thestream--2020-07-03--Jesus is the Answer for the World Today

Jesus is the Answer for the World Today

In the early 1940s , a young white boy ( my father ) met an African-American woman on a street in West Seattle .
“ Hello , N-lady !
” He said cheerfully .
The woman became furious and chased him .
Dad likely picked up the term from his mother , who was from the South , and innocently thought it descriptive , not pejorative .
That incident taught him otherwise .
I don ’ t recall ever hearing him say anything contemptuous or hateful about anyone on account of their race .
Our generation , and our children @ @ @ @ @ @ @ see such language and thoughts as anathema .
Modern Americans work and play with , even love , people of other races — who make us laugh and cry , and for whose insights , hard work , and talents we have gained respect .
Grandma was a great cook , a Christian mystic , a feeder of birds and children , and some sort of “ racist.
” She never wished ill on anyone on account of their race so far as I know .
But she talked disparagingly about “ those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Native Americans .
Like almost all Americans until a few minutes ago , I felt relieved American society had turned away from its “ racist ” past .
I put the word in quotes not because I fail to cringe in shame over our great historical sins — hundreds were lynched in the Deep South when Grandma was a girl , millions were slaves two generations earlier — but because the word now creates great confusion .
And I believe it ’ s being used to manipulate and harm our nation .
Please @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Think Clearly About the Political , Economic and Moral Issues of Our Day .
Is a “ racist ” ( a ) Someone who naively uses the wrong word ?
( b ) Someone who hates those of a different skin color ?
( c ) Only Whites , or also some Blacks and Asians ?
( d ) A black teenager who views a Latino interloper to his neighborhood as a possible threat ?
( e ) A Chinese girl who picks “ Asian ” when she searches for possible dating partners @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who works in a dicey neighborhood of Philadelphia , and finds himself most often questioning young black males ?
( And is he also sexist and reverse-agist ? )
( h ) University officials who admit Hispanics and African-Americans ahead of Whites or Asians with higher scores ?
( i ) All white people in America , as Robin DiAngelo , author of White Fragility , claims , because we benefit from a power structure allegedly monopolized by Whites which disadvantages everyone else ?
Or does “ racist ” now mean “ witch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mainly to demonize people you disagree with , much as words like “ counter-revolutionary , ” “ Jew , ” and the “ N ” word were used in the past ?
Muddled thinking is destroying the harmony that America strove for so long , through a bloody war and civil rights protests .
Poorly-defined and simplistic concepts of “ racism ” are turning Americans into moral heretics , an old-fashioned term for “ simple-minded dupes , ” and tearing our country apart .
We need a richer vocabulary and a fuller vision @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that , turn to Jesus .
Whether you believe him to be God or not , he is certainly wiser than the talking heads , sociologists , politicians and the mobs they pander to , who have come to control our national narrative .
Someone asked Jesus what was the most important moral law .
Jesus replied , “ Love the Lord your God with all your heart , soul , mind and strength .
And love your neighbor as yourself.
” “ But who is my neighbor ?
” The man asked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a man who , like Dad , was out for a stroll , and met someone of another race .
This pedestrian was a Samaritan , to the Jews a disfavored tribe .
Walking along a mountain road , he met a Jewish man who had been mugged .
It was a dangerous neighborhood , with potential gang-bangers behind every rock .
But this outcast got off his donkey , cleaned the man up , disinfected his wounds , took him to a nearby hotel , and paid for his care .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ keep the word “ racism ” in our moral vocabulary .
But we must fit it into a broader vocabulary that takes our full humanity into account .
How much richer and deeper is Jesus ’ parable of the “ Good Samaritan , ” than terms like “ systemic racism.
” Like a tourniquet , the word “ racism ” may be necessary in an emergency , but is of little use for most daily activities .
Note the advantages of the moral vision behind Jesus ’ story : • For Jesus , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Love is grounded not in feelings , which change , but in objective truth , a God who judges rightly .
• Love as Jesus describes it covers every relationship , because in every relationship we are tempted to dominate and abuse .
To rework Bob Dylan ’ s song : “ You may be a state trooper , you might be a young Turk You may be the head of some big TV network You may be rich or poor , you may be blind or lame You may be living @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But you ’ re gon na wan na use somebody , yes you are You ’ re gon na wan na use somebody Well , it may be Don Lemon or it may be Don Trump But you ’ re gon na wan na use somebody.
” We are all guilty under God ’ s law , whether of “ racism ” or some other failure to love .
Isn ’ t that one way to bring America together , as sinners ?
Recognizing our universal tendency to form in-groups and despise other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , sex , age , religion , class , region , NFL team , or a hundred different axis of good and evil , cuts the ground from all our excuses for scapegoating “ the Other.
” • Jesus ’ love is positive .
Give a cup of water in the name of the Lord .
Feed the hungry .
Visit the sick and imprisoned .
Pray for your enemies .
Hire someone , give them training and a chance .
Mind you , negative laws are needed , too : violations against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our cities .
But pure religion is not primarily what you don ’ t do , petty violations of taboo you avoid .
It is how you express love to God and others , maybe beginning when you say “ I do , ” then do .
• Jesus describes a love that is specific .
Charles Dickens satirized philanthropic English ladies who tried to save Africa , but neglected their own children .
Jesus says love those you meet on your daily walk , or maybe before you step out the door @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my former pastor , for instance , builds wheelchairs for victims of polio in Nigeria .
We are called to a worldwide ministry , but that ministry begins not with editorials or Facebook posts , but with the people before our eyes .
• Christ ’ s love expresses itself in action .
Yes , Batman , it is what you do that defines you .
Jesus said that before your girlfriend .
But kudus to her for reminding you .
• The love Jesus spoke of , and modeled , has guts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as Jesus did , and as with the traveling Samaritan , does not even follow leaders when they ignore those in need .
• That love crosses boundaries , recognizing the image of God in all its forms .
Modern chatter about racism , sexism , cisgenderism , ableism , intersectionalism , is not so much wrong as broken , like body parts recomposed into a papier-mâché of Frankenstein ’ s monster .
Jesus calls us to love those in power and on the margins : white cops , black CNN reporters , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But first , love those you meet for whom no one else is standing , especially those facing the mob .
When Jesus faced a mob , everyone else ran away .
The last thing we should do is resurrect the vile , ridiculous racial animosities of the past .
But while rightly stigmatized , like every good that is deified and wretched from its context ( every heresy ) , anger at “ racism ” has been retooled as a weapon of injustice and oppression itself , and is used to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ canceling , ” burning , looting , and murder .
Loose talk about “ systemic racism ” is justifying new witch-hunts , and the punishment and abasement of some for the sins of their ancestors .
Heresies birth opposing heresies , and destroy civil society .
Jesus is the answer for our world today .
It is time we cast off the cant that breaks this world , and regain a deeper Christian vocabulary and perspective , which includes compassion for those unlike ourselves in every dimension , and the counter-cultural courage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ holds a B.A .
in “ the Russian and Chinese Languages and Marxism , ” an M.A .
in Chinese Religions , and a Ph.D. in Christian Thought and Chinese Tradition .
His most recent book is Jesus is No Myth : The Fingerprints of God on the Gospels .

