thestream--2020-07-10--Actually, Yes, Don Lemon, Jesus Was Perfect … and That’s Not All You Got Wrong

CNN host Don Lemon said it : “ But here ’ s the thing , Jesus Christ , if that ’ s who you believe in Jesus Christ , admittedly was not perfect when he was here on the Earth .
So why are we deifying the Founders ?
” I know what you ’ re thinking : I ’ m going to tell you he was wrong about Jesus .
Well , of course I am !
What ’ s really amazing , though , is that as bad as that was , he managed to fit one more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whopper .
Let ’ s start with the most important thing .
Actually , yes , Jesus was perfect .
Every early record we have says so .
No early record contradicts it .
I know , I know , that record is “ a story , ” the skeptics will say , and , “ It ’ s easy to tell a story where someone ’ s perfect.
” Ri-i-i-ight .
Just try to name another one .
Name one whose main character is perfect in His love .
Perfect in His @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Perfect in His death .
We don ’ t even need to get into His resurrection — not that it isn ’ t real , but by now you ’ ve already reached the answer : Stories about perfect characters aren ’ t easy after all .
And if you ’ re still not sure about it , well , the book I wrote about this just went to press this week : Too Good to be False : How Jesus Incomparable Character Reveals His Reality .
( I can only give you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ until it releases in a few weeks . )
How To Be Really Wrong About Jesus Not only is it hard to make up a perfect story , you should see just how unlikely the skeptics ’ version of who “ made it up ” is .
They think a muddled “ faith community ” kicked it off , and that a Telephone Game took care of most of the rest of it .
And they think that ’ s where the only truly perfect character in all history and literature came from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The record says he ’ s wrong .
And even though that record comes to us in the form of a story — four interconnected ones , the four Gospels — there ’ s every reason to believe the record is accurate .
There ’ s no reason to think the skeptics have explained it away , anyway .
Jesus was the one perfect Person ever to walk the earth .
That ’ s the most important of the three odd things he said there .
Now the least important : “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if that ’ s who you believe in Jesus Christ , admittedly was not perfect.
” Now , admittedly , I ’ ll say throwaway words I don ’ t really mean sometimes .
Maybe that ’ s what that was for Don Lemon .
It ’ s just odd , that ’ s all .
If I say “ admittedly , ” I ’ m admitting something that ’ s true of me .
I don ’ t know Don Lemon ’ s religious beliefs , but the way he phrased “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in , ” it sounds to me like he ’ s admitting someone else ’ s opinion .
Could it be that he thinks that ’ s a standard Christian belief ?
It ’ s odd , that ’ s all .
It struck me enough to be worth a quick comment .
I won ’ t make anything more of it than that .
” So Why Are We Deifying the Founders ?
” But when he asks , “ So why are we deifying the Founders ?
” that question isn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s a rhetorical trick , whose purpose is to make conservatives look stupid .
Like “ Whoa , you think they were so perfect.
” Could it be just an innocent figure of speech ?
Mere hyperbole ?
Maybe — if he hadn ’ t framed it alongside Jesus .
But he did , and for that reason the figure of speech falls flat , as far as I ’ m concerned .
Let ’ s make sure the standard of comparison is clear .
First , nobody deified Jesus .
He didn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ God from the beginning before all beginnings .
One reason we know that ’ s true ( there are many reasons ) is because of His perfection on earth .
Perfection is a quality of deity alone .
He lived perfection because that was who He was .
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political , Economic and Moral Issues of Our Day .
But good grief , who ’ s deifying the Founders ?
Who ever claimed they were perfect ?
Who ever said they had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thing : People who think highly of the Founders tend to be fairly well concentrated among people who think Jesus was uniquely perfect , and that therefore no one else is .
Including the Founders .
Isn ’ t it possible instead to respect the Founders for devising the best system of government ever ?
Can ’ t we recognize them for that , even though not one of them was Jesus Christ ?
Can ’ t we credit them for advancing humanity leagues down the road toward a just society , even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all the way to the end ?
The end which believers in Jesus know won ’ t really arrive until He returns ?
Yet One More Oddity There ’ s one more odd thing going on here .
( Don Lemon didn ’ t say it , so I didn ’ t count it in my list of three . )
The establishment of Jesus ’ day crucified Him because He threatened them .
He showed they weren ’ t all they claimed themselves to be .
They thought they were great , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jesus was human , but He wasn ’ t only human ; He was God in the flesh .
And that ticked off the local leaders , so they crucified Him .
Because He was perfect .
America ’ s founders were only human .
They were as wise and just as any governmental leaders the world had seen up to that day , but again , only human .
So now the left is crucifying them .
Because they weren ’ t perfect .
Tom Gilson ( @ TomGilsonAuthor ) is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ author or editor of six books , including the forthcoming Too Good To Be False : How Jesus ’ Incomparable Character Reveals His Reality .

CNN host Don Lemon said it: “But here’s the thing, Jesus Christ, if that’s who you believe in Jesus Christ, admittedly was not perfect when he was here on the Earth. So why are we deifying the Founders?”
I know what you’re thinking: I’m going to tell you he was wrong about Jesus. Well, of course I am! What’s really amazing, though, is that as bad as that was, he managed to fit one more oddity in there, and another total whopper.
Actually, Jesus Was Perfect
Let’s start with the most important thing. Actually, yes, Jesus was perfect. Every early record we have says so. No early record contradicts it.
I know, I know, that record is “a story,” the skeptics will say, and, “It’s easy to tell a story where someone’s perfect.” Ri-i-i-ight. Just try to name another one. Name one whose main character is perfect in His love. Perfect in His teaching. Perfect in His debates. Perfect in His death. We don’t even need to get into His resurrection — not that it isn’t real, but by now you’ve already reached the answer: Stories about perfect characters aren’t easy after all.
And if you’re still not sure about it, well, the book I wrote about this has just become available for pre-order: Too Good to be False: How Jesus Incomparable Character Reveals His Reality. (I can only give you a tiny taste of it now, until it releases in a few weeks.)
How To Be Really Wrong About Jesus
Not only is it hard to make up a perfect story, you should see just how unlikely the skeptics’ version of who “made it up” is. They think a muddled “faith community” kicked it off, and that a Telephone Game took care of most of the rest of it. And they think that’s where the only truly perfect character in all history and literature came from? Really?
Back to Don Lemon. The record says he’s wrong. And even though that record comes to us in the form of a story — four interconnected ones, the four Gospels — there’s every reason to believe the record is accurate. There’s no reason to think the skeptics have explained it away, anyway. Jesus was the one perfect Person ever to walk the earth.
(And if you say I haven’t made the case completely here, of course I haven’t. That’s why I wrote a book on it. Bide your time, bide your time….)
“Admittedly”??
That’s the most important of the three odd things he said there. Now the least important: “Admittedly,” as in, “if that’s who you believe in Jesus Christ, admittedly was not perfect.”
Now, admittedly, I’ll say throwaway words I don’t really mean sometimes. Maybe that’s what that was for Don Lemon. It’s just odd, that’s all. If I say “admittedly,” I’m admitting something that’s true of me. I don’t know Don Lemon’s religious beliefs, but the way he phrased “if that’s who you believe in,” it sounds to me like he’s admitting someone else’s opinion. Could it be that he thinks that’s a standard Christian belief?
It’s odd, that’s all. It struck me enough to be worth a quick comment. I won’t make anything more of it than that.
“So Why Are We Deifying the Founders?”
But when he asks, “So why are we deifying the Founders?” that question isn’t just odd. It’s a rhetorical trick, whose purpose is to make conservatives look stupid. Like “Whoa, you think they were so perfect.”
Could it be just an innocent figure of speech? Mere hyperbole? Maybe — if he hadn’t framed it alongside Jesus. But he did, and for that reason the figure of speech falls flat, as far as I’m concerned.
Let’s make sure the standard of comparison is clear. First, nobody deified Jesus. He didn’t need deifying; He was God from the beginning before all beginnings. One reason we know that’s true (there are many reasons) is because of His perfection on earth. Perfection is a quality of deity alone. He lived perfection because that was who He was.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
But good grief, who’s deifying the Founders? Who ever claimed they were perfect? Who ever said they had to be anywhere near it? Funny thing: People who think highly of the Founders tend to be fairly well concentrated among people who think Jesus was uniquely perfect, and that therefore no one else is. Including the Founders.
Isn’t it possible instead to respect the Founders for devising the best system of government ever? Can’t we recognize them for that, even though not one of them was Jesus Christ? Can’t we credit them for advancing humanity leagues down the road toward a just society, even if they didn’t take it all the way to the end? The end which believers in Jesus know won’t really arrive until He returns?
Yet One More Oddity
There’s one more odd thing going on here. (Don Lemon didn’t say it, so I didn’t count it in my list of three.) The establishment of Jesus’ day crucified Him because He threatened them. He showed they weren’t all they claimed themselves to be. They thought they were great, until someone actually perfect came along.
Jesus was human, but He wasn’t only human; He was God in the flesh. And that ticked off the local leaders, so they crucified Him. Because He was perfect.
America’s founders were only human. They were as wise and just as any governmental leaders the world had seen up to that day, but again, only human. So now the left is crucifying them. Because they weren’t perfect.
Tom Gilson (@TomGilsonAuthor) is a senior editor with The Stream and the author or editor of six books, including the forthcoming Too Good To Be False: How Jesus’ Incomparable Character Reveals His Reality.


