Culture in Focus applies God’s Word to today’s headlines to expose spiritual lies and equip Christians to have meaningful conversations. These researched articles are designed to inform Christians about what is transpiring in our culture and why it matters to God. It could be that many of our national troubles are God’s response to our culture.
A resurgence of voices declaring that revival is coming to America has caught the attention of God’s people from coast-to-coast. In the face of numerous nationwide challenges, it seems that a national revival—what some refer to as a Great Awakening—is necessary to save our nation. And since God loves us, to those who are declaring and promising revival, it is all but a foregone conclusion that revival is on the way. National leaders are alerting people to this pending revival through interviews, streaming messages, social media, articles, and books. But the widest proliferation of this message is coming through an overwhelming amount of YouTube videos declaring, “God is not done with America yet;” and therefore by implication, we simply need to hang on a little bit longer until America is saved by a glorious move of God. I too believe that it is only through the spiritual empowerment of God’s people amidst God’s manifest presence, along with multitudes of people coming to faith, that America can be saved. By God’s grace, I experienced a taste of these realities while leading a campus ministry at the University of Wisconsin—Madison in 1995. Also, I served with Life Action Ministries (a ministry focused on seeing God move in national revival and awakening) for 12 years before launching Forerunners of America. So, hear me before reading further: I am pro-revival and pro-awakening! However, in recent months I have heard national figures declaring—and sometimes promising—a revival that is out of step with the Bible and…
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Nobody expects the news media to be 100% accurate all the time. … However, there is a difference between occasional errors and the consistent pattern of misrepresentation and selective reporting of facts seen throughout much of the mainstream media. Perhaps none have been as effective at revealing intentional deception and manipulation by major news outlets as…
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November 3rd—Trump vs. Biden, or Something Bigger?
For many the first presidential debate of 2020 highlighted a question with which they’ve long struggled: How could anyone support and vote for such a foul-mouthed, mean-spirited, bully who has seemingly single-handedly destroyed civil public discourse in America? … Like it or not, one of two people will be president come January 20, 2021. … Yet, as contentious as these two candidates have proven to be with each other, something bigger is at play…
Justice Ginsburg Now Stands before the Ultimate Judge
If 2020 has taught us anything, it ought to be how fragile life truly is and that, as James 3:13–15 cautions us, we should never take tomorrow for granted. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg passed from this life on Friday due to metastasized cancer. While the temptation is strong to immediately begin the political calculations…
A Biblical Look at Black Lives Matter
Black lives are just as valuable as the lives of any other human being who is created in the image of God. Because of this, black people deserve to be treated equally under the law and granted the same rights and protections as any other American citizen. When this is not realized in our country,…
A Matter of Life and Death
Abortion deaths are down significantly from the 56 million global average between 2010 and 2014. Nevertheless, abortion remains the world’s leading cause of death, killing more than 42 million innocent babies in 2019. To put this into perspective, the total number of deaths by every other cause in 2019 was 58.6 million…
No Place for God in Major Political Party
Only those willing to align our national policies with God’s moral laws have any chance of truly succeeding in Washington D.C. We must not forget that the solution to our nation’s troubles is ultimately a spiritual matter. If we seek God’s blessing upon our nation, then we cannot exclude Him from our politics….
America’s Drift
From the early 1960’s until now, American culture has undergone a transformation that has left it almost unrecognizable. This shift is not only apparent to all who take the time to observe it, but it also has significant implications for the future. There are four particular cultural changes that should concern every Christian familiar with…
Alienated from the Country We Love
“Trump Impeached Again” is blared across the Washington Post in massive block letters. … Once more, our nation finds itself in uncharted territory. This snap impeachment was so rushed that there is not even sufficient time for the Senate to conduct a trial, begging the question of whether a president can complete the impeachment process after he has already left office. … What has become of our country? Far too many Americans look around themselves and simply fail to recognize…
It’s Go-Time for Prayer Warriors
Little did I know what was about to unfold when I urgently called us to prayer for the month of September in my last blog. … We need prayer now more than ever. Whether it’s sharing the gospel, praying for the next Supreme Court justice, speaking the truth about BLM and COVID-19, or crying out to God day and night for mercy for our nation, it is go-time for Christian prayer warriors in America….
Stop the Unraveling
Since March, our nation has experienced a dramatic unraveling that, among other things, has already expanded our national debt from 23.8 to 26.7 trillion dollars. No amount of money will repair our nation, but before sharing a vital step to reverse what is taking place before our eyes, let me summarize our recent journey, which…
The Illusion of Race
Race is a relatively new idea. It emerged in the nineteenth century as the evidence for evolution began to accumulate. Prior to this time Europeans generally had believed that the book of Genesis furnished a historical account of man’s creation and the peopling of the world. Race was an exciting idea. Scientists thought it offered a key to human history, one that would explain why…
What Is Intersectionality?
The term “intersectionality” has become a cultural buzz word. Churches are embracing this concept, newscasters readily promote it, and political activists use it to empower their messages. Despite its popularity, there is perhaps no more inherently divisive ideology than that of intersectionality. As a facet of cultural Marxism—more popularly known as critical theory—intersectionality relies upon…
What Is Cultural Hegemony?
Demands that we defund and abolish the police, the New York Times’ 1619 alternative history project, open calls for Marxism, Robin Diangelo’s book White Fragility, and a myriad of other seismic cultural shifts rely upon a concept sometimes called “cultural hegemony.” It is vital that as Christians we understand this concept….
Does God “Hate” the New York Times?
“There are six things that the LORD hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers” (Prov. 6:16–19). Our politically correct Christian culture tends to shy away from strong words like “hate” and “abomination”…
Our Hope Does Not Rest in the Balance of the Supreme Court
If we are not actively seeking to bring godly understanding and transformation to the hearts and minds of those around us, then it matters very little who is appointed to the Supreme Court. What difference does it make if the Court protects an environment that is conducive to sharing the gospel if God’s people refuse to share that gospel? Before we jump into a blood-battle over who should fill Justice Ginsburg’s vacancy…
The Real-World Consequences of Fake News
Following a now debunked New York Times report in September detailing a new sexual misconduct allegation against Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh from his college years, Representative Ayanna Pressley (D-MN) filed an impeachment resolution pressing the House Judiciary Committee to investigate Justice Kavanaugh. She was supported by public calls for impeachment from several Democratic presidential candidates…
The Fake News Epidemic Is Growing
In the waning hours of the anniversary of the president’s 2018 fake news awards, we were reminded that the problem of fake news persists today. Moreover, it seems to be growing, as is evidenced by BuzzFeed’s now debunked bombshell report which triggered an avalanche of frenzied analysis and reporting by nearly all major news outlets…
What Did We Learn from Kavanaugh vs. Ford?
Far too often we find ourselves whipped into a national frenzy because of some narrative dominating the news cycle, only to set it aside weeks later and nearly forget about it. Whether it be the separation of families at the border, the opioid epidemic, net neutrality, tensions with North Korea, voter fraud, or any number of other examples, it seems as if there is always some new “national crisis” that demands our full attention, prompting us to forget about the previous emergency. And since one crisis is immediately followed by another, we never seem to stop and process what we should have learned through these nationally shared experiences…
Is Trump Protecting Us from National Judgment? (Part 2)
We now have a president who is actively striving to turn our nation away from sinful practices that invoke God’s judgment. We’ve already considered how President Trump is confronting a culture of lies, endeavoring to stop the shedding of innocent blood, and is providing aid to those who are oppressed, helpless, and poor. However, there are more areas where President Trump—whether he realizes it or not—is working to stave off calamity by resisting the very things that invoke God’s judgment.
Alienated from the Country We Love
“Trump Impeached Again” is blared across the Washington Post in massive block letters. … Once more, our nation finds itself in uncharted territory. This snap impeachment was so rushed that there is not even sufficient time for the Senate to conduct a trial, begging the question of whether a president can complete the impeachment process after he has already left office. … What has become of our country? Far too many Americans look around themselves and simply fail to recognize…
How Are We Being Censored by Social Media?
