thestream--2020-05-08--172 Pastors Petition Virginia Governor to Allow Weekly Church Services

After six weeks of not being allowed to gather in church buildings for corporate worship , more than 170 pastors in Virginia are respectfully saying “ enough.
” Michael Law Jr. , senior pastor of Arlington Baptist Church , emailed a letter Monday to Gov .
Ralph Northam asking him to modify two executive orders to allow religious gatherings at least once a week .
Another 171 pastors in Northern Virginia also signed the letter , which reads in part : The pastors are with churches in Northern Virginia , which in general is the most liberal area of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s switch in recent years from a reliably Republican state in presidential elections to a Democratic one .
On March 23 , Northam issued Executive Order 53 , which prohibits “ all public and private in person gatherings of 10 or more individuals.
” The Democratic governor followed with Executive Order 55 , which specifically prohibits “ religious , or other social events , whether they occur indoor or outdoor.
” The second order says it is slated to “ remain in full force and in effect until June 10 , 2020 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ executive order.
” The aim of the pastors ’ letter is for churches to “ have the freedom to be able to wisely gather again , ” David Schrock , pastor for preaching and theology at Occoquan Bible Church in Woodbridge , Virginia , told The Daily Signal in a phone interview Wednesday .
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political , Economic and Moral Issues of Our Day .
Law , Schrock , and the other pastors invited fellow pastors throughout Virginia to add their names @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his orders .
Law begins his petition by thanking Northam for his work during the COVID-19 pandemic to protect Virginians and tells the governor that pastors in the Commonwealth “ have been praying for you.
” Law then outlines a formal biblical and practical argument for why the pastors believe that churches should be permitted to assemble again : Northam is a member of First Baptist Church in Capeville , a predominantly black church on Virginia ’ s Eastern Shore .
The Daily Signal sought comment Thursday from the governor ’ s press @ @ @ @ @ @ @ publication time .
Schrock , who said he wasn ’ t aware of a response from Northam , stressed why he chose to add his name to the pastors ’ formal request to the governor .
“ The church is a witness for the resurrection of Jesus Christ , ” he said .
“ That is why we gather on Sunday , because that was the day that he was raised from the dead .
And it gives a public testimony to the fact that he is alive and present to help all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the biblical call to gather as believers , Schrock said , there “ is both a psychological and a spiritual well-being that the church provides to those who are followers of Jesus Christ.
” “ It seems like that would be a statewide concern , for the physical , the psychological , the spiritual well-being of all citizens of Virginia , ” he said .
Although most churches have continued to conduct services , prayer meetings , and other activities online , Schrock said , “ there are many things that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not be done online.
” Many denominations believe Christians should partake in communion only when the church is publicly assembled , Schrock said .
The command in Hebrews 10:24-25 to “ assemble for worship ” is central to the Christian faith , he said , as noted in the letter to Northam .
“ It comes down to the free exercise of our conscience , to be able to exercise our beliefs as the Bible teaches , ” Schrock said .
“ And the letter underscores why there are certain things that can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be done just as individuals.
” On Monday , the same day the pastors emailed their petition to Northam , the governor said during a press conference that Virginia might begin to reopen businesses as early as next week as a part of a three-phase plan .
“ You will still be safer at home , ” Northam said as he began his outline of phase one .
“ Large gatherings are still a bad idea .
It means continued social distancing , teleworking , and face coverings.
” “ But it also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” the governor said .
“ Phase one includes guidelines for all businesses to enhance physical distancing , do more cleaning and disinfecting , and promote workplace safety.
” It ’ s not clear what Northam ’ s announcement regarding the phased reopening means for church gatherings .
The plan does propose to ease “ limits on businesses and faith communities , ” but gatherings remain limited to 10 or fewer in phase one and 50 or fewer in phase two .
With churches across Virginia nearing the two-month mark since their last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ implores the governor “ to modify Executive Orders 53 and 55 to permit — at minimum — once-weekly gatherings by religious organizations , provided reasonable public-health precautions are taken .
”

After six weeks of not being allowed to gather in church buildings for corporate worship, more than 170 pastors in Virginia are respectfully saying “enough.”
Michael Law Jr., senior pastor of Arlington Baptist Church, emailed a letter Monday to Gov. Ralph Northam asking him to modify two executive orders to allow religious gatherings at least once a week.
Another 171 pastors in Northern Virginia also signed the letter, which reads in part:
The Church of the Lord Jesus Christ is a hospital for the spiritually sick. Yet corporate worship services of more than 10 people have been banned in Virginia since March 23. … Prohibiting corporate worship services has exacerbated the sense of sorrow, isolation, and fear felt by so many citizens across the Commonwealth.
The pastors are with churches in Northern Virginia, which in general is the most liberal area of the state. Its population growth spurred Virginia’s switch in recent years from a reliably Republican state in presidential elections to a Democratic one.
On March 23, Northam issued Executive Order 53, which prohibits “all public and private in person gatherings of 10 or more individuals.”
The Democratic governor followed with Executive Order 55, which specifically prohibits “religious, or other social events, whether they occur indoor or outdoor.”
The second order says it is slated to “remain in full force and in effect until June 10, 2020, unless amended or rescinded by further executive order.”
The aim of the pastors’ letter is for churches to “have the freedom to be able to wisely gather again,” David Schrock, pastor for preaching and theology at Occoquan Bible Church in Woodbridge, Virginia, told The Daily Signal in a phone interview Wednesday.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
Law, Schrock, and the other pastors invited fellow pastors throughout Virginia to add their names to the petition urging Northam to amend his orders.
Law begins his petition by thanking Northam for his work during the COVID-19 pandemic to protect Virginians and tells the governor that pastors in the Commonwealth “have been praying for you.”
Law then outlines a formal biblical and practical argument for why the pastors believe that churches should be permitted to assemble again:
Because corporate worship is central to Christian life, it is extraordinary for churches to forego meeting for even a single Sunday. Thus, with each passing week that corporate worship is banned, the government pushes Christians closer to the point where they must choose to sin against God and conscience or violate the law.
Northam is a member of First Baptist Church in Capeville, a predominantly black church on Virginia’s Eastern Shore.
The Daily Signal sought comment Thursday from the governor’s press office but had received no response by publication time.
Schrock, who said he wasn’t aware of a response from Northam, stressed why he chose to add his name to the pastors’ formal request to the governor.
“The church is a witness for the resurrection of Jesus Christ,” he said. “That is why we gather on Sunday, because that was the day that he was raised from the dead. And it gives a public testimony to the fact that he is alive and present to help all who trust in him.”
In addition to the biblical call to gather as believers, Schrock said, there “is both a psychological and a spiritual well-being that the church provides to those who are followers of Jesus Christ.”
“It seems like that would be a statewide concern, for the physical, the psychological, the spiritual well-being of all citizens of Virginia,” he said.
Although most churches have continued to conduct services, prayer meetings, and other activities online, Schrock said, “there are many things that the Bible instructs believers to do that cannot be done online.”
Many denominations believe Christians should partake in communion only when the church is publicly assembled, Schrock said. The command in Hebrews 10:24-25 to “assemble for worship” is central to the Christian faith, he said, as noted in the letter to Northam.
“It comes down to the free exercise of our conscience, to be able to exercise our beliefs as the Bible teaches,” Schrock said. “And the letter underscores why there are certain things that cannot be done online and cannot be done just as individuals.”
On Monday, the same day the pastors emailed their petition to Northam, the governor said during a press conference that Virginia might begin to reopen businesses as early as next week as a part of a three-phase plan.
“You will still be safer at home,” Northam said as he began his outline of phase one. “Large gatherings are still a bad idea. It means continued social distancing, teleworking, and face coverings.”
“But it also means that we are moving forward,” the governor said. “Phase one includes guidelines for all businesses to enhance physical distancing, do more cleaning and disinfecting, and promote workplace safety.”
It’s not clear what Northam’s announcement regarding the phased reopening means for church gatherings. The plan does propose to ease “limits on businesses and faith communities,” but gatherings remain limited to 10 or fewer in phase one and 50 or fewer in phase two.
With churches across Virginia nearing the two-month mark since their last in-person services, Law’s letter implores the governor “to modify Executive Orders 53 and 55 to permit — at minimum — once-weekly gatherings by religious organizations, provided reasonable public-health precautions are taken.”
Copyright 2020 The Daily Signal


thestream--2020-05-08--Mike Flynn, Patient Zero for the Tyrannovirus, Recovers. Can He Give America the Vaccine?

