RT @parshalltalk: I was one of those silenced by Twitter. This event IS happening in DC and it is newsworthy. This story should never have… 22 hours ago
Like it or not, if you watch TV, get ready for more gay! A study ‘came out’ – pun intended – a year ago showing a rapidly increasing trend: record numbers of LGBT characters on television, particularly on prime-time, and more LGBT characters in leading roles.
They’ve been working on this for decades, but the agenda to normalize homosexuality goes back to the 1970s. And they won’t stop until the American public not only accepts and approves of their lifestyles, but celebrates them.
This week, GLAAD published its annual report on the status of LGBT infiltration of television and their plans to dominate the industry within five years. Gay rights activists, corporations, government schools, Hollywood, and media elites deny this is an agenda, but the facts tell a very – different – story.
GLAAD’s report is called, “Where We Are on TV,” and analyzes the number of LGBT and non-white characters on television. They are demanding one in five characters on primetime shows be LGBT by 2025.
GLAAD is calling on the industry to ensure the success of their agenda. Right now, 10.2 percent of broadcast series regular characters are LGBT. But according to a Gallup survey of adults in the U.S., an extremely liberal estimate of 4.5% of the population identifies as LGBT.
This means they are already over-represented on television by 227%. If their demands are met, five years from now there would be an over-representation of roughly four-and-a-half times the actual LGBT population.
…The laws and morality of the one true God are in the way of this immoral agenda. And so is anyone who follows the living God. Something has to give.
Over in Britain, you may not be surprised a judge in the UK recently ruled that belief in the Bible is “incompatible with human dignity.” Think about that. Human dignity exists because God made man in His image.
Remember, the more dark the culture, the more light Christians can shine on it. We’ve all sinned, but forgiveness is available to anyone who admits it, repents, and turns to God.
How many fans do you need to lose before you understand you’re alienating more than half of your audience when you use sports to push progressive politics? Outspoken U.S. Women’s Soccer team co-captain, Megan Rapinoe is on top of the world for helping win the 2019 World Cup last week.
Congratulations. But it’s hard not to notice the pink-haired activist makes the NFL’s Colin Kaepernick look like a Boy Scout.
Rapinoe recently said in an interview,
“I’m not going to the f—king White House… [and] I don’t think anyone on the team has any interest.”
From kneeling during the National Anthem before games to calling the Trump administration corrupt, some of these social justice athletes just don’t get it. Their insults and disrespect come off as anti-American, and fans are tuning out.
The moment had so much potential to unify Americans, but ended up a disappointing celebration clouded by politics. Nice job, ladies. Too bad your leaders blew it.
The Family Research Council’s Tony Perkins put itthis way:
“It was supposed to be a euphoric win – another chapter in American sports dominance. But the message from the captain of soccer’s reigning champs was clear: our country may be wearing the same colors, but that doesn’t mean we’re on the same team.”
…In another disappointing part of this story, there’s speculation that one of the best players in the nation, Jaelene Hinkle, was snubbed from the team for being a Christian. According to theWashington Times, Hinkle chose not to wear a rainbow-themed women’s soccer jersey in honor of Gay Pride month.
You can guess what happened to Jaelene Hinkle. The very next game, fans waving rainbow flags booed her. That was the last time she played for the national team. World Cup women’s team coach, Jill Ellis (who is married to a woman) cut Hinkle from the roster and told reporters her decision was ‘solely based on soccer.’
…Winning on the world stage is a big accomplishment, and the women’s World Cup could have been a uniting victory for all Americans. All it did was drive the divisive wedge of identity politics even deeper.
Over fifty years ago, American culture was being prepped for a new era of sexual behavior and expression. People began accepting things that used to be called “sins.” The increase of adultery and abortion came first, which helped set the stage for pornography, homosexuality, and transgenderism.
…When moral anchors and norms are removed from culture, just about anything goes. Some say the next step is pedophilia. But they wouldn’t go that far…would they?
On June 28, 1969, New York police raided the Stonewall Inn, an underground venue for homosexuals, who responded with a violent riot. This event was one of the catalysts propelling the LGBTQ movement from the closet to America’s streets. Hoping to garner campaign support, Democrat Joe Biden visited the historic Inn just last week.
We can debate about how this nation was founded on Judeo-Christian principles and when the moral decline accelerated to the point we are no longer a godly, moral people as a whole. The fact is things that used to be talked about in whispers are now proudly proclaimed and celebrated.
With the ongoing efforts of Hollywood, media, government, public schools, andcorporations,we are being bombarded by sexual ideas and images. In this open rebellion against the one true God, the left has effectively dumbed-down our values. So now, if marriage, morality, life in the womb, and gender no longer matter, why should age matter? ‘Love is love,’ they say. There is nothing new under the sun, and pedophilia has been around for thousands of years.