Yet another viral video of doctors challenging the status quo regarding COVID-19 has been censored. … Congress may be prohibited from limiting our freedom of speech, but the digital platforms necessary for communicating in the 21st Century certainly can. Several court cases have determined that…
When Big Tech Causes the Truth to Stumble
God’s grievance against the nation in Isaiah 59 was their rejection of truth. A culture of lies had been fostered, resulting in oppression and injustice. Truth had stumbled in the public squares, preventing righteousness from entering and provoking God to judge the nation. What does it look like when truth stumbles in a nation’s public squares?
How a Stripper-Pole Halftime Super Bowl Show Can Give Us Hope
“The #Superbowl is the only time of the year when it is socially acceptable to watch half-naked women with your family.” This was the reaction of a 16-year old boy after watching the Super Bowl LIV halftime show…. More shocking to some was Jennifer Lopez who made her entrance clutching a stripper pole, performing her risqué dance routines in front of her 11-year-old daughter. At one point, she even mimicked the crucified Christ atop her stripper pole as throngs of dancers bowed before her…
How to Use Amazon’s Censorship Headlines to Talk about the Gospel
Big Tech censorship has advanced yet another step forward in its war on contrarian thinking. LifeSite News reports, “Amazon has removed the books of Dr. Joseph Nicolosi, the psychologist whom critics have dubbed ‘the father of conversion therapy.’ In other words, for claiming that change is possible for those who experience unwanted same-sex attraction, Dr.…
Big Tech’s War on Truth
Internationally, social networks have readily censored verified journalists who have challenged their respective country’s political authorities, but now these social networks are censoring journalists and influential personalities in the United States based upon differences in political and social ideology. On June 12, 2019…
Our Hope Does Not Rest in Mike Pence
All eyes are on Vice President Mike Pence today as he presides over the certification of the Electoral College votes for our nation’s next president. Theories abound regarding what he may or may not do in light of the numerous allegations of election fraud … If the case for election fraud is so overwhelming, why are the hopes of many being pegged to our vice president and the legislature?
Crisis of Decision: America at the Crossroads
Disruptive as it may be, the challenges made to the 2020 elections are a blessing because they have exposed corruption in our electoral process where it may otherwise have gone unnoticed and unreported. … As Americans, we find ourselves at a moral crossroads. … True unity comes from God, but our enemy is offering a counterfeit form of unity that undermines God’s desire for our nation. … So where do we go from here?
How to Pray for Partisan Issues Like This Contested Election
It can be difficult to know how to pray for political issues that are inherently partisan, such as the contested presidential election of 2020. Far too many people find it easier to simply disengage than to be controversial. So, what does it look like to pray for political issues in a manner that is not overly partisan?
Persevering through a Never-Ending Election
What must a candidate show in court to invalidate an entire state’s election results? This is the unprecedented question at play in the 2020 presidential election. … there appears to be a spirit of fatigue upon our nation and upon our churches. We’ve simply found this entire process to be too exhausting and tiresome. Consequently…
What Should Christians Do in This Contested Election?
Pastor Gary Hamrick warned in the days preceding the 2020 election that the devil is prowling around looking for a nation to devour. Indeed, our elections are a pivotal battlefield in our spiritual war. It is through our election process that we…
Impeachment: When We Judge Ourselves
The dramatic impeachment of President Trump has been filled with more twists, plot gaps, and anti-climactic revelations than any soap opera. Never has there been such a partisan impeachment process. Throughout the entire ordeal…
What Does Contending for Truth Look Like in Today’s Culture?
In my post “Surging Evil: What’s Our Response,” I challenged us to contend against various cultural issues, such as cancel culture, Big Tech censorship, and gender confusion. I wrote, “In America too, there is an intense battle before us—a battle with sobering realities. It is a battle we did not seek but is a battle…
Alienated from the Country We Love
“Trump Impeached Again” is blared across the Washington Post in massive block letters. … Once more, our nation finds itself in uncharted territory. This snap impeachment was so rushed that there is not even sufficient time for the Senate to conduct a trial, begging the question of whether a president can complete the impeachment process after he has already left office. … What has become of our country? Far too many Americans look around themselves and simply fail to recognize…
2021 Is Finally Here! Will It Be All That We Hope?
Like everything else in 2020, Christmas this year proved to be more eventful than expected for my family. While driving to my grandmother’s house, a plow truck ran us off the road and into an exceptionally deep, snow-filled ditch. One moment I was working to ensure our family arrived at my grandmother’s house on time so as not to be berated by my relatives for delaying Christmas dinner, and the next moment I found myself impossibly stuck in a car tilted to the side at a 60-degree angle….
2020: A Year of Deception
“And the angel threw him [Satan] into the abyss and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he would not deceive the nations any longer.” Revelation 20:3 Revelation 20 teaches that Satan not only attempts to deceive you and I individually, but that he schemes to deceive entire nations. Due to…
It’s Go-Time for Prayer Warriors
Little did I know what was about to unfold when I urgently called us to prayer for the month of September in my last blog. … We need prayer now more than ever. Whether it’s sharing the gospel, praying for the next Supreme Court justice, speaking the truth about BLM and COVID-19, or crying out to God day and night for mercy for our nation, it is go-time for Christian prayer warriors in America….
Stop the Unraveling
Since March, our nation has experienced a dramatic unraveling that, among other things, has already expanded our national debt from 23.8 to 26.7 trillion dollars. No amount of money will repair our nation, but before sharing a vital step to reverse what is taking place before our eyes, let me summarize our recent journey, which…
Alienated from the Country We Love
“Trump Impeached Again” is blared across the Washington Post in massive block letters. … Once more, our nation finds itself in uncharted territory. This snap impeachment was so rushed that there is not even sufficient time for the Senate to conduct a trial, begging the question of whether a president can complete the impeachment process after he has already left office. … What has become of our country? Far too many Americans look around themselves and simply fail to recognize…
What Are Whiteness and Ethnocentrism?
Our society is rife with examples of conflict between communities … Sometimes communities deliberately make others feel unwanted, but often these social cues are relayed subconsciously. … Recently this idea has become an important part of our national conversation on racial issues….
Not Your Parents’ Racism
Historically, racism has been defined as “a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race.” This is no longer the definition undergirding our modern conversations about racial issues. Instead, modern academics have…
The Illusion of Race
Race is a relatively new idea. It emerged in the nineteenth century as the evidence for evolution began to accumulate. Prior to this time Europeans generally had believed that the book of Genesis furnished a historical account of man’s creation and the peopling of the world. Race was an exciting idea. Scientists thought it offered a key to human history, one that would explain why…
What Is Intersectionality?
The term “intersectionality” has become a cultural buzz word. Churches are embracing this concept, newscasters readily promote it, and political activists use it to empower their messages. Despite its popularity, there is perhaps no more inherently divisive ideology than that of intersectionality. As a facet of cultural Marxism—more popularly known as critical theory—intersectionality relies upon…
What Is Cultural Hegemony?
Demands that we defund and abolish the police, the New York Times’ 1619 alternative history project, open calls for Marxism, Robin Diangelo’s book White Fragility, and a myriad of other seismic cultural shifts rely upon a concept sometimes called “cultural hegemony.” It is vital that as Christians we understand this concept….
Proof Our Nation Is Desperately Sick
Pedophiles, infanticide, real and fake hate-crimes, voter fraud, corruption, violence, sexual abuse within the church, promiscuity, mass shootings, anti-Semitism, government gridlock, incentivizing criminality, and more dominated our nation’s news cycle over the course of little more than one week. But because we become distracted and forget these reports after a matter of days…
Is There a Spiritual Issue behind the National Debt?
It appears that our economy is far more precarious than we realize. As a nation, we are drowning in a sea of debt. On the campaign trail, President Trump and his fellow Republicans preached fiscal responsibility, nevertheless, despite Republican majorities in both the House and the Senate, America continues to increase its debt…
Seeking Refuge in a Precarious Economy
In 2010, Former Chairman of the Federal Reserve, Ben Bernanke, warned that monetary policies are on an “unsustainable path.” Similarly, former financial consultant for Fortune 100 companies and founder of Dent Research, Harry Dent, believes that the U.S. economy is set for a “shakeout more painful than anything we’ve seen before” with “the worst stock…
Stock Market: A Precious Investment
The Dow hit a new high of 19,000 in the wake of Donald Trump’s election, and the S&P 500 and Nasdaq are also at record highs.[1] Stocks like Caterpillar and U.S. Steel have surged in anticipation of Trump’s plan to rebuild America’s infrastructure. Pharmaceutical stocks, such as Merck and Pfizer, have risen in the hope that…
Is There Refuge in a Precarious Economy?