In the early 1940s, a young white boy (my father) met an African-American woman on a street in West Seattle. “Hello, N-lady!” He said cheerfully. The woman became furious and chased him.
Dad likely picked up the term from his mother, who was from the South, and innocently thought it descriptive, not pejorative. That incident taught him otherwise. I don’t recall ever hearing him say anything contemptuous or hateful about anyone on account of their race. Our generation, and our children’s generation, rightly came to see such language and thoughts as anathema. Modern Americans work and play with, even love, people of other races — who make us laugh and cry, and for whose insights, hard work, and talents we have gained respect.
Great Confusion
Grandma was a great cook, a Christian mystic, a feeder of birds and children, and some sort of “racist.” She never wished ill on anyone on account of their race so far as I know. But she talked disparagingly about “those people,” generally meaning Blacks or Native Americans.
Like almost all Americans until a few minutes ago, I felt relieved American society had turned away from its “racist” past. I put the word in quotes not because I fail to cringe in shame over our great historical sins — hundreds were lynched in the Deep South when Grandma was a girl, millions were slaves two generations earlier — but because the word now creates great confusion. And I believe it’s being used to manipulate and harm our nation.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
Is a “racist” (a) Someone who naively uses the wrong word? (b) Someone who hates those of a different skin color? (c) Only Whites, or also some Blacks and Asians? (d) A black teenager who views a Latino interloper to his neighborhood as a possible threat? (e) A Chinese girl who picks “Asian” when she searches for possible dating partners? (f) A police officer who works in a dicey neighborhood of Philadelphia, and finds himself most often questioning young black males? (And is he also sexist and reverse-agist?) (h) University officials who admit Hispanics and African-Americans ahead of Whites or Asians with higher scores? (i) All white people in America, as Robin DiAngelo, author of White Fragility, claims, because we benefit from a power structure allegedly monopolized by Whites which disadvantages everyone else?
Or does “racist” now mean “witch?” Is the word presently used mainly to demonize people you disagree with, much as words like “counter-revolutionary,” “Jew,” and the “N” word were used in the past?
‘Who Is My Neighbor?’
Muddled thinking is destroying the harmony that America strove for so long, through a bloody war and civil rights protests. Poorly-defined and simplistic concepts of “racism” are turning Americans into moral heretics, an old-fashioned term for “simple-minded dupes,” and tearing our country apart. We need a richer vocabulary and a fuller vision to bring us together again.
For that, turn to Jesus. Whether you believe him to be God or not, he is certainly wiser than the talking heads, sociologists, politicians and the mobs they pander to, who have come to control our national narrative.
Given American history, we need to keep the word “racism” in our moral vocabulary. But we must fit it into a broader vocabulary that takes our full humanity into account.
Someone asked Jesus what was the most important moral law. Jesus replied, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. And love your neighbor as yourself.”
“But who is my neighbor?” The man asked.
Jesus then told the famous story of a man who, like Dad, was out for a stroll, and met someone of another race. This pedestrian was a Samaritan, to the Jews a disfavored tribe. Walking along a mountain road, he met a Jewish man who had been mugged. It was a dangerous neighborhood, with potential gang-bangers behind every rock. But this outcast got off his donkey, cleaned the man up, disinfected his wounds, took him to a nearby hotel, and paid for his care.
Jesus’ Moral Vision
Given American history, we need to keep the word “racism” in our moral vocabulary. But we must fit it into a broader vocabulary that takes our full humanity into account. How much richer and deeper is Jesus’ parable of the “Good Samaritan,” than terms like “systemic racism.” Like a tourniquet, the word “racism” may be necessary in an emergency, but is of little use for most daily activities. Note the advantages of the moral vision behind Jesus’ story:
For Jesus, love begins with God, not man. Love is grounded not in feelings, which change, but in objective truth, a God who judges rightly. Love as Jesus describes it covers every relationship, because in every relationship we are tempted to dominate and abuse. To rework Bob Dylan’s song:
“You may be a state trooper, you might be a young Turk
You may be the head of some big TV network
You may be rich or poor, you may be blind or lame
You may be living in another country under another name
“But you’re gonna wanna use somebody, yes you are
You’re gonna wanna use somebody
Well, it may be Don Lemon or it may be Don Trump
But you’re gonna wanna use somebody.”
We are all guilty under God’s law, whether of “racism” or some other failure to love. Isn’t that one way to bring America together, as sinners? Recognizing our universal tendency to form in-groups and despise other tribes, whether of race, culture, sex, age, religion, class, region, NFL team, or a hundred different axis of good and evil, cuts the ground from all our excuses for scapegoating “the Other.” Jesus’ love is positive. Give a cup of water in the name of the Lord. Feed the hungry. Visit the sick and imprisoned. Pray for your enemies. Hire someone, give them training and a chance. Mind you, negative laws are needed, too: violations against the commandment forbidding sleeping around is destroying our cities. But pure religion is not primarily what you don’t do, petty violations of taboo you avoid. It is how you express love to God and others, maybe beginning when you say “I do,” then do. Jesus describes a love that is specific. Charles Dickens satirized philanthropic English ladies who tried to save Africa, but neglected their own children. Jesus says love those you meet on your daily walk, or maybe before you step out the door. Some walk further than others: my former pastor, for instance, builds wheelchairs for victims of polio in Nigeria. We are called to a worldwide ministry, but that ministry begins not with editorials or Facebook posts, but with the people before our eyes. Christ’s love expresses itself in action. Yes, Batman, it is what you do that defines you. Jesus said that before your girlfriend. But kudus to her for reminding you. The love Jesus spoke of, and modeled, has guts. It stands up to mobs, as Jesus did, and as with the traveling Samaritan, does not even follow leaders when they ignore those in need. That love crosses boundaries, recognizing the image of God in all its forms. Modern chatter about racism, sexism, cisgenderism, ableism, intersectionalism, is not so much wrong as broken, like body parts recomposed into a papier-mâché of Frankenstein’s monster. Jesus calls us to love those in power and on the margins: white cops, black CNN reporters, and all those folk Dylan sang about. But first, love those you meet for whom no one else is standing, especially those facing the mob. When Jesus faced a mob, everyone else ran away.
Jesus Is the Answer
The last thing we should do is resurrect the vile, ridiculous racial animosities of the past. But while rightly stigmatized, like every good that is deified and wretched from its context (every heresy), anger at “racism” has been retooled as a weapon of injustice and oppression itself, and is used to justify spitting, cursing, firing, “canceling,” burning, looting, and murder. Loose talk about “systemic racism” is justifying new witch-hunts, and the punishment and abasement of some for the sins of their ancestors. Heresies birth opposing heresies, and destroy civil society.
Jesus is the answer for our world today.
It is time we cast off the cant that breaks this world, and regain a deeper Christian vocabulary and perspective, which includes compassion for those unlike ourselves in every dimension, and the counter-cultural courage of the Good Samaritan.
David Marshall holds a B.A. in “the Russian and Chinese Languages and Marxism,” an M.A. in Chinese Religions, and a Ph.D. in Christian Thought and Chinese Tradition. His most recent book is Jesus is No Myth: The Fingerprints of God on the Gospels.