…As for many on the left, they say they just want to “live and let live,” but we are no longer naive enough to think it stops there.
The Left may be godless, but they’re not stupid. Their deceptive and shrewd use of strategic words has helped them change public opinion, gain political power, and frame nearly every controversial argument or debate. They weaponize words such as choice, freedom, do no harm, inclusive, justice, fairness, affordable, tolerance, and nondiscrimination.
Liberal Democrats are now pushing the so-called ‘Equality Act’ which would give LGBTQ individuals – not equal rights, but special rights. There’s a difference. This bill would silence Christians in America. Don’t be deceived: there’s nothing equal about the equality Act.
Words matter, and the left knows exactly how to manipulate language and use positive-sounding terminology to sell their agenda. Semantics is part of the game for LGBTQ activists looking to steamroll citizens for their beliefs in the Bible, including marriage and biological sex.
The Equality Act – H.R. 5 and S. 788 – would actually amend the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by adding “sex, sexual orientation, gender identity’ as protected classes throughout the federal code.” This modified amendment would apply to employment, housing, rental, public accommodation and much more.
The bill would essentially state that religious beliefs cannot be defended in a dispute between gay rights and constitutionally protected religious rights. If you believe the Bible is true and agree with God-ordained, natural marriage, too bad. You lose.
The Heritage Foundation’s Monica Burke wrote an excellent piece for the Daily Signal in which she thoroughly explained seven reasons why the Equality Act is anything but. If the bill passes it would:
Impose sexual ideology
Compel speech
Shut down charities
Allow more biological males to defeat girls in sports
Coerce medical professionals
Lead to more parents losing custody of their children
Enable sexual assault
The logical aim of their ideology is to eradicate God, His word, and biblical morality from our culture and country. Why? Because Christianity is one of the only obstacles in the way of the radical Left gaining complete power and control of practically every aspect of America.
Due to decades of leftist progress, activists have been emboldened and we’re now seeing open hostility toward Christians – in a nation founded on biblical principles.
We didn’t get here overnight, and this effort did not start with the LGBTQ movement. It goes back to the 1950s, when the unconstitutional Lyndon Johnson Amendment was used to silence Christians, nonprofits, and conservatives. Today’s liberals are simply taking another step.
The freedom of religious expression is one of our most basic and valued freedoms in our society.
Let’s go back a bit further – to America’s founding. The First Amendment states:
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
The First Amendment guarantees freedoms concerning religion, expression, assembly, and the right to petition. It forbids Congress from both promoting one religion over others as well as restricting an individual’s religious practices. The key word here is ‘practice.’ Your faith is not something you do only behind church walls.
Don’t be so naive to think the Pelosi Democrats merely want to level the playing field. They’d snuff out Christianity if they could. They refuse to allow open discussion of biblical creation, human life in the womb, and of God’s design for marriage and gender roles.
“The supporters of the Equality Act don’t want debate or discussion. The Equality Act is designed to effectively shut down debate about human sexuality, about gender, about same-sex attraction. That’s a national debate that we’ve actually never had.”
To clarify, discrimination is wrong, but disagreement is not hate. We should have the right to disagree with policies, ideologies, and behaviors that oppose biblical teachings. The Equality Act would elevate sexual orientation and gender identity to protected classes, impose a nationwide bathroom policy, and it would defeat the purpose of having anti-discrimination laws.
Don’t fall for the lies of the left, and don’t buy into the so-called ‘Equality Act’ no matter how virtuous it may sound. We know what their end game is. What can we do? Fight for the truth, pray, speak, and vote. Then trust God regardless of the outcome, knowing judgment is coming soon.
Is God-ordained marriage being deconstructed in America? In order to eliminate natural marriage in society, it must first be rendered meaningless. How could that happen? You might say ‘gays and lesbians pushing same-sex marriage for several decades’, and you’d only be partially right. Many factors lead to marriage being redefined.
Recent surveys done by Barna Research concluded that adultery, premarital sex and cohabitation have basically become the new normal in America. In addition, according to the National Center for Health Statistics, seventy-five percent of Americans say it’s okay to have and raise children when the parents are living together but not married. So how did we get here?
Fifty years ago, a Gallup poll was done showing only 21% of Americans said premarital sex was acceptable; 68% said it was wrong. That was 1969. So what happened to change the attitudes of people about marriage over five decades?
Skyrocketing divorce rates among heterosexuals have added to the problem, as well as the increasing divorce rate among Christians. Did you know that since around the early 1960s, the divorce rate in America has increased over 100% to where now more than one out of every two marriages ends in divorce?
Bisexual, pedophile, and sexologist,Alfred Kinseydid much damage to people’s healthy views of sex and marriage in the 1950s. Dig up the truth about Kinsey sometime, not the whitewashed Hollywood version. He used children in his sex experiments as well as prostitutes.