In 2010, Former Chairman of the Federal Reserve, Ben Bernanke, warned that monetary policies are on an “unsustainable path.” Similarly, former financial consultant for Fortune 100 companies and founder of Dent Research, Harry Dent, believes that the U.S. economy is set for a “shakeout more painful than anything we’ve seen before”[1] with “the worst stock decline…
Real Estate: A Precious Investment
Property prices fell 36%, when adjusted for inflation, between the U.S. real estate peak in 2006 and the year 2012.[1] Since then, real estate prices have been steadily rising and are once more near their pre-recession highs. Low mortgage rates helped to make 2016 a great year for real estate investors, with home values, prices, and…
QAnon, Prophets, and Accepting Personal Responsibility
There was no elaborate military coup, surprise arrests, martial law, bombshell revelations of corruption, foreign invasion, supernatural intervention, or any of the myriad of theories circulating social media these past few months. For some this comes as no surprise, but others are devastated, confused, and embarrassed. Regardless of our emotional state, we are all now experiencing a reality-check. In short, we must now…
Alienated from the Country We Love
“Trump Impeached Again” is blared across the Washington Post in massive block letters. … Once more, our nation finds itself in uncharted territory. This snap impeachment was so rushed that there is not even sufficient time for the Senate to conduct a trial, begging the question of whether a president can complete the impeachment process after he has already left office. … What has become of our country? Far too many Americans look around themselves and simply fail to recognize…
Our Hope Does Not Rest in Mike Pence
All eyes are on Vice President Mike Pence today as he presides over the certification of the Electoral College votes for our nation’s next president. Theories abound regarding what he may or may not do in light of the numerous allegations of election fraud … If the case for election fraud is so overwhelming, why are the hopes of many being pegged to our vice president and the legislature?
Crisis of Decision: America at the Crossroads
Disruptive as it may be, the challenges made to the 2020 elections are a blessing because they have exposed corruption in our electoral process where it may otherwise have gone unnoticed and unreported. … As Americans, we find ourselves at a moral crossroads. … True unity comes from God, but our enemy is offering a counterfeit form of unity that undermines God’s desire for our nation. … So where do we go from here?
How to Pray for Partisan Issues Like This Contested Election
It can be difficult to know how to pray for political issues that are inherently partisan, such as the contested presidential election of 2020. Far too many people find it easier to simply disengage than to be controversial. So, what does it look like to pray for political issues in a manner that is not overly partisan?
Persevering through a Never-Ending Election
What must a candidate show in court to invalidate an entire state’s election results? This is the unprecedented question at play in the 2020 presidential election. … there appears to be a spirit of fatigue upon our nation and upon our churches. We’ve simply found this entire process to be too exhausting and tiresome. Consequently…
QAnon, Prophets, and Accepting Personal Responsibility
There was no elaborate military coup, surprise arrests, martial law, bombshell revelations of corruption, foreign invasion, supernatural intervention, or any of the myriad of theories circulating social media these past few months. For some this comes as no surprise, but others are devastated, confused, and embarrassed. Regardless of our emotional state, we are all now experiencing a reality-check. In short, we must now…
Justice Ginsburg Now Stands before the Ultimate Judge
If 2020 has taught us anything, it ought to be how fragile life truly is and that, as James 3:13–15 cautions us, we should never take tomorrow for granted. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg passed from this life on Friday due to metastasized cancer. While the temptation is strong to immediately begin the political calculations…
Why the Black Community Cannot Grant Americans the Forgiveness They Seek
Collective guilt contravenes our Christian faith (Eze. 18:20) and the very principles upon which our country was founded. Moreover, it makes us as a nation vulnerable to the tyranny of retaliation. … What we are witnessing in America today is an afront to the biblical practice of repentance and forgiveness. Kneeling before our fellow man in order to confess…
Why Our Corrupt System Must Be Replaced
A veto-proof majority of city council members announced on Sunday their commitment to disbanding the Minneapolis Police Department. … It turns out Black Lives Matter is right about one thing—the system does need to be replaced. However, the reason has nothing to do with…
Are God’s People Subverting His Message in a Time of Difficulty?
Is God’s message to America being subverted by His own people? In the midst of a pandemic, have His people replaced God’s remedy for an infected nation with something more palatable? It may be that we have claimed a promise that does not belong to us, and we are preaching a message that is unsuited to this crisis….
Preparing to Minister in a Pandemic
Two things offer Christians a great advantage in understanding what is transpiring around us. In Matthew chapter 22, some religious leaders asked Jesus a question. These were people trying to make sense of the world around them, but…
The Fake News Epidemic Is Growing
In the waning hours of the anniversary of the president’s 2018 fake news awards, we were reminded that the problem of fake news persists today. Moreover, it seems to be growing, as is evidenced by BuzzFeed’s now debunked bombshell report which triggered an avalanche of frenzied analysis and reporting by nearly all major news outlets…
What Did We Learn from Kavanaugh vs. Ford?
Far too often we find ourselves whipped into a national frenzy because of some narrative dominating the news cycle, only to set it aside weeks later and nearly forget about it. Whether it be the separation of families at the border, the opioid epidemic, net neutrality, tensions with North Korea, voter fraud, or any number of other examples, it seems as if there is always some new “national crisis” that demands our full attention, prompting us to forget about the previous emergency. And since one crisis is immediately followed by another, we never seem to stop and process what we should have learned through these nationally shared experiences…
Is Trump Protecting Us from National Judgment? (Part 1)
Sometimes, as Christians, it is easy to become cynical and to become so focused upon our national faults that we fail to recognize what may be the Lord’s hand at work. In the days leading up to the 2016 election, Lance Wallnau argued in his book God’s Chaos Candidate that a President Donald Trump may surprise Christians. Despite his prior moral failings and his arrogant persona, God may use President Trump to protect and empower Christians through a time of great difficulty as they guide our nation back to its Christian heritage.
Kavanaugh’s Fight: When Idealistic Belief Is Dangerous
Today, we are told that all women must be believed on principle. However, this implicit faith in the infallible testimony of allegedly victimized women inherently undermines two of our nation’s most valued tenets: the presumption of innocence and due process.
Mainstream Media Decline Grants Opportunities for You
Increasingly, the playing field of information is being leveled. With little technical know-how and financial investment, anyone can make their voice heard at a time when people are abandoning the biggest names in news in search of alternative news sources.
A Pattern of Fake News
Despite only being at the mid-point in June, this has been an active month for “fake news” reports. Increasingly, our nation’s most prominent news outlets are presenting facts in a manner that seems to be intentionally misleading … hence the popular accusation, “fake news.”
2020: A Year of Deception
“And the angel threw him [Satan] into the abyss and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he would not deceive the nations any longer.” Revelation 20:3 Revelation 20 teaches that Satan not only attempts to deceive you and I individually, but that he schemes to deceive entire nations. Due to…
How Should Christians Respond to Tyranny?
“Rebellion to tyrants is obedience to God” nearly became the motto of the United States. … Our founding fathers were convinced that Christians have an obligation to defend freedom and to resist tyranny. However, Romans 13 informs us that all authorities are appointed by God. Were our founding fathers misguided? How should Christians respond to tyranny?
Biblical Principles for Enduring House Arrest
Many of us are becoming restless. As Attorney General William Barr put it, “The idea that you have to stay in your house is disturbingly close to house arrest.” We want to be freed from our homes and return to some semblance of normalcy. These feelings are natural, but they may be distracting us from what God is trying to accomplish in our lives during this time….
One Vote away from Tyranny
Regardless of one’s politics, it is deeply disturbing the frequency with which serious presidential candidates have proposed solving controversial matters through executive orders. Without blushing, multiple candidates readily declared their intention to ignore the will of the people and proper legislative process in favor of imposing their will upon the nation by executive fiat. This is particularly troubling when one considers the extreme policy positions represented among the candidates during the DNC debate….
No More Divisions: Confronting Gun Control
Few things divide Americans like the issue of gun control, and debate on the matter is often visceral. Sometimes we become so entrenched in our political camp that we lose perspective on the debate. In the case of gun control, we may be surprised to discover that, throughout American history, robust gun laws have always existed alongside a firm belief in gun rights….