Why was General Mike Flynn targeted for destruction and false imprisonment ?
For the details , see The Stream ’ s Al Perrotta .
He did a masterful job navigating the weeds of a complex , squalid abuse of government power .
But underlying the details of lying prosecutors and scheming FBI hacks , lazy or crooked defense lawyers and MSM piranhas ?
The answer is simple .
To annul the results of the 2016 election .
I ’ ve laid it out here before .
The left put literal salvific , eschatological hope in Barack Obama .
They depicted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He incarnated “ Hope ” ( if not so much Faith and Love ) .
His campaign rallies ran more like revival meetings , with everything but altar calls .
When he arrived in D.C. in 2009 for his inauguration , the city pulsed with a Palm Sunday vibe .
America ’ s cognitive elite greeted their savior as the crowds met Our Lord in Jesus Christ Superstar .
Just watch the clip below , and plug in the 2009 lyrics : We pro-lifers , Christians , and other conservatives ?
We skulked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , envious and resentful .
Or so we ’ ve been depicted .
Obama would save us .
His presence in the White House would allow his wife Michelle to feel “ proud of America ” for the first time in her life .
He would usher in “ post-racist America.
” He promised to start “ fundamentally transforming ” America into a “ normal country ” like Belgium , ashamed of its past , timid on the world stage , and enthusiastically euthanizing the sick and the handicapped .
I was in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ try to amend the Constitution , so he could be elected “ President for Life.
” But that didn ’ t happen .
Nothing close to it happened .
The fat , sullen housecat that is the Democratic establishment coughed up the corrupt , autocratic and misanthropic elitist Hillary Clinton like a glistening furball .
Then served it up to us on a silver platter and expected us to pretend she was Trout Amandine .
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political , Economic and Moral Issues @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t bite .
By the narrowest of margins , despite a Mainstream Media that emulated Polish State Media circa 1977 .
Despite a GOP establishment committed to playing like the Washington Generals : losing gracefully , and making the Globetrotters look good .
Trump Stuffed the Left ’ s Savior Back in His Tomb Thus ended the left ’ s dream of a smooth , seamless liquidation of the remnants of the old America .
Barack Obama left the White House and had to surrender power to … a conservative populist .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ blasphemous .
The Sadducees had managed to stuff this savior back into his tomb .
And the left refused to accept it .
They cycled through one deranged conspiracy theory after another .
That began with Russia hacking the voting machines , continued to fictitious “ Russian collusion , ” and ended with a joke impeachment .
Instead of seceding , as the Democrats did over Lincoln ’ s election in 1860 , they hunkered down to a campaign of “ resistance.
” Which is what you do when the Nazis march in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to pretend that Trump was one .
The Deep State committed itself to sabotaging the governing of the country , and destroying key Trump allies .
Flynn was one .
In fact , as Andrew McCarthy wrote , Flynn as Director of National Security would have cleaned out their fetid ranks .
So instead they tried to send the man to prison , based on lies .
The Worst Act of Treason Since the Civil War This campaign of unpatriotic subversion , this attempted Deep State coup , is worlds apart from Watergate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shenanigans with presidential lies .
The anti-Trump coup , in which Obama seems complicit , is orders of magnitude worse .
It ’ s treason much more comparable to the secessions of 1861 .
So how shall we punish it ?
More importantly , since it virtually wasted three of Trump ’ s four years , how do we punish the party that enthusiastically backed it ?
Yes , the worst conspirators deserve prison time and crushing lawsuits .
But the country is what ’ s at stake , so it can ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weaponize Flynn ’ s persecution to beat the Democrats in November .
He must wrench the public attention from face masks and virus shedding to the much deadlier threat : the Tyrannovirus which Democrats are coughing onto us all across the country , from shuttered churches and stores to thriving abortion clinics .
And nursing homes full of elderly people dying alone from Democrats ’ crackpot policies .
Will We Turn into a Huge Venezuela with Nukes ?
This election can ’ t be about a virus .
It must be about America @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get made in secret to annul the people ’ s elections ?
Where the secret police conspires with the president to prevent the peaceful transfer of power ?
Where the media ( already half in hock to Communist China ) manufactures consent and silences the opposition parties ?
We must say “ No !
” in thunder .
We must expose the left as those who whisper “ Yes … ” behind velvet curtains , on sibilant forked tongues .
And to make the campaign go that way , President Trump needs to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him to some high-level government job .
Maybe as FBI director , to clean out the stables himself ?
Or maybe save that job for Flynn ’ s heroic second defense counsel , Sidney Powell .
Let her serve that role till an opening arises on the U.S. Supreme Court .
We certainly need such a tribune of the people .
And we need to keep the left squealing , obsessing , and whining over how their coup d ’ etat failed .
While Joe Biden skulks and gibbers in his basement , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of little girls ’ hair .
John Zmirak is a senior editor at The Stream , and author or co-author of ten books , including The Politically Incorrect Guide to Immigration and The Politically Incorrect Guide to Catholicism .

Why was General Mike Flynn targeted for destruction and false imprisonment? For the details, see The Stream’s Al Perrotta. He did a masterful job navigating the weeds of a complex, squalid abuse of government power. But underlying the details of lying prosecutors and scheming FBI hacks, lazy or crooked defense lawyers and MSM piranhas? The answer is simple. To annul the results of the 2016 election.
We Rejected Their Messiah
I’ve laid it out here before. The left put literal salvific, eschatological hope in Barack Obama. They depicted him with messianic words and imagery. He incarnated “Hope” (if not so much Faith and Love). His campaign rallies ran more like revival meetings, with everything but altar calls. When he arrived in D.C. in 2009 for his inauguration, the city pulsed with a Palm Sunday vibe. America’s cognitive elite greeted their savior as the crowds met Our Lord in Jesus Christ Superstar. Just watch the clip below, and plug in the 2009 lyrics:
O-Bama-Hey, Bama-Bama-Bama O
Bama-Hey Bamo-O-Bama
Hey B.O. B.O. Won’t You Cleanse Our Souls?
Bama-O, Bama-Hey Superstar!
The Fundamental Transformation, Interrupted
We pro-lifers, Christians, and other conservatives? We skulked off on the sides like mumbling Sadducees, envious and resentful. Or so we’ve been depicted.
Obama would save us. His presence in the White House would allow his wife Michelle to feel “proud of America” for the first time in her life. He would usher in “post-racist America.” He promised to start “fundamentally transforming” America into a “normal country” like Belgium, ashamed of its past, timid on the world stage, and enthusiastically euthanizing the sick and the handicapped.
I was in fact surprised the left didn’t try to amend the Constitution, so he could be elected “President for Life.” But that didn’t happen. Nothing close to it happened. The fat, sullen housecat that is the Democratic establishment coughed up the corrupt, autocratic and misanthropic elitist Hillary Clinton like a glistening furball. Then served it up to us on a silver platter and expected us to pretend she was Trout Amandine.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
The voters didn’t bite. By the narrowest of margins, despite a Mainstream Media that emulated Polish State Media circa 1977. Despite a GOP establishment committed to playing like the Washington Generals: losing gracefully, and making the Globetrotters look good.
Trump Stuffed the Left’s Savior Back in His Tomb
Thus ended the left’s dream of a smooth, seamless liquidation of the remnants of the old America. Barack Obama left the White House and had to surrender power to … a conservative populist. This was monstrous, inconceivable, even blasphemous. The Sadducees had managed to stuff this savior back into his tomb.
And the left refused to accept it. They cycled through one deranged conspiracy theory after another. That began with Russia hacking the voting machines, continued to fictitious “Russian collusion,” and ended with a joke impeachment. Instead of seceding, as the Democrats did over Lincoln’s election in 1860, they hunkered down to a campaign of “resistance.” Which is what you do when the Nazis march in. And the media did their best to pretend that Trump was one. The Deep State committed itself to sabotaging the governing of the country, and destroying key Trump allies. Flynn was one. In fact, as Andrew McCarthy wrote, Flynn as Director of National Security would have cleaned out their fetid ranks.
So instead they tried to send the man to prison, based on lies.
The Worst Act of Treason Since the Civil War
This campaign of unpatriotic subversion, this attempted Deep State coup, is worlds apart from Watergate. That just covered up low-level campaign shenanigans with presidential lies. The anti-Trump coup, in which Obama seems complicit, is orders of magnitude worse. It’s treason much more comparable to the secessions of 1861.
This election can’t be about a virus. It must be about America.
So how shall we punish it? More importantly, since it virtually wasted three of Trump’s four years, how do we punish the party that enthusiastically backed it? Yes, the worst conspirators deserve prison time and crushing lawsuits. But the country is what’s at stake, so it can’t end there.
The president must weaponize Flynn’s persecution to beat the Democrats in November. He must wrench the public attention from face masks and virus shedding to the much deadlier threat: the Tyrannovirus which Democrats are coughing onto us all across the country, from shuttered churches and stores to thriving abortion clinics. And nursing homes full of elderly people dying alone from Democrats’ crackpot policies.
Will We Turn into a Huge Venezuela with Nukes?
This election can’t be about a virus. It must be about America. Are we a country where deals get made in secret to annul the people’s elections? Where the secret police conspires with the president to prevent the peaceful transfer of power? Where the media (already half in hock to Communist China) manufactures consent and silences the opposition parties?
We must say “No!” in thunder. We must expose the left as those who whisper “Yes …” behind velvet curtains, on sibilant forked tongues.
And to make the campaign go that way, President Trump needs to vindicate General Flynn completely, by re-appointing him to some high-level government job. Maybe as FBI director, to clean out the stables himself? Or maybe save that job for Flynn’s heroic second defense counsel, Sidney Powell. Let her serve that role till an opening arises on the U.S. Supreme Court. We certainly need such a tribune of the people.
And we need to keep the left squealing, obsessing, and whining over how their coup d’etat failed. While Joe Biden skulks and gibbers in his basement, dodging rape accusations and sniffing stolen locks of little girls’ hair.
John Zmirak is a senior editor at The Stream, and author or co-author of ten books, including The Politically Incorrect Guide to Immigration and The Politically Incorrect Guide to Catholicism.