thestream--2020-07-09--The Death of Nick Cordero and an Urgent Question for Christians

Broadway star Nick Cordero died Sunday after being hospitalized for three months with complications from coronavirus .
Lin-Manuel Miranda and Viola Davis were among the many actors who paid tribute to his life .
The 41-year-old actor left a one-year-old son .
His wife said after his death , “ God has another angel in heaven now.
” This is the only reference to their religious beliefs I could find online .
I have no idea whether Mr. Cordero trusted Christ as his Savior but truly hope that he did .
If so , he is now in paradise with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But since I could not be sure of his relationship with the Lord , when I read of his battle with COVID-19 , I should have prayed not only for his physical healing and for his family ’ s strength but also for his salvation .
I should have prayed for God to bring people into his life who could share the hope of Jesus with him and his family .
I should have asked if there was something God wanted me to do in this regard , some way I was to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through social media , to offer my encouragement and intercession .
Regrettably , I must confess that I did none of these things .
I am convinced that everyone needs to know Jesus personally .
Our Savior was clear and adamant : “ I am the way , and the truth , and the life .
No one comes to the Father except through me ” ( John 14:6 ) .
Peter said of his Lord , “ There is salvation in no one else , for there is no other name under @ @ @ @ @ @ @ must be saved ” ( Acts 4:12 ) .
I am also convinced that every Christian is commissioned to share Christ with everyone we can .
Every believer needs a personal Acts 1:8 strategy , a way of sharing their faith in their “ Jerusalem ” and throughout the world .
Someone once complained to Dwight Moody , “ I don ’ t like the way you do evangelism.
” Moody replied , “ Well , ma ’ am , let me ask you , how do you do it ?
” She @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Moody responded , “ I like my way of doing it better than your way of not doing it.
” Unfortunately , millions of evangelical Christians are more like Moody ’ s critic .
According to a recent study , more than half of those who attend church at least once a month said they had not shared their faith with anyone in the last six months .
Only one in 10 churchgoers average at least one evangelistic conversation a month .
Barna reports that almost half of practicing Christian millennials say @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on a seminary faculty many years ago , a colleague in the evangelism department made a statement that shocked me : he claimed that the vast majority of our evangelical denomination ’ s members are practicing universalists .
Of course , he added , they would never agree theologically with the doctrine of universalism , the claim that everyone goes to heaven whether they have placed their faith in Christ or not .
But if they are not sharing Christ with those they influence , their actions speak louder than their words .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Think Clearly About the Political , Economic and Moral Issues of Our Day .
One reason many do not share their faith is that evangelism is so countercultural today .
Our postmodern , relativistic society is convinced that tolerance is the greatest cultural value .
To suggest that someone needs to trust in Jesus to escape hell and go to heaven is seen as the height of bigotry and intolerance .
Another is that we are afraid of offending people or harming our relationship with them .
Many are also worried that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ answer their questions and will embarrass ourselves .
So we decide that evangelism is the job of the church and its leaders .
As my seminary colleague would say , we are practicing universalists .
If you had an effective vaccine for COVID-19 , I am confident you would share it .
If you discovered a way to cure all cancer or heart disease , you would give your breakthrough to the world .
Christians have been entrusted with the incredible good news of God ’ s love and offer of eternal salvation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ needs and deserves to know what we know .
Will we be practicing universalists today ?
Jim Denison , PhD , is the founder of Denison Forum with a reach of 1.7 million .
He also serves as Resident Scholar for Ethics with Baylor Scott & White Health .

Broadway star Nick Cordero died Sunday after being hospitalized for three months with complications from coronavirus. Lin-Manuel Miranda and Viola Davis were among the many actors who paid tribute to his life.
The 41-year-old actor left a one-year-old son. His wife said after his death, “God has another angel in heaven now.”
This is the only reference to their religious beliefs I could find online. I have no idea whether Mr. Cordero trusted Christ as his Savior but truly hope that he did. If so, he is now in paradise with his Lord (Luke 23:43).
I should have …
But since I could not be sure of his relationship with the Lord, when I read of his battle with COVID-19, I should have prayed not only for his physical healing and for his family’s strength but also for his salvation. I should have prayed for God to bring people into his life who could share the hope of Jesus with him and his family. I should have asked if there was something God wanted me to do in this regard, some way I was to reach out to his wife, perhaps through social media, to offer my encouragement and intercession.
Regrettably, I must confess that I did none of these things.
Dwight Moody’s Critic
I am convinced that everyone needs to know Jesus personally. Our Savior was clear and adamant: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). Peter said of his Lord, “There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).
I am also convinced that every Christian is commissioned to share Christ with everyone we can. Every believer needs a personal Acts 1:8 strategy, a way of sharing their faith in their “Jerusalem” and throughout the world.
Every non-Christian we meet needs and deserves
to know what we know.
Someone once complained to Dwight Moody, “I don’t like the way you do evangelism.” Moody replied, “Well, ma’am, let me ask you, how do you do it?” She answered, “I don’t.” Moody responded, “I like my way of doing it better than your way of not doing it.” Unfortunately, millions of evangelical Christians are more like Moody’s critic.
According to a recent study, more than half of those who attend church at least once a month said they had not shared their faith with anyone in the last six months. Only one in 10 churchgoers average at least one evangelistic conversation a month. Barna reports that almost half of practicing Christian millennials say evangelism is wrong.
A Colleague’s Shocking Claim
When I taught on a seminary faculty many years ago, a colleague in the evangelism department made a statement that shocked me: he claimed that the vast majority of our evangelical denomination’s members are practicing universalists.
Of course, he added, they would never agree theologically with the doctrine of universalism, the claim that everyone goes to heaven whether they have placed their faith in Christ or not. But if they are not sharing Christ with those they influence, their actions speak louder than their words.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
One reason many do not share their faith is that evangelism is so countercultural today. Our postmodern, relativistic society is convinced that tolerance is the greatest cultural value. To suggest that someone needs to trust in Jesus to escape hell and go to heaven is seen as the height of bigotry and intolerance.
Another is that we are afraid of offending people or harming our relationship with them. Many are also worried that we won’t be able to answer their questions and will embarrass ourselves. So we decide that evangelism is the job of the church and its leaders. As my seminary colleague would say, we are practicing universalists.
The Urgent Question
If you had an effective vaccine for COVID-19, I am confident you would share it. If you discovered a way to cure all cancer or heart disease, you would give your breakthrough to the world.
Christians have been entrusted with the incredible good news of God’s love and offer of eternal salvation in Christ. Every non-Christian we meet needs and deserves to know what we know.
Will we be practicing universalists today?
Jim Denison, PhD, is the founder of Denison Forum with a reach of 1.7 million. He also serves as Resident Scholar for Ethics with Baylor Scott & White Health.


thestream--2020-07-09--Atlanta Man Shot Dead While Jump Starting Someone Else’s Car as Georgia Sees Spike in Violence

A man who was helping another person with car troubles at an Atlanta gas station was fatally shot Sunday , police told a local outlet Wednesday .
Christopher Brooks , 53 , was helping to jump start another citizen ’ s car at a Chevron gas station when he was gunned down alongside two others in a triple shooting , police told AJC .
Christopher Brooks was the only one to die at the scene , but two others were admitted to a local hospital , investigators told the outlet .
The incident also ran concurrent with a press conference @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which denounced the death of 8-year-old Secoriea Turner , who was shot and killed at the same gas station days prior , according to AJC .
Turner was shot dead inside of her mother ’ s car — she was one of 31 shooting victims over the same weekend .
Mayor Bottoms called the bloody spell of violence a “ random wild , wild West , shoot ’ em up , ” according to Time .
The Chevron gas station is across the street from the Wendy ’ s where Rayshard Brooks was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and fired an officer ’ s taser following a struggle .
The Wendy ’ s was burned down last month by demonstrators .
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political , Economic and Moral Issues of Our Day .
Both officers involved in the shooting of Rayshard Brooks were charged by Atlanta ’ s District Attorney Paul Howard and one faces the death penalty , NBC News reported .
Georgia as a whole has experienced an uptick in shootings following civil unrest in Atlanta , which prompted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Monday to declare a state of emergency after 30 people were shot between Friday and Sunday , according to The Mercury News .
Five of the 30 victims were killed .
A total of 1,000 National Guardsmen have been deployed throughout the state to dampen “ weeks of dramatically increased violent crime and property destruction in the City of Atlanta , ” Kemp said , according to the outlet .
“ Peaceful protests were hijacked by criminals with a dangerous , destructive agenda .
Now , innocent Georgians are being targeted , shot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kemp said in a statement , according to Mercury News .
“ This lawlessness must be stopped and order restored in our capital city.
” Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience .
For licensing opportunities of our original content , please contact licensing @ dailycallernewsfoundation.org .

