal disturbance of the soil (no tillage) – the practice of plowing destroys soil structure including the micro organisms that live in the soil, leading to erosion and rapid water loss;
- Permanent organic cover in the form of mulch. In Farming God's Way, this is called ‘God's blanket', says Craig Sorley. 'In Creation we observe that God does not leave the soil bare.' says Craig Sorley. Covering with protective mulch:
- Stops soil erosion
- Improves water filtration of the soil
- Minimises evaporation of water from the soil
- Adds organic matter, improving fertility
- No burning of crop residues – these are used to cover the soil instead;
- Weed faithfully – labour saved on plowing is transferred to regular weeding;
- Practice crop rotation – because God's garden was diverse;
- Pay attention to detail. 'Since we serve a God of detail, we should give careful attention to everything on our farms throughout the year, including the proper spacing of plants, how fertiliser or manure is added, how seed is planted, etc,' he says;
- Pursue high standards in all things – 'God is glorified when we strive for excellence';
- Incorporate trees into your farming system – 'Agroforestry is not something invented by man, it is something God demonstrated in the very first garden. Agroforestry combines both agriculture and forestry with conservation practices for long-term sustainability,' he says.
https://www.faithplans.org/post/farming-god-s-way-a-biblical-approach-to-agriculture
I love this article too: https://disciplenations.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Ten-Biblical-Principles-for-Agricultural-Development-David-Evans-2013-update-1.pdf
Philosophy: If the universe is a painting out of the mind of God and the work of Christ, then what lessons can we glean from the land failing to yield crops after years of overfarming?
Can we not say that God ordained a time for everything:
Ecclesiastes 3:1-2: “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;”
Leviticus 25:4 “But in the seventh year shall be a sabbath of rest unto the land, a sabbath for the Lord: thou shalt neither sow thy field, nor prune thy vineyard.”
What does it say about our belief in God when we fail to listen to His order? See the children of Israel and the manna.
Culture: What initial impacts would the Biblical farmer have on their production? What type of witness would that have when you are working contrary to the flow?
In America, we used to practice Crop Rotation, a form of the Jubilee, but then in WWI, we decided we needed more crops and so the “Green Revolution” started to rear its head. Pesticides, and growth chemicals were introduced to make more crops while “maximizing” the land's potential. This would also lead to killing the crops, potentially also causing the debated increase in diseases like cancer and autism. I don't know if that is what happened, but all of that round-up isn't good for your system.
Politics: How has government subsidization of farming harmed the economy? How has it come to harm small farmers?
How has the government's subsidies of ethanol incentivized the increase in corn growth?
We see massive spending on corn for ethanol as detailed by thoughtco here:
“In the final days of 2020, however, Congress passed another coronavirus relief bill providing approximately $900 billion in spending across a variety of sectors. The package includes $11.2 billion in relief to be distributed by the Office of the Secretary of the United States Department of Agriculture, giving newly appointed Tom Vilsack discretion to provide support to biofuel producers. Specifically, the bill states that the Secretary “may make payments to producers of advanced biofuel, biomass-based diesel, cellulosic biofuel, conventional biofuel, or renewable fuels with market losses due to COVID-19.”
And for what? Comically inefficient gains in energy production:
https://thefern.org/2024/01/ethanol-is-just-comically-inefficient-solar-energy/
But what have we done to the soil? From ACES Illinois:
“Leveraging a 20-year field experiment, Illinois crop scientists demonstrated significant risks associated with continuous corn rotations, both for the soil microbial community and for environmental health on a larger scale.”
https://aces.illinois.edu/news/20-years-making-rotate-corn-better-soil-health
And what has this cost farmers?
From Colorado.edu:
“One-third of the fertilizer applied to grow corn in the U.S. each year simply compensates for the ongoing loss of soil fertility, leading to more than a half-billion dollars in extra costs to U.S. farmers every year, finds new research from CU Boulder published last month in Earth's Future.
Long-term soil fertility is on the decline in agricultural lands around the world due to salinization, acidification, erosion and the loss of important nutrients in the soil such as nitrogen and phosphorus. Corn farmers in the U.S. offset these losses with nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers also intended to boost yields, but scientists have never calculated how much of this fertilizer goes into just regaining baseline soil fertility—or how much that costs.”
https://www.colorado.edu/today/2021/01/12/soil-degradation-costs-us-corn-farmers-half-billion-dollars-every-year
Economics: What is the fundamental biblical principle of letting the land rest? How do we cause more harm when we fail to tithe, abide, and give with our wealth?
When we allow the ground to go fallow and the crops that do not make it into the bin to be taken by the poor, we also nourish the soil. How does this correlate to tithing, offering, giving?
Final Thoughts:
One Last Question: Favorite Farm Product?
Singleness and The Christian. What Did Jesus Do?
How did Christ live His life? Are we commanded to marry? What does the Bible demand of the single individual? Does a spouse “complete” you?
Introduction
Theology: How Did Christ Live His Life?
Philosophy: What is the Purpose of Marriage?
Culture: What pressures are on the individual to marry?
Politics: How does singleness provide opportunities for one to serve the Lord with more focus?
Economics: Millennials and Gen Z are avoiding marriage, but many are even avoiding relationships and sex. How does the economic reasoning reveal the motivations of these generations and how we as a culture have failed to inculcate selflessness?
Theology Segment: Was Jesus Married? Was He Single?
We'll address the content of these articles:
https://bib.irr.org/how-do-we-know-jesus-was-not-married
https://www.gotquestions.org/why-didnt-Jesus-marry.html
- Through innuendo, many have claimed that Christ was married to Mary Magdalene. The Burden of Proof resides on these people as there are no eye witnesses claiming such a wife. (The Davinci Code styled theories have less Historical evidence than the Lochness Monster, and by that we mean 0 evidence, only wild conjecture and Christian Fan Fiction in the form of the 2nd Century Gospel of Mary or 3rd Century Gospel of Phillip, neither written by the proposed authors)
- We have 2 genealogies of Christ, and neither mention His Children, a common occurrence from marital intimacy.
- Jesus was here on a mission that would leave a widow: Isaiah 52:13-53:12, 1 Peter 1:19-20, and Luke 18:31-33. He gave the duty of a son to care for His mother to John. Why would He not do something similar to His widow?
- Such a widow would have been idolized and very likely been a salient feature in the Church, yet we only hear of other women like Pricilla and likely Junia.
- Such a relationship, where two become one flesh would likely compete with Christ's meticulously prepared image of His Bridegroom of the Church. The Church is His Bride, not a hypothetical 1st century wife with no evidence to her existence.
Philosophy: What is the Purpose of Marriage? Can one fulfill God's Purpose as a Single?
God has 3 purposes for Marriage:
- Companionship
- Procreation/Discipleship
- Glorious Purpose in Image Bearing
Obviously Companionship is at the heart of romance and marriage. But there is something interesting in the soul of the human heart that longs for a specific relationship, that which results in creating a new life. This facilitates not only the creation of a new life, but also the chain reaction resulting in biological and spiritual drive to disciple and protect the new life. In all of this, there is a Glorious Purpose in that we are a reflection of our Creator, creating life and nurturing it, as He does every day.
Can a Single Person be a part of this image and fulfill this as Single? In short, yes, but in a different way. We as Singles are obligated to spend time discipling others. In such, we can experience a different sort of Companionship (with Christ as we can only successfully disciple when in communion with Him). We also see a different type of duplication or discipleship with the unbeliever, or newer believer. In such actions, we may carry out our Glorious Purpose in Image Bearing Christ to the world and other believers.
So yes, yes you can be effective for Christ as a Single. In fact it's required of you.
Culture: Should the Church Pressure Kids to Get Married?
What is happening in our culture in regards to marriage?
From BGSU: “The U.S. marriage rate (the number of women's marriages per 1,000 unmarried women 15 years and older) is the lowest it has been in over a century at 31.1—that is, roughly 31 marriages per 1,000 unmarried women.
• The marriage rate was highest
in 1920 at 92.3.
• Since 1970, the marriage rate
has declined by almost 60%”
https://www.bgsu.edu/content/dam/BGSU/college-of-arts-and-sciences/NCFMR/documents/FP/FP-13-13.pdf
From Axios: “Even as the marriage rate is falling, the institution still holds value in the U.S., said Susan Brown, co-director of the National Center for Family & Marriage Research.
- Case in point: High school seniors' attitudes toward marriage have remained relatively stable over the past several decades.
- In 1976, 74% of seniors said they expected to get married, and in 2020, 71% said so, according to an ongoing University of Michigan study.”
But the way we think about marriage is changing.
- "It used to be a basic institution that everyone had to buy into in early adulthood," Cherlin said. "You got married, then you moved in together, and then you got a job."
- "Marriage is now becoming the last step into adulthood." And it's an optional step. People are more likely to want to finish their education, find a job and pay off debt before getting hitched.
As a result, many are delaying marriage.
- The number of women entering their first marriage between the ages of 40 and 59 has jumped 75% since 1990, Brown said.
The bottom line: Expect far fewer 50th anniversary parties in the future.”
https://www.axios.com/2023/02/25/marriage-declining-single-dating-taxes-relationships
Also note that 60-90% of divorces, are initiated by women, depending on whose studies you're going by. This also adds to the cultural resistance towards marriage. We used to be pressured into marriage, now we're pressured out of it.
One issue we need to take care of, however, is the assumption that one is not complete unless they are married. Is this biblical? Is Christ not our Bridegroom? Was Christ incomplete? Or is it rather that our family is completed by a spouse that the children grow the family? It is important to not add extra-biblical hoops for the Christian to jump through.
Politics: What opportunities exist for the Single to serve the Lord?
How should we be affecting the world as Singles? (Not very political, but more in a cultural strain, what power does Singleness provide the Christian to exert influence on the world?)
What do we often spend our time on when single?
From PsychologyToday.com:
“1. Every day, single people spend an average 52 minutes more on educational activities than married people do.
-
Single people spend 43 minutes more per day on sleeping and personal care.
-
Every day, married people spend an average of 41 minutes more on household activities than single people do.
-
Single people spend an average of 40 more minutes per day on leisure and sports.
-
Married people spend an average of 38 minutes more per day working.”
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/living-single/201901/how-do-single-and-married-people-spend-their-time
Economics:
Gen Z, when polled had this to say about marriage, via the Hill:
“While the traditional ideas surrounding marriage may be shifting, 83 percent of participants said they would like to get married at some point. Though, 85 percent also reported that they don't feel marriage is needed to “have a fulfilling and committed relationship.”
“The report found over three in five unmarried couples live with their partners, though more millennials live with their partner than Gen Z — with a difference of 65 percent to 35 percent.
As for what motivates couples to move in together, over half — 54 percent — said it was related to finances, while 85 percent said they moved in because they wanted to. Sixty percent of participants moved in together after dating a year or less.
Nearly one in five share a back account with the partner they live with and around one in six share a credit card, although living costs aren't always split equal with half of participants stating they don't split their mortgage or rent equally, the survey said.
Thirty-seven percent said they find their relationship is financially unequal.”
https://thehill.com/changing-america/respect/equality/4107946-2-in-5-young-adults-surveyed-say-marriage-an-outdated-tradition/
What does this say about the culture's value of commitment? How have we as a church failed to prove the value of marriage?
Closing thoughts
Final Question: Have you ever had a celebrity crush? If so, who?
Would Jesus Watch the Chosen?
A show made about Himself. Is it OK to make a series about the life of Jesus or is that off-limits because we can't possibly “get it right”? Can sinful men make a series about a sinless Jesus? Would Jesus watch it even if they did? Join us as we tackle these questions and more in striving Further Every Day!
Introduction of Panel
Additional comments before we start.
Further Every Day is not promoting The Chosen one way or the other. This podcast is merely trying to help people understand the debate and controversy around the series. We encourage each individual to do their own research and come to their own conclusions around this series.
Framework for the Discussion
- The debate that rages as it pertains to the Chosen - should we watch it or should we not? Is it “anathema” or legit?
- If we watch it, how should it be watched?
- Should we allow shows like this in our culture?
- Would Jesus even watch it?
The Debate That Rages
There is substantial debate about The Chosen. Here are some of the questions:
Theology: How can the show be good if it is supposed to be based on the Bible and we
take “creative liberties” in making the show by adding things we don't find in the Bible?
Philosophy: Can sinful men really make a show about a sinless Jesus and it be “right”?
Culture: Wouldn't a show like this have a negative influence on the understanding of the gospel by non-believers? What possible good could come from this show in affecting our culture positively.
Politics: Would it be possible for the government to use a show like this against Christians or non-believers?
Economics: Is it right to make money off a show that is Biblically based?
How Should It Be Watched
So if we watch this show, how should it be watched? What should we remember or be aware of if we watch the show?
Theology: To make a show like this to reflect 100% on what we see in the Bible would take an extremely long time. It would go beyond 7 years like this show's projection! So,
some elements are “combined”.
Let's see an example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZDvcEkjthA
(first 2:40 of clip)
Philosophy: It is classified as FICTION! That means it may or may not be true. If you
want to know the facts, go to the source. In this instance, that is the Bible!
Culture: The portrayals in the series regarding the culture of that time may or may not be 100% accurate. A person should research what the culture may have been like at that time.
Politics: Very similar to what is shared from the chair of Culture. Additionally, what was Rome like at this time? What were the Pharisees like at this time? What were the Sadducees like at this time?
Economics: Well, they make money. That should be understood. A person should also understand the motives of the people producing this show. That's where additional research should take place.
Should We Allow Shows Like This In Our Culture?
Theology: 1 Corinthians 10:31; Psalm 101:3; Romans 12:2; Philippians 4:8
Philosophy: Another question to ask here is this: Can a show like this lead people to Christ? The words of Jesus - as read in the Bible - are being spoken in the show. Are they no longer “good” just because they are found in a television show or through theater?
Culture: The series has not had a negative impact on the culture, as a whole.
Politics: Would it be possible that the government would eventually want to shut down this show?
Economics: The show provides income for a number of people (actors, actresses, producers, directors, artistic people, etc.) and the show is not negatively impacting culture as a whole.
Would Jesus Watch The Chosen?
Theology: An excellent question from a theological standpoint. It is interesting to note
that Jesus used story-telling (parables) as a means of teaching!
Philosophy: Is there only one mode/method for teaching? If so, what is it?
Culture: Jesus did a number of things that were “counter-cultural”. He ate with sinners, He met the woman at the well, and He touched/healed people that were unclean.
Politics: Jesus did not care about political things. He obeyed the law but politics did not concern Him whatsoever.
Economics: Jesus is all for people making the number they need to live and give back to Him.
Close
Favorite scene in ANY Bible-based movie.
Additional Links:
https://www.gospelmattersblog.com/post/the-chosen-should-christians-watch-it
https://theologyforwomen.org/2013/05/some-things-you-should-know-about-women-and-the-old-testament.html https://www.foxnews.com/world/taliban-vows-publicly-stone-women-death-direct-message-western-democracies Part One We don't have to look far to see that women have not been treated equally or fairly throughout History. But……..Does the Bible promote women as one of lesser Value than a Man? Let take a deeper look as we stay Further Every day. History of Women Suffrage: The advancement of Women in Society: The right to Vote in State and Federal Elections The right for married women to own property and purchase property. The 19th Amendment was ratified in 1920, officially giving women the right to vote for the first time in American history. (When the nation was founded only White, land-owning men were allowed to vote) Individual States gave certain rights to women to purchase property and conduct Business. By Jone Johnson Lewis Jone Johnson Lewis Women's History Writer • B.A., Mundelein College • M.Div., Meadville/Lombard Theological School Jone Johnson Lewis is a women's history writer who has been involved with the women's movement since the late 1960s. She is a former faculty member of the Humanist Institute. LEARN ABOUT OUR EDITORIAL PROCESS Updated on July 13, 2019 By 1900, every state had given married women substantial control over their property. But women still faced gender bias when it came to financial matters. It would take until the 1970s before women were able to get credit cards. Before then, a woman still needed her husband's signature. The struggle for women to be financially independent of their husbands extended well into the 20th century. 1970s before women were able to get credit cards. Before then, a woman still needed her husbands signature.
https://theologyforwomen.org/2013/05/some-things-you-should-know-about-women-and-the-old-testament.html https://www.foxnews.com/world/taliban-vows-publicly-stone-women-death-direct-message-western-democracies Part One We don't have to look far to see that women have not been treated equally or fairly throughout History. But……..Does the Bible promote women as one of lesser Value than a Man? Let take a deeper look as we stay Further Every day. History of Women Suffrage: The advancement of Women in Society: The right to Vote in State and Federal Elections The right for married women to own property and purchase property. The 19th Amendment was ratified in 1920, officially giving women the right to vote for the first time in American history. (When the nation was founded only White, land-owning men were allowed to vote) Individual States gave certain rights to women to purchase property and conduct Business. By Jone Johnson Lewis Jone Johnson Lewis Women's History Writer • B.A., Mundelein College • M.Div., Meadville/Lombard Theological School Jone Johnson Lewis is a women's history writer who has been involved with the women's movement since the late 1960s. She is a former faculty member of the Humanist Institute. LEARN ABOUT OUR EDITORIAL PROCESS Updated on July 13, 2019 By 1900, every state had given married women substantial control over their property. But women still faced gender bias when it came to financial matters. It would take until the 1970s before women were able to get credit cards. Before then, a woman still needed her husband's signature. The struggle for women to be financially independent of their husbands extended well into the 20th century. 1970s before women were able to get credit cards. Before then, a woman still needed her husbands signature.
Did Christ Celebrate Easter? What Did Jesus Say To “Do In Remembrance of Me?” Counterpoint: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqy33IJHE8M Point: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMMJ00nPze0 This fellow has some points, but is clearly not researching beyond “Modern Christian Scholars”. However, his general point is close to the mark: We should be celebrating Passover and not so much the Rabbit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6zlKWTIlqI Messianic Haggadah: https://sixtyguilders.org/2016/03/24/a-short-messianic-haggadah/ #respect #goodguyswinning #Guns #trans #nra #transgender #brettcooper #mattwalsh #changemymind #stevencrowder #michaelknowles #benshapiro #fed #woke #podcast #christianity #furthereveryday #america #rights #listenable #abortion #deathofthewest #israel #palestine #hamasattack #israelhamaswarnewstoday
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Intro: Today, at Further Every Day, we're going to change up our format and just answer some common questions that are asked of Christians: Are there errors in the Bible? Can't Atheists be just as moral as Christians? Does Christianity answer life's profound questions adequately? Did Christ really rise from the dead? Did He even exist? No. No. Yes. Yes. Yes. Let's break that down as we try to remove our selves from this world, Further Every Day. Section 1: Are there errors in the Bible? This guy thinks so: https://youtube.com/shorts/ul6JbmV_ogI?feature=shared Dr. Dell Tackett from the Focus on the Family struggled with this question when he encountered it, but a bit of historical research showed him this: https://youtu.be/TRQGgEl9dec?feature=shared 46:16-50:09 Section 2: Can't Atheists do anything moral that a Christian can? https://youtu.be/XqFwree7Kak?si=Z-9kmhQDsNjLx5rn The obvious answer here is: the two commandments that Christ summed the law into: Love the Lord your God and love your neighbor as yourself. You obviously cannot do the first from the atheistic perspective. But what else is missing here. If you refuse the reality of the next world, NDEs are bountiful evidence of this, then you also have doomed your neighbor to an eternity of suffering. Section 3: What are the questions that every person who has walked this earth asks? Who am I and what is my purpose? Where am I going? Is there life after death? What defines morality? How does Christianity offer a better solution than any other religion? Section 4: Did Christ really rise from the dead? Did Christ rise from the dead? Is there a succinct defense of the Resurrection? This interview with Dr. Gary Habermas provides many great pieces of info, but here is a succinct breakdown: Many Christians start with the authority of the Bible, but Dr, Habermas starts with a review of the Historicity of Christ. If you listen to his articulation, you will notice that you do not need an inherent Bible to prove Christ's Resurrection, Deity, or His claims that the Bible is God's word: 6:12-11:48. Near Death Experiences alone are one of the greatest, Extra-Biblical, evidences that there is a beyond and that one who made claims such as Christ could come from such a beyond. Wrap up Last question: Who has done the most in recent memory 300 years or less, to destroy the roots of western civilization?
What Is Art? And Why Can't Christians Make It Anymore?
What is Art? And what happened to Christian Art in the modern landscape? We went from the The Robe and The Ten Commandments to the cringey: Jesus, Man? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRGndldqxlQ Well, Christians aren't the only ones to lose sight of objective beauty and art, but to understand why, we should ask the question: What Is Art? Join us today as we watch art stray from objective beauty Further. Every. Day.
What is Art?
Merriam Webster: “the conscious use of skill and creative imagination especially in the production of aesthetic objects”
Webster's 1828:
“1. The disposition or modification of things by human skill, to answer the purpose intended. In this sense art stands opposed to nature.
- A system of rules, serving to facilitate the performance of certain actions; opposed to science, or to speculative principles; as the art of building or engraving. Arts are divided into useful or mechanic, and liberal or polite. The mechanic arts are those in which the hands and body are more concerned than the mind; as in making clothes, and utensils. These art are called trades. The liberal or polite arts are those in which the mind or imagination is chiefly concerned; as poetry, music and painting.
In America, literature and the elegant arts must grow up side by side with the coarser plants of daily necessity.”
But these hardly describe what most people think art is. Some say that art is subjective, and to a small point, it is. However, no one listens to Beethoven, Mozart, or Handel and says that they were poor artists. However, if we slap a Christian label on a pop singer's songs, one who could never have hit the top charts, or convert a simple Hallmark style movie to a Christian Script, these products will see success in a new way. What is the difference between Art and whatever this phenomenon is?
Jordan Peterson attacks the Disney film Frozen from a philosophical point of view here and then goes on to describe the difference between art and propaganda: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aaokmHs71qg
So what differentiates the woke left from the Christian Consumer on the Right? When we fail to understand the power of art, and just make films like Courageous, Fireproof, etc. I'm not ragging on these, but what happened to the days when we made movies like the Ten Commandments, big budget films with a focus on beauty? We were more engaged in the culture in the 50s, perhaps that is the truest indictment on our nation is that our songs and movies used to depict an interest in God and now we only see shallow vapid Christian art in an onslaught of depraved Hollywood blockbusters.
But there's something else. We've also seen a change in the Culture's pursuit of excellence, morality, and standards. In a postmodern, post truth world, one created by the vacuum left by the Church's negligence, we see the deestruction of beauty. Where there is no God, there's no higher truth and beauty to be explored. The longer the culture sits without God in the forefront, the more vacuous and depraved the culture's art will become.
Theology: What does the Bible say about Art?
Exodus 28:3: Says that our Art is for His Glory
Isaiah 64:8 Says that we are the clay in the Potter's Hands, we're His artwork
Eclesiastes 3:11 Tells us God made everything beautiful in its time, in a way that is bigger than the human understanding or imagination.
Psalms 19:1 Says that the Heavens declare the Glory and work of God's hands
Philipians 4:8 Tells us to focus on whatever is true, right, and beautiful
Exodus 35:31-33 Details the acts of artists, working to build a beautiful Tabernacle to God
2 Chronicles 2:13-14 Detail the artists who build the Temple to God
Colossians 3:23 Admonishes us to do all things as unto the Lord
Philosophy: With these Scriptures in mind, what should we as Christians do with our art? How should we reflect the artistic nature of our Creator?
Culture: When the values of the Culture shift, so does the art. But when the art shifts, so does the Culture. How does the Culture influence art and the art in turn influence the younger generation?
Politics: As worldviews diverge, we see both sides of the political sphere harness the artist for their propaganda. If art is a powerful expression of truth, how do we do the world a disservice by producing poor art in the form of propaganda?
Economics: How should we as Christians consume art? How does this affect the culture around us?
Last Question: Favorite Musical Artist
Why Has The West Embrace The Anti-Hero Story?
Why has this become so popular: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0tobM9b_9I ? The renewed interest in the anti-hero has taken a somewhat novel context, an article from Shadi Neinmeh at the University of Manitoba:
“…consider anti-heroism as a response to modern man's uncertainties about traditional values and as a feature of modernity's Zeitgeist. Modern anti-heroism captures the sensibility associated with modernism, with its attempts at cultural renewal, and it ranges between the low mimetic and the ironic mode.”
https://www.jstor.org/stable/44030709
Let's explore why as we watch our culture stray Further. Every. Day.
Name some common anti-heros, I know you can do it if you've been watching popular cinema in the last decade or two: Walter White, Deadpool, Punisher, Tony Soprano, Joker, Judge Dredd, Catwoman, and the list goes on forever. Some of these story types are tragedies, think Tony Soprano and Walter White. In the Sopranos a gangster becomes more human to the eyes of the viewer before the show is over, but in the end, Tony is killed by a long time friend. The villain's story ends in tragedy, as we know it should be based upon our learned experiences.
In Breaking Bad, we see a family man beset with difficult decisions. Walter's descent from broke teacher and loving family man into heartless mobster with all of the wealth in the world, but at the cost of his family is a Greek Tragedy in modern form. In fact, the perspective of the Anti-Hero has, until recently, always been a story of warning. The Anti-Hero narrative is generally only satisfying in the moral culture, when it ends in tragedy.
This brings us to today, where truth is relative and the respect for the valuable traits of the Anti-Hero, can be taken as bonafides in the Anti-Hero's virtue. Take the Hazbin Hotel, for instance, the whole narrative is focused on the virtue of Lucifer's “creativity” that sounds great! However, what happens when fiction like Hazbin Hotel slips in assumptive truth claims about God? What does that do to the psyche of the human being? Why do you think we see a pivot towards this type of artistic expression?
Theology: We see the Bible document men and women of terrible standing, some of these men and women could easily fit the role of Anti-Hero if their story was written as a Hollywood Script. Who are these people, and what does God show us through History concerning the accomplishments of wicked people?
Philosophy: Humans are naturally sponges intellectually. Christ spoke on the issue of the heart when He said: “It is not what goes into the man, but what comes out that makes him unclean.” The Proverbs are full of verses about avoiding people who's tendencies are towards sin. How should we as Christians go about consuming media?
Culture: When the culture sees us consuming the same media as them, with no reservations for the content, what does that do to our witness? How should we live our lives in the culture?
Politics: Many people have tried to fix the culture in the political sphere. The problem with this is that this issue is one of the heart. How is this not an issue for Politics, but one for the family?
Economics: What should we do when it comes to Hollywood as media consumers? How has the family failed to protect children via cheap babysitting through TV?
Last Question: Favorite Villain and why?
Why Hollywood Hates Prince Charming Further. Every. Day.
Fairytales, Fables, parables, these are all names for the ideal of stories that we tell children to represent the world as it ought to be, not necessarily as it is. We teach our children about morality via these stories.
In 1937 Snow White, hit the Theatres and the world was in awe at the story of the technical achievement and the beauty of the story of Snow White, the animated masterpiece captured even the hardest of hearts. Today, the story is seen as paternalistic and harmful, but why? And it's not just Snow White, but every princess or woman who is saved by a man is considered a harmful archetype, to be replaced only by the woman saving, and rejecting romantically, the man. Why the shift? Let's talk about that today as we watch our culture strays Further Every Day.
To get context, let's watch two clips of Snow White:
Here's where Snow White wishes to meet the Prince and gets that wish granted:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54QeNL5ih6A
Here's the controversial scene where the Prince kisses the deceased Snow White:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1bOwgBV_IbU
Rachel Zegler is the embodiment of the Woke Culture's view on the above scenes:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUdwH4lqaUQ
There are three things that can be seen here in Zegler's remarks:
- A disdain for Traditional Gender Roles and Men
- A disdain for history and the desire to remake the world into a woke world
- A disdain for everyone who came before her and gave her the privileges she enjoyed as a Disney Princess
Let us look at another re-characterization of a classic story, Sleeping Beauty.
Here are the scenes that have sparked controversy:
Once Upon A Dream:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TXbHShUnwxY
Here's the culture's take on both of these stories:
https://sites.middlebury.edu/disneyprincesses/perpetuation-of-rape-culture/
Here's the substitute that we see placed in the prince's kiss for both movies: https://youtu.be/ZPrAFHAfpng?feature=shared
Jordan Peterson on the valuable lessons from Sleeping Beauty:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pavFsm5ZL8U
Peterson also goes onto a different interview to say that the story of Snow White has other valuable insights about how a woman must sort through the 7 Dwarfs of her life, each with a piece of what she specifically needs, until she can truly understand and “wake up” to or understand what type of man she truly wants, in Prince Charming.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DyWkgWsdPXY
All of these are valuable lessons that postmodernism shuns, as a woman doesn't need man, and men are basically evil. The root of this lies here: A Disdain and Hatred for Natural Gender Roles and Marriage. If the Enemy of Our Souls can destroy marriage, then how can we ever enjoy the picture of Christ and the Church that was inlaid into the framework of marriage? In the Bible, we see the and and woman specifically given roles that look like Christ and His Bride.
There is nothing wrong with the female protagonist. No one here wants a world of only Prince Charming movies, but if you look at the trend against men saving the day and only becoming the lesser, dumber, or even the completely villainous suitors, you see a move by the postmodern world against the value of traditional marriage. To say that such men do not exist is to be a blind as to say that no princesses are in fact shrews. However, the fairytale genre is focused on the idealist interpretation of the world for the minds of children so as to shape their worldview.
If we tell our youth that men tend to be evil and women should invariably be the leaders alone without a family, then we rob children of their God Given Roles. God designed men to be the Savior (with a role of sacrifice, provision, and protection) of the family. This makes him accountable to God for how he leads his family. God designed women to desire children and to nurture them. When we make the man the villain and the woman the Lone Ranger, men never fulfill the purpose of “Saving the Day”, and women grow old in a childless state, only comforted by professional accolades and cats.
Theology: What are the traditional roles for man and Woman?
Philosophy: Why is the world breaking down these roles, even to the point of mockery?
Culture: What has our culture done to the male figure? Are women actually happier?
https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/19369925/Panel_5.png
Politics: As we've seen this shift in the Postmodern World, how has the Government attempted to prioritize the push of the career woman at the expense of outcome? How has this affected people's view of the beneficiaries of affirmative action?
Economics: How has the destruction of gender roles devalued the innate beauty and merit of the individual genders? What has this done to our view of marriage? What has this done to our society at its core structure?
“You Lost Me” - The Young American Church
Introduction: How has the Church lost the youth in the West? Why do we see so many teens and young 20s fleeing the Church? Let's explore that problem as we watch our culture stray further every day.
Introduction of the Panel:
So what is happening with the youth in the West? Let's look at some numbers:
What Children Currently Believe
Noting that a person's worldview is typically formed before they reach the age of 13, Barna provided data from a Cultural Research Center national survey of adolescents conducted for the Raising Spiritual Champions book. That survey revealed that of the seven cornerstone beliefs, a majority of adolescents believes only one of those points of view.
• 69% - God exists and is the all-knowing, all-powerful, perfect Creator and ruler of the universe
• 36% - As a sinner, the only solution to the consequences of sin is to acknowledge your sins, ask
God to forgive you through Jesus Christ, and rely on Him to save you from those consequences
• 35% - Sin is real, and significant; we are all sinners, by choice
2
• 27% - Your most important reason for living is to do what God wants
• 25% - You trust the Bible because it is completely true and personally relevant to your life
• 21% - The Bible provides a complete and reliable understanding of right and wrong
• 17% - Success is consistently doing what the Bible teaches
In terms of developing a solid foundation for a biblical worldview, just 3% embrace all seven of those
perspectives. That does not bode well for adolescents building a stable foundation that will lead to a
robust and biblical worldview.
Adolescents clearly are exposed to many different points of view related to the subject matter of the
cornerstones. The Cultural Research Center study revealed that most of today's adolescents (58%)
believe just two or fewer of the seven cornerstones.
Cornerstones Embraced Percentage of adolescents
So no wonder we see exits from the church like this:
So is it Youth Pastors? Are they to blame? You might make that argument if you take this information in vacuum:
https://www.arizonachristian.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/AWVI2022_Release05_Digital.pdf
However, let's zoom out a bit and look closer at the Church as a whole:
https://www.barna.com/research/changing-state-of-the-church/
It's almost like there's a cancer of unbelief in the Church at large. Do you REALLY believe that God is real? If you did, what would you do about listening to Him, seeking council of Him? Would you not have a desire for a stronger relationship with those who call Him Lord?
Chair of Theology:
What does the Bible say about generational knowledge of God? Joshua 4:9, Judges 2:10-19
Judges 21:25, 2 Chronicles 33:1-6. How long does it take to lose such respect for God?
Chair of Philosophy:
If this world is not our home, how should we go about preparing our children for the next world? How should WE live in this world?
Chair of Culture:
The world has had its way with the Church instead of the Church promoting God to the World. What is the process by which we can see Godly change in our Culture?
Chair of Politics:
What have we seen happen to our freedom of worship and the sovereignty of the parent in the political sphere without God in the Culture? Voting is important, but how can we correct this problem at its root?
Chair of Economics:
Where one's treasure is, so is their heart. If we are to be wise stewards of our time and treasure, what would that look like on this Earth and how would that translate into a lifestyle?
Outro
Final Question: Favorite Youth Group Game
When Did The Church Lose The Culture War? Introduction: When did the Church lose the Culture War? Spoiler Alert, she lost something much more important LONG before she lost the Culture War. What is that, you may ask? Let's explore that as we watch our culture stray further, every, day. Introduce the Guests and Panelists What happened in the 1940s-1960s with the Church, what happened to our view of Biblical Inerrancy? Well, since the 1800s, there had been an attack on the integrity of the Bible's Historical translation and preservation. By the 1940s and 1950s, seminarians were being taught things like Mark 16:9-20 was not originally in the Bible and Jesus did not rise from the dead, in contradiction to all evidence to the contrary. However, this showed in the belief of those in the pews: https://news.gallup.com/poll/166613/four-report-attending-church-last-week.aspx We then see a slow decline in those who even believe in a God leading up to today: https://news.gallup.com/poll/393737/belief-god-dips-new-low.aspx All of this to say, when we see how the Bible had taken back seat to Human Philosophy, the Church truly lost its power within its own borders. Shortly after that she lost her authority in the culture. Just a few years later, the Supreme Court reversed its long standing view on prayer and God in schools and the following happened: SAT Scores Plummeted: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Historical_Average_SAT_Scores_%28Vector%29.svg Unwed Teenage Pregnancy Skyrocketed: https://www.researchgate.net/figure/US-birth-rates-for-ages-15-19-and-percent-of-nonmarital-births-Source-US-vital_fig1_310512785 Now we see a rapid decline of Christianity within the last decade, and the rise of not atheism, but spirituality: https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2022/09/13/how-u-s-religious-composition-has-changed-in-recent-decades/ It's almost like we shutout the authority of all knowledge and excellence from the Pulpit and as that trickled into the rest of the Culture, we saw a regression in every sphere of American Life. How can we as Christians in this nation begin to reverse this course? Chair of Theology: What should our fundamental mission be in our world today, and I don't mean the Earth, or the USA, but in our Families, Friends, and Work Relationships? Chair of Philosophy: With the above in mind, how should we order our lives? If we know that our relationship with God directly affects our ability to witness and be effective in our day to day world, how will this knowledge affect our daily lives? Chair of Culture: What must we do in our lives and in our Churches to regain an Authority in the Culture? Is it possible to further damage the view of Christ in the Culture during our outreach? How do we avoid this? Chair of Politics: How has the Christian often confused Politics and Theology? How have we divorced them? How does one go about living as a Citizen of both this world and the next? Chair of Economics: How have we lost the value of the Gospel in whitewashing it to make it more “applicable” to the “seeker”? In the 1960s, the Church focused on making itself more “accessible” to the world. There is something to be said for dispensing with the us 4 and no more attitude that develops in Churches, but how has the Church devalued Holiness in America? How have we become more focused on seats filled and money raised, as opposed to lives changed? Final Thoughts One last thing: What is your favorite thing from the 1960s? #respect #goodguyswinning #Guns #trans #nra #transgender #brettcooper #mattwalsh #changemymind #stevencrowder #michaelknowles #benshapiro #fed #woke #podcast #christianity #furthereveryday #america #rights #listenable #abortion #deathofthewest #israel #palestine #hamasattack #israelhamaswarnewstoday
To Resolve or Not to Resolve – That is the Question! Do you know the origin of the tradition of making New Year's resolutions? It's an interesting one indeed! And we're going to talk about this and more in this particular podcast. But let's meet our panel today before we get into the topic. Approximately 4,000 years ago! - Introduce everyone Theology · Should Christians make New Year's resolutions? o Does the Bible have anything to say about making New Year's resolutions? · What does the Bible say about planning? (Be sure to include “count the cost”) Philosophy · Why do so many people “fail” at keeping New Year's resolutions? · Is there any wisdom in making a New Year's resolution? · Is it OK for a person not to make a New Year's resolution? Culture · What are the most common reasons/purposes that we make New Year's resolutions? · What are the top 5 New Year's resolutions? · How does the keeping/failing of New Year's resolutions impact our culture? Political · Does this issue of New Year's resolutions directly affect our politics? Economics · How does New Year's resolutions impact our economy? Impact can be found on gym's/memberships Impact can be found in diet plans and foods Impact can be found on alcohol and tobacco - subsequently, healthcare References History of New Year's resolutions https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHqIlFi79aA https://www.insightvacations.com/blog/new-years-resolutions/ Who's making New Year's resolutions https://today.yougov.com/society/articles/48233-what-are-americans-new-years-resolutions-for-2024-poll Key statistics regarding New Year's resolutions https://www.forbes.com/health/mind/new-years-resolutions-statistics/ RESOLVE, noun rezolv'. 1. Fixed purpose of mind; settled determination; resolution. GOAL, noun 3. The end or final purpose; the end to which a design tends, or which a person aims to reach or accomplish. #respect #goodguyswinning #Guns #trans #nra #transgender #brettcooper #mattwalsh #changemymind #stevencrowder #michaelknowles #benshapiro #fed #woke #podcast #christianity #furthereveryday #america #rights #listenable #abortion #deathofthewest #israel #palestine #hamasattack #israelhamaswarnewstoday
To Resolve or Not to Resolve – That is the Question! Do you know the origin of the tradition of making New Year's resolutions? It's an interesting one indeed! And we're going to talk about this and more in this particular podcast. But let's meet our panel today before we get into the topic. Approximately 4,000 years ago! - Introduce everyone Theology · Should Christians make New Year's resolutions? o Does the Bible have anything to say about making New Year's resolutions? · What does the Bible say about planning? (Be sure to include “count the cost”) Philosophy · Why do so many people “fail” at keeping New Year's resolutions? · Is there any wisdom in making a New Year's resolution? · Is it OK for a person not to make a New Year's resolution? Culture · What are the most common reasons/purposes that we make New Year's resolutions? · What are the top 5 New Year's resolutions? · How does the keeping/failing of New Year's resolutions impact our culture? Political · Does this issue of New Year's resolutions directly affect our politics? Economics · How does New Year's resolutions impact our economy? Impact can be found on gym's/memberships Impact can be found in diet plans and foods Impact can be found on alcohol and tobacco - subsequently, healthcare References History of New Year's resolutions https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHqIlFi79aA https://www.insightvacations.com/blog/new-years-resolutions/ Who's making New Year's resolutions https://today.yougov.com/society/articles/48233-what-are-americans-new-years-resolutions-for-2024-poll Key statistics regarding New Year's resolutions https://www.forbes.com/health/mind/new-years-resolutions-statistics/ RESOLVE, noun rezolv'. 1. Fixed purpose of mind; settled determination; resolution. GOAL, noun 3. The end or final purpose; the end to which a design tends, or which a person aims to reach or accomplish. #respect #goodguyswinning #Guns #trans #nra #transgender #brettcooper #mattwalsh #changemymind #stevencrowder #michaelknowles #benshapiro #fed #woke #podcast #christianity #furthereveryday #america #rights #listenable #abortion #deathofthewest #israel #palestine #hamasattack #israelhamaswarnewstoday
Why Is America The Best Nation On Earth, and Why She's Losing Everything -Further. Every. Day. Why is America losing her place in the world? She was the nation that led, with Great Britain, the movement to abolish slavery, abolish the practice of polygamy (it never goes well long term for the women), and promote peace in the world. In fact, after WWII, America became a largely good force in the world, protecting many millions of people from the Tyranny of the Ideological Left, see South Korea, the breakup of the USSR, etc. So what happened in the mid 60s that destroyed a nation with such a positive impact on the world? 28:20-29:56 • American Heritage Collection | Episod... So with the truth of our Founder's Intentions in mind, let's deal with the source of that so called Separation of Church and State. This phrase originated in the Jeffersonian Letters to the Danbury Baptist Church, a group of individuals that Jefferson himself has fought the British Monarchy to protect. Jefferson wrote: “Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between Man & his God, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that the legitimate powers of government reach actions only, & not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should "make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof," thus building a wall of separation between Church & State. Adhering to this expression of the supreme will of the nation in behalf of the rights of conscience, I shall see with sincere satisfaction the progress of those sentiments which tend to restore to man all his natural rights, convinced he has no natural right in opposition to his social duties.” Not too convincing for the Separation of Church and State crowd's argument. Let's look at how the courts ruled on attacks on Christianity back then: • American Heritage Collection | Episod... 42:09-43:10 It would almost seem that the modern rulings fly in the face of Historical precedent. John Adams to the Massachusetts Militia in 10-11-1798: “Because We have no Government armed with Power capable of contending with human Passions unbridled by morality and Religion. Avarice, Ambition, Revenge, or Gallantry, would break the strongest Cords of our Constitution as a Whale goes through a Net. Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious People. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other” "Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim tribute to patriotism who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness -- these firmest props of the duties of men and citizens. . . . reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principles." George Washington "Bad men cannot make good citizens. It is when a people forget God that tyrants forge their chains. A vitiated state of morals, a corrupted public conscience, is incompatible with freedom. No free government, or the blessings of liberty, can be preserved to any people but by a firm adherence to justice, moderation, temperance, frugality, and virtue; and by a frequent recurrence to fundamental principles." Patrick Henry So when did this change? When we took God out of the public square. What were the results? 1:08:48-1:12:15 Do we have such dedication?
Dangers of Christian Nationalism Is Christian Nationalism yet another form of identity politics? From MSN.com: (https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/rob...) Film producer Rob Reiner stated the following on December 7th, 2023: “Christian Nationalism is not only a danger to our Country, it's a danger to Christianity itself.” This raises the question of what exactly Reiner thinks Christian Nationalism is. Do you know what Christian Nationalism is? Is it compatible with Christianity? This and more as we travel Further Every Day! (Play Wretched video clip) 1. Defining Nationalism and Christian Nationalism a. What does the Bible say about nationalism? From GotQuestions.org - https://www.gotquestions.org/Bible-na... b. What is Christian Nationalism? From GotQuestions.org - https://www.gotquestions.org/Christia... 2. Sub-topics to discuss a. Theology i. What does the Bible say about nationalism? ii. Is it not true that God wants all people to be Christian? If so, does it not support the premise that some in the US would want a Christian Nationalist country? b. Philosophy i. What should we remember when considering Christian “leaders” (some calling themselves, “evangelicals”) assisted Rob Reiner in making this documentary? ii. If America was not “Christian Nationalist” in nature, would it not be true that it would be something else, maybe “Atheist Nationalist”? iii. What are some of the competing worldviews to this? (ie – Global Liberalism, Socialism, etc.) c. Culture i. How deeply embedded is Christianity in America and where did it come from? d. Politics i. Should our government be influenced by Christianity? Why or why not? e. Economics i. What would the economic impact be on the United States if Christianity was destroyed, as Rob Reiner states, by Christian Nationalism? Video Clips Michael Knowles: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FIFAv... (8:45 – 10:50) YouTuber: Middle MAGA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cg1k3... YouTuber: Wretched (0:01 – 2:55) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C8SvP_O1fY8&t=439s&pp=ygUkd3JldGNoZWQgcmFkaW8gY2hyaXN0aWFuIG5hdGlvbmFsaXNt
Today, let's look at the common arguments for a Pagan Origin of Christmas. Let's put them into 3 categories: 1. The 25th Date coincides with other pagan holidays like Saturnalia and Sol Invictus 2. The gods who were born on the 25th make Christ look like a copycat in a long line of copycats. 3. The Christmas Tree appears to be the Asherah Pole from Jeremiah 10:1-5. So let's start with the date of the 25th. Where did the date come from? Some sources attribute Theophilus of Antioch circa 171-183 AD as the first to use the 25th of December date as the date of Christ's birth, due to the notion that prophets are conceived on the day they die (Christ's death being attributed here as the 25th of March). Some even attribute Pope St. Telesphorus in circa 125-136 AD as having ascribed the December 25th date decades earlier. The dates of Saturnalia were the 17th-23rd , never on the 25th. A Pre-Christ Sol Invictus is only referenced in 1 manuscript, the Chronography of 354. This manuscript was written over 100 years after Hippolytus of Rome's Commentary on Daniel (circa 202~211 AD), which references the December 25th Birth of Christ. It is entirely possible that the observance of Sol Invictus's birthdate may have even been a mimicry of the December 25th date! There go those two points, showing a crippling lack of scholarship on the part of the proponents of a Pagan Origin of Christmas. As for other gods who have held or picked up the 25th, some of these have resurrection stories and other vague similarities to Christ's story. I'll have to quote Lewis here on this general contention as Lewis said it better than I could: “And what did God do? …He sent the human race what I call good dreams: I mean those queer stories scattered all through the heathen religions about a god who dies and comes to life again and, by his death, has somehow given new life to men.” If one takes the proposition that man came from Noah, and Noah expected the redeemer of the Genesis 3 covenant, would not man expect such a redeemer? Also, would not the Devil himself love to abuse this desire for a Savior and propagate such false religions for the Devil's own gain? This view, even if you believe it to be wrong, is at least consistent. On a side note, I do not believe, like many that Christ's birth was on the 25th of December. It was likely on the feast of First Fruits in April. This would better fit the prophetic timeline and The Christ Comet is a theory of the Star of Bethlehem that plots the activities of a specific comet to that time frame. This comet would have behaved in such a way as to lead the Magi to Jerusalem and then to Bethlehem, but this is neither here nor there for this discussion. On the note of the Christmas Tree, the Asherah Pole of Pre-Christ Iran is often connoted with the Tradition of the Christmas Tree, which was started around the 1500s by the French and Germanic Christians, the better part of two millennia separated from Jeremiah's words in Jeremiah 10:1-5: "1 Hear ye the word which the LORD speaketh unto you, O house of Israel: 2 Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them. 3 For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. 4 They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not. 5 They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good." On that note, how would uncarved trees have anything to do with carved wooden idols? Just because heathens used trees in false worship, does not mean that trees are somehow pagan. If pagans doing something or celebrating in a certain way makes any association with the item or practice anathema, stop singing, stop praying, and while you're at it, stop breathing! This extreme is almost a strawman, but the point of this should be why are we doing what we do? Some traditions are valueless, granted. Some are even dangerous, agreed. But let's base our critiques, if we have them, on facts and not unsupported nonsense. (For example, find an actual ancient source on the use of Christmas Trees for Saturnalia. Few if any exist, and none that we are aware of.) https://www.learnreligions.com/why-is... https://www.patheos.com/blogs/davearm... https://talesoftimesforgotten.com/201... https://talesoftimesforgotten.com/201... https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/re...