thestream--2020-07-04--It is July 4th, and I Am Not Ashamed to Be an American

In today ’ s upside world , you display your patriotism by hating America .
You show your loyalty to your country by being ashamed of your country .
Well , I ’ m going to opt out of that exercise , since I ’ m not ashamed to be an American .
There are many wonderful things about the USA .
To be sure , since I first started preaching in 1973 at the age of 18 , I ’ ve been decrying the sins of our nation .
I ’ ve even written books that begin with words @ @ @ @ @ @ @ !
” I am hardly blind to our many national failings , and in certain ways , we lead the world in sin .
A Business Insider article from 2011 listed , “ 20 Shameful Categories In Which America Leads The World.
” Not much has changed since then .
We could point to abortion .
Or the breakdown of the family .
Or our addiction to porn and our exportation of porn .
Or our racial divisions .
Or gun violence .
Or our staggering debt .
The list goes on .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ America .
But There is Much That is Right But there is also much that is right .
And good .
And noble .
And praiseworthy .
We should be very thankful for all that .
As I tweeted on June 23 , “ If America is such a terrible country , why have we received more immigrants than any other country on the globe for years ?
And why do so many people from around the world come to study at our universities ?
And why do so many want to move @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” It ’ s one thing to point to an idyllic little city-state like Monaco on the French Riviera with less than 40,000 residents .
Perhaps a place like that does not have as many problems as we have here in the States .
Looking at the three most powerful countries on the planet , America , Russia , and China , how many of us are relocating to the Russia or China ?
Or going there to attend university ?
How many of us think of either of those countries as the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the brave ?
And as much as we might deplore the spirit associated with some of the current protests here in America , could you even imagine protests like these in Russia or China ?
Not on your life .
Literally .
We continue to enjoy unique freedoms here , freedoms still unknown throughout much of the world today , especially the Muslim world .
July 4th remains a great day to celebrate those freedoms .
And is there a country on the planet with more opportunities than we have here ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ve spoken to many a first-generation immigrant over the years , it ’ s the word I hear from them over and again : opportunities .
That ’ s what brought them here .
America is also the place of dreams , of doing the impossible , of the sky being the limit .
It ’ s the country of “ can do , ” of doing it bigger and better .
It ’ s only when you travel the world and speak to people from other cultures that you realize how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
We ’ re also a very generous nation .
Many a foreign missionary has told me how much of their support comes from the USA , while we are always on the front lines worldwide with disaster relief .
And we ’ re a nation that has played a key role in the world ’ s balance of power .
Take America out , and the state of the world begins to look very different very quickly .
What Would the World Be Like Without America History professor Timothy Furnish recently wrote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ might happen if America broke up into two countries , which he called Trumplandia and Antifistan .
The results included : • China will emerge as the lone superpower , with much less opposition .
• The world system will be reshaped by China to its benefit .
So human rights , rule of law and democracy will be downgraded .
• Islamic terrorism will increase , as fundamentalists and jihadists are emboldened by the removal of the Great Satan .
• Non-terrorist Islam will also advance , as the Organisation of Islamic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ path to their global agenda that much easier .
Would you prefer a world like this ?
Even when it comes to the issues of slavery , segregation , and racism , things continue to improve .
Virtually none of us could imagine tolerating a society today with outright segregation , let alone one with the horrors of slavery and the slave trade .
That is not who we are today .
We Did Away With Slavery And even when it comes to the ugly sin of slavery , we must remember that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most of the world in centuries past .
As noted by Thomas Sowell , “ Of all the tragic facts about the history of slavery , the most astonishing to an American today is that , although slavery was a worldwide institution for thousands of years , nowhere in the world was slavery a controversial issue prior to the 18th century .
People of every race and color were enslaved — and enslaved others .
White people were still being bought and sold as slaves in the Ottoman Empire , decades after American @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , beginning with the colonies , there was always resistance to slavery .
There was national division over slavery .
And our bloodiest war was fought over slavery .
President Lincoln , in his second inauguration speech , actually stated his belief that the loss of lives in the Civil War ( 620,000 Americans ) was a divine judgment because of slavery .
He said , “ ( T ) he blood drawn with the lash shall be paid by another drawn with the sword.
” There ’ s no doubt that we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to level the playing field for Black Americans .
But we have made real progress .
( See here , for an assessment in 1998 , and here and here for more recent assessments . )
Just consider the massive strides forward in terms of employment opportunities , educational opportunities , and opportunities in the media and politics and science and sports and every other field since the days of segregation .
Again , we certainly have a ways to go , but we can build on the progress made .
And we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we elected a Black man to the White House , even if many of us could not vote for him because of his political views .
He was still our president .
And at this very moment , I truly believe that a Black , conservative Republican candidate running for president would gain the votes of the vast majority of White conservatives .
Ideology , not color , would be the deciding issue .
Certainly , I ’ m all for national repentance gatherings , for public confession of sin , for humbling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for mercy on our land .
And I ’ m all for the Church leading the way .
But I also appreciate the price that was paid for our freedom and I acknowledge the great things God has done in and through America .
We are terribly far from being a perfect union .
But we have been richly blessed .
Let ’ s celebrate those blessings on the 4th of July .
Dr. Michael Brown ( www.askdrbrown.org ) is the host of the nationally syndicated Line of Fire radio program .
His @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : Will We Pass the Trump Test ?
Connect with him on Facebook , Twitter or YouTube .

In today’s upside world, you display your patriotism by hating America. You show your loyalty to your country by being ashamed of your country. Well, I’m going to opt out of that exercise, since I’m not ashamed to be an American. There are many wonderful things about the USA.
Sure, We’re Not Perfect
To be sure, since I first started preaching in 1973 at the age of 18, I’ve been decrying the sins of our nation. I’ve even written books that begin with words like, “America needs to repent!”
I am hardly blind to our many national failings, and in certain ways, we lead the world in sin.
A Business Insider article from 2011 listed, “20 Shameful Categories In Which America Leads The World.” Not much has changed since then.
We could point to abortion. Or the breakdown of the family. Or our addiction to porn and our exportation of porn. Or our racial divisions. Or gun violence. Or our staggering debt. The list goes on. There is much that is wrong with America.
But There Is Much That Is Right
But there is also much that is right. And good. And noble. And praiseworthy.
We should be very thankful for all that.
As I tweeted on June 23, “If America is such a terrible country, why have we received more immigrants than any other country on the globe for years? And why do so many people from around the world come to study at our universities? And why do so many want to move here if we are so bad?”
It’s one thing to point to an idyllic little city-state like Monaco on the French Riviera with less than 40,000 residents. Perhaps a place like that does not have as many problems as we have here in the States.
But let’s compare apples with apples.
Looking at the three most powerful countries on the planet, America, Russia, and China, how many of us are relocating to the Russia or China? Or going there to attend university?
How many of us think of either of those countries as the land of the free or the home of the brave? And as much as we might deplore the spirit associated with some of the current protests here in America, could you even imagine protests like these in Russia or China? Not on your life. Literally.
Our Great Freedoms and Opportunities
We continue to enjoy unique freedoms here, freedoms still unknown throughout much of the world today, especially the Muslim world. July 4th remains a great day to celebrate those freedoms.
And is there a country on the planet with more opportunities than we have here? Any country even close? As I’ve spoken to many a first-generation immigrant over the years, it’s the word I hear from them over and again: opportunities. That’s what brought them here.
We are terribly far from being a perfect union. But we have been richly blessed.
America is also the place of dreams, of doing the impossible, of the sky being the limit. It’s the country of “can do,” of doing it bigger and better. It’s only when you travel the world and speak to people from other cultures that you realize how deeply this attitude is instilled in us.
We’re also a very generous nation. Many a foreign missionary has told me how much of their support comes from the USA, while we are always on the front lines worldwide with disaster relief.
And we’re a nation that has played a key role in the world’s balance of power. Take America out, and the state of the world begins to look very different very quickly.
What Would the World Be Like Without America
History professor Timothy Furnish recently wrote an article on The Stream positing what might happen if America broke up into two countries, which he called Trumplandia and Antifistan. The results included:
China will emerge as the lone superpower, with much less opposition.
The world system will be reshaped by China to its benefit. So human rights, rule of law and democracy will be downgraded.
Islamic terrorism will increase, as fundamentalists and jihadists are emboldened by the removal of the Great Satan.
Non-terrorist Islam will also advance, as the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and its 57 members find the path to their global agenda that much easier.
Would you prefer a world like this?
Even when it comes to the issues of slavery, segregation, and racism, things continue to improve. Virtually none of us could imagine tolerating a society today with outright segregation, let alone one with the horrors of slavery and the slave trade. That is not who we are today.
We Did Away With Slavery
And even when it comes to the ugly sin of slavery, we must remember that this was part of the culture of most of the world in centuries past.
As noted by Thomas Sowell, “Of all the tragic facts about the history of slavery, the most astonishing to an American today is that, although slavery was a worldwide institution for thousands of years, nowhere in the world was slavery a controversial issue prior to the 18th century. People of every race and color were enslaved — and enslaved others. White people were still being bought and sold as slaves in the Ottoman Empire, decades after American blacks were freed.”
Here in America, beginning with the colonies, there was always resistance to slavery. There was national division over slavery. And our bloodiest war was fought over slavery.
President Lincoln, in his second inauguration speech, actually stated his belief that the loss of lives in the Civil War (620,000 Americans) was a divine judgment because of slavery. He said, “(T)he blood drawn with the lash shall be paid by another drawn with the sword.”
There’s no doubt that we still have a good ways to go to level the playing field for Black Americans. But we have made real progress. (See here, for an assessment in 1998, and here and here for more recent assessments.)
Just consider the massive strides forward in terms of employment opportunities, educational opportunities, and opportunities in the media and politics and science and sports and every other field since the days of segregation.
Building Toward a More Perfect Union
Again, we certainly have a ways to go, but we can build on the progress made. And we can take pride in the fact that we elected a Black man to the White House, even if many of us could not vote for him because of his political views. He was still our president.
And at this very moment, I truly believe that a Black, conservative Republican candidate running for president would gain the votes of the vast majority of White conservatives. Ideology, not color, would be the deciding issue.
Certainly, I’m all for national repentance gatherings, for public confession of sin, for humbling ourselves before God, and for pleading for mercy on our land. And I’m all for the Church leading the way.
But I also appreciate the price that was paid for our freedom and I acknowledge the great things God has done in and through America.
We are terribly far from being a perfect union. But we have been richly blessed.
Let’s celebrate those blessings on the 4th of July.
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.