One Vote away from Tyranny
Regardless of one’s politics, it is deeply disturbing the frequency with which serious presidential candidates have proposed solving controversial matters through executive orders. Without blushing, multiple candidates readily declared their intention to ignore the will of the people and proper legislative process in favor of imposing their will upon the nation by executive fiat. This is particularly troubling when one considers the extreme policy positions represented among the candidates during the DNC debate….
Why a Quick Fix for Mass Shootings Won’t Work
Public mass shootings incite waves of grief, fear, and outrage that lead to a strong desire to do something. Inevitably, this leads to a national debate regarding gun control. Z. Byron Wolf reports, “The details don’t really matter when it comes to mass shootings in the current political climate. The script now is set —…
Mass Shootings and the Search for a Quick Fix
Three of the deadliest mass shootings in modern history occurred in the year 2017. The magnitude of these shootings, coupled with their proximity to one another, has provoked a general sense that mass shootings are on the rise. Is this true? And what can we learn from our national search for a quick solution?
2021 Is Finally Here! Will It Be All That We Hope?
Like everything else in 2020, Christmas this year proved to be more eventful than expected for my family. While driving to my grandmother’s house, a plow truck ran us off the road and into an exceptionally deep, snow-filled ditch. One moment I was working to ensure our family arrived at my grandmother’s house on time so as not to be berated by my relatives for delaying Christmas dinner, and the next moment I found myself impossibly stuck in a car tilted to the side at a 60-degree angle….
Celebrating Easter in the Shadow of Death
It is easy to think abstractly about Jesus’ sacrifice and his promise to resurrect the dead, but it assumes new meaning when we ourselves are facing the reality of death. … C.S. Lewis preached a sermon in 1939 titled “Learning in War-Time.” Lewis concludes that the threat of…
Is This New Year’s Resolution a Wise Way to Begin 2019?
As we usher in 2019, millions of people throughout the nation are crafting new year resolutions. In New York City, some of these resolutions certain to stretch God’s patience. Is this truly a wise way to begin the new year?
A Light That Transforms
Christmas should not depress or exhaust us but should transform us! Each year, my highlight of this season is to reflect on Jesus, the light of the world entering human history as a baby to begin a global invasion of everything good (John 1:5–8). Through the purity, goodness, and love that emanated from Jesus resting…
Are Christians Fiddling While Society Burns?
How is it that when we gather together as Christians, we can consistently ignore everything in the weekly news cycle; we can neglect the actions of our politicians; we can gloss over the personal struggles represented in our congregations; we can refuse to respond to the worldview bombarding our children on a daily basis in their schools; and yet we somehow can convince ourselves that we are relevant and influential voices in our culture and society?
November 3rd—Trump vs. Biden, or Something Bigger?
For many the first presidential debate of 2020 highlighted a question with which they’ve long struggled: How could anyone support and vote for such a foul-mouthed, mean-spirited, bully who has seemingly single-handedly destroyed civil public discourse in America? … Like it or not, one of two people will be president come January 20, 2021. … Yet, as contentious as these two candidates have proven to be with each other, something bigger is at play…
Justice Ginsburg Now Stands before the Ultimate Judge
If 2020 has taught us anything, it ought to be how fragile life truly is and that, as James 3:13–15 cautions us, we should never take tomorrow for granted. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg passed from this life on Friday due to metastasized cancer. While the temptation is strong to immediately begin the political calculations…
A Biblical Look at Black Lives Matter
Black lives are just as valuable as the lives of any other human being who is created in the image of God. Because of this, black people deserve to be treated equally under the law and granted the same rights and protections as any other American citizen. When this is not realized in our country,…
America’s Drift
From the early 1960’s until now, American culture has undergone a transformation that has left it almost unrecognizable. This shift is not only apparent to all who take the time to observe it, but it also has significant implications for the future. There are four particular cultural changes that should concern every Christian familiar with…
How to Use Amazon’s Censorship Headlines to Talk about the Gospel
Big Tech censorship has advanced yet another step forward in its war on contrarian thinking. LifeSite News reports, “Amazon has removed the books of Dr. Joseph Nicolosi, the psychologist whom critics have dubbed ‘the father of conversion therapy.’ In other words, for claiming that change is possible for those who experience unwanted same-sex attraction, Dr.…
Should Christians Be Preppers?
The swift decline of Venezuela and the sudden collapse of strategic infrastructure serve as a visceral reminder that we are not promised tomorrow (James 4:13–14), nor are we promised endless peace and prosperity (1 Thess. 5:3). In light of this, should Christians be “Preppers,” or should they wait and trust upon the Lord to provide for them in times of difficulty?
North Korea: Contemplating the Inconceivable
“Yesterday’s conflict does not have to be tomorrow’s war,” President Trump told reporters in Singapore after an historic meeting with Supreme Leader of North Korea Kim Jong Un.[1] Never before has a sitting U.S. president met with a ruling Kim family patriarch, but now the two leaders have signed a joint pledge in which “Chairman…
North Korea—Is an Easy Fix What We Really Want?
Over the past few days, North Korea has launched a missile over Japan, detonated a hydrogen bomb (which was five times more powerful than any bomb they had detonated prior), and has threatened America with an EMP strike. Rather than backing down in the face of international pressure, North Korean rhetoric and blatant taunting of the U.S. has escalated since my August 16 post. Not only is the North Korean threat headline…
Why Is North Korea so Aggressive?
For decades, North Korea has projected hostility toward the United States, but their aggression has escalated to a new level in 2017. Highlights include: June 13 – Otto Warmier, an America college student who was tortured and detained in North Korea for 17 months, was returned to the U.S. severely brain damaged and in a…
North Korean Crisis: A Product of Failed Foreign Policy
The Korean Armistice Agreement halted the bloodshed of the Korean War which cost the United States 36,000 American soldiers and wounded another 100,000.[1] Signed on July 27, 1953, the armistice was designed to suspended hostilities while a formal peace treaty could be negotiated. Sixty-four years later, no such peace treaty has been signed.[2] As such, the Korean…
North Korea: The Doomsday Scenario
Despite North Korea’s paranoia, the world does not want a war with North Korea. Aside from the casualties and cost of war, any invasion of North Korea must include a plan to rebuild the country after it is defeated. However, North Korea’s society, government, infrastructure, and technology are abysmal. According to Business Insider, “North Korea’s…
How to Use Illegal Immigration to Share the Gospel
“People are coming to this country illegally, we are taking them out legally,” President Trump announced ahead of a planned “major operation” focused on removing criminals from America.[1] Operation Border Resolve targeted 2,105 illegal immigrants in more than a dozen cities who had received final deportation orders but had not reported to Immigration and Customs…
One Vote away from Tyranny
Regardless of one’s politics, it is deeply disturbing the frequency with which serious presidential candidates have proposed solving controversial matters through executive orders. Without blushing, multiple candidates readily declared their intention to ignore the will of the people and proper legislative process in favor of imposing their will upon the nation by executive fiat. This is particularly troubling when one considers the extreme policy positions represented among the candidates during the DNC debate….
The Fake News Epidemic Is Growing
In the waning hours of the anniversary of the president’s 2018 fake news awards, we were reminded that the problem of fake news persists today. Moreover, it seems to be growing, as is evidenced by BuzzFeed’s now debunked bombshell report which triggered an avalanche of frenzied analysis and reporting by nearly all major news outlets…
Does God Support Open Borders?
The controversy over how to secure our southern border has produced the longest government shutdown in America’s history. Much has been said about the morality of building a wall, its effectiveness, the cost, and whether President Trump is demanding a wall for political gain. However, as this debate rages, I can’t seem to escape this question: How much of the resistance to secure our borders is rooted in an ideological commitment to globalism?…
Are Border Walls Immoral?
Congress is not a place known for its moral convictions, yet in this new year, our new Speaker of the House has taken upon herself the mantle of preaching morality. According to Speaker Nancy Pelosi and some of her colleagues, we cannot end what has become nearly the longest government shutdown in history by providing partial funding for a national border wall because our nation’s values and morality are at stake….
Is There a Spiritual Issue behind the Immigration Debate?
When illegal immigrants are granted all the rights and privileges of citizenship without a change of allegiance, it can be said that the foreigner is rising in influence among us. Sometimes, as a means of judgment, God permits foreigners to make demands, to oppress, and sometimes even to invade and conquer nations in sin….