A man who was helping another person with car troubles at an Atlanta gas station was fatally shot Sunday, police told a local outlet Wednesday.
Christopher Brooks, 53, was helping to jump start another citizen’s car at a Chevron gas station when he was gunned down alongside two others in a triple shooting, police told AJC. Christopher Brooks was the only one to die at the scene, but two others were admitted to a local hospital, investigators told the outlet.
The incident also ran concurrent with a press conference given by Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms which denounced the death of 8-year-old Secoriea Turner, who was shot and killed at the same gas station days prior, according to AJC.
Turner was shot dead inside of her mother’s car — she was one of 31 shooting victims over the same weekend. Mayor Bottoms called the bloody spell of violence a “random wild, wild West, shoot ’em up,” according to Time.
The Chevron gas station is across the street from the Wendy’s where Rayshard Brooks was shot by police after he allegedly grabbed and fired an officer’s taser following a struggle. The Wendy’s was burned down last month by demonstrators.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
Both officers involved in the shooting of Rayshard Brooks were charged by Atlanta’s District Attorney Paul Howard and one faces the death penalty, NBC News reported.
Georgia as a whole has experienced an uptick in shootings following civil unrest in Atlanta, which prompted Republican Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp on Monday to declare a state of emergency after 30 people were shot between Friday and Sunday, according to The Mercury News. Five of the 30 victims were killed.
A total of 1,000 National Guardsmen have been deployed throughout the state to dampen “weeks of dramatically increased violent crime and property destruction in the City of Atlanta,” Kemp said, according to the outlet.
“Peaceful protests were hijacked by criminals with a dangerous, destructive agenda. Now, innocent Georgians are being targeted, shot, and left for dead,” Kemp said in a statement, according to Mercury News. “This lawlessness must be stopped and order restored in our capital city.”
Copyright 2020 The Daily Caller News Foundation
Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience. For licensing opportunities of our original content, please contact [email protected].


thestream--2020-07-09--The Supreme Court’s Liberals Respect the Rule of Law. Could Roe Be Next?

It was a victory for the rule of law , and one that should make liberals happy .
The Supreme Court ruled today that a law Congress made a long time ago still applies .
The law is the law , until the law-maker changes it .
Not a court , a law-maker .
In McGirt v. Oklahoma , the Court declared that states can ’ t ignore the law and courts can ’ t overrule it , just because it ’ s now inconvenient or difficult .
They can ’ t ignore or overrule it because officials have ignored @ @ @ @ @ @ @ law ’ s the law .
The decision involves the status of Native American land in Oklahoma , on the narrow question of who has criminal jurisdiction .
It hinges on technical questions of what defines “ Indian country ” and whether that part of the state had lost that status .
I have no opinion on any of that .
The decision interests me for what the majority said about the nature of the law .
And what they said may perhaps make clearer to them the need for judges and justices @ @ @ @ @ @ @ take power they should not have .
To remember that they ’ re umpires , not rule-makers .
If they remember this , they might overturn Roe and Obergefell .
Congress Must Say So “ Many of the arguments before us today follow a sadly familiar pattern , ” the majority says .
Newish justice Neil Gorsuch wrote the majority opinion , joined by the four liberal justices .
“ Yes , promises were made , but the price of keeping them has become too great , so now we should just cast @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thinking.
” Judges and justices are umpires .
I wrote about this two years ago during the Kavanaugh hearings .
They don ’ t create the law .
They just decide what the law requires in particular cases , when people can ’ t agree .
Elected legislators make the law .
Blame them for unjust or inequitable laws .
If you want better laws , don ’ t demand the courts impose a new one .
Replace your representatives with better ones .
That ’ s the way the Constitution divided up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the power to us .
We don ’ t want judges deciding what the law should be .
Judges are umpires , like baseball umpires .
Ideally , we shouldn ’ t need to know their names , because they only say what anyone would say in .
Do you remember the names of the umpires in the World Series ?
And why ?
“ If Congress wishes to withdraw its promises , it must say so .
Unlawful acts , performed long enough and with sufficient vigor , are never enough to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would be to elevate the most brazen and longstanding injustices over the law , both rewarding wrong and failing those in the right.
” The decision includes lines like this : “ Under our Constitution , States have no authority to reduce federal reservations lying within their borders.
” The majority then explains why this would be a bad thing .
States could nullify Congress ’ s action by breaking the agreement little by little , and that still violates the Constitution .
Letting that happen puts at risk the people the law @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would also leave tribal rights in the hands of the very neighbors who might be least inclined to respect them.
” The next paragraph is just as good .
“ Likewise , ” the Court declares , “ courts have no proper role in the adjustment of reservation borders .
Mustering the broad social consensus required to pass new legislation is a deliberately hard business under our Constitution.
” The majority explains that “ faced with this daunting task , Congress sometimes might wish an inconvenient reservation would simply disappear .
… But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and saving the political branches the embarrassment of disestablishing a reservation is not one of our constitutionally assigned prerogatives.
” Congress may have broken a lot of its promises to the tribe .
But “ if Congress wishes to break the promise of a reservation , it must say so.
” In McGirt , the majority recognized the limits of their authority in a way they don ’ t always do .
The majority didn ’ t see it in Roe v. Wade , nor in Obergefell .
They claimed the right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ authorized lawmakers had already made .
They tried to claim constitutional authority , but only by stretching the implications of the Constitution very far .
Roe depended on the invention in an earlier decision of a “ zone of privacy ” found not in the words of the Constitution , but in “ penumbras , formed by emanations ” of rights the Constitution stated .
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political , Economic and Moral Issues of Our Day .
The majority could have reasoned the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ found in some penumbra formed by an emanation the idea that laws too long ignored cease to bind anyone .
They could have called it “ the right to stability.
” The five justices didn ’ t .
They said the law the Congress made remains the law till Congress changes it .
If only they would say the same thing about abortion and marriage .
We can guess why they don ’ t .
They defend the rule of law when the issue is a technical matter of legal jurisdiction that affects @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much about the legal right to abort a child and to marry whomever you want .
Modern liberalism insists on sexual freedom above all things .
The Constitution and the rule of law can ’ t be allowed to stand in its way .
David Mills is a senior editor of The Stream .
After teaching writing in a seminary , he has been editor of Touchstone and the executive editor of First Things .
He edits the site Hour of Our Death and writes the monthly “ Last Things ” column for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ column for the English Catholic Herald .
He is finishing a book on death and dying to be published by Sophia Institute Press .

It was a victory for the rule of law, and one that should make liberals happy. The Supreme Court ruled today that a law Congress made a long time ago still applies. The law is the law, until the law-maker changes it. Not a court, a law-maker.
In McGirt v. Oklahoma, the Court declared that states can’t ignore the law and courts can’t overrule it, just because it’s now inconvenient or difficult. They can’t ignore or overrule it because officials have ignored it for a long time. The law’s the law.
The decision involves the status of Native American land in Oklahoma, on the narrow question of who has criminal jurisdiction. It hinges on technical questions of what defines “Indian country” and whether that part of the state had lost that status. I have no opinion on any of that. The decision interests me for what the majority said about the nature of the law.
And what they said may perhaps make clearer to them the need for judges and justices to do their job. And not take power they should not have. To remember that they’re umpires, not rule-makers. If they remember this, they might overturn Roe and Obergefell.
Congress Must Say So
“Many of the arguments before us today follow a sadly familiar pattern,” the majority says. Newish justice Neil Gorsuch wrote the majority opinion, joined by the four liberal justices. “Yes, promises were made, but the price of keeping them has become too great, so now we should just cast a blind eye. We reject that thinking.”
Umpires, Not Inventors Judges and justices are umpires. I wrote about this two years ago during the Kavanaugh hearings. They don’t create the law. They just decide what the law requires in particular cases, when people can’t agree. Elected legislators make the law. Blame them for unjust or inequitable laws. If you want better laws, don’t demand the courts impose a new one. Replace your representatives with better ones. That’s the way the Constitution divided up the duties of government. It gave the power to us. We don’t want judges deciding what the law should be. Judges are umpires, like baseball umpires. Ideally, we shouldn’t need to know their names, because they only say what anyone would say in. Do you remember the names of the umpires in the World Series?
And why? “If Congress wishes to withdraw its promises, it must say so. Unlawful acts, performed long enough and with sufficient vigor, are never enough to amend the law. To hold otherwise would be to elevate the most brazen and longstanding injustices over the law, both rewarding wrong and failing those in the right.”
The decision includes lines like this: “Under our Constitution, States have no authority to reduce federal reservations lying within their borders.” The majority then explains why this would be a bad thing. States could nullify Congress’s action by breaking the agreement little by little, and that still violates the Constitution. Letting that happen puts at risk the people the law was created to protect. It “would also leave tribal rights in the hands of the very neighbors who might be least inclined to respect them.”
The next paragraph is just as good. “Likewise,” the Court declares, “courts have no proper role in the adjustment of reservation borders. Mustering the broad social consensus required to pass new legislation is a deliberately hard business under our Constitution.”
The majority explains that “faced with this daunting task, Congress sometimes might wish an inconvenient reservation would simply disappear. … But wishes don’t make for laws, and saving the political branches the embarrassment of disestablishing a reservation is not one of our constitutionally assigned prerogatives.” Congress may have broken a lot of its promises to the tribe. But “if Congress wishes to break the promise of a reservation, it must say so.”
The Justice’s Authority
In McGirt, the majority recognized the limits of their authority in a way they don’t always do. The majority didn’t see it in Roe v. Wade, nor in Obergefell. They claimed the right to make law, over-riding laws the authorized lawmakers had already made.
They tried to claim constitutional authority, but only by stretching the implications of the Constitution very far. Roe depended on the invention in an earlier decision of a “zone of privacy” found not in the words of the Constitution, but in “penumbras, formed by emanations” of rights the Constitution stated.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
The majority could have reasoned the same way here. They could have found in some penumbra formed by an emanation the idea that laws too long ignored cease to bind anyone. They could have called it “the right to stability.” The five justices didn’t.
They said the law the Congress made remains the law till Congress changes it. If only they would say the same thing about abortion and marriage.
We can guess why they don’t. They defend the rule of law when the issue is a technical matter of legal jurisdiction that affects very few people. They care very much about the legal right to abort a child and to marry whomever you want.
Modern liberalism insists on sexual freedom above all things. The Constitution and the rule of law can’t be allowed to stand in its way.
David Mills is a senior editor of The Stream. After teaching writing in a seminary, he has been editor of Touchstone and the executive editor of First Things. He edits the site Hour of Our Death and writes the monthly “Last Things” column for the New Oxford Review and a weekly column for the English Catholic Herald. He is finishing a book on death and dying to be published by Sophia Institute Press.