thestream--2020-07-04--Freedom Must be Protected

Freedom Must be Protected

The framers of the Constitution knew that the freedom they offered demanded responsible citizens .
At the close of the Constitutional Convention of 1787 , Benjamin Franklin was asked an important question as he left Independence Hall on the final day of the meeting in Philadelphia .
A woman asked Franklin , “ Well , doctor , what have we got ?
A republic or a monarchy ?
” He wisely answered , “ A republic , if you can keep it.
” Benjamin Franklin , as well as the other founding fathers of our nation , understood that true @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are actively engaged in the task of governing themselves , encouraging all citizens to hold fast to truths espoused in the Declaration of Independence .
If we want to be free , we must learn to govern ourselves .
Ill-informed , irresponsible people can not hold on to freedom ’ s blessings .
Living under God ’ s control allows us not only to enjoy the privileges of freedom but also to protect them .
With deep conviction , I believe we have been on the verge of losing freedom ’ s blessings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ responsible citizens .
More than that , the church has not understood the importance of living under the control of God with the powerful Spirit of God providing the strength for us to enjoy and protect our freedom .
Jesus said the gates of hell — deception , defeat , destruction and debt — will not prevail against the church standing upon God ’ s revealed truth ( Matthew 16:18 ) .
For some time , far too many Christians in America have allowed hell ’ s gates to prevail while they sit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for us to waken from slumber , to confront the culture and to help restore freedom ’ s blessing !
People of faith can and must protect our freedom and inspire strong , stable , effective , limited government power .
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political , Economic and Moral Issues of Our Day .
Jesus commissioned His followers to share the truth that sets people free and keeps them free .
As we have seen , He said , “ If the Son makes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ indeed ” ( John 8:36 ) .
True freedom is living under the control of God , not under the control of any other power or influence .
When we compromise truth , we also compromise freedom and its blessings .
Until recent course corrections , our nation was beginning to follow the course of decaying nations .
Tragically , some of our congressional leaders have actually suggested we follow other nations ’ freedom-damaging course .
I will gladly spend the rest of my life inspiring others to action .
God is calling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He is calling us to repentance ; to a personal , intimate relationship with Him ; and to the restoration of freedom ’ s foundation .
Religion is strong enough to make men hate one another , but it is not strong enough to make men love one another .
God is calling us to a life filled with the power of transforming love and the boldness of New Testament believers to stand against the powers of this present darkness .
A dying world is waiting for the release of the river of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of yielded believers .
When God rules in individual lives , sound principles will prevail in our land .
Jesus said Christians are the “ salt of the earth.
” He made it clear that if we lose the powerful effect of preserving that which is precious , then all that is of value , life , liberty , freedom and even the sacred will be trampled under the feet of men .
Now is the time for all believers to join everyone with common sense and vote out of office those who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who will help protect and preserve freedom .
Leaders must no longer be chosen because of personality , party affiliation , or skillful communication .
They must be chosen because of their commitment to God-given principles necessary for the survival of true freedom .
May we as Christians and lovers of freedom stand together to protect it !
We will either witness the glorious future of freedom or the tragedy of its funeral .
James Robison is The Stream ‘ s founder and publisher .
He is co-founder of LIFE Outreach International and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s the author of many books , including Indivisible ( with Jay Richards ) and Living Amazed .

The framers of the Constitution knew that the freedom they offered demanded responsible citizens. At the close of the Constitutional Convention of 1787, Benjamin Franklin was asked an important question as he left Independence Hall on the final day of the meeting in Philadelphia. A woman asked Franklin, “Well, doctor, what have we got? A republic or a monarchy?” He wisely answered, “A republic, if you can keep it.”
Benjamin Franklin, as well as the other founding fathers of our nation, understood that true liberty requires support from principled statesmen who are actively engaged in the task of governing themselves, encouraging all citizens to hold fast to truths espoused in the Declaration of Independence. If we want to be free, we must learn to govern ourselves. Ill-informed, irresponsible people cannot hold on to freedom’s blessings. Living under God’s control allows us not only to enjoy the privileges of freedom but also to protect them.
Losing Freedom’s Blessings
With deep conviction, I believe we have been on the verge of losing freedom’s blessings because we have too few informed and responsible citizens. More than that, the church has not understood the importance of living under the control of God with the powerful Spirit of God providing the strength for us to enjoy and protect our freedom.
Jesus said the gates of hell — deception, defeat, destruction and debt — will not prevail against the church standing upon God’s revealed truth (Matthew 16:18). For some time, far too many Christians in America have allowed hell’s gates to prevail while they sit in church. Now is the time for us to waken from slumber, to confront the culture and to help restore freedom’s blessing! People of faith can and must protect our freedom and inspire strong, stable, effective, limited government power.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
Jesus commissioned His followers to share the truth that sets people free and keeps them free. As we have seen, He said, “If the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:36). True freedom is living under the control of God, not under the control of any other power or influence. When we compromise truth, we also compromise freedom and its blessings.
Until recent course corrections, our nation was beginning to follow the course of decaying nations. Tragically, some of our congressional leaders have actually suggested we follow other nations’ freedom-damaging course.
God is Calling Us
I will gladly spend the rest of my life inspiring others to action. God is calling us to far more than religion. He is calling us to repentance; to a personal, intimate relationship with Him; and to the restoration of freedom’s foundation.
Religion is strong enough to make men hate one another, but it is not strong enough to make men love one another. God is calling us to a life filled with the power of transforming love and the boldness of New Testament believers to stand against the powers of this present darkness. A dying world is waiting for the release of the river of life that flows freely from the lives of yielded believers.
When God rules in individual lives, sound principles will prevail in our land. Jesus said Christians are the “salt of the earth.” He made it clear that if we lose the powerful effect of preserving that which is precious, then all that is of value, life, liberty, freedom and even the sacred will be trampled under the feet of men.
Now is the time for all believers to join everyone with common sense and vote out of office those who refuse wisdom from above and elect those who will help protect and preserve freedom. Leaders must no longer be chosen because of personality, party affiliation, or skillful communication. They must be chosen because of their commitment to God-given principles necessary for the survival of true freedom.
May we as Christians and lovers of freedom stand together to protect it! We will either witness the glorious future of freedom or the tragedy of its funeral.
James Robison is The Stream‘s founder and publisher. He is co-founder of LIFE Outreach International and co-host of LIFE Today. He’s the author of many books, including Indivisible (with Jay Richards) and Living Amazed.
Republished from July 3, 2019