Planned Parenthood’s founding feminist, adulterer, eugenicist, racist, and atheist,Margaret Sanger promoted sexual freedom at a time when the word abortion was spoken about in hushes and whispers. She was among the first to promote monogamous marriage as a ball and chain! We’ve now reached the point where killing a baby in the womb is just another form of birth control.
The Feminist movement and cry for women’s liberation and equality sounded good in its early stages, but it is no longer about equal pay or equal rights. It has become a liberal, anti-family, socialist movement detrimental to God-ordained, natural marriage and healthy families.
Then, a major cultural event happened fifty years ago, billed as “3 Days of Peace and Music” in White Lake, New York. Woodstock drew nearly 500,000 people in 1969. There were drugs, nudity, sex, rock and roll, and a lot of mud from the rain.
It is widely regarded as a pivotal moment in pop music history and the peak of the hippie counterculture. Ideas of rebellion against authority, peace, love, sex, tolerance, and unity resonated throughout the country – bringing us to today’s godless culture in which two thirds of adults (65%) say it’s a good idea to live with one’s significant other before getting married.
But one of the saddest findings to me is that in a survey of professing Christians, almost half of them (48%) live with or have previously lived with their boyfriend or girlfriend. This makes me wonder if we’re all reading the same Holy Bible.
We didn’t see all the causes decades ago, but we’re sure seeing the effects today…
The party of godlessness is taking their extremism up a few notches to the point you can no longer be neutral. Just a handful of things liberal Democrats have supported in recent weeks include: infanticide, anti-Semitism, environmentalism, illegal immigration, transgender surgeries, the LGBTQ agenda, legalizing prostitution, and of course – socialism.
Does the cycle of godlessness begin with those elected to office, or the people who vote them into power? If you haven’t thought about leaving the Democrat Party, it may be time to at least stop blindly voting for them, especially if you’re a Christian. If you refuse to reconsider, you have a serious conflict of interest on your hands. Many on both sides need to repent of idolatry.
I am certainly not suggesting the Republican Party is full of angels. I’m thankful for President Trump’s strong pro-life and pro-Israel stance, but I don’t agree with him on all the issues, nor do I go along with every single policy they endorse. There is however, a stark, glaring contrast today between the two major political parties in the U.S. and the chasm is getting wider and deeper.
More than ever, progressives are all about power. Their goal is big government control and one-party rule in America. Karl Marx would be proud because the revolution can only advance by doing away with God & Christianity, families, natural marriage, religious freedom, work incentive, and private property. Social justice ideology has practically consumed any professing Christians in the Democrat Party to the point they justify blatant immorality.
‘It’s all about the people,’ they say. Nancy Pelosi said Democrats are doing God’s work. They say Republicans and Christians are the ones who are bigoted, intolerant and racist.
But before we get to the slippery slope of socialism, we should call out immorality for what it is. Democrat presidential candidate, Senator Kamala Harrisrecently saidshe would “decriminalize” prostitution based on consent. Wouldn’t that lead to more sexual abuse and less protection for victims of violence?
Next, you already know about Democrats in New York voting to legalize infanticide, the murder of a living baby even up through the delivery process. But the Party of death also voted against providing medical care or protections to a baby born alive in the case of a botched abortion.
Think about this: a living, suffering human baby is placed on a table crying and in pain – and is left to die. They wouldn’t do that to a puppy or a kitten – or a fish.
Condemning the liberal mindset that defends animal life over human life, CEO of MyPillow.com, Mike Lindell said this last week at CPAC:
“I see a Party saving minnows in California and killing babies in New York. Are you kidding me?”
And some say a wall on our southern border is “immoral.” Did you know that on Friday, House Democrats voted in favor of illegal immigrants voting in U.S. elections? The key word here is “illegal.” This is no longer your great grandparent’s Democrat Party.
They did this under the guise of the bill, “HR 1,” and essentially voted to defend local governments choosing to go against federal law and allow illegal aliens to vote. Georgia Democrat, John Lewis said they are “prepared to open up the political process and let all of the people come in.”
Texas Republican and American Vet, Dan Crenshaw asked, “What kind of government would cancel the vote of its own citizens, and replace it with noncitizens?” He later Tweeted:
“Today I offered a motion to recommit #HR1 reaffirming that only US citizens should have the right to vote. “Dems rejected it. Next time you go to the ballot box, keep that in mind. The future of their party is in cities like San Fran, where illegals can vote. Let that sink in.”
Prior to Democrats regaining power in the U.S. House, Nancy Pelosi promised to work hard for the LGBT lobby, for noncitizens wanting to cross our borders, for women wanting abortions, and for those wanting to protect the environment.