thestream--2020-05-09--Rebooting Our Values After the Pandemic

Rebooting Our Values After the Pandemic

We began the month of May with a necessary interview with the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee , Joe Biden , about a sexual-assault allegation .
The questioning , of course , came after an introduction that included the unholy litany of accusations against the current president of the United States .
The Biden interview came a few days after a midnight tweet from the president ridiculing a number of media personalities in cruel ways , including the journalist interviewing Biden .
And before that tweet was another from the president , announcing that he would be virtually attending Mass at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ morning .
During the Mass , Cardinal Timothy Dolan acknowledged the president , which predictably incited some anger and politics in the comments on YouTube .
But I saw that over 20,000 people were watching , and couldn ’ t help but pray that miracles were happening : little seeds of encounter with God , even through a screen .
I normally work overtime not to let life — or even a column — revolve around tweets , even presidential ones .
But I think these two particular ones offer a critical chance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had our lives upended in many ways .
Coronavirus has become the priority .
Even if we are trying to live as normally as possible , the differences — the kids not being in school , the work meetings via Zoom , the physical masks we wear in a world of too many figurative masks — expose the reality .
Many of us know that things won ’ t be the same as before , even as we begin to emerge from quarantine in some places .
And yet , you get the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rear its head again — that we are going to fall into the same old politics that bring out the worst in so many of us .
That St. Patrick ’ s Mass with so many people tuned in gives me some hope that seeds are being planted .
You ’ ve got to wonder , though , when a few days later , the president is back behaving badly on Twitter .
But miracles can happen .
We are desperately in need of some tone-changing .
During that Mass , Cardinal Dolan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ day , about the road to Emmaus .
That ’ s the road Christians are meant to be on , always : walking with Jesus , recognizing God in His creations , even when we can ’ t be present for the sacraments of the church .
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political , Economic and Moral Issues of Our Day .
Both Donald Trump and Joe Biden talk about Christianity .
Joe Biden professes to be Catholic , despite his position on abortion , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump said at the March for Life this January that everyone is made in the image and likeness of God .
Does that include those he tweets about and insults ?
Even those in the media ?
Even Nancy Pelosi and “ Sleepy Joe ” ?
These are not moral equivalents , to be sure , but how do we look to our fellow man , really ?
What this pandemic should be reminding us is that we are all equally vulnerable .
Yes , some of us are more susceptible than others @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be vulnerable to something in the end ; we are all mortal beings .
While some know death is coming sooner rather than later , are any of us ready ?
Can virtue be seen from our lives ?
Do we treat people with respect and defend life ?
I think we have to do both .
This time could draw us together , instead of more violently apart , to love our neighbor and protect the vulnerable .
Let ’ s do it for real — whether through the potentially noble service @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of family or community .
I don ’ t know if Joe Biden is guilty or not , but I do know we need to restart our culture ’ s stance on virtue .
We are all sinners , but a society that values goodness and decency would be one that flushes many poisons out of our system .
There needs to be a reboot .
We probably can ’ t expect it from politics or from those with the loudest microphones , but we can start it by the choices we make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the way we live our lives .
May all these virtual encounters with faith , and “ thoughts and prayers , ” bear real fruit .
As we reopen , let it be a Beatitudinal reset — a start in the virtues .
Kathryn Jean Lopez is senior fellow at the National Review Institute , editor-at-large of National Review magazine and author of the new book A Year With the Mystics : Visionary Wisdom for Daily Living .
She is also chair of Cardinal Dolan ’ s pro-life commission in New York .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ nationalreview.com .

We began the month of May with a necessary interview with the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, Joe Biden, about a sexual-assault allegation. The questioning, of course, came after an introduction that included the unholy litany of accusations against the current president of the United States.
Biden’s Interview
The Biden interview came a few days after a midnight tweet from the president ridiculing a number of media personalities in cruel ways, including the journalist interviewing Biden. And before that tweet was another from the president, announcing that he would be virtually attending Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral the next morning. During the Mass, Cardinal Timothy Dolan acknowledged the president, which predictably incited some anger and politics in the comments on YouTube. But I saw that over 20,000 people were watching, and couldn’t help but pray that miracles were happening: little seeds of encounter with God, even through a screen.
I normally work overtime not to let life — or even a column — revolve around tweets, even presidential ones. But I think these two particular ones offer a critical chance for national reflection.
Upended Lives
We’ve had our lives upended in many ways. Coronavirus has become the priority. Even if we are trying to live as normally as possible, the differences — the kids not being in school, the work meetings via Zoom, the physical masks we wear in a world of too many figurative masks — expose the reality. Many of us know that things won’t be the same as before, even as we begin to emerge from quarantine in some places. And yet, you get the sense that the same-old is about to rear its head again — that we are going to fall into the same old politics that bring out the worst in so many of us.
That St. Patrick’s Mass with so many people tuned in gives me some hope that seeds are being planted. You’ve got to wonder, though, when a few days later, the president is back behaving badly on Twitter. But miracles can happen. We are desperately in need of some tone-changing.
The Road to Emmaus
During that Mass, Cardinal Dolan preached on the Gospel reading for the day, about the road to Emmaus. That’s the road Christians are meant to be on, always: walking with Jesus, recognizing God in His creations, even when we can’t be present for the sacraments of the church.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
Both Donald Trump and Joe Biden talk about Christianity. Joe Biden professes to be Catholic, despite his position on abortion, the killing of the innocent unborn. Donald Trump said at the March for Life this January that everyone is made in the image and likeness of God. Does that include those he tweets about and insults? Even those in the media? Even Nancy Pelosi and “Sleepy Joe”? These are not moral equivalents, to be sure, but how do we look to our fellow man, really?
All Mortal Beings
What this pandemic should be reminding us is that we are all equally vulnerable. Yes, some of us are more susceptible than others to COVID-19, but we will all be vulnerable to something in the end; we are all mortal beings. While some know death is coming sooner rather than later, are any of us ready? Can virtue be seen from our lives? Do we treat people with respect and defend life? I think we have to do both. This time could draw us together, instead of more violently apart, to love our neighbor and protect the vulnerable. Let’s do it for real — whether through the potentially noble service of politics, or through the gifts of family or community.
A Cultural Reboot
I don’t know if Joe Biden is guilty or not, but I do know we need to restart our culture’s stance on virtue. We are all sinners, but a society that values goodness and decency would be one that flushes many poisons out of our system. There needs to be a reboot. We probably can’t expect it from politics or from those with the loudest microphones, but we can start it by the choices we make, the conversations we engage in and the way we live our lives. May all these virtual encounters with faith, and “thoughts and prayers,” bear real fruit. As we reopen, let it be a Beatitudinal reset — a start in the virtues.
Kathryn Jean Lopez is senior fellow at the National Review Institute, editor-at-large of National Review magazine and author of the new book A Year With the Mystics: Visionary Wisdom for Daily Living. She is also chair of Cardinal Dolan’s pro-life commission in New York. She can be contacted at [email protected].


thestream--2020-05-09--Atheist’s 50 Questions #16: ‘Why Don’t Christian Parents Hate Their Kids More?’

Part of an extended series of answers to Guy P. Harrison ’ s book 50 Simple Questions for Every Christian .
Read the series intro here .
First I dropped the book in anger and in disbelief .
A bit later I almost threw it across the room .
You ’ ll see why .
The question Guy Harrison claimed to be asking in this chapter of 50 Questions was , “ Should Children Be Christians ?
” What he was really asking , though — and he should have realized it — was simpler .
“ Why don ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
” He opened the chapter with the story of a Muslim madrassa he ’ d visited in New Delhi , where thirty boys , age 8 to 12 , were being taught from the Koran .
Everything came from the Koran .
“ What about math ?
” he asked the teacher .
“ No problem , we can teach anything .
It ’ s all in the Koran.
” Nothing from maps , nothing about continental drift , no biology or physics , except from the Koran .
Their education , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ incomplete … because of a religious choice .
… there was no thinking going on .
… It was indoctrination , not education.
” That ’ s his description of the madrassa , not mine .
I can ’ t say a word for or against its accuracy .
What bothered me was when he said Christians “ never make the connection between what was going on in that school in India and the way millions of children are being taught Christianity every day around the world.
” That ’ s when I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Muslims ’ children in New Delhi aren ’ t being taught science or math at all tells us there ’ s something wrong with the fact that we teach our kids Christianity ?
Harrison scorns the way “ religion is taught to very young children as being factual and necessary — without a hint or whisper of skepticism and critical thinking.
” The “ key problems ” are the same as in the madrassa , he says , specifically pointing to the way kids are taught from age two to twelve .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ with this , ” he says , “ because it feels wrong .
It seems very much like intellectual bullying.
” It ’ s a good thing I ’ d had fair warning , time to prepare my mind and steel my emotions .
Otherwise I might have flung the book right across the room .
Well , no , actually I have more control over myself than that .
But it wasn ’ t because Harrison ’ s “ intellectually bullying ” idiocy didn ’ t deserve that kind of treatment .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the ultimate truth and source of goodness , but why not let the religion stand on its own strength ?
” Why can ’ t they be like many atheists and skeptics , including Harrison , who “ do not teach their children not to believe in gods ” ?
Teaching His Pre-Teens To Do Comparative Religion .
Impressive !
“ When my children were very young , ” he boasts , “ it never once occurred to me that I should sit them down and instruct them to reject Bible stories .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to think , rather than how to think.
” Good for him !
How virtuous .
Amazing , too !
He taught his eight-year-olds how to think .
They must have been geniuses .
If they were learning how to manage comparative religion , they were prodigies .
For most kids , the ability to think in abstract concepts doesn ’ t even begin kicking in until about age twelve .
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political , Economic and Moral Issues of Our Day .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
If he ’ d been talking about teenagers instead of pre-teens , I ’ d have agreed that parents need to start teaching them the arguments both for and against Christianity .
That ’ s when kids start becoming developmentally able to work with those kinds of questions .
It ’ s okay : Christianity , properly understood , can handle the pressure .
Too few Christian parents do that , and therefore not enough Christian young adults can handle the arguments as well as they should be able to .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I ’ ll say it : If Harrison thinks he was teaching his eight-year-old kids openness to belief , he ’ s a fool .
He wasn ’ t teaching them openness , he was teaching them religion is false and/or irrelevant .
He was closing their minds to it , as surely as the Muslim dad closes his kids ’ minds to Hinduism .
If he thinks he taught them religious open-mindedness he ’ s a fool .
He was indoctrinating them , just as surely as any Christian parent .
Just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ extended family ( who must remain unnamed ) were indoctrinated by their parents , who chose to raise them “ in all the traditions.
” Neither of the two children chose to follow any religious tradition , unsurprisingly .
He says Christians shouldn ’ t teach their kids what to believe , because we might be wrong .
Then Harrison shouldn ’ t teach his kids what to believe , either , because he might be wrong , too .
And make no mistake , he ’ s taught his kids what to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or irrelevant .
It ’ s simply unbelievable that he could fail to see that .
Or that he would think parents could even help teaching their young children what they consider important .
Kids catch that kind of thing from their parents ; it ’ s unavoidable .
He thought his kids — at that age !
— should “ think independently about religion and make up their own minds.
” That ’ s incomprehensible .
And unloving .
To do this is to invite your own kids to reject what you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s guiding them to choose what you regard as false .
Except it can ’ t be done .
Harrison wasn ’ t guiding them to make up their own minds , not at that age .
I ’ ll guarantee his kids even today believe exactly what he taught them — that no religion is right for them — unless they ’ ve encountered wiser teaching since then .
One of the parents I mentioned in my extended family has since become a believer , and is trusting God to redeem lost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
There ’ s significant pain there , now , though .
I feel it too , believe me .
These now-adult kids of theirs are my family members , too .
Do you see why Harrison ’ s advice both astonishes and angers me ?
He ’ s full of great advice for Christian parents who want their kids to have nothing to do with Jesus Christ .
Parents who think their kids should miss out on the best thing that ’ s ever happened to them .
Parents who don ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ falsehood .
In other words , Christians who hate their own children .
No books were harmed in the preparation of this article .
But it took some real self-control .
Tom Gilson ( @ TomGilsonAuthor ) is a senior editor with The Stream , and the author of A Christian Mind : Thoughts on Life and Truth in Jesus Christ and Critical Conversations : A Christian Parent ’ s Guide to Discussing Homosexuality with Teens , and the lead editor of True Reason : Confronting the Irrationality of the New Atheism .