thestream--2020-07-04--Charles Spurgeon Explains How to Live Well

It ’ s an old proverb that may teach us more than it taught people in the past .
“ Friends are like fiddle-strings , they must not be screwed too tight.
” When people feel so lonely and so disconnected from family , community , church , they ’ re going to lean too hard on their friends .
And that usually backfires , leaving them lonelier than them were .
The nineteenth century great Charles Spurgeon warned , “ We must not expect unreasonable things of them , nor provoke them , even in jest , nor exact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this in a book called Salt-cellars , published in 1892 .
( We would say “ salt shakers.
” ) A Baptist , and one of the giants of his age , he collected hundreds of proverbs and gives his own take on them .
He ’ s usually insightful , often striking , and sometimes funny .
The text of the book can be found here if you want to copy sections from it and here if you want read the original .
This is the third article sharing his insights .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ why he wrote this way .
And learn from the great preacher “ How to Speak Like a Christian ( and Not Like a Fool , a Bully , or a Buffoon ) .
” See the second article for his instructions on “ How to Live Like a Christian ( and Be Happy , Not Miserable ) .
” For more from the wise men and women of the past , see # StreamChristianClassics .
Here are a few of his insights on living the good life .
They ’ re true @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but not religious .
More good common sense .
A cow is not ashamed because it can not fly Let no man blush because he can not do what he was never made for .
The coachman on the Bath coach could not tell the names of the gentry who owned the mansions along the road , but he gave a fine answer to the angry passenger who asked , “ What do you know ?
” when he replied , “ I know how to drive this coach to Bath.
” Many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it well .
Even to keep it is not easy .
Many of the silliest investments have been made by men who , in their own business , were shrewd to the highest degree .
It is harder to weave than to gather wool .
Fire begins with little sparks : crime begins with evil thoughts Farmer !
Don ’ t rake your fields with a small-tooth comb Some would do so , if they could , to get up the last ear of corn from the gleaner .
This is a wretched @ @ @ @ @ @ @ counsel or physic till he asks it He will not value it even if it should prove to be wise , and you will have the blame if it turns out to be unsuitable .
Advice gratis Seldom great is .
The best harvest is the longest in being reached Archbishop Whateley said , “ The man who is in a hurry to see tho full effects of his own tillage must cultivate annuals and not forest trees.
” Only children will be in such foolish haste .
Maidens should be mild and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to speak .
The advice will apply to men also ; but the men like advising the women , better than doing right themselves .
A fault confessed is half redressed By the confession of it , the man has begun to undo the mischief of his action .
Let us hope he will redress the other half .
A fault once excused is twice committed By the excuse you try to justify the wrong , and so you do it again .
By the fault you commit a trespass , but by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of claim to a right of way ; and this is a worse injury than the first offense .
Make home happy , and you will be happy at home .
A golden sentence .
When anyone ceases to care for his home , it is one of the worse possible signs of moral sickness .
Fair and softly goes far in a day Hurry exhausts itself ; a judicious pace is best for traveling and working .
Begin as you hope to go on , and then go on , and on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ goes down .
Feel for others — in your pocket Practical , pecuniary sympathy is more useful than mere talk .
“ I feel for the poor man , ” said one .
“ Friend , how much does thou feel ?
” said the Quaker .
“ Dost thou feel five shillings for him ?
If so , I will put my feelings along with thine.
” The arm is the stronger , but the tongue is the longer When the strong arm is weary , the nimble tongue still runs its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pity .
Fools run in packs ; the wise oft walk alone Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political , Economic and Moral Issues of Our Day .
Zeal without knowledge is like haste to a man in the dark It leads to blunders and accidents .
Give to the poor and you shall have more Generosity is not a waster of man ’ s substance , but an improver of it .
“ We all can do better than yet we have done , And not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ never was loving that emptied the heart , Nor giving that emptied the purse.
” For a dead opportunity there is no resurrection Sir Richard Baker saith : “ To let time slip is a reverseless crime : You may have time again , but not the time.
” Fore-think , though you can not foretell Give the benefit of doubt Till the truth is fully out .
This is what you would choose if it were your own case , and therefore act thus towards others .
The adviser is not the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who gives advice as a general rule has nothing to lose in the matter .
Be chary of the counsel of one who carefully keeps on shore but exhorts you to go to sea .
Fools think that others do not think A little oil may save a deal of friction Just a kind word and a yielding manner , and anger and complaining will be avoided .
Gentle words are hard to answer A company of drinking men in Boston , New England , saw Mr. Cotton , the venerable pastor , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will go , ” said one of them , “ and put a trick upon old Cotton.
” Crossing over the road the rude fellow whispers into the minister ’ s ear : “ Cotton , thou art an old fool.
” Mr. Cotton replied , “ I am afraid I am so .
The Lord make both thee and me wiser than we are , even wise to salvation.
” The fellow returned to his companions thoroughly ashamed ; and , when they had forced him to repeat good Mr. Cotton ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an end .
Hard language would have set them on reply , but the soft word silenced them .
That man is surely badly bred , who ’ s strong in the arm but weak in the head Of this bad breed there are many .
Giants in muscle and dwarfs in mind .
Men weak in the head are generally head strong .
Fight , but fight only with yourself Self-conquest is the greatest of victories .
Many have vanquished all others , and yet have been slaves to their own passions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wife A gracious disposition in the one influences the other , and little faults are almost insensibly cured .
The proverb is equally true in reference to the wife , but she has harder material to work upon , and sometimes she fails to make her husband what he should be .
Friends are like fiddle-strings , they must not be screwed too tight We must not expect unreasonable things of them , nor provoke them , even in jest , nor exact excessive esteem from them .
Good fences make good neighbors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ must be respected between friends as well as foes .
Meum and tuum [ mine and thine ] must be rigidly distinguished among the dearest relatives .
A dear separation of properties and a keeping out of strays , are both very needful for harmony .
Even a wandering hen may scratch up a quarrel , and a hog may uproot an old friendship .
Go after wisdom , or it will never come to you .
A suggestive preacher once said , “ Do not suppose that wisdom is so much flattered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she will set you easy lessons , and yet give you the gold medal.
” Feed a bear , and his claws will grow Feed a quarrel by saying fresh words of strife , and the result will be more anger and malice than at the first .
The difficult thing is to get your foot in the stirrup To begin is the difficult matter .
Once mounted , riding will be simple enough .
To get some men really into the stirrups is the hard matter ; they hesitate and remain undecided @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a great thing for a young man to get his foot on the ladder , even if it be the lowest rung .
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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Institute Press .

It’s an old proverb that may teach us more than it taught people in the past. “Friends are like fiddle-strings, they must not be screwed too tight.” When people feel so lonely and so disconnected from family, community, church, they’re going to lean too hard on their friends.
And that usually backfires, leaving them lonelier than them were. The nineteenth century great Charles Spurgeon warned, “We must not expect unreasonable things of them, nor provoke them, even in jest, nor exact excessive esteem from them.”
In Salt-Cellars
Spurgeon wrote this in a book called Salt-cellars, published in 1892. (We would say “salt shakers.”) A Baptist, and one of the giants of his age, he collected hundreds of proverbs and gives his own take on them. He’s usually insightful, often striking, and sometimes funny. The text of the book can be found here if you want to copy sections from it and here if you want read the original.
This is the third article sharing his insights. See the first for an explanation of why he wrote this way. And learn from the great preacher “How to Speak Like a Christian (and Not Like a Fool, a Bully, or a Buffoon).” See the second article for his instructions on “How to Live Like a Christian (and Be Happy, Not Miserable).” For more from the wise men and women of the past, see #StreamChristianClassics.
Here are a few of his insights on living the good life. They’re true for the Christian, of course, but not religious. More good common sense.
A cow is not ashamed because it cannot fly
Let no man blush because he cannot do what he was never made for. The coachman on the Bath coach could not tell the names of the gentry who owned the mansions along the road, but he gave a fine answer to the angry passenger who asked, “What do you know?” when he replied, “I know how to drive this coach to Bath.”
Many can get money; few can use it well.
Even to keep it is not easy. Many of the silliest investments have been made by men who, in their own business, were shrewd to the highest degree. It is harder to weave than to gather wool.
Fire begins with little sparks: crime begins with evil thoughts
Farmer! Don’t rake your fields with a small-tooth comb
Some would do so, if they could, to get up the last ear of corn from the gleaner. This is a wretched form of economy.
Give no man counsel or physic till he asks it
He will not value it even if it should prove to be wise, and you will have the blame if it turns out to be unsuitable.
Advice gratis
Seldom great is.
The best harvest is the longest in being reached
Archbishop Whateley said, “The man who is in a hurry to see tho full effects of his own tillage must cultivate annuals and not forest trees.” Only children will be in such foolish haste.
Maidens should be mild and meek,
Swift to hear and slow to speak.
The advice will apply to men also; but the men like advising the women, better than doing right themselves.
A fault confessed is half redressed
By the confession of it, the man has begun to undo the mischief of his action. Let us hope he will redress the other half.
A fault once excused is twice committed
By the excuse you try to justify the wrong, and so you do it again. By the fault you commit a trespass, but by an excuse you set up a sort of claim to a right of way; and this is a worse injury than the first offense.
Make home happy, and you will be happy at home.
A golden sentence. When anyone ceases to care for his home, it is one of the worse possible signs of moral sickness.
Fair and softly goes far in a day
Hurry exhausts itself; a judicious pace is best for traveling and working. Begin as you hope to go on, and then go on, and on, and on, till your sun goes down.
Feel for others — in your pocket
Practical, pecuniary sympathy is more useful than mere talk. “I feel for the poor man,” said one. “Friend, how much does thou feel?” said the Quaker. “Dost thou feel five shillings for him? If so, I will put my feelings along with thine.”
The arm is the stronger, but the tongue is the longer
When the strong arm is weary, the nimble tongue still runs its race. The more’s the pity.
Fools run in packs; the wise oft walk alone
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
Zeal without knowledge is like haste to a man in the dark
It leads to blunders and accidents.
Give to the poor and you shall have more
Generosity is not a waster of man’s substance, but an improver of it.
“We all can do better than yet we have done,
And not be a whit the worse;
It never was loving that emptied the heart,
Nor giving that emptied the purse.”
For a dead opportunity there is no resurrection Sir Richard Baker saith:
“To let time slip is a reverseless crime:
You may have time again, but not the time.”
Fore-think, though you cannot foretell
Give the benefit of doubt Till the truth is fully out.
This is what you would choose if it were your own case, and therefore act thus towards others.
The adviser is not the payer
That is to say, he who gives advice as a general rule has nothing to lose in the matter. Be chary of the counsel of one who carefully keeps on shore but exhorts you to go to sea.
Fools think that others do not think
A little oil may save a deal of friction
Just a kind word and a yielding manner, and anger and complaining will be avoided.
Gentle words are hard to answer
A company of drinking men in Boston, New England, saw Mr. Cotton, the venerable pastor, coming along the street. “I will go,” said one of them, “and put a trick upon old Cotton.” Crossing over the road the rude fellow whispers into the minister’s ear: “Cotton, thou art an old fool.” Mr. Cotton replied, “I am afraid I am so. The Lord make both thee and me wiser than we are, even wise to salvation.” The fellow returned to his companions thoroughly ashamed; and, when they had forced him to repeat good Mr. Cotton’s words, their frolic came to an end. Hard language would have set them on reply, but the soft word silenced them.
That man is surely badly bred, who’s strong in the arm but weak in the head
Of this bad breed there are many. Giants in muscle and dwarfs in mind. Men weak in the head are generally head strong.
Fight, but fight only with yourself
Self-conquest is the greatest of victories. Many have vanquished all others, and yet have been slaves to their own passions.
A good husband makes a good wife
A gracious disposition in the one influences the other, and little faults are almost insensibly cured. The proverb is equally true in reference to the wife, but she has harder material to work upon, and sometimes she fails to make her husband what he should be.
Friends are like fiddle-strings, they must not be screwed too tight
We must not expect unreasonable things of them, nor provoke them, even in jest, nor exact excessive esteem from them.
Good fences make good neighbors.
Experience has proved that all rights must be respected between friends as well as foes. Meum and tuum [mine and thine] must be rigidly distinguished among the dearest relatives. A dear separation of properties and a keeping out of strays, are both very needful for harmony. Even a wandering hen may scratch up a quarrel, and a hog may uproot an old friendship.
Go after wisdom, or it will never come to you.
A suggestive preacher once said, “Do not suppose that wisdom is so much flattered at having you for a pupil that she will set you easy lessons, and yet give you the gold medal.”
Feed a bear, and his claws will grow
Feed a quarrel by saying fresh words of strife, and the result will be more anger and malice than at the first.
The difficult thing is to get your foot in the stirrup
To begin is the difficult matter. Once mounted, riding will be simple enough. To get some men really into the stirrups is the hard matter; they hesitate and remain undecided. To get a livelihood it is a great thing for a young man to get his foot on the ladder, even if it be the lowest rung.
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--2020-07-04--Military Photo of the Day: Independence Day 2020