Alienated from the Country We Love
“Trump Impeached Again” is blared across the Washington Post in massive block letters. … Once more, our nation finds itself in uncharted territory. This snap impeachment was so rushed that there is not even sufficient time for the Senate to conduct a trial, begging the question of whether a president can complete the impeachment process after he has already left office. … What has become of our country? Far too many Americans look around themselves and simply fail to recognize…
No More Divisions: Confronting Gun Control
Few things divide Americans like the issue of gun control, and debate on the matter is often visceral. Sometimes we become so entrenched in our political camp that we lose perspective on the debate. In the case of gun control, we may be surprised to discover that, throughout American history, robust gun laws have always existed alongside a firm belief in gun rights….
Truth May Be the Greatest Casualty of Mass Shootings
The facts-first model of journalism is the latest casualty to social justice warriors and the Twitter mob. It began with a spree of mass shootings on Sunday, August 4. Within a 24-hour period, mass shootings occurred in El Paso, Texas; Dayton, Ohio; and Chicago, Illinois, but because the Dayton and Chicago shootings failed to fit the media narrative, they were largely ignored….
The Blinding Effect of Preferred Narratives
As humans, we possess an incredible ability to convince ourselves of what we want to believe, irrespective of what reality may be. In the immediate hours following the murder of 12 people at a Virginia Beach municipal office, Senator Chris Murphy tweeted…
Proof Our Nation Is Desperately Sick
Pedophiles, infanticide, real and fake hate-crimes, voter fraud, corruption, violence, sexual abuse within the church, promiscuity, mass shootings, anti-Semitism, government gridlock, incentivizing criminality, and more dominated our nation’s news cycle over the course of little more than one week. But because we become distracted and forget these reports after a matter of days…
Leadership That Matters
In Jeremiah’s day, the religious leaders neglected their responsibility by declaring that everything was good. What about us? Do we declare peace when, from God’s perspective, there are deeply consequential issues that are not being addressed?
Is a School Shooting Coming to Your Community?
Listening to the top of the hour news update while driving, I was appalled by a soundbite addressing how sometimes students of the past hid under their desks to prepare for a nuclear attack, but today’s students are always hiding under their desks because they are always under attack. The speaker claimed students are being…
Are You a Person of Conviction?
Cultural influencers are people who are convinced. Martin Luther King Jr. was convinced that the challenges of African Americans could be changed through nonviolence and civil disobedience. Hudson Taylor, founder of the China Inland Mission, was convinced that the good news of Jesus Christ needed to get to the remotest parts of the earth. Alexander…
Should Christians Be Preppers?
The swift decline of Venezuela and the sudden collapse of strategic infrastructure serve as a visceral reminder that we are not promised tomorrow (James 4:13–14), nor are we promised endless peace and prosperity (1 Thess. 5:3). In light of this, should Christians be “Preppers,” or should they wait and trust upon the Lord to provide for them in times of difficulty?
California’s Fire Reveals Priceless Truth
Can you imagine sifting through the ashes of your home, searching for something of value in the aftermath of a wildfire? This is what many in Paradise, California are doing. In fact, I listened to a news report where a victim said the only possession of his that survived the fire was a ceramic teapot that he had made in high school….
Hurricane Michael: Is God Delivering a Message?
Few things make us feel more powerless than natural disasters. Faced with the fury of “Mother Nature,” we are reminded of how little control we truly have over our own lives. But rather than become circumspect, we quickly become distracted, and we fail to receive what may be a message from God delivered in such a way as to make it unavoidable.
Does God Use Natural Disasters to Judge People and Nations?
Standing in the wake of catastrophic devastation, it is normal to question God’s role in natural disasters. It is common, in the aftermath of any severe natural disaster, for some to boldly declare it to be God’s judgment upon evil deeds. Like Elijah, it is easy to assume that God must be communicating through major…
Should We Blame God for Natural Disasters?
Within weeks, nine western states have battled forest fires while two record-breaking hurricanes have inundated our southern and eastern coastlines with water. On August 25, Hurricane Harvey struck Houston, Texas in what the Washington Post called an unprecedented “1,000-year flood event”, dropping more than 50 inches of rain within a few days.[1][2] One week later, the…
Are Natural Disasters God’s Megaphone?
On August 25, 2017, Hurricane Harvey struck Houston, Texas in what the Washington Post called an unprecedented “1,000-year flood event”, dropping more than 50 inches of rain within a few days.[1][2] Only two weeks later, Hurricane Irma delivered “significant devastation” to the U.S. Virgin Islands and pummeled the entire state of Florida.[3] Boasting wind speeds of…
REVIVAL CAUTIONS
A resurgence of voices declaring that revival is coming to America has caught the attention of God’s people from coast-to-coast. In the face of numerous nationwide challenges, it seems that a national revival—what some refer to as a Great Awakening—is necessary to save our nation. And since God loves us, to those who are declaring…
Wrestling with God’s Silence in Difficult Times
Where is God when we need Him most? Why won’t God reveal Himself and liberate us from our troubles? Although not a new question, our struggles with the COVID-19 pandemic, cancel culture, and social unrest have emphasized God’s hiddenness. Why do our fellow citizens seem to be more concerned about the wellbeing of others than God does? Surely this is evidence that God doesn’t exist—or if He does exist, He clearly doesn’t care. How else can we justify God leaving so many prayers unanswered?
What Gethsemane Teaches Us about the Election
Faced with the greatest decision of all time, Jesus fell to His knees in the Garden of Gethsemane and asked that His disciples likewise pray. Unfortunately, Jesus’ disciples did not feel the weight of the moment. Instead, they drifted into slumber—twice. Today the fate of humanity may not rest in the balance, but the fate of our nation very well may. We are 13 days from…
It’s Go-Time for Prayer Warriors
Little did I know what was about to unfold when I urgently called us to prayer for the month of September in my last blog. … We need prayer now more than ever. Whether it’s sharing the gospel, praying for the next Supreme Court justice, speaking the truth about BLM and COVID-19, or crying out to God day and night for mercy for our nation, it is go-time for Christian prayer warriors in America….
Hope for a National U-Turn
Hope for America largely rests in next generation turning to Christ, and specifically among those who will one day lead the nation in education, law, business, government, religion, family, the arts, and media. Because of this reality, it is vital that we see a sweeping move of God throughout our nation’s colleges in universities…
A Stunning Thing Just Happened! Will We Sustain It?
Before describing the stunning movement of prayer that God orchestrated last week from coast to coast, let me briefly provide some context. For almost 100 years, concluding around 1915, there was serious national engagement in prayer for college students. Many believers, the vast majority of whom had never attended college themselves, paused on the…
Do the Emmy Awards Indicate We Are Drifting Into Oblivion?
On Tuesday, it was announced that FOX’s ‘Super Bowl LIV Halftime Show Starring Jennifer Lopez And Shakira’ picked up four Emmy Award nominations … Superbowl LIV now seems like a distant memory from another lifetime, but it is worth recalling that this halftime show was especially scandalous….
Should Christians Support Black Lives Matter?
Regardless of what one believes about BLM’s stance on racism in America, it is difficult to understand how a Christian could support an organization that is so openly anti-God and anti-Bible—unless God’s people are simply unaware of what the Black Lives Matter Network truly believes and represents. So, let us take a moment to educate ourselves on who BLM is and what they believe….
Where America’s Riots Have Gone Wrong
What began as a cry for justice quickly evolved into a demand that Americans embrace a foreign approach to governance. Some, such as author and social critic Os Guinness, have noted that the leaders of this movement are attempting to replace the ideology of the American Revolution with that of the French Revolution. Fundamentally, they are replacing a biblical model with an expressly anti-biblical model….
How a Stripper-Pole Halftime Super Bowl Show Can Give Us Hope
“The #Superbowl is the only time of the year when it is socially acceptable to watch half-naked women with your family.” This was the reaction of a 16-year old boy after watching the Super Bowl LIV halftime show…. More shocking to some was Jennifer Lopez who made her entrance clutching a stripper pole, performing her risqué dance routines in front of her 11-year-old daughter. At one point, she even mimicked the crucified Christ atop her stripper pole as throngs of dancers bowed before her…
Mayor Pete and the Dawning of a New Political Era
As a Millennial, Buttigieg appeals to younger voters, being a fresh face in a year when Millennials are poised to become the largest eligible voting bloc. TIME reports, “Many Democrats are hungry for generational change, and the two front runners are more than twice his age.” However, generational change for the sake of change can be a terrifying prospect, and…
Are Our Cultural Role Models Advocating Violence?