thestream--2020-07-09--Double Dose of SCOTUS Wins: Little Sisters of the Poor and Religious Schools Prevail at Highest Cour

Double Dose of SCOTUS Wins: Little Sisters of the Poor and Religious Schools Prevail at Highest Court

The Supreme Court Wednesday ruled in favor of the Little Sisters of the Poor and religious schools in two separate cases challenging religious liberty .
Both cases represent wins for people of faith .
Little Sisters of the Poor In the Court ’ s 7-2 decision for the Little Sisters , the majority opinion stated the Trump administration acted within its authority when it allowed religious employers and some for-profit companies to opt-out of offering contraception coverage to their employees as an exemption to the Affordable Care Act ’ s requirements .
Justice Clarence Thomas wrote the majority opinion .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Little Sisters “ have had to fight for the ability to continue in their noble work without violating their sincerely held religious beliefs , ” explained Thomas .
“ We hold today that the Departments had the statutory authority to craft that exemption , as well as the contemporaneously issued moral exemption .
We further hold that the rules promulgating these exemptions are free from procedural defects.
” Sister Constance Veit , Little Sisters ’ communications director , told Fox & Friends that the case was a “ must-win.
” She explained that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Catholic teaching and the group would have to shut down if they lost due to the astronomical fines of $ 70 million per year .
“ But I do have to say that we always knew that God would protect us , ” she said .
“ We really trust in His providential care .
And so , we knew that somehow , someday He would work things out for us.
” “ Today is a major victory for President Trump , who has courageously fought to protect the Little Sisters of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” said Marjorie Dannenfelser , president of the Susan B. Anthony List , a pro-life organization .
“ We commend President Trump for standing strong for the Little Sisters of the Poor — his record stands in stark contrast to that of Joe Biden , who helped launch this assault as Obama ’ s Vice President nearly a decade ago.
” President of Family Research Council Tony Perkins tweeted , “ We are glad that the Constitution protects the Little Sisters & others willing to stand up for their beliefs in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ These brave women have endured 9 yrs of legal persecution and we hope the Court ’ s decision is the end of this unjust saga.
” Samaritan ’ s Purse founder Franklin Graham tweeted “ The Little Sisters of the Poor won in the Supreme Court , upholding the exec .
order from the Trump administration that says religious organizations are exempt from being forced to provide abortifacients or contraceptives to employees.
” He went on to say , “ Under no circumstances should an organization be compelled by the government to violate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 7-2 decision , SCOTUS ruled that “ civil courts can not get involved in employment discrimination claims brought against religious organizations where the employee served a religious function , ” reported Fox News .
The two separate cases addressed in the decision involved two teachers who had been fired from Catholic schools .
A 2012 ruling gave religious organizations “ ministerial exception ” from employment discrimination suits .
Wednesday ’ s decision expanded the earlier ruling and stated that the ministerial exception applied to both teachers because they both taught religion .
Please @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Think Clearly About the Political , Economic and Moral Issues of Our Day .
Justice Samuel Alito wrote the majority opinion .
“ The religious education and formation of students is the very reason for the existence of most private religious schools , and therefore the selection and supervision of the teachers upon whom the schools rely to do this work lie at the core of their mission.
” The ministerial exception is not just for clergy .
“ Take the question of the title ‘ minister , ’ ” explained Alito .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of ‘ minister ’ is not enough to justify the exception .
And by the same token , since many religious traditions do not use the title ‘ minister , ’ it can not be a necessary requirement .
Requiring the use of the title would constitute impermissible discrimination , and this problem can not be solved simply by including positions that are thought to be the counterparts of a ‘ minister , ’ such as priests , nuns , rabbis , and imams.
” He added : “ attaching too much significance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with formal organizational structures over those that are less formal.
” Legal scholar and professor Jonathan Turley tweeted that the Supreme Court decision was a big win for religious organizations .
“ What is notable is that the Court rules for the school despite the fact that ‘ these teachers were not given the title of “ minister ” and have less religious training than ’ the teacher in its earlier Hosanna-Tabor decision .
That gives even more leeway and protection for schools.
” Rabbi Aryeh Spero of the Conference of Jewish Affairs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is very pleased with the rulings .
“ We have long awaited the equitable conclusion reached by the Court that would not force religious institutions to violate their religious conscience and teachings as was upheld today in Little Sisters of the Poor vs. Pennsylvania .
… Religious freedom is enshrined in the very First Amendment and was the motivating principle for the founding of America and should not be sidelined or held hostage to extraneous and hostile agendas .
Both of these rulings repudiate brazen and overreaching attacks by the Obama administration against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are “ good news for evangelicals , ” Jim Denison wrote on The Denison Forum .
Both “ signal the court ’ s desire to protect religious beliefs from governmental infringement.
” Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Ruth Bader Ginsburg dissented on both opinions .
Nancy Flory is an associate editor at The Stream .
You can follow her @ NancyFlory3 , and follow The Stream @ Streamdotorg .

The Supreme Court Wednesday ruled in favor of the Little Sisters of the Poor and religious schools in two separate cases challenging religious liberty. Both cases represent wins for people of faith.
Little Sisters of the Poor
In the Court’s 7-2 decision for the Little Sisters, the majority opinion stated the Trump administration acted within its authority when it allowed religious employers and some for-profit companies to opt-out of offering contraception coverage to their employees as an exemption to the Affordable Care Act’s requirements.
Justice Clarence Thomas wrote the majority opinion. For the past nine years, the Little Sisters “have had to fight for the ability to continue in their noble work without violating their sincerely held religious beliefs,” explained Thomas. “We hold today that the Departments had the statutory authority to craft that exemption, as well as the contemporaneously issued moral exemption. We further hold that the rules promulgating these exemptions are free from procedural defects.”
Sister Constance Veit, Little Sisters’ communications director, told Fox & Friends that the case was a “must-win.” She explained that providing birth control and abortifacients was against Catholic teaching and the group would have to shut down if they lost due to the astronomical fines of $70 million per year. “But I do have to say that we always knew that God would protect us,” she said. “We really trust in His providential care. And so, we knew that somehow, someday He would work things out for us.”
“Today is a major victory for President Trump, who has courageously fought to protect the Little Sisters of the Poor from the Obama-Biden HHS abortifacient mandate,” said Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the Susan B. Anthony List, a pro-life organization. “We commend President Trump for standing strong for the Little Sisters of the Poor — his record stands in stark contrast to that of Joe Biden, who helped launch this assault as Obama’s Vice President nearly a decade ago.”
President of Family Research Council Tony Perkins tweeted, “We are glad that the Constitution protects the Little Sisters & others willing to stand up for their beliefs in the face of intense, longstanding opposition. These brave women have endured 9 yrs of legal persecution and we hope the Court’s decision is the end of this unjust saga.”
We are glad that the Constitution protects the Little Sisters & others willing to stand up for their beliefs in the face of intense, longstanding opposition. These brave women have endured 9 yrs of legal persecution and we hope the Court's decision is the end of this unjust saga. https://t.co/i2tE1GOdVW — Tony Perkins (@tperkins) July 8, 2020
Samaritan’s Purse founder Franklin Graham tweeted “The Little Sisters of the Poor won in the Supreme Court, upholding the exec. order from the Trump administration that says religious organizations are exempt from being forced to provide abortifacients or contraceptives to employees.” He went on to say, “Under no circumstances should an organization be compelled by the government to violate its religious beliefs.”
Under no circumstances should an organization be compelled by the government to violate its religious beliefs. — Franklin Graham (@Franklin_Graham) July 8, 2020
Religious Schools’ ‘Ministerial Exception’
Also in a 7-2 decision, SCOTUS ruled that “civil courts cannot get involved in employment discrimination claims brought against religious organizations where the employee served a religious function,” reported Fox News. The two separate cases addressed in the decision involved two teachers who had been fired from Catholic schools. A 2012 ruling gave religious organizations “ministerial exception” from employment discrimination suits. Wednesday’s decision expanded the earlier ruling and stated that the ministerial exception applied to both teachers because they both taught religion.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
Justice Samuel Alito wrote the majority opinion. “The religious education and formation of students is the very reason for the existence of most private religious schools, and therefore the selection and supervision of the teachers upon whom the schools rely to do this work lie at the core of their mission.” The ministerial exception is not just for clergy.
“Take the question of the title ‘minister,’” explained Alito. “Simply giving an employee the title of ‘minister’ is not enough to justify the exception. And by the same token, since many religious traditions do not use the title ‘minister,’ it cannot be a necessary requirement. Requiring the use of the title would constitute impermissible discrimination, and this problem cannot be solved simply by including positions that are thought to be the counterparts of a ‘minister,’ such as priests, nuns, rabbis, and imams.” He added: “attaching too much significance to titles would risk privileging religious traditions with formal organizational structures over those that are less formal.”
Legal scholar and professor Jonathan Turley tweeted that the Supreme Court decision was a big win for religious organizations. “What is notable is that the Court rules for the school despite the fact that ‘these teachers were not given the title of “minister” and have less religious training than’ the teacher in its earlier Hosanna-Tabor decision. That gives even more leeway and protection for schools.”
What is notable is that the Court rules for the school despite the fact that "these teachers were not given the title of 'minister' and have less religious training than" than the teacher in its earlier Hosanna-Tabor decision.That gives even more leeway and protection for schools — Jonathan Turley (@JonathanTurley) July 8, 2020
Rabbi Aryeh Spero of the Conference of Jewish Affairs said in a statement that his organization is very pleased with the rulings. “We have long awaited the equitable conclusion reached by the Court that would not force religious institutions to violate their religious conscience and teachings as was upheld today in Little Sisters of the Poor vs. Pennsylvania. … Religious freedom is enshrined in the very First Amendment and was the motivating principle for the founding of America and should not be sidelined or held hostage to extraneous and hostile agendas. Both of these rulings repudiate brazen and overreaching attacks by the Obama administration against biblical institutions.”
Both Supreme Court rulings are “good news for evangelicals,” Jim Denison wrote on The Denison Forum. Both “signal the court’s desire to protect religious beliefs from governmental infringement.”
Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Ruth Bader Ginsburg dissented on both opinions.
Nancy Flory is an associate editor at The Stream. You can follow her @NancyFlory3, and follow The Stream @Streamdotorg.