Part of an extended series of answers to Guy P. Harrison’s book 50 Simple Questions for Every Christian. Read the series intro here.
First I dropped the book in anger and in disbelief. A bit later I almost threw it across the room. You’ll see why.
The question Guy Harrison claimed to be asking in this chapter of 50 Questions was, “Should Children Be Christians?” What he was really asking, though — and he should have realized it — was simpler. “Why don’t Christian parents hate their kids more?”
He opened the chapter with the story of a Muslim madrassa he’d visited in New Delhi, where thirty boys, age 8 to 12, were being taught from the Koran. Everything came from the Koran. “What about math?” he asked the teacher. “No problem, we can teach anything. It’s all in the Koran.” Nothing from maps, nothing about continental drift, no biology or physics, except from the Koran.
Their education, he said, “was inept and incomplete … because of a religious choice. … there was no thinking going on. … It was indoctrination, not education.”
That’s his description of the madrassa, not mine. I can’t say a word for or against its accuracy. What bothered me was when he said Christians “never make the connection between what was going on in that school in India and the way millions of children are being taught Christianity every day around the world.” That’s when I dropped the book.
So the fact that Muslims’ children in New Delhi aren’t being taught science or math at all tells us there’s something wrong with the fact that we teach our kids Christianity?
Intellectual Bullying?
Harrison scorns the way “religion is taught to very young children as being factual and necessary — without a hint or whisper of skepticism and critical thinking.” The “key problems” are the same as in the madrassa, he says, specifically pointing to the way kids are taught from age two to twelve.
“Skeptics of religion have big problems with this,” he says, “because it feels wrong. It seems very much like intellectual bullying.”
He’s full of great advice for Christian parents who don’t want their kids to have anything to do with Jesus Christ. Parents who think their kids should miss out on the best thing that’s ever happened to them. Parents who hate their children.
It’s a good thing I’d had fair warning, time to prepare my mind and steel my emotions. Otherwise I might have flung the book right across the room. Well, no, actually I have more control over myself than that. But it wasn’t because Harrison’s “intellectually bullying” idiocy didn’t deserve that kind of treatment.
Harrison recognizes we believe “Christianity is the ultimate truth and source of goodness, but why not let the religion stand on its own strength?” Why can’t they be like many atheists and skeptics, including Harrison, who “do not teach their children not to believe in gods”?
Teaching His Pre-Teens To Do Comparative Religion. Impressive!
“When my children were very young,” he boasts, “it never once occurred to me that I should sit them down and instruct them to reject Bible stories. … That would be telling them what to think, rather than how to think.”
Good for him! How virtuous. Amazing, too! He taught his eight-year-olds how to think. They must have been geniuses. If they were learning how to manage comparative religion, they were prodigies. For most kids, the ability to think in abstract concepts doesn’t even begin kicking in until about age twelve.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
I’ll grant him one not-quite-point. If he’d been talking about teenagers instead of pre-teens, I’d have agreed that parents need to start teaching them the arguments both for and against Christianity. That’s when kids start becoming developmentally able to work with those kinds of questions.
It’s okay: Christianity, properly understood, can handle the pressure. Too few Christian parents do that, and therefore not enough Christian young adults can handle the arguments as well as they should be able to.
Harrison Indoctrinated His Kids, Too
But he was talking about pre-teens. So I’ll say it: If Harrison thinks he was teaching his eight-year-old kids openness to belief, he’s a fool. He wasn’t teaching them openness, he was teaching them religion is false and/or irrelevant. He was closing their minds to it, as surely as the Muslim dad closes his kids’ minds to Hinduism.
If he thinks he taught them religious open-mindedness he’s a fool. He was indoctrinating them, just as surely as any Christian parent. Just as surely as two kids in my extended family (who must remain unnamed) were indoctrinated by their parents, who chose to raise them “in all the traditions.” Neither of the two children chose to follow any religious tradition, unsurprisingly.
He says Christians shouldn’t teach their kids what to believe, because we might be wrong. Then Harrison shouldn’t teach his kids what to believe, either, because he might be wrong, too. And make no mistake, he’s taught his kids what to believe: that religion is either false or irrelevant.
It’s simply unbelievable that he could fail to see that. Or that he would think parents could even help teaching their young children what they consider important. Kids catch that kind of thing from their parents; it’s unavoidable.
He thought his kids — at that age! — should “think independently about religion and make up their own minds.” That’s incomprehensible. And unloving. To do this is to invite your own kids to reject what you are convinced is true. It’s guiding them to choose what you regard as false.
Except it can’t be done. Harrison wasn’t guiding them to make up their own minds, not at that age. I’ll guarantee his kids even today believe exactly what he taught them — that no religion is right for them — unless they’ve encountered wiser teaching since then.
The Atheist’s Foolish and Hateful Counsel
One of the parents I mentioned in my extended family has since become a believer, and is trusting God to redeem lost teaching opportunities from the kids’ childhood. There’s significant pain there, now, though. I feel it too, believe me. These now-adult kids of theirs are my family members, too. Do you see why Harrison’s advice both astonishes and angers me?
He’s full of great advice for Christian parents who want their kids to have nothing to do with Jesus Christ. Parents who think their kids should miss out on the best thing that’s ever happened to them. Parents who don’t care if their kids die in falsehood. In other words, Christians who hate their own children.
No books were harmed in the preparation of this article. But it took some real self-control.
Tom Gilson (@TomGilsonAuthor) is a senior editor with The Stream, and the author of A Christian Mind: Thoughts on Life and Truth in Jesus Christ and Critical Conversations: A Christian Parent’s Guide to Discussing Homosexuality with Teens, and the lead editor of True Reason: Confronting the Irrationality of the New Atheism.


thestream--2020-05-09--Betsy DeVos Delivers Promised Title IX Changes

After honorably serving in the Navy , Joseph Roberts was on track to become the first person in his family to earn a college diploma .
But that was derailed when he was suspended from Savannah State University on a mere accusation .
Joseph ’ s suspension came via e-mail on the same day a complaint was made .
Meaning it was the first time he heard about it .
As if that wasn ’ t enough , within minutes a campus wide alert was sent .
It had Joseph ’ s picture on it like a mug shot .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ only had Mr. Roberts been summarily suspended , but that he was trespassing if found anywhere on university property .
Why ?
Because two students had filed complaints , making what Joseph says were false allegations of verbal and online sexual harassment .
Nobody even bothered to reach out to Mr. Roberts for his side of the story .
Roberts isn ’ t alone .
Families Advocating for Campus Equality ( FACE ) , was established in 2013 to “ support and advocate for equal treatment and due process for those affected by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The group was founded by three mothers of sons falsely accused of sexual misconduct .
The organization is now led by an eight-member Advisory Board .
Seven of the board members are female .
They point out that nearly one hundred court decisions have been issued in favor of accused students since 2013 .
How did we get here ?
The Obama Administration ’ s Department of Education ( DOE ) and its Office for Civil Rights ( OCR ) issued a pair of “ Dear Colleague ” letters to colleges and universities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ documents called on colleges to investigate sexual misconduct claims quickly .
They discouraged cross-examination of the accuser .
They also required colleges to use a “ preponderance of the evidence ” threshold to determine guilt .
It ’ s widely believed that these Obama-era directives , while perhaps well-intended , tipped the scales on behalf of accusers .
An academic study found that an innocent student had as much as a one-in-three chance of being found guilty under the previous guidelines .
The court decisions issued in favor of accused students often point @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to judgment , in effect .
Guilty until proven innocent rather than innocent until proven guilty .
In 2017 , Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos revoked the Obama Administration ’ s “ Dear Colleague ” letters .
But she had not yet replaced them with anything final .
That happened this week .
In the interim , DeVos hosted a series of listening sessions .
The Secretary met with members of sexual assault survivor groups and with advocates for the accused .
At one of these sessions , Joseph Roberts was able to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are some of the major changes DeVos has now put in place .
Colleges must provide live hearings that allow students ’ advisers to cross-examine parties and witnesses .
These live hearings are to be recorded .
They ’ re to be made available to parties and maintained in college records .
Schools must also presume that those accused of sexual misconduct are innocent , before investigating them or making decisions about them .
Sounds obvious , but FACE ’ s website is littered with stories like that of Joseph Roberts .
Instead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can use the “ clear and convincing ” standard , which sets a higher burden of proof for accusers .
Colleges must now provide relevant evidence related to all parties and advisers at least 10 days prior to requiring a response .
By comparison , you have 30-60 days to respond to a traffic citation .
Additionally , under the new rules , claims made by parties and not cross-examined as part of a Title IX inquiry may not be used as evidence .
That ’ s huge .
Cross-examination is a great @ @ @ @ @ @ @ offered by accusers and witnesses .
Anyone who has spent much time in court will tell you that witnesses are not equally credible .
They forget things .
They add things .
Innocently , or sometimes with intent to harm .
What I most recall about serving on jury duty was how much time the judge spent instructing us about the importance of weighing the credibility of testimony .
You ’ ll probably hear witnesses contradict each other , he warned .
He was right : we did .
But cross-examination helped us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ As Proverbs 18:17 puts it , “ The one who states his case first seems right , until the other comes and examines him.
” Colleges and universities must comply with the new rules by Aug. 14 .
While some fear that the COVID-19 shutdown makes it a tough time for schools to adjust , Secretary DeVos explained that the changes had been signaled well in advance .
The fact that students are not currently on campus , she explained , makes this an ideal time for schools to prepare .
Let ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the process and fairness for everyone .
Sexual misconduct deserves severe consequences .
But the accused are entitled to the presumption of innocence .
Dr. Alex Chediak ( Ph.D. , U.C .
Berkeley ) is a professor and the author of Thriving at College ( Tyndale House , 2011 ) , a roadmap for how students can best navigate the challenges of their college years .
His latest book is Beating the College Debt Trap .
Learn more about him at www.alexchediak.com or follow him on Twitter ( @ chediak ) .