U.S. Army soldiers hold up the American flag at Al Asad Air Base in Iraq on May 29 , 2020 @ @ @ @ @ brave men and women of the United States military for defending our freedom .
There @ @ @ @ @ July celebration without your sacrifices .
Stay safe !
Please Support The Stream : Equipping @ @ @ @ @ the Political , Economic and Moral Issues of Our Day .

U.S. Army soldiers hold up the American flag at Al Asad Air Base in Iraq on May 29, 2020.
Thank you to the brave men and women of the United States military for defending our freedom. There would be no Fourth of July celebration without your sacrifices. Stay safe!
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.


thestream--2020-07-04--Freedom’s Forgotten Lesson, and the New Sacrifice We Now Must Make

Mein Kampf .
Das Kapital .
The Communist Manifesto .
The Little Red Book .
The Magna Carta .
Common Sense .
The Declaration of Independence .
The Emancipation Proclamation .
Every great revolution happens first on paper .
Every battle fought with weapons is preceded by a battle of ideas .
America ’ s fight for independence was finally finished at Yorktown , but it began in candle-lit rooms with books and quill pens .
A nation ’ s destiny is determined by the ideas it ingests , and America has mostly forgotten how to read .
That includes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ve been writing on Christian/conservative strategy against the current lunacy .
Up till now I ’ ve focused on near-term strategy to protect our loved ones and contain the damage .
Now it ’ s time to talk about actually defeating the madness .
That ’ s no short-term project .
It ’ s going to take years , maybe decades , barring God ’ s special intervention .
And it ’ s going to require us doing what we haven ’ t done in decades : studying .
I ’ ll @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to say that .
America ’ s founding was brilliant , a work of unsurpassed political wisdom .
Where do we think that brilliance came from ?
Clean air and lots of trees ?
Rugged independence ?
The “ American spirit ” ?
No .
The Founders were students .
They knew their Bible , for starters , and that includes men like Jefferson who didn ’ t believe all of it .
They knew their Hobbes and their Rousseau , their Locke and their Burke .
They knew the Magna Carta , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ European history .
Our nation ’ s founders knew the good and the bad in political theory .
They advanced the good — a work of genius indeed , but not invented from nothing .
They built upon previous works of brilliance .
And now in America we ’ re experiencing another attempted revolution , dedicated to tearing it all down .
This one started on paper , too .
Atheist and skeptical philosophers have long been clawing at the roots of sexual morality , going back at least to Russell .
Antonio @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Madsen published a disturbingly brilliant strategy to cause America to “ conquer its fear and hatred of gays in the ‘ 90s ” — to embrace homosexuality , that is .
The revolution began in academia .
It really took off when the rebels of the 1960s became the professors of the 1980s and beyond .
“ White privilege , ” “ Intersectionality , ” and all the other slogans today ’ s mobs use to justify their uprising — they all came out of the universities .
And the university ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our education systems , through the legal systems , and by way of an eagerly welcoming media , into the mind of America .
One might even say , into mindless America .
Mindless America follows slogans rather than thinking through ideas .
“ Black lives matter ” — well , of course they do !
But what does that slogan contain , beyond the direct meaning of those three words ?
The organization of that name has a lot more on its agenda than racial equality .
It stands for destroying the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ black lives ” need most in order to recover from their struggles .
BLM stands for socialism , abortion , and sexual libertinism , none of which will do blacks any good in the long run .
Still the slogan reigns over all .
To question BLM , the organization , is to question whether black lives are important or not .
That ’ s mindless .
And now , when nothing could be more important politically than learning from our history , both good and bad , the mobs want to destroy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ serious lock on the flow of ideas in America , and there ’ s only one way to break it : by out-studying them and out-thinking them .
The Sacrifice We Must Make Today Do we want to protect our freedoms ?
To emulate our Founders ?
Then we ’ ll have to sacrifice for it .
This is not going to be easy .
We ’ ve got decades of damage to undo , and it ’ s going to take decades to do it .
We can try shortcuts , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fail .
We ’ ve got to take the long view , which begins now with training ourselves , gearing ourselves up for the fight we must fight .
The strategy I ’ m calling for here isn ’ t our only one , and it won ’ t be enough by itself .
We need strategies of prayer , too .
We may even ( God help us ! )
need serious strategies of covert communication , organizing to defend ourselves .
Even if it comes to the worst case , though @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ultimate victory won ’ t be won with guns but with ideas .
We ’ ve got to get ourselves equipped to fight for it .
I said “ sacrifice , ” and I understand that ’ s necessary .
Here ’ s what it ’ s going to take : Study .
Serious study .
Hours of study .
If not ourselves , then our children ; that is , parents and pastors alike must urge our children to grow up as experts in both the good and the bad in theology @ @ @ @ @ @ @ politics , the sciences , the arts , and more .
Start Now to Emulate the Founders If that ’ s too much to digest , then start slow : Just read a book .
A good one .
Read James Robison and Jay Richards ’ Indivisible .
At eight years old , it ’ s still the best single volume out there now , analyzing our current social and political situation .
Read it carefully and thoughtfully , then read another good book .
And another one .
Read entire books , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of reading and clicking , reading and clicking .
It hardly matters which books you choose , though I recommend you angle toward ones with good reputations and more than 50 years old .
It ’ s about getting back in the habit of reading and thinking again .
Read to your kids — good books , still , of course .
Home school them in the classics , or send them to a school that teaches that way .
Let them grow up knowing how to think .
Please Support The Stream @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Political , Economic and Moral Issues of Our Day .
Is this real strategy ?
Will it really push back the mobs ?
Not in the short term , obviously , but again , we dare not think of this as a short term campaign .
For the long run , this most definitely is what it ’ ll take .
It may be a forgotten strategy , a forgotten lesson of freedom , but we ’ ve absolutely got to recover our minds if we ’ re going to recover our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coincidence , here on this July 4th , that by doing so we ’ ll also be emulating the Founders .
Part of a series on Strategy Against the Lunacy .
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 .