- Life After Death Are the atheists' correct - there is no God, no Heaven, and no Hell? Or is the Bible correct - and we all better get ready to meet our maker? This is the topic today as we continue Further Every Day! Barna Research https://www.barna.com/research/americ... Got Questions - What Happens After Death https://www.gotquestions.org/what-hap... Got Questions - Is There Life After Death https://www.gotquestions.org/is-there... Angel Studios - Recorded Livestream Discussion of Movie • Proof of Life After Death? Theology: What does the Bible say about life after death? What are some of the different views about life after death? How can this movie be used to speak to someone about God? Are there any recorded “NDE's” (Near Death Experiences) found in the Bible Philosophy: Why should it matter if we believe in life after death? What are some dangers of the different views about life after death? Culture: The movie, “After Death”, was released in theaters on October 27th. Why should people see this movie? What should people be aware of before they see the movie? Politics: How does this issue get intertwined with government and politics? A government that is anti-God will look to censor this topic How would this issue potentially impact healthcare issues in general? Policy is moving toward EOL actions for people with “no way back”, severely injured Economics: Is there a connection between life after death and our economy? Call 110:15 - 12:15 The cardiologist says, "hogwash" Call 2 35:30 - 36:45 Can it be true Call 3 *51:15 - 53:15 The desire for this film (by the producer)
Podcast #0122 - Life After Death Are the atheists' correct - there is no God, no Heaven, and no Hell? Or is the Bible correct - and we all better get ready to meet our maker? This is the topic today as we continue Further Every Day! Barna Research https://www.barna.com/research/americans-describe-their-views-about-life-after-death/ Got Questions - What Happens After Death https://www.gotquestions.org/what-happens-after-death.html Got Questions - Is There Life After Death https://www.gotquestions.org/is-there-life-after-death.html Angel Studios - Recorded Livestream Discussion of Movie https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpgTFVluop8 Theology: What does the Bible say about life after death? What are some of the different views about life after death? How can this movie be used to speak to someone about God? Are there any recorded “NDE's” (Near Death Experiences) found in the Bible Philosophy: Why should it matter if we believe in life after death? What are some dangers of the different views about life after death? Culture: The movie, “After Death”, was released in theaters on October 27th. Why should people see this movie? What should people be aware of before they see the movie? Politics: How does this issue get intertwined with government and politics? A government that is anti-God will look to censor this topic How would this issue potentially impact healthcare issues in general? Policy is moving toward EOL actions for people with “no way back”, severely injured Economics: Is there a connection between life after death and our economy? Call 110:15 - 12:15 The cardiologist says, "hogwash" Call 2 35:30 - 36:45 Can it be true Call 3 *51:15 - 53:15 The desire for this film (by the producer)
0124 The Secret to Happiness: Thanksgiving -Further. Every. Day. Intro: Are you happy? Let me ask you a different question: Are you Joyful? The answers to those questions will be different for many people. Some people within the sound of my voice will say that their lives are full of joy, but much sadness is in their life. While others will say that they are happy in this moment, but they struggle with depression. One of the pillars for Joy and the ability for one to endure hardship is Thankfulness. Let's explore how our culture has lost sight of that virtue as we stray Further. Every. Day. Economics: Clips from this Veratasium video on the longest running study on happiness: 16:48-17:58 18:04-20:20 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSQjk9jKarg How do these studies show the difference between Happiness and Joy? When one is already thankful and happy, more money corresponds with more happiness. How has materialism twisted our ability to be Thankful? Politics: Will bring the original story of the pilgrims and compare the Plymouth settlement to the Jamestown settlement and explore the key difference between them: One was founded on God and the other on the pursuit of money for the King. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lslqtUMwDxA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7dAmroKyzGY 1:32-3:43 Culture: Will deal on the distraction that Culture often brings to the Thanksgiving Holiday and compare the microcosm of the Counter-Thanksgiving Narrative to the way we as humans tend to shirk our responsibility to Godly thanksgiving by focusing on evil. Philosophy: Will focus on the original purpose of the holiday and similarities to the other fall festivals and why the American Thanksgiving has a uniquely Christian origin. The similarities to Sukkoth will be covered. https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/is-thanksgiving-modeled-on-sukkot-609014 Theology: Will deal with the reason we offer thanks up. Theology will go into the wave offering sacrifice and the origin of the thanksgiving offerings that God commanded and why those were for our benefit and not for the God's. God doesn't need us to eat before Him, He wants us to realize our true calling and purpose of glorious fellowship with Him. This is seen in our Thanksgiving when we eat together as family every year. It is, perhaps accidentally, an allegory of the Heavenly Feast we will enjoy for an Eternity. https://www.gotquestions.org/free-will-offering.html Final Thoughts One Last Question: Christmas Music: Before or After Thanksgiving? #respect #goodguyswinning #Guns #trans #nra #transgender #brettcooper #mattwalsh #changemymind #stevencrowder #michaelknowles #benshapiro #fed #woke #podcast #christianity #furthereveryday #america #rights #listenable #abortion #deathofthewest #israel #palestine #hamasattack #israelhamaswarnewstoday
https://youtu.be/kvAsSer5ZTw?feature=shared 56:00-1:01:45* 59:25 Occult Eschatology with inverted saviors being the aliens and the rapture being the removal of the spiritually unworthy. Theological constraints on Alien Existence We don't see Aliens in the Bible, but what do we see concerning the spiritual world and Heaven? Elisha's Testimony of Elijah 2 Kings 2:11-13 Baalam's Donkey Numbers 22:21-39 The Mount of Transfiguration Matthew 17:1-8 John's Account of Revelation Revelation 4:1 There's no mention of Aliens, but there is mention of demons. (This is the weakest argument available, yet it holds some water. Why would God be silent on this issue?) Philosophical Constraints Privileged Planet stats. https://youtu.be/XiKL49YqzB4?feature=shared 11:06-1235 How does this information make it more difficult to believe that there is more life out there? Stats on trip length: How does this affect the plausibility of advanced travelers? Might they rather be inter dimensional or extra natural? 25,000 years. Via Dr. Brian Huffling Jacque Valet: Aliens are Interdimensional Beings 11:13-12:33 We're not being visited by Extraterrestrials, but Interdimensional Beings 25:00-27:18 How would the presence of Aliens affect the nature of Christ's death with more than one world to save? Does the presence of these creatures make more sense from the perspective of a demonic presence? Cultural Constraints on Civilization Stats on Civilization's decay after 2,000 years 28:00-28:35 How does the debauchery that we see in our own culture, testify against the possibility of an advanced civilization. (Think of how in 60 years we went from Moonshot to VR Chat and self actualization being prime motivation for research.) How does the idea of an advanced civilization clash with the reality of what we see in society. How would a demonic force use such a delusion, that a society untethered from God could advance so far, to elevate the individual over their need of Christ? Political Reasons for Releasing Data on UFOs Why now? Why are they stirring the pot right now? Could it be something to do with our failing economy? Why would they even release these things during the pandemic? What is the government's track record been on keeping secrets? Economic Incentive for the Story How has the culture embraced the sensationalism of the Alien phenomenon and grown an industry around the topic? What is the incentive to publish more material on the topic? Is there an inherent bias towards sensationalism? How should the Christian tread here? #respect #goodguyswinning #Guns #trans #nra #transgender #brettcooper #mattwalsh #changemymind #stevencrowder #michaelknowles #benshapiro #fed #woke #podcast #christianity #furthereveryday #america #rights #listenable #abortion #deathofthewest #israel #palestine #hamasattack #israelhamaswarnewstoday
Unmasking Halloween and the Church
Introduction: As we have exited the Halloween season, let's ask a question, should we be participating in Halloween as Christians? Are all things pure to those who are pure? Or are there some celebrations that we as Christians shouldn't coopt? Or here's a plot twist many haven't considered: Did Halloween Co-opt a Christian Holiday? Let's explore that as we watch our culture stray Further. Every. Day.
Now, if you are a Christian who believes that anyone who lets their children Trick or Treat is going to Hell, maybe reconsider your soteriology, you clearly don't understand Salvation. With that said, there are many Christians who don't seem to mind appearing worldly with their gory antics on Halloween. We'll get to that momentarily.
Origins:
But first, let's attempt to cover the most common question that arises in Christian circles on this topic: Where did Halloween come from? The sad thing is, we don't really know. Most sources actually cannot pinpoint the origins of the Halloween that we witness every year in America, but instead it appears to have an amorphous origin. Let's look at some of the other holidays that may have had an influence on what we now call Halloween.
Samhain (Sawhen)
All Saints Day
The Day of the Dead
Samhain (Sawhen)
https://blogs.loc.gov/headlinesandheroes/2021/10/the-origins-of-halloween-traditions/
So where might all of these coincided? Was Samhain the origin of Halloween?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fu-5BmAzbrU
0:45-7:29
What is the Day of the Dead? La Catrina was the Goddess of the underworld in Aztec Culture.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_sSawpU81cI
https://www.nationalgeographic.co.uk/history-and-civilisation/2019/10/la-catrina-dark-history-day-deads-immortal-icon
What will people who celebrate Samhain or the Day of the Dead think of us as Christians when we participate in Halloween?
- Chair 1: Theology
- What does God say about adopting the celebrations of Pagan Gods?
Deut 12:29-32 :“When the Lord your God cuts off before you the nations whom you go in to dispossess, and you dispossess them and dwell in their land, take care that you be not ensnared to follow them, after they have been destroyed before you, and that you do not inquire about their gods, saying, ‘How did these nations serve their gods?—that I also may do the same.' You shall not worship the Lord your God in that way, for every abominable thing that the Lord hates they have done for their gods, for they even burn their sons and their daughters in the fire to their gods. “Everything that I command you, you shall be careful to do. You shall not add to it or take from it.”
- What does He say about marginal practices that are not primary Salvation related traditions?
Romans 14:1-5 : “As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him. Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand. One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind.”
- How should we navigate Halloween?
- Chair 2: Philosophy
- How should we go about the addressing little children playacting as princesses and cowboys? Is this the same as worshiping pagan idols?
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How has the Church allowed a celebration of the Saints, devolve into the 2nd largest financially grossing holiday in America?
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Chair 3: Culture
- As we have watched the Church lose the narrative to the Cultures around her, what has happened to the Culture surrounding Halloween? How has the Church's lack of authority on the matter degraded our Culture?
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Should Christians participate in the horror movies and gore of Halloween? How does one navigate the verses above with Halloween and the Culture? What does the Culture see when we as Christians partake in the more paganistic practices of Halloween?
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Chair 4: Politics
- Multiculturalism has positive and negative effects as any system has, but we see the active support for paganism in the town square, how does this compare to the war on Christmas?
- Compare this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pK9YUE1Qtnw
- To this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xxvzp96qnc8
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Should this be legal? (I would say yes but it's not my cup of tea: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nrkd_aoJNeY )
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Chair 5: Economics
- You may not have heard this before today but:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jihYSTc5KeI
- Where does this fact and the expenditure on Christmas indicate our Culture has placed its value?
Conclusion
- Final Thoughts: What is your takeaway from each chair?
- Final Question: What is your favorite candy?
Mike Winger has a great piece on this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALY9aLKm9YI
0121 How Anti-Semitism Crept Into The Church -Further Every Day
With all of the riots in the West, and even supposed Evangelical Christians championing the demise of Israel, the question rises: How did anti-semitism creep into the Church and the Western Psyche?
First off, what is Anti-Semitism: “Hatred of and hostility toward the Jews, at times including the belief that they pose a threat to society and should be eliminated. The term was coined in 1879 by the German anti-Jewish writer Wilhelm Marr to refer specifically to “scientific” rather than “religious” opposition to Jews, but it is generally applied to all manifestations of hatred of the Jewish people. Over its long history, it has taken different forms in different cultural contexts. This has led to debate about what precisely constitutes antisemitism and whether it is unique or merely the specific expression of the kind of inter-group hostility that is found in most societies. The Jewish experience of antisemitism over the centuries, especially under the Nazis, plays a significant role in contemporary Jewish self-understanding and communal life....” -Oxford
https://www.oxfordreference.com/display/10.1093/acref/9780199730049.001.0001/acref-9780199730049-e-0207
We are seeing pro-Hamas protests across the US and Europe.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7fmahzTQppw
How did we get here? Well let's set up a rough timeline:
Timeline of Events:
- Early Christian Period (A.D. 160-180):
- Marcion launches a theological crusade against perceived Jewish Influence (The Ante-Nicene Fathers, Volume 1, p. 493).
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Later, many of these same anti-Judaic sentiments found their way into the thinking (and writings) of the Early Church fathers. Irenaeus (c. 180), for instance, wrote, “The Jews have rejected the Son of God and cast Him out of the vineyard when they slew Him. Therefore, God has justly rejected them and has given to the Gentiles outside the vineyard the fruits of its cultivation” (The Ante-Nicene Fathers, Ed. Alexander Roberts and James Donaldson, [1885-1887], Volume 1, p. 493).
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7th Century (A.D. 680-687):
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Jewish converts to Christianity must renounce their Jewish heritage before baptism (Professions of Faith Extracted from Jews on Baptism, compiled by Professor Paul Halsall of Fordham University).
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Development of Theological Views:
- Chiliasm (premillennialism) prominent in Early Church despite later shift to amillennialism (History of the Christian Church, Vol. 2, p. 614).
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Augustine's symbolic interpretation of Israel's prophecies contributes to amillennialism (City of God, Books 15 to 19).
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Martin Luther and Anti-Semitism:
- Luther, a supersessionist, advocates burning synagogues, expelling Jews, influencing Nazi policies (On the Jews and Their Lies, Luther's Works, pp. 268-271).
- Luther's ideas inspired Nazi leaders Goering, Himmler, and Hitler to commit the atrocities Luther prescribed against Jewish people (The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich, p. 236).
- https://youtu.be/RW-bx3-aO5E?feature=shared
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https://youtu.be/B-7OiA-G3hA?feature=shared
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So what does the Bible say about the Jewish People and their Covenant with God?
- Paul asserts God has not permanently rejected Israel (Romans 11:1-2, 11-12, 15).
- Foresees a future restoration of Israel, a time of "fullness" and recognition of Yeshua as Messiah (Romans 11:26).
- David is promised an eternal heir in 2 Samuel 7:12-13
- And of course the Abrahamic Covenant: https://www.gotquestions.org/Abrahamic-covenant.html
Closing Question to each chair: So how should we as Christians look upon the Jewish People?
Final Question: What Old Testament Era Figure has inspired you the most in life?
Showmap
The History of Israel
Please note that we will not be approaching this podcast from our typical Theology, Philosophy, Culture, Politics, and Economic chairs. We will approach this from “blocks”. Please see below.
BLOCK #1: What is a Jew and What is a Palestinian?
- How and when did Jewish people come about
- Where did they live
- How and when did Palestinian people come about
- Where did they live
BLOCK #2: The timeline for this area
Timeline for History of Israel
The land of Israel has been populated by the Jewish people since 2000 BC. Here's the timeline, in case you didn't realize that it is their homeland, as designated by Yahweh.
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1900 BC: Abraham chosen by God as the Father of the Jewish Nation.
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1900 BC: Isaac, Abraham's son, rules over Israel.
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1850 BC: Jacob, son of Issac, rules over Israel.
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1400 BC: Moses leads the people out of Egypt and back to Israel.
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1010 BC: King David unites the 12 tribes into one nation.
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970 BC: King Solomon, son of David, builds the first temple structure in Jerusalem
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930 BC: Israel is divided into two kingdoms, the Kingdom of Israel and the Kingdom of Judah.
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800s BC: The rise of the prophets, God's messengers.
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722 BC: Kingdom of Israel is conquered by Assyrians.
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605 BC: Kingdom Judah is conquered by the Babylonians.
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586 BC: Solomon's Temple is destroyed by the Babylonians.
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539 BC: Persians conquer the Babylonians and take control of Israel.
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538 BC: The Jews return to Israel from exile.
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520 BC: The Temple is rebuilt.
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450 BC: Reforms made by Ezra and Nehemiah.
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433 BC: Malachi is the end of the prophetic age.
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432 BC: The last group of Jews return from exile.
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333 BC: The Greeks conquer the Persian empire.
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323 BC: The Egyptian and Syrian empire take over Israel.
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167 BC: Hasmonean's recapture Israel, and the Jews are ruled independently.
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70 BC: Romans conquer Israel.
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20 BC: King Herod builds the "third" temple
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6 BC: Jesus Christ is born in Bethlehem
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70 AD: Romans destroy the temple
After that, the people were captives to the Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, and Crusaders. Through all of these events, the Jewish people continued to live in Israel. There were more or less of them, depending on the centuries, but there was never a time when the Jews didn't live in the land. They stayed, they built their communities, they raised their families, practiced their faith and they suffered at the hands of many outside rulers, but they always kept their faith. It is what sustains them, even now.
BLOCK #3: What the Palestinian Leadership Wants
- Israel to be destroyed
- They want the land
BLOCK #4: The Propaganda War
- What is propaganda?
- Why is this propaganda war being fought so intensively?
- How do we stay close to or preserve the truth in this?
BLOCK #5: The Bible and How it Affects This Issue
- What does the Bible say about all of this?
- Is Hamas mentioned in the Bible?
- Does it matter what the Bible says about this issue?
- How does this story end?
Further Reference
Short video of Israel/Palestine history
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m19F4IHTVGc
History Channel's version of Israel/Palestine history
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bno1m1zhIWs
What is Hamas and How Did They Form?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=REWfM4gVtow
Hamas Covenant
https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/hamas-covenant-full-text
0119 How Should Christians React To The Israel-Hamas Conflict? Further. Every. Day.
Title: Further Every Day: Christian Apologetics Show
Intro: Host: "Welcome to Further Every Day, the Christian Apologetics show where we navigate the complex issues of our time through the lens of faith. Today, we address a pressing question: Are you Anti-Semitic if you oppose the war in Israel or the US sending money to Israel? How should we as Christians interpret the Israel-Gaza War? Join us as we explore these questions and watch our world fall Further Every Day. "
Clips for the day:
CNN Video:
https://x.com/bdnews24/status/1713151562158072299?s=20
Israeli Propaganda with phone call with woman to husband who is bleeding out:
https://x.com/Israel/status/1713125608098562517?s=20
Body bags by the container truck load:
https://x.com/Israel/status/1713199363642495146?s=20
Leaflets dropped before bombing:
https://x.com/jitensharma_/status/1713204342290104612?s=20
Here are some clips of Hamas Supporters rioting across the world:
https://x.com/JimFergusonUK/status/1713154382169055597?s=20
https://x.com/GoldingBF/status/1713165248692195507?s=20
Now the Biden Admin is in hot water after having given as much as 80 Billion to Iran, to whom Gaza is effectively a proxy:
https://nypost.com/2023/10/09/suspended-iran-special-envoy-rob-malley-under-scrutiny-for-hamas-remarks-following-israel-terror-attack/
Chair of Theology: Understanding Anti-Semitism and the Israeli Conflict* What is the Historical Context of Israel and Hamas' conflict? When did all of this start? * Genesis 17:20 “As to Ishmael, I have heard thee; lo, I have blessed him, and made him fruitful, and multiplied him, very exceedingly; twelve princes doth he beget, and I have made him become a great nation…” * Now, while many of the folks in Hamas may be related to Ishmael, the main connection here is through the Mohammedan Religion of Peace, Islam. What does Islam prescribe for the Jews? * Why are we seeing these events in relation to Revelation?
Chair of Philosophy: Difference In World View* How do the cultures differ? How does this make it difficult for Westerners to understand what the stakes and values are? * What should our aim be when we say we want peace? * How does this fit the Biblical Perspective of Israel's Chosen People Status?
Chair of Culture: How Has Our Culture Missed the Mark* React to the Hamas Paraglider Meme
https://nypost.com/2023/10/11/blm-chicago-admits-it-isnt-proud-of-deleted-post-of-hamas-paraglider/
- AOC lobbying for cease fire
https://x.com/petejonesintx/status/1712913540728692872?s=20
- Thermally Enhanced Video of AOC's Interview
https://x.com/EndWokeDisney/status/1712909187934834828?s=20
- How has our Culture become soft? How has multiple generations of peace distanced the West from the realities of war?
Chair of Politics: US Policy and Israel* How are we to react to the war in Israel? * What policies should we be demanding for Israel? * When you consider that we've been giving billions to other nations, like Iran, is it really a bad policy stance to stop giving money all together to the middle east? (Arguments either way)
Chair of Economics: Foreign Aid* Now that we've explored the amount of money being poured into Iran, isn't it funny how the Biden Admin fails to condemn Iran?
Contrast this with Hamas digging up their own water supply pipes laid by foreign aid, OUR AID:
https://x.com/Khushitiwari0/status/1713190867161485651?s=20
- What should the Christian advocate for politically when it comes to graft and humanitarian aid being diverted?
- When Gaza is suffering from water shortages, they complain about not having enough water when they themselves show in their propaganda that they used their water pipes for rockets?
- How should we view this in light of the fact that these pipes were laid with foreign aid?
Closing: Final Thoughts
Final Question: If you could say one sentence to the Jewish People, and one sentence to those in Gaza, what would those two sentences be?
Israeli Propaganda with phone call with woman to husband who is bleeding out:
https://x.com/Israel/status/1713125608098562517?s=20
Body bags by the container truck load:
https://x.com/Israel/status/1713199363642495146?s=20
Leaflets dropped before bombing:
https://x.com/jitensharma_/status/1713204342290104612?s=20
Contrast this with Hamas digging up their own water supply pipes laid by foreign aid, OUR AID:
https://x.com/Khushitiwari0/status/1713190867161485651?s=20
Here are some clips of Hamas Supporters rioting across the world:
https://x.com/JimFergusonUK/status/1713154382169055597?s=20
https://x.com/GoldingBF/status/1713165248692195507?s=20
Now the Biden Admin is in hot water after having given as much as 80 Billion to Iran, to whom Gaza is effectively a proxy:
https://nypost.com/2023/10/09/suspended-iran-special-envoy-rob-malley-under-scrutiny-for-hamas-remarks-following-israel-terror-attack/
-
Introduction
-
What do social media prankster getting shot and Doja Cat's depression have in common? Does the pursuit of happiness lead to death and despair, or is there something else happening here?
-
Introduction of the Chairs and topics.
-
News Segment: Social Media Pranksters and Consequences
-
Here's a common story with an unusual ending: https://apnews.com/article/youtuber-shot-tanner-cook-mall-a215712ddbf06b96be62b0e3a6be2047
- What do you think drives such pranks?
Theology: What does the Bible say about the foolishness of Youth? Proverbs 22:15 contrast this with Psalm 71:17
Philosophy: What do we think about both parties' actions? What do you suspect motivates this prancing behavior?
Culture: Why has this become “normal” in our culture? What happens when we have good times and weak men?
Politics: What do we see the Culture suggestion as remedies for these events? How do these policy measures fail to deal with the root problems?
Economics: How has Social Media Culture incentivized this sort of behavior? What has it done to the value of those who partake in it? See npc streamers: https://youtu.be/P5cxYG7LyYI?feature=shared
-
The Dangers of Chasing Materialism and Satanism
-
Now, let's take the desire for fame and attention to the extreme, say to the level of Sam Smith and Doja Cat, both of whom have done Satanic Rituals for their music. 9:54- https://youtu.be/PD5O_ySsVzI?feature=shared
- Smith has recently said that Smith has the opposite of body dysmorphia, but one does have to wonder considering Sam's previous interviews: c
-
What seems to be driving these people to this point?
-
Christian Perspective on Vanity and Social Media
-
Theology: What lies are these people believing that have led them to sell themselves for less than their worth?
- Philosophy: if our value is in Christ, then how would Satan go about enticing us to exchange our inheritance for Satan's counterfeit?
- Culture: Once the culture has embraced this behavior, how does the culture affect the individual? See Behavioral Sink Theory
- Politics: When the Culture has become Godless, how does the government become a hinderance to Godliness?
-
Economics: After our value has been robbed from us, what do we continue to trade?
-
Closing Thoughts and Call to Action
-
Final thoughts
- One more thing: What is your favorite and least favorite social media trend?
UnitedFamilies.org: Parental Rights: Who controls the education of your child • https://www.unitedfamilies.org/educat... the-education-of-your-child/ • Loudoun County, VA • Very challenging school district for parents • State of Florida (Play the clip below) • A couple of state bills signed into law regarding education/parental rights • • Parental Rights Bill - Citizen's Test... https://x.com/nickineily/status/17019... https://votesmart.org/for-candidates/ https://ballotpedia.org/Main_Page https://www.vote411.org/
UnitedFamilies.org: Parental Rights: Who controls the education of
your child
• https://www.unitedfamilies.org/education/parental-rights-who-controls-
the-education-of-your-child/
• Loudoun County, VA
• Very challenging school district for parents
• State of Florida (Play the clip below)
• A couple of state bills signed into law regarding education/parental rights
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPiQlQVyIWE
https://dailycaller.com/2023/09/06/scientists-human-embryo-sperm-egg/
https://www.statnews.com/2016/03/07/uterine-transplant-transgender/
Miscarriages are counter-indicated with transplant anti-rejection drugs:
https://www.ccjm.org/content/84/10/750#:~:text=Mycophenolate%20mofetil%20and%20sirolimus%20are,congenital%20malformations%20and%20spontaneous%20abortion.
https://x.com/ultradane/status/1700916103646785981?s=46
This will also be a part of the podcast: https://youtube.com/shorts/_wRoAVxVLgs?feature=shared
It may seem out of pocket, but I assure you, we can tie it together with the whole theme.
https://www.uab.edu/news/health/item/13684-uab-s-first-uterus-transplant-recipient-delivers-healthy-baby
https://utswmed.org/medblog/uterine-transplant-motherhood/
https://academic.oup.com/humupd/article/29/5/521/7199741
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwjzz9ahpKaBAxWel2oFHZdADJAQFnoECA4QAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3D1wR6xI_TQAU&usg=AOvVaw2NlMMiG3qClFtLKfkLhqHJ&opi=89978449
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2019/06/12/best-way-help-dairy-farmers-is-get-them-out-dairy-farming/
https://youtu.be/os2XryLTc7c
https://x.com/iluminatibot/status/1694444206779961393?s=46
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crop_destruction
Social engineering during Covid has partially affected production:
https://youtu.be/elGtW7lcAmA?feature=shared
In Michigan 2016, a farmer was forced by the Government to spoil his cherries.
https://www.wkar.org/business/2016-08-18/trade-rules-force-mi-cherry-farmer-to-destroy-crop
Here we see the drive for ethanol and also the push to halt ethanol, where will the farmer be after the social engineering fails:
https://www.ers.usda.gov/amber-waves/2007/september/us-ethanol-expansion-driving-changes-throughout-the-agricultural-sector/
https://www.reuters.com/article/usa-biofuels-corn/how-ethanol-plant-shutdowns-deepen-pain-for-u-s-corn-farmers-idINL1N28L0V4
We have a seriously sick culture. We are immolating our children in the name of wokeness and supposed niceness, prosecuting those who implement Godly policies, and stopping church services selectively, yes masks are coming back.
Roughly 5% of young adults identify as trans:
https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2022/06/07/about-5-of-young-adults-in-the-u-s-say-their-gender-is-different-from-their-sex-assigned-at-birth/
However, we know that this “surgery” is commonly permanently injurious to children, yet we do it anyway:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kuwOx9YdHXY
On a winning note, Target lost $9 Billion in stock value from their support of the transgender agenda:
https://nypost.com/2023/05/25/target-loses-8b-in-week-since-boycott-calls-over-pride-collection/
We have a president who is being prosecuted for asking for a recount, one where they shredded the ballots and wiped the data before the recount could be vetted.
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2021/03/breaking-exclusive-ballots-arizonas-maricopa-county-found-shredded-dumpster-days-senate-audit-begin/
Now, it's clear that whether the election was stolen or not, the prosecution is ideological more so that on any “crime” related to asking for a recount. Trump, love him or hate him, largely carried the Conservative Christian's Policies over the goal line.
And now masks are back and Covid 19 is being brought to the forefront of public debate again:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYJ4PJ2DfVg
So how should a Christian, a little Christ, proceed through these topics? Are we to do so agnosticly with no mention of Christ or our Moral Creed, definition of faith?
Matthew 10:33 gives us our answer I believe:
“But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.”
So how should we proceed then? Let us look to Christ for our answer:
In Luke 13:1-9 Christ speaks about two contemporary events, things in the news so to speak. And then gives us our application:
Note, Infrastructure failure and Political Turmoil are brought on by a lack of Godliness. The destruction of the temple was only a few years after this conversation. Many who were present were likely slain in the fall of Jerusalem in 70 AD.
In Matthew 5:16, Christ says
“so let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works, and may glorify your Father who is in the heavens.”
In Mark 7:9-13, Christ commands that the religious put down their man made morality and reinstate Goldy Theology and a relationship with God.
In Deuteronomy 18:9 we see God commanding the Israelites not to inherit the culture of the detestable cultures around them. A shrewd historian will understand that these practices were infanticide, promiscuity, and homosexuality to name a few.
So how should we proceed? As vocal advocates for righteousness, knowing our subject material well and the Scriptures better.
Are we repeating History? https://twitter.com/stillgray/status/1690114060317331462?s=46
While the man claims that this was satire, this is still gross and really sums up the impression that some people have of those who are behind the mandate:
https://leadstories.com/hoax-alert/2023/07/fact-check-canadian-journalist-slapinski-did-not-promote-nazi-style-final-solution-for-unvaccinated-people.html
Motives matter, follow the money for part of it:
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2023/08/jail-fauci-recently-released-documents-reveal-dr-fauci/
Rumble Video
https://twitter.com/CollinRugg/status/1690729024736088064?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1690729024736088064%7Ctwgr%5E195250e059ad65a82f0d0f537420e8a20429fdb6%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thegatewaypundit.com%2F2023%2F08%2Fjail-fauci-recently-released-documents-reveal-dr-fauci%2F
Is this maleficence or incompetence?
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2023/08/pfizer-executive-cant-provide-definitive-answer-why-its/
NOW they'll acknowledge Ivermectin:
https://www.theepochtimes.com/us/fda-says-ivermectin-remains-unapproved-for-covid-19-treatment-5476396
mRNA reactions include Leprosy:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8610845/
What does this sound like to the Eschatologically astute Christian?
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2023/08/tyranny-cnn-brazil-host-suggests-mandatory-vaccination-bivalent/
How have protests been met before?
https://x.com/rebelnews_ca/status/1626641649144107027?s=46
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2022/01/gofundme-suspends-access-millions-dollars-raised-canadian-truckers-protesting-vaccine-mandnates/
https://dailyshepursues.com/common-new-age-beliefs-church/
https://www.healthline.com/health/healing-crystals-what-they-can-do-and-what-they-cant#meditation
https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2018/10/01/new-age-beliefs-common-among-both-religious-and-nonreligious-americans/
https://truthwatchers.com/are-new-age-techniques-infiltrating-your-church/
https://www.shaneco.com/theloupe/articles-and-news/ -perceptions-and-preferences/
US Complicit in Pipeline of Foster to Trafficking https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y06vLTRZNKM Foster Care and Human Trafficking https://cpjustice.org/church-and-state-working-together-to-disrupt-the-foster-care-to-human-trafficking-pipeline/ Children can bond with trafficker due to consistency: https://i.groupme.com/1170x2532.jpeg.ffee57e9c47e4354878562d1e3a24481 Not all fosters and not all workers, but too many arte like this story: https://www.keranews.org/criminal-justice/2022-09-29/executive-at-a-texas-foster-placement-agency-kept-job-despite-sex-abuse-allegation There is some attention on the issue, but not enough: https://www.kxan.com/investigations/report-more-children-abused-or-revictimized-after-entering-texas-foster-care/amp/ One of the solutions proposed is to lower the amount of children in the system: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VpDmRBX5IcM https://www.texastribune.org/2023/06/29/texas-foster-care-cps-ī/ Another failed program: https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2023/06/14/1181975688/foster-kids-in-casino-hotels-decline-in-foster-homes Are we headed here? https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2021/07/26/the-german-experiment-that-placed-foster-children-with-pedophiles https://nypost.com/2023/01/20/couple-pimped-their-adopted-sons-out-to-pedophile-ring-report/\ Adding racism to the context https://i.groupme.com/758x450.png.918531711d274e97a24770abfbe05fe0 Children waiting for adoption: https://datacenter.aecf.org/data/tables/6670-children-in-foster-care-waiting-for-adoption?loc=1&loct=2#detailed/2/2-53/false/2048,574,1729,37,871,870,573,869,36,868/any/13705 The Cost of Adoptiopn https://www.kvue.com/article/life/family/texas-adoption-costs-child-how-to-adopt/269-3142b958-a387-40e8-96e0-2bd1c870b4a8 Benefits of Pro-Life work: https://www.nbcnews.com/health/parenting/adoption-abortion-dobbs-decision-impact-rcna92104 Stats: https://church4everychild.org/2016/02/16/what-are-the-stats-on-adoption-trauma-and-disability/#:~:text=39%25%20of%20adopted%20children%20have,10%25%20in%20the%20general%20population https://www.fox5dc.com/news/woman-charged-with-abusing-her-six-adopted-children-police #respect #goodguyswinning #Guns #gunviolence #nra #brettcooper #mattwalsh #changemymind #stevencrowder #michaelknowles #benshapiro #fed #woke #podcast #christianity #furthereveryday #america #rights #listenable #abortion #deathofthewest #adoption
US Complicit in Pipeline of Foster to Trafficking https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y06vLTRZNKM Foster Care and Human Trafficking https://cpjustice.org/church-and-state-working-together-to-disrupt-the-foster-care-to-human-trafficking-pipeline/ Children can bond with trafficker due to consistency: https://i.groupme.com/1170x2532.jpeg.ffee57e9c47e4354878562d1e3a24481 Not all fosters and not all workers, but too many arte like this story: https://www.keranews.org/criminal-justice/2022-09-29/executive-at-a-texas-foster-placement-agency-kept-job-despite-sex-abuse-allegation There is some attention on the issue, but not enough: https://www.kxan.com/investigations/report-more-children-abused-or-revictimized-after-entering-texas-foster-care/amp/ One of the solutions proposed is to lower the amount of children in the system: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VpDmRBX5IcM https://www.texastribune.org/2023/06/29/texas-foster-care-cps-ī/ Another failed program: https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2023/06/14/1181975688/foster-kids-in-casino-hotels-decline-in-foster-homes Are we headed here? https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2021/07/26/the-german-experiment-that-placed-foster-children-with-pedophiles https://nypost.com/2023/01/20/couple-pimped-their-adopted-sons-out-to-pedophile-ring-report/\ Adding racism to the context https://i.groupme.com/758x450.png.918531711d274e97a24770abfbe05fe0 Children waiting for adoption: https://datacenter.aecf.org/data/tables/6670-children-in-foster-care-waiting-for-adoption?loc=1&loct=2#detailed/2/2-53/false/2048,574,1729,37,871,870,573,869,36,868/any/13705 The Cost of Adoptiopn https://www.kvue.com/article/life/family/texas-adoption-costs-child-how-to-adopt/269-3142b958-a387-40e8-96e0-2bd1c870b4a8 Benefits of Pro-Life work: https://www.nbcnews.com/health/parenting/adoption-abortion-dobbs-decision-impact-rcna92104 Stats: https://church4everychild.org/2016/02/16/what-are-the-stats-on-adoption-trauma-and-disability/#:~:text=39%25%20of%20adopted%20children%20have,10%25%20in%20the%20general%20population https://www.fox5dc.com/news/woman-charged-with-abusing-her-six-adopted-children-police #respect #goodguyswinning #Guns #gunviolence #nra #brettcooper #mattwalsh #changemymind #stevencrowder #michaelknowles #benshapiro #fed #woke #podcast #christianity #furthereveryday #america #rights #listenable #abortion #deathofthewest
https://www.foxnews.com/media/media-outlets-trash-human-trafficking-film-sound-freedom-qanon-adjacent-mock-films-july-4-success
Disney Canned Movie:
https://www.newsweek.com/disney-sound-freedom-shelved-jim-caviezel-1812179
Question: Why would Disney can this of all films?
Jim Cavizel Steve Johnson Clip
https://youtube.com/shorts/x8ZDsbqpCxk?feature=share4
SB14 Blocked:
https://www.kcra.com/article/california-assembly-public-safety-committee-blocks-bill-child-trafficking/44510634
Why would they be so against adding extra provisions for prosecution against this?
SB14 Reinstated:
https://youtu.be/qOUbsOuAKPE
US is the middleman:
https://youtu.be/Y06vLTRZNKM
It's almost like they care more about the programs than they do about the children…
Can you navigate a world where truth is relative? Can you understand that question if the truth about language is relative? Can you survive the depths of an ocean if your submarine and engineering crew are built around relative truth or without care for truth? Can you actually help someone with body dysmorphia if you fail to acknowledge their physical body? Does science work without a grounding in reality? What about morality?
Our world is seeing the results of a post-truth society:
Sub Implosion:
https://news.sky.com/story/titanic-director-said-he-knew-submersible-was-destroyed-four-days-before-debris-found-12908080
https://youtu.be/Z9poNjFTg0k
2:45-4:00
https://apple.news/AA1VfoiWiQQ-NXwOmmxMQ9w
San Francisco:
https://youtu.be/PQCGP2fYcSU
0:00-0:34
Health:
Now that we have divorced ourselves from reality, observational science and debate have been thrown out the window, as we see with the Hotez vs Rogan Debacle:
https://youtu.be/hbKmUSyy5Vw
2:38-3:00
So what does this mean for the Christian? It may well be that we have a better than ever opportunity to shine the Light of Truth when the rest of the world has gone mad in the darkness.
https://www.fox5dc.com/news/white-house-accused-of-us-flag-code-violation-over-pride-month-display https://tinyurl.com/mr2wwdn8 https://www.nbcboston.com/news/local/burlington-leaders-parents-decry-students-destruction-of-pride-decorations-at-middle-school/3066646/ https://www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-news/johns-hopkins-pulls-lesbian-definition-uproar-use-non-men-instead-wome-rcna89307 https://apnews.com/article/hamtramck-michigan-no-pride-flags-c380f8cdad592d69af9b2080ab4cc9cd https://www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-news/white-house-bans-trans-activist-topless-photo-pride-event-rcna89116 https://www.polygon.com/23755661/call-of-duty-nickmercs-skin-removed-anti-lgbtq-tweet https://youtu.be/euKC19haedY https://time.com/5613276/glaad-acceptance-index-lgbtq-survey/
Not many studies have been done on this, but this is what we know: So-Called Gender Affirming Care does not change suicidality outside of 10 years. In fact, it may cause significantly more harm than many have realized, according to a study done in Sweden, where Gender Confirmation Surgery has been available to minors for 30 years. If we are to believe the narrative that Gender Affirming Care is beneficial to those suffering from gender dysphoria, then we should see an incredible change in suicidality. Unfortunately, this is not the case. Instead we see between a 2-4X increase in mortality with significant increase after 10 years.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3043071/
To understand this, let's hear some testimony from people who have experienced the surgery and post surgery regret:
https://www.tiktok.com/@faithfully_flawed247/video/7213129086133210411?q=detranistion%20god&t=1686372135738
0:00-4:09
https://youtu.be/v_o2Q2EgeLY
0:00-4:09
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6O3MzPeomqs
1:57:30-
With these testimonies in mind, the question comes, why do we even allow this sort of predatory behavior from Big-Pharma and Lobbyists? If someone has desire to amputate their leg or arm, we do not just approve the procedure and chop off a limb. Then why do we allow doctors to do this to people's private parts? Is there not something predatory about a medical industrial complex that makes millions off of one patient over 30 years, with numerous complications when the treatment that costs so much clearly does so little after doing so much damage?
https://www.tiktok.com/@77truthtiktok77/video/7214599686294916395?q=detranistion%20god&t=1686372135738
0:00-1:24
Well, Sweden is putting the brakes on these procedures for minors now in this article:
https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20230208-sweden-puts-brakes-on-treatments-for-trans-minors
Part of the reason cited is the increase in Rapid Onset Gender Dysphoria among women. Sweden has had the opportunity to get this right since before 1972, when they allowed an individual to change their legal gender status as seen by the state.
So why is this still a commonly performed procedure? Money may have a connection to it, in fact Gender Affirming Care is practically a single conversation away from any person's grasp, whether they actually suffer from any dysphoria or are a producer on the Matt Walsh show:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e724mKrkn3g
2:11-3:39
Sounds like an easy $150. Also sounds like an easy 1-2 million for an organization like Kaizer Permanente. It's almost like making profit is the objective here and not informed patient consent and care:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e724mKrkn3g
4:07-7:10
So what is the end game, population control? Sexual Liberation? Perverse fantasies of people at WPATH? Perhaps it is something of all of the above. One thing that we know is that the Enemy of Our Souls is seeking to devour anyone in his path. We need to remember that these folks are hostages in a Spiritual War and need our love and support, within the confines of truth.
0102 How Transitioning Goes Wrong Further. Every. Day.
Again, to remind everyone, we are coming to this from the spirit of love. One does not love someone who is causing self harm if one says nothing when the harm is being committed.
So, why is the transition of teens becoming more common:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7906237/
See figures 1-3 from this clinic who is reporting more surgeries and more FTM surgeries.
So what would explain this? Well, there certainly seems to be a social contagion issue at play here. Dr. Lisa Littman found herself in a serious quandary when she performed a study at Brown University which resulted in findings that included a social contagion element, primarily among girls.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hq8ryFVy_LM
3:45-6:28
Now, there have been rebuttals to the Rapid Onset Gender Dysphoria hypothesis of Dr. Littman, but none of which deal with the substance of the matter and use poor if not misleading standards. Articles and Studies below:
https://www.city-journal.org/article/a-new-low
https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/150/3/e2022056567/188709/Sex-Assigned-at-Birth-Ratio-Among-Transgender-and?autologincheck=redirected
Now, what does WPATH, the leading organization on standards for transgender surgery say about this? Well, Dr. Marci Bowers, the transgender vaginoplasty surgeon who worked on Jazz Jennings had this to say:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kuwOx9YdHXY
So how has transitioning affected those who have transitioned? Well, let's look at the most publicized transition, Jazz Jennings and see how she is doing post surgery:
Courtesy of Candace Owens:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kuwOx9YdHXY
0:44-2:33
Now, Jazz Jennings has nearly 2 decades of life dedicated to this transition. Do you think that it would be easy to say that there was regret here? But let's look at how Jazz feels about life in general:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2lmlWy0yXg
0:44-1:49
Remember, this is the mom that told Jazz to shove a dilator, a phallus, into the vaginoplasty or momma would… sounds like assault to me.
Now, some brave souls have detransitioned despite the backlash that they have faced:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6O3MzPeomqs
0:00-1:17
So why, why is this so common? Why are we leaving all of the warning signs behind? Well there are two motivations, both as old time and as perverse as possible: Money and Power. Scott Newgent, a female to male transitioner, clearly articulates the issue of money and Lupron here in this press event:
https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1634682798903635970
5:01-8:31
But what of the power claim? Well, to look at that, we need to be introduced to some people at WPATH, World Professional Association for Transgender Health, and what they do. This org sets the standards for care that are followed religiously by medical facilities and governments for the Transgender Community. Recently, they've been pushing for a new addition to the LGBT acronym, E for Eunuch.
https://twitter.com/WomenReadWomen/status/1646564740242743298?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1646564740242743298%7Ctwgr%5E9ad1042dc28605962f8a5c0072237e8ee50358de%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.louderwithcrowder.com%2Fsurgeon-eunuch
Now, why is this relevant, well a number of people, including Thomas W Johnson, have been discovered by their own carelessness to be moderators on www.eunuch.org, a site with abuse child porn. Johnson and others in WPATH's pool of thought leaders have been discovered to be founding members of this smut site and are pushing for so-called scholarship that fits their destructive kinks, much like Kinsey, Money, and every other sicko under the sun.
https://grahamlinehan.substack.com/p/top-academic-behind-fetish-site-hosting
So what does this mean for the Christian? We should be quick with the truth, slow to anger, and consistent in love. Let's be equipped for the next time someone tells us that it is only kind to transition youth or that we are doing it for the right reasons. No, it is not kind, it is abuse and it is for money and or power/deviant gratification.
https://www.louderwithcrowder.com/surgeon-eunuch
0102 The Effect of Pride and Children Further. Every. Day.
First off, the whole conversation surrounding the LGBT community needs to be handled with the preface of love. This does not mean that we ignore the destructive behavior, but that we instead attempt to provide a path for healing and repentance.
With all of that said, pornography and sexual acts are NOT suitable for children and the main thrust of Pride Month is to put partially sanitized samples of both infront of children:
https://protectyoungeyes.com/5-ways-pornography-harms-children-teens/
Now, how is the LGBT Community putting this in front of children? You may ask. Well here are several excerpts from the books banned in Florida Schools:
In “Gender Queer: A Memoir”, we can see a young girl having intimate relations with a fake phallus.
In “Flamer” We see boys committing homosexual acts and assault on one another.
https://www.flgov.com/2023/03/08/governor-ron-desantis-debunks-book-ban-hoax/
https://idahofreedom.org/idaho-school-libraries-promote-radical-sexual-agendas-and-pornographic-material/
I would go on, but it only gets worse with full on pornographic scenes being depicted. Gone are the days of showing human anatomy, but instead, we are showing children porn in the name of “educating” them concerning LGBT issues.
And for what? To bind them to a destructive lifestyle filled with mental health issues? https://news.vumc.org/2022/02/24/study-finds-lgbq-people-report-higher-rates-of-adverse-childhood-experiences-than-straight-people-worse-mental-health-as-adults/
Notice the T was left out of that study. When we look at the Transgender community, the numbers are even more frightening: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34226247/
Now, how should the Christian react to this information? There is a ferver that arises in one's heart to see justice done. This is a good thing, a Godly thing. However, it is critical to note that everyone who holds this ideology is a captive to sin. There are times to be candid and seek justice, but there are also times to act in grace. Note how Christ spoke against the corruption of Judea's Sanhedrin, but he dined individually with them in an attempt to offer grace. Christ also treated individuals with grace, not apathy. His intent was always to offer a path to restoration. That too, should be our aim.
First off, what is AI and what is it capable of? Well, what we have right now is a mixture of machine learning and and incredible database, the internet. When people discuss AI today, they're often referring to ChatGPT, Stable Diffusion, or any other number of programs whose dataset comes from the internet. When referring to these things, it's hard to imagine AI being anything more than a threat to copyright, identity security, or whatever little integrity the news had before 2023.
An introduction to AI 0:00-1:44
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1qZbsytk08
AI and job loss: 0:00-1:23
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1WPFLWEVGAI
Story on Stable Diffusion Copyright: 0:00-1:16
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gv9cdTh8cUo
Story on kidnapping and ransom spoof: 0:00-1:35
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3DnDFqWIXY
Story on fake news via AI: 0:00-0:52
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_m4xRso_2Rg
What do the experts say? First, should you even trust the experts? There is an unprecedented nature to AI in that the doubling of knowledge appears to be increasing beyond what Moore's Law will allow, this means that knowledge is doubling faster, perhaps it will reach the prediction of Buckminster Fuller of doubling every 12 hours. Some tech experts are rattled including these folks, quotes courtesy of Glenn Beck:
https://www.glennbeck.com/contributor/how-dangerous-is-ai-these-13-quotes-from-ai-researchers-will-terrify-you
Now, what could all of this have to do with the Antichrist? Well, who will the Antichirst be? He will be the head of a world governmental system. He will die and rise again, apparently at least. He will be inhabited as the Son of Perdition, just as Judas was. He will not be some AI, but rather a man.
Now, what about the Mark of the Beast? Well, let us use a Biblical Rubrik to divine this:
Does any of this look like the Mark of the Beast? Not really, not yet at least. Be aware and be strong, but Christians should really be wary of playing the pin the tail on the Beast and his Mark all day long. If we were half as interested in Evangelism as we were in Eschatology, we might not be looking at the End Times as we seem to be.
Buckminster Knowlege Curve: https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwie68rIrfH-AhXbnGoFHUV2C04QFnoECCMQAw&url=https%3A%2F%2Flodestarsolutions.com%2Fkeeping-up-with-the-surge-of-information-and-human-knowledge%2F&usg=AOvVaw1sG7mv0YbrP5BS-zltSWs4
Moore's Law: https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwjlor_erfH-AhXOnGoFHYqTBFsQFnoECBoQAw&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.investopedia.com%2Fterms%2Fm%2Fmooreslaw.asp&usg=AOvVaw1StZ9uDmXw6auiQpEKnhIj
Did the UN explicitly say that they want to legalize adult sexual interaction with minors? No. But did they open the doors? Yes. Some will argue the point that the text in the March 8th declaration is speaking of like aged individuals only. The March 8th document does not make any distinction between ages of children vs adults, but it only points to consent as the key issue. The trouble with this is that there is no way for a child to consent and no minimum age is expressed and certainly no age gap.
Now, you may say that this is all overblown, “republicans pounce” nonsense. Well, look at how the UN has conducted itself in regards to sexual abuse from within its own ranks. This will shed a heinous light on the phraseology: "sexual conduct involving persons below the domestically prescribed minimum age of consent to sex may be consensual in fact, if not in law. In this context, the enforcement of criminal law should reflect the rights and capacity of persons under 18 years of age to make decisions of engaging in consensual sexual conduct."
Up to 60,000 cases of sexual assault were committed by UN workers within one decade. -https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/un-child-rape-sex-exploitation-united-nations-antonio-guterres-prosecutions-immunity-trial-a7956816.html
This all leads to the why? Why is this happening? A lack of accountability? A corruption of governmental agencies that attracts these types of criminals? A reduced penalty for such acts? A lack of God in the Culture? Indeed, all of the above are correct. But why are we leaning into it? Why are we seeing more of this in the United States as well?
In Minnesota HF1655 would remove the exception for pedophilic proclivities from the protected sexual orientation statuses for the state. For those who didn't catch it, that means the state will not prosecute pedophilia. Link here:
https://dailycaller.com/2023/04/26/minnesota-bill-could-make-pedophiles-a-protected-class/
Why is there an activist movement to legalize the abuse of children? We could theorize about a pedophilic cabal who wish to make their previous misdeeds legal. We could assume that these people have desires that they wish to explore, but haven't yet. We could think they are perhaps misguided idealists, detached from reality. Any of these examples might be true, pending the subject, but the truth is even more bizarre. We are fighting a Spiritual War that many of these people do not even know they are taking part in. This is an issue as old as Ashtoreth and Molech, the Cannanite demons of sexual deviancy and child abuse.
We as Christians need to stand firm. When someone calls you backward for believing in a moral right and wrong concerning children, remind them that it was the so-called backwards Judeo-Christian faith that pulled us out of the barbaric abuses of women and children seen in ancient times. The so-called Progressive wishes to bring us back. We free the slaves, empower women, and enrich the minds of children only to have the Regressive attempt to divide by race, enslave women to the bondage brought on by the sexual revolution, and dim the minds of children by calling grades racist. Remember who you are and from where God has brought you. Maybe then you can show others God's work in love and kindness.
The last couple of weeks have been interesting. Politicians have called for the silencing of media personalities, such as AOC and Mitch McConnel. Networks have fired primary journalists and commentators, CNN's Don Lemon and Tucker Carlson. And much talk concerning Free Speech has been bantered. So what exactly is Free Speech?
Introduction of Panel
Tucker's J6 coverage 3:16-5:04 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Opy7MLGAPBk
Tucker's Mulvaney Coverage 0:00-0:33 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qr8OPmPE-j4
AOC's Response Full: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Mt4LW1TtmPc
Dylan Mulvaney's Response Full https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzJcs1hmT_A
First off, it is important to note the shifting definition from the founding of the United States through the present day.