After honorably serving in the Navy, Joseph Roberts was on track to become the first person in his family to earn a college diploma. But that was derailed when he was suspended from Savannah State University on a mere accusation.
Joseph’s suspension came via e-mail on the same day a complaint was made. Meaning it was the first time he heard about it. As if that wasn’t enough, within minutes a campus wide alert was sent. It had Joseph’s picture on it like a mug shot. It warned the entire university that not only had Mr. Roberts been summarily suspended, but that he was trespassing if found anywhere on university property.
Why? Because two students had filed complaints, making what Joseph says were false allegations of verbal and online sexual harassment. Nobody even bothered to reach out to Mr. Roberts for his side of the story.
The Background
Roberts isn’t alone. Families Advocating for Campus Equality (FACE), was established in 2013 to “support and advocate for equal treatment and due process for those affected by inequitable Title IX campus disciplinary processes.” The group was founded by three mothers of sons falsely accused of sexual misconduct. The organization is now led by an eight-member Advisory Board. Seven of the board members are female. They point out that nearly one hundred court decisions have been issued in favor of accused students since 2013.
How did we get here? The Obama Administration’s Department of Education (DOE) and its Office for Civil Rights (OCR) issued a pair of “Dear Colleague” letters to colleges and universities in 2011 and 2014. These guidance documents called on colleges to investigate sexual misconduct claims quickly. They discouraged cross-examination of the accuser. They also required colleges to use a “preponderance of the evidence” threshold to determine guilt.
It’s widely believed that these Obama-era directives, while perhaps well-intended, tipped the scales on behalf of accusers. An academic study found that an innocent student had as much as a one-in-three chance of being found guilty under the previous guidelines. The court decisions issued in favor of accused students often point to denials of due process — rushes to judgment, in effect. Guilty until proven innocent rather than innocent until proven guilty.
In 2017, Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos revoked the Obama Administration’s “Dear Colleague” letters. But she had not yet replaced them with anything final. That happened this week. In the interim, DeVos hosted a series of listening sessions. The Secretary met with members of sexual assault survivor groups and with advocates for the accused. At one of these sessions, Joseph Roberts was able to tell Ms. DeVos his story.
What’s New?
Here are some of the major changes DeVos has now put in place. Colleges must provide live hearings that allow students’ advisers to cross-examine parties and witnesses. These live hearings are to be recorded. They’re to be made available to parties and maintained in college records. Schools must also presume that those accused of sexual misconduct are innocent, before investigating them or making decisions about them. Sounds obvious, but FACE’s website is littered with stories like that of Joseph Roberts. Instead of preponderance of the evidence, colleges can use the “clear and convincing” standard, which sets a higher burden of proof for accusers. Colleges must now provide relevant evidence related to all parties and advisers at least 10 days prior to requiring a response. By comparison, you have 30-60 days to respond to a traffic citation.
Additionally, under the new rules, claims made by parties and not cross-examined as part of a Title IX inquiry may not be used as evidence. That’s huge. Cross-examination is a great way to assess the credibility of claims offered by accusers and witnesses. Anyone who has spent much time in court will tell you that witnesses are not equally credible. They forget things. They add things. Innocently, or sometimes with intent to harm. What I most recall about serving on jury duty was how much time the judge spent instructing us about the importance of weighing the credibility of testimony. You’ll probably hear witnesses contradict each other, he warned. He was right: we did. But cross-examination helped us decide whose stories made more sense. As Proverbs 18:17 puts it, “The one who states his case first seems right, until the other comes and examines him.”
Balance and Fairness
Colleges and universities must comply with the new rules by Aug. 14. While some fear that the COVID-19 shutdown makes it a tough time for schools to adjust, Secretary DeVos explained that the changes had been signaled well in advance. The fact that students are not currently on campus, she explained, makes this an ideal time for schools to prepare.
Let’s hope these new correctives provide balance to the process and fairness for everyone. Sexual misconduct deserves severe consequences. But the accused are entitled to the presumption of innocence.
Dr. Alex Chediak (Ph.D., U.C. Berkeley) is a professor and the author of Thriving at College (Tyndale House, 2011), a roadmap for how students can best navigate the challenges of their college years. His latest book is Beating the College Debt Trap. Learn more about him at www.alexchediak.com or follow him on Twitter (@chediak).


thestream--2020-05-09--John Tesh’s Relentless Faith and Miraculous Healing

The image was disturbing , to say the least .
“ When you have a nasal gastric tube in your nose and blood is pouring out of one of your nostrils and you ’ ve been vomiting for four days straight , you don ’ t have any future and you look terrible .
People don ’ t want to let you out of the house .
And then you look over to your left and there ’ s a kid at eight years old who ’ s was twice as bad as you are .
So , now you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” In 2015 , the songwriting performer and former “ Entertainment Tonight ” host John Tesh was diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer .
He was given 18 months to 2 years to live .
He ’ s been cancer free for years now .
When you ’ re sick , everyone wants to give you advice , John told The Stream .
One of the things he received was a CD of faith healing teacher Andrew Wommack .
John didn ’ t want to listen to it , but his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it on .
John heard Wommack talk about Jesus taking our sins , griefs and sorrows , including our sicknesses .
Mark 11:23 became a special verse to John : “ That Scripture became a basis for everything from that point on .
I believe so strongly in that message.
” John realized that Jesus wasn ’ t just talking about those in the crowd at that moment .
“ He was speaking to me and He was speaking to everyone.
” In addition , John came to believe that the gift of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He began studying Mark 16:17-18 : In 2018 , John went back to his radiation oncologist , who told John that he ’ d found something in his pelvis .
They would need to do seven treatments .
John asked about the contraindications or side effects of the treatment .
His doctor produced a long list of problems John could have as a result of the treatment .
“ I looked at Connie and we both raised an eyebrow .
We shared a look .
And we just said , ‘ Thank you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to you.
’ We walked out the door and at that moment — with that one look — faith was born and we knew we were done.
” Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political , Economic and Moral Issues of Our Day .
John is quick to point out that his doctors did a tremendous job .
But the cancer was relentless .
Wommack shared an analogy about faith healing that resonated with John .
“ The power company comes to your house .
They spend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up the power on the big panel on the side of your house .
And it ’ s connected to all of the light switches .
… But if you don ’ t reach over and turn on the light switch , the lights won ’ t come on.
” He believes that Christians have been given the power of healing based on Scripture , even though they don ’ t use it , or even believe in it .
“ It ’ s worth a shot , ” he explained .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I tried , if you don ’ t go after what I went after , then there ’ s no chance it ’ ll work for you.
” John has spent hours reading healing Scriptures and speaking life over his body .
“ It takes work.
” It also takes the “ renewing of your mind ” ( Romans 12:22 , NIV ) .
That takes training .
“ you have to keep renewing your mind and standing strong.
” “ The message that I send out to people who don ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with Proverbs 18:21 — death and life are in the power of the tongue and you ’ ll have what you say.
” And don ’ t think or speak negatively .
“ Understand that what ’ s coming out of your mouth is the most powerful thing that you could do [ for ] your body.
” This is What Worked for Me As strongly as John believes in the power of faith healing , he knows that there are others who don ’ t believe that it can happen .
Someone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ heal their daughter , even though they ’ d been to church their entire life .
There are many variables .
It could be a lack of faith , or it could be that the healing will manifest over time .
“ I ’ m just really fond of saying , ’ This is what worked for me .
I am not a pastor .
I am not a preacher .
I can tell you that I am free of cancer and that there ’ s no other explanation for it because it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now cancer free .
He went back to his doctor who checked him out .
“ There were no tumor markers .
There ’ s no inflammation , no cancer visible.
” His new book , Relentless : Unleashing a Life of Purpose , Grit and Faith was released earlier this year .
Nancy Flory is an associate editor at The Stream .
You can follow her @ NancyFlory3 , and follow The Stream @ Streamdotorg .

