The Influence of the World

The pressure of our world’s social value system is hostile to Christ, and it is taking a toll on biblical morality and the family. Many people are willing slaves to the culture of the media. Our culture’s domination to make us think and act the way it wants us to live is incredibly powerful!

Once, in Corrientes, Argentina, thieves broke into our house while we slept and stole what they wanted. We never awoke. However, the following day, we all felt violated. That is what the world does to us today, invading our homes, families, and lives while we sleep. It takes what it wants from us and leaves its filth and corruption.

Socialism and communism were responsible for more than 100 million deaths under Stalin and Mao. With such stains of death and violence, how could this system have any attraction today? There are 5 fully communist countries today, China, North Korea, Laos, Cuba, and Vietnam. These nations suffer under brutal dictatorship, depriving their people of freedom and prosperity. Some of these people are starving to death. None of these nations can come close to the economic success of America. Yet, there is a powerful movement to make the United States and many parts of the world Marxist nations. This is beyond comprehension. There may be a lot of problems with capitalism and democracy, but they are far less than totalitarian states.

I ask myself how it is possible that pedophilia can be normalized by replacing the term pedophiles with “minor-attracted persons.” This is also being accomplished by dropping the age of adulthood in many countries. One of the most shocking things going on today is encouraging children to switch their gender by feeding them insidious lies that switching their gender is simple, easy, and wonderful. The switch involves very harmful hormones and genital mutilation that cannot be fully reversed. The degrading of women by enabling sexual assault by allowing men “identifying as women” to enter women’s bathrooms and locker rooms is deplorable. The sexualizing of our children by having them participate in drag queen hours at school libraries is beyond the pale. This very activity is against the law in most states.

There is also an attack against men. The culture wants to feminize boys and men and take away their masculinity. This is a sinister attack of confusion. The more significant problem is a vicious cycle whereby the state, by undermining the family, erodes the father’s place in the family. Men are at greater risk for substance abuse and suicide than ever before. All this and so much more is presented and even bombarded at us daily as normal and acceptable.

 

 

 

 

 

 

When David Heard

 

They trembled in fear when King Saul and his soldiers heard Goliath’s threats and ridicule of the God of Israel. Even the sight of the almost 10-foot giant paralyzed them with fear. For forty days, twice a day, the giant proclaimed what he would do if any Israelite dared to fight him. However, when the 17-year-old David heard the giant, he responded differently. David wanted to know why nobody had done anything. He wanted to see why this Philistine could still mock the God of Israel and not be stopped.

Amazing things happen when you really hear. David heard what Goliath was saying; he listened to the arrogance, the mockery. He also attended the silence of the army of Israel and the silence of King Saul.

I have heard the Goliath of today shouting that a baby in the womb does not have the right to live. In fact, the giant mocks the belief that the baby is a real human being. Some say that abortion should be left up to each state. We tried that with slavery, and it didn’t work because it was a moral issue, just like abortion.

I have heard today’s Goliath shout that any male who claims to be a girl has the right to enter a girl’s bathroom or locker room. The idea of biological men identifying as women has taken hold in our culture, and people are now afraid to speak against this insanity.

I have heard this Goliath tell us that kindergarteners must hear about all forms of sexuality. He demands the right for drag queens to read their stories to our children. If an adult chooses to change their gender, they can do that, but they do not have the right to indoctrinate a child. This giant is intimidating because he is the media, big government, big corporations, and overwhelming culture.

I have heard this Goliath demean us with racist language that pits one race against another. Our nation, indeed, has a long and dreadful history of racial hatred, which is sinful and ugly. But the proposed solution to this problem is a lie. Hate for hate is no answer.

I have heard Goliath bragging that he will force Christian business owners of faith to celebrate a union to which they are religiously opposed.

I have heard this Goliath tell Christians they have no right to speak on any public issue because they are Christians. They are free to practice their faith in private but not in a public way. Once you have heard Goliath, you cannot be silent.

Enough is Enough

 

This week Marilyn and I watched the documentary “What is a Woman?” The movie features Matt Walsh, who interviewed many people, always asking, “What is a Woman?” I was struck by the reluctance of many proponents of the transgender movement who refused to answer the question. At a women’s march in D.C., Walsh asked dozens of women, “What is a Woman?” but none would give him an answer. One man who was a professor asked why would you ask the question? Walsh answered because I seek the truth. The professor responded that the word “Truth” made him very uncomfortable. If you continue using that word, we will end the interview.

When Walsh interviewed a California congressman who is a member of the LGBT community about the discomfort of women having a biological male in their bathroom, he abruptly ended the interview. This was actually what most people did when they got uncomfortable with real questions.

Many puberty blockers and other drugs used on children have not been tested with longitudinal studies. That in itself is outrageous! We all know that some men and women claim the opposite gender, even though men have XY chromosomes and women have XX chromosomes that cannot be changed. This fight is about something more important than that—our children. If an adult wants to change their gender--that’s their choice, but to indoctrinate and pressure kids to change by using gender affirmation is child abuse!

We all know that children and adolescents have temporary ideas that change with time. They believe in Santa Claus; they think they are omnipotent, but with time those ideas change. To change the biology of a boy or girl based on a whim fed by gender-affirming indoctrination is criminal.

It’s time for all of us to say, “Enough is Enough! Leave the kids alone” I don’t care if it’s our schools, medical people, government officials, or cultural icons.  We have to take a stand to protect the kids!  The documentary ends with Walsh asking his wife, “What is a Woman?” She answers, “A female adult.” That simple answer has stood for thousands of years, but suddenly our country doesn’t know what a woman is. This is an attack against biblical morality, the family, and common sense! What we are witnessing is a perversion of truth.

Backbone

 

We live in a day when men and women who choose to follow the teachings and principles of scripture; can be portrayed as a bigot. However, true believers choose to follow their convictions regardless of the fallout. Jesus told us, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me” (Mark 8:34). That is what it means to be a committed follower of Christ.

I was thinking of Daniel this week, who was committed to his convictions and lived in a similar culture. He was just a young man when he was taken into captivity by Nebuchadnezzar’s army. Upon arrival in Babylon, he was enrolled in academic training for three years to learn the language and literature of the Babylonians so that they could change his worldview. They started by changing Daniel’s name to Belteshazzar. They may have changed his name, but they didn’t change Daniel. They attempted to make him forget his faith but failed because Daniel remained faithful to his God.

I believe that when his parents gave him the name Daniel, they communicated what it meant: “God is my judge.” They always taught him to remember that God was the one he would ultimately give an account to, not man. These parents sent a sharp weapon into the land of Babylon when their son was taken captive.

Those committed to following the Scriptures must stand up against oppression, even coercion, from our own government. Let us take courage because if a man named Daniel remained true to his principles, we can too. Daniel’s name stuck through several successive kingdoms. It stuck because Daniel lived up to the meaning of his name. All those kings regarded him as Daniel and not by his Babylonian name.