Mein Kampf. Das Kapital. The Communist Manifesto. The Little Red Book.
The Magna Carta. Common Sense. The Declaration of Independence. The Emancipation Proclamation.
Every great revolution happens first on paper. Every battle fought with weapons is preceded by a battle of ideas. America’s fight for independence was finally finished at Yorktown, but it began in candle-lit rooms with books and quill pens.
A nation’s destiny is determined by the ideas it ingests, and America has mostly forgotten how to read. That includes especially conservative, Christian America.
I’ve been writing on Christian/conservative strategy against the current lunacy. Up till now I’ve focused on near-term strategy to protect our loved ones and contain the damage. Now it’s time to talk about actually defeating the madness. That’s no short-term project. It’s going to take years, maybe decades, barring God’s special intervention. And it’s going to require us doing what we haven’t done in decades: studying.
I’ll bet you weren’t expecting me to say that.
Our Brilliant Founding
America’s founding was brilliant, a work of unsurpassed political wisdom. Where do we think that brilliance came from? Clean air and lots of trees? Rugged independence? The “American spirit”? No. The Founders were students. They knew their Bible, for starters, and that includes men like Jefferson who didn’t believe all of it. They knew their Hobbes and their Rousseau, their Locke and their Burke. They knew the Magna Carta, their English common law, and their European history.
Our nation’s founders knew the good and the bad in political theory. They advanced the good — a work of genius indeed, but not invented from nothing. They built upon previous works of brilliance.
Today’s Revolution
And now in America we’re experiencing another attempted revolution, dedicated to tearing it all down. This one started on paper, too. Atheist and skeptical philosophers have long been clawing at the roots of sexual morality, going back at least to Russell. Antonio Gramsci founded cultural Marxism. Kirk and Madsen published a disturbingly brilliant strategy to cause America to “conquer its fear and hatred of gays in the ‘90s” — to embrace homosexuality, that is.
The revolution began in academia. It really took off when the rebels of the 1960s became the professors of the 1980s and beyond. “White privilege,” “Intersectionality,” and all the other slogans today’s mobs use to justify their uprising — they all came out of the universities.
And the university’s influence has spread through the rest of our education systems, through the legal systems, and by way of an eagerly welcoming media, into the mind of America. One might even say, into mindless America.
Mindless Sloganeering
Mindless America follows slogans rather than thinking through ideas. “Black lives matter” — well, of course they do! But what does that slogan contain, beyond the direct meaning of those three words? The organization of that name has a lot more on its agenda than racial equality. It stands for destroying the nuclear family, the very thing “black lives” need most in order to recover from their struggles. BLM stands for socialism, abortion, and sexual libertinism, none of which will do blacks any good in the long run.
It may be a forgotten strategy, a forgotten lesson of freedom, but we’ve absolutely got to recover our minds if we’re going to recover our freedoms.
Still the slogan reigns over all. To question BLM, the organization, is to question whether black lives are important or not. That’s mindless.
And now, when nothing could be more important politically than learning from our history, both good and bad, the mobs want to destroy it instead.
The left has a serious lock on the flow of ideas in America, and there’s only one way to break it: by out-studying them and out-thinking them.
The Sacrifice We Must Make Today
Do we want to protect our freedoms? To emulate our Founders? Then we’ll have to sacrifice for it. This is not going to be easy. We’ve got decades of damage to undo, and it’s going to take decades to do it. We can try shortcuts, but mark my words, they’ll fail. We’ve got to take the long view, which begins now with training ourselves, gearing ourselves up for the fight we must fight.
The strategy I’m calling for here isn’t our only one, and it won’t be enough by itself. We need strategies of prayer, too. We may even (God help us!) need serious strategies of covert communication, organizing to defend ourselves. Even if it comes to the worst case, though, civil war in America, the ultimate victory won’t be won with guns but with ideas. We’ve got to get ourselves equipped to fight for it.
I said “sacrifice,” and I understand that’s necessary. Here’s what it’s going to take: Study. Serious study. Hours of study. If not ourselves, then our children; that is, parents and pastors alike must urge our children to grow up as experts in both the good and the bad in theology, philosophy, history, sociology, politics, the sciences, the arts, and more.
Start Now to Emulate the Founders
If that’s too much to digest, then start slow: Just read a book. A good one. Read James Robison and Jay Richards’ Indivisible. At eight years old, it’s still the best single volume out there now, analyzing our current social and political situation. Read it carefully and thoughtfully, then read another good book. And another one. Read entire books, to break yourself of the internet habit of reading and clicking, reading and clicking. It hardly matters which books you choose, though I recommend you angle toward ones with good reputations and more than 50 years old. It’s about getting back in the habit of reading and thinking again.
Read to your kids — good books, still, of course. Home school them in the classics, or send them to a school that teaches that way. Let them grow up knowing how to think.
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Is this real strategy? Will it really push back the mobs? Not in the short term, obviously, but again, we dare not think of this as a short term campaign. For the long run, this most definitely is what it’ll take. It may be a forgotten strategy, a forgotten lesson of freedom, but we’ve absolutely got to recover our minds if we’re going to recover our freedoms.
And it’s no coincidence, here on this July 4th, that by doing so we’ll also be emulating the Founders.
Part of a series on Strategy Against the Lunacy.
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--2020-07-04--President Reagan’s Independence Day Speech: July 4, 1986

On July 4 , 1986 , President Ronald Reagan addressed the nation from the USS John F. Kennedy .
With the newly refurbished Statue of Liberty behind him , the nation ’ s 40th president gave one of his most inspiring , patriotic speeches to help America celebrate its independence .
In a few moments the celebration will begin here in New York Harbor .
It ’ s going to be quite a show .
I was just looking over the preparations and thinking about a saying that we had back in Hollywood about never doing a scene with kids @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the scene every time .
So , you can rest assured I wouldn ’ t even think about trying to compete with a fireworks display , especially on the Fourth of July .
My remarks tonight will be brief , but it ’ s worth remembering that all the celebration of this day is rooted in history .
It ’ s recorded that shortly after the Declaration of Independence was signed in Philadelphia celebrations took place throughout the land , and many of the former Colonists — they were just starting to call @ @ @ @ @ @ @ marched in fife and drum parades .
What a contrast with the sober scene that had taken place a short time earlier in Independence Hall .
Fifty-six men came forward to sign the parchment .
It was noted at the time that they pledged their lives , their fortunes , and their sacred honors .
And that was more than rhetoric ; each of those men knew the penalty for high treason to the Crown .
‘ We must all hang together , ” Benjamin Franklin said , ‘ or , assuredly , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ John Hancock , it is said , wrote his signature in large script so King George could see it without his spectacles .
They were brave .
They stayed brave through all the bloodshed of the coming years .
Their courage created a nation built on a universal claim to human dignity , on the proposition that every man , woman , and child had a right to a future of freedom .
For just a moment , let us listen to the words again : ‘ We hold these truths to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ equal , that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights , that among these are Life , Liberty , and the pursuit of Happiness.
’ Last night when we rededicated Miss Liberty and relit her torch , we reflected on all the millions who came here in search of the dream of freedom inaugurated in Independence Hall .
We reflected , too , on their courage in coming great distances and settling in a foreign land and then passing on to their children and their children ’ s children the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ behind us : the hope that is America .
It is a hope that someday every people and every nation of the world will know the blessings of liberty .
And it ’ s the hope of millions all around the world .
In the last few years , I ’ ve spoken at Westminster to the mother of Parliaments ; at Versailles , where French kings and world leaders have made war and peace .
I ’ ve been to the Vatican in Rome , the Imperial Palace in Japan , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ve seen the beaches of Normandy and stood again with those boys of Pointe du Hoc , who long ago scaled the heights , and with , at that time , Lisa Zanatta Henn , who was at Omaha Beach for the father she loved , the father who had once dreamed of seeing again the place where he and so many brave others had landed on D-day .
But he had died before he could make that trip , and she made it for him .
‘ And , Dad , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ll always be proud.
’ And I ’ ve seen the successors to these brave men , the young Americans in uniform all over the world , young Americans like you here tonight who man the mighty U.S.S .
Kennedy and the Iowa and other ships of the line .
I can assure you , you out there who are listening , that these young are like their fathers and their grandfathers , just as willing , just as brave .
And we can be just as proud .
But our prayer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ courage will never come .
And that it ’ s important for us , too , to be brave ; not so much the bravery of the battlefield , I mean the bravery of brotherhood .
All through our history , our Presidents and leaders have spoken of national unity and warned us that the real obstacle to moving forward the boundaries of freedom , the only permanent danger to the hope that is America , comes from within .
It ’ s easy enough to dismiss this as a kind of familiar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even two of our greatest Founding Fathers , John Adams and Thomas Jefferson , once learned this lesson late in life .
They ’ d worked so closely together in Philadelphia for independence .
But once that was gained and a government was formed , something called partisan politics began to get in the way .
After a bitter and divisive campaign , Jefferson defeated Adams for the Presidency in 1800 .
And the night before Jefferson ’ s inauguration , Adams slipped away to Boston , disappointed , brokenhearted , and bitter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But then when both had retired , Jefferson at 68 to Monticello and Adams at 76 to Quincy , they began through their letters to speak again to each other .
Letters that discussed almost every conceivable subject : gardening , horseback riding , even sneezing as a cure for hiccups ; but other subjects as well : the loss of loved ones , the mystery of grief and sorrow , the importance of religion , and of course the last thoughts , the final hopes of two old men , two great @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had helped to found and loved so deeply .
‘ It carries me back , ’ Jefferson wrote about correspondence with his cosigner of the Declaration of Independence , ‘ to the times when , beset with difficulties and dangers , we were fellow laborers in the same cause , struggling for what is most valuable to man , his right to self-government .
Laboring always at the same oar , with some wave ever ahead threatening to overwhelm us and yet passing harmless .
.
.
we rowed through the storm with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ It was their last gift to us , this lesson in brotherhood , in tolerance for each other , this insight into America ’ s strength as a nation .
And when both died on the same day within hours of each other , that date was July 4th , 50 years exactly after that first gift to us , the Declaration of Independence .
My fellow Americans , it falls to us to keep faith with them and all the great Americans of our past .
Believe me , if there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ me after the privilege of holding for 5 1/2 years the office held by Adams and Jefferson and Lincoln , it is this : that the things that unite us — America ’ s past of which we ’ re so proud , our hopes and aspirations for the future of the world and this much-loved country — these things far outweigh what little divides us .
And so tonight we reaffirm that Jew and gentile , we are one nation under God ; that black and white , we are one nation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we are all Americans .
Tonight , with heart and hand , through whatever trial and travail , we pledge ourselves to each other and to the cause of human freedom , the cause that has given light to this land and hope to the world .
My fellow Americans , we ’ re known around the world as a confident and a happy people .
Tonight there ’ s much to celebrate and many blessings to be grateful for .
So while it ’ s good to talk about serious things , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just as American to have some fun .
Now , let ’ s have some fun — let the celebration begin !
” Text prepared by the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum .
Originally published at The Stream on July 3 , 2015