Then there’s Corey Booker who firstgrilled Mike Pompeo, then a judicial nominee,asking if they believe LGBT relationships are a sin. So, if you don’t believe in gay sex, you’re not fit to serve?
Don’t forget Hillary who, from her high perch above the law, thinks Trump voters are just a bunch of deplorables.
But there are plenty of headlines about the 29 year-old college grad and bartender from New York, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. AOC recently said she’s so worried about the environment and the planet she wonders if it’s still okay to have babies.
She also just called for the U.S. to end its relationship with Israel. Her radical socialist policies should are concerning. The “Green New Deal” she introduced would cost trillions and she doesn’t seem to care or understand how we’d pay for it.
Writing about Democrat radicalism, Washington Times contributor, Robert Knight stated:
But she’s the new face of the Democratic Party’s plunge into outright socialism. All six of the major announced contenders for the Democratic presidential nomination have endorsed her sweeping “Green New Deal.” He added that “socialism “promises of guaranteed income equality,” “free” medical care,” “free college tuition,” state ownership of the means of production, confiscation of private property, central planning and a one-party system inevitably result in coercion and violence.”
I agree that socialism violates the laws of nature and nature’s God, and the progressive worldview begins with the false idea we’re not really created in God’s image, and we’re merely products of random events.
The sexual revolution was part and parcel of socialist thought in the 19th century, just as it’s a driving force in the Democratic Party today, which pushes LGBTQ sexual anarchy and abortion. A consistent feature of the revolution is that “the ends justify the means.” So, lies are good as long as people keep falling for them.
Seventy-five years ago, six-time candidate for the Socialist Party of America, Norman Thomas, stated:
“The American people will never knowingly adopt socialism, but under the name of liberalism they will adopt every fragment of the socialist program until one day America will be a socialist nation without ever knowing how it happened.”
Marx wrote that socialism is the last necessary step on the road to communism. Ronald Reagan once said, “I didn’t leave the Democrat Party; the Democrat Party left me.” But he said this in the 1980s. It’s nearly forty years later and too many Americans believe the same lies and keep voting the same way simply because they always have.
Since our actions and words will be judged, don’t you think God will hold us accountable for how we vote?
For those who trust in Jesus Christ and believe the Bible is true, if you vote for policies that go against God’s teachings and biblical morality, it might be time to reexamine your priorities, values, and even who or what your faith is in.
Government education in America kicked God, prayer, the Bible, and the Ten Commandments out of public schools over fifty years ago leaving a massive spiritual void. The doors were then flung open to Atheism, evolution, Humanism, witchcraft, Islam, Liberalism, sexual promiscuity, the LGBTQ agenda, and recently, Buddhism.
Our tax dollars now support the teaching of an ABC curriculum: Anything But Christ. All the religions in the world cannot possibly be true, but in a secular culture influenced by postmodernism, people don’t want to hear there is only one way to God. But if you’re sincerely seeking truth, I suggest you take a look at Jesus before trying everything else.
The coexist slogan was actually created to oppose Christianity, and demand that we keep our beliefs to ourselves. Public schools follow this philosophy and insist we conform and tolerate all behavior as well as other religious claims.
Just last year, middle school students were asked to write the Islamic declaration of faith known as the “shahada,” which pledges allegiance to the prophet Muhammad and the Muslim god, Allah.
And now, the American Center for Law and Justice has received complaints from parents in eleven states so far about the growing practice of teachers incorporating Buddhism-based mindfulness practices into everyday curriculum of elementary school age children.
“Some students are required to participate in as many as three meditation or mindfulness sessions each school day. Most of the programs include audio recordings encouraging children to empty their minds or watch their thoughts float away on a cloud. Others encourage children to be one with the universe; …several teachers, upon learning of the undisputable religious connection between mindfulness and Buddhism, have ceased using the curriculum and practicing mindfulness in their classrooms.”
Christian-based teachings however, have been expelled from public schools. But wait. Isn’t it intolerant to give a pass to every other religion except Christianity? All religions make exclusive claims, but people hate Jesus because He is the only one to claim He is God. And yet, He predicted and accomplished His own death and resurrection!
It is disingenuous to just ignore these historical facts. C.S. Lewis once stated:
“A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic — or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse.”
The inescapable question is who do you say Jesus is? Neutrality is not an option. Jesus said He is “the way, the truth and the life,” and that no one comes to God the Father except through Him (John 14:6).
Most people think their way is right. But when Christians say Jesus is the right way and the Bible is true, we’re often mocked and called hateful, intolerant, or judgmental. Hold on. Isn’t it hateful to mock and disrespect someone’s religious beliefs? And aren’t you judging by accusing Christians of being judgmental for saying we’re all sinners and only God forgives sins?