The image was disturbing, to say the least. “When you have a nasal gastric tube in your nose and blood is pouring out of one of your nostrils and you’ve been vomiting for four days straight, you don’t have any future and you look terrible. People don’t want to let you out of the house. And then you look over to your left and there’s a kid at eight years old who’s was twice as bad as you are. So, now you have guilt. I understand suffering now.”
In 2015, the songwriting performer and former “Entertainment Tonight” host John Tesh was diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer. He was given 18 months to 2 years to live.
He’s been cancer free for years now.
A CD of Faith Healing
When you’re sick, everyone wants to give you advice, John told The Stream. One of the things he received was a CD of faith healing teacher Andrew Wommack. John didn’t want to listen to it, but his wife, actress Connie Sellecca, turned it on. John heard Wommack talk about Jesus taking our sins, griefs and sorrows, including our sicknesses. Mark 11:23 became a special verse to John:
Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them (NIV).
“That Scripture became a basis for everything from that point on. I believe so strongly in that message.” John realized that Jesus wasn’t just talking about those in the crowd at that moment. “He was speaking to me and He was speaking to everyone.”
In addition, John came to believe that the gift of salvation is the gift of healing. He began studying Mark 16:17-18:
And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well (NIV).
Faith Was Born
In 2018, John went back to his radiation oncologist, who told John that he’d found something in his pelvis. They would need to do seven treatments. John asked about the contraindications or side effects of the treatment. His doctor produced a long list of problems John could have as a result of the treatment. “I looked at Connie and we both raised an eyebrow. We shared a look. And we just said, ‘Thank you. We’ll get right back to you.’ We walked out the door and at that moment — with that one look — faith was born and we knew we were done.”
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
John is quick to point out that his doctors did a tremendous job. But the cancer was relentless. Wommack shared an analogy about faith healing that resonated with John. “The power company comes to your house. They spend a lot of time and they hook up the power on the big panel on the side of your house. And it’s connected to all of the light switches. … But if you don’t reach over and turn on the light switch, the lights won’t come on.”
The Power of Healing
He believes that Christians have been given the power of healing based on Scripture, even though they don’t use it, or even believe in it. “It’s worth a shot,” he explained. “If you don’t try what I tried, if you don’t go after what I went after, then there’s no chance it’ll work for you.” John has spent hours reading healing Scriptures and speaking life over his body. “It takes work.” It also takes the “renewing of your mind” (Romans 12:22, NIV). That takes training. “you have to keep renewing your mind and standing strong.”
“The message that I send out to people who don’t understand any of this is just start with Proverbs 18:21 — death and life are in the power of the tongue and you’ll have what you say.” And don’t think or speak negatively. “Understand that what’s coming out of your mouth is the most powerful thing that you could do [for] your body.”
This is What Worked for Me
As strongly as John believes in the power of faith healing, he knows that there are others who don’t believe that it can happen. Someone asked him why God didn’t heal their daughter, even though they’d been to church their entire life. There are many variables. It could be a lack of faith, or it could be that the healing will manifest over time. “I’m just really fond of saying, ‘This is what worked for me. I am not a pastor. I am not a preacher. I can tell you that I am free of cancer and that there’s no other explanation for it because it just would not quit.”
John is now cancer free. He went back to his doctor who checked him out. “There were no tumor markers. There’s no inflammation, no cancer visible.” His new book, Relentless: Unleashing a Life of Purpose, Grit and Faith was released earlier this year.
Nancy Flory is an associate editor at The Stream. You can follow her @NancyFlory3, and follow The Stream @Streamdotorg.


thestream--2020-05-09--‘How Do You Handcuff the Holy Spirit?’: Over 400 California Churches to Reopen on Pentecost

Over 400 California pastors have decided to reopen their churches on Pentecost Sunday whether Gov .
Gavin Newsom approves or not .
By Pentecost , May 31 , the churches will have been closed for two and a half months .
Now the pastors have signed a letter to Gov .
Newsom outlining why they should be able to open their doors .
“ We ’ ve been respectful and submitting , ” said Westside Christian Fellowship pastor and Stream contributor Shane Idleman , “ but at some point , you begin to realize , ‘ Okay , we ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to step it up a little bit here ’ and can ’ t wait for the governor ’ s okay to open churches when everything else is open from Lowe ’ s and Home Depot to Walmart.
” Pastor Jim Franklin of Cornerstone Church in Fresno told The Stream that churches just want equal treatment as those large stores .
And they will be operating in line with CDC guidelines .
They ’ ll be using “ best practices ” and social distancing .
Attendance will be “ scaleable ” to protect their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Leona Valley , California , will be following California ’ s guidelines of 30-40 % capacity , but they also have overflow areas as well .
And they will have a large tent outside of the church where they can pray with people .
“ You ’ ve still got the social distancing but now we ’ re able to at least pray with people and encourage fellowship and things like that.
” He added , “ It ’ s not like we ’ re going to say , ‘ I don ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I don ’ t care about the math .
We ’ re going to honor the same guidelines that a big store honors .
We ’ re not doing this in a spirit of rebellion , we ’ re actually doing it in the spirit of submission .
[ We submitted ] to the government officials for the last two and a half months .
But now it needs to transition to a submission to God.
” Franklin said it ’ s also important to point out that churches “ have a constitutional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ overstepped their boundaries , somebody has to challenge that .
MLK did this , ” with the civil rights movement .
Idleman said that if there ’ s pushback on the churches for doing this , they ’ ll have to cross that bridge when they come to it .
“ Law enforcement are actually sworn to uphold the constitution .
So , if the governor is telling us to do things that actually oppose the constitution , the freedom of speech , freedom of assembly , then the law enforcement is going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that although there are some bad reports out there , “ a lot of sheriffs are not enforcing these draconian orders.
” People are scared .
They don ’ t know what to do with their fear and their anxiety , Idleman said .
“ Alcoholism is up 240 % in our nation .
Domestic violence is skyrocketing and suicide — so you have all these things that are happening with the church being closed.
” He added , “ so we see it as an important time for the church to come @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do everything to “ keep people safe — body , mind and soul , ” but they know that their spiritual well being is paramount .
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political , Economic and Moral Issues of Our Day .
As Idleman wrote in a recent article at The Stream , “ I have seen vacuum repair stores and donut shops open while churches remain closed , as if a clean house and a full belly are more essential than a human soul .
This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that some in our own congregation have gone back to destructive addictions and marriages are on the verge of divorce , and I don ’ t believe our church is the only one seeing this trend .
Streaming services , video conferences , and social media are not going to solve those issues .
We need to be together.
” Praying for the Holy Spirit to Move Pastors all across California are praying and fasting in preparation for the event .
“ There ’ s a lot of churches here in California that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with attorneys and praying and fasting to launch our churches on May 31st as a united effort , ” said Idleman .
“ Many , many people have been fasting .
I went on a two-week water fast and prayed about this decision .
And there ’ s a lot of confirmation .
There ’ s a peace .
So I think we can still respect the governing authority .
There ’ s not a spirit of rebellion , but at the same time [ we must ] make the needed adjustments.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ churches reopen .
“ If they could , be in prayer and fasting with us that God really uses that day to move in a mighty way .
What if the Holy Spirit moves in a powerful way and people are drawn to the altar in times of revival ?
I mean , how do you handcuff the Holy Spirit ?
” Nancy Flory is an associate editor at The Stream .
You can follow her @ NancyFlory3 , and follow The Stream @ Streamdotorg .

Over 400 California pastors have decided to reopen their churches on Pentecost Sunday whether Gov. Gavin Newsom approves or not. By Pentecost, May 31, the churches will have been closed for two and a half months. Now the pastors have signed a letter to Gov. Newsom outlining why they should be able to open their doors.
“We’ve been respectful and submitting,” said Westside Christian Fellowship pastor and Stream contributor Shane Idleman, “but at some point, you begin to realize, ‘Okay, we’ve gotta we’ve got to step it up a little bit here’ and can’t wait for the governor’s okay to open churches when everything else is open from Lowe’s and Home Depot to Walmart.”
Equal Treatment
Pastor Jim Franklin of Cornerstone Church in Fresno told The Stream that churches just want equal treatment as those large stores. And they will be operating in line with CDC guidelines. They’ll be using “best practices” and social distancing. Attendance will be “scaleable” to protect their people.
Idleman’s church in Leona Valley, California, will be following California’s guidelines of 30-40% capacity, but they also have overflow areas as well. And they will have a large tent outside of the church where they can pray with people. “You’ve still got the social distancing but now we’re able to at least pray with people and encourage fellowship and things like that.”
He added, “It’s not like we’re going to say, ‘I don’t care about the social distancing. I don’t care about the math. We’re going to honor the same guidelines that a big store honors. We’re not doing this in a spirit of rebellion, we’re actually doing it in the spirit of submission. [We submitted] to the government officials for the last two and a half months. But now it needs to transition to a submission to God.”
Constitutional Right
Franklin said it’s also important to point out that churches “have a constitutional right to assemble. When authorities have overstepped their boundaries, somebody has to challenge that. MLK did this,” with the civil rights movement. Idleman said that if there’s pushback on the churches for doing this, they’ll have to cross that bridge when they come to it. “Law enforcement are actually sworn to uphold the constitution. So, if the governor is telling us to do things that actually oppose the constitution, the freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, then the law enforcement is going to have a challenge.” He added that although there are some bad reports out there, “a lot of sheriffs are not enforcing these draconian orders.”
Spiritual Wellbeing
People are scared. They don’t know what to do with their fear and their anxiety, Idleman said. “Alcoholism is up 240% in our nation. Domestic violence is skyrocketing and suicide — so you have all these things that are happening with the church being closed.” He added, “so we see it as an important time for the church to come together.” Franklin said that they will do everything to “keep people safe — body, mind and soul,” but they know that their spiritual well being is paramount.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
As Idleman wrote in a recent article at The Stream, “I have seen vacuum repair stores and donut shops open while churches remain closed, as if a clean house and a full belly are more essential than a human soul. This can’t continue. I know that some in our own congregation have gone back to destructive addictions and marriages are on the verge of divorce, and I don’t believe our church is the only one seeing this trend. Streaming services, video conferences, and social media are not going to solve those issues. We need to be together.”
Praying for the Holy Spirit to Move
Pastors all across California are praying and fasting in preparation for the event. “There’s a lot of churches here in California that have been on conference calls and meetings with attorneys and praying and fasting to launch our churches on May 31st as a united effort,” said Idleman. “Many, many people have been fasting. I went on a two-week water fast and prayed about this decision. And there’s a lot of confirmation. There’s a peace. So I think we can still respect the governing authority. There’s not a spirit of rebellion, but at the same time [we must] make the needed adjustments.”
Idleman is asking for prayer as the churches reopen. “If they could, be in prayer and fasting with us that God really uses that day to move in a mighty way. What if the Holy Spirit moves in a powerful way and people are drawn to the altar in times of revival? I mean, how do you handcuff the Holy Spirit?”
Watch Idleman’s video that explains the reopening:
CALL TO ACTION: COVID-19 is causing massive disruptions in life. The Stream’s parent organization, LIFE Outreach International, is helping send a first wave of help. LIFE’s local mission partners are already distributing thousands of surgical masks, gloves and other sanitary supplies to first responders, hospitals and nursing homes. In addition, other partners have focused on distributing as many meals as possible to help those who need food. You can help with these efforts. Click here to donate.
Nancy Flory is an associate editor at The Stream. You can follow her @NancyFlory3, and follow The Stream @Streamdotorg.