On July 4, 1986, President Ronald Reagan addressed the nation from the USS John F. Kennedy. With the newly refurbished Statue of Liberty behind him, the nation’s 40th president gave one of his most inspiring, patriotic speeches to help America celebrate its independence.
“My fellow Americans:
In a few moments the celebration will begin here in New York Harbor. It’s going to be quite a show. I was just looking over the preparations and thinking about a saying that we had back in Hollywood about never doing a scene with kids or animals because they’d steal the scene every time. So, you can rest assured I wouldn’t even think about trying to compete with a fireworks display, especially on the Fourth of July.
My remarks tonight will be brief, but it’s worth remembering that all the celebration of this day is rooted in history. It’s recorded that shortly after the Declaration of Independence was signed in Philadelphia celebrations took place throughout the land, and many of the former Colonists — they were just starting to call themselves Americans — set off cannons and marched in fife and drum parades.
What a contrast with the sober scene that had taken place a short time earlier in Independence Hall. Fifty-six men came forward to sign the parchment. It was noted at the time that they pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honors. And that was more than rhetoric; each of those men knew the penalty for high treason to the Crown. ‘We must all hang together,” Benjamin Franklin said, ‘or, assuredly, we will all hang separately.’ And John Hancock, it is said, wrote his signature in large script so King George could see it without his spectacles. They were brave. They stayed brave through all the bloodshed of the coming years. Their courage created a nation built on a universal claim to human dignity, on the proposition that every man, woman, and child had a right to a future of freedom.
For just a moment, let us listen to the words again: ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.’ Last night when we rededicated Miss Liberty and relit her torch, we reflected on all the millions who came here in search of the dream of freedom inaugurated in Independence Hall. We reflected, too, on their courage in coming great distances and settling in a foreign land and then passing on to their children and their children’s children the hope symbolized in this statue here just behind us: the hope that is America. It is a hope that someday every people and every nation of the world will know the blessings of liberty.
And it’s the hope of millions all around the world. In the last few years, I’ve spoken at Westminster to the mother of Parliaments; at Versailles, where French kings and world leaders have made war and peace. I’ve been to the Vatican in Rome, the Imperial Palace in Japan, and the ancient city of Beijing. I’ve seen the beaches of Normandy and stood again with those boys of Pointe du Hoc, who long ago scaled the heights, and with, at that time, Lisa Zanatta Henn, who was at Omaha Beach for the father she loved, the father who had once dreamed of seeing again the place where he and so many brave others had landed on D-day. But he had died before he could make that trip, and she made it for him. ‘And, Dad,’ she had said, ‘I’ll always be proud.’
And I’ve seen the successors to these brave men, the young Americans in uniform all over the world, young Americans like you here tonight who man the mighty U.S.S. Kennedy and the Iowa and other ships of the line. I can assure you, you out there who are listening, that these young are like their fathers and their grandfathers, just as willing, just as brave. And we can be just as proud. But our prayer tonight is that the call for their courage will never come. And that it’s important for us, too, to be brave; not so much the bravery of the battlefield, I mean the bravery of brotherhood.
All through our history, our Presidents and leaders have spoken of national unity and warned us that the real obstacle to moving forward the boundaries of freedom, the only permanent danger to the hope that is America, comes from within. It’s easy enough to dismiss this as a kind of familiar exhortation. Yet the truth is that even two of our greatest Founding Fathers, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, once learned this lesson late in life. They’d worked so closely together in Philadelphia for independence. But once that was gained and a government was formed, something called partisan politics began to get in the way. After a bitter and divisive campaign, Jefferson defeated Adams for the Presidency in 1800. And the night before Jefferson’s inauguration, Adams slipped away to Boston, disappointed, brokenhearted, and bitter.
For years their estrangement lasted. But then when both had retired, Jefferson at 68 to Monticello and Adams at 76 to Quincy, they began through their letters to speak again to each other. Letters that discussed almost every conceivable subject: gardening, horseback riding, even sneezing as a cure for hiccups; but other subjects as well: the loss of loved ones, the mystery of grief and sorrow, the importance of religion, and of course the last thoughts, the final hopes of two old men, two great patriarchs, for the country that they had helped to found and loved so deeply. ‘It carries me back,’ Jefferson wrote about correspondence with his cosigner of the Declaration of Independence, ‘to the times when, beset with difficulties and dangers, we were fellow laborers in the same cause, struggling for what is most valuable to man, his right to self-government. Laboring always at the same oar, with some wave ever ahead threatening to overwhelm us and yet passing harmless . . . we rowed through the storm with heart and hand . . . .’ It was their last gift to us, this lesson in brotherhood, in tolerance for each other, this insight into America’s strength as a nation. And when both died on the same day within hours of each other, that date was July 4th, 50 years exactly after that first gift to us, the Declaration of Independence.
My fellow Americans, it falls to us to keep faith with them and all the great Americans of our past. Believe me, if there’s one impression I carry with me after the privilege of holding for 5 1/2 years the office held by Adams and Jefferson and Lincoln, it is this: that the things that unite us — America’s past of which we’re so proud, our hopes and aspirations for the future of the world and this much-loved country — these things far outweigh what little divides us. And so tonight we reaffirm that Jew and gentile, we are one nation under God; that black and white, we are one nation indivisible; that Republican and Democrat, we are all Americans. Tonight, with heart and hand, through whatever trial and travail, we pledge ourselves to each other and to the cause of human freedom, the cause that has given light to this land and hope to the world.
My fellow Americans, we’re known around the world as a confident and a happy people. Tonight there’s much to celebrate and many blessings to be grateful for. So while it’s good to talk about serious things, it’s just as important and just as American to have some fun. Now, let’s have some fun — let the celebration begin!”
Text prepared by the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum.
Originally published at The Stream on July 3, 2015