Christianity is the only religion founded on historical events that can be evaluated; events that were witnessed by thousands of people – most of whom were still alive when many New Testament books were written! Compelling evidence is available supporting the Bible as being reliable, accurate, and true.
But there’s a problem: recent Barna Group research shows nearly 60% of Americans agree with the philosophy:
“Many religions can lead to eternal life; there is no ‘one true religion.’
One reason might be we think we can be good without God. Ask a person if they’re going to heaven when they die and most will say yes, but it’s not because they believe in Jesus. They think they’re a good person and can be saved by working hard and doing more good than bad in this life.
To claim all religions are the same is either denial or ignorance. Similarities, perhaps; sameness, absolutely not. Every religion at its core is exclusive. Apologist and author, Ravi Zacharias said:
“All religions are not the same. All religions do not point to God; …At the heart of every religion is an uncompromising commitment to a particular way of defining who God is or is not, and accordingly, of defining life’s purpose.
Like it or not, it all comes down to what we believe about Jesus. And what about other belief systems? Who do other religions say Jesus is?
Bahai teaches that Jesus was a messenger, a manifestation of God; that heaven and hell are not real, there is no Trinity, and all the different religions are part of one single plan by God.
Buddhists say Jesus was just an enlightened man, that we will be reincarnated, and we can work our way to salvation or higher consciousness. There is an eight-fold plan to enlightenment, and a few goals of Buddhism include avoiding the extremes of pain and pleasure, and to eradicate worldly desires.
Christian Science rejects Jesus’ sacrifice and teaches that sin doesn’t exist so there’s no need for a savior. God is referred to as “the Father-Mother,” known as the Divine Mind, having no personhood or personality.
Free Masons believe in a “Supreme Being” also referred to as GAOTU, the “Great Architect Of The Universe, but the name of Jesus is prohibited in formal lodge ceremonies.
Hinduism teaches reincarnation, karma, and that Jesus was a holy man and wise teacher, but one of millions of gods. There are many paths to God; Brahman is the source of all things and we all have divine nature.
Jehovah’s Witnesses believe Jesus was Michael the Archangel, a created being, and that the cross is a pagan symbol. They deny Christ as God, deny the resurrection, and the Trinity. (Their own version of the Bible is the NWT)
Judaism teaches that Jesus was a false prophet and a liar. While many confirm Jesus did miracles, they claim that His power was from the Devil. (By the way, Jewish records affirm the execution of Jesus.)
Latter Day Saints Mormons believe that God was once a man, Jesus was created as the spirit brother of Lucifer; and that we can all become gods. The Book of Mormon is subtitled, “Another Testament of Jesus Christ” but it is clearly another Jesus.
Muslims think Jesus was just a prophet and healer. Islam also teaches that Jesus wasn’t crucified and did not really die on the cross (Judas took His place), that good works are needed for salvation; man is not made in the image of God, and the Qur’an and Hadith are authoritative in a Muslim’s life.
Roman Catholics believe salvation includes a process ranging from faith in Jesus – to faith plus good deeds andadherence to Church sacraments including confirmation, and the authority of the pope as well as Roman Catholic Church tradition and Catechism. (Catholic friends, please see below!) Your Church called me “anathema.”
Seventh Day Adventists teach that Jesus is Michael the Archangel, and SDA founder and prophetess Ellen G. White was a messenger of God, Satan will bear our sins, and when we die we will not exist anymore.
Unitarians think Jesus was no more divine than you or me but was a great teacher and a faith healer, they hold to the universal redemption of all mankind, deny the Trinity, and profess to have no real dogma. Unitarian Universalists use many biblical concepts and terms, but with non-biblical meanings. They are not Christian.
Jesus is either aliar, a lunatic, or Lordand God. No one measures up to God’s standard of righteousness.
Every one of these contradict essential teachings in the Bible. So who is Jesus? When He asked the Apostle Peter that question, he answered Him,
“You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” (Matt. 16:16)
Just months after seeing Jesus resurrected, Peter stated:
And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)
No man or religion measures up to God’s perfect standard of righteousness. Psalm 18:30 states:
As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the LORD is flawless.
The Apostle Paul wrote to the Colossians saying that by Christ, “all things were created,” and that, “He is before all things;” (Col. 1:16)
Jesus is the Creator and He pre-existed with the Father and the Spirit. The Apostle John stated:
God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life. (1 John 5:11-12)
Only Jesus can free you from the power and penalty of sin. He alone can transform you, restore you, and give your life eternal purpose. Stop striving and come back to God, repent and believe in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.
Though Paul wrote that Christians are God’s masterpieces and we were created to do good works (Eph. 2:10), we clearly understand, “the just shall live by faith (Romans 1:17),” and:
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. Ephesians 2:8-9
Other religions teach you to work, work, work, and do, do, do. Christianity teaches it’s done! Jesus’ last words on the cross were “It is finished.” He completed the work, the mission for which God sent Him to secure the eternal salvation for those who believe in Him.