thestream--2020-07-09--What You Don’t Know About Donald Trump and the King Cyrus Prophecy

As if the person and presidency of Donald J. Trump have not been controversial enough , there is an unusual twist that adds to the controversy .
I ’ m speaking of the idea that the presidency of Trump can be likened to a biblical prophecy , namely that of the Persian king named Cyrus .
What are we to make of this seemingly farfetched idea ?
And have you ever read a quote from King Cyrus himself ?
( If not , stay tuned .
You ’ re about to . )
This week , in conjunction with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the Crossroads : Will We Pass the Trump Test ?
, I ’ ve been focusing on a number of major issues of special importance to evangelical Christians , especially as we approach the November elections .
In my last article , I asked whether Trump could be reelected without divine intervention , as many have alleged divine intervention in his 2016 election .
That ’ s also why I devoted a chapter in my book to the question , “ Did God Uniquely Raise Up President Trump ?
” Specifically , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there were Christian leaders who felt that God showed them that , just as He had raised up Cyrus , an idol-worshiping , foreign king , to restore and rebuild Jerusalem , so he would raise up Donald Trump .
Not only so , but in the book of Isaiah , the Lord called Cyrus His anointed one ( Hebrew , mashiach ) .
Does that mean that Trump is anointed by God ?
Does that make him some kind of savior figure ?
Look at this Parallel Not surprisingly , these claims @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s election .
And to this day , the idea of Trump being a Cyrus figure , let alone anointed by God , is considered a travesty , as in , “ You must be out of your mind to claim that Donald Trump , with all his failings , is called and anointed by God .
Preachers of the gospel are called and anointed by God , not carnal political leaders like Donald Trump.
” But to say that is to miss the whole point of the Cyrus connection , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a direct prophecy .
In other words , these Christian leaders were not saying , “ The Bible contains a prophecy about Donald Trump !
Trump is in the Bible !
” ( If that ’ s how you took it , I strongly encourage you to read the Scriptures more carefully . )
Instead they were saying , “ Look at this parallel .
God used King Cyrus , an unlikely vessel who didn ’ t even know who Yahweh really was , to bless His people Israel .
We believe God @ @ @ @ @ @ @ good things for God ’ s people too , even though there ’ s no evidence he has a personal relationship with the Lord.
” Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political , Economic and Moral Issues of Our Day .
Sixty years earlier , during the founding of the modern state of Israel , Harry Truman realized the significance of America ’ s standing with the Jewish nation , seeing himself as a Cyrus-type figure .
( For a fascinating book-length study , see here .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Truman and Trump to Cyrus . )
And , ironically , just as Cyrus was commissioned to restore and rebuild Jerusalem ( Isaiah 44:24-26 ) , so Trump was the president who moved our embassy to Jerusalem .
God Raised Up Cyrus , Though Cyrus Did Not Know God But , to understand the Cyrus prophecy , it ’ s important to hear from Cyrus himself .
His words have been preserved in what is called the Cyrus Cylinder , discovered in 1879 and written in 539 BC .
( For more details @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . )
This is what the Lord had said about Cyrus in Isaiah : “ For the sake of Jacob my servant , of Israel my chosen , I summon you by name and bestow on you a title of honor , though you do not acknowledge [ or , know ] me.
” ( Isaiah 45:4 ) What did Cyrus say of himself ?
“ I am Cyrus , king of the universe , the great king , the powerful king , king of Babylon , king of Sumer and Akkad , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ world , son of Cambyses , the great king , king of the city of Anshan , grandson of Cyrus , the great king , ki [ ng of the ci ] ty of Anshan , descendant of Teispes , the great king , king of the city of Anshan , the perpetual seed of kingship , whose reign Bel ( Marduk ) and Nabu love , and with whose kingship , to their joy , they concern themselves.
” ( Bel , Marduk , and Nabu were the names of some of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . )
It sounds like Cyrus was a bit full of himself .
There is no king on earth like me !
( In reality , at that time , it was true . )
And to whom does Cyrus give credit for raising him up ?
To Marduk !
“ [ Marduk ] searched everywhere and then he took a righteous king , his favorite , by the hand , he called out his name : Cyrus , king of Anshan ; he pronounced his name to be king all over the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
The prophecy in Isaiah uses similar wording , except there it is Yahweh who called and raised up Cyrus .
Here , credit is given to Marduk !
The Thing About the Cyrus Prophecy That Few Christians Know About Today But , in keeping with the policy of Cyrus , rather than subjugate the exiled peoples , as a foreign king would normally do , he restored them to their homelands and even funded the rebuilding of their temples .
This way , he could rule over them more peacefully , extract @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trade routes open without continual warfare .
And so , when it was time to release the Jewish exiles , Cyrus wrote this ( as recorded in the Bible ) : “ This is what Cyrus king of Persia says : ‘ The Lord , the God of heaven , has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and he has appointed me to build a temple for him at Jerusalem in Judah .
Any of his people among you may go up , and may the Lord their God be with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) So , when it came time to speak to Israel , he talked like a true believer ( presumably with the help of one of the Jewish exiles ) , giving credit to “ Yahweh , the God of heaven.
” But when he wrote for the Babylonians , he gave credit to their chief god , Marduk , ascribing might and power to him .
This is part of the Cyrus prophecy that very few Christians know about today , leading to confusion when they hear that God raised up Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And things get even more confusing when some Christians give the impression that Trump is so anointed that even his Twitter account is anointed by God .
Certainly not !
The whole point of the prophecy is that it ’ s a totally unlikely scenario .
That Trump is a totally unlikely vessel .
That the Lord chose to use someone to do good to His people even though that person did not know Him .
Can you see it more clearly now ?
And , in many ways , hasn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Brown ( www.askdrbrown.org ) is the host of the nationally syndicated Line of Fire radio program .
His latest book is Evangelicals at the Crossroads : Will We Pass the Trump Test ?
Connect with him on Facebook , Twitter or YouTube .