Webster's 1828 Definitions:
FREE'DOM, noun
-
A state of exemption from the power or control of another; liberty; exemption from slavery, servitude or confinement. freedom is personal, civil, political, and religious. [See Liberty.]
-
Particular privileges; franchise; immunity; as the freedom of a city.
-
Power of enjoying franchises.
-
Exemption from fate, necessity, or any constraint in consequence of predetermination or otherwise; as the freedom of the will.
-
Any exemption from constraint or control.
-
Ease or facility of doing any thing. He speaks or acts with freedom
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Frankness; boldness. He addressed his audience with freedom
-
License; improper familiarity; violation of the rules of decorum; with a plural. Beware of what are called innocent freedoms.
SPEECH, noun
-
The faculty of uttering articulate sounds or words, as in human beings; the faculty of expressing thoughts by words or articulate sounds. speech was given to man by his Creator for the noblest purposes.
-
Language; words as expressing ideas. The acts of God to human ears cannot without process of speech be told.
-
A particular language, as distinct form others. Psalms 19:2.
-
That which is spoken; words uttered in connection and expressing thoughts. You smile at my speech
-
Talk; mention; common saying. The duke did of me demand, what was the speech among the londoners concerning the French journey.
-
Formal discourse in public; oration; harangue. The member has made his first speech in the legislature.
-
Any declaration of thoughts. I, with leave of speech implor'd, repli'd.
2023 Merriam-Webster's definitions are as follows:
Free Speech: speech that is protected by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution
also : the right to such speech
an unconstitutional restraint on free speech —
Nat'l Law Jour.
What changed? The former meaning was as bestowed by the Creator, the second is as bestowed by the State. That is indeed interesting. As the world has become less Godly, Jefferson's Bill of Rights has become more and more restricted. We see this inclination towards more laws in our Second and Fourth Amendments in the form of Gun Control and TSA's unlawful searches of citizens without Probable Cause. We have also seen this in modern times, but it is worth noting that the debate of how freedoms should be restricted or not has always been present. Noah Webster, author of the 1828 Webster's dictionary didn't believe that the Bill of Rights was prudent as it would allow for crimes to be committed under the color of “Rights”. He and Jefferson debated this publicly and even wrote letters back and forth on the topic.
In Jefferson's Letter to Noah Webster in December of 1790, Jefferson stated:
“It had become an universal and almost uncontroverted position in the several states, that the purposes of society do not require a surrender of all our rights to our ordinary governors: that there are certain portions of right not necessary to enable them to carry on an effective government, and which experience has nevertheless proved they will be constantly incroaching on, if submitted to them. That there are also certain fences which experience has proved peculiarly efficacious against wrong, and rarely obstructive of right, which yet the governing powers have ever shewn a disposition to weaken and remove. Of the first kind for instance is freedom of religion: of the second, trial by jury, Habeas corpus laws, free presses.”
https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/01-18-02-0091
We can find the more modern sensibilities, in a perverse way, in Webster's reply:
“That both policy and right require that the delegation should at all times possess the whole power of the state for the purpose of preventing all possible wrong and obtaining all possible good—That every right claimed by a citizen of a free government is liable to vary with circumstances; except what rest wholly on the moral law; that therefore every right, created by political law, should be always subject to be modified by the power that created it, viz. the will of the state, which is always the will of the delegation.—That in short, the election and organization of the body which is to express the will of the state, is the only power which the people and a convention can exercise, and the only power which an ordinary legislature can not. ”https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/01-18-02-0106
Jefferson also wrote this to David Humpreys in a 1789 letter:
"There are rights which it is useless to surrender to the government and which governments have yet always been found to invade. These are the rights of thinking and publishing our thoughts by speaking or writing; the right of free commerce; the right of personal freedom. There are instruments for administering the government so peculiarly trustworthy that we should never leave the legislature at liberty to change them. The new Constitution has secured these in the executive and legislative department, but not in the judiciary. It should have established trials by the people themselves, that is to say, by jury. There are instruments so dangerous to the rights of the nation and which place them so totally at the mercy of their governors that those governors, whether legislative or executive, should be restrained from keeping such instruments on foot but in well-defined cases. Such an instrument is a standing army." --Thomas Jefferson to David Humphreys, 1789. ME 7:323
Remember that both of these men were arguing from the Judeo-Christian Framework and had both agreed upon morality. The debate was concerning the long term good of the nation. Webster saw the need to enforce morality via the government. Jefferson, however, feared the tyranny that they had just escaped returning in the form of a hard theocracy, and wished to institute a government governed by Godly men, in a sort of soft Theocracy. We can see that the worst fears of both men have been realized.
We can also see the playing out of this debate in the form of Supreme Court Decisions over the years. Not all speech is protected.
In Roth vs the United States, Roth was charged with indecency for his “A Quarterly for the Fancy-Free” publication, a porno magazine subscription. The case was decided against Roth in that the material was harmful if in the hands of children.
The dissenting opinion of Justice Earl Warren in the Roth vs United States case was interesting. His concern was “the broad language used here may eventually be applied to the arts and sciences and freedom of communication generally.” This was stated in spite of Justice Warren's assent that pornography was not constitutionally protected.
So what then, is Freedom of Speech limited? If so, how and why? Let us look at another case.
In Hess vs Indiana, Gregory Hess screamed in public that the protest would “take the bleeping streets later.” The Supreme Court overturned a call to violence charge in that there was no definite time laid out in Hess's call to violence.
So what is the defining line? What is protected speech? In a legal sense, the simplest and most true to an originalist interpretation of the Bill of Rights is likely the following: “You have full personal autonomy, until you commit an offense against another individual and are found guilty of a crime under common law.”
Now, as a Christian, we should understand this principle well. What our Founding Fathers in America created was a very similar legal system to the moral system that our Heavenly Father has instituted: You have the freedom to make moral decisions, but lack the freedom to decide the consequences for your sins. Actions, not thoughts, expressed or spoken are what warrant punishment. We need to hold that standard clearly for ourselves and for our nation so that we can be a witness and testimony to the world.
https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/01-18-02-0091
https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/01-18-02-0106
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39kc29lCQ94
https://languagemuseum.org/noah-webster-an-american-dictionary-for-an-american-english/
https://www.history.com/topics/us-presidents/thomas-jefferson
• Dollar stores squ... • 4 Chicago Walmart... • Chicago leaders r... • What went wrong? ... • Why Grocery Store... #fed #christianity #furthereveryday #podcast #freedom #woke #america #rights #fooddesert #wokeism #walmart
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2023/04/new-cdc-report-suicide-is-now-the-second-leading-cause-of-death-of-americans-under-35-jumps-4-in-a-year/ https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2023/04/trans-florida-teacher-keeps-job-despite-allegedly-threatening-to-shoot-students-guns-taken-away-by-law-enforcement/ https://www.youtube.com/shorts/3i2GhyKcx-s https://www.youtube.com/shorts/kfGLftiQZpk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABQDAj0TQ7o #podcast #fed #furthereveryday #christianity #woke #freedom #rights #tradwives #304 #traditionalmarriage #feminism #publicfreakout #stranger #maid
The most important point that the Culture has missed is that neither "Progress" nor "Tradition" actually hold any meaningful value. These are simply man made ideas and will always fail to fulfill the yearning of the human experience.
We see this here in the Trad Wife issue: Traditional Gender Roles are God ordained, but without God, the tropes surrounding Gender Roles simply harken back to a more morally backward society (see 1950s misogyny and Civil Rights violations). "Progressive" sensibilities, or lack thereof, are detached from all biology, logic, and morality. Without God, "Tradition" is nothing.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/3i2GhyKcx-s
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/kfGLftiQZpk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABQDAj0TQ7o
https://youtu.be/rK1snM-NTdU
Sources: https://crimeresearch.org/2016/02/yet-more-evidence-that-terrorists-pick-gun-free-zones-to-attack/
https://crimeresearch.org/2015/06/yet-more-evidence-that-these-killers-are-deterred-by-people-with-guns-charleston-south-carolina-church-shooter/
https://crimeresearch.org/2018/06/more-misleading-information-from-bloombergs-everytown-for-gun-safety-on-guns-analysis-of-recent-mass-shootings/
https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/did-colorado-shooter-single-out-cinemark-theater-because-it-banned-guns
https://www.cnn.com/2023/03/28/us/covenant-school-shooting-nashville-tennessee-tuesday/index.html
https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/R/R47060
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwj_w-GeqZT-AhU5jYkEHbBaBroQFnoECBYQAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fpmc%2Farticles%2FPMC5178031%2F&usg=AOvVaw2t9KUaqZ0cf9sgnJioYpi0
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4274821/
You may have seen the memes recently from those who claim that Easter is from Ishtar and that Easter is pagan, you may have wondered if there is anything there. Well, there is, and there isn't. Both sides have set up intellectual embattlements, and I've heard people on both sides make blatantly wrong or false assertions. With that said, I don't think either side is getting the point. The focus should always be on Christ.
Before we start, let us put on the correct spirit.
“Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.”
Colossians 2:8
“Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holy day, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.”
Colossians 2:16-17
“But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumbling block or an occasion to fall in his brother's way. I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean. But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died.”
Romans 14:10, 13-15
There are two views on this, here is the basis for the predominate Anti-Easter view:
Genesis 10:8-10 says:
And Cush begat Nimrod: he began to be a mighty one in the earth. He was a mighty hunter before the Lord: wherefore it is said, even as Nimrod the mighty hunter before the Lord. And the beginning of his kingdom was BABEL, and Erech, and Accad,and Calneh, in the land of Shinar.”
After the death of Cush, his father, Nimrod married his own mother and became a powerful King and a god-man to the people. Semiramis, his wife and mother, became the powerful Queen of ancient Babylon. Later to become the 'mother of god' and the 'Queen of heaven'.
Nimrod was eventually killed by an enemy, and his body was cut in pieces and sent to various parts of his kingdom. Semiramis told the people of Babylon that Nimrod had ascended to the sun and was now to be called "Baal", the sun god.
Semiramis claimed that she was immaculately conceived and she taught that the moon was a goddess that went through a 28-day cycle and ovulated when full. She further claimed that she came down from the moon in a giant moon egg that fell into the Euphrates River. This was to have happened at the time of the first full moon after the Spring Equinox.
Semiramis became known as "Ishtar" which is pronounced "Easter", and her moon egg became known as "Ishtar's" egg”(Easter Egg). Ishtar (Semiramis) soon became pregnant and claimed that it was the rays of the sun-god Baal that caused her to conceive. The son that she brought forth was named Tammuz.
Tammuz was noted to be especially fond of rabbits, and they became sacred in the ancient religion, because Tammuz was believed to be the son of the sun-god, Baal. Tammuz, like his supposed father, became a hunter. The day came when Tammuz was killed by a wild pig.
Queen Ishtar told the people that Tammuz was now ascended to his father, Baal, and that the two of them would be with the worshippers in the sacred candle or lamp flame as Father, Son and Spirit. Ishtar, who was now worshiped as the "Mother of God” and “Queen of Heaven", continued to build her mystery religion.
After Tammuz was killed by a wild pig the “Queen of Heaven” proclaimed a Forty-Day period of sorrow each year prior to the anniversary of the death of Tammuz. Every year, on the First Sunday after the first full moon, after the spring equinox, a celebration was made. It was Ishtar's (Easter) Sunday and was celebrated with rabbits, eggs and ham.
The truth is that the FORTY DAYS OF LENT, eggs, rabbits, hot cross buns and the Easter ham have everything to do with the ancient pagan religion of Mystery Babylon.”
“When Nimrod eventually died, the Babylonian mystery religion in which he figured prominently continued on. His wife Queen Semiramis saw to that. Once he was dead, she deified him as the Sun-god. In various cultures he later became known as Baal, the Great Life Giver, the god of fire, Baalim, Bel, Molech, etc.
“Later, when this adulterous and idolatrous woman gave birth to an illegitimate son, she claimed that this son, Tammuz by name, was Nimrod reborn.”[4] Semiramis “claimed that her son was supernaturally conceived [no human father] and that he was the promised seed, the ‘savior'” – promised by God in Genesis 3:15. “However, not only was the child worshipped, but the woman, the MOTHER, was also worshipped as much (or more) than the son!”[5] Nimrod deified as the god of the sun and father of creation. Semiramis became the goddess of the moon, fertility, etc.” ( http://christiananswers.net/q-eden/edn-t020.html)”
We even see this worship in Old Testament Biblical times. There were appointed 40 days to weep for Tammuz, the Queen of Heaven's child. This was often preceded by wild drunken and gluttonous behavior, sound familiar?
“In verse 14 of Ezekiel 8, Ezekiel expresses his "dismay" at yet a greater abomination: "women . . . weeping for Tammuz." This is another pagan practice, a very sexual one involving ritual prostitution. Ezekiel saw them involved in a rite in which they were mourning the death of a Mesopotamian god whose myth said he was resurrected to new life, a mockery of the redeeming death and life-giving resurrection of the true Son of God. This vision reveals that paganism had deeply affected the women in Israelite society as well.” (https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/13229/Weeping-for-Tammuz.htm)
“Symbolism is very important aspect of pagan worship. If pagans have depictions of their moon goddess on a moon, history tell us and shows us about Semiramis and Tammuz (Nimrod) being worship as gods, and the bible clearly denounces the worship of the “Queen of Heaven”, why do your churches allow worship and prayer to their images and why do they addressed Mary as the queen of heaven knowing it was used for a false goddess? Like I said before, because your churches are still worshipping theses false gods. The worst part about it is that your priest, pastors and the pope know their worshipping them but the masses of people don't know the truth. Ask your leaders about these things and show them the proof, they will deny it. Your churches are under satan and your being deceived. Wake up to the truth because our Heavenly Father will not accept our ignorance because He knows we do not search for the truth and even those that will hear the truth won't believe. Share this truth with others and come back to the God of the bible.” (https://bibletrutheducation.wordpress.com/2012/09/17/jeremiah-4410-27-they-ar/)
And here is the Pro-Easter argument:
From History.com
“According to some sources, the Easter bunny first arrived in America in the 1700s with German immigrants who settled in Pennsylvania and transported their tradition of an egg-laying hare called “Osterhase” or “Oschter Haws.” Their children made nests in which this creature could lay its colored eggs. Eventually, the custom spread across the U.S. and the fabled rabbit's Easter morning deliveries expanded to include chocolate and other types of candy and gifts, while decorated baskets replaced nests. Additionally, children often left out carrots for the bunny in case he got hungry from all his hopping.”
So is Easter a Pagan Holiday? Maybe, maybe not but do the eggs and rabbits ultimately replace Christ as the focus of Resurrection Sunday? More often than not, little Easter goers actually walk away with very little of Christ and very much of the egg laying rabbit. Perhaps we should look more to the feasts that Christ fulfilled: Unleavened Bread, Passover, and First Fruits.
Christ came into Jerusalem on Unleavened Bread during the time the Passover Lamb was to be brought into the city on the same route. They shouted Hosanna and casted palms before Him. Christ was crucified as the ultimate Passover Lamb the day before Passover and his work was done. On Sunday, First Fruits, Christ rose as the First Fruits of the Resurrection. All in fulfillment of prophecy.
May I encourage you this year to think more about Christ and His glorious fulfillment of our salvation than you do Rabbits and Eggs.
We often fail to realize the power of God, let alone fully appreciate it. Please join us as we discuss the deconstruction and deconversion experience.
https://youtu.be/UxLv-vBRFp8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSxUDT8ZnQA #america #conservative #google #woke #fed #furthereveryday #christianity #podcast #podcasts #listenable #freedom #deconstruct #deconstructed #deconstruction #deconstructingchristianity #fed #deconstructingfaith
I suppose the simplest way to break down the issue with the modern debate over Christian Music comes down to 3 questions:
What Are You Glorifying?
What Are You Offering?
Why Are You Doing These Things?
What are you glorifying? What I mean by this question is several things: Are you glorifying God, Man, or Feelings? Is our focus during worship on our feelings and emotions or is it upon the Lord? Are we in the same state of mental release as we would be in a stadium while listening to our favorite band, or are we in a state of gratitude and exaltation towards our Abba Father?
In the same vein, are we focused on the person or people leading the worship as much or more so than the God whom we claim we are praising? When we clap our hands, are we exalting the work and being of our Heavenly Father or are we exalting the musicians?
Why do we hold our worship services the way we do? Are we facilitating worship or attempting to increase numbers for numbers' sake? Are we building a place of worship or a place of entertainment?
These are issues within the Church's walls, but these same questions can be asked of any of the songs and hymns that we sing within the Church's walls. Does this song focus upon God or the sinner? Does it glorify God, or an experience? Why are we bringing this song before God? Does it sound like an offering of penance, praise, worship, or glory? What I mean by that is: Does this song make an offering to God the Father that is focused on Him, or does it sound like we're talking about ourselves?
Many songs, whether old or new, don't pass the sincerity test. However, as many or more fail the theological sniff test. Whether we like it or not, some people walk away from a service with more from the worship service than they do from the sermon. Why then, would we allow poor or false doctrine into the service via a poorly or incorrectly constructed song?
Would you allow a false teacher to preach from the pulpit? Would you read his sermon? If not, then why would you sing the songs of someone beholden to such doctrine? People like Bethel, Hillsong, and Elevation hold to the Prosperity Gospel, why would we entertain their doctrine by singing their songs in front of our children and more importantly, our God? Again, why are we doing these things? If we're singing to offer praises to God, would we not want the best of doctrine in the songs that we sing as an offering of praise?
(At the same time, being concerned about false teachers, should we not be concerned about false prophets. Those that are weaving the "New Age" beliefs into Christianity, like Bethel, have mislead Christians into believing that supernatural powers just need to be harnessed. As with the direction of CCM, the worship of one's self is being preached and written about in books. CCM must be analyzed before being brought into one's church also a through background check done on all worship leaders concerning the music they have sang.)
The final issue that tends to stand out in the Contemporary Christian Music world is that there is an incredible amount of reverence and respect towards the people who author these songs. It's an attractive position to be a CCM singer or author. In the infamous interview with a reporter, Katy Perry mentioned that she had released a Gospel Album, but “That didn't work out, so I sold my soul to the Devil.” Now, all of the issues with that statement aside, there's an allure to the borrowed favor and fame that the CCM title gives people's work. People who may be fine Christians with room to grow are put on the spot and fail miserably, I'm looking at you Lauren Daigle. These too are a tragedy.
While there's nothing wrong with new songs by nature of their newness, not all old or new songs are created equal. We should carefully examine the words that we offer our Holy God as offerings of praise. Note, all of this needs to be done in light of grace.
Katy Perry Interview:
https://youtu.be/8ZGoixVlrKE
https://www.youtube.com/live/gvEji9_P6bw?feature=share https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=atamvkV0V_w
chat #chatgpt #america #conservative #google #openai #woke #fed #furthereveryday #christianity #podcast #podcasts #listenable #freedom #chatgpt3 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5X1O5...https://youtu.be/0uQqMxXoNVshttps://youtu.be/Nh5i5obZ8OY
What exactly are Baby Boxes and from where do they come?
What is the primary reason for infant abandonment?
Explore this with us!
Please find the Chat GPT Conversation below:
I asked Chat GPT about the topic and these were the results:
Johnathan Fiala
What exactly are Baby Boxes and from where do they come?
Baby boxes are a type of program or initiative that provides new parents with a box full of baby essentials and other items, often as a way to promote safe sleep practices and reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). The origin of baby boxes can be traced back to Finland, where they have been provided to new parents since the 1930s as part of a comprehensive maternal and child health program. The idea behind the baby box is to provide families with a safe and comfortable place for their baby to sleep, and to encourage parents to use the box for the first few months of their baby's life. Today, baby box programs can be found in many countries around the world, with various organizations and governments partnering to distribute them.
Johnathan Fiala
Not those baby. Boxes, the ones that they abandon babies in
I apologize for the confusion. You are likely referring to "baby hatches" or "safe haven" laws, which provide a place for parents to leave their newborn infants anonymously and safely, without fear of legal consequences. These laws were created in an effort to reduce instances of infant abandonment and to ensure that newborns receive proper care and protection. However, their use and effectiveness remain a subject of debate and controversy, with some arguing that they may not address the root causes of infant abandonment and may lead to exploitation of vulnerable women and children.
It's important to note that the practices of baby hatches and baby boxes are distinct, and that baby hatches are typically only found in certain countries with specific laws regarding safe haven policies.
Johnathan Fiala
Which countries?
Baby hatches or "safe haven" laws can be found in a number of countries, including:
Germany
Austria
Italy
the Czech Republic
Japan
South Korea
China
India
South Africa
Australia
Canada
It's important to note that the specific laws and regulations regarding baby hatches can vary significantly from country to country, and that they are not universally accepted or supported. In some countries, safe haven laws have faced opposition and controversy, with some arguing that they do not address the root causes of infant abandonment and may put vulnerable women and children at risk.
Johnathan Fiala
How would these laws put children at risk?
The use of baby hatches or "safe haven" laws can put children at risk in several ways:
Lack of medical attention: In some cases, newborns left in baby hatches may not receive prompt medical attention or care, which can put their health and lives at risk.
Child trafficking: There are concerns that baby hatches could be used by child traffickers to obtain and exploit children for illegal purposes.
Missed opportunities for reunification: Abandoning a child through a baby hatch may prevent the child from being reunited with their birth family in the future, or from receiving important medical or familial information.
Encouraging abandonment: Critics argue that baby hatches may encourage parents to abandon their children rather than seek help and support from family, friends, or authorities.
It's important to note that the specific risks associated with baby hatches can vary depending on the laws and regulations in place in a particular country, as well as the resources and support available to families in need.
Johnathan Fiala
How about dangers to the women?
The use of baby hatches or "safe haven" laws can also pose dangers to women, including:
Lack of support: Women who are struggling with difficult or dangerous pregnancies may feel pressure to abandon their babies in baby hatches, without receiving the support and resources they need to address their underlying issues.
Fear of legal consequences: Women may fear legal consequences for abandoning their babies, even if safe haven laws are in place, which can prevent them from seeking help and support.
Missed opportunities for safe surrender: Safe haven laws may prevent women from using legal alternatives for safely surrendering their babies to authorities, such as hospitals or police stations.
Stigma and shame: Abandoning a child through a baby hatch may carry a significant social stigma and contribute to feelings of guilt, shame, and trauma for the birth mother.
Missed opportunities for medical care: In some cases, women who abandon their babies in baby hatches may not receive prompt or adequate medical care for themselves, especially if they are dealing with complications related to pregnancy or childbirth.
It's important to consider these potential dangers and to ensure that women in need receive comprehensive support, care, and resources to help them address their underlying issues and provide for their children in a safe and healthy way.
Johnathan Fiala
What is the primary reason for infant abandonment?
Infant abandonment can have many complex and interrelated causes, and the reasons for abandonment can vary from case to case. Some common factors that may contribute to infant abandonment include:
Poverty: Financial difficulties or inability to provide for a child can lead to abandonment.
Lack of support: A lack of social or family support, or a lack of access to resources and services, can make it difficult for parents to care for their children.
Teenage pregnancy: Young mothers, especially those who are not emotionally or financially prepared to care for a child, may be more likely to abandon their infants.
Mental health issues: Mental health problems, such as depression or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), can make it difficult for parents to care for their children and lead to abandonment.
Unwanted pregnancy: In some cases, women may abandon their infants if they feel that they are not emotionally or financially prepared to care for a child, or if the pregnancy was the result of abuse or violence.
It's important to note that these are just some of the many factors that can contribute to infant abandonment, and that the reasons for abandonment can vary greatly from case to case. Addressing the root causes of infant abandonment and providing comprehensive support, resources, and care to families in need is critical to preventing abandonment and ensuring that all children have the best possible chance for a healthy and happy life.
Johnathan Fiala
What would be better than baby boxes?
There is no one solution that will address the issue of infant abandonment, but a comprehensive approach that addresses the root causes of abandonment and provides families with the support, resources, and care they need is likely to be more effective than relying solely on baby hatches or "safe haven" laws. Some potential alternative approaches include:
Increasing access to family planning and reproductive health services: Providing women with access to safe, affordable, and effective methods of birth control and reproductive health care can help reduce instances of unintended or unwanted pregnancy and prevent infant abandonment.
Providing support and resources to families in need: Offering families in need access to financial assistance, housing, child care, and other essential resources can help prevent infant abandonment and ensure that all children have the best possible chance for a healthy and happy life.
Improving access to mental health care: Providing parents with access to mental health care and support, especially for those struggling with depression, anxiety, or other mental health issues, can help prevent abandonment and ensure that children are raised in safe and healthy environments.
Increasing public education and awareness: Raising public awareness about the dangers of abandonment and the importance of supporting families in need can help prevent infant abandonment and reduce the stigma associated with this issue.
Developing a comprehensive and coordinated response: Working with government agencies, non-profits, and other organizations to develop a comprehensive and coordinated response to infant abandonment can help ensure that families receive the support and resources they need, and that all children are protected and provided for.
It's important to note that these are just some of the many approaches that can be taken to prevent infant abandonment and to ensure that families in need receive the support, care, and resources they need to raise healthy and happy children.
Questions for the Chairs:
Theology: How does the Bible command us to live and work in regards to orphans and those children who are abandoned? How should the Church as a whole react to this cultural phenomenon?
Philosophy: How should we go about dealing with child abandonment? Is it better to provide a place for these children to be safely deposited, or are the critics of the Baby Boxes correct?
Culture: What has failed in our culture to create such a large population of single women? How should the Church and her members go about changing the Culture?
Politics: What should the Christian do about “Safe Haven” Laws? How should we respond to the Baby Box phenomenon?
Economics: When the underlying issues are often financial, how should the Church respond to the epidemic of single motherhood?
First off, not everyone that is in the LGBT movement would endorse some of the activities that we are discussing today. We want to acknowledge that from the outset. However, every type of sin, whether it is marital infidelity, lying, stealing, or LGBT, is connected by a continuum of severity in the Christian Worldview. A white lie or two are the first steps on the road to a life pathological lies, one flirtatious conversation is an intro into a broken marriage, and changing the context of sex from between a man and a woman into anything else, is a road that the Christian will not follow. If you put a banner for that behavior, give it a name, and make it entirely “inclusive”, there is no way that a Christian could possibly endorse or stand under it.
This week, NHL player Ivan Provorov refused to wear pride paraphernalia on his person while playing for the Philadelphia Flyers. This led to an uproar from the Left to the point where the NHL, thankfully released this statement: "Players are free to decide which initiatives to support, and we continue to encourage their voices and perspectives on social and cultural issues." This was amid calls for millions of dollars in fines and demands for the Ivan's dismissal from the team.
https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/other-sports/american-sports/nhl-lggbtq-philadelphia-flyers-provorov-28993278
The Left could not conceive a reason why someone would not want to wear the banner of “inclusivity”. There will come a day that they will not be stopped by those with cooler heads, however and they will be successful in destroying good people, if we as a church fail to be the salt and light that repel this type of corruption and darkness.
There are reasons, however, for such protestations. Take the most recent case of Zachary and William Zulock who have been arrested for making videos of them assaulting their adopted boys sexually, in every way and metric, and having pimped these boys out to their LGBT group. THIS is why a Christian cannot blanketly endorse a flag that stands for this behavior.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r45dLIgWPRw
Let's look at another example of this. There is a growing trend of implanting uteruses in men from women who wish to go through gender surgery. This may soon result in men being able to donate their sexual organs for women. You may ask why this is an issue, but you must remember that we are now talking about 15, 12, and 7 year olds being encouraged to “transition”. This is no less predatory than the activities of the Zulock men and their LGBT friends. Doctors will now be incentivized to push people to transition for the prospect of selling their body parts to someone else that the doctors are incentivized to goad into a “reassignment implant”.
When you step outside of the precepts that God has set, there is no positive end. We cannot nor will not support an agenda that has caused so much harm. If someone says that Christianity has caused wars and inquisitions, the two are not the same. Atrocities committed in the name of Christ all have one thing in common, they always run contrary to the teaching of Christ. Whereas all of the atrocities above were committed in the name of self-actualization, a core tenant of faith for those in the LGBT movement.
Just remember the Church of Smyrna, the most persecuted and poor church of Revelation 1-3. All they had to do to resolve their situation was to burn some incense to Caesar and they could live free of persecution like anyone else. Will we have the strength when the time comes?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ejwxEH-DCHc
https://youtube.com/shorts/JhEu76pThT0?feature=share
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/26895269.2021.1915635
Questions for the Chairs
Theology:
What does the Bible say about aligning ourselves with people who do not live righteously or hate God?
2 Chronicles 19:2: And Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him, and said to king Jehoshaphat, Shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the Lord? therefore is wrath upon thee from before the Lord.
Deuteronomy 7:3-5: Neither shalt thou make marriages with them; thy daughter thou shalt not give unto his son, nor his daughter shalt thou take unto thy son. For they will turn away thy son from following me, that they may serve other gods: so will the anger of the LORD be kindled against you, and destroy thee suddenly.
Philosophy:
What does participation in a Pride event or wearing a pride token symbolize? How can we serve both God and the Culture?
Culture:
If we support something, even implicitly, what does that do to our influence upon the Culture? What are we called to do?
Politics:
Once speech is compulsory, how easy will it be to share the Gospel? What should our goal be as a Christian in the Political sphere?
Economics:
What should we be warning the World about in regards to adoption agencies and their income, and doctors and procedures that involve expensive organ transplants? What kind of economic incentives are in play? How do these calculations devalue the human that is made in the image of God?
During the Zenith of the Civil Rights Movement, Lyndon B Johnson became president and made a decided mark on American Politics, Economics, Race Relations, and Christianity, and none of it for the better. In his inaugural address, LBJ proclaimed: “This administration today, here and now, declares unconditional war on poverty in America.” Let's break down that War on Poverty, its implementation, and effects today and see how beneficial or rather detrimental these policies have been on Race, Religion, and Family in America.
Economics:
Let's look at the results of this War on Poverty from an Economic standpoint. The goal of the War on Poverty was to reduce the percentage of Americans who were living in poverty.
Did it work? Apparently not, but it may have done something more harmful…. According to the US Census Bureau's own statistics, poverty was on the decline before the so-called war on Poverty. Despite 22 trillion dollars (as of 2012) having been spent on this war, we still see roughly the same percentage of people below the poverty line. So what happened to the money being spent on the less fortunate? How is it remotely possible for so much money to be missing? Well, as with many such government programs, there are lies, darn lies, and then there are statistics. The way that these statistics are calculated always omits the amount spent on welfare. This may seem trivial, but with $9,000 spent on each recipient, on average, that is more than enough to raise many recipients above the poverty line, if it was reported as income. These people are no longer living in the mirey conditions that we connote with the War on Poverty. Roughly $1.00 out of $2.40 is actually reported by the US Department of Labor. In these families we see the following conditions as noted by Robert Rector Senior Research Fellow at the Heritage Foundation:
- “Eighty percent of poor households have air conditioning. By contrast, at the beginning of the War on Poverty, only about 12 percent of the entire U.S. population enjoyed air conditioning.
- Nearly three-quarters have a car or truck; 31 percent have two or more cars or trucks.[9]
- Nearly two-thirds have cable or satellite television.
- Two-thirds have at least one DVD player, and a quarter have two or more.
- Half have a personal computer; one in seven has two or more computers.
- More than half of poor families with children have a video game system such as an Xbox or PlayStation.
- Forty-three percent have Internet access.
- Forty percent have a wide-screen plasma or LCD TV.
- A quarter have a digital video recorder system such as a TIVO.
- Ninety-two percent of poor households have a microwave.”
So, why the bait and switch? One would imagine that government would desire to take credit for raising people out of poverty. But that is never how government works.
Politics:
From a political standpoint, let me ask you… would you be better off solving people's problems… or running on the same issues with a built in voter base, imprisoned by class and racial divisions?
LBJ said himself that: “These Negroes, they're getting pretty uppity these days and that's a problem for us since they've got something now they never had before, the political pull to back up their uppityness. Now we've got to do something about this, we've got to give them a little something, just enough to quiet them down, not enough to make a difference. For if we don't move at all, then their allies will line up against us and there'll be no way of stopping them, we'll lose the filibuster and there'll be no way of putting a brake on all sorts of wild legislation. It'll be Reconstruction all over again.”
Johnson was no friend of the Civil Rights movement, but rather a brilliant tactician. He is also quoted as saying: "I'll have them n-words voting Democratic for two hundred years." This is not the man of the Civil Rights movement, he was a Democrat politician whose party was losing power to the engine that was driving the Civil Rights movement, the Republican Party.
So how would Johnson change the face of the Democrat Party? These were the same people that had held slaves and had enforced Jim Crow, by dirty cop, gun confiscations, and lynch mobs…. This would be quite the magic trick. However, if there is one thing that can make people forget the past, it is prosperity, or the promise of it. During the Great Society Era, LBJ exchanged the ruthless Democrat policies that reoriented the Democratic Party as the rich uncle who would buy the favor of the population that it had spent centuries oppressing. All of this was at the expense of the taxpayer, but also of the supposed beneficiaries.
Culture:
If you look at what really happened during the War on Poverty, you'll see that, although the amount of people in poverty had been trending downward for 15 years, 3~5 years after the War on Poverty programs were implemented, that downward trend stopped. In fact, according to the Census Bureau's own numbers, the decline of poverty appears to effectively be arrested since the War on Poverty has started.
We know that the counting is dishonest, when you consider the fact that the average welfare recipient receives $9,000 a year from the government, but there is something else that is wrong here. We see a culture of dependence that has grown from the government's intervention.
Why this has occurred is perhaps the most interesting result of this miss-happed societal experiment. We see here that the anti-marriage policies of the War on Poverty have created a new societal trend, the unwed mother. Indeed, this should not come as a surprise when we not only recognize the 60s as the time of the Boomer Generation's rejection of Traditional Marriage, but we also see that many women were incentivized to have children for the welfare benefits, and enjoyed a no-fault divorce settlement to boot with child support.
According to Robert Recto at Heritage: “Today, unwed childbearing and the resulting growth of single-parent homes is the most important cause of official child poverty.[25] If poor women who give birth outside of marriage were married to the fathers of their children, two-thirds would immediately be lifted out of official poverty and into self-sufficiency.[26]
The welfare state has also reduced self-sufficiency by providing economic rewards to able-bodied adults who do not work or who work comparatively little. The low level of parental work is a major cause of official child poverty and the lack of self-sufficiency. Even in good economic times, the median poor family with children has only 1000 hours of parental work per year. This is the equivalent of one adult working 20 hours per week. If the amount of work performed in poor families with children was increased to the equivalent of one adult working full-time through the year, the poverty rate among these families would drop by two-thirds.[27]”
There are stories of agents and social workers coaxing people to not marry for the benefits of this new welfare state. This has generated not only a reliance upon the government for mothers, but a fatherless generation who now live as their parents do, single mothers and divorced or single men, with no intergenerational wealth.
THIS is the systemic discrimination of modern America. We have watched society crumble beneath the weight of this sick idea, that man is somehow basically good and needs the right environment. When you look at the world around you, it is clear to see that this simply isn't so.
Philosophy:
So what causes poverty? LBJ said in his inaugural speech that he would strike at the “heart of the causes of poverty”. What are these causes really and how would we go about remedying poverty?
On one hand the economist and philosopher Amartya Sen proposed that poverty should be re-understood in terms of capability deprivation. Here again, we see man attempting to make poverty about exterior circumstances, instead of a condition within man himself. Ignoring human nature, however, has far-reaching consequences. In this framework, poverty will be very hard to measure, and such a change disconnects the concept of poverty from more than a century of detailed empirical and theoretical research. Amartya Sen (1983), however, insists that poverty is not just relative, but also absolute. In short, in Sen's framework, the poor are poor because that is who they always have been and ever will be. If this were true, then a communistic structure would be the only compassionate way forward.
A libertarian approach to poverty would seek to rekindle that spirit, rather than expand a government that sucks the oxygen out of families, private charities, and the very poor that it purports to help.
But as Christian that poverty is a result of a broken world. And we as humans follow the path of less resistance, it is easier to work at McDonald's and then get fired to get unemployment, than it is to excel and work hard. It is easier to fly below the poverty line radar and cash government aid checks than it is to work 40 hours a week.
Theology:
First off, let's acknowledge God's heart for the poor. The Lord has commanded us to give to the poor in Proverbs 19:17 He says: “He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.” In Pro 28:27 we also have a blessing promised from God: “He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack: but he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse.”
In Deuteronomy, we see that God put laws in place to protect the poor, the Israelite people had just come out of profound slavery and poverty and God wanted them to remember from where they had come: In Deu 15:8-11 we see God say “But thou shalt open thine hand wide unto him, and shalt surely lend him sufficient for his need, in that which he wanteth. Beware that there be not a thought in thy wicked heart, saying, The seventh year, the year of release, is at hand; and thine eye be evil against thy poor brother, and thou givest him nought; and he cry unto the LORD against thee, and it be sin unto thee. Thou shalt surely give him, and thine heart shall not be grieved when thou givest unto him: because that for this thing the LORD thy God shall bless thee in all thy works, and in all that thou puttest thine hand unto. For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land.”
God never intended His people to be stingy. In fact, just as God has lavished His Grace upon us, we are to also lavish it upon our families, communities, and strangers. We see this in 1Jn 3:17 “But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?” A lack of generosity is seen here as a sign of one who does not know God.
However, not only do we see a call to be generous to others in the Scripture, but a call to industriousness. There is a balance. In 1Ti 5:8 we see this about folks who do not provide for their families: “But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.”
In the Proverbs, we see that a lack of work ethic, is a sinful state in God's eyes. Pro 10:4-5 says “He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich. He that gathereth in summer is a wise son: but he that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame.”
Similarly, we see in 2 Thessalonians 3:10: “For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.” It would seem that God prefers an individualized work ethic as well as an individualized charity. The government should not make you work or provide charity, but both are commanded by God.
In Pro 3:9 Our work is supposed to honor God: “Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine. “ This command to honor God with our wealth also comes with a promise of provision.
In Mal 3:10-11 we also see what Proverbs 3:9-10 looks like in practice: “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts.”
What we have is not our own. It all belongs to our Heavenly Father. When we replace Church giving with Government spending, we replace God with Government. One provides supernaturally and changes men's souls, the other leaves men without hope and purpose, creating the intergenerational poverty that we see in the West today.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/19Mm9ebFmf5RhZzgVabg8I5TKxDUivOOVROHQW40zMsI/edit?usp=sharinghttps://docs.google.com/document/d/19Mm9ebFmf5RhZzgVabg8I5TKxDUivOOVROHQW40zMsI/edit?usp=sharinghttps://docs.google.com/document/d/19Mm9ebFmf5RhZzgVabg8I5TKxDUivOOVROHQW40zMsI/edit?usp=sharinghttps://docs.google.com/document/d/19Mm9ebFmf5RhZzgVabg8I5TKxDUivOOVROHQW40zMsI/edit?usp=sharinghttps://docs.google.com/document/d/19Mm9ebFmf5RhZzgVabg8I5TKxDUivOOVROHQW40zMsI/edit?usp=sharing
https://www.heritage.org/poverty-and-inequality/report/the-war-poverty-after-50-years
https://www.npr.org/2022/09/17/1123508069/religion-christianity-muslim-atheist-agnostic-church-lds-pew
https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2022/09/13/modeling-the-future-of-religion-in-america/pf_2022-09-13_religious-projections_00-01/
https://aspe.hhs.gov/topics/poverty-economic-mobility/poverty-guidelines
http://blackyouthproject.com/50-years-later-an-look-at-the-war-on-poverty/
https://talkpoverty.org/2014/06/19/beezat/
https://socialwelfare.library.vcu.edu/eras/war-poverty-1964/
https://www.masslive.com/politics/2014/12/war_on_poverty.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poor_People%27s_Campaign
https://www.dailysignal.com/2014/11/18/war-poverty-hurt-american-marriage-rates/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8X0b7yeQFU
Video Resources
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYvZZdOI2YQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkN3Gzob_Vk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2n0e3_vD-xE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DxZVfwudvC8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6J6xO4gtCJM
Just as Conservatives warned the culture about the slippery slope of the LGBT agenda, the warnings concerning the normalization of Pedophila have been sung through Conservative halls for decades.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9619045/Paedophile-threat-tripled-year-child-pornography-use-soars-lockdown.html
According to D2l.org:
“• Child sexual abuse is likely the most prevalent health problem children face with the most serious array of
consequences. 2
• About one in 10 children will be sexually abused before their 18th birthday*. 1
• About one in seven girls and one in 25 boys will be sexually abused before they turn 18*. 1
• This year, there will be about 400,000* babies born in the U.S. that will become victims of child sexual abuse
unless we do something to stop it.”
Now, just as we saw in the late 2000s in academia, we see the rise of new terms, meant to soften the practice of pedophilia, Minor Attracted Persons, or MAPs. Unlike the LGBT issue, with exception for minor transitions, the harm is not self harm, but the deflowering of children by predators.
We need to make three points clear for those who wish to normalize the pedophilic urge:
- Pedophilia is NOT a sexual preference. It is a predation, by nature.
- Pedophilia is a learned trait, usually through trauma or exposure to erotica.
- Normalization of Pedophilia as anything other than a predation will silence abused children.
Now, to make these points.
Sexual preferences, heterosexual, homosexual, poly-amorous, etc are just that, preferences. These can be changed by decisions that are made over the course of a lifetime, for good or for ill. The New York times, in a pro-pedophile piece even admits this:
”'Science in recent years has begun to provide some answers. One thing most pedophiles have in common: They discover, usually as teenagers, that their sexual preferences have not matured like everyone else's. Most get stuck on the same-age boys or girls who first attracted them at the start of puberty, though some retain interest in far younger children.
“People don't choose what arouses them — they discover it,” said Dr. Fred Berlin, director of the Johns Hopkins Sex and Gender Clinic. “No one grows up wanting to be a pedophile.””
Now with any of these preferences, if one were to force someone into an intimate relationship without consent, it would rightly be considered assault. Children do not understand the nature of sexuality and therefore CANNOT consent. Any attempt by an adult to participate in these relationships is inherently predatory. Even more so than a slave trader conniving to sell a 6 year old into a lifetime of slavery with the offer of a trinket or morsel of candy, the pedophile is radically changing the life of a child who no more understands the gravitas of one situation over the other.
Point 2, Pedophilia is a learned trait and normalizing it will only lead to more people learning that trait. Now there is disagreement in the studies concerning the “abused become abusers” trope. There is widespread anecdotal evidence of this, but studies show that there are a number of reasons, including the following:
- “experiencing emotional and physical abuse or neglect as a child (Salter et al. 2003);
- being exposed to family violence (Salter et al. 2003); and
- early exposure to pornography (Simons 2007).”
Now, with the last one in mind, does it really make sense to “normalize” pedophilic behavior? If erotica stimulates and develops these feelings in a person, should we not see it necessary to slice this cancer out of our culture?
Argument 3: Consider a world where pedophilia is normalized, and such behaviors are considered normal. Do you not believe that a 6 year old girl who is taken by a predator wouldn't be even more afraid than she would be today to come forward with her allegations? If the Pedophile were to have the status that the LGBT individual enjoys, then such an allegation would be even more difficult to bring forward. As it stands, if an adult forces themselves on a child, there is no equivocation; the child cannot consent because they are still innocent and naive to the point where consent is impossible.
https://www.aic.gov.au/publications/tandi/tandi429
https://www.unitedfamilies.org/sexuality/pedophilia/pedophilia-on-the-rise/
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/29/us/pedophiles-online-sex-abuse.html
https://www.d2l.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/all_statistics_20150619.pdf
https://www.ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/news/2022/03/18/national-center-missing-gexploited-children-online-reports-increase
SO... over the holiday, we saw the racism of the education system in America rear its ugly head again… once again disguising itself as “Anti-Racism”.
Key Facts of the New York Post story:
- The school had implemented a 50% minimum grade for “showing up”
- For years the school has hid National Merit Awards, crippling at least 1200 student's academic careers, blocking potentially millions of dollars of scholarships to students
- This is all excused as an attempt to prevent hurt feelings in “minorities”.
How is this not seen as extraordinarily racist against the primarily middle and far eastern Merit recipients and even more racist against the black and brown students the administration is calling to stupid to stand on their own? The Left has traded in the open racism of saying that blacks cannot be taught to an obscured but equally or more so vile racism that claims that those other nationalities who excel must be barred from success. This has occurred in many ways and we have seen this across many stories. Not too long ago we had a professor claim that grade based learning was racist.
Dunbar High School is an interesting case study. Dunbar High School, in Washington DC, was wildly successful in the early to mid 1900s. A black only school, with less funding, and under persecution by Democrats, Dunbar thrived with black students faring as well or better than any white kids in the nation. Did they have a 50% base score for showing up? Did they focus on their African heritage? Did have counseling for the actual persecution that they were facing with under funding and lynchings? No to all of the above. Excellence was demanded, and discipline was employed. Unfortunately, instead of bringing the schools to this level during the 1950s and 60s, the forced integration of schools via busing also led to Dunbar's descent into a “typical ghetto school” as Thomas Sewell puts it. Noone looked to see why Dunbar succeeded and made one of the few examples of an excellent school for African American students into a modern day public school.
How did they accomplish this? By taking merit out of the equation. Set lower standards and people will never be forced to aim higher. What's worse is that students who do aim higher due to their culture and upbringing are kneecapped today by those who would enforce so-called equity. This has only had disastrous results and we now see Dunbar has no more academic excellence than any other public school.
What solutions are proposed? More spending? Lowering the standard? Resegregation? The Dunbar School was underfunded and discipline was incredibly strict so those are not solutions. Resegregation will do just as much damage as half-hearted integration did and leave us in an educational apartheid. What worked in Dunbar, and what produces excellence in children's academics, is not lower standards, more funding, and racism, but the opposite of each. A Godly education with high standards does not need funding and abolishes racism. Of course, this is exactly counter to what we see being proposed today in modern academia. We can only change the culture one heart and mind at a time, but a great place to do this is in the schools. We as Christians need to focus our efforts overhauling or disbanding the public education system. But we can only do this if we offer a replacement. Wouldn't it be an interesting disruption to the evil in our world if the Church offered a pay as you can school option that outperformed public education. Just a thought.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10183499/Arizona-State-University-prof-says-grading-racist-based-labor.html
https://nypost.com/2022/12/23/top-school-principal-hides-academic-awards-in-name-of-equity/amp/
https://www.nationalaffairs.com/storage/app/uploads/public/58e/1a4/ba6/58e1a4ba616e4230354245.pdf
https://www.nationalreview.com/2014/05/fate-dunbar-high-thomas-sowell/
Modern Gender Theory comes from the American Left/European Right of the Early-Mid 20th Century out of the Frankfurt School in Germany. Critical Theory, in general, has left our culture with nothing more than broken lives and harmful ideologies. Where Critical Theory has touched the space of Womanhood, nothing but harm has been produced.
It is interesting how Critical Theory has affected the two genders. Women are supposed to be more manly and men are supposed to be more womanly. While this has made both less happy, it seems to have a more obvious effect on women, in that women are now expected to entertain men in their spaces, think sports and bathrooms. While this is expected of men too, it is rarely an issue that affects men as adversely as it affects women.
However, this phenomenon does present an interesting insight into what the world considers feminine. It is expected that the woman both be physically feminine, but performatively masculine. What I mean by that is women are both expected to attain the beauty standard physically, but to behave like working men, and the worst kind of sexualized stereotype of a man.
The sweet humble spirit is considered internal misogyny, whereas brazen pride in one's womanhood, a superficial external characteristic, I would add, is glorified. Motherhood is shunned, and the unnatural lack of affection in abortion is championed. Chastity, just as it is in men, is shunned as square, and body count is a trophy to be touted.
But is this natural? If not, is it harmful? Are we made to behave in this manner? What has this done to our familial structure, the traditional domain of the woman? Let's look to the Bible for our answers, although reality will also verify our Biblical priors here.
First off, what does Genesis say about the creation of Woman?
Genesis 2:18-25
18 And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.
19 And out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof.
20 And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him.
21 And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof;
22 And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.
23 And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.
24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
25 And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.
Who is Woman in this context? Where does she come from? The Foot? The Head? No, the rib! She is meant to stand beside the man as a help meet. This is no different than an IT technician and a Sales Rep working in the same firm. Is the IT Tech lower because they serve a different purpose in fixing the Sales Rep's computer? Maybe a poor analogy, but hopefully it gets across the point. We later see the woman taking up the affairs of home making and the man of providing. This is seen throughout scripture, but we also see the roles are not necessarily concrete.
Judges 4:6-10
6 And she sent and called Barak the son of Abinoam out of Kedeshnaphtali, and said unto him, Hath not the LORD God of Israel commanded, saying, Go and draw toward mount Tabor, and take with thee ten thousand men of the children of Naphtali and of the children of Zebulun?
7 And I will draw unto thee to the river Kishon Sisera, the captain of Jabin's army, with his chariots and his multitude; and I will deliver him into thine hand.
8 And Barak said unto her, If thou wilt go with me, then I will go: but if thou wilt not go with me, then I will not go.
9 And she said, I will surely go with thee: notwithstanding the journey that thou takest shall not be for thine honour; for the LORD shall sell Sisera into the hand of a woman. And Deborah arose, and went with Barak to Kedesh.
10 And Barak called Zebulun and Naphtali to Kedesh; and he went up with ten thousand men at his feet: and Deborah went up with him.
Note, that women are completely capable of stepping into the leadership position when men fail to be men. This is a failure on the man's part here in Judges 4, and God blesses the leadership of the righteous judge Deborah. However, this is not within the normative design of God. Men need to be men so that women can be women, and visa versa. When we fail to live up to our calling, God will use someone else, even if it's not God's best.