It seems political rhetoric is becoming increasingly violent. Particularly troubling is how many of our cultural role models, celebrities, and entertainers are publicly advocating violence against President Trump, his family, those in his administration, and those who support him. Rather than face criticism for such rhetoric, they are frequently rewarded with laughter and applause or are granted a pass because their frustration is rooted in politically correct causes.
Culture of Lies
Nearly half of all Americans have a negative view of the news media. Only 44% say they can think of a news source that reports the news objectively, and 66% say news outlets do not do a good job of separating fact from opinion. Now we have a president who regularly calls mainstream news outlets…
America in the Balance Bible Study
God has a purpose for nations in His redemptive plan, and He uses such things as a rising national debt, a gridlocked government, and deteriorating family structures to expose a nation’s spiritual waywardness.
Why Contesting This Election Should Matter to Every Christian
Granted, the media has all but coronated Joe Biden, but with 80 electoral college votes across seven states in dispute, neither candidate is close to crossing the 270 vote threshold. As the vote stands today, President Trump is slightly leading with 232 votes to Joe Biden’s 226 votes. … Our news media may have little interest in charges of election fraud, but God cares deeply about the integrity of the vote. According to Proverbs 20:23…
It’s Go-Time for Prayer Warriors
Little did I know what was about to unfold when I urgently called us to prayer for the month of September in my last blog. … We need prayer now more than ever. Whether it’s sharing the gospel, praying for the next Supreme Court justice, speaking the truth about BLM and COVID-19, or crying out to God day and night for mercy for our nation, it is go-time for Christian prayer warriors in America….
What Are Whiteness and Ethnocentrism?
Our society is rife with examples of conflict between communities … Sometimes communities deliberately make others feel unwanted, but often these social cues are relayed subconsciously. … Recently this idea has become an important part of our national conversation on racial issues….
Not Your Parents’ Racism
Historically, racism has been defined as “a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race.” This is no longer the definition undergirding our modern conversations about racial issues. Instead, modern academics have…
The Illusion of Race
Race is a relatively new idea. It emerged in the nineteenth century as the evidence for evolution began to accumulate. Prior to this time Europeans generally had believed that the book of Genesis furnished a historical account of man’s creation and the peopling of the world. Race was an exciting idea. Scientists thought it offered a key to human history, one that would explain why…
For Such a Time as This: The Church’s Next Great Battle
Some doctrines serve as a fulcrum within Christendom. What God’s people believe concerning these doctrines necessarily swings the entire thinking, mission, and approach of the church. It is as if the crux of the Christian faith and the effectiveness of the church rests upon these doctrines. … Today there is a prevailing ideology that is perhaps the greatest threat the Christian faith has yet faced because it threatens a bevy of fulcrum doctrines within Christendom….
Are Christians Fiddling While Society Burns?
How is it that when we gather together as Christians, we can consistently ignore everything in the weekly news cycle; we can neglect the actions of our politicians; we can gloss over the personal struggles represented in our congregations; we can refuse to respond to the worldview bombarding our children on a daily basis in their schools; and yet we somehow can convince ourselves that we are relevant and influential voices in our culture and society?
2020: A Year of Deception
“And the angel threw him [Satan] into the abyss and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he would not deceive the nations any longer.” Revelation 20:3 Revelation 20 teaches that Satan not only attempts to deceive you and I individually, but that he schemes to deceive entire nations. Due to…
November 3rd—Trump vs. Biden, or Something Bigger?
For many the first presidential debate of 2020 highlighted a question with which they’ve long struggled: How could anyone support and vote for such a foul-mouthed, mean-spirited, bully who has seemingly single-handedly destroyed civil public discourse in America? … Like it or not, one of two people will be president come January 20, 2021. … Yet, as contentious as these two candidates have proven to be with each other, something bigger is at play…
Are We Losing Our Religious Liberty?
Speaking at the University of Notre Dame on October 11, 2019, U.S. Attorney General William Barr argued that the cultural degradation in America today is unique from other points of history and other immoral societies. According to Barr, our hope rests in restoring the traditional religious values that are under assault. Moreover, “We must place…
Mayor Pete and the Dawning of a New Political Era
As a Millennial, Buttigieg appeals to younger voters, being a fresh face in a year when Millennials are poised to become the largest eligible voting bloc. TIME reports, “Many Democrats are hungry for generational change, and the two front runners are more than twice his age.” However, generational change for the sake of change can be a terrifying prospect, and…
Is Trump Protecting Us from National Judgment? (Part 2)
We now have a president who is actively striving to turn our nation away from sinful practices that invoke God’s judgment. We’ve already considered how President Trump is confronting a culture of lies, endeavoring to stop the shedding of innocent blood, and is providing aid to those who are oppressed, helpless, and poor. However, there are more areas where President Trump—whether he realizes it or not—is working to stave off calamity by resisting the very things that invoke God’s judgment.
Alienated from the Country We Love
“Trump Impeached Again” is blared across the Washington Post in massive block letters. … Once more, our nation finds itself in uncharted territory. This snap impeachment was so rushed that there is not even sufficient time for the Senate to conduct a trial, begging the question of whether a president can complete the impeachment process after he has already left office. … What has become of our country? Far too many Americans look around themselves and simply fail to recognize…
Stop the Unraveling
Since March, our nation has experienced a dramatic unraveling that, among other things, has already expanded our national debt from 23.8 to 26.7 trillion dollars. No amount of money will repair our nation, but before sharing a vital step to reverse what is taking place before our eyes, let me summarize our recent journey, which…
Why the Black Community Cannot Grant Americans the Forgiveness They Seek
Collective guilt contravenes our Christian faith (Eze. 18:20) and the very principles upon which our country was founded. Moreover, it makes us as a nation vulnerable to the tyranny of retaliation. … What we are witnessing in America today is an afront to the biblical practice of repentance and forgiveness. Kneeling before our fellow man in order to confess…
Where America’s Riots Have Gone Wrong
What began as a cry for justice quickly evolved into a demand that Americans embrace a foreign approach to governance. Some, such as author and social critic Os Guinness, have noted that the leaders of this movement are attempting to replace the ideology of the American Revolution with that of the French Revolution. Fundamentally, they are replacing a biblical model with an expressly anti-biblical model….
Why Our Corrupt System Must Be Replaced
A veto-proof majority of city council members announced on Sunday their commitment to disbanding the Minneapolis Police Department. … It turns out Black Lives Matter is right about one thing—the system does need to be replaced. However, the reason has nothing to do with…
A Culture of Lies Produced These National Riots
Fear, ignorance, and misplaced good intentions have prompted far too many people to ignore facts in favor of preferred narratives, but there is a cost to suppressing the truth. … Left unchecked, the fruit of this lie will steal, kill, and destroy everything that once defined our country. Unfortunately, many Americans are like Nero who fiddled as Rome burned. We are frittering away our remaining time. Fearful of being labeled a racist or uncaring, we are reluctant to…
Shell Shocked: What the Mueller Report Reveals about Our Response to Truth
Confronted with the stark contrast between their characterization of “Russian collusion” and Robert Mueller’s findings, newsrooms across the nation have reminded us of just how difficult it can be to admit our errors and accept an unwelcome conclusion…
A Nation Divided
Robert Mueller’s investigation prompted more than 533,000 web articles according to NewsWhip data cited by Axios. For nearly two years, these articles have kept social media ablaze, generating approximately 245 million likes, comments, and shares on Twitter and Facebook. America’s obsession with Mueller’s investigation is unprecedented. Together, The New York Times, The Washington Post, CNN, and MSNBC published an average of nearly 13 articles a day for almost two years….