There are many paths, but one way and Truth: Jesus. This is important to understand because we’re being bombarded with ideologies and false teachings today in schools, media, academia, Hollywood, and throughout our culture. Discern, test the spirits, and watch.
If Jesus rebuked many of the early churches for straying, leaving their first love, putting up with false doctrine, or for being lukewarm, how could we, American Christians, think He wouldn’t harshly rebuke many of our seeker-sensitive, shallow, lukewarm churches today?
Some might claim the Church is thriving here in the United States of Entertainment. I would ask them why then doesn’t it translate out into society. Who is driving culture today, Christians or atheists and secular progressives? Biblical morality or godlessness?
The truth is too many professing believers have generally conformed to the world and have failed to defend and preserve culture through Judeo-Christian values. We are to be salt in society: to not only flavor and enhance culture but to influence it as well. Salt is a preservative, but it can also irritate, especially if it touches an exposed wound. Paul told believers at Ephesus to walk as children of light and,
Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; (Eph. 5:11)
Too many in American churches do just the opposite! We accommodate popular sins (abortion and homosexuality). Why? Because the Supreme Court ruled they are legal, of course. But just because something is legal does not make it moral. Has the Supreme Ruler and Judge changed His mind on certain sins? Not at all!
We have watered down the Word of God and have lost our saltiness and power to transform society for good. Some larger churches have a reputation for being alive, but their discipleship and doctrine is rather ineffective. I attended a megachurch for several years and kept running into unregenerate and unconverted people, many of whom thought they were saved.
God woke me up at 3 AM recently and this message is the result. My heart was heavy; we were wrapping up our Bible study on the book of Colossians – a church Paul commended for their faith and love, by the way – and we were examining the geography of Asia Minor (modern day Turkey) and many cities that had Christian churches in the first several centuries.
*The following is a partial transcript to the sermon from video:
In Revelation chapter two and three, Jesus harshly rebuked five out the seven churches within the same area. I couldn’t help but wonder what He would think of churches in America today. It’s a sobering thought.
Would Jesus rebuke us, Christians in the United States of Entertainment, the way He did several churches in Asia Minor?
Wake up, and strengthen the things that remain, which were about to die; for I have not found your deeds completed in the sight of My God. 3 So remember what you have received and heard; and keep it, and repent. Therefore if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come to you.Revelation 3:2-3
This quote has been attributed to several people, one of whom is Dwight L. Moody:
“Our greatest fear should not be of failure, but of succeeding at something that doesn’t really matter.”
We will all stand before the Lord one day and be judged for how we spent our time. Your husband or wife won’t be there, neither will your children, coworkers, or friends on social media. It will be you alone before Jesus. And that should sober up every one of us in this room.
Here are some important QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER:
Is your life bearing fruit for the Lord Jesus Christ? JN 15:8
Are we passionate about eternal and spiritual things? COL 3:2
Who or what is our first love? What’s our main focus? 6:33
Have you conformed to our culture – or to Christ? ROM 12:2
Do we love this world more than we love God, His Word? 1 JN 2:15-17
Are you prepared for persecution when it comes? 5:11-12
Are we, individual believers in Jesus who make up the church in America, succeeding at what’s most important? Are we loving the Lord God, loving our neighbors, preaching the good news of salvation in Jesus Christ alone, making disciples, raising godly children, impacting culture, and encouraging the faith of other believers?
Or are we just giving God lip service?
American churches, especially many of the larger, higher profile mega-churches, often have a good reputation simply due to their popularity, numbers or size (quantity). But this is often a very inaccurate picture of the overall health, discipleship, and maturity (quality) of a church. Is the body of Christ being built up in faith and equipped for ministry? (Eph. 4:11-12)
According to Barna research and several other studies and surveys, it appears American Christianity is producing the most biblically illiterate church members in history, confused about what the Bible teaches, unable to fully understand let alone explain and defend the essentials of the faith. What ever happened to discipleship? We can learn from the earliest Christian churches that it doesn’t take long to stray from truth.
Revelation 3:1“To the angel of the church in Sardis write: He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars, says this: ‘I know your deeds, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead.
Wake-up! Repent! Notice what Jesus also says to the church in Sardis:
5 He who overcomes will thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. 6 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’
*We all have ears – but – are we listening? What is Jesus saying to the churches in America who have grown comfortable and complacent? What is He saying to individual believers? Do YOU have ears to hear from God?
Is your life bearing fruit for the Lord Jesus Christ?
We just finished the book of Colossians in our weekly Bible study and looking at the geography at that time, we talked about the many early Christian churches in Asia Minor which is modern day Turkey.