As if the person and presidency of Donald J. Trump have not been controversial enough, there is an unusual twist that adds to the controversy. I’m speaking of the idea that the presidency of Trump can be likened to a biblical prophecy, namely that of the Persian king named Cyrus. What are we to make of this seemingly farfetched idea? And have you ever read a quote from King Cyrus himself? (If not, stay tuned. You’re about to.)
This week, in conjunction with the release of my new book, Evangelicals at the Crossroads: Will We Pass the Trump Test?, I’ve been focusing on a number of major issues of special importance to evangelical Christians, especially as we approach the November elections.
In my last article, I asked whether Trump could be reelected without divine intervention, as many have alleged divine intervention in his 2016 election. That’s also why I devoted a chapter in my book to the question, “Did God Uniquely Raise Up President Trump?”
Specifically, some time before the 2016 elections, there were Christian leaders who felt that God showed them that, just as He had raised up Cyrus, an idol-worshiping, foreign king, to restore and rebuild Jerusalem, so he would raise up Donald Trump. Not only so, but in the book of Isaiah, the Lord called Cyrus His anointed one (Hebrew, mashiach).
Does that mean that Trump is anointed by God? Does that make him some kind of savior figure?
Look at this Parallel
Not surprisingly, these claims were widely mocked, especially before Trump’s election.
And to this day, the idea of Trump being a Cyrus figure, let alone anointed by God, is considered a travesty, as in, “You must be out of your mind to claim that Donald Trump, with all his failings, is called and anointed by God. Preachers of the gospel are called and anointed by God, not carnal political leaders like Donald Trump.”
But to say that is to miss the whole point of the Cyrus connection, which was meant as a parallel rather than a direct prophecy.
In other words, these Christian leaders were not saying, “The Bible contains a prophecy about Donald Trump! Trump is in the Bible!” (If that’s how you took it, I strongly encourage you to read the Scriptures more carefully.)
Instead they were saying, “Look at this parallel. God used King Cyrus, an unlikely vessel who didn’t even know who Yahweh really was, to bless His people Israel. We believe God is going to use Trump to do good things for God’s people too, even though there’s no evidence he has a personal relationship with the Lord.”
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
Sixty years earlier, during the founding of the modern state of Israel, Harry Truman realized the significance of America’s standing with the Jewish nation, seeing himself as a Cyrus-type figure. (For a fascinating book-length study, see here. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu actually compared both Truman and Trump to Cyrus.)
And, ironically, just as Cyrus was commissioned to restore and rebuild Jerusalem (Isaiah 44:24-26), so Trump was the president who moved our embassy to Jerusalem.
God Raised Up Cyrus, Though Cyrus Did Not Know God
But, to understand the Cyrus prophecy, it’s important to hear from Cyrus himself. His words have been preserved in what is called the Cyrus Cylinder, discovered in 1879 and written in 539 BC. (For more details and further quotes, see my book.)
This is what the Lord had said about Cyrus in Isaiah: “For the sake of Jacob my servant, of Israel my chosen, I summon you by name and bestow on you a title of honor, though you do not acknowledge [or, know] me.” (Isaiah 45:4)
What did Cyrus say of himself?
“I am Cyrus, king of the universe, the great king, the powerful king, king of Babylon, king of Sumer and Akkad, king of the four quarters of the world, son of Cambyses, the great king, king of the city of Anshan, grandson of Cyrus, the great king, ki[ng of the ci]ty of Anshan, descendant of Teispes, the great king, king of the city of Anshan, the perpetual seed of kingship, whose reign Bel (Marduk) and Nabu love, and with whose kingship, to their joy, they concern themselves.” (Bel, Marduk, and Nabu were the names of some of the key gods in the Babylonian pantheon.)
It sounds like Cyrus was a bit full of himself. There is no king on earth like me! (In reality, at that time, it was true.)
And to whom does Cyrus give credit for raising him up? To Marduk! “[Marduk] searched everywhere and then he took a righteous king, his favorite, by the hand, he called out his name: Cyrus, king of Anshan; he pronounced his name to be king all over the world.”
Isn’t this remarkable? The prophecy in Isaiah uses similar wording, except there it is Yahweh who called and raised up Cyrus. Here, credit is given to Marduk!
The Thing About the Cyrus Prophecy That Few Christians Know About Today
But, in keeping with the policy of Cyrus, rather than subjugate the exiled peoples, as a foreign king would normally do, he restored them to their homelands and even funded the rebuilding of their temples. This way, he could rule over them more peacefully, extract taxes and revenues, and keep his trade routes open without continual warfare.
And so, when it was time to release the Jewish exiles, Cyrus wrote this (as recorded in the Bible): “This is what Cyrus king of Persia says: ‘The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and he has appointed me to build a temple for him at Jerusalem in Judah. Any of his people among you may go up, and may the Lord their God be with them.’” (2 Chronicles 36:23)
The whole point of the prophecy is that it’s a totally unlikely scenario. That Trump is a totally unlikely vessel.
So, when it came time to speak to Israel, he talked like a true believer (presumably with the help of one of the Jewish exiles), giving credit to “Yahweh, the God of heaven.” But when he wrote for the Babylonians, he gave credit to their chief god, Marduk, ascribing might and power to him.
This is part of the Cyrus prophecy that very few Christians know about today, leading to confusion when they hear that God raised up Trump just as He raised up Cyrus. And things get even more confusing when some Christians give the impression that Trump is so anointed that even his Twitter account is anointed by God. Certainly not!
The whole point of the prophecy is that it’s a totally unlikely scenario. That Trump is a totally unlikely vessel. That the Lord chose to use someone to do good to His people even though that person did not know Him.
Can you see it more clearly now? And, in many ways, hasn’t the comparison proven true?
Dr. Michael Brown (www.askdrbrown.org) is the host of the nationally syndicated Line of Fire radio program. His latest book is Evangelicals at the Crossroads: Will We Pass the Trump Test? Connect with him on Facebook, Twitter or YouTube.


President Kanye West?

This July 4 , Kanye West announced a presidential run .
Some news outlets attempted to spin this as a betrayal of his support for Trump .
Others mocked the campaign as a joke , since West has missed filing deadlines to be on the ballot in several states .
I don ’ t believe he is a viable candidate for the presidency .
However , one would be foolish to ignore the broader cultural implications Kanye ’ s statements have .
Kanye boldly illuminates unpopular truths .
Throughout interviews , Kanye has come out swinging against tribalism and identity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to today ’ s left .
Kanye ’ s father was a Black Panther .
That organization , while formed in response to genuine and heinous injustices , was very tribal .
So , Kanye is not unfamiliar with identity politics .
He prudently rejects the notion that his blackness requires him to vote for Democrats .
In fact , he even condemned as a form of white supremacy Joe Biden ’ s claim that non-Biden voters would somehow lose their “ blackness.
” Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Moral Issues of Our Day .
Kanye is right .
From Biden ’ s statement , to Jordan Peele and Don Lemon ’ s mockery of his politics , accusations like “ race-traitor ” abound .
Kanye spots this as the logic used by white supremacists .
Tribalists like Richard Spencer rightly get condemned for building their worldview around race .
Biden , Lemon and Peele get away with it .
Kanye has boldly asserted that a black genocide is taking place through widespread abortion .
Meanwhile , Black Lives Matter aligns itself @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the nuclear family .
Kanye instead criticizes widespread fatherlessness ( funded by programs of the Great Society ) .
He extols the virtue of family .
Further , Kanye condemns abortion as an instrument of white supremacy .
He calls out acts of racial violence by police .
He rightly points out Planned Parenthood ’ s overtly racist origins .
Through this , Kanye champions the dignity of black lives in a way that mainstream media refuse to .
Kanye recognizes that the problems that plague our nation are not merely social or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that our nation must turn to God .
He calls for prayer in schools .
He has mentioned how his musical achievements pale in comparison to being in service to God .
In his latest song , he points out the total depravity of man and our need for grace .
He calls for the Holy Spirit to guide him .
As the Daily Wire ’ s Michael Knowles observes , Kanye articulates a brilliant understanding of true freedom .
It entails liberation from the urges of our sinful nature .
Real liberty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 5:1 ) Could Kanye be the agent of change our nation needs in such divided times ?
The more I listen to him , he sounds less and less like a typical rapper .
Instead he recalls my Pastor Dr. Jack Graham , or Tony Evans .
Like them , he calls for unity through turning to God as called for in 2 Chronicles 7:14 ( ESV ) : Kanye ’ s bold statements remind me of American Christian history .
God brought spiritual awakening and unity across racial lines during the Azusa @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a man named William J. Seymour , worshipers came together across racial lines .
That shocked people at the time .
As God brought revival and reconciliation at Azusa , may he also move in Calabasas .
May He empower Kanye to speak powerfully and prophetically .
And may He heal our land .

This July 4, Kanye West announced a presidential run. Some news outlets attempted to spin this as a betrayal of his support for Trump. Others mocked the campaign as a joke, since West has missed filing deadlines to be on the ballot in several states. I don’t believe he is a viable candidate for the presidency. However, one would be foolish to ignore the broader cultural implications Kanye’s statements have. Kanye boldly illuminates unpopular truths.
Rejecting Identity Politics
Throughout interviews, Kanye has come out swinging against tribalism and identity politics. This is in sharp contrast to today’s left. Kanye’s father was a Black Panther. That organization, while formed in response to genuine and heinous injustices, was very tribal. So, Kanye is not unfamiliar with identity politics. He prudently rejects the notion that his blackness requires him to vote for Democrats. In fact, he even condemned as a form of white supremacy Joe Biden’s claim that non-Biden voters would somehow lose their “blackness.”
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
Kanye is right. From Biden’s statement, to Jordan Peele and Don Lemon’s mockery of his politics, accusations like “race-traitor” abound. Kanye spots this as the logic used by white supremacists. Tribalists like Richard Spencer rightly get condemned for building their worldview around race. Biden, Lemon and Peele get away with it.
Making Lives Really Matter
Kanye has boldly asserted that a black genocide is taking place through widespread abortion. Meanwhile, Black Lives Matter aligns itself with Planned Parenthood and calls for dismantling the nuclear family. Kanye instead criticizes widespread fatherlessness (funded by programs of the Great Society). He extols the virtue of family. Further, Kanye condemns abortion as an instrument of white supremacy. He calls out acts of racial violence by police. He rightly points out Planned Parenthood’s overtly racist origins. Through this, Kanye champions the dignity of black lives in a way that mainstream media refuse to.
Come to Jesus
Kanye recognizes that the problems that plague our nation are not merely social or political, but spiritual. He understands that our nation must turn to God. He calls for prayer in schools. He has mentioned how his musical achievements pale in comparison to being in service to God. In his latest song, he points out the total depravity of man and our need for grace. He calls for the Holy Spirit to guide him.
As the Daily Wire’s Michael Knowles observes, Kanye articulates a brilliant understanding of true freedom. It entails liberation from the urges of our sinful nature. Real liberty is found in Christ. (Galatians 5:1)
An Icon of Unity
Could Kanye be the agent of change our nation needs in such divided times? The more I listen to him, he sounds less and less like a typical rapper. Instead he recalls my Pastor Dr. Jack Graham, or Tony Evans. Like them, he calls for unity through turning to God as called for in 2 Chronicles 7:14 (ESV):
If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
Kanye’s bold statements remind me of American Christian history. God brought spiritual awakening and unity across racial lines during the Azusa Street Revival in the 1920s. Through a man named William J. Seymour, worshipers came together across racial lines. That shocked people at the time. As God brought revival and reconciliation at Azusa, may he also move in Calabasas. May He empower Kanye to speak powerfully and prophetically. And may He heal our land.
Bruce Dunn is a Dallas-based consultant who has written on religious and cultural topics. A Southern California native, and recent graduate of Villanova University (B.S.) Mr. Dunn currently resides in the Dallas metroplex where he works on infrastructure projects and is an active member of Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano.


thestream--2020-07-10--Is Your Heart Protected From the Hurricane?