In Proverbs 9 we see an example of a foolish woman, who may look familiar to a modern audience:
13 A foolish woman is clamorous: she is simple, and knoweth nothing.
14 For she sitteth at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city,
15 To call passengers who go right on their ways:
16 Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: and as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,
17 Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.
18 But he knoweth not that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell.
Contrast this with the Proverbs 31 woman:
0 Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.
11 The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.
12 She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.
13 She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.
14 She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar.
15 She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.
16 She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
17 She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.
18 She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.
19 She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.
20 She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
22 She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.
23 Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.
24 She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.
25 Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.
26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.
27 She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
28 Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.
29 Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.
30 Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.
31 Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.
One of these two destroys her family, the other completes the man in creating a family. Proverbs 31 is God's design for a woman. This woman in Proverbs 31 is not a doormat. She is a wife, mother, entrepreneur, fit, intelligent, honorable, and well respected pillar of her community. Does such a paragon exist in the Bible? Well quite a few, Ester, Ruth, Deborah, Joanna, and Priscilla to name a few.
Complementarianism is often conflated with Egalitarianism, the two are quite similar. However, the primary difference between them is this: the average woman cannot lift as much as the average man, and the man cannot have babies, nor does the average man have the empathy of the average woman. This is Complementarianism, whereas pure literal Egalitarianism could be interpreted to deny these obvious facts. These differences, and many others, are primarily, or in some cases exclusively, driven by biology. The design of the Master Craftsman. In talking about Gender, it is important to also remember that God made you uniquely and intentionally you.
Psalms 139:12-18 gives us insight into how God framed us.
12 Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.
13 For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb.
14 I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.
15 My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
16 Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.
17 How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!
18 If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.
Our gender, as much as anything else about us, is a gift from God to be enjoyed and used for His glory. Remember that.
Questions for the Chairs:
Theology: Why did God design Women differently than men? (Genesis 2) How does the Complimentarian framework model Christ's relationship to the church? (Ephesians 5 and Revelation 18:23, Revelation 19:7-9, Revelation 21:2-9, and Revelation 22:17) Compare this to the Worldly woman and the harlot in Proverbs 9 and Revelation 21:2-9.
Philosophy: If men and women are designed differently, then would they not be both suited for different tasks? Does this mean that they are not equal in value? What happens when one ignores Teleology (Purpose for being)?
Culture: What happens when our society loses sight of the above tenants? Do jealousy and envy of the benefits of the opposite gender's role damage the family? (See women leaving their role as mother and men abdicating their masculinity.)
Politics: Why would government want to dissolve the nuclear family? Would it not be to put all of us in the position of children of the State? Where does this inevitably lead?
Economics: How has the World succeeded in breaking down the family? Through welfare and the promise of economic prosperity with a two income household? What do these consumeristic tendancies reveal about our view of God and the Institute of Marriage? These things are the same just as a reflection in the mirror is the same as the original.
https://www.betterhelp.com/advice/mental-heath-of-men-and-boys/life-after-divorce-for-men-the-impact-on-mens-health/
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/09/30/suicides-are-spiking-among-young-men/
https://law.yale.edu/sites/default/files/documents/pdf/Intellectual_Life/Stevenson_ParadoxDecliningFemaleHappiness_Dec08.pdf
https://ifstudies.org/blog/counterintuitive-trends-in-the-link-between-premarital-sex-and-marital-stability
https://www.profgalloway.com/divor
https://sites.utexas.edu/contemporaryfamilies/2018/10/08/premaritalcohabitation/ce/
https://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/a-woman-needs-a-man-like-a-fish-needs-a-bicycle.html
https://jech.bmj.com/content/57/12/993
Today, let's look at the common arguments for a Pagan Origin of Christmas. Let's put them into 3 categories:
-
The 25th Date coincides with other pagan holidays like Saturnalia and Sol Invictus
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The gods who were born on the 25th make Christ look like a copycat in a long line of copycats.
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The Christmas Tree appears to be the Asherah Pole from Jeremiah 10:1-5.
So let's start with the date of the 25th. Where did the date come from?
Some sources attribute Theophilus of Antioch circa 171-183 AD as the first to use the 25th of December date as the date of Christ's birth, due to the notion that prophets are conceived on the day they die (Christ's death being attributed here as the 25th of March). Some even attribute Pope St. Telesphorus in circa 125-136 AD as having ascribed the December 25th date decades earlier. The dates of Saturnalia were the 17th-23rd , never on the 25th. A Pre-Christ Sol Invictus is only referenced in 1 manuscript, the Chronography of 354. This manuscript was written over 100 years after Hippolytus of Rome's Commentary on Daniel (circa 202~211 AD), which references the December 25th Birth of Christ. It is entirely possible that the observance of Sol Invictus's birthdate may have even been a mimicry of the December 25th date! There go those two points, showing a crippling lack of scholarship on the part of the proponents of a Pagan Origin of Christmas.
As for other gods who have held or picked up the 25th, some of these have resurrection stories and other vague similarities to Christ's story. I'll have to quote Lewis here on this general contention as Lewis said it better than I could: “And what did God do? …He sent the human race what I call good dreams: I mean those queer stories scattered all through the heathen religions about a god who dies and comes to life again and, by his death, has somehow given new life to men.” If one takes the proposition that man came from Noah, and Noah expected the redeemer of the Genesis 3 covenant, would not man expect such a redeemer? Also, would not the Devil himself love to abuse this desire for a Savior and propagate such false religions for the Devil's own gain? This view, even if you believe it to be wrong, is at least consistent.
On a side note, I do not believe, like many that Christ's birth was on the 25th of December. It was likely on the feast of First Fruits in April. This would better fit the prophetic timeline and The Christ Comet is a theory of the Star of Bethlehem that plots the activities of a specific comet to that time frame. This comet would have behaved in such a way as to lead the Magi to Jerusalem and then to Bethlehem, but this is neither here nor there for this discussion.
On the note of the Christmas Tree, the Asherah Pole of Pre-Christ Iran is often connoted with the Tradition of the Christmas Tree, which was started around the 1500s by the French and Germanic Christians, the better part of two millennia separated from Jeremiah's words in Jeremiah 10:1-5:
"1 Hear ye the word which the LORD speaketh unto you, O house of Israel: 2 Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them. 3 For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. 4 They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not. 5 They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good."
On that note, how would uncarved trees have anything to do with carved wooden idols? Just because heathens used trees in false worship, does not mean that trees are somehow pagan. If pagans doing something or celebrating in a certain way makes any association with the item or practice anathema, stop singing, stop praying, and while you're at it, stop breathing! This extreme is almost a strawman, but the point of this should be why are we doing what we do? Some traditions are valueless, granted. Some are even dangerous, agreed. But let's base our critiques, if we have them, on facts and not unsupported nonsense. (For example, find an actual ancient source on the use of Christmas Trees for Saturnalia. Few if any exist, and none that we are aware of.)
Santa Clause, on the other hand, is a different story. St. Nicholas (Born circa 280 AD) is the oldest reference of the Jolly Man who gave aid to the poor and powerless. Tales of St. Nicholas include him giving dowries to girls being sold into prostitution, thereby saving them from such a life, and giving gifts to the poor. Others are more fantastic. However, all of these stories should be celebrated, in the context of what the Love of God can do through one man. St. Nicholas wasn't magical, he was transformed through his relationship to Christ. Santa Claus, as we have him today, came from numerous accretions and other legends, some even pagan in origin (think Krampus).
All of that aside, however we got Santa Claus is not necessarily important. What is concerning is that some have taken the caricature of St. Nicholas and turned him into a god who rewards good works and the sacrament of milk and cookies. We tell children Santa and Jesus are both real and then wonder why they no longer believe in Christ only a few short years of their belief in Santa being shattered. Where is our consistency? Have we been guilty of worshiping a false god that satisfies our own paganistic desires for self fulfillment in America? Has Consumerism consumed the message of Christmas?
So, is Christmas a pagan holiday root and branch? Not in the root, but maybe for some, the branch. We should ask ourselves: Is Christ still on the throne of Christmas, or have we erected our own god of self-actualization with a fat bearded man who gives gifts with little effort from us, a caricature of God the Father Himself? Do we spend nearly as much time worshiping the King of Heaven as we do ourselves, and even our children and families?
https://www.learnreligions.com/why-is-christmas-on-december-25-700439
https://www.patheos.com/blogs/davearmstrong/2017/12/december-25th-birth-jesus-interesting-considerations.html
https://talesoftimesforgotten.com/2019/12/08/just-how-pagan-is-christmas-really/
https://talesoftimesforgotten.com/2018/12/05/the-origins-of-the-christmas-tree/
https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/reviews/great-christ-comet-revealing-star-bethlehem/
After last week's commentary on Feminism and Neo-Masculinity, we thought we should cover Biblical Gender Roles. With men accounting for 80% of suicides, it's important to note that a significant portion of this comes from post divorce. (Men are 8 times as likely to commit suicide than their female counterparts.)
Much of this grief comes from the modern understanding of marriage. However, we should look deeper to understand the core of the issue. What is a man and what is a woman? And what do they have to do with each other?
What was God's original design for marriage? Did God command man to be indecent to women? Did God allow women authority in marriage? What is man's responsibility in marriage? What is the woman's responsibility?
The world would have you believe that authority and submission are bad terms. What does the Bible say about authority in marriage? Ephesians 5 is the most often quoted verse on the topic so let's dive into it.
Ephesians 5:22-23: “Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.”
These verses are often quoted out of context. These verses are in a chapter within a book written to a church. The context matters. The idea that submission is somehow a negative word is negated by the same spirit being exemplified in Philippians 2:6-8:
“[6] Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: [7] But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: [8] And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”
How could Christ submit himself to God if submission is a negative thing. Perhaps submission has more to do with authority than it does with causing harm. If Christ was submitting to God the Father, but both are Co-Equal, then perhaps submission has more to do with assuming a role than it does with oppression.
Ephesians 5:24 continues: “Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.”
Does this sound like oppression?
“So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: for we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.”
If women submit, men are expected to be this kind of man.
“For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. Nevertheless, let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.”
This is why marriage itself is so critical.
Theologically: A man is a supposed to protect the woman who was made to complete the marriage.
Philosophically: Both genders have distinct differences and when we lose sight of what gives us purpose (God's leading in our life), sexual deviancy, infertility, and suicide become common place.
Culturally: Couples are the bedrock of our society, without a strong family unit, what happens to the culture? It breaks down and decays.
Politically: Why would the government have an interest in preserving the God Ordained Gender Roles? Why would a government have an interest in destroying such roles?
Economics: How does the traditional view of marriage, masculinity, and femininity better preserve the family financially?
https://www.betterhelp.com/advice/mental-heath-of-men-and-boys/life-after-divorce-for-men-the-impact-on-mens-health/
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/09/30/suicides-are-spiking-among-young-men/
https://jech.bmj.com/content/57/12/993
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xRNrnh__SE
First off, it's important to note what brought the Red Pill movement and the so-called Mano-verse into existence: Feminism. Not Egalitarianism, but Feminism. And even that isn't fair, Feminism can only thrive when the Church is not a clear alternative. The World will always be the World, but Salt and Light are affirmative, transformative forces. Rot and darkness cannot have their way unless we fail to be what we should be as a Church.
The sentiment that a woman needs a man like a fish needs a bicycle, is not only incorrect, but harmful. Not only does it harm the women, who have become more unhappy since the Second Wave of Feminism in the 1970s, but it also harms men.(1) Some men have reacted to the ire of the Modern Feminist, not by persevering, but by becoming resentful. Note, I'm not saying that Red Pillers are necessarily angry women haters, but that does adequately describe some.
So what is the Red Pill movement and when did it really explode? Well, the term obviously comes from the scene in the Matrix where Neo is offered two pills by his soon to be mentor Morpheous, take the blue pill and continue to live in a rat race that gets you nowhere and be oblivious to reality, or take the red pill and become aware of reality and face it on a hero's journey. The analogy here is that dating and money are a Matrix-like construct that have secret rules that have been formed to imprison you, the unwitting man. Girls really want a man who treats them poorly and money is easy to come by if you have confidence, at least this is what it has become. There are three main groups that the term “Red Pill” may include: MRA (Men's Rights Activists), MGTOW (Men Going Their Own Way), and the Man-O-Verse (the embrace of so-called Toxic Masculinity).
MRAs are, perhaps, the most sympathetic of the Red Pilled groups. The main complaints of MRAs are that women tend to get the children in divorce 90/10 (this is disputed to be a 65/35 by some evidence and studies, but 90/10 is the claim), men tend to lose most in divorce court, and that 80% of divorces are initiated by women. All of these may be legitimate issues, but the MRA movement has developed an image as bitter and resentful. This was perhaps best changed by Cassie Jaye's documentary named Red Pilled. Cassie Jaye started her expose on the MRA movement from the standpoint of a frustrated feminist, purposed to destroy the “misogynist” and “resentful” MRA movement. Her interviews and research actually led to a change of view on her part. MRAs were mostly divorced men who had mostly accurate critiques of the modern institution of divorce and the collapse of marriage. However, Christ said something very meaningful about demon possession, and I believe that it applies here:
Luke 11:24-26: 24When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out. 25And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished. 26Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first.
If you do not replace bad ideology with good theology, the state of the culture is worse than the first state, as we will see.
Men Going Their Own Way, is a simple enough movement. Hypergamy, Lust for Money, and Shallowness define the modern woman in the eyes of the MGTOW. Therefore, these men have given up on personal interaction with women. The physical needs for female companionship are simply replaced with stoic celibacy, homosexuality, and/or pornography. This is bitterness as pure and clear as the angry raging blue hair feminist protesting in an pro-abortion rally. These men have completely rejected God's command to be fruitful and multiply. Thank God, the Hebrews didn't decide to go MGTOW or there wouldn't be a savior for this world. That would have delighted Satan, wouldn't it? However inconsequential these modern MGTOW men may be to prophecy, the Enemy of Our Souls still is after their joy and the potential that they could enjoy in the light of Godly living.
In Genesis 2:18 God said: “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.”
Forgiveness, however, is usually the main problem here. Does the MGTOW view of women actually stand the test of reality? Do most women really operate in this way, or just the ones who live in clubs and in college parties? The answer is not to abstain from marriage, but to rather find a Proverbs 31 woman, instead of a Proverbs 9 woman. In Proverbs 31, we see the woman that the modern feminist yearns to be, in Proverbs 9, however, we see an accurate description of what the modern feminist has become. Search out Godly women, and perhaps your views of women may change.
Finally, what is the Man-O-Verse? From the seeds sown by the MRA and MGTOW movements, have sprouted fertile marks for men like the infamous Andrew Tate. Andrew Tate is the most ubiquitous name on the internet now. He is loved/hated for his hot takes. The man has made millions off of young men, and some old men too, who have been taken captive by the Red Pill idea. Most of what the Red Pill movement has to offer is based in truth, that's what makes it so easy to twist into a money making scheme.
Most of what Tate says is true, but you have to evaluate actions as well as words. Tate speaks about hard work, being a manly man and bringing home the bacon so that his girl can enjoy a good life. None of these things are inherently bad, they even ring true. Unfortunately, the Church has developed a rather effeminate view of manhood in recent years and this has also painted Christ Himself in an effeminate light. Christ was meek. Meek, and yet also willing to whip the money changers out of the temple. Christ did not allow himself to be stoned by the angry mob either. Christ stood firm, yet fulfilled His purpose with duty and stoic competence. The Church would do well to not cede masculinity to the world as a thing of bygone eras. Otherwise, grifters can take on the trappings of masculinity and appear to have something to offer that the Church does not. Just a note, this doesn't mean act like Tate as far as the vulgar, base, and animalistic tendencies are concerned. Christ was kind to the many women in His life and was the reason the West began to see a shift in the treatment of the fairer sex. One can be strong, masculine, and protect those placed within their care without appearing either weak or brutish. Just a note..
Tate is an online guru who may or may not have committed domestic violence against his girlfriends over the year in multiple instances (one of the videos was later released in its entirety, and the two were both joking about her wanting to be hit harder, and not in a sarcastic way. It's hard to know what's real and what's not concerning the abuse allegations.) However, abuse or not, Tate has employed classic pimp tactics to traffic his girlfriends online and wrote an online course on how to duplicate his success pimping his paramores on web cameras.
This is not masculinity, this is purely selfish promotion. So what is the take away? The Church has the response to Feminism, and the MRA/MGTOW/Man-O-Verse delimas. The Biblical view of marriage and the differences between men and women need to be on display, more than ever before.
- https://law.yale.edu/sites/default/files/documents/pdf/Intellectual_Life/Stevenson_ParadoxDecliningFemaleHappiness_Dec08.pdf
https://ifstudies.org/blog/counterintuitive-trends-in-the-link-between-premarital-sex-and-marital-stability
https://www.profgalloway.com/divor
https://sites.utexas.edu/contemporaryfamilies/2018/10/08/premaritalcohabitation/ce/
https://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/a-woman-needs-a-man-like-a-fish-needs-a-bicycle.html
First off, no. Just no. Christ had a lot to say on the issue of sexual purity, but so did the Old and New Testament. LGBT activity is primarily the subject of discussion in Romans 1:24-32:
24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
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.
26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:
27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
However, let's look at some other passages:
Mark 7:21:
24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
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.
26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:
27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
1 Corinthians 6:9-11 says:
9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
1 Timothy 9-10
9 Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,
10 For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;
All of this to say: Fact Checked False, there is no evidence to show that Christ was LGBT, and every piece of evidence that Christ and the Bible, which is His Word, tells us sexual immorality is harmful and wrong.
And furthermore, it's not just morally wrong, but why oh why would you promote a lifestyle connected to 4X increase in mortality, exceptionally from suicide? Why does our culture insist on this? As per a Swedish study, one of the most liberal countries on the Earth concerning reassignment and all else LGBT, we have a study showing an incredible regret post 10-15 years of transition. We see the detransition movement being silenced by the LGBT lobby even today. People like rtulip on twitter state this well in pieces such as the thoughtful article written by rTulip and titled “Exploring the Retransition Narrative”:
“Like Cypher in the Matrix asking to be plugged back in, knowing what he knows could only be achieved by wiping his memory. Once you know, you really can't plug back in, and the narrative around those who retransition is centred on people who never really disengaged with the mindset, to begin with.
For males especially, there are still many reasons not to give up their trans identity and stay plugged in. Even those who do wake up, face realities that make returning to their trans identity far more appealing than coming out of it.
Meanwhile, trans activists will celebrate those who retransition to no end, as it validates their rhetoric that the true outcome for a trans person is to transition and the true outcome for a detransitioner is to retransition. It paints detransition as solely due to factors outside of the individual's control, ergo forfeiting any responsibility for their actions.
On the other hand, you have those who have been in the fray for much longer, who understand the dynamics at play, yet become easily frustrated when someone who has just left the cult displays behaviours and attitudes they've been critiquing from the comfort of their armchair and keyboard. But let me tell you this, there is no substitute for lived experience, there is a reason our voices get more traction than theirs, and it frustrates them to no end.
Detransitioners voices are powerful, and the pull of retransition doesn't come just from those on the trans side, but from those whose ideals rely on unchecked fallacies riddled with confirmation bias, that doesn't meet real-world testing.
Leaving an ideology that you've centred your life and body around is tremendously difficult, and there are many reasons for returning, like alcoholics, gamblers and addicts, the devil you know, is sometimes an easier choice.
Given the playing field, who can judge them?”
What does this mean for the LBGT Movement in terms of culture? We are encouraging a group of people who entotal, including the L,G, and B suffer from a 2.5X higher depression rate than those who are heterosexual, Transgenders make up a disproportionate number of the suicide rate in the LGBT Community. So who wants this? The Spirit of the Age, the same spirit that was worshiped in Astoreth.
As far as Politics are concerned, we cannot have a God ordained institution enforcing and codifying evil behavior. Every time we see nations embrace adultery, they then fall into homosexuality, pedophilia, beastiality, necrophilia, and then cannibalism. Nations in this state cannot survive.
Another point to remember is that this is just a job to those who lobby for it in nonprofits. While all causes have their nonprofits, it's important to note that some of these have become as much of a business as they have a cause. More interesting than nonprofits, however, is this transition surgery industry. This industry has appear from nowhere and has grown at a staggering rate. From 2021-2025, it is expected to grow 209 million dollars in value. This is a small market with few competitors, ie doctors who are performing the surgeries. These doctors, are know for ruthless lack of consideration for those the operate upon. TulipR has a horrifying story that we've covered before, but these happen every day. Rylan doesn't regret the top surgery that nearly killed Rylan, link to the video below, but Rylan does have an issue with the surgeon, Dr. Sidbhb Gallagher, who refused to re-evaluate Rylan's double mastectomy gone wrong. Rylan was just another butcher job for Gallagher. Just know what they really think of you when they are recommending transition surgeries in one appointment like Jay Langadinos. Langadinos realized her mistake after a double mastectomy and over a decade of HRT. The damage was already done to a teenage girl who was at her doctor's office to resolve her dysmorphia, not undergo a social that removed her breasts and uterus.
Perhaps the Church has a strong case that has not been made well. We have the answer to these folks' problems. We know what can fill the gaping hole in their souls. We know His Name. Perhaps we should be quicker to speak His Name than our condemnation. Do not forsake the Truth of the Law, sin is sin. However, we can sometimes forget how much we have been forgiven when faced with the sin of others. The Truth of Christ, unvarnished, is that we are all bound for an eternity of suffering, without a redemptive relationship with Christ. Be an agent of that redemption as often as possible.
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/gender-reassignment-surgery-market--55-growth-to-originate-from-north-america-301613274.html
https://www.opensecrets.org/federal-lobbying/industries/summary?cycle=2019&id=J7300
https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/national-lgbtq-task-force,521624852/
https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/family-equality-council,521438455/
https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/palm-center,273039386/
https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/lesbian-gay-bisexualtransgender-network,113192966/
https://nypost.com/2022/08/24/woman-sues-psychiatrist-for-approving-gender-transition/
So, what is more concerning… the fact that we are being asked if we are ready for a New World Order, or the fact that the fact checkers have fact checked the video published by the NWO who asked the question? Just chew on that for a moment.
While as Chirstians, we are not focused on this world, but the next, we should be concerned about what direction this world is headed. Evangelism and Discipleship are going to get harder in a one world order. If you're looking for a reference, see
Revelation 6:9-11 And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.
along with
Revelation 12:6 And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.
Revelation 20:4 says: And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
So what should we think about trans and para national groups of people like the World Government Summit and World Economic Forum? The last time mankind was unified against God, the language barrier was instituted by God so that there would be a chance for redemption. The WGS and WEF are both attempting to recreate the same unity among men, and at enmity with God. Let's build that case.
Who is Karl Schab? Some of you may already be familiar with him, but for those who aren't, this is the fellow who literally wrote the book on “The Great Reset”, where you will, and I quote: “Own nothing and be happy.” They want to give you not Democracy, but governance. What does that even look like? What about the recent betrayal of justice by the Biden Admin when they prevented the fiance of Jamal Khashoggi from even suing civilly the Prince of Saudi Arabia for murdering Khashoggi? These are the same people who want to govern us autocratically.
Cut: Governance
In Schwab's world, this will be dictated to you by a Government, and the Karl Schwabs, that literally owns everything and rents it to you. Corporations will have stock and interests dictated to them by the government and people like Karl Schab, while you will be left with nothing but the bare necessities to survive. Elizabeth Warren and others in the American body politic have been pushing for the Corporatist State that both owns controlling interest and reaps the benefits of formerly private companies. And some of these companies have even all but begged for this status, see Facebook and Mark Zuckerberg. This will then regulate what can be done and said in that industry.
Why do you think they wanted to pay off student loan debt? Who got that money? The investment groups and banks. You know, the ones who were bailed out by the government and who also froze assets of protestors of lockdowns in Canada in January 2022. Once banking is a government business, you will not even own your own money. That will be electronic. Not even bitcoin, they want a blockchain secured NON-encrypted money, at least non-encrypted for them in case you buy things that they don't approve of. China already has social credit scores. There you are graded by how well you spend your money. You will be prevented from traveling there if you went to the wrong church within the last 10 years, link below. Vaccine status, buying habits, religious beliefs may likely be disclosed as part of such a social credit system, every time you show your ID, in the near future.
Also note, these are the people who are gleefully elated that they could imprison pastors and congregants in the shadow of Covid, think . Do these folks sound enough like the folks from Revelation yet? Now, are we saying that Karl Schab is the Antichrist? No, the man is right out of a Bond movie, he's just perpetually separated from his silky white long hair cat. No, I suspect these people actually fail in their attempt and the Beast will arrive in time to pick up the pieces of the broken world. People will only be too happy to accept his policies, mores, and religion.
What does this mean for us as Christians today? Well, I don't think the Lord wants us to welcome this wickedness into the world. We are called to be Salt and Light afterall. We need to recognize the signs of the times yet also be in the fields as the harvest is great.
https://bitterwinter.org/attended-church-10-years-ago-no-travel/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7I3ibU2-CU4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0cGB8dCDf3c
https://theconversation.com/hundreds-of-chinese-citizens-told-me-what-they-thought-about-the-controversial-social-credit-system-127467
https://thehill.com/opinion/finance/565860-coming-soon-americas-own-social-credit-system
https://www.businessinsider.com/china-social-credit-affects-childs-university-enrolment-2018-7
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2021/11/news-digital-drivers-license-will-include-vaccine-status-may-eventually-include-credit-score-travel-records-social-credit-score-video/
https://fortune.com/2022/02/16/trudeau-freeze-freedom-convoy-bank-accounts-canada-covid-protest-emergency-powers/
So, first off, we need to start by addressing this as we should any disagreement concerning the Bible, from the Bible. However, there are some other aspects that we can look at today from each of the chairs.
Now, what exactly are “Black Hebrew Israelites” and how are they relevant to the conversation? Well, Congress.gov has this to say about the movement:
“Extremist Hebrew Israelites have a long, strange list of enemies. At the top of the list are white people, who they preach are descended from a race of red, hairy beings, known as Edomites, who were spawned by Esau, the twin
brother of Jacob (later known as Israel) in the Old Testament. Equally hated are "fraudulent" Jews, "the synagogue of Satan." They're closely followed in no particular order by Asians, promiscuous black women, abortionists, continental Africans (who, according to the extremist Israelites, sold the lost tribes of Israel, who were black, to European slave traders), and gay people, who according to extremist Israelites should all be put to death. (In December 2006, three gay men who were assaulted inside an Atlanta nightclub identified their attackers as Hebrew Israelites; no arrests were made).
Recruiting literature describing the extremist Israelite doctrine is just as harsh as the street preachers' angry rhetoric. "Does the Bible teach unity of races?
NO!" reads one of the Israelite Church's widely distributed flyers. "Will the different nations who believe in Jesus be saved from the Lord's wrath? NO! Was Jesus Chris a Caucasian man? NO! Does his color matter? YES!"
Well, the reason we're bringing it up today is because of Ye/Kanye West's remarks about Jews controlling the media. Where is Ye coming from? Well, he has professed belief in the Black Hebrew Israelite ideology, or at least tenants of it, for a while now and this appears to have spurred his remarks recently.
He's not the only R&B or Hip-Hop artist to have professed belief in the BHI ideology. We also see this commonly with other highly successful African American folks. Take the recent dust up with Kyrie Irving and the Nets. Irving promoted the Black Hebrew Israelite film Hebrews to Negroes, from Ronald Dalton's book by the same name.
So where do the BHI folks get the primary assumptions? Primarily out of Deuteronomy.
Deuteronomy 28:41 is a critical verse that is interpreted out of context, reinterpreting the verse through the context of the African Slave Trade. A basic principle in Biblical interpretation is that a verse cannot mean what it could not have meant to the people who were being addressed when the scripture was recorded.
Deuteronomy 28:64-65 is used to claim that the Black Hebrew Israelites are the true Hebrews as they were scattered from Africa as slaves.
So what is the problem with this? Well, this found fulfillment in the Babylonian captivity. This was not speaking about a set of events for a different bloodline thousands of years later, only hundreds.
Deuteronomy 28:68 is further used as a prophecy of the African Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade, after substituting Egypt for bondage.
One of the primary principles of Hermeneutics is that the text could not have meant what it could not have meant to the people to whom the original text was addressed.
They believe that the Jews are usurping their birthright as God's chosen people. Jews being the synagogue of Satan.
What is wrong with this? Who was Jesus? Descended from Abraham. From where did this line of Jesus come? Shem. From whom did the African line come? Ham.(Gen. 10:6; 1 Chron. 1:8-16)
They believe that white people are deceivers, especially Christians, and therefore cannot be saved.
(First off, Calvinist much?) Where does ethnocentrism land us? What does the Lord say about respecters of persons in James 2:9?
They believe Jesus is a created being, who we can emulate and fulfill the OT Law perfectly.
Where does this fall short? If Jesus is not God, then we do not have atonement, but also the Bible falls short (Luke 22:70, John 10:38, John 14:7-10, Revelation 19:16, etc)
So when coming to someone who believes in this, come with love, truth, and meekness. This is how Christ always came to those with open hearts. Only to the scholars and priests who were willingly disobedient did Christ treat with a harsh tone. We should be looking to win people, not debates, when discussing these things one on one.
https://jude3project.org/blog/engagingbhi
https://www.congress.gov/117/meeting/house/111227/documents/HHRG-117-JU08-20210224-SD009.pdf
073 Abortion, An Ancient Sacrement In The Spirit Of Molech -Further. Every. Day.
You may have heard of the song BDF (Baby. Daddy. Free.), you may not have. However, the song, if you can call it that, is indicative of where our culture is right now. The lyrics are incredible:
“F-R-E-E Baby daddy free
That means I ain't got a n***a baby coming out of me
So I'm A-B-O-R-T-I-N-G
On the way to the clinic, I forgot the Plan B
Let's GOOOO. B*tch I got murder on my mind
I'm BDF, baby daddy free. I ain't got a baby coming out of me so I'm A-B-O-R-T-ING.”
The lyrics continue with these gems:
“Look, I forgot the Plan B
Ain't no n***a cuffin' me
You can't put me on a shelf, b*tch, I'm outside with the team
All these b*tches havin' babies, but that ain't finna be me
Said he wanna settle down, n***a sellin' all these drеams
He got one kid, two kid, three kid, four
B*tch, he chеaper by the dozen if his ass have any mo'
And I'm only 25, still got a couple years to go
I don't need a babysitter 'cause this baby gotta go
It's a shortage on the milk, and them diapers be expensive…
I done took care of n***s, now it's time to care for me”
Abortion has become a sacrament for the left. Look at how Governor Cuomo lit up the World Trade Centers Pink when they legalized late term infanticide.
What about Michelle Williams and her speech proclaiming that she would never have earned her “Golden Globe” without Abortion? Celebrities cannot crawl over each other fast enough to proclaim the wonders of abortion. Michelle Wolf infamously said God Bless America and God Bless Abortion on her painfully unfunny Netflix comedy special. This is a long way from safe legal and rare.
We're now at the point where people actually get pregnant so that they can abort their child. In an article from The Liberal we can hear a couple talk about abortion as a fetish:
“I know this fetish. My girlfriend and me have the same fetish. My girlfriend enjoys her pregnancies and she enjoys the abortion. Her preferred date to abort is between 20 and 24 weeks of gestation. I enjoy making her pregnant. And I enjoy the time of her pregnancy. She has no menstrual period and she is sexually very active, In the last ten years in our relationship we have done seven abortions and my girlfriend is pregnant again with a little girl,”.
While this may turn your stomach, at least I hope it still does, this is a warning sign. Our culture is so devoid of Godly restraint, that this is permissible in a “civilized” society. But is this a new thing? The children of Israel were often warned by God to stop rendering their children to Molech.
Who was Molech and what did worship of Molech look like? From the Midrash, Tanchuma (Buber) addition to Va'etchanan, section 2, we can get some insight:
“How did the Molech work in the valley of Ben-Hinnom? It was built outside of Jerusalem. It was an idol with the face of a calf and open hands like someone who wants to take something from another. They would light this idol on fire until his hands were scorching. There were seven chambers before him and according to the quality of the sacrifice that is how close one could come to him. If one came with a bird, then chamber one; goat, chamber two; sheep, chamber three; calf, chamber four; cow, chamber five; and ox, chamber six.
He who brought his child, the priests would say that he is offering the greatest sacrifice. He would enter the innermost chamber and go kiss the Molech . . .
The priests would then take the child and place it near the Molech. They would then bang with drums to drown out the cries.”
From Bilblicalcyclopedia.com:
“Molech, "the king," was the lord and master of the Ammonites; their country was his possession (Jer 49:1), as Moab was the heritage of Chemosh; the princes of the land were the princes of Malcham (Jer 49:3; Am 1:15). His priests were men of rank (Jer 49:3), taking precedence of the princes. So the priest of Hercules at Tyre was second to the king (Justin, 18:4, § 5), and like Molech, the god himself, Baal Chamman, is Melkart, "the king of the city." The priests of Molech, like those of other idols, were called Chemarim (2Ki 23:5; Ho 10:5; Zep 1:4).
Most of the Jewish interpreters, Jarchi (on Le 17:16), Kimchi, and Maimonides (Mor. Neb. 3:38) among the number, say that in the worship of Molech the children were not burned, but made to pass between two burning pyres, as a purificatory rite. But the allusions to the actual slaughter are too plain to be mistaken, and Aben Ezra, in his note on Le 18:21, says that "to cause to pass through" is the same as "to burn." "They sacrificed their sons and their daughters unto devils, and shed innocent blood, the blood of their sons and of their daughters, whom they sacrificed unto the idols of Canaan" (Ps 106:37-38). In Jer 7:31, the reference to the worship of Molech by human sacrifice is still more distinct: "They have built the high places of Tophet... to burn their sons and their daughters in the fire," as "burnt-offerings unto Baal," the sun-god of Tyre, with whom, or in whose character, Molech was worshipped (Jer 19:5). Compare the statements in De 12:31; Eze 16:20-21; Eze 23:37; the last two of which may also be adduced to show that the victims were slaughtered before they were burned. But the most remarkable passage is that in 2Ch 28:3, in which the wickedness of Ahaz is described: "Moreover, he burned incense in the valley of the son of Hinnom, and burned (וִיִּבעֵר) his children in the fire, after the abominations of the nations whom Jehovah had driven out before the children of Israel." Now, in the parallel narrative of 2Ki 16:3, instead of וִיִּבעֵר, "and he burned," the reading is הֶעֵַביר, "he made to pass through," and Dr. Geiger suggests that the former may be the true reading, of which the latter is an easy modification, serving as a euphemistic expression to disguise the horrible nature of the sacrificial rites. But it is more natural to suppose that it is an exceptional instance, and that the true reading is וִיִּעֲבֵר than to assume that the other passages have been intentionally altered. We may infer from the expression, "after the abominations of the nations whom Jehovah had driven out before the children of Israel," that the character of the Molech-worship of the time of Ahaz was essentially the same. as that of the old Canaanites, although Movers maintains the contrary. “
These offerings were a perversion of the sacrificial system. One doesn't have to dig too deep to see the symbolism of Christ dying for our sins being perverted here. Once again, what is the enemy of our souls doing here? Satan's favorite pastime is destroying the image of the Godly family. Whether through perverting the relationship of husband and wife (Christ and the Church) or parent and child (God and his adoptive children the Church), Satan loves destroying our relationships as an attack on God's order.
https://www.biblicalcyclopedia.com/M/molech.html
https://theliberal.ie/new-fetish-trending-online-involves-couples-purposefully-getting-pregnant-so-they-can-abort-for-sexual-gratification/
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/oct/08/sex-selective-abortion-choice-right-life
Some may not believe that the LGBT Issue is not one of Spiritual Warfare, make no mistake, it is.
When engaging the culture, one must be careful to claim that these newfangled ideas are somehow new. As the teacher in the first chapter of Ecclesiastes said:
“ 9 The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.
10 Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us.”
Gender ideology as it stands before us today, is not new in essence. The idea that man can alter what God has fundamentally ordained, is an ancient lie that has taken many forms. In the case of Critical Gender Theory, we are simply seeing a revitalization of ancient barbarism in the guise of modernity.
To best understand this, who is Ashtoreth? Who is the Queen of Heaven from the Bible? Well, we can find references to her in Genesis 14:5, Jeremiah 7:18; 44:17-19 and 44:25, 1 Kings 11:5, as well as many other places. What did worshiping Ashtoreth entail?
Historians are at odds on this, but Herodutus claimed that: “...every Babylonian woman had to attend the temple of Ishtar/Inanna and agree to sex with any male that asked her. Once she performed this ritual, the male visitor gave her money to donate to the temple.”
Asherah also had the ability to, according to her priestess: “‘To destroy, to create, to tear out, to establish are yours, Inanna. / To turn a man into a woman and a woman into a man are yours, Inanna.'
According to an article from acadaemuseducation.co.uk: “
In fact, individuals living outside of the gender binary were heavily involved and associated with the cult of Inanna, and her cult members and priests were known for their androgyny and blurring or destroying the gender binary. The gender-blurring members of her cult have often been included in poems and dedications written for her, often with Inanna personally transforming the gender of her devotees. One such example is the pilipili, a group of cultic performers in Inanna's Sumerian festivals. The name pilipili is referenced within Passionate Inanna (80-90) in relation to an individual named pilipili who is transformed by Inanna. They are raised as a woman, the Sumerian for young woman (ki-sikil) being used to describe them, and Inanna blesses them, handing them a spear ‘as if she were a man' and renames them ‘pilipili'. From this point forward they are referred to as ‘the transformed pilipili'.
We cannot know for sure what the word ‘transformation' means in this context, and especially since Sumerian did not use gendered pronouns it is difficult to reconstruct the exact meaning, but one interpretation is that through the blessings of Inanna, the pilipili transitioned into a man. Even if Sumerian did not use gendered pronouns, the possible phallic connotations of the word ‘spear' add more weight to this theory.”
In a poem from an archeological find in Southern Turkey someone wrote: "... may the god Hadad dash him into pieces with the weapon which is in his hand; may Hebat-Ishtar shatter his spear; may Ishtar deliver him into the hands of those who pursue him; may Ishtar... impress feminine parts into his male parts."
This goddess also had her cultists perform “gender conversions” in other works. How is this different from today? These articles even reference these barbaric practices as “much like our own society today.” It is not a slippery slope argument for us to say that we are headed towards Neo-Paganism, we are in a defacto Neo-Pagan society.
How does this affect the church? Well, what have many denominations done with the LGBT idea? From Pew Research in 2015:
“Many of the largest U.S. religious institutions have remained firmly against allowing same-sex marriage, including the Roman Catholic Church, the Orthodox Jewish movement and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, as well as the Southern Baptist Convention and other evangelical Protestant denominations. The nation's largest historically black church, the National Baptist Convention, and its biggest Pentecostal denomination, the Assemblies of God, also prohibit their clergy from marrying same-sex couples.
At the same time, in the past two decades, several other religious groups also have moved to allow same-sex couples to marry within their traditions. This includes the Reform and Conservative Jewish movements, the Unitarian Universalist Association and the United Church of Christ.”
In the Episicpol and Methodist denominations, we see a growing acceptance of sin in the guise of kindness as well.
“...many United Methodists in the United States have a more accepting view toward homosexuality. In Pew Research Center's 2014 U.S. Religious Landscape Study, 60% of United Methodists said homosexuality should be accepted by society – a clear majority, and a substantial increase from 2007, when 51% said this. In addition, about half of U.S. Methodists (49%) said they favored legal same-sex marriage.” -Pew Research
What have we done in these churches? Is this actually loving? Why are we afraid to speak out against this self destructive behavior? These are questions that we should be asking ourselves as Christians. Are we apathetic to God's Law? If so, how can we be on fire for the Gospel?
So, in your day to day interactions with friends and family, some notes to carry with a loving winsome attitude:
- Gender Theory is nothing new and has been around since shortly after Noah got off of the Ark
- Sexual and Body Dysmorphia have alarming psychological consequences and are typically rooted in deeper trauma
- True fulfillment can only be found in the role that your Creator made for you. Accept nothing less.
https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2015/12/21/where-christian-churches-stand-on-gay-marriage/
https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2019/02/26/rift-over-gay-rights-comes-as-united-methodists-in-us-have-become-more-accepting-of-homosexuality/
https://www.academuseducation.co.uk/post/ancient-mesopotamian-transgender-and-non-binary-identities
"Sacred Marriage and Sacred Prostitution in Ancient Mesopotamia" History on the Net
© 2000-2022, Salem Media.
October 26, 2022 https://www.historyonthenet.com/sacred-marriage-and-sacred-prostitution-in-ancient-mesopotamia
When people ask you, why do you believe in an ancient God, or accuse you of being anachronistic for a religiously held belief, it is best to flip the question onto them. The short answer to this question is that if it is true, it is timeless, but you need not start with that as the question presupposes the authority questioner's worldview. Most who ask this question in this way are so-called “Progressives”. These folks are living a Neo-Paganistic lifestyle without even realizing it. As the author of Ecclesiastes wrote, there is nothing new under the sun.
What do we mean by that? Well, let's look at some of the old gods from the Old Testament and how pagans explained reality back then. Monotheism often would devolve into rationalism and then pantheistic paganism. I'll make the argument here that Jonathan Cahn got it right when he wrote the book “Return of the Gods”: modern secularists are turning into modern pagans after rejecting God. Let's look at some of the agendas of the modern progressive left.
To do this, we'll go review some of the material we've covered this last year.
Climate change:
The ancients used to put to death people like Elijah to honor Ba'al and his ilk for rain. How is modern adherence to climate hysteria any different?
Josh: “The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, or IPCC, makes no reference to billions of deaths, or any other claim of imminent crisis. In fact, the IPCC and other organizations data actually point in the opposite direction of total destruction:
Mr. Steve: Claims of mass displacement and migration: IPCC found “There is robust evidence of disasters displacing people worldwide, but limited evidence that climate change or sea level rise is the direct cause” and “The majority of resultant Population movements tend to occur within the borders of affected countries.”
JA: Claims of climate change causing wars/conflicts: Researchers published in Nature magazine found that “climate has affected organized armed conflict within countries. However, other drivers, such as low socioeconomic status development and low capabilities of the state, are judged to be substantially more influential.” https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31189956/
Josh: Claims of billions of lives lost: Actually, the number of deaths from natural disasters have declined by 99.7% - “In 1931, 3.7 million people died from natural disasters. in 2018, just 11,000. And that decline occurred over a period when the global population quadrupled.” https://ourworldindata.org/natural-disasters
Mr. Steve: Even if you broaden the scope beyond just disasters and look at all climate related deaths, the number remains astoundingly positive. When “adjusted for population, we went from 255.3 deaths per million in 1920 to 1.9 per million in 2020, a 99.25 percent decrease.” In other words, “between 1920 and 2020, the world has become 13,260 percent safer from climate-related death” https://www.humanprogress.org/the-collapse-of-climate-related-deaths-2/”
-Jennifer Duffy
List of Climate claims that never came true:
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1967 Dire Famine Forecast By 1975
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1969: Everyone Will Disappear In a Cloud Of Blue Steam By 1989 (1969)
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1970: Ice Age By 2000
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1970: America Subject to Water Rationing By 1974 and Food Rationing By 1980
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1971: New Ice Age Coming By 2020 or 2030
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1972: New Ice Age By 2070
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1974: Space Satellites Show New Ice Age Coming Fast
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1974: Another Ice Age?
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1974: Ozone Depletion a ‘Great Peril to Life (data and graph)
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1976: Scientific Consensus Planet Cooling, Famines imminent
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1980: Acid Rain Kills Life In Lakes (additional link)
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1978: No End in Sight to 30-Year Cooling Trend (additional link)
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1988: Regional Droughts (that never happened) in 1990s
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1988: Temperatures in DC Will Hit Record Highs
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1988: Maldive Islands will Be Underwater by 2018 (they're not)
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1989: Rising Sea Levels will Obliterate Nations if Nothing Done by 2000
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1989: New York City's West Side Highway Underwater by 2019 (it's not)
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2000: Children Won't Know what Snow Is
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2002: Famine In 10 Years If We Don't Give Up Eating Fish, Meat, and Dairy
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2004: Britain will Be Siberia by 2024
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2008: Arctic will Be Ice Free by 2018
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2008: Climate Genius Al Gore Predicts Ice-Free Arctic by 2013
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2009: Climate Genius Prince Charles Says we Have 96 Months to Save World
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2009: UK Prime Minister Says 50 Days to ‘Save The Planet From Catastrophe'
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2009: Climate Genius Al Gore Moves 2013 Prediction of Ice-Free Arctic to 2014
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2013: Arctic Ice-Free by 2015 (additional link)
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2014: Only 500 Days Before ‘Climate Chaos'
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1968: Overpopulation Will Spread Worldwide
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1970: World Will Use Up All its Natural Resources
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1966: Oil Gone in Ten Years
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1972: Oil Depleted in 20 Years
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1977: Department of Energy Says Oil will Peak in 1990s
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1980: Peak Oil In 2000
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1996: Peak Oil in 2020
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2002: Peak Oil in 2010
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2006: Super Hurricanes!
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2005 : Manhattan Underwater by 2015
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1970: Urban Citizens Will Require Gas Masks by 1985
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1970: Nitrogen buildup Will Make All Land Unusable
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1970: Decaying Pollution Will Kill all the Fish
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1970s: Killer Bees!
None of these happened, yet the priests of the “rational” scientism are never to be discredited… lest you deny the god of science.
How about the issue of sexuality and gender?
JA: Some insight into the goddess Ishtar can be gleaned from “Gender and Aging in Mesopotamia: The Gilgamesh Epic and Other Ancient Literature” by Rivkah Harris (2000).
Ishtar, Harris explains, “is androgynous, marginal, ambiguous . . . She is betwixt and between . . . Central to the goddess as paradox is her well-attested psychological and physiological androgyny. Inanna-Ishtar is both female and male . . . [in one place stating] ‘Though I am a woman I am a noble young man'” (pp. 160, 163).
Mr. Steve She shattered all gender and socioeconomic distinctions—being both a royal queen and “the harlot of heaven . . . set out for the alehouse” (p. 166). And in all this she was the role model for her followers. Among her powers was this from a Sumerian poem: “To turn a man into a woman and a woman into a man are yours, Inanna” (p. 160).
Josh: In the Descent of Ishtar we are told of some participants in her cult: “The male prostitutes comb their hair before her . . . They decorate the napes of their necks with colored bands . . . They gird themselves with the sword belt . . . Their right side they adorn with women's clothing . . . Their left side they cover with men's clothing . . .” (p. 170). The revel and competition ended in a bloody spectacle of self-cutting (compare 1 Kings 18:28).
JA: Harris states: “Their transvestitism simulated the androgyny of Inanna-Ishtar. It was perhaps the inversion of the male/female binary opposition that thereby neutralized this opposition. By emulating their goddess who was both female and male, they shattered the boundary between the sexes” (pp. 170-171). This was seen as a way of rising above the prison of the flesh.
JA: “The story of David Reimer should provide some insight into the modern gender theory and the reality of sexuality. But before we get to David's story, we should deal with the man behind David Reimer's suffering and Modern Gender Theory: John Money. You can find his praise filled bio at the Kinsey Institute's Website: (https://kinseyinstitute.org/about/profiles/john-money.php). Those who know that name know that Aflfred Kinsey was a sex “researcher” who collablorated with the ilk of Nazi officer Dr. Fritz von Balluseck who would rape his victims and record data. Fritz and other pedophiles and rapists were not only documented by Kinsey, but encouraged to continue their research. With this information Kinsey published ghoulish charts that documented the “Speed of Pre-Adolecent Orgasm” with numerous data points down to 5 month olds in Kinsey's book Sexual Behaviour and the Human Male. John Money was not only a colleague of Kinsey, but also a defender of pedophilia as seen in his work. “If I were to see the case of a boy aged ten or eleven who's intensely erotically attracted toward a man in his twenties or thirties, if the relationship is totally mutual, and the bonding is genuinely totally mutual [...] then I would not call it pathological in any way.” Said John Money in a 1991 interview with the Journal of Paedophilia.
Reimer was one of the many victims of John Money and his idea that Gender was performative and constructed by societal expectations. David was one of two twins, born Bruce. Bruce as an infant was castrated by an experimental circumcision. His brother Brian remained whole. Mr. and Mrs. Reimer were directed to John Money for their injured son's treatment, unaware of Money's character or exploitative nature. Money recommended that Bruce be completely sex reassigned to female and treated as such. By two years old, the deed had been done and Bruce was renamed Brenda. Brenda loathed his life and all of the toys and affects of girlhood, longing to act as a boy. Also, John Money had recurring sessions with Brenda and Brian where Money forced the children to commit sex acts upon eachother, for Money's and his Colleage's benefit. In Brenda's teen years, he was on the verge of suicide when his parents finally broke down and told Brenda the truth of his biology. Brenda immediately opted to transition and become known as David. He went through reconstructive surgery, undergoing mastectomies and surgery to simulate what had been surgically removed as a child. Alas, all of the damage done to both Brian and David/Bruce was too much for them to handle and they both committed suicide within two years of each other. John Money's experiment, however, has had its impact as his theories had already become mainstream before they were proven so very wrong by the lives of these two innocent boys that he had destroyed.
https://slate.com/technology/2004/06/why-did-david-reimer-commit-suicide.html “
How is this any different than the ancient practices outlined by Harris? Note that these “modern” progressive views are little different than the ancient views of these gods.
Molech will have to be gotten to in the next episode, but euthanasia and abortion are representative of the practices of Molech.