…The Colossian church was just 12 miles from the church of Laodicea and about 95 miles from Ephesus, a booming city at the time. Laodicea was also prospering and growing, located next to a new trade route, they had it made.
But that’s what lots of people would say about America, which is why we’re making this comparison today. We are prosperous, proud, and self-sufficient. Look at our big and many churches!
May we take to heart the warnings to the early churches:
“To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God, says this:
15 ‘I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. 16 So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth. 17 Because you say, “I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,” and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked; …19 Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent.
Culture is shifting left, change is happening, and morality is declining at such a rapid pace in American culture, a culture in which moral relativism trumps truth and rebellion against God is at fever-pitch, it’s difficult to just report on one story in a particular category. So this week, let’s look briefly at three headlines and why they matter:
California Passes Law Allowing 12-Year-Olds To Get Tax-Paid Transgender Treatments
Male Rapist Identifying as “Female” Transfers to Women’s Jail – (What could go wrong?)
Colorado Children’s Hospital Dumps Gender Designations to Satisfy Liberal Activists
How did we get here?
America has rejected God and absolute truth. People are simply doing what is right in their individual minds. But remember, just because a person sincerely believes something does not make it true, just, or right.
Let’s start with the children’s hospital. It’s bad enough some clueless and uninformed parents are now allowing their five-year old children to decide what gender they want to be, Children’s Hospital in Aurora, is removing gender markings off patient wristbands to satisfy the politically correct LGBTQ lobby.
Spokesperson, Dr. Natalie Nokoff has treated transgender patients for years and stated:
“We are seeing more and more patients who have diverse gender identities,”
I get it. More children are being encouraged to think they’re the opposite sex. But you don’t have to accommodate delusions and put kids’ health at risk just to satisfy the extremists. This is irresponsible.
Speaking of irresponsible and reckless, the next story is from England, where Stephen Wood, a man who identifies as a woman and goes by Karen White, is a convicted rapist and pedophile, most recently arrested for stabbing his neighbor.
Since he is transgender, they placed him in a jail for women even though he is a biological male and has had no chemical or surgical modifications. Wood used the opportunity to sexually assault four women in New Hall Prison. Apologizing for the mistake, a Prison spokesman reiterated that safety of all prisoners is a priority and they work to manage transgender prisoners with sensitivity.
Even after the incident, reporters and prison officials still used feminine pronouns – referring to Stephen as she or her. This is not only ideologically-driven and ignorant, it is a denial of science and truth, so unfortunately, we’re seeing tragic consequences of a society drifting further from a worldview based on the authority of God’s Word.
Ken Ham of Answers in Genesis explains:
“The Bible is clear that there are only two genders—male and female (Genesis 1:27). When you deny Scripture and blur the lines between the sexes, you create confusion and open the door (as in this case) for sexual predators.”
And the third story: you only need to be 12 years old in California to privately seek and consent to treatment for so-called ‘gender transitioning.’ Let’s put this in perspective.
You have to be 18 to vote in California, 16 obtain a driver’s license, 18 to buy a rifle, engage in consensual sex, or get married without parental consent, and 21 to buy a handgun, alcohol, or marijuana. But in the nation’s most progressive state, you only need to be 12 to get taxpayer-funded life-changing transgender treatments.
The new law describes it as “gender affirming health care, with consideration of their gender identity,” and includes Medi-Cal coverage for foster care youth up to 26 years of age. How do they prove these services are medically necessary?
According to Denise Shick at the Federalist, the law’s authors seem to mean well, wanting a safe and healthy home, free of abuse for those in foster care and for them to be treated with respect. Who would argue with that?
But are adolescents mature enough to make such drastic, adult decisions?
We know kids often emulate what Hollywood promotes as good, and according to the CDC, children in the age range of 12-14 are heavily influenced by their peer group and are more concerned about superficial things such as body image, looks, and clothes.
Teens and adolescants also experience more moodiness, develop eating problems, feel more sadness or depression, which can lead to poor grades at school, alcohol or drug use, unsafe sex, and other problems.
Many studies have found that human brains take a long time to develop fully—as long as 25 years or more. That means that adolescents are at a distinct disadvantage in decision making. That’s why you see the immaturity issues…
Chronologically, adolescents are only about halfway to full brain development. Yet the new California allows—and almost compels—adolescents to make irreversible, potentially life-altering decisions!
One final point. According to the American College of Pediatricians,
“The vast majority of gender dysphoric children affirmed as the opposite sex go on puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones are permanently sterilized as a result,”
That means a wrong decision could render today’s kids incapable of having children of their own someday. How many pastors, Christian leaders and parents are speaking up about this destructive movement?
Will the adults in the room and across the country who are capable of making wise choices stand up for truth, common sense, and sanity against those who might mean well and against those who are driving this destructive agenda?