thestream--2020-05-09--COVID-19 Censorship is Here: Twitter Caught Deleting Retweets of Project Veritas Tweet

Well known for censoring conservatives , Twitter has done it again .
The victims this time ?
Project Veritas , the undercover investigative journalists who record and films the left doing corrupt things .
It just caught Twitter deleting retweets of one of their tweets .
Project Veritas had tweeted a video it made about padding the numbers of COVID-19 deaths .
Their video exposing it shows the retweet number going from 6,324 retweets to 5,981 .
Here is the video that had retweets removed .
We Don ’ t Have Enough Information Yet to Know All That is Incorrect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many incidents of censorship by the social media giants taking place in regards to COVID-19 .
They claim they are disallowing information that is false or conspiracy theories .
But a lot of what we know about COVID-19 keeps changing .
We don ’ t have all the answers yet .
YouTube said it will take down videos that go against the WHO ’ s guidelines .
But the WHO makes mistakes .
In late January , the U.N. agency issued a correction to its assessment that the global risk of COVID-19 was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agency should have labeled the risk “ high.
” The WHO announced on January 22 that COVID-19 could be spread person to person .
But Taiwan had told the WHO this on December 31 .
Why the delay ?
Trump tweeted about it , accusing the WHO of further misinformation .
YouTube Censored a Video Because it Would Have Made Trump Look Good YouTube took down a video by two doctors which suggested COVID-19 death tolls are being boosted .
They also urged an end to lockdowns because they do more harm than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suggesting UV rays might be used to kill COVID-19 , YouTube pulled a video down by a company proposing to do just that .
Twitter has censored Project Veritas before .
Last June , Twitter suspended the group ’ s account for posting internal communications from Pinterest revealing bias against Christians and conservatives .
It caught employees calling conservative Jewish pundit Ben Shapiro a white supremacist .
The company censored Christian , pro-life content and the term “ Bible.
” The pro-life group LiveAction found itself blocked as an allegedly pornographic site .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ piled on , banning a video Project Veritas had uploaded explaining the Pinterest expose .
Earlier this year , Twitter shut down Project Veritas founder James O ’ Keefe ’ s personal account , saying it violated Twitter rules against posting personal information .
O ’ Keefe had tweeted Washington Post reporter Dave Weigel asking for a retraction , which he did .
Weigel had written that two men were volunteers on the Bernie Sanders campaign .
O ’ Keefe said they were not , they were paid staffers , and linked to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
They contained the men ’ s addresses , which Twitter claimed was doxxing .
Obviously , O ’ Keefe was not trying to expose the men ’ s addresses to be malicious , and their addresses were already public record in the campaign reporting system .
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political , Economic and Moral Issues of Our Day .
Generally , if there is enough of an outcry , Twitter will back down .
But not always .
Robert Stacy McCain , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ personally , was permanently banned from Twitter in 2016 .
He had a clever way of refuting feminists and although Twitter did not tell him why he was banned , I suspect that was the reason .
McCain was always getting the best of them , a very bright mind .
We miss him .
What makes the problem of conservative censorship difficult to solve ?
Twitter and other social media platforms aren ’ t really protected free speech zones .
They ’ re private companies so the First Amendment generally doesn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ either a platform or a publisher .
If they are a platform , then they must carry content from others without discriminating against any of it .
As such , they are protected from lawsuits such as libel .
If they are a publisher , they can edit , remove or not publish as they wish , but they can be sued .
So the social media giants have been trying to have it both ways , claiming to be platforms but discriminating like publishers .
There is momentum to treat the social @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The reasoning ?
Since the vast majority of speech takes place there now , they now act like public utilities which are subject to regulation .
A federal district court judge ruled last July that President Trump can ’ t block Twitter accounts from following him , because it constitutes “ unconstitutional viewpoint discrimination ” violating the First Amendment .
The odds are things aren ’ t going to continue with the same status quo .
People are fed up with the censorship and Congress has been doing a lot of investigating .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the censorship of conservatives , the clamoring for change is just going to get louder .

Well known for censoring conservatives, Twitter has done it again. The victims this time? Project Veritas, the undercover investigative journalists who record and films the left doing corrupt things. It just caught Twitter deleting retweets of one of their tweets. Project Veritas had tweeted a video it made about padding the numbers of COVID-19 deaths.
Their video exposing it shows the retweet number going from 6,324 retweets to 5,981.
UNBELIEVABLE! Our team just caught @Twitter red handed stealing retweets off our new #COVID19 story. What are you doing @jack? Don’t believe it? Watch for yourself. cc: @elonmusk pic.twitter.com/jESTswD0sy — James O'Keefe (@JamesOKeefeIII) April 30, 2020
Here is the video that had retweets removed.
RT! “To be honest with you, all of the death certificates, they’re writing #COVID on all the death certificates. Whether they had a positive test, whether they didn’t.” – Michael Lanza Funeral Director, Colonial Funeral Home pic.twitter.com/QqHWQGU6qe — Project Veritas (@Project_Veritas) May 2, 2020
We Don’t Have Enough Information Yet to Know All That is Incorrect About COVID-19
This is just one of many incidents of censorship by the social media giants taking place in regards to COVID-19. They claim they are disallowing information that is false or conspiracy theories. But a lot of what we know about COVID-19 keeps changing. We don’t have all the answers yet. YouTube said it will take down videos that go against the WHO’s guidelines. But the WHO makes mistakes. In late January, the U.N. agency issued a correction to its assessment that the global risk of COVID-19 was only “moderate.” Instead, the agency should have labeled the risk “high.”
The WHO announced on January 22 that COVID-19 could be spread person to person. But Taiwan had told the WHO this on December 31. Why the delay? Trump tweeted about it, accusing the WHO of further misinformation.
Why did the W.H.O. Ignore an email from Taiwanese health officials in late December alerting them to the possibility that CoronaVirus could be transmitted between humans? Why did the W.H.O. make several claims about the CoronaVirus that ere either inaccurate or misleading…. — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 17, 2020
….in January and February, as the Virus spread globally? Why did the W.H.O. wait as long as it did to take decisive action? Lanhee Chen, Hoover Institution Fellow @FoxNews — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 17, 2020
YouTube Censored a Video Because it Would Have Made Trump Look Good
YouTube took down a video by two doctors which suggested COVID-19 death tolls are being boosted. They also urged an end to lockdowns because they do more harm than good. After Trump was ridiculed for suggesting UV rays might be used to kill COVID-19, YouTube pulled a video down by a company proposing to do just that.
Twitter has censored Project Veritas before. Last June, Twitter suspended the group’s account for posting internal communications from Pinterest revealing bias against Christians and conservatives. It caught employees calling conservative Jewish pundit Ben Shapiro a white supremacist. The company censored Christian, pro-life content and the term “Bible.” The pro-life group LiveAction found itself blocked as an allegedly pornographic site. Pinterest eventually completely banned LiveAction.
Breaking News: Twitter has decided that investigative journalism is in violation of their terms of service – @Project_Veritas has been temporarily suspended from posting for tweeting internal communications from @Pinterest which show them calling @benshapiro a "white supremacist" pic.twitter.com/eJNDWEfanf — James O'Keefe (@JamesOKeefeIII) June 12, 2019
YouTube piled on, banning a video Project Veritas had uploaded explaining the Pinterest expose.
More Unfair Twitter Censorship
Earlier this year, Twitter shut down Project Veritas founder James O’Keefe’s personal account, saying it violated Twitter rules against posting personal information. O’Keefe had tweeted Washington Post reporter Dave Weigel asking for a retraction, which he did. Weigel had written that two men were volunteers on the Bernie Sanders campaign. O’Keefe said they were not, they were paid staffers, and linked to the public campaign finance documents reflecting so. They contained the men’s addresses, which Twitter claimed was doxxing. Obviously, O’Keefe was not trying to expose the men’s addresses to be malicious, and their addresses were already public record in the campaign reporting system.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
Generally, if there is enough of an outcry, Twitter will back down. But not always. Robert Stacy McCain, a funny, well-spoken conservative who I know personally, was permanently banned from Twitter in 2016. He had a clever way of refuting feminists and although Twitter did not tell him why he was banned, I suspect that was the reason. McCain was always getting the best of them, a very bright mind. We miss him.
What makes the problem of conservative censorship difficult to solve? Twitter and other social media platforms aren’t really protected free speech zones. They’re private companies so the First Amendment generally doesn’t apply to them. They are either a platform or a publisher. If they are a platform, then they must carry content from others without discriminating against any of it. As such, they are protected from lawsuits such as libel. If they are a publisher, they can edit, remove or not publish as they wish, but they can be sued. So the social media giants have been trying to have it both ways, claiming to be platforms but discriminating like publishers.
Is Social Media Free Speech?
There is momentum to treat the social media giants as free speech platforms. The reasoning? Since the vast majority of speech takes place there now, they now act like public utilities which are subject to regulation. A federal district court judge ruled last July that President Trump can’t block Twitter accounts from following him, because it constitutes “unconstitutional viewpoint discrimination” violating the First Amendment.
The odds are things aren’t going to continue with the same status quo. People are fed up with the censorship and Congress has been doing a lot of investigating. Unless the social media giants back down with the censorship of conservatives, the clamoring for change is just going to get louder.
Rachel Alexander is a senior editor of The Stream. Follow her on Twitter at Rach_IC. Follow The Stream at streamdotorg. Send tips to [email protected].
CALL TO ACTION: COVID-19 is causing massive disruptions in life. The Stream’s parent organization, LIFE Outreach International, is helping send a first wave of help. LIFE’s local mission partners are already distributing thousands of surgical masks, gloves and other sanitary supplies to first responders, hospitals and nursing homes. In addition, other partners have focused on distributing as many meals as possible to help those who need food. You can help with these efforts. Click here to donate.