Take heart though, through love and grace, behind the Truth, we can be the restraining influence on our culture. We only need to be equipped with the truth.
https://www.ucg.org/beyond-today/beyond-today-magazine/gender-blurring-in-pagan-worship
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Baal-ancient-deity
I was having a wonderful conversation with another brother in Christ recently about the spiritual warfare that is occurring on a day to day basis. When speaking to him, however, the boundary of Church and State, Secular vs Moral, became a point of contention. We have become so used to this divide that it is hard to imagine the Church restraining evil in our nation. Now, to this brother's credit, he brought up the infighting within the Church. One of the many examples was the issue of masks, and I agreed heartily with him. We both exchanged stories of Christians berating each other and elevating the issue of mask or no to the same level as Salvation. We do need to keep non-essential issues in an area of Grace. But the moral issues of our day need our attention and the Bible has an abundance of material on the subject of God's People intervening in the affairs of government.
Both in the Old and New Testament, we saw Abortion, Homosexuality, Adultery, Church Spending, Corruption, and every other issue addressed. These were all institutionally enshrined by the state run churches of the day, whether Israel, Judah, or Rome. The “High Places”, “Groves”, and “Male Prostitutes” of the Old Testament were enshrined by the Government run religious establishment. The fires of Molech are just as much abortive measures as a Planned Parenthood office. We are living in a Neo-Paganistic Culture, little different in effect to what Isaiah and Jeremiah lived through. God called His people to testify against these things. The rulers were required to do so as well. In America, We The People ARE the rulers. We have the incredibly unique position of living in a Representative Republic, where we send citizens to the capitols to make decisions on our behalf. These are not rulers, they are of the People.
Do you think that when we stand before God and we have to give an account, He will not ask us why we didn't attempt to stop the polluting of children's minds, or stop the murder of babies in and out of utero? God sure had a lot to say about Israel when they were worshiping Molech. The failure of Kings to remove the “High Places” was always a negative commentary. Do you think that our failure to stop Abortion or the polution of our children from the pornographic drivel in the public education system won't also bring about a negative commentary from God?
So how does that translate to “Election Integrity Is A Spiritual Battlefield”? What is the Enemy of Our Souls doing here? He wants to flood our world and nation with sin and remove the Light by quenching the body of believers. Look at what is happening in the Middle and Far East with the persecution of the saints. The Enemy of Our Souls wants to destroy us, or he can just render us ineffective, as he has in the West. Consider this: If the Church were to remain silent on the issues of abortion, child transitioning, and every other moral issue, how is the Church being Salt and Light? You may say that people will see your own life and believe from there. Maybe, but you sure don't seem to believe that these things are wrong if you don't vote accordingly. Also, if you don't care about how the elections and subsequent policies turn out, may I suggest that you are not necessarily showing a forward thinking interest in your ability to share the Gospel freely, in addition to failing to take down the modern “High Places”.
To make things worse, those who have merely testified to the anomalies of 2020 are being pursued and investigated. Paypal is now claiming that they will fine you for “spreading disinformation”. Banks have frozen people's accounts for even being at protests, like we saw in the trucker protest in Canada. If we do not stand up now, evil will have its way. These things may come, but in Christ's words: “woe to him whom through these things come.” I would argue that this also applies to sins of omission. Ezekiel 33:6 states:
“But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman's hand.”
All of that to say, if you do not like where this country is going, voting is not enough. Getting others to the Polls is not enough. Frankly being active in the poll work is also not enough but critical. Being a part of the poll work is not hard. If we can send soldiers around the globe for 20 years to secure our freedom, can some of us not take a day or two off work to volunteer in the election process? (Most of these are paying jobs now anyway.) We need people at the ballot box, and at central count in your county. Election systems only work when there everyone is present at the count. Truethevote.com is an excellent resource. Their involvement with D'souza's 2000 Mules has the so-called-fact-checkers scrambling to fight strawmen, I'm looking at you Reuters. Your local party office can also point you to the right resources to become a poll worker or poll watcher. When good people show up, evil cannot thrive.
But again, all of this is not enough. Showing up to the polls to vote and be part of election integrity, should only be a symptom of a soul on fire for Christ. Accept no substitute. As a Church, we must become alive and active. This is not a simple ask. Freedom is never free. We of all people should know this, considering our Saviour's sacrifice. Note that we are also called to sacrifice, even if it's one or two days of working the polls.
https://www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/research/immigrants-colorado
https://www.migrationpolicy.org/data/unauthorized-immigrant-population/state/IL
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/politics/colorado-voter-registration-notices-non-citizens-accident
https://www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/blogs/stateline/2021/07/01/noncitizens-are-slowly-gaining-voting-rights
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2022/10/paypals-new-policy-will-fine-users-2500-directly-accounts-spread-misinformation/
First off, what does the Bible say about serving two masters? Wait, you may say, this has nothing to do with serving two masters! But it does, you cannot serve a secular humanist ideal and God at the same time. Secularism at its core IS Humanism. Now, to what the Bible has to say on this matter, Matthew 6:24: “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”
Now, Secularism came out of the 1800s during the zenith of the enlightenment. For those who are fuzzy on what the enlightenment entailed, this name is given to the era that elevated the notion of Reason, either God's or Man's. The European Enlightenment focused on Man's Reason, while the United States focused primarily on the notion of God's Reason. In the 20th Century, the Christian Enlightenment sent men to the Moon, and missionaries and aid to the nations. The Secular Enlightenment sent Jews to the ovens and dissidents to the gulags. We also have the Secular Enlightenment to thank for “Critical Theory”, Utilitarianism (modern prisons), Marxism, Nazism, Facsism, Stalinism, and more.
Some Questions from each avenue of thought:
Theology: Was Jesus a Secularist? What does the Bible say about religion and politics? Well, first off, please note that the Sanhedrin was the political leadership of Christ's time. While Christ did not start a Maccabean revolt, Christ also was not silent on the issues of the day. He regularly sparred with the Sadducee faction that was the majority seat holder in the Sanhedrin. Paul also played politics when he pitted the two parties against each other in Acts 23:6.
“But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question.”
Christ spoke of overbearing taxes in Matthew 17:24-27
“24 And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute money came to Peter, and said, Doth not your master pay tribute?
25 He saith, Yes. And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers?
26 Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free.
27 Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee.
and in Matthew 22:20-22
20 And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription?
21 They say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's.
22 When they had heard these words, they marvelled, and left him, and went their way.”
In context, both of these have different meanings, but neither of them support the idea that Christ was some how a Secular Humanist who believed that the man made state was in a moral authority above God's. Rather instead these verse support the doctrinal principle that Christ was answering each situation in a way that furthered the Gospel.
Peter and the Apostles retorted to arrest by the Sanhedrin in Acts 5:29:
“We ought to obey God rather than men?”
This along with the Standard of Romans 13:1-7 set a rubric for the Christian to follow:
“13 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:
4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.
5 Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.
6 For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.
7 Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.”
From the Chair of Philosophy one must ask can the worship of Man's Wisdom coexist with a submission to God's Wisdom? 1 Corinthians 3:19 says:
“For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness. “
Remember why they want you to live a Secularist life: If you're silent about your beliefs, then they are free to espouse theirs. Secular Humanism is almost an oxymoron in this one point: It is a religious conviction. Now, Man may be God, effectively, in their religion, but this does not make this any less of a faith statement.
On the note Culture, what kind of Culture does a Secularist Christian create?
Pew Research shows us the aftermath of a society that is inhabited by Secular Christians: https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2019/10/17/in-u-s-decline-of-christianity-continues-at-rapid-pace/
The further we get away from an outwardly Christian lifestyle, the further our culture slides. Christ said that we were to be the Salt and Light. In Matthew 5:13 it says: “Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.”
From the Economic side of things, we should note that we only have so much time on this Earth. What are we valuing when we choose to live a life that is devoid of Christ in public. Some Christians fall into the trap of a false sincerity, this is not what I'm referring to. We need to be about the business of discipling. Are we not bought with a price? We must be prepared to die for Christ, let alone be discomforted.
We are bought with the blood of Christ, too precious of a price to waste our lives being secular. They aren't afraid to speak of their religion, why should we be? Simply maintain a Christ like tenor in a bold Daniel like lifestyle and the Holy Spirit can bring revival.
Can the Christian hold two ideas in their head: Borders are God Instituted and Sacred, and the Great Commission Tells Us To Go To The Nations? Before you get your knickers in a wad, which ever side you sit on, hear me out. God instituted borders in Exodus 34:24, borders are noted as a gift from God:
“For I will cast out the nations before thee, and enlarge thy borders: neither shall any man desire thy land, when thou shalt go up to appear before the LORD thy God thrice in the year. “
In Psalm 147:14 we hear that Borders are God ordained:
“Thou hast set all the borders of the earth: thou hast made summer and winter.”
In Isaiah 60:18, we see that Heaven has borders, perhaps endless, but also distinctly separate and protected from evil:
“Thou hast set all the borders of the earth: thou hast made summer and winter.”
Also, however, the Great Commission tells us to do what:
Mathew 28:19-20
19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Concerning strangers and aliens in our land, Exodus 22:21 tells us: "Do not mistreat an alien or oppress him, for you were aliens in Egypt.”
Leviticus 25:23 says: “When an alien lives with you in your land, do not mistreat him. The
stranger who lives as a foreigner with you shall be to you as the native-born among you, and you
shall love him as yourself; for you lived as foreigners in the land of Egypt. I am Yahweh your
God.”
Numbers 15:15-16, however, states:
“The community is to have the same rules for you and for the foreigner residing
among you; this is a lasting ordinance for the generations to come. You and the foreigner shall be
the same before the LORD: 16 The same laws and regulations will apply both to you and to the
foreigner residing among you.”
So let's note that there are laws that all are to be held accountable to, but we primarily have an obligation to the Great Commission.
Pew Research found that in 2012 approximately 83% of the illegal immigrants in the States self identified as Christian. That's 9,200,000 immigrants and that number is 10 years old. This year alone, there have been 2 million illegal immigrants arrested at the border. There are even more who have not been accounted for. What is the Church to do?
Well, first, we want to stop the infrastructure meltdown that is occurring when our own poor are not being cared for. This is a cultural and political debate. But for those who are here, are we really going to be able to deport them all logistically? Is that even the right call?
Why have the Leftists in our government opened our borders in this way? One of two reasons, cheap labor, or cheap votes. What if instead of answering them as a fool, why do we not answer them as their folly deserves? What I mean is the greatest triumph for the Church here would be to turn these massively conservative and Christian immigrants into Conservative and Christian voters. None of the people people in the aforementioned 83% demographic want Drag Queens, LGBT Porn, CRT, Abortion, and Atheism taught in schools. None of them want abortion at 9 months out of the womb. What Satan and his proxies meant for evil with this swell of immigrants, God can turn to good with prayer and elbow grease from His Church.
I'm not saying that this will be easy. God's work rarely is. However, ministering to their children, feeding them, walking with them in their trials, as individuals and as a Church, is what it will take to take those who are here illegally, and make them model Christian Citizens.
For some, this will not work. But who are we to know who will and won't turn and be saved, or turn to an active relationship with Christ? We will never know what God can do, unless we show up.
https://baptistnews.com/article/howcanchurcheslegallyministertoillegalimmigrants/#.YzL9AkzMJAu
https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2013/05/17/the-religious-affiliation-of-us-immigrants/
Many people will claim that there is never a “Good Guy With A Gun” to save the day in an Active Shooter Situation. While simply untrue, there is a point to be made here: 94% of Active Shooter Events take place in so-called “Gun Free Zones”. This means that law abiding citizens are rarely able to carry near the incident. We'll look at several cases today where the citizens had to go to their car to get their gun.
We took a dive into the 2000-2018 FBI stats on “Active Shooter” cases and we found at least 47 cases that were stopped in part or in whole by citizens, some with guns, and some without. Some of these are off-duty law enforcement, but these people certainly qualify as “Good Guys With Guns” and they were not there because of a 911 call. Again, most people will not carry a firearm in a gun free zone, but off-duty LEOs may feel more free to do so than most because of their ID, training, and position. Many were un-armed and were injured or certainly risked it all to wrestle the attacker down with their bare hands. Some didn't make it, but saved countless others. Let me ask you a question: Which is more evil: The gunman, or disarming the people who now provide the gunman easy targets?
We could philosophize on the merits of a good guy or we could just tell you there stories:
Story 1: In the early morning of April 23, 2001 before any children had been picked up for school in San Jose, California, CP went to the Bus Barn where she had worked for the better part of a decade, and began murdering her co-workers. She successfully killed a driver-trainer and wounded three other ladies, before Gregory Allan Lee, another driver, caught her attention and ultimately restrained CP until the police could arrive, saving an untold number of lives.
https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-apr-24-mn-54869-story.html
Story 2: Near lunch time on July 28th, 2003, a disgruntled employee, RB, of the Kanawha School Board attempted to set his supervisor ablaze with a bucket of gasoline 10 minutes into the school board's meeting. After his match failed to light, RB resorted to his rifle, but was restrained by onlookers before he could inflict fatal wounds. These onlookers had to restrain RB without the aid of a firearm as they were at a School Board Meeting. One lady suffered gunshot trauma to the gut.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/school-board-meeting-attacked/
Story 3: After a long and hard night of seething jealousy, a jilted man, AC, arrived at his estranged wife's place of work the morning of July 28th 2003 with a handgun. He killed the owner of Gold-Leaf Nursery and one of his wife's co-workers after he had ended his wife's life. AC had a hard time figuring out which man was his wife's lover, and never had the chance to do so. Before AC could reload, two employees jumped AC and subdued him.
https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-2003-09-24-0309230677-story.html
Story 4: After suffering from alleged bullying by Seth Bartell at their school, JM brought a .22 caliber pistol to Rocori High School and fired on Seth twice, one of these missing and striking another boy, Aaron Rollins. After escaping momentarily, Bartell was shot in the forehead by JM, who went on as if to continue the shooting spree. Mark Johnson, a PE Teacher, confronted JM who raised his gun to shoot Johnson. Johnson literally raised his hands and said “No”, and JM surrendered.
https://murderpedia.org/male.M/m/mclaughlin-jason.htm
Story 5: At roughly 10:30 AM JR walked into Columbia High School with a rage and pain he wanted to spread carrying a 12 gauge shotgun and the ammo to do it. Thankfully, JR only got two shots off, only managing to wound one of his teachers in the leg before an Assistant Principal could tackle JR and subdue him.Police and SWAT arrived several minutes later.
https://www.nytimes.com/2004/02/10/nyregion/student-opens-fire-at-a-high-school-near-albany-hitting-a-teacher.html
Story 6: February 13th, 2005, a quiet Sunday morning at the Hudson Valley Mall was interrupted by a black clad 24 year old RB. Despite shooting a 20 year old Army Recruiter in the knee and a 56 year old man in the hand, RB managed to miss everyone else and was eventually tackled by employees.
https://www.recordonline.com/story/news/2005/02/14/gunman-goes-on-rampage-at/51136353007/
Story 7: On the afternoon of November 8, 2005 KB was called into the administrator's office of Campbell County Comprehensive High School for yet another weapon infraction. This time however, it was a .22 caliber that KB had brought to school. Upon being confronted, KB shot and killed an assistant principal and shot two other faculty. He was restrained by students and teachers until police took him away. He was later released from prison only to be in and out of prison with some charges including domestic abuse and allegedly killing his girlfriend's toddler. He is at large as of 2019 due to multiple miscarriages of justice.
https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna9970713
https://www.knoxnews.com/story/news/crime/2019/01/28/campbell-county-school-shooting-kenneth-bartley-trial/2666499002/
Story 8: Before the bell rang at 9:00 AM at Pine Middle School, Jencie Fagan heard a student yell at JN and JN fire 3 rounds into two 14 year old girls who survived. Fagan had the courage to confront JN and demand that he put the gun down and wait for authorities. JN heeded Fagan's prompting.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pine_Middle_School_shooting
Story 9: Angered by the disciplinary actions meted out by Principal Klang at Weston Highschool, EH walked into school at 8:00 AM on September 29th, 2006 and aimed a shotgun at the Social Studies teacher. A janitorial staff member jumped EH and wrestled the shotgun out of EH's hands. Upon seeing the staff member struggling with the student, Principle Klang attempted to help the struggling janitor restrain EH. EH, however also had a .22 caliber pistol with which he shot Principle Klang multiple times. Although Klang and other staff were able to restrain EH, Klang died several hours later from the wounds to his head, torso, and leg.
https://nthfmemorial.org/swept-the-gun-away-john-alfred-klang/
https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna15060698
Story 10: On July 27, 2008 at The Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church, a shooter opened fire on the congregation killing 2 wounding 7, before the congregants could tackle the shooter DA. According to the manifesto DA wrote, he intended to shoot congregants until he was shot by police. God had other plans.
10 Stories of Good Guys with a Gun
Story 11: On March 5, 2001, at 9:20 a.m., Off-Duty San Diego PD Officer Bob Clarke was enrolling his teenage daughter in her new High School Santana High. Upon hearing the commotion, Clarke ran into the highschool where he found and apprehended CW, the active shooter who had murdered two of his fellow students and injured 13 more. Clarke was joined by three other officers on his way into the building, but once again, this is a matter of good guys on scene with guns who were not part of the 911 response. This was also on a school property.
https://www.upi.com/Archives/2001/03/05/Cops-kept-Santana-shooter-cornered/7880983768400/
https://abcnews.go.com/Primetime/story?id=132072&page=1
Story 12: In the afternoon of January 16th, 2002 PO, a 43 year old male, entered the Appalachian School of Law in Gundy, Virginia. PO had just been suspended for poor academic performance so he had come back to shoot Dean L Sutin, the one he blamed for his pain. Faculty member Thomas F. Blackwell was also present and therefore was also shot fatally. Former school employee and now student Angela Denis Dales, 33 was the last fatal victim. While three other students were shot, no one else died that day due to the quick action of other Criminal Law students, two of whom had been already serving in law enforcement. One of the three, Michael Gross, ran out of the building during the firing to dawn his bullet proof vest and his service pistol before coming back to subdue PO.
https://www.nytimes.com/2002/01/17/us/3-slain-at-law-school-student-is-held.html
Story 13: On September 23rd, 2017 Caleb Engle gets a divinely appointed chastisement for backsliding concerning church attendance, so on the 24th Caleb Engle attended services at Burnette Chapel in Nashville. ES was attending the chapel that day to “kill at least 10 white people” in revenge for the “Charleston Shooting”. Upon confronting ES, Caleb Engle suffered several injuries, including a dislocated shoulder, broken nose, and a gash to his forehead, ES suffers a gunshot wound from ES's weapon. Caleb Engles then retrieves a firearm from his father's, James Engles, truck. The men then wait for EMS and Police.
https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/crime/2017/09/25/how-nashville-church-shooting-burnette-chapel-church-christ-unfolded-timeline/700049001/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burnette_Chapel_shooting
Story 14:On May 25, 2008 a nice night at the “Player's Bar and Grill” was interrupted by EV who had some sort of gang related beef with the Torres Brothers. A concealed carrier from Reno shot EV after EV had murdered Jose and Margarito Torres as well as having injured two other patrons. Just another night at the bar, right?
https://www.reviewjournal.com/news/three-dead-in-shooting-at-winnemucca-bar/
Story 15: On November 17, 2017 before quitting time at Schlenker Automotive, a mentally deranged man, RB, walks in and without notice kills one of the employees, motorcylce and hunting enthusiast Rodger Smith, and paralyzes, David Cordero with a shot damaging his spine. Don Smith and Nathan Taylor, co-workers of Cordero and Smith, were legal concealed carriers and put two bullets into RB, who they held, alive, for police. RB had never been at that shot and knew none of the employees or customers involved.
https://www.wesh.com/article/suspected-shooter-incompetent-to-stand-trial-in-rockledge/28500235#
https://www.floridatoday.com/story/news/crime/2017/12/01/black-friday-schlenker-shooting-what-we-know/911335001/
Story 16: One peaceful evening at Louie's Lakeside Eatery was interrupted for Juan Carlos Nazario and Bryan Wilttle who had to retrieve their firearms from the trunks of their cars to defend themselves from AT. AT entered the eatery from the front door wearing eye and ear protection and no other noted motivation. Nazario and Wittle fired on AT, killing him, saving an unknown amount of lives, but forever leaving AT's motivations a mystery. Only 4 people were injured, one of which was a broken arm from finding cover.
https://okcfox.com/news/local/oklahoma-city-police-identify-suspected-louies-restaurant-shooter
Story 17: On Evening in a Kroger in Kentucky, GB carried out a racially motivated shooting of a black man and a black woman. Both died. The carnage ended when two legally armed citizens engaged GB and GB fled the scene, only to later be captured by police. GB had a history of Domestic Violence and Mental Health History.
https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/kroger-shooter-sentenced-life-prison-hate-crime-murders
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2018_Jeffersontown_shooting
Story 18: Late on April 19, 2015 John Hendricks, an Uber Driver lawfully carrying, saw EC firing into a crowd of people. Our driver put 6 rounds into EC and prevented any further loss of human life. EC lived until 2019 where more of his antics apparently earned him several more holes, albeit fatal this time.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/breaking/ct-met-murder-victim-shot-by-ccl-holder-20190325-story.html
https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/uber-driver-with-concealed-carry-permit-shoots-gunman-in-logan-square/
Story 19: In a more recent story a Good Gal with a gun was at a graduation party about to turn lethal on May 25th, 2022 and the results were perfect. After 10PM DB produced an AR-15 and opened fire, but our “Good Gal” drew on DB and neutralized the threat who was DOA when the police arrived. We could find no motive published as of writing this.
https://www.cbs17.com/news/national-news/good-gal-with-a-gun-woman-with-pistol-saves-lives-by-killing-gunman-at-graduation-party-police-say/
Story 20: At 11:30 AM on November 5, 2017, Steven Willeford had been taking a nap. He had a rough week ahead of him and had skipped church that day. However his daughter woke him up asking him if he had heard gun fire. Willeford grabbed his AR-15 and ran out the door without his shoes when his daughter spotted a man across the way in black tactical gear outside of the Baptist Church. Almost like a western, Willeford called out the shooter, who had murdered 26 people and wounded 22 others from the street. At this moment the shooter turned and left the building. Willeford confronted and shot the shooter, who then fled in a car only to later commit suicide rather than bleed out or be taken.
https://www.texasmonthly.com/articles/stephen-willeford-sutherland-springs-mass-murder/
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/stephen-willeford-sutherland-springs-nra-convention-today-2018-05-04/
Verses on self defense:
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Exodus 22:2-3 “If a thief is caught in the act of breaking into a house and is struck and killed in the process, the person who killed the thief is not guilty of murder. But if it happens in daylight, the one who killed the thief is guilty of murder.”
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Luke 11:21 “When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own mansion, his property is safe.”
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Isaiah 49:25 “Who can snatch the plunder of war from the hands of a warrior? Who can demand that a tyrant let his captives go?”
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Luke 22:35-37 “Then Jesus asked them, “When I sent you out to preach the Good News and you did not have money, a traveler's bag, or an extra pair of sandals, did you need anything?” “No,” they replied. “But now,” he said, “take your money and a traveler's bag. And if you don't have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one! For the time has come for this prophecy about me to be fulfilled: ‘He was counted among the rebels. Yes, everything written about me by the prophets will come true.”
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Luke 22:38-39 “Look, Lord,” they replied, “we have two swords among us.” “That's enough,” he said. Then, accompanied by the disciples, Jesus left the upstairs room and went as usual to the Mount of Olives.”
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Matthew 5:38-39 “Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.”
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Romans 12:17 “Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.”
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1 Peter 3:9 “Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.”
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Proverbs 24:29 “Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me: I will render to the man according to his work.”
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Psalm 144:1 “Praise the Lord, who is my rock. He trains my hands for war and gives my fingers skill for battle.”
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Psalm 18:34 “He trains my hands for battle; he strengthens my arm to draw a bronze bow.”
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Psalm 82:4 “Rescue weak and needy people. Help them escape the power of wicked people.”
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Proverbs 24:11 “Rescue captives condemned to death, and spare those staggering toward their slaughter.”
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1 Timothy 5:8 “But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.”
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Romans 13:1-7 “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except by God's appointment, and the authorities that exist have been instituted by God. So the person who resists such authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will incur judgment (for rulers cause no fear for good conduct but for bad). Do you desire not to fear authority? Do good and you will receive its commendation, for it is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be in fear, for it does not bear the sword in vain. It is God's servant to administer retribution on the wrongdoer. Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of the wrath of the authorities but also because of your conscience. For this reason you also pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants devoted to governing. Pay everyone what is owed: taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due.”
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Nehemiah 4:16-18 “From that day forward, half of my men were doing the work and half of them were taking up spears, shields, bows, and body armor. Now the officers were behind all the people of Judah who were rebuilding the wall. Those who were carrying loads did so by keeping one hand on the work and the other on their weapon. The builders to a man had their swords strapped to their sides while they were building. But the trumpeter remained with me.”
Trust in the Lord and not your weapon.
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Psalm 44:5-7 “Only by your power can we push back our enemies; only in your name can we trample our foes. I do not trust in my bow; I do not count on my sword to save me. You are the one who gives us victory over our enemies; you disgrace those who hate us.”
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1 Samuel 17:47 “And everyone assembled here will know that the LORD rescues his people, but not with sword and spear. This is the LORD's battle, and he will give you to us!”
Many people will claim that there is never a “Good Guy With A Gun” to save the day in an Active Shooter Situation. While simply untrue, there is a point to be made here: 94% of Active Shooter Events take place in so-called “Gun Free Zones”. This means that law abiding citizens are rarely able to carry near the incident. We'll look at several cases today where the citizens had to go to their car to get their gun.
We took a dive into the 2000-2018 FBI stats on “Active Shooter” cases and we found at least 47 cases that were stopped in part or in whole by citizens, some with guns, and some without. Some of these are off-duty law enforcement, but these people certainly qualify as “Good Guys With Guns” and they were not there because of a 911 call. Again, most people will not carry a firearm in a gun free zone, but off-duty LEOs may feel more free to do so than most because of their ID, training, and position. Many were un-armed and were injured or certainly risked it all to wrestle the attacker down with their bare hands. Some didn't make it, but saved countless others. Let me ask you a question: Which is more evil: The gunman, or disarming the people who now provide the gunman easy targets?
We could philosophize on the merits of a good guy or we could just tell you there stories:
Story 1: In the early morning of April 23, 2001 before any children had been picked up for school in San Jose, California, CP went to the Bus Barn where she had worked for the better part of a decade, and began murdering her co-workers. She successfully killed a driver-trainer and wounded three other ladies, before Gregory Allan Lee, another driver, caught her attention and ultimately restrained CP until the police could arrive, saving an untold number of lives.
https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-apr-24-mn-54869-story.html
Story 2: Near lunch time on July 28th, 2003, a disgruntled employee, RB, of the Kanawha School Board attempted to set his supervisor ablaze with a bucket of gasoline 10 minutes into the school board's meeting. After his match failed to light, RB resorted to his rifle, but was restrained by onlookers before he could inflict fatal wounds. These onlookers had to restrain RB without the aid of a firearm as they were at a School Board Meeting. One lady suffered gunshot trauma to the gut.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/school-board-meeting-attacked/
Story 3: After a long and hard night of seething jealousy, a jilted man, AC, arrived at his estranged wife's place of work the morning of July 28th 2003 with a handgun. He killed the owner of Gold-Leaf Nursery and one of his wife's co-workers after he had ended his wife's life. AC had a hard time figuring out which man was his wife's lover, and never had the chance to do so. Before AC could reload, two employees jumped AC and subdued him.
https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-2003-09-24-0309230677-story.html
Story 4: After suffering from alleged bullying by Seth Bartell at their school, JM brought a .22 caliber pistol to Rocori High School and fired on Seth twice, one of these missing and striking another boy, Aaron Rollins. After escaping momentarily, Bartell was shot in the forehead by JM, who went on as if to continue the shooting spree. Mark Johnson, a PE Teacher, confronted JM who raised his gun to shoot Johnson. Johnson literally raised his hands and said “No”, and JM surrendered.
https://murderpedia.org/male.M/m/mclaughlin-jason.htm
Story 5: At roughly 10:30 AM JR walked into Columbia High School with a rage and pain he wanted to spread carrying a 12 gauge shotgun and the ammo to do it. Thankfully, JR only got two shots off, only managing to wound one of his teachers in the leg before an Assistant Principal could tackle JR and subdue him.Police and SWAT arrived several minutes later.
https://www.nytimes.com/2004/02/10/nyregion/student-opens-fire-at-a-high-school-near-albany-hitting-a-teacher.html
Story 6: February 13th, 2005, a quiet Sunday morning at the Hudson Valley Mall was interrupted by a black clad 24 year old RB. Despite shooting a 20 year old Army Recruiter in the knee and a 56 year old man in the hand, RB managed to miss everyone else and was eventually tackled by employees.
https://www.recordonline.com/story/news/2005/02/14/gunman-goes-on-rampage-at/51136353007/
Story 7: On the afternoon of November 8, 2005 KB was called into the administrator's office of Campbell County Comprehensive High School for yet another weapon infraction. This time however, it was a .22 caliber that KB had brought to school. Upon being confronted, KB shot and killed an assistant principal and shot two other faculty. He was restrained by students and teachers until police took him away. He was later released from prison only to be in and out of prison with some charges including domestic abuse and allegedly killing his girlfriend's toddler. He is at large as of 2019 due to multiple miscarriages of justice.
https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna9970713
https://www.knoxnews.com/story/news/crime/2019/01/28/campbell-county-school-shooting-kenneth-bartley-trial/2666499002/
Story 8: Before the bell rang at 9:00 AM at Pine Middle School, Jencie Fagan heard a student yell at JN and JN fire 3 rounds into two 14 year old girls who survived. Fagan had the courage to confront JN and demand that he put the gun down and wait for authorities. JN heeded Fagan's prompting.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pine_Middle_School_shooting
Story 9: Angered by the disciplinary actions meted out by Principal Klang at Weston Highschool, EH walked into school at 8:00 AM on September 29th, 2006 and aimed a shotgun at the Social Studies teacher. A janitorial staff member jumped EH and wrestled the shotgun out of EH's hands. Upon seeing the staff member struggling with the student, Principle Klang attempted to help the struggling janitor restrain EH. EH, however also had a .22 caliber pistol with which he shot Principle Klang multiple times. Although Klang and other staff were able to restrain EH, Klang died several hours later from the wounds to his head, torso, and leg.
https://nthfmemorial.org/swept-the-gun-away-john-alfred-klang/
https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna15060698
Story 10: On July 27, 2008 at The Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church, a shooter opened fire on the congregation killing 2 wounding 7, before the congregants could tackle the shooter DA. According to the manifesto DA wrote, he intended to shoot congregants until he was shot by police. God had other plans.
As of June 2022, 59% of Democrats, 75% of Republicans, and 60% of Independents support “School Choice”. This may well be the deciding issue of the 2022 election, but also a great inroad for sharing the Gospel. If we are intellectually consistent as well as a consistent grounding rod for reality, we get more opportunities to share why we believe what we believe.
Some people really get heated when school choice comes up at the Thanksgiving Dinner Table, but what are we really doing when we talk about people having “school choice”? Some would say that you are depriving the poorer communities of their public schools. Others would say that if a voucher is available, then does it matter? Why should public schools get the monopolistic protection that they now receive? Especially considering how poorly these schools operate and squander funds, why should we force the poorest among us to pay for the frivolous spending of public education? Instead why not allow the free market to encourage better programs?
Well this is RACIST! You may say. The attempt by southern democrats to circumvent Brown vs the Board of Education with the Stanley Plan cannot be taken as a serious counterpoint by anyone who knows the history. For those who are unfamiliar, Republicans had been fighting the civil rights issue since Reconstruction and after a landmark case in 1954, Brown vs Board of Education Topeka, school segregation was ruled unconstitutional. So what did Democrats do? Virginia Governor Thomas B Stanely started a policy of “massive resistance”, sound familiar to those who lived through 45's presidency? In that resistance policy, Stanely enacted a plan to mismanage funds to defund public schools and fund defacto white only private schools, leaving blacks high and dry. This was, of course, ruled against in another Supreme Court Case: Griffin vs. County School Board of Prince Edward County. You can't use school choice to enact illegal and racist laws and then call anyone else who wants school choice racist. And the effect hasn't changed to this day. You still have families that are taxed by their local school board and ultimately have nowhere else to send their kids, and they have no opportunity, just like the kids in Prince Edward County.
These lower income neighborhoods have been served well by charter schools with as much as 42% the cost shaved off public schools. With that said, what should the Church be doing about this? The Church used to be involved in the education business. What better way to reach hearts and minds than to be their educators? Will that be easy? NO. I worked, partially, for my tuition at a private/religious school and the amount of love that goes into such a project is immense. However, the Lord doesn't call us to easy tasks. Something for the Church to seriously consider would be providing education at a cost that is flexible for the parents. If you can't afford tuition, perhaps a night or two helping in the janitorial or electrical departments as necessary. This is how many such schools operate and this is something that I would encourage the Church to consider.
And lastly, homeschooling is always a wonderful option if it is available, but it is difficult to do when the government takes so much in taxes that both parents have to work. It's almost like it is intentional. Not to be conspiratorial, but isn't it interesting that both parents have to work to barely afford bills and taxes so that their kids can go to a public school that may or may not be indoctrinating the kids into Statism and Wokism? Just a thought.
Anyway, remember the next time someone calls you a racist that the racist Democrats of Virginia are the folks being recalled here. Remind them of that and take back the concept of School Choice.
https://reason.org/commentary/charter-schools-get-better-results-with-less-money-than-government-run-schools/
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/105678791802700101?journalCode=refa
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brown_v._Board_of_Education
064 What Actually Happens During A Student Loan Forgiveness Program? Further Every Day
First off, I think we can all agree that no one, other than the banks, universities, politicians, and certain investment firms, actually wants to see students in debt the way we see some American students today. The crippling debt that was pawned off on these 17-18 year old kids who are now broke without the job promised them by the degree, has left a long lasting sting. But what if I told you that the “forgiveness” program was the greatest slap in the face imaginable for those who are still in debt, not to mention those who paid their debts, and those who never went into debt.
Much ado has been made over the injustice of thousands of dollars of tax being effectively imposed on Americans, by the way, those taxes apply to the students getting their debt “forgiven” as well. Much also has been made of the inflation concern. Articles in the Atlantic and Vox claim that the “forgiveness” will be a deflationary force. (By definition, printing more IOUs when you don't have enough hard assets to back your IOUs reduces the value of the note, ie more cash without gold or other assets = less valuable cash in the hands of the taxpayer.) These things are both true and actually hurt the recipients of the “forgiveness” about as much as those who are not receiving the money. Let me explain, first off, the “forgiveness”, let's just call it what it is, a heist, only gives you ultimately 80% on average of what was promised as they will raise everyone's taxes to get it. Add to this that some experts warn that these measures are taxable in many jurisdictions. This means that some people will be bumped into a higher tax bracket by this foolishness and pay even more of the money back to Uncle Sam. Secondly, the inflation issue is incredibly urgent. With Biden's reign racking up 8.5 percent inflation in 12 months (actually a very conservative estimate, it may be much higher due to the change in measurement standards made by the Biden Administration during its tenure.), the value of people's retirement and savings has decreased about 10%. This means that if you had $100 in the bank before Biden, the IOUs, money, can now only buy $90 worth of food or other goods. This is how nations fall. We don't need to be printing more money, and especially not to inflate the checking accounts of the people to whom this dough is ultimately destined.
That brings us to the next point. Who really benefits? Have you heard of Blackrock or Vanguard? Investment firms like Blackrock and Vanguard, Blackrock currently being the largest such firm at roughly 9 Trillion dollars in value, have their fingers in all sorts of pies. They have also been under the increased scrutiny by those like Senator Warren, who wish the Financial Stability Oversight Council (FSOC) to “regulate” such organizations as FSOC does with banks. Warren claims that Blackrock is “too big to fail”. Does that sound familiar? This is the same sort of thinking that paid the people who crashed the economy in 2008 for our trouble. History is repeating itself a decade later and no one seems to care! Instead of reevaluating government subsidies, which raise school costs, and allowing the schools to fail as loans become impossible for schools to green light with banking institutions and investment firms, we are paying all of the above and leaving the students still holding debt and the rest of us who didn't have a debt holding the bag.
Blackrock and Vanguard own much of the stock in the banks and institutions who hold the majority of the student loan debt. It is hard to track exactly who holds how many percent because of the many shell corporations and share interests, but I'll give you three who we were able to track down for this episode. Blackrock is #3 shareholder in Discover Financial Services while Vanguard is #1. DFS is responsible more numerous student loans and they offer their services on their site, link below. Sally Mae is a commonly known lending institution where again Blackrock holds 3rd place as top shareholder and Vanguard holds 1st. In SoftBank, Blackrock is positioned as the 4th largest stockholder.
This may not make sense to you, but to whom is this money being paid, hot off the printing press? Not the students, but to these financial institutions that people like Liz Warren want to name as “too big to fail” so that they can be bailed out in style if necessary. For now, the bail out is being laundered through American students in loan forgiveness. Wake up people, this is criminal behavior and no one outside of the banking circle benefits, not even the students if you look at the long term!
With that said, all of the immoral nonsense above is also posed as a bribe coming into the 2022 midterms. Do not fall for it. Even if you benefit from the “forgiveness”, printing money to give to the very people who put you in the college debt situation, please don't be misled to take the bribe.
As a Church, we need to be informed on this so that we can articulate this to those who are on the fence. Just remember, this isn't forgiveness, almost half of the $10,000 could well be eaten up in taxes for many individuals. Instead, what is really happening is that the current administration and people like Liz Warren are laundering freshly printed money to their friends, investors, and investment funds through this student “fauxgiveness” program. Do so winsomely and be aware.
https://www.newsweek.com/fact-check-has-inflation-gone-every-month-joe-bidens-presidency-1712159
https://fintel.io/so/us/dfs
https://fintel.io/so/us/dfs/blackrock
https://fintel.io/so/us/slm
https://www.discover.com/student-loans/undergraduate.html
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-05-19/blackrock-doubles-its-stake-in-son-s-softbank-group-to-5-2#xj4y7vzkg
https://www.nicolletinvest.com/navigator/the-ties-that-bind-blackrock-and-biden
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/10957960221089920?journalCode=nlfa
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/24/business/economy/fed-blackrock-pandemic-crisis.html
Many people do not understand what Contraceptives are available to the modern woman, nor do all understand the potential ethical issues. Note, not all, but some types of contraceptives end in an abortion, but items like IUDs do have a risk of this. This is in addition to the other health concerns for the woman.
Once again, we had Doctor Linda Flower on to discuss, join us as we dig into the discussion laid out above and below.
Theology: What does God think about Contraception? If life begins at conception, what do we as Christians do with birth control methods that ultimately prevent a human life from obtaining successful implantation?
Philosophy: What is the purpose of procreation? Does Contraception always work?
Culture: What happens to the culture when people are free from the product of procreation, children, via Contraception? Has this also led to a culture of irresponsibility and fatherless homes?
Politics: Entitlements for Contraception have been proposed by some on the Left, how should the Christian articulate a response to this? What are the long term effects of Contraception? Is informed consent really being obtained by all who use it?
Economics: Has Abortion and Contraception actually had the reverse effect of “alleviating financial burden” in the Boomer's later years? Does Contraception Culture reduce the value of sexual intimacy? Does it reduce the value of human life?
In Canada, so-called Physician Assisted suicide is the 1# cause of death. According to the Daily Caller: https://dailycaller.com/2022/08/12/canada-euthanasia-disability-human-rights-mental-health/ .;
Let us be clear here, there is a difference between a Do Not Resuscitate order and an act of Euthanasia. We're not talking about needlessly prolonging someone's life artificially, we're talking about medical homicide with intent. The argument from the euthanasia camp comes from personal autonomy, but the autonomy argument is a weak one at best when one considers that suicide is a one person job. Add a second active agent into the equation and it is a homicide by definition.
So, let us attempt to break this down by chair and argument set:
-
Theology
-
Does the Bible hit the topic of euthanasia and if so, what does it say?
-
Ecclesiastes 7:17
- 1 Corinthians 15:26
- Ecclesiastes 8:8
-
Job 12:10
-
Philosophy
-
Is there a point at which euthanasia is "OK"? Don't we "pull the plug" on loved ones in the hospital that we have been told will not regain consciousness?
-
What is the potential progression - and it certainly looks like Canada is the poster child for this - with implementing physician assisted suicide?
-
Sanctity of Life vs. Quality of Life: https://probe.org/euthanasia/
- https://www.webtruth.org/cultural-issues/a-christian-perspective-on-euthanasia/
None of us would look forward to being mentally incapacitated, nor to be called upon to care for someone in that state for many years. Let us, however, recognize the value of all believers, and seek, with divine help, to show them God-like love and care. We must categorically reject any attempt to lessen the personhood of any individual “made in the likeness of God”.
-
Cultural
-
Why can't we accept euthanasia in our culture? What is the big deal?
- Shouldn't a person have the right to make the decision for themselves regarding euthanasia? My body, my choice?
Well, like most bodily autonomy arguments pervade by the left, the inverse ultimately is the case: Someone else's body is inconvenient, therefore my choice, and by that they mean license to murder.
Here's a note from a nurse in Australia writing anonymously to protect her job. She details several events like this one to an editor at The Leading Edge Blog :
“There was the family that stood in the corridor of a very busy ward and argued about why the individual who held power of attorney was wasting everyone's time by requesting medical staff keep the patient alive, and that they instead needed to refuse treatment and let nature take its course otherwise, on discharge, the patient would have to go into care and that would eat into their inheritance.
What was this horrible disease that was stripping this individual of their dignity?
A chest infection, which was responding well to intravenous antibiotics.”
An article from the Examiner draws an interesting correlation between Euthanasia and “Granny Dumping” the practice of dumping moderately ill patients on socialized healthcare for convenience:
“Evidence indicates that abused older people are more likely to be female, cognitively impaired, in poor physical health, and dependent on other people. Elderly vulnerable women will be most at risk of coercion to accept euthanasia if it is legalised. If euthanasia is legalised in Tasmania, "granny dumping" will become a much more ominous term.” -The Examiner
-
Politically
-
Why is this topic so "touchy" for our political leaders?
-
What countries allow euthanasia and under what conditions?
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Columbia, South America
- Canada, North America
- Australia
- Netherlands
- Belgium
- Luxembourg
- Luxembourg, Canada, Australia, and Colombia allow euthanasia for adults who are in unbearable suffering and who will die from their condition.
-
https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/where-is-euthanasia-legal
-
Economically
-
What are the economic implications in allowing euthanasia? Don't they all point to the positive side?
-
https://euthanasia.procon.org/questions/would-financial-motivations-encourage-insurance-companies-and-health-care-providers-to-promote-euthanasia-and-physician-assisted-suicide/
- https://www.hoover.org/research/culture-euthanasia
Again, with all such edits to God's morality, there is no final distinction to be made. We have already murdered 70 million babies in America alone to create a top heavy population with a less sizeable tax base to provide for the elderly. Let us not make the same type of error and murder the elderly. The next generation is watching what we do with policy and how we value life, those who push euthanasia now, may not like where it leads when you are the useless eater who must be disposed of at 60 years of age. This is not a slippery slope argument, but one being made from history and even the writings of some of the more extreme Euthanasia proponents.
https://dailycaller.com/2022/08/12/canada-euthanasia-disability-human-rights-mental-health/
https://euthanasia.procon.org/questions/would-financial-motivations-encourage-insurance-companies-and-health-care-providers-to-promote-euthanasia-and-physician-assisted-suicide/
https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/where-is-euthanasia-legal
https://www.hoover.org/research/culture-euthanasia
https://www.christian.org.uk/news/woman-pleads-for-euthanasia-changes-mind-on-death-bed/
https://www.thelocal.it/20150624/euthanasia-patient-changes-mind-at-last-minute/
https://www.noeuthanasia.org.au/i_once_supported_euthanasia_now_i_ve_changed_my_mind_nz_nurse_tells
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-49660525
https://www.examiner.com.au/story/6699617/if-euthanasia-is-legalised-granny-dumping-will-become-an-ominous-term/
Find Dennis Mark:https://www.redeemedtx.org/
We asked a Human Trafficking Revover Expert Your Questions and this is how he responded:
Question: Are not Christians simply enforcing their worldview and religion on other people when they force laws on Sex Trafficking?
Answer: Most of the people who use this verbiage are oftentimes the ones benefiting from the exploitation, mainly the traffickers (pimps) and the consumers (a.k.a. johns).
Question: I mean, you can't legislate morality, right?
Answer: No, but you can legislate and prosecute exploitation.
Question: How should the Church respond to people who are actively being trafficked?
Answer: Everything survivors of human trafficking need to be successful is sitting in the pews of our church. Overcoming their own fears, moving from being paralyzed to engagement, and living out their faith at the level they understand the Word.
Question: What if they are still committed to their lifestyle?
Answer: One of the biggest mistakes and myths about trafficking is this idea of “choice.” So much more to that…
Question: How can a Christian respond effectively to those who are being trafficked?
Answer: With the fruit of the spirit, the ideas of love found in 1 Corinthians 13 and holistic healing…understanding and meeting a person's emotional, physical, relational, and spiritual needs as they are affected by trauma, and yes, trauma affects each of these areas.
Question: Isn't this an issue of the heart and not an issue for government intervention as far as laws are concerned?
Answer: Yes, it is an issue of the heart, but it should be the heart of our elected officials to use their heart and provide a compassionate response to the exploitation of the innocent. In 2000, the Trafficking Victims Protection Act was passed and signed into law to provide the prevention of trafficking, protection of all victims, guidelines for prosecution, and provision of services. In this law was built the ability to reauthorize this act and amend it with improvements as more knowledge is gained.
Question: Don't laws prohibiting a commodity simply create a black market?
Answer: It is already illegal and it is a “underground” market or a viable sub-culture. What is dangerous is legalizing it so that the demand increases and thereby increasing the need for supply which typically involves younger victims.
Question: Shouldn't these women be able to just walk out the door?
Answer: Yes, but it is extremely important to understand the reality of coercion.
Question: If they are really being forced into this, why not just call the police?
Answer: I teach a six-hour course on the realities of survivor care and two-hours is dedicated to just answering this question. It's not about choice, its about control and eliminating options.
Question: Pornography is usually practiced between consenting adults, why should we prohibit anything to do with artistic expression?
Answer: Again, not expression when coercion and exploitation are involved.
Question: Everyone needs to sow their wild oats and experience sexuality of various kinds before they settle down in a marriage. What's wrong with engaging in these acts with these people who are doing it to my understanding willingly if this ultimately benefits my future marriage since I won't want to do it later. And if men can't get sex, doesn't the Sex Trade also reduce violence against women when men can just pay for it when they couldn't get it while dating?
Answer: I'm not sure I can good conscience combine the words “Sex Trade” and “reducing violence” in the same sentence. How dark do you want me to share?
Question: Effectively, for all of the above reasons, isn't the Sex Trade a societal good?
Answer: Effectively, NO.
Question: Doesn't the Constitution provide freedom of association?
Answer: Yes, and I assume you mean Intimate Freedom of Association. But exploitation crosses a line into the violation of the 13th Amendment and the aforementioned TVPA.
Question: How is allowing sex work any different from any other form of occupation?
Answer: I'm going to repeat this premise often, “Not choice or an occupation, but exploitation.”
Question: “If Houston is at the top of the sex trade for national and international exporting what does the increase in volume of illegal border crossings mean for your ministry, the Human Trafficking Industrial Complex, and Political Structure?
What policy measures, in your opinion, should be considered given current circumstances?”
Answer: Not sure where this information is found, but two fundamental problems exist with the statement, 1) “sex trade for national and international exporting”, the reality of sex trafficking in Houston is that rough average of 85% of victims identified are not international victims, and 2) “at the top of the sex trade”, where and how Houston ranks has been grossly misrepresented, especially as “number 1”. In 2019, the U.S. Attorney's Office in the Southern District of Texas prosecuted 42% of trafficking related crimes in the United States. Does that mean we are worse? The better and more accurate answer is that because of the length of time the Human Trafficking Rescue Alliance of the SDTX and the experience level of 37 law enforcement agencies with roughly 196 LE personnel means we have the knowledge and knowhow to identify, investigate, and prosecute trafficking cases, and with the addition of the United Against Human Trafficking Coalition with its 57 service provider agencies provides a greater response to survivor needs and healing.
Question: “Some of these women can only make this kind of money doing sex work? Why would you rob them of an income?”
Answer: There's that ugly word again, “sex work”, the heart of exploitation is to generate income not for the victim, but for the trafficker.
Question: “Being trafficked devalues the Human Being, how can we restore the self-worth and identity of an Image Bearer of God who has lived through these experiences?”
Answer: Get educated to the reality of human trafficking (not watching bad Hollywood interpretations) and the difficulty of restoration and engage. I would encourage you listeners to seek out reputable organizations and get involved, we are always looking for volunteers and staff to be engaged in the fight. Don't start something new, join someone already engaged in the fight who has the right knowledge, understanding, and reputation of work.
Find Dennis Mark:https://www.redeemedtx.org/
Find Dennis Mark:https://www.redeemedtx.org/
We asked a Human Trafficking Revover Expert Your Questions and this is how he responded:
Question: Are not Christians simply enforcing their worldview and religion on other people when they force laws on Sex Trafficking?
Answer: Most of the people who use this verbiage are oftentimes the ones benefiting from the exploitation, mainly the traffickers (pimps) and the consumers (a.k.a. johns).