I didn ’ t think the intrusive leak in the living room was a big deal until the hurricane hit .
Yes , I knew about the leak beforehand .
Over time , its damaging effects on our wood floor had become noticeable .
After several frustrating attempts to fix the breach , I began to tolerate it .
Ignore it .
Put the couch over it .
I prioritized other more “ productive ” endeavors over a house problem that seemed unresolvable .
When weeks turned into months , I stopped thinking about the “ floor issue , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Irma .
It was then I witnessed firsthand cheap procrastination morph into costly compromise .
Hurricane Irma ’ s wind-whipped rains came so fast and furious that our Wet-Vac worked overtime to contain the havoc being wreaked on the floor through the breach .
In a matter of two hours , the damage was done , and it was irreparable .
While most of the house weathered the storm fine , my one small neglect opened the door to ruining what was valuable inside .
Proverbs 4:23 ( ESV ) instructs us to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , for from it flows the springs of life.
” Another version reads : “ Above all else , guard your heart , for everything you do flows from it ” ( NIV ) .
Watch over .
Tend to .
Defend , like a city , preserving from dangers , so that it might remain free from harm .
Fast forward to 2020 , a year that has hit our society like a hurricane .
It seems like between COVID-19 and civil unrest , we have collectively failed to carefully guard our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ study conducted by Jean Twenge , a Professor of Psychology at San Diego State University , 70 % of 2020 participants met criteria for moderate to serious mental illness , compared with just 22 % in 2018 .
What ’ s this telling us ?
Have we grown so frustrated and weary with nonstop mental assaults that we ’ ve decided to peacefully co-exist with “ a little decay ” within our four walls ?
If our homes are worth protecting for the value that resides within them , shouldn ’ t we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ personally spent hours trying to find a damaging leak infiltrating my house which is temporal , should I not spend even more time defending my heart , which is eternal ?
Maybe we don ’ t fully understand the exceedingly precious value of our own hearts .
The biblical use for “ heart ” includes our feelings , will , and intellect .
Described as “ our innermost being , ” and “ the center , ” the heart is the seat of our desires , emotions and passions .
But , also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that quality of mind or spirit enabling us to face difficulty , danger , and pain without fear .
Perhaps the real battle being waged to infiltrate our hearts is actually a battle for our courage .
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political , Economic and Moral Issues of Our Day .
As image-bearers of “ Christ in us , ” we are to be “ life-givers ” to the world , with an “ outflow ” of love , joy , peace , patience , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( Galatians 5:22-23 ) .
This happens when our hearts are in a good place .
As we actively guard ourselves against spiritually decaying influences that would try to permeate the sanctuary of our hearts , we are able to enjoy our relationship with God freely and be changed in His presence .
Jesus himself that whoever believed in Him , “ ‘ Out of his heart shall flow rivers of living water.
’ ” What ’ s worth more than protecting that outflow to a world in desperate need of it ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ defend against the fiery darts of the wicked one ( Ephesians 6:16 ) , set up peace as our guard ( Philippians 4:7 ) , and center our thoughts on what is true , honorable , just , pure , lovely and commendable ( Philippians 4:8 ) .
We guard against messages that incite fear , anger , and confusion , so that , conversely , we protect that which is valuable inside the “ house , ” like a sense of well-being .
Even as our hearts are the center of our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In the end , my husband unearthed our foundation until he finally found the small hole causing all the damage .
After several failed attempts by professionals , the issue was solved when the owner himself caulked the crevice — but not before the hurricane hit in the middle of the night and hit harder than expected .
Likewise , as we ’ re all weathering a national hurricane that ’ s hitting us harder than expected , we might uncover holes in our own foundations where mentally , emotionally , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as we may have thought .
Also , we may realize that had we guarded our hearts better , we wouldn ’ t be doing damage control inside the four walls , but rather we ’ d be a first responder outside of them .
We want to overflow with compassion .
We want our love run hot and not grow cold .
We want to stay empowered by the Word of God .
If these are our desires , we must revisit the phrase , “ Above all else.
” It ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the priority of guarding our hearts above all things — to seal up the cracks where wrong thoughts and beliefs would seep in and pollute the peace that passes understanding .
We defend ourselves against the mind-numbing attempts to rob us of our sanity , plant seeds of self-doubt , and strip us of our courage .
Courage is what our world needs right now .
And courage comes from the heart — a heart protected from the hurricane .
Annemarie McLean is a four-girl mom , freelance writer , and co-founder of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on challenging young women to live purpose-driven lives full of courage and character , while developing Christ-centered inner beauty .
Annemarie holds a journalism degree from Oral Roberts University , with graduate work in organizational leadership at Palm Beach Atlantic University .

I didn’t think the intrusive leak in the living room was a big deal until the hurricane hit. Yes, I knew about the leak beforehand. Over time, its damaging effects on our wood floor had become noticeable. After several frustrating attempts to fix the breach, I began to tolerate it. Ignore it. Put the couch over it. I prioritized other more “productive” endeavors over a house problem that seemed unresolvable. When weeks turned into months, I stopped thinking about the “floor issue,” forgetting about it altogether.
Until Hurricane Irma. It was then I witnessed firsthand cheap procrastination morph into costly compromise. Hurricane Irma’s wind-whipped rains came so fast and furious that our Wet-Vac worked overtime to contain the havoc being wreaked on the floor through the breach. In a matter of two hours, the damage was done, and it was irreparable. While most of the house weathered the storm fine, my one small neglect opened the door to ruining what was valuable inside.
Guarding the Heart
Proverbs 4:23 (ESV) instructs us to “Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flows the springs of life.” Another version reads: “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it” (NIV). Watch over. Tend to. Defend, like a city, preserving from dangers, so that it might remain free from harm.
Fast forward to 2020, a year that has hit our society like a hurricane. It seems like between COVID-19 and civil unrest, we have collectively failed to carefully guard our hearts. According to an April 2020 study conducted by Jean Twenge, a Professor of Psychology at San Diego State University, 70% of 2020 participants met criteria for moderate to serious mental illness, compared with just 22% in 2018.
What’s this telling us? Have we grown so frustrated and weary with nonstop mental assaults that we’ve decided to peacefully co-exist with “a little decay” within our four walls? If our homes are worth protecting for the value that resides within them, shouldn’t we watch over them with care? I personally spent hours trying to find a damaging leak infiltrating my house which is temporal, should I not spend even more time defending my heart, which is eternal?
Image-Bearers of Christ
Maybe we don’t fully understand the exceedingly precious value of our own hearts. The biblical use for “heart” includes our feelings, will, and intellect. Described as “our innermost being,” and “the center,” the heart is the seat of our desires, emotions and passions. But, also, the seat of our courage, that quality of mind or spirit enabling us to face difficulty, danger, and pain without fear. Perhaps the real battle being waged to infiltrate our hearts is actually a battle for our courage.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
As image-bearers of “Christ in us,” we are to be “life-givers” to the world, with an “outflow” of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). This happens when our hearts are in a good place. As we actively guard ourselves against spiritually decaying influences that would try to permeate the sanctuary of our hearts, we are able to enjoy our relationship with God freely and be changed in His presence. Jesus himself said that whoever believed in Him, “‘Out of his heart shall flow rivers of living water.’” What’s worth more than protecting that outflow to a world in desperate need of it?
“Keeping our hearts” means we defend against the fiery darts of the wicked one (Ephesians 6:16), set up peace as our guard (Philippians 4:7), and center our thoughts on what is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely and commendable (Philippians 4:8). We guard against messages that incite fear, anger, and confusion, so that, conversely, we protect that which is valuable inside the “house,” like a sense of well-being. Even as our hearts are the center of our being, they too must be centered.
Weathering the Hurricane
In the end, my husband unearthed our foundation until he finally found the small hole causing all the damage. After several failed attempts by professionals, the issue was solved when the owner himself caulked the crevice — but not before the hurricane hit in the middle of the night and hit harder than expected.
Likewise, as we’re all weathering a national hurricane that’s hitting us harder than expected, we might uncover holes in our own foundations where mentally, emotionally, and spiritually we weren’t as prepared as we may have thought. Also, we may realize that had we guarded our hearts better, we wouldn’t be doing damage control inside the four walls, but rather we’d be a first responder outside of them.
We want to overflow with compassion. We want our love run hot and not grow cold. We want to stay empowered by the Word of God. If these are our desires, we must revisit the phrase, “Above all else.” It’s time to reorient our lives around the priority of guarding our hearts above all things — to seal up the cracks where wrong thoughts and beliefs would seep in and pollute the peace that passes understanding.
We defend ourselves against the mind-numbing attempts to rob us of our sanity, plant seeds of self-doubt, and strip us of our courage. Courage is what our world needs right now. And courage comes from the heart — a heart protected from the hurricane.
Annemarie McLean is a four-girl mom, freelance writer, and co-founder of Brave & Beautiful, a ministry focused on challenging young women to live purpose-driven lives full of courage and character, while developing Christ-centered inner beauty. Annemarie holds a journalism degree from Oral Roberts University, with graduate work in organizational leadership at Palm Beach Atlantic University.