The Bible teaches that when mankind becomes futile in their thinking, their foolish hearts are darkened.
For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. (Romans 1:25); Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.(1 Corinthians 1:25) and, “For the wisdom of this world is foolishness before God.” (1 Corinthians 3:19)
Godless liberalism is driving the nation. America is reaping the lies and deception that have been sown throughout our culture over the last seventy-five years. Now on steroids, the LGBTQ agenda is taking the ship down with it.
The God of Truth is our only hope to reconcile sinful man to Himself, and for true believers in America to reclaim spiritual influence and salvage a drowning society. We must get back to the basics of biblical living, speak the truth (about creation, gender, marriage, etc.), and expose the darkness in part by pointing others to the truth of Christ.
You can’t get much more radical or anti-Christian and yes, she actually said that. Palestinian-American activist and controversial co-chair of the national Women’s March protest against President Donald Trump, Linda Sarsour recently suggested people stop humanizing the Jews. She made the remarks at the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) convention in Houston while speaking on Islamophobia and other political issues.
I’m not sure what’s more concerning, the fact she made these hateful, anti-Semitic remarks or that the media and most Americans don’t think it matters.
If you’re a Christian, conservative, Independent or Republican, consider this a wake-up call to reevaluate your support for the politics and worldview of radicals like Linda Sarsour. Democrats should be renouncing her but sadly, their silence should be taken as their approval. Sarsour has aligned herself with people such as Louis Farrakhan and the far Left so you may want to rethink your loyalty.
According to reports, Linda Sarsour refused to allow women who oppose abortion and same-sex marriage to take part in the Women’s March in Washington D.C. earlier this year, and Sarsour has argued that there was no room in the feminist movement for supporters of Israel. She has also been an outspoken advocate in the Black Lives Matter movement, and promotes numerous anti-Israel policies.
It is deeply alarming the media practically whitewashes her background and political activism. I understand because some are on her side.
Linda Sarsourwas arrestedlast week for disrupting Judge Brett Kavanaugh’s Supreme Court confirmation hearing. So it’s not at all surprising Sarsour was endorsed by new Democrat Party hero, Socialist Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez who also calls Israel the occupiers of Palestine.
Ocasio-Cortez tweeted:
Our future is a shared responsibility. This woman putting it all on the line for healthcare, women & LGBT+ rights is @lsarsour. The far right constantly maligns her w/ false attacks + threats of violence. Yet here she is, as always, fighting for everything our flag represents.
Now hold on a minute! So the American Flag represents socialism, abortion, taxpayer-funded transgender surgeries, Gay Pride parades, silencing Christians, social justice, advancing Islam in America, and dehumanizing the Jews? Let me check our Founding documents and get back to you.
You might have some credibility if you argue America is no longer a Christian nation in practice, but any sincere citizen who is of average intelligence or education would agree that the United States was established upon the freedoms, morality, and principles found within the Judeo-Christian worldview.
And as for Israel, the Lord God promised to make Israel into a great, influential nation whether we like it or not. The Bible is pretty clear: God said:
And I will bless those who bless you,
And the one who curses you I will curse.
And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.” (Genesis 12:3)
Genesis 12:7 states,
The Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To your descendants I will give this land.” So he built an altar there to the Lord who had appeared to him.
And in Genesis 17, verse 7:
I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your descendants after you. 8 I will give to you and to your descendants after you, the land of your sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.”
There are other Scriptures detailing the boundary lines. To this day, the dispute with God’s chosen people is not only over the land, but Muslim nations think Israel does not have a right to exist.
The Jewish Torah promises the children of Israel a modest and reasonable allotment of land. This portion of land is, get this, about 1/19th the size of California and yet, Israel is currently surrounded by 22 hostile Arab nations 640 times the size of Israel, and 60 times her population!
Isn’t it unreasonable to believe the media and people like Linda Sarsour who claim Israel is responsible for all the problems in the Middle East? Since 1948, the Jews have sought peaceful coexistence with neighboring countries – dictatorships dedicated to its destruction.
But sure enough, when Israel is often attacked, the media reports on when they retaliate, practically omitting or ignoring the barrage of rockets coming across the border. Just ask the IDF (Israel Defense Force).
Throughout the centuries, nations have raged and have come against this nation the size of New Jersey, but understand that God promised to bless those who bless Israel. And He will eventually judge and destroy nations that come against Israel.
So when people in America such as Sarsour and Ocasio-Cortez encourage Muslim Americans and others to dehumanize the Jews, it should send a chill down our collective spines.
From kneeling during the National Anthem before games to calling the Trump administration corrupt, some of these social justice athletes just don’t get it. Their insults and disrespect come off as anti-American, and fans are tuning out. 
Eradicate: Blotting Out God in America 