Question: I mean, you can't legislate morality, right?
Answer: No, but you can legislate and prosecute exploitation.
Question: How should the Church respond to people who are actively being trafficked?
Answer: Everything survivors of human trafficking need to be successful is sitting in the pews of our church. Overcoming their own fears, moving from being paralyzed to engagement, and living out their faith at the level they understand the Word.
Question: What if they are still committed to their lifestyle?
Answer: One of the biggest mistakes and myths about trafficking is this idea of “choice.” So much more to that…
Question: How can a Christian respond effectively to those who are being trafficked?
Answer: With the fruit of the spirit, the ideas of love found in 1 Corinthians 13 and holistic healing…understanding and meeting a person's emotional, physical, relational, and spiritual needs as they are affected by trauma, and yes, trauma affects each of these areas.
Question: Isn't this an issue of the heart and not an issue for government intervention as far as laws are concerned?
Answer: Yes, it is an issue of the heart, but it should be the heart of our elected officials to use their heart and provide a compassionate response to the exploitation of the innocent. In 2000, the Trafficking Victims Protection Act was passed and signed into law to provide the prevention of trafficking, protection of all victims, guidelines for prosecution, and provision of services. In this law was built the ability to reauthorize this act and amend it with improvements as more knowledge is gained.
Question: Don't laws prohibiting a commodity simply create a black market?
Answer: It is already illegal and it is a “underground” market or a viable sub-culture. What is dangerous is legalizing it so that the demand increases and thereby increasing the need for supply which typically involves younger victims.
Question: Shouldn't these women be able to just walk out the door?
Answer: Yes, but it is extremely important to understand the reality of coercion.
Question: If they are really being forced into this, why not just call the police?
Answer: I teach a six-hour course on the realities of survivor care and two-hours is dedicated to just answering this question. It's not about choice, its about control and eliminating options.
Question: Pornography is usually practiced between consenting adults, why should we prohibit anything to do with artistic expression?
Answer: Again, not expression when coercion and exploitation are involved.
Question: Everyone needs to sow their wild oats and experience sexuality of various kinds before they settle down in a marriage. What's wrong with engaging in these acts with these people who are doing it to my understanding willingly if this ultimately benefits my future marriage since I won't want to do it later. And if men can't get sex, doesn't the Sex Trade also reduce violence against women when men can just pay for it when they couldn't get it while dating?
Answer: I'm not sure I can good conscience combine the words “Sex Trade” and “reducing violence” in the same sentence. How dark do you want me to share?
Question: Effectively, for all of the above reasons, isn't the Sex Trade a societal good?
Answer: Effectively, NO.
Question: Doesn't the Constitution provide freedom of association?
Answer: Yes, and I assume you mean Intimate Freedom of Association. But exploitation crosses a line into the violation of the 13th Amendment and the aforementioned TVPA.
Question: How is allowing sex work any different from any other form of occupation?
Answer: I'm going to repeat this premise often, “Not choice or an occupation, but exploitation.”
Question: “If Houston is at the top of the sex trade for national and international exporting what does the increase in volume of illegal border crossings mean for your ministry, the Human Trafficking Industrial Complex, and Political Structure?
What policy measures, in your opinion, should be considered given current circumstances?”
Answer: Not sure where this information is found, but two fundamental problems exist with the statement, 1) “sex trade for national and international exporting”, the reality of sex trafficking in Houston is that rough average of 85% of victims identified are not international victims, and 2) “at the top of the sex trade”, where and how Houston ranks has been grossly misrepresented, especially as “number 1”. In 2019, the U.S. Attorney's Office in the Southern District of Texas prosecuted 42% of trafficking related crimes in the United States. Does that mean we are worse? The better and more accurate answer is that because of the length of time the Human Trafficking Rescue Alliance of the SDTX and the experience level of 37 law enforcement agencies with roughly 196 LE personnel means we have the knowledge and knowhow to identify, investigate, and prosecute trafficking cases, and with the addition of the United Against Human Trafficking Coalition with its 57 service provider agencies provides a greater response to survivor needs and healing.
Question: “Some of these women can only make this kind of money doing sex work? Why would you rob them of an income?”
Answer: There's that ugly word again, “sex work”, the heart of exploitation is to generate income not for the victim, but for the trafficker.
Question: “Being trafficked devalues the Human Being, how can we restore the self-worth and identity of an Image Bearer of God who has lived through these experiences?”
Answer: Get educated to the reality of human trafficking (not watching bad Hollywood interpretations) and the difficulty of restoration and engage. I would encourage you listeners to seek out reputable organizations and get involved, we are always looking for volunteers and staff to be engaged in the fight. Don't start something new, join someone already engaged in the fight who has the right knowledge, understanding, and reputation of work.
Find Dennis Mark:https://www.redeemedtx.org/
When we allowed secularists to rewrite history, they wrote our history books so that the American Founders were secularists too. We lost the nature of the founding of America to a narrative of a secular enlightenment.
We left Europe for a New World to escape a monarchy that dictated your job and class, how much they could take from you, and what you would believe. What are we headed towards again? An America where you have to appeal for a license to be a plumber or lawyer, where your money is either taxed or devalued in your hands (inflation is hidden taxation), and where dissent from the secular humanist orthodoxy is a prison level offense (look to Australia's laws concerning prayer as conversion therapy and you'll see where America is headed.)
If you don't believe me, just try to be legal counsel for someone else without having a license to practice. Ofcourse having a guarantee of education is important, but that's what a degree is for. Why do I have to apply for a license, permission to do something that isn't my right to do, so that I can pursue a career in law? My clients should be able to ask, “Did you go to law school? What are your recommendations?” They ask these things anyway, they usually assume the license. This means that the government, and not God, has decreed what occupation you may consider. This is why we left Europe 400 years ago.
And what about taxes? If you can tax a right, is it a right? Your income is yours, why should the government have it? If you paid for it, you have a right to your homestead. The government was never meant to garner money by taxing its citizens, but by trade and tariffs (yes these are a tax, but on foreign goods). Our government ran without income tax until 1913. This came with an enormous expansion of the government and an increase in welfare by the State, instead of the Church. This means that the government “allows” you a portion of your income, and they “allow” you to stay on what you think is your land, try not paying your property tax some time and you'll see whose land they think it is. This again, lends back to the Feudal System that the Founding Fathers were seeking to escape. Yet, we put ourselves back into bondage when we forget our history and our God.
On the note of religion, many cultures have allowed “Christianity” to exist, as long as the Christians didn't hold Christ as the exclusive Truth. If you bowed to the State and/or local religions, many cultures never cared if you also believed in Christ. But if you refused to bow to the government or false gods, it was a different story. The Church of Smyrna mentioned in Revelation endured this.
Biblical Scholar William Barclay on Smyrna: “Emperor worship had begin as spontaneous demonstration of gratitude to Rome; but toward the end of the first century, in the days of Domitian, the final step was taken and Caesar worship became compulsory. Once a year the Roman citizen must burn a pinch of incense on the altar to the godhead of Caesar; and having done so, he was given a certificate to guarantee that he had performed his religious duty...All that the Christians had to do was to burn that pinch of incense, say, ‘Caesar is Lord,' receive their certificate, and go away and worship as they pleased. But that is precisely what the Christians would not do. They would give no man the name of Lord; that name they would keep for Jesus Christ and Jesus Christ alone. They would not conform.”
If you do not believe that we are or will be shortly facing this sort of treatment, know that Australia is legalizing imprisonment for people who pray for LGBT individuals. The same movement wants to duplicate this in the United States. Parents are having their children removed for not chemically castrating teenagers and preteens with so-called “gender affirmation treatment.”
That is a long winded way of saying that we are seeing the regression back to a centralized government built on man's law and not God's Natural Law. But how did we get a free and prosperous United States of America? What made her exceptional?
When the Pilgrims came from the Old World to Plymouth Rock on November 11, 1620, they were coming from a feudal system. They weren't familiar with individualism, they were used to quotas and hard labor. They had lived all of their lives under tyranny. This led to some unfortunate circumstances which included a “Common Storehouse System” where the fruits of the community's labor were stored. Some worked hard and others didn't. This led to a famine and eventually a new reading of 2 Thessalonians 3:10: “For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.” This was the basis for the “Protestant Work Ethic”. This is where we understood that your food is your own. Your income is your own, not someone else's. Charity is commanded by the Bible, entitlements by definition are antithetical to the Scriptures.
Now that we've covered the basis of the individual work ethic, formed out of the Bible and Human experience, the next question is where did we get our government structure? Well, our legal system is founded on “Common Law” or God's Natural Law. A University of Houston study found that of 15,000 documents from America's Founding Fathers, 34% of the quotations used were directly out of Scripture. No other source was so widely quoted. For a group of atheists and deists, this is an interesting pattern.
In fact, these men founded a nation on the concept that the majority of the individuals in the nation had the Spirit of God in their hearts, or at least understood the same moral code. This led to the Federalist ideal that limited government at the Federal level so that the states, counties, and individuals would have more freedom. This system relied on citizens to be Spirit Filled or at least Biblically virtuous. Just to give you some quotes back up that claim:
John Adams to the Massachusetts Militia in 10-11-1798:
“Because We have no Government armed with Power capable of contending with human Passions unbridled by morality and Religion. Avarice, Ambition, Revenge, or Gallantry, would break the strongest Cords of our Constitution as a Whale goes through a Net. Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious People. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other”
"Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim tribute to patriotism who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness -- these firmest props of the duties of men and citizens. . . . reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principles."
George Washington
"Bad men cannot make good citizens. It is when a people forget God that tyrants forge their chains. A vitiated state of morals, a corrupted public conscience, is incompatible with freedom. No free government, or the blessings of liberty, can be preserved to any people but by a firm adherence to justice, moderation, temperance, frugality, and virtue; and by a frequent recurrence to fundamental principles."
Patrick Henry
We have always been framed as a soft theocracy. Just remember that when pseudo-intellectuals attempt to inform you about the secularist nature of our America's founding.
Notes on Smyrna:
https://www.bible.com/events/43944
John Adams' Letter to the Massachusetts Militia:
https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Adams/99-02-02-3102
Bible Most Quoted Document by Founders:
https://www.faithfacts.org/christ-and-the-culture/the-bible-and-government
https://www.loc.gov/resource/mtj1.046_0212_0213/?st=gallery
With Roe v Wade overturned, the fight for life is on at the state level. This week, we explored some of the most commonly asked questions on the subject.
From the Chair of Theology:
Question 1: “Jesus didn't talk about Abortion. In fact it isn't even mentioned in the Bible, why are you so against something that is not even mentioned in the Bible?”
Answer: But what does the Bible say about actively taking life? Life may be hard, and for many it is, but when did murder get an exemption?
Psalms 139:13-16
“13 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.”
Jeremiah 1:5
5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”
Exodus 20:13
“13 Thou shalt not murder.”
Question 2: “What do we say to someone who believes that the child is an imposition on the mother and she cannot be burdened to carry this child?”
Answer: But what does the Bible say about motherhood? In secular humanistic terms, perhaps one could argue that humans dictate morality based on cultural norms. This Theology was very widely implemented in the 20th Century in Europe and Asia. Atheism and Humanism are responsible for more death than any other religion. When man decides that expedience determines morality and not God, the young, sick, and elderly die. Do you want to go down that road?
From the Chair of Philosophy:
Question 1: “If the child is conceived from incest or rape, does that not give the woman the ability to abort the child, even if the child is a human being?”
Answer: In what situation is this logic ever accepted? One evil man did evil to both the woman and the child. How does this translate to the woman now committing a second atrocity onto her child in her womb? If it is murder, then it is no different than a mother of a 2 year old murdering her child because her husband violates her after the child is born.
This is also what we call in philosophical terms: A Red Herring (something that is unrelated being presented as part of the argument.) Less than 2% involve these circumstances. The question should be asked, if we allowed abortions for rape and incest, would you consider restricting purely elective abortions. No? Then these women's suffering is simply a tool being used to justify killing infants.
https://www.guttmacher.org/sites/default/files/pdfs/pubs/psrh/full/3711005.pdf
Question 2: “If you are pro life, then you cannot possibly support the death penalty. So why NO to abortion and YES to death penalty if you are pro life?”
Answer: The death penalty is not related to killing infants. If a person murders someone else in cold blood and there are two or more witnesses, the Bible tells us in Genesis 9:6:
“Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed.”
This is not murder, but a form of societal standard that reduces crime by deterence. How many murders should an unrepentant murderer be allowed to commit? How many children should a pedophile be allowed to harm? How many born alive babies should a Kermit Gosnell be allowed to murder?
https://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/16/us/kermit-gosnell-abortion-doctor-gets-life-term.html
From the Chair of Culture:
Question 1: “Isn't it better to have children who are wanted? Do we not already have an overloaded foster care system with 400,000 unwanted children? Where's the Church here?”
So, you are saying that you would rather we kill these children than allow them to live because the adoption process needs reform? I'm glad no one really thinks that way about immigration, healthcare triage, or any other aspect of policy. There are an estimated 1-2 million families waiting to get through the red tape, many of these can't have children and want them. They would love these babies who are being flushed down the sink.
Question 2: “Since it takes two to conceive a child, would not the father of said child have any say in wanting that child? Especially if the father would want to raise this child that is a separate individual (body) than the body of the mother?”
Absolutely, there are countless stories of fathers watching their partner abort their child to the horror of these men.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-49240582
From the Chair of Politics:
Question 1: “We live in a nation that is built on individual freedoms. Does this not interfere with the woman's freedom? Does not the presence of the child encroach on the woman's autonomy?” See Violinist Argument
Answer: How does a 8 month pregnant mother's autonomy differ from the autonomy of an 8 month old's mother? Can the mother of the 8 month old ditch her child in a trash can or throw her child into a wood chipper? The issue of autonomy is complex, but it is very simple when it comes to the active act of ending someone else's life. Your autonomy does not allow for that.
Question 2: “Do you think that the GOP has done a poor job of framing the argument? If so, what would the best framing of the political argument be?”
Answer: “Sometimes we get bogged down in the statistics, data, and politics, but this is purely an issue of good and evil. The government has the duty to protect innocent life. Is the baby a human life? If yes, then it is simply the government's job to protect it.
From the Chair of Economics:
Question 1: “Are we not putting undue burden on 14 year olds who simply made a mistake? We wouldn't even allow these girls to adopt, why force them to have a child?”
Answer: That is a hard question. However, there is a lot of support for these girls in the churches (the good ones) and the pregnancy centers (both of which are being firebombed lately). Reform of the adoption system is critical, we recognize this. We need to have a system that can fast track these sort of adoptions to reduce the load on the foster care system.
Question 2: “Abortions are cheaper than hospital births, why are you putting the higher cost on Women? What answers do you have for women who are poor and an Abortion is cheaper and safer?”
Answer: Are they cheaper though? You may be correct to an extent, but if someone is in that situation, we have hospitals that will help you out or even forgive the debt. We do have these sort of entitlements that are being threatened by abortion. In fact, one could make the argument that abortion has been the single greatest enemy of government funded healthcare. Our country has become top heavy in population with 70 million taxpayers being aborted by those who now rely on a nearly insolvent social security system. So not only have we committed the worst type of genocide, but also made it more difficult to run the system doing it in the process.
All of that to say, when discussing these things with others, the Christian must be winsome. Let us approach these situations with the firmness and tact of Christ with the woman at the well. Let's be Christ's hands, feet, mouths, and ears in this debate by being prepared with an answer.
With Roe v Wade being struck down, there are many cries for freedom from the “tyranny” of not being able to murder a child in utero. Women's Rights, Workers' Rights, Trans Rights, are all misnomers, but everyone keeps using those words. This elicits the question that Indigo Montoya asks in the Princess Bride: “Why do you keep using that word? I don't think it means what you think it means.”
What does Freedom mean? What differentiates it from Entitlement? Well, Freedom is defined by Webster's 1826 as “1. A state of exemption from the power or control of another; liberty; exemption from slavery, servitude or confinement. freedom is personal, civil, political, and religious.”
Another word worth looking at here is Liberty:
Webster 1826: “Natural liberty consists in the power of acting as one thinks fit, without any restraint or control, except from the laws of nature. It is a state of exemption from the control of others, and from positive laws and the institutions of social life. This liberty is abridged by the establishment of government.”
Let's compare that to what Entitlement used to mean and means now:
Webster 1826:
ENTI'TLED, participle passive Dignified or distinguished by a title; having a claim as, every good man is entitled to respect.
Webster 2022:
1a : the state or condition of being entitled : right. b : a right to benefits specified especially by law or contract. 2 : belief that one is deserving of or entitled to certain privileges.
Freedoms and Liberties come from our inherent value as humans, image bearers of God. Entitlements are granted to us by man, or the government. These two can easily become confused when we replace God with Secular Humanism.
Is healthcare a right? Access or the ability to access healthcare is a right, or rather preventing someone from being able to enlist the help of a doctor, for example, would be a violation of one's rights.However, doctors are not obligated to work for free and other people are not obligated to pay for your healthcare. That would be a violation of their rights and an entitlement. However, this is, to varying degrees, what we have here in America.
Government funded infanticide is not a right. It always has been an entitlement, an evil and twisted entitlement bestowed not by God, but by government. It is important that we understand the difference between Freedom and Entitlement, however the core of the issue here is always the heart.
Entitlements, in a way, are a cheap imitation of God-given Freedoms and Liberties. These entitlements, invariably, come at the cost of someone else. What I mean by that is Individual Freedoms come from God, they have an origin. Entitlements are no different than Freedoms, in that they have an origin. However, the source of Entitlements is always someone or something else. Government bestowed Entitlements, whether they be healthcare, school, or abortion always come at the cost of someone else. In fact, this is generally a great measure of whether or not something is a Freedom or an Entitlement: Does this take away Freedom from someone else?
Another aspect of Freedom is that it always comes with responsibilities. There are consequences for abuse with Freedom and Liberty. You have the right to life, but if you take away someone else's life, yours is forfeit. You have the right to economic freedom, but if you steal from someone else, you have to pay them back and you lose your economic freedom.
This differs from the way that many entitlements are handed out. You have the “right”/entitlement to bodily autonomy via abortion, but the infant inside the womb does not have bodily entitlement. You may be “entitled” to money or funds based on your economic, racial, or legal status in America. This money, however, comes from those who are not “entitled” to the same money. From where else does this money come?
You may think I'm splitting hairs with the definitions here, but it is important to know the difference. When you are discussing the issues of Entitlements and someone uses the word Freedom, it is important to understand where their worldview stands. From there we can unpack the lies that the Enemy of Our Souls has foisted upon them and point them to the source of True Freedom and Liberty. Entitlements pass away with legislation or governments, Freedom and Liberty in Christ define what Heaven will be in essence.
First off, some will attempt to dismiss anyone and everyone who has not transitioned as not an authority on the issue. (This would be a variation on the appeal to authority fallacy.) So today we'll attempt to primarily use non-Conservative, Transgender, and Detransitioner sources, in keeping with our general standard. However, if logical conclusions are obtainable in a conversation, then anyone with the facts can attempt to make sense of an issue. The Bible has all that we need, but we'll go over plenty of other evidence as well.
When we covered body dysmorphia, a common refrain was Psalm 139:
Psalm 139:13-18
“For thou hast possessed my reins: Thou hast covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: Marvellous are thy works; And that my soul knoweth right well. My substance was not hid from thee, When I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; And in thy book all my members were written, Which in continuance were fashioned, When as yet there was none of them. How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! How great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: When I awake, I am still with thee.”
With that in mind, there are plenty of folks who have not enjoyed the peace that comes with this. Helena Kerschner is a prime example of one such individual who suffered from such feelings who was led to believe that she would be best served by the Transgendered lifestyle. She is one of many individuals who Dr. Lisa Littman would categorize as a victim of Rapid Onset Gender Dysphoria.
Dr. Littman caused a severe dust up a few years ago for merely suggesting that a significant amount of girls were affirmed erroneously online as transgender, and acted medically. This, however, led to detransitioning later on, but with the side effects of the cross-sex hormones. Statistics on this topic are hard to come by, due to the nature of the topic and affirmative care attitude of “health care professionals” involved. However, one case where informed consent is breached is one too many and there are many cases that meet the standard of not being given enough information for consent.
None of this is new, however. People like Walt Heyers have existed for years. People who go through the so-called transition and have the temerity to return to living as they once did in their biological gender. Heyers was prodded by his family members to identify as a girl when he was just starting to walk. This later culminated in a transition, detransition, and a life with the scars of the fake transition.
So where should the Church be in this? For starters, we need to be there for our youth. The only way LGBT can really reproduce is to co-opt our youth (barring medical intervention, but even then.) We need to be there for those who are struggling. This is not some law that we can pass. No amount of money can be donated or thrown at it. We need to invest in others' lives, just as Christ does in ours.
We need also to sound the alarm of cases like Tulip R, Helen Kerschner, and Walt Heyers. There are many more who have spoken out, but I suspect even more do not for fear of retribution from the LGBT community. Christians need to be ready to welcome these folks back to reality with a stiff dose of truth, mixed with abundant love. If we are there with the uncompromised Gospel (make no mistake, sin is sin. but forgiveness is offered to everyone), then they can have hope for the future.
https://www.parentsofrogdkids.com/
Megan Kelly Interview with Dr. Lisa Littman:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGrEJd-5dCw&ab_channel=MegynKelly
Graphic "reasignment" mutilation:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=czY25eZGets&ab_channel=LEARNIdeas
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GcpnlnkDHlw&ab_channel=TheOffensiveTranny
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMB9Wx5VlOc&ab_channel=TEDxTalks
Graphic* Mutilation/Transition Surgery
https://youtu.be/5Mur3XP6yWM
What she wished she knew before transitioning.
https://youtu.be/rC7EtIeWrPs
First off, let's define what we mean by Biblical Innocence?
Mathew 10:16
“Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.”
The Greek word “akeraios”, rendered here as “harmless”, may also be rendered as innocent. This verse does not infer ignorance of evil, but rather a rigorous study of Scripture applied to the real world and to one's walk with the Lord. Too many people conflate innocence with naivete.
Daniel 6:22
“My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.”
Daniel was not “innocent” in the eyes of the law, but in the eyes of God and in common sense. This was also an innocence with knowledge.
2 Corinthians 7:11
“For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.”
The word used for clear in the Greek, “hagnos”, means pure, chaste, innocent, or cleared of wrongdoing in a legal sense.
Naivete, however, is never looked upon kindly in the Bible. Just read Genesis 3 or Proverbs and we can see what the Bible has to say about the fool, also potentially rendered “the naive”.
Some people, with good intentions, believe that we shouldn't talk about issues concerning marital intimacy, let alone the deviations from Godly marital intimacy. We can clearly see however, that the world has created its own narrative about sex and gender, and we can also see the harm it has caused.
I am not claiming that these people do not have agency and that the Church is directly responsible for the Pride movement growing in America. However, we've been given the task of being salt and light, restraining influences against decay. Most of us have lived clueless existences in regards to what has been happening in schools and campuses. We are only now seeing the depths of the evil when it shows up in our cities on stages or libraries, flouncing about with immunity from our politicians and police. Nancy Pelosi was recently on Rue Paul's Drag Race, Christina Aguelara pranced about on a pride stage with a 12 inch strapped on appendage flopping about whilst aggressively imitating sexual acts in front of children. These same acts performed on stage, would be prosecuted if done over text, and rightfully so. When we have not filled our children and culture with good ideas about sexuality, the vacuum will be filled by alternatives. We need to start grounding our children in reality so when they are inevitably exposed to the insanity of the world, they can remain innocent. If our children are only naive, and not innocent, but wise, many more will fall to this destructive ideology.
So, let us look at some of the facts surrounding the transgender movement, the current tip of the enemy's spear. Studies that claim a relationship between not transitioning and suicide are skewed. One such study published in JAMA Surgery, the people polled claimed up to a 50% reduction in suicidal thoughts in comparison to the last month or year. This claim might make some believe that the results are in and that “transitioning” ultimately helps a significant amount of people. The inverse actually appears to be true if you follow up a decade later.
In Sweden, where the trans movement is roughly a quarter century ahead of us, studies have been undertaken to better understand the long term consequences of “transitioning”.
“The study identified increased mortality and psychiatric hospitalization compared to the matched controls. The mortality was primarily due to completed suicides (19.1-fold greater than in control Swedes), but death due to neoplasm and cardiovascular disease was increased 2 to 2.5 times as well. We note, mortality from this patient population did not become apparent until after 10 years. The risk for psychiatric hospitalization was 2.8 times greater than in controls even after adjustment for prior psychiatric disease (18 percent). The risk for attempted suicide was greater in male-to-female patients regardless of the gender of the control. Further, we cannot exclude therapeutic interventions as a cause of the observed excess morbidity and mortality. The study, however, was not constructed to assess the impact of gender reassignment surgery per se.” -(Trentacosti 2007, PRO 2009) (Appendices C and D).
In the states it has been difficult to do research on this topic because academics who do are often fired or brought into public ruin as in the cases of Dr. Alan Josephson or Dr. Lisa Littman. Stories below. However, the Heritage foundation has attempted to put some of the pieces together with comparing locals that allowed easy access to Transgender Hormones and care to minors:
“In the past several years, the suicide rate among those ages 12 to 23 has become significantly higher in states that have a provision that allows minors to receive routine health care without parental consent than in states without such a provision. Before 2010, these two groups of states did not differ in their youth suicide rates. Starting in 2010, when puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones became widely available, elevated suicide rates in states where minors can more easily access those medical interventions became observable.
Rather than being protective against suicide, this pattern indicates that easier access by minors to cross-sex medical interventions without parental consent is associated with higher risk of suicide. The Heritage model plotted the difference in a three-year rolling average of suicide rates between states with minor access provisions and states with no such provision. Chart 2 plots the trend in this difference for those ages 12 to 23 who could have been affected by the policy when cross-sex medical interventions became available. For comparison, Chart 2 also shows the trend in this difference for a group ages 28 to 39, who could not have been affected by these policies, since the people in this group would have been at least 18 when puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones became available.”
It is important to note, that while this recent trend is new to America, nothing is new under the sun. Rome and Greece fell to this. Israel, for that matter, fell to this. It is critical that we not only repent, but begin shoring up a new foundation of innocence, not naivete, for the next generation of children. This involves talking about sex, gender, and godlessness in a Biblical sense, with grace and thoughtfulness. We need to be aware of what is out there and we need to be a restraining purifying presence in our culture.
Innocence is not a naive blindness, but a committed walk with God, ministering truth and grace to a dying culture. Churches need to wake up from their naivete and realize how serious a fight we have ahead of us. We need to have answers, rooted in Scripture, prepared for those who are hurt and suffering as well as those looking for belonging in the LGBT movement. Who knows, perhaps they will come to know the Lord. What we do know, is that the world is sentencing many of these people to a life of misery and suicide without Christ if we do not present the Godly alternative.
Story on study claiming reduction on suicidal ideation within the last month or year.
https://fenwayhealth.org/new-study-shows-transgender-people-who-receive-gender-affirming-surgery-are-significantly-less-likely-to-experience-psychological-distress-or-suicidal-ideation/
Lisa Littman's Work Removed: https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/brown-university-criticized-over-removal-transgender-study-n906741
Dr. Allan Josephson fired:
https://www.genderhq.org/blog/2019/8/30/academic-psychiatrist-fired-for-expressing-skepticism-about-safety-of-pediatric-transition
Heritage Study:
https://www.heritage.org/gender/report/puberty-blockers-cross-sex-hormones-and-youth-suicide
It is no longer a slippery slope fallacy to claim that after guns, they will come for metal knives, and after the metal knives, they will come for the plastic ones. Great Britain has seen a string of knife bans, to the point that it is not even legal to carry a knife if the authorities do not think that your reason is good enough. (Story from the hstoday.us below) The Church of England is literally using language like “pointy knifes” must be banned, letter below. To further the point, they are literally attempting to ban plastic cutlery for purposes of carbon footprint reduction (How will we prepare food at this rate?), again new story below. This may seem silly, but it is actually happening to knives. Many conservatives have been laughed at for even suggesting that this is the logical end of the gun debate, that all guns will be banned and knives will be next. We see that occurring in Britain in real time.
When discussing the topic of Gun Control, one can easily run into the weeds of stats and lose the war for winning the battle. We need to remember from where does this type of ideology stem, and what has it produced. Note, I am a stats guy. I believe in knowing the facts, but that is only a small percentage of the conversation if you wish to win someone on the other side of the Gun Control Debate.
Last week we discussed stats and common arguments, so now let's look at the origins of gun control and what the philosophy of gun control has produced in societies that have implemented it. In America, it bears merit to look at why gun control was even considered in a society that had recognized a citizen's common law right to own a firearm since the English Bill of Rights of 1688. This Bill of Rights, by the way, reinstated the rights of all to keep and bear arms. Protestants, specifically, had been stripped of this right under persecution by James II. So why would a Protestant nation even consider gun control laws, they had just left violent persecution in Europe. Many of them fought for these very reforms. So why would some of these refugees employ similar tyrannical policies? For the same reasons those in Europe oppressed the Protestants, sin and power.
Looking at American History is like looking at the tale of two Americas. One America was fighting for Christ's Liberty for all, and the other living in the same sin nature in which the rest of the world wallows. The gun control issue is one of many debates that has serious philosophical implications. Either all have the right to defend themselves, as God has declared in His Word, or Man has the right to pick and choose if man has the right to self defense. When man usurps God's authority, tragedy inevitably strikes.
One of the first gun laws in America was written in Virginia in 1640 specifically against the African Slaves who had been brought to the New World:
“Prohibiting negroes, slave and free, from carrying
weapons including clubs." (The Los Angeles Times, "To
Fight Crime, Some Blacks Attack Gun Control," January
19, 1992)
Also passed in 1640 Virginia was this statute: "That all such free Mulattoes, Negroes and Indians...shall appear without arms." [7 The Statues at Large; Being a Collection of all the Laws of Virginia, from the First Session of the Legislature, in the Year 1619, p. 95 (W.W. Henning ed. 1823).] (GMU CR LJ, p. 67)
Virginia continued to institute such laws and was joined by South Carolina in 1712 when the latter codified a statute banning:"An act for the better
ordering and governing of Negroes and slaves." [7
Statutes at Large of South Carolina, p. 353-54 (D.J.
McCord ed. 1836-1873).] (GMU CR LJ, p. 70)
In 1791 the 2nd Amendment was ratified, codifying the right of the people to keep and bear arms. It is important to note that the first congress almost split over the issue of slavery during our battle for independence from Britain, which truly didn't end until January 8, 1815 in New Orleans. Benjamin Franklin after having returned from France to broker the end of the French Revolutionary War brought a petition before Congress that read as such:
““Mankind are all formed by the same Almighty Being, alike objects of his care, and equally designed for the enjoyment of happiness.” All people were entitled to the “blessings of liberty . . . without distinction of color.” It noted the contradiction of slavery and freedom in the American experiment while seeking the means “for removing this inconsistency from the character of the American people,” and it called on Congress to grant “liberty to those unhappy men who alone in this land of freedom are degraded into perpetual bondage.” It advocated not only the end of the slave trade, as the Quaker petition had the day before, but the end of slavery itself.” billofrightsinstitute.org
The Abolitionist case took a back seat to survival and rested until the decadespreceding the Civil War which, however complex, was at least in part foslavery.
In those decades marching up to the Civil War many states passed other egregious gun laws.
In 1825 Florida enstated a law allowing local authorities to ransack Melanated homes (slave or free) for the purposes of confiscating any weapons of any sort (even a cane could be considered contraband.
In 1828 Florida did in fact reverse somewhat to allow Free Melanated people to own firearms, only with a license. (Because you know you can't trust some sorts of people so we need licenses. This argument has become no less immoral with time.)
In 1831 Florrida reversed again and repealed all licenses held by melanated people. (If God is not the one endowing us with our rights, and government is, then our rights are based on elections and political whimsy.)
In 1857 the Dredd Scott vs Sandford case, one of the worst cases of jurisprudence ever seen in America, the court upheld the following: Fro Chief Justice Taney: “if
members of the African race were "citizens" they would
be exempt from the special "police regulations"
applicable to them. "It would give to persons of the
negro race...full liberty of speech...to hold public
meetings upon political affairs, and to keep and carry
arms wherever they went." (Id. p. 417) U.S. Supreme
Court held that descendants of Africans who were
imported into this country and sold as slaves were not
included nor intended to be included under the word
"citizens" in the Constitution, whether emancipated or
not, and remained without rights or privileges except
such as those which the government might grant them,
thereby upholding slavery. Also held that a slave did
not become free when taken into a free state; that
Congress cannot bar slavery in any territory; and that
blacks could not be citizens.”
After the Civil War, the reconstruction era saw the above laws “Slave Codes” become “Black Codes”. These often banned Melanated ownership of firearms without a license. The Civil Rights Act of 1866 was meant to overturn these and the 14th Amendment reinforced the CRA of 1866, but states continued in their sin.
“Opponents of the 14th Amendment objected to its
adoption because they opposed federal enforcement of
the freedoms in the bill of rights. Sen. Thomas A.
Hendricks (D-Ind.) said "if this amendment be
adopted we will then carry the title [of citizenship]
and enjoy its advantages in common with the negroes,
the coolies, and the Indians." [CONG. GLOBE, 39th
Congress, 1st Session, pt. 3, 2939 (4 June 1866)].
Sen. Reverdy Johnson, counsel for the slave owner
in Dred Scott, opposed the amendment because "it is
quite objectionable to provide that 'no State shall
make or enforce any law which shall abridge the
privileges and immunities of citizens of the United
States'." Thus, the 14th Amendment was viewed as
necessary to buttress the Civil Rights Act of 1866,
especially since the act "is pronounced void by the
jurists and courts of the South," e.g. Florida has as
"a misdemeanor for colored men to carry weapons...and
the punishment...is whipping..." [CONG GLOBE, 39th
Con., 1st Session, 504, pt. 4, 3210 (16 June 1866)].”
The KKK was formed the same year in 1866, primarily by Democrats who felt as Thomas Hendricks did. This organization and those who held hate in their hearts towards the freed slaves wanted gun control to make their business of oppression easier.
Saturday Night Special Laws were concocted and enacted to make inexpensive firearms “Saturday Night Specials'' difficult to obtain. This made it difficult to afford a firearm for all of those who the left saw as undesirable, especially the melanated individuals, but also the Appalachian and Italian, who were also connoted with “higher criminality and lower breeding”. Remember, these were the same people who were enthralled with eugenics and thought the poor and slaves were in these circumstances because of their genetics and nature.
In 1911, the Sullivan Law was enacted. This law required police permission to obtain a permit to own a handgun. Again, the Southern Italian was also specifically singled out as particularly criminal in nature, as well as the more melanated African American.
In 1934 the National Firearms Act was passed to prevent the ownership of firearms that were considered too dangerous to be left in the hands of the common folk. Firearms under this law were still available if you were to ask for a license and pay a tax equal to that of a used automobile.
In 1941 Florida a judge admitted to the unequal administration of a gun control law: “In concurring opinion narrowly construing a Florida
gun control law passed in 1893, Justice Buford stated
the 1893 law "was passed when there was a great influx
of negro laborers in this State....The same condition
existed when the Act was amended in 1901 and the Act
was passed for the purpose of disarming the negro
laborers....The statute was never intended to be
applied to the white population and in practice has
never been so applied...". Watson v. Stone, 148 Fla.
516, 524, 4 So.2d 700, 703 (1941) (GMU CR LJ, p. 69)”
After MLK was assasinated in 1968, the Gun Control Act of 1968 was passed and Robert Sherril, an avowed anti-gun journalist admitted that: “that the
Gun Control Act of 1968 was "passed not to control
guns but to control Blacks." [R. Sherrill, The
Saturday Night Special, p. 280 (1972).] (GMU CR LJ, p.
80) "The Gun Control Act of 1968 was passed not to
control guns but to control blacks, and inasmuch as a
majority of Congress did not want to do the former but
were ashamed to show that their goal was the latter,
the result was they did neither. Indeed, this law,
the first gun-control law passed by Congress in thirty
years, was one of the grand jokes of our time. First
of all, bear in mind that it was not passed in one
piece but was a combination of two laws. The original
1968 Act was passed to control handguns after the Rev.
Martin Luther King, Jr., had been assassinated with a
rifle. Then it was repealed and repassed to include
the control of rifles and shotguns after the
assassination of Robert F. Kennedy with a
handgun.... The moralists of our federal legislature
as well as sentimental editorial writers insist that
the Act of 1968 was a kind of memorial to King and
Robert Kennedy. If so, it was certainly a weird
memorial, as can be seen not merely by the
handgun/long-gun shellgame, but from the
inapplicability of the law to their deaths." (The
Saturday Night Special and Other Guns, Robert
Sherrill, p. 280, 1972)”
In 1994 Clinton introduced HR 3838 to ban firearms in government housing, people who need to be able to protect themselves more than most.
All of this to say, Britain's gun and knife bans have not worked, Australia's bans have done little, Stalin, Hitler, and Mao's bans accomplished exactly what they wished. Why would we in America continue the regressive and Anti-God philosophy of Gun Control. Let us live in Liberty, but with responsibility. Those who commit heinous acts should be held to account, but we can also deter them with an armed populace.
Knife Crackdown:
https://www.hstoday.us/subject-matter-areas/border-security/u-k-launches-nationwide-crackdown-on-knife-crime/
Pointy Knife Ban:
https://www.rochester.anglican.org/communications/news/government-urged-to-restrict-the-sale-of-pointed-knives.php
Plastic Cutlery Ban:
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/nov/20/single-use-plastic-plates-and-cutlery-could-be-banned-in-england
List of Gun Laws: https://www.sedgwickcounty.org/media/29093/the-racist-origins-of-us-gun-control.pdf
Bill of Rights Institute: https://billofrightsinstitute.org/essays/benjamin-franklin-and-the-first-abolitionist-petitions
NY State Rifle and Pistol Association v. Bruen Debate:
https://firearmslaw.duke.edu/2021/08/a-historians-assessment-of-the-anti-immigrant-narrative-in-nysrpa-v-bruen/
The first thing we need to acknowledge when dealing with topics like mass shootings, is that there is a problem that we all want to solve. Put aside the arguments for a moment and remember that when we talk about the 2nd Amendment in America, there is a cultural, linguistic, and even religious charge to the words that we commonly use. “Common Sense Gun Control”, “If it saves one life, isn't it worth it?, “The Gun Lobby”, “2nd Amendment Rights”, “The Right to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed!” all come to mind. To have these discussions, it is critical to disarm the explosive reactions that people are harboring for just the right phrases. Like an EOD expert unearthing the IED, let's attempt to unearth the truth from the lies that have buried the root issue: “Evil humans are doing evil things, often to the most vulnerable.” Today, let's look at seven of the common arguments and attempt to find the falsehoods that are hiding the solution. Argument 1#: If It Just Saves One Life, Is It Not Worth It? Response: Maybe. If you are willing to give up your freedoms for security, it sounds nice! I mean, just let the police handle it. They have guns. However, it's not like they can arrive on spot every time faster than you are able to draw from your own waistband. Not only do we have a recent poor showing at Uvalde, but we had Police preventing parents from rescuing their children. They went so far as to employ less lethal measures on a mother who just wanted to rescue her daughter. I understand the need to keep a clean scene, but that is only if the officers are going in. So police are not the answer, they are for bringing criminals to justice AFTER the murder has occured. During the murder incident is when most people want a force multiplier. The CDC has determined that roughly 500,000 to 3,000,000 defensive uses of firearms occur every year. This is hard to determine because the mere presence of a firearm can de-escalate a scene (I've been there, done that). So would you save the 500,000 (just going on the low end) or the 20,000 cases of homicide by person with a firearm (I'm taking suicides out of the pile because suicide is easily carried out in other methods)? One death is always one too many, but we are looking at solving the impossible. Man is evil. Preventing people from being self sufficient and independent enough to protect themselves is statistically the winning choice between draconian laws vs 2nd Amendment Freedom. The problem is that good people with guns DO save the day countless times every year. Steve Wiliford at the Sutherland Springs Shooting came from several doors down to stop one of the Country's most deadly shootings. In December of 2019, a gun toting deacon took out an active shooter before more than 2 people were killed. More recently a woman at a West Virginia Graduation shot a gunman that had intended on making the scene one of a mass murder. What if taking away people's rights equals more suffering and death? Children are more likely to die of parental abuse in America than Mass Shootings according to the statistics. In 2020 79 people were killed in Mass Shootings while nearly 1000 children died from parental abuse. Noone in their right mind is suggesting comprehensive government audits of parents. Argument 2#: The Majority of Americans Want Common Sense Gun Legislation. Assault Weapon Bans and Gun Laws Work. Response: Common Sense Restrictions, like background checks? We have them. Age limits? We have them. 18 for rifles, 21 for pistols are the common limitations. Anyone who has bought a firearm in the years since 1998 has had the misfortune of encountering NICS, The National Instant Criminal Background Check System. It is anything but instant and it has often has failures induced by the incompetence that only a government run system could produce. Consider this, a 21 year old girl (we won't even mention a 19 year old that couldn't purchase a firearm right now) has an abusive boyfriend, or has come under threat of violence when she lives in a bad part of town. She goes to purchase a handgun on the day after her 21st birthday and she gets a NICS check and it delays her purchase for days, or even weeks (as I have had). What if she gets a false negative? These mistakes happen every year. If this woman is raped or murdered by her abusive boyfriend, we prevented her from getting the protection she needed. Does the “If it saves one life” argument hold water here? Do Assault Weapons Bans work? Spoilers, they don't. This is a difficult one to prove one way or the other as far as the trend is concerned, but the Assault Weapons Ban did not have an appreciable effect on the gun violence issue as seen in this OJP report. Not only was there no appreciable decrease in violence, they even note that rifles represent a single digit number of the homicides in America year to year, but the proliferation of the contraband firearms grows when they become contraband. Prohibition vibes anyone? Argument 3#: You Don't Need Weapons of War for Hunting or Self-Defense Response: Maybe not, both are easier and safer with modern firearms but that is our right in America. (By the way, what the heck is a weapon not of war? Is this some sort of neutered firearm that has been neutered for no other reason than virtue signaling?) The real reason for the 2nd Amendment is to protect us against tyrants. In America the individual is the highest authority. Government officials were simply there to facilitate the protections of the inalienable rights granted by God. The 2nd Amendment was always intended as a deterrent to tyranny. The British would have done anything to have a defenseless population to oppress and the founding fathers knew that an armed populace was the best protection against the government's natural inclination to oppress its people. Argument 4#: Your 2nd Amendment Rights Have Limitations Response: Do they? What did the Founding Fathers think about canons, warships, and firearms? They had ample opportunity to speak on the issue. They did in fact mention the use of warships in the matter of Privateers. From Thought.com you can see this definition of Privateers: “Privateers were captains of merchant ships legally sanctioned to attack and capture ships of enemy nations. American privateers had played a useful role in the American Revolution, attacking British ships. And when the United States Constitution was drafted it contained a provision for the federal government to authorize privateers. In the War of 1812, American privateers played a major role, as armed merchant ships sailing from American ports attacked, seized, or destroyed a great many British merchant ships. The American privateers actually did much more damage to British shipping than the U.S. Navy, which was greatly outnumbered and outgunned by Britain's Royal Navy.” These people possessed much greater firepower than any AR-15. This issue is a non-start, and one could even argue that tanks, destroyers, etc are indeed all protected items within the 2nd Amendment. What kind of chaos this must have caused you may say. There is little to no chaos recorded because pirates were stringently dealt with. When there are dire and swift consequences for evil, people tend to not commit evil.. Argument 5#: The Founding Fathers Did Not Consider Semi-Automatic Weapons Response: Actually in 1777, Congress considered the Belton Flintlock which could fire 8 rounds in rapid succession. The only reason Congress did not proceed with the purchase was the cost of the rifles. The Founding Fathers had many chances to consider repeaters and revolvers and never held that a citizen shouldn't own one. Argument 6#: Are You Not Pro-Life? How Is Killing Someone The Right Answer? Response: Are you inferring that the active act of murdering an innocent is the same as protecting innocents by stopping an aggressor? What did God say about self-defense? Exodus 22:2-3: “If a thief be found breaking up, and be smitten that he die, there shall no blood be shed for him. If the sun be risen upon him, there shall be blood shed for him; for he should make full restitution; if he have nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft.” Luke 11:21: “When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace:” Luke 22:35-37: “And he said unto them, When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and shoes, lacked ye any thing? And they said, Nothing. Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one. For I say unto you, that this that is written must yet be accomplished in me, And he was reckoned among the transgressors: for the things concerning me have an end.” Argument 7#: Jesus Said To Turn The Other Cheek. Shouldn't We As The Church Do So? Response: That verse was in a chapter. Let's have a look at this one in context with the whole of Scripture in mind: Mathew 5:38-41: “Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also.And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.” This was not in a vacuum. The same Christ also stated that one should sell their cloak if necessary to obtain the ability to defend themselves. In context this verse has nothing to do with self defense, but the issue of pride. From the Talmud: Sanhedrin 58b: “Rabbi Ḥanina says: A gentile who struck a Jew is liable to receive the death penalty, as it is stated when Moses saw an Egyptian striking a Hebrew: “And he turned this way and that way, and when he saw that there was no man, he struck the Egyptian and hid him in the sand” (Exodus 2:12).” And Rabbi Ḥanina says: One who slaps the cheek of a Jew is considered as though he slapped the cheek of the Divine Presence; as it is stated: “It is a snare [mokesh] for a man to rashly say [yala]: Holy” (Proverbs 20:25). The verse is interpreted homiletically to mean: One who strikes [nokesh] a Jew is considered as though he hurt the cheek [lo'a] of the Holy One.” Note, this interpretation makes much more sense in the cultural framework than a call for pacifism. Remember, when we are fighting for the rights of Americans to defend themselves, we need to remember that those who disagree with us, may honestly want to solve the problem too. On the gun control side, there are those who want power and those who simply want peace. Remember that we must be winsome so that the latter may come to realize the truth. Bibliography: Defensive uses of firearms: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3887145 CDC on Gun Deaths: https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/18319/priorities-for-research-to-reduce-the-threat-of-firearm-related-violence CNS on CDC Study NICS Information: http://fixnics.org/factinfo.cfm Charleston Loophole Fallacy: https://www.nssf.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/NSSF-Factsheet-NICS-Delays.pdf Gun Free Zones Statistics: https://crimeresearch.org/2018/06/more-misleading-information-from-bloombergs-everytown-for-gun-safety-on-guns-analysis-of-recent-mass-shootings/ Good Guys with guns: https://www.texasmonthly.com/articles/stephen-willeford-sutherland-springs-mass-murder/ https://nypost.com/2019/12/29/texas-church-shooting-leaves-2-dead/ https://www.foxnews.com/us/west-virginia-woman-shoots-kills-man-fired-party On Privateers: https://www.thoughtco.com/privateers-definition-1773340 On the Belton Flintlock and other repeating Muskets: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-wOmUM40G2U&ab_channel=RoyalArmouries https://military-history.fandom.com/wiki/Belton_flintlock https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belton_flintlock Sanhedrin 58b: https://www.sefaria.org/Sanhedrin.58b.18-19?ven=William_Davidson_Edition_-_English&vhe=Wikisource_Talmud_Bavli⟨=en&lookup=nd%20Rabbi%20%E1%B8%A4anina%20says%3A%20One%20who%20slaps%20the%20cheek%20of%20a%20Jew%20is%20considered%20as%20though%20he%20slapped%20the%20cheek%20of%20the%20Divine%20Presence%3B%20as%20it%20is%20stated%3A%20%E2%80%9CIt%20is%20a%20snare%20%5Bmokesh%5D%20for%20a%20man%20to%20rashly%20say%20%5Byala%5D%3A%20Holy%E2%80%9D%20(Proverbs%2020%3A25).%20The%20verse%20is%20interpreted%20homiletically%20to%20mean%3A%20One%20who%20strikes%20%5Bnokesh%5D%20a%20Jew%20is%20considered%20as%20though%20he%20hurt%20the%20cheek%20%5Blo%E2%80%99a%5D%20of%20the%20Holy%20One.&with=Lexicon&lang2=en
Physical or Biological Determinism will always cause the sort of societal pain that comes from stripping man of his rights as an image bearer of God. If we view people as simply the flesh that they inhabit, we will rob them of what makes them special: God breathed life and a spirit into each one of us. This gives us a unique value. This realization of the infinite value should move us to view every human as priceless.
The trouble with Secular Humanism that neither the value of God nor the value of man is recognized. Only the need for self actualization is acknowledged. So what would happen to a culture saddled with such a worldview if a certain minority were to be singled out as an obstacle to the majority's self-actualization, whether through pseudoscience, religious innuendo, or avarice? We only need to look to recent history to see the results.
In the 1700s a man named Thomas Robert Malthus produced the theory that the exponential population growth, combined with an arithmetic food supply growth, would produce immense human suffering in the inevitable overpopulation that would occur. The Malthusian Theory of Population, when combined with Darwinian Evolutionary Theory, bred an incredibly dangerous atmosphere where man thought it best to play God considering God's absence from man's worldview. This playing God took the form of Eugenics, or Good Birth (Eu-Greek for Good, Genes Greek for birth).
Eugenics was rather popular during Margret Sanger's day. It is important to remember that while she was a product of her times, those times are not that far behind us and neither are the propositions that motivated people like Margret Sanger.