thestream--2020-05-09--COVID-19 and the Pride Problem

COVID-19 and the Pride Problem

The present pandemic has hammered home the fact that beneath all the world ’ s problems lurk deeper and darker difficulties .
A plague is nothing new .
Down through history the human race has battled plagues and pestilence , famines , natural disasters , war , genocide , disease and death .
Each crisis has reminded us that we are small players in a much larger drama and there are factors beyond our control .
We cope best when we face the facts and take responsibility , but we plunge further into crisis when we try to shift the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into their hero a fatal flaw — a weakness they had to overcome if they were going to truly become a hero .
The fascinating detail about the fatal flaw is that the hero must be blind to the very problem that will cause his downfall .
The audience can see the problem and the other characters suffer from the hero ’ s fatal flaw , but the hero can ’ t see it .
In fact , the hero probably considers the flaw to be one of his strengths .
The fatal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pride .
There is nothing wrong with proper pride — being proud of a job well done , being proud of our family , our faith and our country — this is a proper form of pride .
Pride as a fatal flaw is something different however .
Pride is not the same thing as vanity .
Vanity is when we pose , primp and pretend we ’ re great in some outward way .
Vanity is a shallow manifestation of pride .
Pride is also not the same as arrogance .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ off exhibits an outward display of pride , but arrogance is not the same thing as pride .
The root of pride is much more subtle .
It is the basic , overwhelming conviction that “ I am right.
” This fundamental assumption about life is the heart of pride .
When we say “ I am right ” we follow it up with “ its my way or the highway.
” If I am right , those who disagree must — obviously be wrong .
The problem with pride is that we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other guy is wrong ” to “ the other guy is bad.
” If the other guy is wrong and bad , then when things go badly we automatically assume the other guy ( who is wrong and bad ) must be to blame .
If the other guy is to blame — if he is wrong and I am right , and if he is bad and I am good — then ( because I believe I am a good person ) it is up to me to do something about it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ really can become fatal — fatal to the person I begin to punish for being wrong , bad and the cause of my problem .
The situation becomes very complicated when the other guy really is to blame for the problem in one way or another .
For example , at the present time a good number of people are blaming China for the COVID-19 pandemic .
Are the Chinese really to blame ?
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political , Economic and Moral Issues of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have originated in China .
There seems to be evidence that the Chinese authorities did not act quickly enough with international agencies and other countries to contain the virus and inform the rest of the world in a transparent way .
With hindsight that is understandable .
Most authorities would try to control information that might cause panic .
And most people would respond instinctively with denial and minimizing bad news .
But the communist government is known to be dishonest and double dealing .
Did the virus originate in a lab in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ facility ?
Was the virus created deliberately ?
Even worse , was it released deliberately ?
Now the stakes in the blame game are being raised .
No wonder people are taking it one step further and talking about “ making China pay ” and some are even advocating military action .
When faced with difficulty the mature person always asks how he can take responsibility for the problem .
If someone else is to blame , then apportioning that blame is part of the way forward .
So is expecting the other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the problem .
It is also important for the mature person or country to examine themselves .
What part of the problem might have been caused by their behaviors ?
How might they step up to put things right that have gone wrong ?
The fatal flaw would be to blame the other guy completely and avoid all responsibility oneself .
As Americans there are questions we would do well to ask ourselves .
Accepting that the Chinese authorities bear some of the responsibility , we should ask why we have been so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we really need to have all our goods at a cheaper and cheaper price ?
What price did we really pay for the cheaper goods ?
Was the loss of millions of American jobs a just price for cheaper prices ?
Is the virus an unforeseen price for unlimited international commerce and travel ?
What is the price Chinese factory workers paid for our cheap goods ?
What were their working conditions and what freedoms were they denied living under a communist regime ?
Over the years , decisions are made by American @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Our decisions to embrace Chinese trade and travel are part of the larger picture .
The result is that we should realize that the problem is very complicated .
It has lots of moving parts .
The way to avoid the fatal flaw is to not only point out the other guy ’ s fault , but also to accept what share we may have in the problem … and then do our part to bring about a positive solution .
Fr .
Longenecker is a Catholic priest working in South Carolina @ @ @ @ @ @ @ podcasts and browse his books at dwightlongenecker.com .

The present pandemic has hammered home the fact that beneath all the world’s problems lurk deeper and darker difficulties. A plague is nothing new. Down through history the human race has battled plagues and pestilence, famines, natural disasters, war, genocide, disease and death. Each crisis has reminded us that we are small players in a much larger drama and there are factors beyond our control.
We cope best when we face the facts and take responsibility, but we plunge further into crisis when we try to shift the blame.
A Fatal Flaw
The great playwrights often built into their hero a fatal flaw — a weakness they had to overcome if they were going to truly become a hero. The fascinating detail about the fatal flaw is that the hero must be blind to the very problem that will cause his downfall. The audience can see the problem and the other characters suffer from the hero’s fatal flaw, but the hero can’t see it. In fact, the hero probably considers the flaw to be one of his strengths.
The fatal flaw within our heroic human race is pride. There is nothing wrong with proper pride — being proud of a job well done, being proud of our family, our faith and our country — this is a proper form of pride. Pride as a fatal flaw is something different however.
The root of pride is much more subtle. It is the basic, overwhelming conviction that “I am right.”
Pride is not the same thing as vanity. Vanity is when we pose, primp and pretend we’re great in some outward way. Vanity is a shallow manifestation of pride. Pride is also not the same as arrogance. The person who boasts, struts and shows off exhibits an outward display of pride, but arrogance is not the same thing as pride.
The Pride Problem
The root of pride is much more subtle. It is the basic, overwhelming conviction that “I am right.” This fundamental assumption about life is the heart of pride. When we say “I am right” we follow it up with “its my way or the highway.” If I am right, those who disagree must — obviously be wrong. The problem with pride is that we soon make the jump from “the other guy is wrong” to “the other guy is bad.”
If the other guy is wrong and bad, then when things go badly we automatically assume the other guy (who is wrong and bad) must be to blame. If the other guy is to blame — if he is wrong and I am right, and if he is bad and I am good — then (because I believe I am a good person) it is up to me to do something about it. So begins the flaw of pride really can become fatal — fatal to the person I begin to punish for being wrong, bad and the cause of my problem.
The Blame Game
The situation becomes very complicated when the other guy really is to blame for the problem in one way or another. For example, at the present time a good number of people are blaming China for the COVID-19 pandemic. Are the Chinese really to blame?
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
The virus seems to have originated in China. There seems to be evidence that the Chinese authorities did not act quickly enough with international agencies and other countries to contain the virus and inform the rest of the world in a transparent way. With hindsight that is understandable. Most authorities would try to control information that might cause panic. And most people would respond instinctively with denial and minimizing bad news.
But the communist government is known to be dishonest and double dealing. Did the virus originate in a lab in Wuhan? Was it a bio warfare facility? Was the virus created deliberately? Even worse, was it released deliberately? Now the stakes in the blame game are being raised. No wonder people are taking it one step further and talking about “making China pay” and some are even advocating military action.
Taking Responsibility
When faced with difficulty the mature person always asks how he can take responsibility for the problem. If someone else is to blame, then apportioning that blame is part of the way forward. So is expecting the other party to do their part to solve the problem.
It is also important for the mature person or country to examine themselves. What part of the problem might have been caused by their behaviors? How might they step up to put things right that have gone wrong? The fatal flaw would be to blame the other guy completely and avoid all responsibility oneself.
As Americans there are questions we would do well to ask ourselves. Accepting that the Chinese authorities bear some of the responsibility, we should ask why we have been so eager to embrace international trade. Did we really need to have all our goods at a cheaper and cheaper price? What price did we really pay for the cheaper goods? Was the loss of millions of American jobs a just price for cheaper prices? Is the virus an unforeseen price for unlimited international commerce and travel? What is the price Chinese factory workers paid for our cheap goods? What were their working conditions and what freedoms were they denied living under a communist regime?
Over the years, decisions are made by American politicians, businessmen and ordinary American shoppers. Our decisions to embrace Chinese trade and travel are part of the larger picture.
The result is that we should realize that the problem is very complicated. It has lots of moving parts. The way to avoid the fatal flaw is to not only point out the other guy’s fault, but also to accept what share we may have in the problem … and then do our part to bring about a positive solution.
Dwight Longenecker is a Catholic priest working in South Carolina. Check out his new book Immortal Combat – Confronting the Heart of Darkness.