thestream--2020-07-10--Looking for Their Fathers: The Pain of the New Communist Left

In his remarkable 1990 book Iron John , the poet Robert Bly recalled his first thought when he saw rioters in the streets of 1960s America : “ They ’ re all out there looking for their fathers.
” Looking for Their Fathers Bly saw that much of modern social protest is psychological and spiritual need dressed up as revolution .
In April 2017 , the New York Times published an op-ed by Vivian Gornick that explored communism 100 years after the Russian Revolution .
“ It is perhaps hard to understand now , ” Gornick wrote , “ but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the Marxist vision of world solidarity as translated by the Communist Party induced in the most ordinary of men and women a sense of one ’ s own humanity that ran deep , made life feel large — large and clarified .
It was to this clarity of inner being that so many became not only attached , but addicted.
” Communism became like a father .
In both Bly and the New York Times there is an important insight .
The psychiatrist Carl Jung once wrote about how crucial it is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are part of a “ cosmic drama.
” Those with religious faith have joy and purpose , and the ability to push through pain , because they accept , as G.K. Chesterton put it , the reality of both fate and free will .
We believe we are part of some larger plan .
Those without such direction are easy prey for toxic ideologies .
Furthermore , those who have suffered abuse and trauma are desperate for love and acceptance , and not finding it , they turn to comprehensive — and wrong @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ Connor was once ridiculed by the right for saying that Adolf Hitler was a monster because he was abused as a child .
O ’ Connor was mocked , but she wasn ’ t far off the mark .
Although it is often described in abstract geopolitical theories , communism is often a totalizing solution for people who are in terrible psychological turmoil .
The idea that love , that is to say , love properly understood — love that supports and forgives and demands responsibility , that calls to account and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even hardcore members of Antifa around should not be ridiculed .
Love offers acceptance , flourishing and healthy limits .
One of the most famous ex-communists of the 20th century was Whittaker Chambers , the Time magazine editor who in 1948 revealed that State Department golden boy Alger Hiss was a Soviet spy .
When testifying before the House Un-American Activities Committee , Chambers explained that he joined the Communist Party after he witnessed the destruction of Europe when he visited the continent after World War I : “ It seemed to me @ @ @ @ @ @ @ western civilization which society was not able to solve by the usual means.
” Chambers read the writings of Marx and Lenin .
“ They seemed to me to explain the nature of the crisis , and what to do about it.
” Chambers was once asked how a person “ who made a real living ” in America could become a communist .
“ The making of a good living does not necessarily blind a man to a critical period which he is passing through , ” Chambers replied .
“ Such @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a special insecurity and anxiety .
They seek a moral solution in a world of moral confusion .
Marxism-Leninism offers an oversimplified explanation of the causes and a program for action .
The very vigor of the project particularly appeals to the more or less sheltered middle-class intellectuals , who feel that the whole context of their lives has kept them away from the world of reality.
” It is Jung ’ s “ cosmic drama ” all over again .
A Disaster of Dysfunction in the Home Chambers came from a home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ His father , a graphic artist , was a closeted bisexual who expressed contempt for his wife Laha , a disappointed former actress .
Chambers ’ brother Richard committed suicide , using the oven in the family home on Long Island .
“ My brother was lying with his head in the gas oven , his body partly supported by the open door , ” Chambers wrote in his masterpiece Witness .
“ He had made himself as comfortable as he could .
There was a pillow in the oven under his head @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pile of books set on a kitchen chair .
One of his arms hung down rigid .
Just below the fingers , on the floor , stood an empty quart whisky bottle.
” Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political , Economic and Moral Issues of Our Day .
As much as any speeches by Lenin or Karl Marx , the death of Richard was the catalyst for Chambers to reject God and embrace totalitarianism .
In his family Chambers saw “ in miniature the whole crisis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to this total disaster was a “ totalizing ” solution — communism .
In 1925 , Chambers joined the Communist Party of the United States ( CPUSA ) .
He defected in the late 1930s .
Alger Hiss , the man he accused of being a spy , was guilty .
How many Antifa members come from similar homes ?
Their mugshots reveal the same distant , soulless nihilism expressed by Chambers .
They seem broken .
Echoing Gornick , Chambers explained that communists “ may feel a special insecurity and anxiety ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ grand movement .
This echoes what Gornick wrote in her Times piece about life being made to “ feel large — large and clarified.
” Rather than working on making themselves more whole — a difficult task requiring time , prayer and self-reflection — broken souls project themselves onto a movement .
Mark Judge is a writer and filmmaker in Washington , D.C .

In his remarkable 1990 book Iron John, the poet Robert Bly recalled his first thought when he saw rioters in the streets of 1960s America: “They’re all out there looking for their fathers.”
Looking for Their Fathers
Bly saw that much of modern social protest is psychological and spiritual need dressed up as revolution. In April 2017, the New York Times published an op-ed by Vivian Gornick that explored communism 100 years after the Russian Revolution. “It is perhaps hard to understand now,” Gornick wrote, “but at that time, in this place, the Marxist vision of world solidarity as translated by the Communist Party induced in the most ordinary of men and women a sense of one’s own humanity that ran deep, made life feel large — large and clarified. It was to this clarity of inner being that so many became not only attached, but addicted.” Communism became like a father.
Communism became like a father.
In both Bly and the New York Times there is an important insight. The psychiatrist Carl Jung once wrote about how crucial it is for human people to feel like they are part of a “cosmic drama.” Those with religious faith have joy and purpose, and the ability to push through pain, because they accept, as G.K. Chesterton put it, the reality of both fate and free will. We believe we are part of some larger plan. Those without such direction are easy prey for toxic ideologies.
Desperate for Love and Acceptance
Furthermore, those who have suffered abuse and trauma are desperate for love and acceptance, and not finding it, they turn to comprehensive — and wrong — answers. The singer Sinead O’Connor was once ridiculed by the right for saying that Adolf Hitler was a monster because he was abused as a child. O’Connor was mocked, but she wasn’t far off the mark.
Although it is often described in abstract geopolitical theories, communism is often a totalizing solution for people who are in terrible psychological turmoil. The idea that love, that is to say, love properly understood — love that supports and forgives and demands responsibility, that calls to account and looks to divine grace — can bring even hardcore members of Antifa around should not be ridiculed. Love offers acceptance, flourishing and healthy limits.
Seeking a Moral Solution in a World of Moral Confusion
One of the most famous ex-communists of the 20th century was Whittaker Chambers, the Time magazine editor who in 1948 revealed that State Department golden boy Alger Hiss was a Soviet spy. When testifying before the House Un-American Activities Committee, Chambers explained that he joined the Communist Party after he witnessed the destruction of Europe when he visited the continent after World War I: “It seemed to me that a crisis had been reached in western civilization which society was not able to solve by the usual means.” Chambers read the writings of Marx and Lenin. “They seemed to me to explain the nature of the crisis, and what to do about it.”
Rather than working on making themselves more whole — a difficult task requiring time, prayer and self-reflection — broken souls project themselves onto a movement.
Chambers was once asked how a person “who made a real living” in America could become a communist. “The making of a good living does not necessarily blind a man to a critical period which he is passing through,” Chambers replied. “Such people, in fact, may feel a special insecurity and anxiety. They seek a moral solution in a world of moral confusion. Marxism-Leninism offers an oversimplified explanation of the causes and a program for action. The very vigor of the project particularly appeals to the more or less sheltered middle-class intellectuals, who feel that the whole context of their lives has kept them away from the world of reality.” It is Jung’s “cosmic drama” all over again.
A Disaster of Dysfunction in the Home
Chambers came from a home that was a disaster of dysfunction. His father, a graphic artist, was a closeted bisexual who expressed contempt for his wife Laha, a disappointed former actress. Chambers’ brother Richard committed suicide, using the oven in the family home on Long Island. “My brother was lying with his head in the gas oven, his body partly supported by the open door,” Chambers wrote in his masterpiece Witness. “He had made himself as comfortable as he could. There was a pillow in the oven under his head. His feet were resting on a pile of books set on a kitchen chair. One of his arms hung down rigid. Just below the fingers, on the floor, stood an empty quart whisky bottle.”
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
As much as any speeches by Lenin or Karl Marx, the death of Richard was the catalyst for Chambers to reject God and embrace totalitarianism. In his family Chambers saw “in miniature the whole crisis of the middle class.” The solution to this total disaster was a “totalizing” solution — communism. In 1925, Chambers joined the Communist Party of the United States (CPUSA). He defected in the late 1930s. Alger Hiss, the man he accused of being a spy, was guilty.
They Seem Broken
How many Antifa members come from similar homes? Their mugshots reveal the same distant, soulless nihilism expressed by Chambers. They seem broken.
Echoing Gornick, Chambers explained that communists “may feel a special insecurity and anxiety” that is cured by attachment to a grand movement. This echoes what Gornick wrote in her Times piece about life being made to “feel large — large and clarified.” Rather than working on making themselves more whole — a difficult task requiring time, prayer and self-reflection — broken souls project themselves onto a movement.
Mark Judge is a writer and filmmaker in Washington, D.C.