So now that we have partially set the stage, let's not use some Pro-Life source. (Unfortunately, in the zeal for the Pro-Life cause, so many in the Pro-Life movement are not always accurate when representing Sanger. We should always build the strongest version of the opposition's argument when forming a response. Dismantling steelmen, not strawmen, prepares us to engage our culture successfully.) Let us use scholars like Edwin Black (not a conservative), Planned Parenthood, and most importantly, Sanger herself to look at the founder of the contraceptive movement that has evolved into the abortion movement.
From Planned Parenthood on Margret Sanger:
“Was Sanger Racist?
Arguments continue about whether or not her
outreach to the Black community was racist. We
know that Sanger was conscious of race, and that
she was capable of revolutionary thinking that
defied sexism of the time. She did not apply that
revolutionary thinking to race and class, choosing
instead to follow the paternalistic attitudes of the
time and willfully ignoring how Black people were
harmed by her movement. However, there is no
evidence that Sanger, or the Federation, intended to
coerce Black women into using birth control:
“The fundamental belief, underscored at
every meeting, mentioned in much of the
behind-the-scenes correspondence, and
evident in all the printed material put out
by the Division of Negro Service, was that
uncontrolled fertility presented the greatest
burden to the poor, and Southern blacks
were among the poorest Americans. In fact,
the Negro Project did not differ very much
from the earlier birth control campaigns in
the rural South...it would have been more
racist, in Sanger's mind, to ignore African
Americans in the South than to fail at trying
to raise the health and economic standards
of their communities” (“Birth Control or Race
Control,” 2001).”
There are several issues here. First, Sanger herself was an ardent supporter of sterilizing the “unfit”. Quote “As an advocate of birth control, I wish to take advantage of the present opportunity to point out the unbalance between the birth of the ‘unfit' and the fit. Admittedly the greatest present menace to civilization, can never be rectified by the inauguration of a cradle competition between these classes.” -Sanger 1919
This was not simply one race, but many for the average eugenist. The Appalachian, the Southern Italian, the Jew, the Black were all common targets of Sanger's peers in the movement. She was somewhat tight lipped about race, though those she considered to be mentally unfit were fair game (again the issue of IQ was often deduced by race through weighted IQ tests as scholars like Edwin Black are quick to point out.) However, let's look at her actions and words as they speak volumes about her end goals.
More from Planned Parenthood
“However, it is true that Margaret Sanger made a
speech on birth control to a women's auxiliary branch
of the Ku Klux Klan in Silver Lake, New Jersey, in 1926
(Sanger, 1938, 366). Sanger was so intent on her
mission to advocate for birth control that she chose
to align herself with ideologies and organizations
that were explicitly ableist and white supremacist.
In doing so, she undermined reproductive freedom
Black people, Latino people, Indigenous people,
immigrants, people with disabilities, people with low
incomes, and many others…”
But these were the targets of the Eugenics movement. Just recontextualize this with any other person who is not affiliated with Planned Parenthood. Someone who believed in breeding better humans, proposed her ideas to racists, who then furthered her cause. But she was not a racist. She only did racist things surrounded by racist people.
“Sanger and Eugenics
Eugenics is the theory that society can be improved
through planned breeding for “desirable traits”
like intelligence and industriousness. In the early
20th century eugenic ideas were popular among
highly educated, privileged, and mostly white
Americans. Margaret Sanger pronounced her belief
in and alignment with the eugenics movement in
her writings, especially in the scientific journal Birth
Control Review. At times, Sanger tried to argue for
a eugenics that was not applied based on race or
religion (Katz, 1995, 47).”
Point of order, this is what someone else has postulated posthumously to save the face of Planned Parenthood.
“But in a society built on the belief of white supremacy, physical and mental
fitness are always judged based on race. Eugenics,
therefore, is inherently racist.”
Sanger also argued that reproductive choices should
be made by each woman, not by the state.
“Eugenists imply or insist that a woman's
first duty is to the state; we contend that her
duty to herself is her first duty to the state.
We maintain that a woman possessing an
adequate knowledge of her reproductive
functions is the best judge of the time and
conditions under which her child should be
brought into the world. We further maintain
that it is her right, regardless of all other
considerations, to determine whether she
shall bear children or not, and how many
children she shall bear if she chooses to
become a mother. ... Only upon a free,
self-determining motherhood can rest any
unshakable structure of racial betterment”
(Sanger, 1919a).”
Also from Sanger: “A marriage license shall in itself give a husband and a wife only the right to a common household and not the right to parenthood.” Sanger- Article 3, 27 March 1934
This provokes the question: Was she speaking about two different groups of people? She often referred to the fit and unfit. She doubled down even further in the same publication when she wrote: “No woman shall have the legal right to bear a child and no man shall have the right to become a father without a permit for parenthood.”
These last two quotes came after Sanger supported the Supreme Court Decision Buck v Bell.
“Yet Sanger's points of disagreement did not
prohibit her from embracing harmful eugenic ideas.
For example, she endorsed the 1927 Buck v. Bell
decision, in which the Supreme Court ruled that
states could forcibly sterilize people deemed “unfit”
without their consent and sometimes without their
knowledge. The acceptance of this decision by
Sanger and other thought leaders laid the foundation
for tens of thousands of people to be sterilized, often
against their will. (Chesler, 1992, 485)
A majority of states would go on to adopt
involuntary sterilization policies, leading to more
than 60,000 people being sterilized by the states
in the 20th century. These policies targeted people
with disabilities and people broadly labeled
“feebleminded” or “mentally defective” by the state.
Sterilization policies were violently ableist, and
were applied in deeply racist ways. In the South,
so many Black women were given unnecessary
hysterectomies that it gave rise to the euphemism
“Mississippi appendectomy.” In California, 20,000
people were sterilized between 1909 and 1979,
among them a disproportionate number of Black,
Mexican American, and Asian American people. In
the 1970s and 80s, Indigenous women were sterilized
at staggering rates, without their consent: At least
25% of Native American women were sterilized
between 1970 and 1976. The ripples of the Buck
v. Bell decision are still felt today. In 2020 at Irwin
County Detention Center in Georgia, immigrant
detainees were sterilized against their will.
Sterilization policies in the U.S. in the 1930s would
ultimately inspire some of the worst human rights
atrocities in the history of the world, including the
Nazi regime's eugenics laws. While Sanger was not
associated with Nazism — her books were among the
first burned by Nazis in their campaign against family
planning (“Sanger on Exhibit,” 1999/2000), and she
helped several Jewish women and men and others
escape the Nazi regime in Germany (“Margaret
Sanger and the ‘Refugee Department',” 1993) — she is
not absolved of her endorsement of Buck v. Bell and
the harm it caused.
Sanger's belief in eugenics undermined reproductive
freedom and caused irreparable damage to the
health and lives of generations of Black people,
Latino people, Indigenous people, immigrants,
people with disabilities, people with low incomes,
and many others. Planned Parenthood denounces
Margaret Sanger's belief in eugenics.”
Sanger may not have liked where things ended up in Germany, but she had already met the Nazis half way with the Buck v Bell case. It is important to note, that she shifted her approach in light of the Nazi situation, but Edwin Black in his book “The War Against the Weak” is clear to note that he does not believe that Sanger was a racist, but consorted with the worst of them. Why might she have done this? She would say herself: “These two words (Birth Control) sum up our whole philosophy. It means the release and cultivation of the better elements in our society, and the gradual suppression, elimination, and eventual extinction of defective stocks… Those human weeds which threaten the finest flowers of American Civilization.” -Sanger “Highlights in the History of Birth Control” October 1923.
All of our problems are the result of overbreeding among the working class… Knowledge of birth control is essentially moral. Its general, though prudent, practice must lead to a higher individuality and ultimately a cleaner race.” -Sanger “Morality and Birth Control.” Feb 1918.
She may have even had good intentions. But shouldn't that scare us all the more? Should this idea that all of this was done for the betterment of the human race and female sex be all the more frightening? We need a standard. The one that our Father in Heaven has set.
https://youtu.be/HsrOPDdbTzM
18:45 Quotes on Sanger arguing for sexual freedom
https://www.plannedparenthood.org/uploads/filer_public/cc/2e/cc2e84f2-126f-41a5-a24b-43e093c47b2c/210414-sanger-opposition-claims-p01.pdf
https://sangerpapers.wordpress.com/tag/edwin-black/
NM Holocaust Video On Eugenics:
https://youtu.be/jeSM9vz6ylg
Argument 1#
“Pro-Lifers want to control Women” (Not really an argument, but let us deal with it.
In a story from the guardian, (Slide 1#) a new poll says that Pro-Lifers simply want to control women's bodies due to misogyny. They base this purely on slanted questions that are clearly aimed at political issues, and not in a way that would divine between egalitarian and misogynistic traits.
Article here:
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/aug/22/a-new-poll-shows-what-really-interests-pro-lifers-controlling-women
This is simply not the case. Just because Pro-Lifers do not want to see a government mandate on companies to enforce diversity hiring does not mean that we hate women. It just means that we have an intellectual standard. Likewise, Pro-Lifers are no more advocating against a woman's autonomy in the prohibition of infanticide as we are in the prohibition of homicide. This is an intellectually consistent view.
Argument 2#
Some will simply say that the infant in the womb is a clump of cells. Or even then, they may be a human clump of cells, but not a person. As is done here by Clair White over at Medium.com:
https://medium.com/@ClaireJWhite/a-clump-of-cells-71071af908d9
To the first argument, genetically, this is undeniably a natural human with his or her own DNA and is in the most vulnerable stage of life. Cancer may have its own DNA as some will point out, but that is a silly comparison at best because Cancer is an unnatural thing that is from YOUR DNA that you received at conception in your mother's womb.
Argument 3#
The next issue raised by people like Clair White, is the issue of personhood. When does someone become a person? At consciousness? How about unconscious patients on life support? Did these lose part of their humanity? How about those who are mentally deficient? Is this consciousness and value of human life on a sliding scale? How about babies with deformities? Should we remove them from the gene pool? The Secular Humanists in Germany toyed with these ideas in the early parts of the last century and Europe is headed back in that direction now. This is not a slippery slope, this is a proven and repeated trajectory. Playing with the idea of personhood allows for great injustices in the name of so called science and progress. We saw it in Nazi Germany, Communist Russian, we see it today in China, and here in the west with the blackmarket for embryonic tissue for stemcell research.
Even if the infant is not a full fledged person, the argument falls apart. What do we do to those who poach or kill dolphins? Eagles? Even the destruction of some bugs and turtles land the perpetrator in the slammer. Is not the human embryo even more valuble than the embryo of a dumb animal? (Yes people have been jailed for damaging eggs of birds, turtles, etc)
Argument 4#
Another common claim that is made is that Pro-Life means Pro-Birth and nothing more, as articulated by prochoiceamerica.org in this article.
(Slide 3#)
https://www.prochoiceamerica.org/campaign/the-hypocrisy-of-the-pro-life-movement/
Again, they are conflating disagreement in how to fix these other problems with intellectual inconsistency. This is not the issue at hand.
The Violinist Argument will provide us with some good context for several claims and arguments. Pulled from(https://prolife.stanford.edu/qanda/q2-2.html)
“Educated pro-choicers who claim that the question of fetal personhood is irrelevant because the mother's right to an abortion would trump the fetus' right to life even if he is a person may bring up Judith Jarvis Thompson's famous “Violinist Analogy” or some variation of it.
In this somewhat contrived story, a man (a violinist, in the original formulation of the analogy) is dying, and the only way to prolong his life is to hook him up to another human and siphon off some of that person's blood or kidney function (or something) as a form of life-support. He must remain in this state for the several months necessary for medical technology to reach the point that it can intervene and completely resuscitate him. So the music lovers, in their zeal to save the violinist, find some random woman who happens to be the only person in the world with the right blood type. As she sleeps in bed, they hook her up to the violinist. The woman wakes up to find herself strapped down to the bed and attached as a form of life support to a complete stranger, essentially a human parasite, lying next to her. Unless she severs the tubes, she can't move or go anywhere indefinitely, forced to have her energy siphoned off by the parasite. Most people's (correct) reaction is that the woman has the right to free herself of the violinist, even though she knows that this will result in his death.
The idea is that this situation is analogous to an unplanned pregnancy: against her plans, the woman finds herself supporting the life of an unwanted person and has the right to deprive that person of her bodily support, regardless of what the result is for the parasite.”
Argument 5#: I have the right to abortion because the baby is a stranger and a leach that has appeared unplanned, unannounced, and unwanted.
Unplugging a stranger form life support is not an active act of murder, but rather a passive act of retracting care. No one believes that retracting life support from a terminally ill patient is necesarrily murder. The imposition on the one giving life support is not a morally necessary one, so one person's need for life support does not mandate another's autonomy. So this is a false equivalence. The proper analogy would involve dismembering the stranger, not unplugging them. One is an passive act that frees you of the responsibility (like adoption), and the other is an active act of murder.
Argument 6#: I did not consent to the pregnancy, just the sex.
The lack of consent argument holds little water. Consider this analogy: Someone playing baseball in the street may not have consented to the property damage caused by an accidental window break, but they WILL have to face the repercussions. If your child was conceived by a consensual act of procreation, then this is no different. You may attempt to argue that you have no responsibility for your actions and that you do not want a child. If so, adoption is an option for you. However, what is not an option, is jamming a pair of forceps into your baby's head or the head of your irate neighbor (How do you get to kill a 3rd party for your convenience when your actions caused the situation?).There are repercussions for actions. This also holds for rape and incest, 1% of cases. The principle is the same, but the blame is not on the woman, but the man. How does an evil act, committed by a more powerful person onto a vulnerable person, validate another evil act perpetrated by the original victim, onto an even more vulnerable person? If the baby in the womb is a person, then they have as much right to not be physically violated and ripped to shreds while alive as the woman had to not be raped.
Argument 7#: I have autonomy over my own body.
Correct! So does the infant. Imagine this, if turbulence on a commercial flight causes a stranger to stumble onto your lap, you do not have the autonomy to stab this person in the head and suck their brains out. In the poor analogy above, this unnatural position is temporary like pregnancy. Pregnancy, however, is the natural outcome and end to sex. Your autonomy extends to contraceptives, abstinence, adoption, or surgery to prevent you from being able to conceive. When did murder enter into the equation of personal autonomy?
Argumen 8#: If I cannot be compelled to give an organ to a stranger, or even my own child, how can I be expected to give my uterus?
Three points here:
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A kidney transplant is permanent, pregnancy is 9 months. While a pregnancy does affect some bodily changes, these are incomparably benign to a lifetime of dialysis if kidney 2# stops working.
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The issue of ontology is worth thinking about here as well. What is the purpose of the kidney? It works within the original owner's body to perform a critical function. You are partially impaired without both kidneys. Transplanting a kidney is an extraordinary and extra-natural act. The uterus, however, has a different purpose. It was made to hold the human life that dwells within for the duration of 9 months. The natural purpose of the uterus is to shelter that life. This is perhaps a weak argument, but one formed in response to a weak attack on the Pro-Life stance.
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None of the above arguments deal with the issue of the infant's vs the organ recipient's state of health. The person in need of a kidney requires someone else to give up part of a healthy donor body to provide two people with compromised physical capacity. Without the donation, there would simply be one live non-donor, and one dead person who was in need of a kidney. The act of actively destroying the baby in the womb leaves one mother with a statistically higher chance of suicidal ideation (outside of 5~10 years), and a dead baby in the vacuum cleaner. Carrying to term allows for both individuals to live physically whole lives.
Argument 9#: I have reproductive rights.
That is true! But pregnancy is not reproduction, conception is. Even if someone took your agency in the case of rape or incest, the issue is not made better by infanticide.
First question of the day is, what is Climate Change? Because it was Global Warming, until the recent cooling cycle (closely related to the Sun getting cooler, as it does in cycles). Now it's Climate Change.
From Wikipedia:
“Climate change threatens people with food and water scarcity, increased flooding, extreme heat, more disease, and economic loss. Human migration and conflict can be a result. The World Health Organization (WHO) calls climate change the greatest threat to global health in the 21st century.”
So, let's look at the claims that have been made concerning this impending disaster and what has actually happened.
Claims like Greta Thunberg's: “Around 2030 we will be in a position to set off an irreversible chain reaction beyond human control that will lead to the end of our civilization as we know it.” or AOC's: “The world is going to end in 12 years if we don't address climate change.” are not new. We have been facing these for the last several decades of climate alarmism. However, do not let the facts get in the way of the agenda. It's not like climate change is 13,260% less responsible for Human death since 1920. That's right, Climate related deaths have only DECREASED with the technological trappings of modernity, like electricity, central heating and cooling, and transportation for critical supplies.
However, not everyone is so fortunate. According to the WHO, roughly 2.6 billion people are still forced to cook with solid fuels (biomass, dung, and other wastes.) This results in an estimated 3.8 million deaths per year, about the same as what the WHO attributes to “outdoor air pollution”.
These are the same people who can barely get enough food to eat, food that we often use for “Biofuel” projects. Dr. Indur M. Goklany in his 2010 paper on the subject linked 192,000 excess deaths to the growth of “Biofuel”. He compared the deaths to the 141,000 estimated excess deaths that year attributed to Global Warming by the WHO. These people need energy, food, and working logistics more than they need virtue signals.
While trillions are being poured into solar and wind to make them cheaper (and they are becoming cheaper), these sources are not reliable nor usable in all environments. In the Texas freeze of 2021, there were many factors in play. One of which was a lack of proper grid management, noted, but at least the non-winterized natural gas and coal produced some energy, while the frozen windmills were still.
I have no qualms with clean energy. I've worked in this sector and have patents in solar. I want clean energy as much as the next person. However, the Paris Climate Accords and Kyoto Protocol will only stifle development if enforced by organizations like the UN. The Kyoto Protocol was certainly not enforced upon nations like China or India, even though they are grossly more to blame for pollutants than the United States of America. The US of A actually decreased emissions while deregulating under Trump's Era.
The other issue is that we have seen these same claims made over and over again with conflicting claims of warming vs cooling depending upon what decade we are speaking of. Let's go back, shall we, to the claims that have been made over the last few decades:
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1967 Dire Famine Forecast By 1975
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1969: Everyone Will Disappear In a Cloud Of Blue Steam By 1989 (1969)
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1970: Ice Age By 2000
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1970: America Subject to Water Rationing By 1974 and Food Rationing By 1980
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1971: New Ice Age Coming By 2020 or 2030
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1972: New Ice Age By 2070
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1974: Space Satellites Show New Ice Age Coming Fast
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1974: Another Ice Age?
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1974: Ozone Depletion a ‘Great Peril to Life (data and graph)
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1976: Scientific Consensus Planet Cooling, Famines imminent
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1980: Acid Rain Kills Life In Lakes (additional link)
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1978: No End in Sight to 30-Year Cooling Trend (additional link)
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1988: Regional Droughts (that never happened) in 1990s
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1988: Temperatures in DC Will Hit Record Highs
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1988: Maldive Islands will Be Underwater by 2018 (they're not)
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1989: Rising Sea Levels will Obliterate Nations if Nothing Done by 2000
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1989: New York City's West Side Highway Underwater by 2019 (it's not)
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2000: Children Won't Know what Snow Is
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2002: Famine In 10 Years If We Don't Give Up Eating Fish, Meat, and Dairy
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2004: Britain will Be Siberia by 2024
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2008: Arctic will Be Ice Free by 2018
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2008: Climate Genius Al Gore Predicts Ice-Free Arctic by 2013
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2009: Climate Genius Prince Charles Says we Have 96 Months to Save World
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2009: UK Prime Minister Says 50 Days to ‘Save The Planet From Catastrophe'
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2009: Climate Genius Al Gore Moves 2013 Prediction of Ice-Free Arctic to 2014
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2013: Arctic Ice-Free by 2015 (additional link)
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2014: Only 500 Days Before ‘Climate Chaos'
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1968: Overpopulation Will Spread Worldwide
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1970: World Will Use Up All its Natural Resources
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1966: Oil Gone in Ten Years
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1972: Oil Depleted in 20 Years
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1977: Department of Energy Says Oil will Peak in 1990s
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1980: Peak Oil In 2000
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1996: Peak Oil in 2020
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2002: Peak Oil in 2010
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2006: Super Hurricanes!
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2005 : Manhattan Underwater by 2015
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1970: Urban Citizens Will Require Gas Masks by 1985
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1970: Nitrogen buildup Will Make All Land Unusable
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1970: Decaying Pollution Will Kill all the Fish
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1970s: Killer Bees!
From: https://www.aei.org/carpe-diem/50-years-of-failed-doomsday-eco-pocalyptic-predictions-the-so-called-experts-are-0-50/
And there are more at the link attached!
Also, the “97% of climate scientists concede that man-made climate change is real and will kill us all” is not only misleading, it is flatly false. Many of those scientists protest Climate Alarmism. Forbes did a debunk piece on this here: https://www.forbes.com/sites/alexepstein/2015/01/06/97-of-climate-scientists-agree-is-100-wrong/?sh=611fb1f13f9f 97% of climate scientists agree that man made pollution, presence, and other factors have an influence on the climate. This does not mean that they believe that we should leave those who cannot afford solar and wind infrastructure behind by demanding that they do not use fossil fuels. All of us want human flourishing. If you look at the evidence that they present in the article above, you will see that man made emissions directly coincide with increased lifespan and longevity.
On a more Biblical note, the World will not end in anything other than the events of Revelation. Is Climate Change a part of that? Maybe, but maybe in a more insidious way than some would imagine. With all of the shifting goal posts we have seen to this point, we must realize that there is an ulterior motive at play here. There obviously is and we know that those lawmakers who push the climate agenda want a one world system. This is the system that the Beast will use to persecute the Church and attempt an unsuccessful coup against God Himself.
With the facts in mind and at hand, let us move forward with knowledge and in the Spirit to relieve those who are in fear on this topic. We should be able to do this in love and in a manner that is winsome so that others may come to know the Truth.
War Is Peace
Freedom Is Slavery
Ignorance Is Strength
Truth Is Disinformation
Elon Musk buys Twitter, two weeks later, the Biden Administration forms a DHS “Disinformation Governance Board”. The name itself reminds us of the Orwellian novel 1984, but I think it is important to remember how Orwell came to his worldview when he wrote 1984. George Orwell was a Marxist who saw what his worldview produced in Spain before he became a Libertarian. In 1984, language was loaded with opposing ideas to confuse and subjugate the populace. The Ministry of Peace waged War, The Ministry of Truth ran propaganda, The Ministry of Love was the Gestapo-like entity in charge of torturing disidents. In one minute, angry protesters could shift targets of protest by a simple PSA from the Ministry of Truth. It may sound far fetched, but we are watching it happen before our eyes in the USofA today.
Elon Musk, a prominent businessman, heralded as the techno-messiah of the EV World has brought us affordable Electric Vehicles (Actually, you did through taxpayer dollars, but that is another topic for another day.) Now the Tesla Billionaire is Public Enemy 1# for buying Twitter with the only intent to restore it to a neutral platform. Make no mistake, Musk has much to gain by this. Conservatives are seeing incredible spikes in traction on Twitter and thousands upon thousands of what appear to be bot accounts are being deleted, deflating Democrat Accounts’ Followers. Twitter may well soar to new heights with a more universal appeal if Musk can succeed in his attempts to restore Twitter to its original purpose. That is, if Twitter survives the turmoil we see brewing from an Administration positioning themselves.
Now that we have set some of the table, let’s go back to Scripture. Of all of the liberties and virtues that the Lord seems to value, which did He exhibit or place first? Love may be the first answer that comes to mind and that is true, but what kind of Love? The kind that allows people to have freewill. What was the Lord doing in Genesis 2 when He forbade Adam and Eve from eating of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil? He could have removed that tree. Why did he allow it to exist? Because Love can only exist in the presence of freewill and the opportunity to exercise that freewill.
When a government begins to assert what is true and what is not. Where has that Government placed itself? Who’s authority has the Government usurped? Truth is best described as reality. God defines reality. When you attempt to write your own reality, by definition that is sin and also is extremely dangerous.
The DHS which has been aggressively dismantling Border Security is now focusing in on our own citizens in the United States. They have claimed that they will only be using our tax dollars against what they consider to be disinformation. However the young lady who has been installed as the head of this enterprise has a terrible track record. She buried the Hunter Laptop story (proven true on all accounts) and trumpeted the Russia Collusion Story (proven false on all accounts). Ad Hominem aside with her vitriolic TikTok account aside, these people are not equipped or qualified to make decisions about what is true and not online. No one is. To make things more Orwellian, remember that this is the same DHS that has billions, literally, of rounds of ammo stockpiles with no justification as to why a law enforcement agency would stockpile so much ammunition (not shoot or add to training regimens).
Remember that Christ was called disinformation that could destroy the Jewish Nation. His disciples were put to death for such disinformation. Steal your hearts, pray, and let’s fight this corruption by telling others the Truth. Not just about what is happening and why these draconian measures are wrong, but let us be about the Gospel, more than ever!
What is Easter? Did Jesus celebrate Easter or Passover? Are Christians celebrating a pagan holiday? Are we missing out on a blessing in not celebrating Passover? No, Passover, Maybe?, and Absolutely in that order. Join us as we explore the difference between Easter and Passover in the hope that we may get a better understanding of Christ. -Further. Every. Day.
047 Critical Gender Theory
Before we dive into the rabbit hole, let's define some terms:
Gender from Webster's 1828 Dictionary:
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Properly, kind; sort.
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A sex, male or female. Hence,
Gender from Merriam Webster 2022:
: sex sense 1a the feminine gender
b : the behavioral, cultural, or psychological traits typically associated with one sex
With those two definitions stated and the shift in definition noted, let's look at 2 the tenets of Critical Gender Theory
- Gender Is A Social Construct
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Gender Is Performed
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Gender is a Social Construct:
Biology screams against this in many ways. As a general rule, your biology dictates which sex you identify with and has always done so. ~98% of people globally identify with their born God-given gender as statistics show. (https://www.statista.com/statistics/1269778/gender-identity-worldwide-country/)
So, let's not deal with the sociology just yet but those outliers who actually have genetic abnormalities. Many conservatives will say: “Biology states that if you have an Y Chromosome, you will develop into a male.” This is normally the case, although a bit reductive. But let's look at the exception. About 15,000 people in the United States have some mixture of XXY, XYY, and other conditions that create an androgenous response or infertility from the person's DNA. Some of these have counter-normative or intuitive formation of primary and secondary sex characteristics. However, this accounts for less than 1% of 1% of the population and most if not all of these folks present relatively clearly as male or female. (https://isna.org/faq/y_chromosome/)
Now, aside from genetic abnormality, which still presents as one sex or the other, X and Y Chromosomes are pretty good indicators of what and who this person will be. The mainline argument is not that there are anomalies, but that biological differences are things that can be tweaked to suit our own whims and fantasies. This is simply not true and destructive. Let's look at the ultimate experiment that proves that Gender is not only a biological fact, but pretending otherwise is dangerous at best.
- Gender is performed
The story of David Reimer should provide some insight into the veracity of this idea. But before we get to David's story, we should deal with the man behind David Reimer's suffering and Modern Gender Theory: John Money. You can find his praise filled bio at the Kinsey Institute's Website: (https://kinseyinstitute.org/about/profiles/john-money.php). Those who know that name know that Aflfred Kinsey was a sex “researcher” who collablorated with the ilk of Nazi officer Dr. Fritz von Balluseck who would rape his victims and record data. Fritz and other pedophiles and rapists were not only documented by Kinsey, but encouraged to continue their research. With this information Kinsey published ghoulish charts that documented the “Speed of Pre-Adolecent Orgasm” with numerous data points down to 5 month olds in Kinsey's book Sexual Behaviour and the Human Male. John Money was not only a colleague of Kinsey, but also a defender of pedophilia as seen in his work. “If I were to see the case of a boy aged ten or eleven who's intensely erotically attracted toward a man in his twenties or thirties, if the relationship is totally mutual, and the bonding is genuinely totally mutual [...] then I would not call it pathological in any way.” Said John Money in a 1991 interview with the Journal of Paedophilia.
Reimer was one of the many victims of John Money and his idea that Gender was performative and constructed by societal expectations. David was one of two twins, born Bruce. Bruce as an infant was castrated by an experimental circumcision. His brother Brian remained whole. Mr. and Mrs. Reimer were directed to John Money for their injured son's treatment, unaware of Money's character or exploitative nature. Money recommended that Bruce be completely sex reassigned to female and treated as such. By two years old, the deed had been done and Bruce was renamed Brenda. Brenda loathed his life and all of the toys and affects of girlhood, longing to act as a boy. Also, John Money had recurring sessions with Brenda and Brian where Money forced the children to commit sex acts upon eachother, for Money's and his Colleage's benefit. In Brenda's teen years, he was on the verge of suicide when his parents finally broke down and told Brenda the truth of his biology. Brenda immediately opted to transition and become known as David. He went through reconstructive surgery, undergoing mastectomies and surgery to simulate what had been surgically removed as a child. Alas, all of the damage done to both Brian and David/Bruce was too much for them to handle and they both committed suicide within two years of each other. John Money's experiment, however, has had its impact as his theories had already become mainstream before they were proven so very wrong by the lives of these two innocent boys that he had destroyed.
https://slate.com/technology/2004/06/why-did-david-reimer-commit-suicide.html
So, why are Christianity and Critical Gender Theory incompatible? Well, the Biblical view of Complementarianism states that there is a binary for gender. We see that in Genesis.
Critical Gender Theory relies on the Marxist system of oppressors and oppressed with differing standards for morality within each group. This flies in the face of God's Justice. One more thing, if Critical Theory views the powerful as oppressors, where does this put God?
Malachi 2:15
And did not he make one? Yet had he the residue of the spirit. And wherefore one? That he might seek a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth.
What was marriage for? Reproduction. Sure there are those who cannot have children and their marriage is still of inestimable value. We live in a fallen world, and God is wonderful at making lemonade out of lemons. However, reproduction is the primary purpose of marriage.
Genesis 1:27
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
So here we have the creation of a binary.
Genesis 19:4-5
“But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter:And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them.”
This is the first reference of homosexual behavior. It doesn't end well for those practicing it.
Leviticus 18:22
“Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.”
Deviation from God's picture of Christ and the Church is an abomination. It is dysfunction that eats away at the very basic fabric of who we are as Image Bearers of God.
Deuteronomy 23:17-18
“There shall be no whore of the daughters of Israel, nor a sodomite of the sons of Israel. Thou shalt not bring the hire of a whore, or the price of a dog, into the house of the LORD thy God for any vow: for even both these are abomination unto the LORD thy God.” (Dog referring to the word Kadesh or one who acts in a dog like manner.)
There has always been a spiritual aspect to sexuality. Research is now showing that there are chemical interactions in the brain that permanently bond you to each sexual partner with which you interact.https://www.sagu.edu/thoughthub/the-physiological-bonds-that-happen-during-sex/
Judges 19:22
“Now as they were making their hearts merry, behold, the men of the city, certain sons of Belial, beset the house round about, and beat at the door, and spake to the master of the house, the old man, saying, Bring forth the man that came into thine house, that we may know him.”
Just in case the first account doesn't convince you, the second should make you take note. Sodom and Gammorah were wiped off the map for this. In Judges 19, we see men of the tribe of Benjamin commit the same sin. Benjamin as a tribe was nearly wiped out of Israel.
Romans 1:26-28
“For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;”
This should send shutters through the soul of the Christian. We should also have an intense empathy for those traveling this road of destruction. We should be reaching out to those in sin, just as our Father reached out to us when we were in such straits.
1 Corinthians 6:9
“Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,”
The Greek word for effeminate means those of an uncertain affinity. This does not mean androgenous people, but those who chose to live in a way outside of the way that God created them, specifically men choosing to be effeminate.
1 Timothy 1:10
“For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;”
Again, primarily focused on men with men, Romans 1 deals with women too, but the idea is that there is a binary order and falling outside of that order is in rebellion to our Heavenly Father.
All of this to say that the Critical Theory of Gender has been roundly proven destructive by stories like David Reimer's. Its affects are incredibly destructive, and those who suffer from dysmorphia concerning their body or dysphoria concerning God's order don't need this toxic ideology that was cooked in the same incubator as John Money, Nazi Doctors, and the Marxist Frankfurt School. They need Christ. Let us arm ourselves with Truth to free those who would be freed in a loving, but non-compromising way.
So, let's start out with the elephant in the room, no matter how we look at the plight of the African Americans in our society, there IS a problem. There may be more to it, however than simply discrimination, although that DOES happen, albeit not as it did in Jim Crow and Slavery days.
Statistically there is an issue with wealth distribution between Whites, Hispanics, Blacks, and Asian, but is this really an issue of systemic racism? How can the Naturalized Nigerian-American make more than 10% the average American, as seen in the below Yahoo Finance data? Is this a sign of discriminatory practices in a country that an immigrant can make more than the average income of its natural born citizens?
Before you read this next paragraph, I need you to consider that these are the statistics and data. They have little to do with race, as we will attempt to show in a moment, but the truth is what will help us aid those communities who have remained wounded and poor for centuries. When discussing police policy, many will point to the disproportionate incarceration of the African American, this is a reality. However, according to the below study on homicides and crime in 2019 America, over 50% of the homicides in this nation are committed by those of African descent. It is important to note that in 2019 America, 14% of the population fit this description. One critical piece to this puzzle lies in the next bit of information from the FBI Stats from 2019: 48.7% of the homicides in the United States occurred in the South.
As Christians, we are supposed to look to our Master and King for His solutions to oppression as well as matters of society. However, the Enemy of Our Souls, is in the business of offering counter solutions, like Legal or Critical Theory. The idea that the only dynamics in life are that of oppressors and oppressed is at the root of this theory and Critical Race Theory strives to critique the Western Culture (built on Judeo-Christian Principles) as a power structure of oppressors and oppressed that must be reorganized. (As we have discussed before, this is all derivative of failed Marxist Theory. It has simply been repackaged as a different set of oppressors and oppressed.)
So, what would the tenets of CRT be? Well, here are the 5 tenets of Critical Race Theory from Nicholas Daniel Harlep of University of Wisconsin Milwaukee in 2009:
“There are five major components or tenets of CRT:
(1) the notion that racism is ordinary and not aberrational;
“Firstly, racism is ordinary : the overall ethos of majority culture promotes and promulgates a notion of “color-blindness” and “meritocracy.” These two notions are mutually intertwined and serve to marginalize certain enclaves of people—predominantly people of color. Color-blindness and meritocratic rhetoric serve two primary functions: Critical Race Theory first, they allow whites to feel consciously irresponsible for the hardships people of color face and encounter daily and, secondly, they also maintain whites' power and strongholds within society.First, color-blindness legitimizes racism's need for an “other” in order to flourish and maintain its influence within the fabric of society. Racism and white supremacy are not aberrant, insofar as the oppressors—the status quo—exploit the “others” (the oppressed) in order to maintain their elitist control, as well as to claim that they are neutral. Close examination repudiates this false sense of neutrality. Second, meritocracy allows the empowered—the status quo—to feel “good” and have a clear conscience: many would ask why the powerful would not have a clear conscience since they maintain a majority of the wealth and power in society. The powerful maintain power and only relinquish portions of it when they have nothing to lose; furthermore, they receive platitudes and compliments when they do choose to dole out portions of their power”
(2) the idea of an interest convergence;
“Secondly, Bell's (1980) theory of interest convergence is a critical component within the cogs of CRT. Common sense belief s are formulated by the majority “status quo.” The beliefs created by the majority—the haves—oppress minority groups—the have-nots and have-too-littles. Stated more precisely, interest convergence is the notion that whites will allow and support racial justice/progress to the extent that there is something positive in it for them, or a “convergence” between the interests of whites and non-whites. CRT focuses on informing the public how certain stories act and serve to silence and distort certain enclaves of people and cultures (typically people of color), while simultaneously building-up and legitimizing others', typically the majority—status quo (which retains or gains even more power through these transactions).”
This author then continues with a parable about aliens and white people making a deal where white people get a perfect world after sacrificing the blacks to the aliens. This is to prove the point that whites only reverse racist behavior if it benefits whites. (Charming, right?)
(3) the social construction of race;
I totally agree with this one….
(4) the idea of storytelling and counter-storytelling;
“Fourthly, the idea of storytelling comes from its powerful, persuasive, and explanatory ability to unlearn beliefs that are commonly believed to be true. CRT calls this concept “storytelling” and “counter-storytelling.” This dichotomy—storytelling and counter-storytelling—is predicated upon the belief that schools are neutral spaces that treat everyone justly; however, close examination refutes this: simply evaluating graduation rates accomplishes this. School curricula continue to be structured around mainstream white, middle-class values. There continues to be a widening of the racial achievement gap (the separation of students of color's achievement and the achievement of Anglo-Americans). Whose needs do these values and curricula serve? It is not students of color?
Hackman and Rauscher (2004) draw attention to the fact that under the guise of mainstream curriculum certain enclaves of students become marginalized through curriculum and praxis that are insensitive and inequitable. Hackman and Rauscher (2004) state the following:[...] often under-funded [...] mandates across the nation leave many educators wondering how best to serve their students, particularly those students who do not fit into the mainstream [author's emphasis] profile or curriculum. In today's schools, the needs of students with disabilities and members of other marginalized groups often go unmet, and as such, more inclusive educational approaches need to be adopted to ensure that all students have access to a solid education. (p. 114) CRT's counter-storytelling is a necessary tool given the curricula in equity in the U.S. educational system. Without CRT's counter-sto rytelling, the true stories would never be publicly proclaimed, and perhaps the world would come to believe and perceive that all was fine.”
This translates to a disdain of the Scientific Method, Mathematics, Logic and Rhetoric, for less logical and more empathetic “story based learning”. (Because melanin, prevents people from thinking logically… oh yes, this ultimately came out of 1930s Germany. This makes more sense now.)
(5) the notion that whites have actually been recipients of civil rights legislation.
Fifthly, whites have actually been recipients of civil rights legislation. It is worth
citing Taylor (2009) at length:
Fifty years post Brown, de jure separation has been replaced by de facto segregation, as White flight from public schools has created a two-tiered system in many cities and student assignments have shifted from mandatory busing to neighborhood preferences. Most children of color currently attend schools with relatively few Whites; very few White children attend schools where they are the minority. Clarenton, South Carolina, one of the case schools used by civil rights lawyers Thurgood Marshall and Charles H ouston, remains as segregated as it was before 1954. The educational progress of African Americans that has occurred has thus been allowed only if it is perceived by the majority as cost-free, or nearly so. Preferably, these changes have come incrementally, and without social disruptions such as marches, boycotts, and riots. Importantly, for most Whites, advances must come without affirmative action. (p. 6-7)
The irony is that, although whites have undeniably been the recipients of civil rights legislation, it has also been verified that affirmative action, too, best serves whites (e.g., Delgado & Stefancic, 2001; Delgado, 2009). Delgado (2009) exhorts and explicitly requests that “[...] we should demystify, interrogate, and destabilize affirmative action.
The program was designed by others to promote their purposes, not ours” (p. 111). Lawrence (2002) states this similarly: “The dismantling of affirmative action is segregation. Its purpose and meaning are the same as the Jim Crow laws'' (p. xv).”
I actually agree here to the point that the majority of well intentioned laws, and some of them ill-intentioned, leveled at fixing racism do not fix the problem. These laws only create more problems more egregious than the original issue.
So, instead of simply smelling a rotten egg, let's attempt to figure out how we are to fix the issue. But before we do, it is important to note how we got to where we are. Let's look to Thomas Sowell for some history. In a great commentary on the issue “The Origin of Black American Culture and Ebonics, Sowell deconstructs the origins of certain behaviors and characteristics of different cultures. He starts out reading a historical excerpt describing a terror of a people decending on 1950s Indianapolis, people who did not regard work, the law, their children, and who's moral standards were so low that they would shame an alley cat. The folks of Indianapolis were not making a racist cry for relief from African-Americans settling in their towns, but white rednecks. These Celtic rough and rowdy characters would sooner kill their brother or best friend than take an insult. This subculture is one that Sowell, and other historians, trace to modern day hood culture. With a link below, it is an interesting listen, but Sowell makes several very good points. The most salient, I think, is the fact that these white southerners were in a cycle of intergenerational poverty that even freshly arrived Germans, Danes, and even freed African slaves would out perform in every way from education to commercial success. This intergenerational poverty had been present in these families before they even came to the New World from the British Isles. Not only did these lack the Protestant Work Ethic, but promiscuity was rampant. One clergy member noted that 9/10 of those brides he officiated for were pregnant at the ceremony. This was in stark contrast to those in the North where such things were far from normal. Rape was also often punished less severely than petty theft, whereas in the North, rape was a hanging offense. This culture of Godlessness was the culture that many poor and enslaved African Americans lived within, even after emancipation. They had picked up the most destructive tendencies of Anglo Culture.
After gaining their freedom, Sowell notes, those who escaped the RedNeck Culture often ultimately made it to the middle class, some even before the 1960s. Now, this does not mean that things were at all easy, but this is not simply an issue of oppressed and oppressors. The presence of successful members of society with high melanin content in their skin suggests cultural issues. This is where the Church needs to step in.
What does our Father in Heaven say about the philosophies of this World?
Colossians 2:8 “See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.”
If it does not comport with scripture, it should be out. This counter reality narrative is vain, deceitful, and destructive.
Ibram Kendi once wrote in regards to antiracism, a component of CRT: “The only remedy to racist discrimination is anti-racist discrimination. The only remedy to past discrimination is present discrimination. The only remedy to present discrimination is future discrimination.”
In A Rhythm of Prayer: A Collection of Meditations for Renewal Chanequa Walker-Barnes, a self-proclaimed theologian prayed: “Dear God, Please help me to hate White people. Or at least want to hate them. At least, I want to stop caring about them, individually and collectively. I want to stop caring about their misguided, racist souls, to stop believing that they can better, that they can stop being racist.”
Galatians 3:28 “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.”
James 2:9 “But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.”
CRT is toxic and antithetical to the Biblical Worldview. It may sound nice, like every other trap the Enemy of Our Souls lays before us, but in the end, bitter sadness awaits.
We as a Church need to not only be informed about what CRT is, and we also need to be a Holy people. We need to address racism in every form, whether it is racism or the new ant-racism of CRT, we need to unify as one diverse body under and in Christ. If the World sees that, perhaps some will realize how wrong this belief truly is.
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/u-could-actually-more-nigerian-133011858.html
https://www.ojjdp.gov/ojstatbb/crime/ucr.asp?table_in=2
https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/fact-sheet/facts-about-the-us-black-population/
https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED506735.pdf
Before we get to Social Justice, however, we need to go to the place from where Social Justice, a blanket term to cover a variety of Critical Theory Tenets, hails. The Frankfurt School or the Institute for Social Research was founded shortly after WWI in 1923 and was largely influenced by the works of Sigmund Freud, Karl Marx, George Hegel and other Atheistic Philosophers of the 19th Century. Max Horkheimer, Theodor Adorno, and Herbert Marcuse were three of the leading minds, among others in the Frankfurt School. They believed that: “Mass Culture (and subsequently, what we know today as Popular Culture) should, according to them, be rescued from the stigma of crude banality into a valuable and worthy expression of real world experience.” They set about the task of reevaluating Marx's theory that Capitalist Society would collapse and a Communistic Revolution would take its place in a new utopia. Upon the failure of Marx's prediction, the Frankfurt School folks, started to rebrand the movement with Legal Theory, Critical Race Theory, Gender Theory, and Post-Colonialism.
But before we get to them, let's remind ourselves who these Frankfurt School folks idolized and what they're teachers thought. Freud was of the opinion that God's Plan for sexuality was restrictive in his book “Civilization and It's Discontents”. Karl Marx hypothesized that Work was inherently exploitative of the workers, and those who had money to hire people were inherently evil, or at least at odds with those who had to work. (Now, Marx's mother has been quoted saying: “If only Karl had made capital instead of writing about it!") It's difficult to not succumb to ad hominem here, but Marx was also a racist with the Hispanic, Jew, and African below his nose.
In a quote from a Panama City News Herald article compiling Marx's unsavory remarks he is quotes as such:
“When the U.S. annexed California after the Mexican-American War, Marx wrote: "Without violence nothing is ever accomplished in history." Then he asked, "Is it a misfortune that magnificent California was seized from the lazy Mexicans who did not know what to do with it?" Friedrich Engels added: "In America we have witnessed the conquest of Mexico and have rejoiced at it. It is to the interest of its own development that Mexico will be placed under the tutelage of the United States." Many of Marx's racist ideas were reported in "Karl Marx, Racist" a book written by Nathaniel Weyl, a former member of the U.S. Communist Party.
In 1887, Paul Lafargue, who was Marx's son-in-law, was a candidate for a council seat in a Paris district that contained a zoo. Engels claimed that Paul had "one eighth or one twelfth nigger blood." In an April 1887 letter to Paul's wife, Engels wrote, "Being in his quality as a nigger, a degree nearer to the rest of the animal kingdom than the rest of us, he is undoubtedly the most appropriate representative of that district." Marx's anti-Semitic views were no secret. In 1844, he published an essay titled "On the Jewish Question." He wrote that the worldly religion of Jews was "huckstering" and that the Jew's god was "money." Marx's view of Jews was that they could only become an emancipated ethnicity or culture when they no longer exist. Just one step short of calling for genocide, Marx said, "The classes and the races, too weak to master the new conditions of life, must give way."
Marx's philosophical successors shared ugly thoughts on blacks and other minorities. Che Guevara, a hero of the left, was a horrific racist. He wrote in his 1952 memoir, "The Motorcycle Diaries": "The Negro is indolent and lazy and spends his money on frivolities, whereas the European is forward-looking, organized and intelligent."”
So, ad hominem is not inherently off the table when the fruit of the tree continues to remain poisonous. From the Black Book of Communism, we read that 94 million Communist Citizens were killed in the 20th century by Communistic Governance.
65 million in the People's Republic of China
20 million in the Soviet Union
2 million in Cambodia
2 million in North Korea
1.7 million in Africa
1.5 million in Afghanistan
1 million in the Communist states of Eastern Europe
1 million in Vietnam
150,000 in Latin America
10,000 deaths “resulting from actions of the international Communist movement and Communist parties not in power.”
And the other 19th century thinkers that the Frankfurt School drew from were similarly flawed men without the guiding light of scripture to reprove and correct the fallacies erected within their own rationale.
But this is not an essay on Marxism or Freudism, but a critique on Critical Theory. However, recurring themes will be playing out among those who subscribe to the Cultural, Philosophical, and Theological premises that we have already discussed. Critical Theory, much like Freudian Sociology and Marxist Political and Economic Theory, does exactly what its name suggests that it does, it critiques. Critiques what, you may ask: Western Culture and we will see Judeo-Christianity.
What really ground the gears of these Frankfurt School Philosophers was that the media and prosperity had supposedly hypnotized the masses into not realizing that they were actually oppressed. “The Consumers are the workers and the employees, the farmers and lower middle class. Capitalist production so confines them, body and soul, that they fall helpless victims to what is offered them. As naturally as the ruled always took the morality imposed upon them more seriously than did the rulers themselves, the deceived masses are today captivated by the myth of success even more than the successful are. Immovably they insist on the very ideology which enslaves them. The misplaced love of the common people for the wrong which is done them, is a greater force than the cunning of the authorities. (Adorno and Horheimer 1973, Pg. 133/144)
“Our Humanist ideas will only work if they will just let us try to enslave them again.” These are the Germans, need I remind you. Now, many of the Frankfurt School fled Germany because of their Jewish heritage, but their Atheistic ideology was ultimately incubated in the same stew that Marx, as we've established as a rabid anti-semite, Freud, and the eugenics movement that sought to sterilize the Jews from the face of the Earth. These are the people who we allowed into the universities in the 1960s and 1970s. These socialists and communists simply redesigned their ideology as they saw the colossal failures of Germany, Italy, Russia, China, and everywhere else their Humanist agenda was attempted.
This ultimately comes from a rejection of God's standards in substitution for Human reason alone. Reason is a critical part of the Christian Faith, but without the temperance of God's Justice and Moral Law, Human Reason always ends in injustice.
https://m.theepochtimes.com/c-how-the-specter-of-communism-is-ruling-our-world
https://www.newsherald.com/story/opinion/2020/08/16/many-marxists-dont-realize-their-hero-racist-and-anti-semite/3369024001/
https://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/movingwords/quotefeature/marx.shtml
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frankfurt_School
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sigmund_Freud
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Sigmund-Freud/Sexuality-and-development
https://asavalas.medium.com/freud-and-the-injustices-of-societal-sexual-repression-398c76303e99
What is Biblical Justice? Well, first, what is Justice?
Webster's 1828:
- Justice; right. In practice, equity is the impartial distribution of justice, or the doing that to another which the laws of God and man, and of reason, give him a right to claim. It is the treating of a person according to justice and reason.
The Lord shall judge the people with equity Psalms 98:9.
With righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity Isaiah 11:4.
- Justice; impartiality; a just regard to right or claim; as, we must, in equity allow this claim.
Wikipedia 2022:
Justice, in its broadest sense, is the principle that people receive that which they deserve, with the interpretation of what then constitutes "deserving" being impacted upon by numerous fields, with many differing viewpoints and perspectives, including the concepts of moral correctness based on ethics, rationality, law, religion, equity and fairness. The state will sometimes endeavour to increase justice by operating courts and enforcing their rulings.
So now that we have a framework of what Justice is, where do we get the values of right and wrong? Is it game theory based social contracts? Or is there an over-arching standard to which we all appeal when we say something like “napalming babies for fun is wrong”? How about killing off minorities for the promise of a healthier future? How about preventing those with particular beliefs from receiving medical care? From where do we get our standard? Well, obviously you can tell from our conversation so far that the Bible is the standard we call upon. So let's look at what God calls Just and how He conferred the duty of carrying out Justice to Man, historically. We also will see where Justice and Law became perverted.