Proof Our Nation Is Desperately Sick
Pedophiles, infanticide, real and fake hate-crimes, voter fraud, corruption, violence, sexual abuse within the church, promiscuity, mass shootings, anti-Semitism, government gridlock, incentivizing criminality, and more dominated our nation’s news cycle over the course of little more than one week. But because we become distracted and forget these reports after a matter of days…
The Fake News Epidemic Is Growing
In the waning hours of the anniversary of the president’s 2018 fake news awards, we were reminded that the problem of fake news persists today. Moreover, it seems to be growing, as is evidenced by BuzzFeed’s now debunked bombshell report which triggered an avalanche of frenzied analysis and reporting by nearly all major news outlets…
Steele Dossier Timeline – Just the Facts
Immense confusion surrounds the development and release of the Steele Dossier. What is it? What does it allege? How did the government get involved? And how did it become public? …
What 5 Months of Missing Texts Reveals about Us as Americans
A pattern is emerging. When asked to provide potentially incriminating documentation, those within the United States government conveniently cannot access those records. Recently, the Department of Justice discovered five months of missing texts in the transcripts of text messages provided to the House Judiciary Committee between FBI agents Peter Strzok and Lisa Page…
Are America’s Networks Protecting Child Sex-Trafficking?
“NBC, ABC and CBS News have all now appeared to run cover for some of the world’s most powerful rape rings, allegedly killing stories and firing employees who tried to expose the outlets.” This shocking lead to a Daily Caller news article highlights the latest in a series of outrageous abuses by our nation’s news networks….
Jeffrey Epstein’s Story Reminds Us That True Justice Cannot Be Averted
Mystery shrouds both the life and death of Jeffrey Epstein. In life “he lied about the identities of his clients, his wealth, his financial prowess, his personal achievements.” In death, questions and conspiracy theories abound. Did Epstein commit suicide by hanging himself in his jail cell, or was he murdered by strangulation to keep him from talking to the authorities about the elicit behavior of some of the world’s most powerful and influential personalities?
Proof Our Nation Is Desperately Sick
Pedophiles, infanticide, real and fake hate-crimes, voter fraud, corruption, violence, sexual abuse within the church, promiscuity, mass shootings, anti-Semitism, government gridlock, incentivizing criminality, and more dominated our nation’s news cycle over the course of little more than one week. But because we become distracted and forget these reports after a matter of days…
Is Trump Protecting Us from National Judgment? (Part 2)
We now have a president who is actively striving to turn our nation away from sinful practices that invoke God’s judgment. We’ve already considered how President Trump is confronting a culture of lies, endeavoring to stop the shedding of innocent blood, and is providing aid to those who are oppressed, helpless, and poor. However, there are more areas where President Trump—whether he realizes it or not—is working to stave off calamity by resisting the very things that invoke God’s judgment.
Our Hope Does Not Rest in the Balance of the Supreme Court
If we are not actively seeking to bring godly understanding and transformation to the hearts and minds of those around us, then it matters very little who is appointed to the Supreme Court. What difference does it make if the Court protects an environment that is conducive to sharing the gospel if God’s people refuse to share that gospel? Before we jump into a blood-battle over who should fill Justice Ginsburg’s vacancy…
It’s Go-Time for Prayer Warriors
Little did I know what was about to unfold when I urgently called us to prayer for the month of September in my last blog. … We need prayer now more than ever. Whether it’s sharing the gospel, praying for the next Supreme Court justice, speaking the truth about BLM and COVID-19, or crying out to God day and night for mercy for our nation, it is go-time for Christian prayer warriors in America….
Justice Ginsburg Now Stands before the Ultimate Judge
If 2020 has taught us anything, it ought to be how fragile life truly is and that, as James 3:13–15 cautions us, we should never take tomorrow for granted. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg passed from this life on Friday due to metastasized cancer. While the temptation is strong to immediately begin the political calculations…
Something Must Change
Where are we as a nation when a pagan is giving greater voice to truth than our Christian leaders? And how is it that she managed to stand more firm in her beliefs when she came under fire for her boldness than what I often witness in the Christian community? Perhaps it is time we…
The Real-World Consequences of Fake News
Following a now debunked New York Times report in September detailing a new sexual misconduct allegation against Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh from his college years, Representative Ayanna Pressley (D-MN) filed an impeachment resolution pressing the House Judiciary Committee to investigate Justice Kavanaugh. She was supported by public calls for impeachment from several Democratic presidential candidates…
One Vote away from Tyranny
Regardless of one’s politics, it is deeply disturbing the frequency with which serious presidential candidates have proposed solving controversial matters through executive orders. Without blushing, multiple candidates readily declared their intention to ignore the will of the people and proper legislative process in favor of imposing their will upon the nation by executive fiat. This is particularly troubling when one considers the extreme policy positions represented among the candidates during the DNC debate….
REVIVAL CAUTIONS
A resurgence of voices declaring that revival is coming to America has caught the attention of God’s people from coast-to-coast. In the face of numerous nationwide challenges, it seems that a national revival—what some refer to as a Great Awakening—is necessary to save our nation. And since God loves us, to those who are declaring…
Are Christians Fiddling While Society Burns?
How is it that when we gather together as Christians, we can consistently ignore everything in the weekly news cycle; we can neglect the actions of our politicians; we can gloss over the personal struggles represented in our congregations; we can refuse to respond to the worldview bombarding our children on a daily basis in their schools; and yet we somehow can convince ourselves that we are relevant and influential voices in our culture and society?
What Does Contending for Truth Look Like in Today’s Culture?
In my post “Surging Evil: What’s Our Response,” I challenged us to contend against various cultural issues, such as cancel culture, Big Tech censorship, and gender confusion. I wrote, “In America too, there is an intense battle before us—a battle with sobering realities. It is a battle we did not seek but is a battle…
Crisis of Decision: America at the Crossroads
Disruptive as it may be, the challenges made to the 2020 elections are a blessing because they have exposed corruption in our electoral process where it may otherwise have gone unnoticed and unreported. … As Americans, we find ourselves at a moral crossroads. … True unity comes from God, but our enemy is offering a counterfeit form of unity that undermines God’s desire for our nation. … So where do we go from here?
How to Pray for Partisan Issues Like This Contested Election
It can be difficult to know how to pray for political issues that are inherently partisan, such as the contested presidential election of 2020. Far too many people find it easier to simply disengage than to be controversial. So, what does it look like to pray for political issues in a manner that is not overly partisan?
Persevering through a Never-Ending Election
What must a candidate show in court to invalidate an entire state’s election results? This is the unprecedented question at play in the 2020 presidential election. … there appears to be a spirit of fatigue upon our nation and upon our churches. We’ve simply found this entire process to be too exhausting and tiresome. Consequently…
Are Christians Fiddling While Society Burns?
How is it that when we gather together as Christians, we can consistently ignore everything in the weekly news cycle; we can neglect the actions of our politicians; we can gloss over the personal struggles represented in our congregations; we can refuse to respond to the worldview bombarding our children on a daily basis in their schools; and yet we somehow can convince ourselves that we are relevant and influential voices in our culture and society?
Surging Evil: What’s Our Response?
Hope for something better in 2021 had largely evaporated by January 4. In complete disregard for the Bible and America’s traditional view on gender identity, the House of Representatives passed House rules prohibiting the use of gender-specific pronouns. These terms include father, mother, son, daughter, brother, sister, uncle, aunt, nephew, niece, husband, wife, grandson, and…
November 3rd—Trump vs. Biden, or Something Bigger?
For many the first presidential debate of 2020 highlighted a question with which they’ve long struggled: How could anyone support and vote for such a foul-mouthed, mean-spirited, bully who has seemingly single-handedly destroyed civil public discourse in America? … Like it or not, one of two people will be president come January 20, 2021. … Yet, as contentious as these two candidates have proven to be with each other, something bigger is at play…
A Biblical Look at Black Lives Matter
Black lives are just as valuable as the lives of any other human being who is created in the image of God. Because of this, black people deserve to be treated equally under the law and granted the same rights and protections as any other American citizen. When this is not realized in our country,…
Something Must Change
Where are we as a nation when a pagan is giving greater voice to truth than our Christian leaders? And how is it that she managed to stand more firm in her beliefs when she came under fire for her boldness than what I often witness in the Christian community? Perhaps it is time we…
Word of the Year Undermines God’s Revelation
The 2019 Merriam-Webster word of the year reflects our culture’s growing confusion and increased abandonment of truth. As influential voices and reputable resources increasingly advocate tolerance of such confusion, it becomes imperative that we as Christians know what God has supernaturally revealed concerning these matters….