Genesis 2:16-17 “And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.”
Genesis 3:8-24 hold the first trial in all of history. We see the examination of the defendants and witnesses by Judge, Jury, and Executioner.
In Genesis 9:5-6 we see the Lord handing over the Judicial, Legislative, and Executive branches to man.” nd surely your blood of your lives will I require; at the hand of every beast will I require it, and at the hand of man; at the hand of every man's brother will I require the life of man. Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.”
In Exodus 18:19-22 we see what would later model for the American Judicial System: ”Hearken now unto my voice, I will give thee counsel, and God shall be with thee: Be thou for the people to God-ward, that thou mayest bring the causes unto God: And thou shalt teach them ordinances and laws, and shalt shew them the way wherein they must walk, and the work that they must do. Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens: And let them judge the people at all seasons: and it shall be, that every great matter they shall bring unto thee, but every small matter they shall judge: so shall it be easier for thyself, and they shall bear the burden with thee.”
In Exodus 20-23 we see the Lord lay out part of what would become the Mosaic Law. This is what was used by Moses, Joshua, and the Judges all the way up to Samuel. Samuel's sons were wicked men. They perverted the Lord's system and ultimately died for it. However, before these sons of Samuel died, the Children of Israel cried out for a King. This led to the rule by a man, and not directly by God. Now, with man in between God and the people, tyranny ensued. We see Saul, David, Solomon, Rehoboam, and the rest suffer from their humanity. And the people suffered as well.
The United States of America is a unique system, in that our Founding Fathers attempted to revert, as much as was possible, to a somewhat Exodus-like form of Government. This government, they warned, would only work with citizens who held the Judeo-Christian Ethic. John Adams stated in a 1798 letter to the Massachusetts Militia: “Avarice, Ambition, Revenge, or Galantry, would break the strongest Cords of our Constitution as a Whale goes through a Net. Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious People. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.” The return to a Godly society with the freedoms and liberties of Christ were at the core of our system.
Today, we see an enormous amount of crime and our measures of prison time have failed to produce the clean streets we would like. Sure, the streets are safer when one bad guy is taken off of them. However, how did God choose to deal with crimes? Capital Punishment, Restitution, Corporal Punishment.
Capital Punishment: Deuteronomy 22:25 m“But if a man find a betrothed damsel in the field, and the man force her, and lie with her: then the man only that lay with her shall die:”
Restitution: Exodus 22:7 “If a man gives his neighbor money or goods to keep for him and it is stolen from the man's house, if the thief is caught, he shall pay double.
Corporal Punishment: Deuteronomy 25:2-3 “And it shall be, if the wicked man be worthy to be beaten, that the judge shall cause him to lie down, and to be beaten before his face, according to his fault, by a certain number. Forty stripes he may give him, and not exceed: lest, if he should exceed, and beat him above these with many stripes, then thy brother should seem vile unto thee.”
Now, many have said that they believe that we should abolish prisons. Where are prisons found in the Bible? They are not, unless we are talking about the prisons of the Gentiles who oppress the Israelites. Prisons are a man-made concept. It is thought that the first prisons were constructed in Egypt or by some of the Mesopotamian nations surrounding Israel. http://www.prisonhistory.net/prison-history/history-of-prisons/
So here is the question: Why do we not follow God's plan for law and order? Sure, some things are different than the Levitical Law days, but the principles are similar. And before you go on to site Christ and His forgiveness of sins of various people, Christ is God. He is the ONE person who had the authority to do that (also the only one who would know if this person had actually repented). So why have we changed the way we meet out Justice?
Jeremy Bentham was the philosopher responsible for the modern incarnation of British and American prisons. His primary motivation was that he was against the Death Penalty. https://www.crimemuseum.org/crime-library/famous-prisons-incarceration/history-of-imprisonment/
Bentham was the Father of the Utilitarianism Movement as we know it today. He believed that: “actions are morally right if they tend to promote happiness or pleasure (and morally wrong if they tend to promote unhappiness or pain) among all those affected by them” https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwjwq4SgpuX2AhU8j2oFHRJ6DesQFnoECAIQAw&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.britannica.com%2Fbiography%2FJeremy-Bentham&usg=AOvVaw0-6DiUdiSNK_byPWSbvG9q
So here we have an example of man going his own way. Now that we have seen that this system does not work as well as we would have liked it to, some are suggesting that we reduce prison sentences as articles like this one do: https://www.prisonlegalnews.org/news/2020/oct/1/new-study-shows-tough-crime-generation-spent-more-time-prison-despite-falling-crime-rate/
However, there is no indication that the lawlessness would go away and as we see in places like Southern California, reduction in consequences only increases crime. https://www.poynter.org/reporting-editing/2022/why-has-shoplifting-been-out-of-control-since-the-pandemic-began/
The issue is not a change in man made policies, but a return to God's policies. One will be less likely to steal if one has to pay restitution. One is much less likely to murder if death is the result, and certainly they will not be able to murder a second if death is the consequence. Now, some will immediately recoil at the mention of the death penalty, that is okay. The death penalty has also suffered at the hands of “man's wisdom”. Deuteronomy 17:6 should have been applied on all of those cases where faulty forensics or other circumstantial evidence put innocents to death: “On the evidence of two witnesses or three witnesses, he who is to die shall be put to death; he shall not be put to death on the evidence of one witness.” Follow God's standard and things will work as well as possible.
More Bible verses dealing with Justice:
Who is ultimately sovereign over Justice?
Ecclesiastes 3:17 “I said in mine heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked: for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.”
Hebrews 10:30 “For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.”
What does God say a society should do concerning Justice?
Hosea 12:6
“Therefore turn thou to thy God: keep mercy and judgment, and wait on thy God continually.”
What affect should Justice have on the righteous, what about the wicked?
Proverbs 21:15
“It is joy to the just to do judgment: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity.”
Proverbs 24:24-25 “He that saith unto the wicked, Thou art righteous; him shall the people curse, nations shall abhor him: But to them that rebuke him shall be delight, and a good blessing shall come upon them.”
Whose job is it to maintain this order?
Romans 12:9 “Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.”
Romans 13:1-7 “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.”
What does the Bible say about partiality?
Leviticus 19:15 “You shall do no injustice in judgment; you shall not be partial to the poor nor defer to the great, but you are to judge your neighbor fairly”
1 Timothy 5:21 “I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of His chosen angels, to maintain these principles without bias, doing nothing in a spirit of partiality.”
Deuteronomy 1:17 “You shall not show partiality in judgment; you shall hear the small and the great alike. You shall not fear man, for the judgment is God's. The case that is too hard for you, you shall bring to me, and I will hear it.”
First off, what is an “Otherkin”? From Oxford: “a person who identifies as nonhuman, typically as being wholly or partially an animal or mythical being.”
Or from Wikipedia: “Otherkin are a subculture of people who identify as not entirely human. Some otherkin believe their identity derives from reincarnation, trans-species dysphoria of the soul, ancestry, or metaphor. Others attribute it to unusual psychology and do not hold spiritual beliefs on the subject.”
Furry from Oxford: “an enthusiast for animal characters with human characteristics, in particular a person who dresses up in costume as such a character or uses one as an avatar online.”
Furry from Wikipedia: “The furry fandom is a subculture interested in anthropomorphic animal characters with human personalities and characteristics. Examples of anthropomorphic attributes include exhibiting human intelligence and facial expressions, speaking, walking on two legs, and wearing clothes.”
You may have heard of Dragon Lady or some of these others who identify as cats or other critters. This has become more popular in recent years and we are now seeing the rise of the subculture. Now, it is easy to laugh at fur-suits and mock these people as yet another sexual deviant, but this IS part of the mission field in America. We should be looking at what ideologies and pathologies have befallen these people and attempt to see what can be done for their spiritual malaise. There is a very real consequence, not for being an otherkin, but for the spiritual issues that lie underneath this dysmorphia.
According to this paper from semanticscholar.org, there is a ~40% suicidality in the group with a roughly 80% apparent overlap with the LGBT Community.
https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Risk-and-protective-factors-for-SADness-in-the-An-Simpson/eed2f99e9868c993d78c2d3d55880bef354c18ef/figure/3
Once again, these numbers suggest some participate for the sense of community, while others have suffered from trauma that is statistically present in the LGBT community. It was hard to track down stats on the history of abuse in the furry and otherkin communities. However, the we can also look at the consistent complaints of dysmorphia with their physical human condition as a sign that they are not happy with themselves as is. They will go to extraordinary lengths to relieve themselves of their human condition, even turning to antisocial a-human behaviors or surgery as you can see in this one interview with Anthony Padilla. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YrgN2Y4Towo&ab_channel=AnthonyPadilla
This is not just a physical thing. To call it such would be dismissive of the true problem. The issue ultimately boils down to a severe dislike of oneself and the order that God created, or at least the fallen state in which we all live.
Now, the truth is, these otherkin and furry folks are on to something: they are souls living in fallen bodies and the yearning for something more and better is a natural one. We will someday have a glorified body, as image bearers of God! However, the Enemy of Our Souls has led these poor people to believe that trading down to animals or mythical creatures is somehow better than what God has promised. We have the answer these people desperately need.
What does the Bible say about the form for which we are destined?
1 Corinthians 15:42-53
This is much better than some animal or fantasy creature.
1 Corinthians 15:57
This new body and hope comes through this victory.
Genesis 3:6-7
This shows us that our bodies are in need of something. We are lacking without that which the Lord has planned for us.
Revelations 3:18
We will no longer be naked, or without that which we need to be complete. We will be clothed in His Righteousness. THIS is the ONLY solution for the very real lack that our frail unregenerate bodies hold.
We have the answer for these people as well as the mandate and commission to reach them for the Gospel's sake Mathew 28:19-20. We are not to make fun of them, but to seek to make them disciples of Christ. If you have someone like this in your life or the Lord brings someone like this into your life, remember to what you are called and meet them where they are at, just as Christ did. Lead them to the knowledge of the One who can solve their dysmorphia.
Now, there may be someone coming forward to say that “reassignment” surgery or a same sex relationship helped them with their depression. This may hold anecdotal value, but even in the case of someone who has decided to alter their body and undergone the knife, for example, they are still not the opposite gender. Their DNA and body composition shouts against the lie that is being told when we designate new “pronouns”. And in truth, underneath the facade, there is still a biological gender hardwired into this individual's heart and mind and all of the emotions that go with it, suppressed underneath an unnatural identity.
But let's not deal with anecdotes just yet. What are the statistics and facts surrounding dysmorphia and reassignment surgery? Well, according to a rather thorough study in Sweden (https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0016885 ) 10-15 after operation, morbidity (after having adjusting for comorbidities) is nearly 20 times in comparison to those with a heterosexual lifestyle. This does not mean that the surgery killed the person, as how some on the Left would like to twist the argument. That is a strawman if ever there was one. The issue is of the heart. What does the Bible say about marriage?
Genesis 2:24 Defines Marriage
Mark 7:21 Christ speaks about Sexual Immorality
Romans 1:24-32 really speaks to the issue specifically
1 Corinthians 6:9
1 Timothy 1:10
Now, there are those who would say that the Bible never condemns homosexuality, but beastialty and pedophilia, as they do in this article:
https://www.americanprogress.org/article/four-things-you-didnt-know-about-god-and-same-sex-marriage/
However, this is not the plan of the Lord. What does Marriage represent?
Ephesians 5:21-32
So what has the Enemy of Our Souls done? He has perverted our view of this image of God's relationship to us through dysphoria and jealousy of roles, and to our demise, we have fallen for it as a culture.
Your value is not in your sexuality, it is in the fact that God above LOVES you. He wants to spend an eternal marriage supper with you in a place we know as Heaven. If you are suffering from a lack of ability to identify with the concept of marriage, may I suggest to you that the things in your life that have led you to this dysphoric view of Godly Marriage are just the Enemy's attempt to steal your true joy? No partner, lifestyle, or surgery can fill the void in your soul that God is meant to fill. We long for a relationship with the divine, and though many things and ideas may vie for that spot, only He can successfully fill it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jDIrnp2iNJU&ab_channel=BlaireWhite
When one is dissatisfied with one's appearance of physical form, it is important to remember from where we derive our value. As Image Bearers of the Living God, it is important to remember to look to Him for our solutions and not the Culture's solutions. Join us as we discuss your immense worth from the context of the One from whom you derive your value. Further. Every. Day.
This podcast is primarily focused on apologetics, but the situation in Ukraine brings up some interesting questions. With Russian POWs who have expressed regret at being in the 2022 Russian Offensive on the Ukraine, the question arises: When do biblical soldiers put down their weapons in defiance to tyranny?
https://www.businessinsider.com/live-updates-russia-ukraine-crisis-2022-2
https://news.sky.com/story/ukraine-invasion-russia-claims-498-of-its-troops-killed-so-far-and-further-1-597-wounded-12555766
https://www.cnn.com/europe/live-news/ukraine-russia-putin-news-03-02-22/h_0b4e5dae06f9a7948b4c6d22695849be
https://www.jpost.com/christianworld/article-699085
https://theweek.com/russo-ukrainian-war/1010801/russian-troops-in-ukraine-are-surrendering-sabotaging-their-own
If Christians have the opportunity and right to have a Godly opinion heard, what does the Bible say about this? And what kind of precedent to we see developing in regards to bank accounts being frozen for these protesters? Are the powers that be setting up for Revelation times? Join us as we discuss the question, should the Christian ever peacefully protest?
https://fortune.com/2022/02/16/canada-freedom-convoy-protests-whats-happening/
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwjf3_Wnv432AhXVl2oFHa49BV8QFnoECAoQAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.economist.com%2Fthe-americas%2Fjustin-trudeau-invokes-emergency-powers-to-shut-down-canadas-freedom-convoy%2F21807705&usg=AOvVaw3fiUC3tPYXcyyVIu4nlsfv
https://fortune.com/2022/02/16/trudeau-freeze-freedom-convoy-bank-accounts-canada-covid-protest-emergency-powers/
https://www.nytimes.com/live/2022/02/15/world/canada-protests-news
In the last episode, we talked about the Metaverse and the other world that it offers. Escape. You can escape your daily life and enjoy a different world, one that YOU shape and change. You will be as God, able to recreate yourself in your own image…. Perhaps this is a bit overwrought, but there are people who are, as this is being written, living out fantasies of being a half-human/half-animal critter in a virtual world, all the while sitting in their very real home with very real responsibilities the next day. After fulfilling their obligations, whether they be school or work, they come home and escape reality for hours in the Metaverse. This is the ultimate in escapism, at least as far as man has been able to do so far, more is coming. Join us as we discuss the root of the issue as our culture strays Further. Every. Day.
What is the Metaverse? And what does it promise? From Wikipedia: “A metaverse is a network of 3D virtual worlds focused on social connection. In futurism and science fiction, the term is often described as a hypothetical iteration of the Internet as a single, universal virtual world that is facilitated by the use of virtual and augmented reality headsets.” Join us as we discuss the stewardship of your data and our culuture's decay as we stray Further. Every. Day.
036 Is God Pro-Work? If so, from where does Anti-Work stem?
Anti-Work Redditor has disastrous interview. But this brings attention to the issue of Marxists wanting to dismantle society for the promise of less “work”. In an astoundingly bizarre Reuters Foundation doc, you can find a number of people stumping for anti-work, who at least have a better spoken argument. They even go so far as to invoke the Protestant Work Ethic as the flaw in our World today! https://youtu.be/4Ht9zWy_xVQ
Just because a specific spouse is abusive, a singular politician is corrupt, or a single bottle of milk in the fridge is spoiled, a reasonable person will not jump to the conclusion that marriage is bad, society must be torn down, and cows produce poisonous tainted milk. The institution of work is actually God ordained. We were made to work for God's Glory! This does not mean that corrupt or tyrannical bosses/working conditions don't exist. We will face that on this earth, and I would really prefer the government be in the position of investigating corruption than to be in a position with enough authority to become corrupt in this space (Case in point, it already has).
Why do we as Christians, so often, react to the darkness of our world in a defensive way? Should we not become more aggressive in our efforts of discipleship and evangelism on campus? It is easy to curse the darkness and do nothing else. To actually fulfill the Great Commission and make disciples of the nations, that is hard. Join us as we delve into the state of our culture's decay, as we stray Further. Every. Day.
The 2020 election fraud investigation movement has become enormous, a lot of people have come to believe that the election system is no longer intact. Political Persecution of folks like Meadows and others is actively occurring, and more local governments are reacting to their own fraud corruption. Milwaukee is now discovering the mechanism that tipped the folks with pallets full of ballets, so to speak, to intervene by injecting more votes into the system. New York just passed more laws that allow illegal aliens to vote. And just for talking about it, people are now being threatened with prosecution. Is this an issue, or are the underlying issues ones that we as Christians should be involved with? Join us as we watch our country fall Further. Every. Day.
Is your cheese cruelty free? Forget that! What about the cell phone in your pocket, the battery in Prius, and the solar panels on your roof?
There is no problem with industry being industrious. As Christians, we love the opportunity to create! However, in our dominion mandate, we are also to conserve not only our land, and animals, but more importantly, the people of the land. When despotic regimes abuse their people and the produce we buy comes from that cruelty, we are at risk of judgment ourselves.
First off, let's define the term “Nihilism”.
From Webster's 1828:
1: the belief that traditional morals, ideas, beliefs, etc., have no worth or value
2: the belief that a society's political and social institutions are so bad that they should be destroyed
The rise of Nihilism in Europe, supplanted Christianity in the 1900s. This happened as the church lost her authority, and we are watching this pattern repeat in our country. How did the Church lose her authority you may say? Christ IS the authority. Well, have we acted like Christ or even spoken of the true Christ in our Western Churches? Maybe in some, but others not so much. How about the lack of accountability in leadership, or even in the pews? If our institutions do not hold to the values they propound, why are they worthwhile?
In a sense, nihilism in the people is the logical outgrowth of decaying institutions. Do we not see this in government and our education system, in addition to our churches? If we see nihilism in our culture, we have lost the Theological and Philosophical debate. When the church isn't the light, but a seeker friendly environment, excuse me, worldly environment, we find that the institution loses its value and maybe its value should be reconsidered. However, the answer is not to tear down something that once worked well, it needs reformation! The church needs reformation, and because she has not lived up to her potential, the church of the last century has watched all of the other God ordained institutions fall, from government to family.
As Followers of Christ, we must lead a life wholly devoted to Christ. This means our Theology, Philosophy, Culture, Politics, and Economics. If we start with our own families and churches, our communities, province, and country will follow.
What has Nihilism done to our country? https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/rooftop-revelations-pastors-nihilism-destroying-generation
How did we get here? https://www.barna.com/research/2015-sees-sharp-rise-in-post-christian-population/
Find the article at provokedtoreason.com
Today, let's look at the common arguments for a Pagan Origin of Christmas. Let's put them into 3 categories:
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The 25th Date coincides with other pagan holidays like Saturnalia and Sol Invictus
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The gods who were born on the 25th make Christ look like a copycat in a long line of copycats.
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The Christmas Tree appears to be the Asherah Pole from Jeremiah 10:1-5.
So let's start with the date of the 25th. Where did the date come from?
Some sources attribute Theophilus of Antioch circa 171-183 AD as the first to use the 25th of December date as the date of Christ's birth, due to the notion that prophets are conceived on the day they die (Christ's death being attributed here as the 25th of March). Some even attribute Pope St. Telesphorus in circa 125-136 AD as having ascribed the December 25th date decades earlier. The dates of Saturnalia were the 17th-23rd , never on the 25th. A Pre-Christ Sol Invictus is only referenced in 1 manuscript, the Chronography of 354. This manuscript was written over 100 years after Hippolytus of Rome's Commentary on Daniel (circa 202~211 AD), which references the December 25th Birth of Christ. It is entirely possible that the observance of Sol Invictus's birthdate may have even been a mimicry of the December 25th date! There go those two points, showing a crippling lack of scholarship on the part of the proponents of a Pagan Origin of Christmas.
As for other gods who have held or picked up the 25th, some of these have resurrection stories and other vague similarities of Christ's story. I'll have to quote Lewis here on this general contention as Lewis said it better than I could: “And what did God do? …He sent the human race what I call good dreams: I mean those queer stories scattered all through the heathen religions about a god who dies and comes to life again and, by his death, has somehow given new life to men.” If one takes the proposition that man came from Noah, and Noah expected the redeemer of the Genesis 3 covenant, would not man expect such a redeemer? Also, would not the Devil himself love to abuse this desire for a Savior and propagate such false religions for the Devil's own gain? This view, even if you believe it to be wrong, is at least consistent.
On a side note, I do not believe, like many that Christ's birth was on the 25th of December. It was likely on the feast of First Fruits in April. This would better fit the prophetic timeline and The Christ Comet is a theory of the Star of Bethlehem that plots the activities of a specific comet to that timeframe. This comet would have behaved in such a way as to lead the Magi to Jerusalem and then to Bethlehem, but this is neither here nor there for this discussion.
On the note of the Christmas Tree, the Asherah Pole of Pre-Christ Iran is often connoted with the Tradition of the Christmas Tree, which was started around the 1500s by the French and Germanic Christians, the better part of two millennia separated from Jeremiah's words in Jeremiah 10:1-5:
1 Hear ye the word which the LORD speaketh unto you, O house of Israel: 2 Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them. 3 For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. 4 They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not. 5 They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good.
On that note, how would uncarved trees have anything to do with carved wooden idols? Just because heathens used trees in false worship, does not mean that trees are somehow pagan. If pagans doing something or celebrating in a certain way makes any association with the item or practice anathema, stop singing, stop praying, and while you're at it, stop breathing! This extreme is almost a strawman, but the point of this should be why are we doing what we do? Some traditions are valueless, granted. Some are even dangerous, agreed. But let's base our critiques, if we have them, on facts and not unsupported nonsense. (For example, find an actual ancient source on the use of Christmas Trees for Saturnalia. Few if any exist, and none that we are aware of.)
Santa Clause, on the other hand, is a different story. St. Nicholas (Born circa 280 AD) is the oldest reference of the Jolly Man who gave aid to the poor and powerless. Tales of St. Nicholas include him giving dowries to girls being sold into prostitution, thereby saving them from such a life, and giving gifts to the poor. Others are more fantastic. However, all of these stories should be celebrated, in the context of what the Love of God can do through one man. St. Nicholas wasn't magical, he was transformed through his relationship to Christ. Santa Claus, as we have him today came from numerous accretions and other legends, some even pagan in origin (think Krampus).
All of that aside, however we got Santa Claus is not necessarily important. What is concerning is that some have taken the caricature of St. Nicholas and turned him into a god who rewards good works and the sacrament of milk and cookies. We tell children Santa and Jesus are both real and then wonder why they no longer believe in Christ only a few short years of their belief in Santa being shattered. Where is our consistency? Have we been guilty of worshiping a false god that satisfies our own paganistic desires for self fulfilment in America? Has Consumerism consumed the message of Christmas?
So, is Christmas a pagan holiday root and branch? Not in the root, but maybe for some, the branch. We should ask ourselves: Is Christ still on the throne of Christmas, or have we erected our own god of self-actualization with a fat bearded man who gives gifts with little effort from us, a caricature of God the Father Himself? Do we spend nearly as much time worshiping the King of Heaven as we do ourselves, and even our children and families?
https://www.learnreligions.com/why-is-christmas-on-december-25-700439
https://www.patheos.com/blogs/davearmstrong/2017/12/december-25th-birth-jesus-interesting-considerations.html
https://talesoftimesforgotten.com/2019/12/08/just-how-pagan-is-christmas-really/
https://talesoftimesforgotten.com/2018/12/05/the-origins-of-the-christmas-tree/
The US Dollar has seen a perceived devaluation of 40 cents on the dollar since 2000. 10 cents of which have been this last year. Pause for effect. That means they have stolen 10% of your assets in 1 year. It came out of your bank account, house, car, ect.
Fiat currencies are what make this possible. Like we said in the Is Welfare Moral Podcast, money is just an IOU. When more IOUs are printed than what could ever be redeemed, the IOU starts to lose value. Printing money equates to theft, and they will not even pay it back.
With 4.5 Trillion dollars spent in aid, and very little of it actually making its way to real people (less than 2 Trillion), this money is just funding pet projects run by family members and friends of those who passed the spending… 10% of the US Dollar's value has been lost due to the money printed in 2021.
Let's just ballpark the loss in napkin math by the average American yearly income ~$67,000. ~330,000,000 Americans x $67,000 = ~$22,000,000,000,000 or 22 Trillion, in 2020 20 Trillion was the Estimated GDP so we're not far off. That means that they stole over 2 trillion dollars from Americans this year alone (not the 10, 50, 100 years in which this inflation will likely exist, if this nation lasts that much longer). Just think of it this way, they stole 10% from this year's wages, and 10% of the value of every dollar that you have saved, from the equity in your car or house, ect, and in the future and they by far haven't given the money back. They have just spent it on their own interests!
For those who still think that this is acceptable, what does the Bible say about this?
Ezekiel 45:9-10
‘Thus says the Lord God, “Enough, you princes of Israel; put away violence and destruction, and practice justice and righteousness. Stop your expropriations from My people,” declares the Lord God. “You shall have just balances, a just ephah and a just bath.
Micah 6:10-14
“Is there yet a man in the wicked house,
Along with treasures of wickedness
And a short measure that is cursed?
“Can I justify wicked scales
And a bag of deceptive weights?
“For the rich men of the city are full of violence,
Her residents speak lies,
And their tongue is deceitful in their mouth.
read more.
“So also I will make you sick, striking you down,
Desolating you because of your sins.
“You will eat, but you will not be satisfied,
And your vileness will be in your midst.
You will try to remove for safekeeping,
But you will not preserve anything,
And what you do preserve I will give to the sword.
Proverbs 16:11
A just balance and scales belong to the Lord;
All the weights of the bag are His concern.
Proverbs 20:23
Differing weights are an abomination to the Lord,
And a false scale is not good.
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2021/12/phillip-patrick-us-dollar-lost-40-cents-value-since-2000-10-cents-loss-happened-year-joe-biden-video/
https://www.cnbc.com/2021/12/09/covid-relief-bills-us-has-spent-most-of-coronavirus-aid-money.html
https://www.forbes.com/sites/adamandrzejewski/2021/10/20/dr-anthony-faucis-little-known-biodefense-work--its-how-he-became-the-highest-paid-federal-employee/?sh=3fb0d00e6081
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10324873/Emails-reveal-Fauci-head-NIH-colluded-try-smear-experts-called-end-lockdowns.html
https://www.census.gov/popclock/
https://www.bea.gov/news/2021/gross-domestic-product-second-quarter-2021-advance-estimate-and-annual-update
https://thehill.com/opinion/finance/581101-voters-are-correct-biden-is-to-blame-for-inflation
https://www.vox.com/2021/12/11/22829221/inflation-rate-cpi-supply-chain-biden-transitory
When did victimhood become desirable? Well, after the triumphs of the 60s, those who lost their fight, the Marxist-Left, began a subversive campaign to change the narrative that those who had just acquired freedom, needed to remand themselves back into bondage and that the Marxist-Humanist-Left could lead them to a utopia. Does this lie sound familiar? With an infinite range of possibilities in a beautiful garden, man was convinced to leave the Truth that was given to him, for a lie. This sin plays out today. Given a free and more or less post racial America in the 1980s, we decided to trade what we had in for the lie of Cultural Marxism, a rebrand of what the Soviet Citizens were suffering from in Eurasia in the same time and day. This is the aftermath.
Links:
https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/2021/12/09/jussie-smollett-guilty-verdict-orchestrating-attack/8838114002/
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2021/12/lax-bound-flight-makes-emergency-landing-passenger-screaming-blm-enslaved-white-man-assaults-flight-attendant-air-marshal-video/
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2021/12/black-lives-matter-activist-charged-19-felonies-attacking-gassing-police-found-not-guilty-jury/
Have we come to accept the violation of children in the West? Join us as we talk about this sensitive topic today on Further Every Day.
Writing the title to this episode, once again, hit me in the gut. Incrementalism isn't bad, necessarily, in the context of being better than Incremental restrictions on Abortion, such as heartbeat bills and other regulatory measures, have been suggested as effective, and I would agree that every life saved is a victory. However, some have embraced the Incrementalist Strategy so fully that full abortion bans have been blocked by movements like National Right to Life. Add to this the controversy that, some of these more aggressive bills have had penalties for the woman who has the abortion. Now we have an interesting debate on our hands
The argument for Incrementalism makes sense from a human perspective, but does it make sense from a Godly one? After all, isn't Incrementalism another -ism? I understand the “both and” argument some will use to say we can run both efforts (Abolition and Incremental Regulation) concurrently, but when one of the biggest international Pro-life orgs actively blocks Abolitionist bills in Conservative led houses of state legislatures, and even nationally with a “Pro-Life” majority, we have a bit of a problem.
One might say that we couldn't put the bill through because of its stance towards women. I can get behind that, but these bills were aborted in committee, the language could have been removed all together, or better yet, clarified to say after such and such date, no more amnesty for women who have committed voluntary infanticide. After all, this is someone hacking apart or poisoning a baby. If that's baby was in NICU, we'd charge her with capital murder in some states. One could say that the Supreme Court could rule against it. Okay, how is this any different than what is already happening? Roe v Wade?
Are we consistent in our worldview? Have we allowed the Pro-Life movement to overshadow the work of the Lord? Have we religiously subscribed to Incrementalism so deeply, that when God has handed us a way to push a Pro-Life bill through a state, that we give up?
I guess God can't sway the minds of 4 justices.
https://youtu.be/AUBocf3Wfzc
https://youtu.be/Hcu-jnuoQnI
http://www.standardnewswire.com/news/8121613485.html
Is the Spirit of Black Friday in competition with the Spirit of Thanksgiving? Let's unpack that as we watch our culture stray Further. Every. Day. Full article and comment section can be found at provokedtoreason.com .
https://blackfriday.com/news/black-friday-history
https://blackfridaydeathcount.com/
https://www.retailwire.com/discussion/was-black-friday-a-bust/
https://www.trtworld.com/business/black-friday-becoming-a-shadow-of-its-former-self-in-us-31795
https://www.axios.com/black-friday-amazon-ecommerce-holiday-shopping-d7ffd7db-f137-467f-83e9-b93463aa338d.html
https://www.dealnews.com/features/black-friday/How-Deals-Will-Differ-on-Thanksgiving-Black-Friday-Cyber-Monday/
https://wallbuilders.com/thanksgiving-2007/
https://wallbuilders.com/celebrating-thanksgiving-america/
*PSA For those experiencing issues with sound, please delete and redownload the episode. There was a technical issue during upload that has been rectified.
As Christians, we should always look to the Bible for our philosophical structure. Good theology, with intellectual rigor, should furnish an excellent philosophy, culture, political, and economic structure. All presuppositions aside, as much as one can do that, let us go to the Bible and attempt to plainly read the Scriptures to ascertain the answer to the question of the morality of self-defense vs pacifism.
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So, to start, what do the scriptures say about the value of life? Well, the scriptures say our bodies are temples, our lives have worth, and it is morally imperative to rescue the innocent from the hands of evil.
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The old law lays out a clear understanding of what is and is not self-defense.
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With all of this said, the Gospel, and our ability to further it is our goal. One cannot further the Gospel when dead, nor can one forward the Gospel with a vengeful or vindictive spirit either. Godly Wisdom is key, when defending oneself.
Let us look at how the scriptures value our bodies, lives, and the bodies and lives of the innocent.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.”
One could take from this passage that we have a purpose on this earth. We are to treat our body as Israel and the Greeks treated their temples. This held a cultural connotation of treating the body as a holy place. People have died defending much less.
Psalms 84:2: “Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked.”
When those dependent on us are under attack, it our ordained duty to defend them.
Ezekiel 33:6: “But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman's hand.”
Building off of the thoughts to the last verse, if the watchman does not blow the trumpet, then the watchman will be held to account for the blood shed committed by the evil doer. It is not a stretch to apply this to use of the sword to protect the innocent. Watchmen in the Bible were armed, see Nehemiah. Is there not some culpability if you do nothing to stop someone from murdering you or your dependents, when you have the power to do so? Consider the scenario that after leaving your murder scene, they go on to murder someone else? If you had the capability to defend yourself, are you not at least guilty of failing to use the capabilities that God gave you to stop this person from having that opportunity?
Leviticus laid out some excellent laws concerning self-defense and they seem to provide the context for what our laws should look like.
Exodus 22:2: “If a thief be found breaking up, and be smitten that he die, there shall no blood be shed for him. 3 If the sun be risen upon him, there shall be blood shed for him; for he should make full restitution; if he have nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft.”
This verse provides the context for self defense in that if the home owner is taken by surprise and kills this person who has unknown or expressed intentions, than the home owner is justified. However, if the thief is found after the nighttime robbery and slain, then the act of vengeance is one of murder. This is in interesting juxtaposition to the law of the avenger of blood and sanctuary cities.
And finally the purpose of everything that we do should be to further the Gospel in some way shape or form.
Luke 22:35 And he said unto them, When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and shoes, lacked ye any thing? And they said, Nothing. 36 Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one. 37 For I say unto you, that this that is written must yet be accomplished in me, And he was reckoned among the transgressors: for the things concerning me have an end. 38 And they said, Lord, behold, here are two swords. And he said unto them, It is enough.
Christ himself knew that the apostles would need to defend themselves at times. He was about to go to the cross, to be numbered with the transgressors, and he would not be around much more to defend them. Self-preservation is a commandment from Christ the Son of God. Now, while that is the case, we also need to act in wisdom as we exercise our ability to defend ourselves.
Lu 22:49 When they which were about him saw what would follow, they said unto him, Lord, shall we smite with the sword? 50 And one of them smote the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear. 51 And Jesus answered and said, Suffer ye thus far. And he touched his ear, and healed him.
Christ was not here to defend himself, he had said as much. He was there in that garden to be taken to be slaughtered, the only worthy sacrifice. Peter, missed the point of Christ's ministry on more than one occasion. We must always be mindful that there are times where our Father in Heaven will wish us to be willing sacrifices for His Gospel, just as His Only Begotten Son was.
So, is Self-Defense a Moral Obligation? I would say yes, with the caveat that Christians remain on this earth for the glory of the Lord. If our time has come, He through His Spirit will let us know. Until then, we are expected, no, commanded to protect ourselves for the furtherance of His Gospel, and the innocent among us for the same reason.
Comment and share on our home website: provokedtoreason.com !
With social credit scores being implemented in China, some are now eager to implement them here in the United States. Are social credit scores moral, or do they conflict with the Christian Worldview? Let's discuss it as we watch our culture stray Further. Every. Day.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0cGB8dCDf3c
https://theconversation.com/hundreds-of-chinese-citizens-told-me-what-they-thought-about-the-controversial-social-credit-system-127467
https://thehill.com/opinion/finance/565860-coming-soon-americas-own-social-credit-system
https://www.businessinsider.com/china-social-credit-affects-childs-university-enrolment-2018-7
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2021/11/news-digital-drivers-license-will-include-vaccine-status-may-eventually-include-credit-score-travel-records-social-credit-score-video/
Is Imperialism Immoral? Was the "Spheres of Influence" American Imperialism of the 20th and 21st centuries actually harmful, on its face? Yes, there are some notable exceptions where corrupt officials, soldiers, and others have acted horribly, but one should judge a system on the rule and not the exception. Japan, Germany, Afghanistan, and other nations have actively been hostile threats to the world. However, unlike any other nation before us, we did not colonize or annex these nations. We allowed them sovereignty with the only stipulation that we have bases on their soil. It really was a means of turning enemies into pseudo-allies. We live in an imperialistic world, the question is always: what kind of empire will rule over the world, not if there will be one. Explore the topic with us and how the American Church has lost an incredible amount of opportunity provided by the American Empire as we stray Further. Every. Day.
https://www.studentsofhistory.com/forms-of-imperialism
https://vittana.org/16-most-notable-imperialism-pros-and-cons
https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2014/04/in-defense-of-empire/358645/
What happens when narrative takes precedents over facts? Join us as we discuss the question on Further. Every. Day.
When we trade our freedom for security, do we lose both? Or is there a time and place where we can do that? Join us as we discuss the issue as we stray Further. Every. Day.
We often hear about the evils of Income Inequality, but is it actually evil? Americans are living in an increasingly prosperous nation, and as that prosperity grows, so does the income inequality. But the poor are living better than they ever had before, so is the inequality injustice, or something else. Join us as we explore Income Inequality as we stray Further. Every. Day.
Is Welfare Moral? If so, in what context?
First, what is “Welfare”?
In Webster's 1828 Dictionary Welfare meant: “Exemption from any unusual evil or calamity; the enjoyment of peace and prosperity, or the ordinary blessings of society and civil government; applied to states.”
In 2021 Merriam-Webster will define Welfare as: “Aid in the form of money or necessities for those in need or : an agency or program through which such aid is distributed”
Do you see what happened here? We have changed the definition from the ordinary form of blessings from SOCIETY and civil government, to a government program.
Before we get too far into the weeds, we need to understand just what money is. It is an IOU. The fibrous paper with watermarks is simply an IOU that is being passed around person to person. The Federal Bank, a group of wealthy elites, are responsible for that IOU. In 1849, a $20 gold piece was worth about $20, as of this podcast it is worth $1139. We won't go into the horrendous FDR Policy of 1933 and the effects he had on the Great Depression today, but suffice it to say, in 1933, gold was also, artificially, $20 an ounce then. This sky rocketing cost is largely due to inflation and the detachment of the Dollar from the Gold Standard in the 1970s. What this means is if Grandpa had a savings account locked away in 1933 of $10,000, today it is worth $10,000. When it was stored in the bank in 1933, however, he could have bought a home roughly equivalent to today's $600,000 homes, or a Ford GT Supercar, or bought a yacht. Where did his wealth go? To the politicians and bankers. Robert Kiyosaki of “Rich Dad, Poor Dad” fame, wrote in an article in 2016 that a Pew Research Study saw the Middle class had shrunk from 1971 to 2015 by 11% with the lower class growing by 4% and the Highest Class growing by 5% and Upper Middle by 2%.
https://www.richdad.com/4-wealth-stealing-forces-make-you-poorer
What is the primary cause of this? Printing money for Welfare Programs and other government spending. But if it helps the lower class, shouldn't we do it? Does it help the lower class? Or has it simply stolen from those who had and placed them into the lower class?
In an article from the Hill, we see that the current administration plans to give to families, by way of printing more money, “Tax Credits” for each child. Why don't they simply tax less instead of more? Because they can more easily print the money and still tax you. Who actually wins here?
https://thehill.com/opinion/finance/559900-democrats-newest-scheme-to-hook-the-middle-class-on-government-cash
Time states in this article that the Top 1% have taken $50 Trillion from the Bottom 90% during Covid.
https://time.com/5888024/50-trillion-income-inequality-america/
Now, I may not agree with the Time's conclusions concerning the redistribution of wealth and how we got here, but there is chicanery afoot. The policies and rampant spending on special interests have sucked the wealth from the poor and middle class, just like Grandpa's $10,000 saved in the bank in 1933. We just haven't seen the incredible impact on the middle class and poor from this most recent Covid Debacle, yet. It is coming.
But what of the poor? How did we used to take care of these people? Is there an organization and structure with the capacity, the mandate even, to take care of the poor?
In America in the early 1800s, a French Philosopher named Alexis de Tocqueville noted that government programs were not compatible with and were virtually non-existant in free societies. He concluded: “Thus, they have to be created artificially, which is what associations alone can achieve” (Tocqueville 1840, 598).
Associations like the Church. De Tocqueville noted that the poor in America were taken care of by the middle class and rich through the Church Structure and other Social Fabrics.
What does the Bible say about Welfare?
Deuteronomy 15:7-11
If there be among you a poor man of one of thy brethren within any of thy gates in thy land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut thine hand from thy poor brother:
Acts 20:35
I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.
Proverbs 28:27
He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack: but he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse.
James 2:14-24
What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
Are there conditions? Of course there are. 1 Timothy 5: 3-19 lays out conditions for widowhood status. This was a special type of welfare for a specific concern. We are to hold people accountable so that they may grow. We also are to be wise when giving. While we are not to allow someone to starve when we can otherwise help them, we are also not to provide someone with so much welfare that they become dependent. A leg up, and not a continual hand out so to speak.
So, is Welfare a Biblical Mandate? Yes. But we've seen how the Government handles Welfare and ultimately robs from those it is “serving”. If the church was not so focused on the next building project and perhaps more focused on providing for the Welfare of those around, we might see revival.
When China clamps down on the rights of Hong Kong citizens, strong arms Tiananmen Square remembrance groups, and greenlights organ harvesting, some interesting questions arise. Is there a higher moral standard than what is civically permissible? Is there such a thing as Truth and can the Truth be rewritten as China has attempted to do with Tiananmen Square? Does devaluing objective truth, devalue human beings? What has history and what do current events say? Join us as we discuss our cultures decay on Further. Every. Day.
Are we making good decisions with Social Media? Are we potentially doing more harm than good? Join us as we discuss this as our culture strays Further. Every. Day.
As promised, here are the notes and stories discussed in the podcast.
Due to filters, Photoshop, and man's propensity to compare oneself to others:
“Thirty-two percent of teen girls said that when they felt bad about their bodies, Instagram made them feel worse,” the researchers reportedly wrote. Facebook also reportedly found that 14% of boys in the U.S. said Instagram made them feel worse about themselves.” https://www.cnbc.com/2021/09/14/facebook-documents-show-how-toxic-instagram-is-for-teens-wsj.html
Social Media has many negative effects on youth, including academics.
“There was a negative and significant relationship between the overall use of social networks and academic performance of students. Therefore, it is imperative that the university authorities take interventional steps to help students who are dependent on these networks and, through workshops, inform them about the negative consequences of addiction to social networks.”
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6500070/
But it gets worse. An NCIB study shows a close link to exposure to sexual content and drug use. "The current and extant findings suggest that a common network exists for sexual-cue reactivity and drug-cue reactivity in groups with CSB and drug addictions, respectively. These findings suggest overlaps in networks underlying disorders of pathological consumption of drugs and natural rewards. While this study may suggest overlaps with substance-use disorders, further clinical studies are required to determine whether CSB should be categorized as an impulse-control disorder, within an obsessive-compulsive spectrum or as a behavioural addiction.” https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0102419
Add to this, we are having privacy data breaches from these companies to unscrupulous nations like China. Personalized data can be used to target vulerable youth and this data is being treated very loosely by these companies. https://techcrunch.com/2021/09/15/ireland-probes-tiktoks-handling-of-kids-data-and-transfers-to-china/
Another common complaint is that these companies push sexualized content onto minors after an interest is shown by browsing history. Now, of course the algorithm is driven by engagement. That is what it was designed to do! But is pornography or sexually explicit material truly fit for the public view? What invariably happens? Innocents with no idea of what they are getting into fall prey to not just porn addiction but, often enough, trafficing as well. “The content shown on the for you page is set based on previous searches, as well as the content types most often viewed or that a user spends most time watching. The more the user lingered on sexual content, the more sexual content was shown in the for you page - despite the users age being set in their profile. TikTok said they don't currently differentiate between videos served to adult and children accounts, but were working on a new filter tool for younger accounts.” https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-9970435/TikToks-algorithm-promoting-sexual-content-children-young-13.html
“While we have commended TikTok for making significant safety improvements over the last year, it is clear that TikTok needs to do much more to protect minors from exposure to sexual content and pornographic websites. We have been pressing on TikTok to proactively moderate content because even our own research confirms what the Wall Street Journal found: under an account we created as a 13-year-old, we were easily able to find videos promoting OnlyFans, as well as other pornography and prostitution sites despite the fact that this type of material is against TikTok's Community Guidelines,” said Lina Nealon, director of corporate and strategic initiatives for the National Center on Sexual Exploitation.” The thing some people don't understand is, this is how grooming often starts. Through exposure to this content, and the content's creators, on social media.
https://endsexualexploitation.org/articles/tiktok-exposes-kids-to-sexual-content/
Now some may just say: “Well only fans are just consenting adults exchanging money for art… Well, according to this article: “Just two weeks ago, 101 Members of Congress sent a letter to US Department of Justice demanding an investigation into OnlyFans for reports of child sex abuse material and sex trafficking. Journalists shared insider information that the FBI opened a “sprawling” investigation into the financial activity and wide array of potential crimes of the multi-billion dollar company and its owners.”
https://endsexualexploitation.org/articles/onlyfans-criminal-behavior/
These are not individuals, these are multi-billion dollar companies pimping children.
9/11 was a tragedy and on the 20th Anniversary, we have watched the colossal failure of the current administration to successfully resolve the conflict. With that said, we abort more Americans in one weekend than we lost on 9/11. With a new Heartbeat Bill, is it time to celebrate the passage of the Bill or is it time to rally and push for more? Let's talk about that as we stray Further. Every. Day.
Does America have a responsibility to her own citizens in Afghanistan? Did we even affect the culture there? What about our allies? Will Israel see a more complicated and violent geopolitical struggle in the near future? The nation of Afghanistan is more of a threat now that we have left the Taliban billions of dollars in military infrastructure? Our own allies are condemning our actions. What do Christians have to say about this? Should we even be involved in politics or are we supposed to simply stay out of our governing structure? Join us as we explore these topics on Further. Every. Day.
Is Larry Elder the “Black Face” of White Supremacy as the LA Times would say? Is re-segregation a step forward or backward in how the nation views melanin-ated individuals? Are there objective realities and truths that we should test not only in schools, but in the sciences? Or is reality graded on a curve as it is now graded in Oregon public school districts? Join us for the discussion as we laugh and weep. Bring popcorn because what we are watching is a once in a lifetime spectacle: The Suicide of the West unfolds before our eyes as we stray Further. Every. Day.
Would you forgive a terrorist who raped and murdered your family members? Does forgiveness mean absolution? Or should there still be consequences? What does the Bible say about this sort of thing? Boko Haram is falling apart in Nigeria and though the news is not covering it, this is affecting so many hurt families who want justice are being asked for not just mercy but a reprieve from the consequences of their crimes. What would you do?
It would seem that America's nation building experiment of two decades in Afghanistan has collapsed. Is this due to a failure in man's effort? Or is it because we did not look at the heart of man and take into account human nature? Capitalism and Representative government are just products of a culture that follows Christ, not the source of the good therein. These things do not provide righteousness, they flow from it. Should we have looked harder at making disciples in Afghanistan? It's easy to Monday morning quarterback this issue, but maybe we should take a look at this tragedy and reconsider how we devote our resources on this Earth for the future.
Faith in Christ or Nationalism? What about patriotism? Are any of these other isms compatible with Christianity? Do they contradict a Godly Christian Worldview or compliment it? And, what do we do when we accept labels without considering the extra baggage that they may carry with the people to whom we are speaking? This episode we explore these questions when we look at the word Nationalism. Further. Every. Day.
Hatun Tash, a former Muslim, wears a t-shirt featuring a cartoon of Mohammed designed by Charlie Hebdo so that she can ask those of her community who are still Muslims if she should be killed for wearing a political cartoon of the Prophet. This has been her method of starting a conversation with Muslims for a while now. However, this recently led to her being brutally stabbed in the face in the Free Speech Corner in Great Britain, no John-Arthur, Great Britain is not France. Should we as Christian use Satire to provoke thought? Join us as we explore more of an evangelism angle this week on Further. Every. Day.
When government agencies and officials delete over 6 thousand deaths on the VAERS death report and tamper with evidence in an election audit, how do we as Christians respond? We must be salt and light as our Government and World stray Further Every Day.
As Western Culture loses its focus on the ideals of the Enlightenment, and of course on God, our liberties and rights disappear.
Can churches hang on to their tax exempt status in a Biden Presidency? Join us as we discuss how our culture, and maybe our churches have slid Further Every Day.
Happy Juneteenth!
Juneteenth is a wonderful reminder of how sometime good news travels slow. It took a while for the news of the Abolition of Slavery, which was led by Fundamentalist Christians, Republicans, and Conservatives, to reach Democrat owned Galveston Slaves, but reach them it did on June 19th, 1866. However, the narrative that is being pushed today in regards to Juneteenth is not one of healing and unification nor does the narrative recognize the foundations for the moral outcry against slavery. Instead, the narrative of CRT is the real agenda here and Christians must be aware of the anti-family and racist agenda that CRT is ultimately forwarding.
A Pro-Infanticide tirade comes out of the mouth of a Valedictorian during her Speech. Also in the news, but not news, Fauci didn't know one way or the other which way to turn, if you read his emails. Join us as we discuss our culture sliding Further Every Day.
How much of the Pentagon Alien declassification is real? How much is political manuevering? What responsibility does Israel have in regards to the death of civilians in the Gaza Strip? What responsibility does Israel have to her own citizens? And what of Hamas? Join us as we peruse the news watching the culture slide Further Every Day.
The Vaccinated can now wear masks, Dogecoin bumps up while Bitcoin takes a hit when Elon Musk stops taking Bitcoin for his Teslas, and fentanyl floods through our open borders, when we stray Further Every Day from God.
Would Peloton have done better financially if they had just acted honorably? Is Dogecoin an unstable fad whose value fluctuates based on Elon Musk's Twitter feed? And are Teachers deliberately hiding curriculum talking points? Tune in to this Episode of Further Every Day as we discuss all of the above here.
Lubbock Texas declares itself a Sanctuary City for the Unborn, Tim Scott receives a brutal media response and more when our nation strays Further Every Day.