QAnon, Prophets, and Accepting Personal Responsibility
There was no elaborate military coup, surprise arrests, martial law, bombshell revelations of corruption, foreign invasion, supernatural intervention, or any of the myriad of theories circulating social media these past few months. For some this comes as no surprise, but others are devastated, confused, and embarrassed. Regardless of our emotional state, we are all now experiencing a reality-check. In short, we must now…
Alienated from the Country We Love
“Trump Impeached Again” is blared across the Washington Post in massive block letters. … Once more, our nation finds itself in uncharted territory. This snap impeachment was so rushed that there is not even sufficient time for the Senate to conduct a trial, begging the question of whether a president can complete the impeachment process after he has already left office. … What has become of our country? Far too many Americans look around themselves and simply fail to recognize…
Our Hope Does Not Rest in Mike Pence
All eyes are on Vice President Mike Pence today as he presides over the certification of the Electoral College votes for our nation’s next president. Theories abound regarding what he may or may not do in light of the numerous allegations of election fraud … If the case for election fraud is so overwhelming, why are the hopes of many being pegged to our vice president and the legislature?
Crisis of Decision: America at the Crossroads
Disruptive as it may be, the challenges made to the 2020 elections are a blessing because they have exposed corruption in our electoral process where it may otherwise have gone unnoticed and unreported. … As Americans, we find ourselves at a moral crossroads. … True unity comes from God, but our enemy is offering a counterfeit form of unity that undermines God’s desire for our nation. … So where do we go from here?
How to Pray for Partisan Issues Like This Contested Election
It can be difficult to know how to pray for political issues that are inherently partisan, such as the contested presidential election of 2020. Far too many people find it easier to simply disengage than to be controversial. So, what does it look like to pray for political issues in a manner that is not overly partisan?
Persevering through a Never-Ending Election
What must a candidate show in court to invalidate an entire state’s election results? This is the unprecedented question at play in the 2020 presidential election. … there appears to be a spirit of fatigue upon our nation and upon our churches. We’ve simply found this entire process to be too exhausting and tiresome. Consequently…
Does God “Hate” the New York Times?
“There are six things that the LORD hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers” (Prov. 6:16–19). Our politically correct Christian culture tends to shy away from strong words like “hate” and “abomination”…
Read MoreAre Christians Fiddling While Society Burns?
How is it that when we gather together as Christians, we can consistently ignore everything in the weekly news cycle; we can neglect the actions of our politicians; we can gloss over the personal struggles represented in our congregations; we can refuse to respond to the worldview bombarding our children on a daily basis in their schools; and yet we somehow can convince ourselves that we are relevant and influential voices in our culture and society?
Read MoreNo More Divisions: Confronting Gun Control
Few things divide Americans like the issue of gun control, and debate on the matter is often visceral. Sometimes we become so entrenched in our political camp that we lose perspective on the debate. In the case of gun control, we may be surprised to discover that, throughout American history, robust gun laws have always existed alongside a firm belief in gun rights….
Read MoreWhat Does Contending for Truth Look Like in Today’s Culture?
In my post “Surging Evil: What’s Our Response,” I challenged us to contend against various cultural issues, such as cancel culture, Big Tech censorship, and gender confusion. I wrote, “In America too, there is an intense battle before us—a battle with sobering realities. It is a battle we did not seek but is a battle that has come to us. And I can hear Jesus responding to my prayer about what can we do by calmly and confidently replying, ‘We fight.’” In doing so, we fight for the good that remains in our families, churches, and nation. Chief among this good is truth. Truth is worth fighting for. I was reminded of this when I read a recent article by Shane Idleman, senior pastor of Westside Christian Fellowship in Southern California. Urging Christians to follow God’s Word he writes, “As the church, it is our responsibility to stand against the deceptions rather than surrender [to them].” Thought-provoking, concise, and bold, Shane Idleman’s article is well worth the read. I encourage you to read his article below as a practical illustration of my challenge in “Surging Evil.” This is what contending for truth in today’s culture looks like. Why I Disagree with Andy Stanley: Churches Should Open (by Shane Idleman) In a recent interview, Andy Stanley, pastor of Atlanta’s North Point Community Church, said he is “‘embarrassed’ by churches that engaged in ‘spitting matches’ with state and local governments over COVID-19 lockdown restrictions, lamenting that far too many churches ‘abandoned the mission…
Read MoreWrestling with God’s Silence in Difficult Times
Where is God when we need Him most? Why won’t God reveal Himself and liberate us from our troubles? Although not a new question, our struggles with the COVID-19 pandemic, cancel culture, and social unrest have emphasized God’s hiddenness. Why do our fellow citizens seem to be more concerned about the wellbeing of others than God does? Surely this is evidence that God doesn’t exist—or if He does exist, He clearly doesn’t care. How else can we justify God leaving so many prayers unanswered?
Read MoreSurging Evil: What’s Our Response?
Hope for something better in 2021 had largely evaporated by January 4. In complete disregard for the Bible and America’s traditional view on gender identity, the House of Representatives passed House rules prohibiting the use of gender-specific pronouns. These terms include father, mother, son, daughter, brother, sister, uncle, aunt, nephew, niece, husband, wife, grandson, and granddaughter.[1] Commenting on this new policy, former House member and 2020 Democrat presidential candidate Tulsi Gabbard stated, “To somehow believe that it is a good thing to remove all references of mother and father, brother and sister, son and daughter from essentially the administration of the House—from the legislative rules—not only does it not make sense, it is a dangerous step toward undermining who we are and the existence of men and women.”[2] Two weeks later, the ban on openly transgender people serving in the military was repealed. Likewise, an executive order restoring Obama-era LGBTQ policies is pressuring public schools to use the Equality Act to allow boys that feel like girls to use the bathroom of their choice and to be given the option to participate on girls’ athletic teams. Make no mistake. These changes in America’s fabric are not fundamentally political; they are fundamentally anti-God. The advocacy of transgenderism strikes at the heart of God’s purposes in creating males and females (Gen 1:27; Matt. 19:4). Other forms of evil are also surging. Big Tech has boldly aligned itself with the father of lies by dictating what perspectives are permissible…
Read MoreQAnon, Prophets, and Accepting Personal Responsibility
There was no elaborate military coup, surprise arrests, martial law, bombshell revelations of corruption, foreign invasion, supernatural intervention, or any of the myriad of theories circulating social media these past few months. For some this comes as no surprise, but others are devastated, confused, and embarrassed. Regardless of our emotional state, we are all now experiencing a reality-check. In short, we must now…
Read MoreAlienated from the Country We Love
“Trump Impeached Again” is blared across the Washington Post in massive block letters. … Once more, our nation finds itself in uncharted territory. This snap impeachment was so rushed that there is not even sufficient time for the Senate to conduct a trial, begging the question of whether a president can complete the impeachment process after he has already left office. … What has become of our country? Far too many Americans look around themselves and simply fail to recognize…
Read MoreOur Hope Does Not Rest in Mike Pence
All eyes are on Vice President Mike Pence today as he presides over the certification of the Electoral College votes for our nation’s next president. Theories abound regarding what he may or may not do in light of the numerous allegations of election fraud … If the case for election fraud is so overwhelming, why are the hopes of many being pegged to our vice president and the legislature?
Read More2021 Is Finally Here! Will It Be All That We Hope?
Like everything else in 2020, Christmas this year proved to be more eventful than expected for my family. While driving to my grandmother’s house, a plow truck ran us off the road and into an exceptionally deep, snow-filled ditch. One moment I was working to ensure our family arrived at my grandmother’s house on time so as not to be berated by my relatives for delaying Christmas dinner, and the next moment I found myself impossibly stuck in a car tilted to the side at a 60-degree angle….
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Give the Gift of Insight
INSIGHTS offers conversation-oriented training to help God’s people understand God’s perspective on cultural issues. Best of all, these videos are absolutely free! … You can even gift INSIGHTS to your friends and loved ones by…
Read MoreCrisis of Decision: America at the Crossroads
Disruptive as it may be, the challenges made to the 2020 elections are a blessing because they have exposed corruption in our electoral process where it may otherwise have gone unnoticed and unreported. … As Americans, we find ourselves at a moral crossroads. … True unity comes from God, but our enemy is offering a counterfeit form of unity that undermines God’s desire for our nation. … So where do we go from here?
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