thestream--2020-12-23--Trumpism and Nationalism — A Response to Division and Divisiveness in the Church

The current political climate , and more specifically the politics that have invaded the church , are causing increased division among those who profess to be Christians .
Whether it ’ s a tweet from Beth Moore denouncing so-called Trumpism and nationalism , or a radical right-leaning group pointing to Trump as the Savior , the divide has left many people confused .
Here are a few points I ’ m hoping will help .
But first , I ’ d like to begin with a question : Since when did being concerned about protecting innocent life become nationalism , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the freedom to preach the gospel become Trumpism ?
Could it be that we are allowing a secular , godless society to wrongly label many of us ?
Is it possible to love what God has done in America without being stereotyped as a “ bad ” person ?
Granted , many of us , including myself , can do a better job of communicating our feelings via humility and gentleness .
But when we see that a Biden administration would promote transgenderism to our little ones , allow eight-year-olds to acquire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ perverted legislation any society has ever known , stifle Bible-believing churches , mock God , and kill children at nine-months ’ gestation , we get a little fired up .
And so should you .
1 .
Where we acquire our information can divide us .
For example , some believe there is no evidence of massive fraud in the recent election , while many others are convinced there is .
Many are arguing opinions , not facts , just because they don ’ t like President Trump .
This is really the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The fact is that political officials , many news organizations ( see the short list below ) , and attorneys like Lin Wood and Sidney Powell have been sounding the alarm about election fraud and “ errors ” since day one .
( Some even before the election . )
Do your own research and see where the facts take you .
For example , I think there is plenty of evidence to show that the Dominion voting software was designed to influence elections , not simply count votes .
( Again , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people are trusting the mainstream news outlets and never look at the other side .
Most of the mainstream news is owned by just a few large corporations who are hell-bent on destroying America — even if it involves lying , stealing and manipulating .
Do your homework .
Find sources of actual journalism , and let the facts lead you to your conclusions rather than being told what to think .
Finally , be gracious when communicating with others , and try to be helpful and compassionate .
For example , someone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ often on social media is currently going through tremendous hardship .
My wife just told her that we could help her out financially .
That one gesture broke down the walls of offense .
2 .
How we think about hot topics can divide us .
A statement I ’ ve been hearing goes something like this : “ I do not believe most Christians are moved with concern about abortion since they do virtually nothing about it.
” This statement is not correct .
Believers do everything from stand outside abortion clinics @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kill their babies , to hosting prayer meetings and volunteering at pregnancy resource centers .
A recent report said that one-third of independent abortion facilities have shut down .
So is it wrong to desire a leader who will help us accomplish these things ?
I am not sure who “ they ” are who do nothing about it , but I can state with confidence that there are many who contend for what is right , regardless of who is in office .
I would argue that any person not moved to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2 Corinthians 13:5 says , to see if they are in the faith .
3 .
False narratives that appear real can divide us .
Some say that President Trump denies and attacks all who disagree with him .
They add that we do not care about the truth , and that Trump has normalized slander and ridicule .
Although I agree that the way he communicates could be toned down considerably , I would challenge folks to look at what the president has actually said , and then compare that to what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president .
Then , tell me who is primarily responsible for “ normalizing slander and ridicule.
” As I ’ ve said before , the president is hated not because of his character but because of what he stands for .
He is a disruptive force .
If the abortion industry , George Soros , most of the media , ANTIFA and Hollywood are on your side , are you sure that you ’ re on the right side ?
We are more concerned about our national character and morality — the laws @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — than “ mean-spirited ” tweets .
Again , I wish his communication was seasoned with grace , but to use this as an excuse to not support him makes no sense to me and 74 million other Americans .
Are we making a deal with Satan to get what we want , as some may suggest ?
Hardly .
These charges , to use a favorite term of the left-wing media , are baseless and show an alarming lack of genuine concern for the issues .
As one friend told me , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wife I ’ m praying for daily .
If one can tell me how the LGBTQ agenda being forced down our throats and the ushering in of the anti-Christian , anti-God , ‘ throw Bibles in a bonfire ’ mentality of the left is okay and we shouldn ’ t support Trump , then I ’ m all ears.
” Aren ’ t we supposed to strive for the best for our kids and future generations ?
Aren ’ t we to defend the weak and the fatherless and to give a voice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Or are we to roll over , embody the modern misconception of what it is to be “ meek , ” and look at our children and grandchildren as we hand them over to a godless society ?
We are to prepare for persecution but never to invite it .
I have talked to persecuted Christians from Iran to China , and they all tell me that we must value our freedom to worship God over Trump ’ s character flaws .
There is no seat in the mushy middle for the believer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ option — there is right and wrong , good and evil , and we must choose a side .
4 .
Those saying , ‘ The actions of the president hurt the gospel ’ divide us .
I want to tread carefully here because it ’ s a vital topic — in fact , there is no topic more important than the gospel witness .
We can hurt the gospel if our attitude is arrogant and bombastic .
But , as I said in a past article , the view that says supporting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flawed in at least three ways .
Read them here .
I have thought about this issue for months , and I ’ m open to hear what the “ middle-ground ” is .
But if we take this line of thinking about hurting the gospel to its logical end , does that also mean we shouldn ’ t speak out against abortion because it may hurt our witness to physicians who perform them ?
Or what about the mother who had an abortion — should we not mention any pro-life positions because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ evils should we remain silent about so as not to offend ?
I am pretty sure Jesus never said , “ Go out to all nations and preach the Word , unless it hurts someone ’ s feelings or makes them uncomfortable with their sin , in which case , quietly walk away.
” No , it ’ s okay to speak the truth in love and then offer hope .
In fact , love requires us to speak the truth , to stand firm for the gospel , to oppose lies and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ works of darkness ( Ephesians 5:11 ) .
That is what it is to be a Christian — a sojourner in a land that is not our home but one in which we have been called to serve — to be the shining city on a hill , a light in a dark world .
I ’ ll be discussing some of these issues with Dr. Michael Brown later today , Dec. 23rd .
That discussion should be uploaded to these platforms shortly thereafter : YouTube , Twitter , Parler , Facebook , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the founder and lead pastor of Westside Christian Fellowship in Southern California and the creator of the WCF Radio Network .
His program , Regaining Lost Ground , points us back to God and reminds us that although times change , truth does not .
His books , blogs , and sermons can all be found at ShaneIdleman.com .

The current political climate, and more specifically the politics that have invaded the church, are causing increased division among those who profess to be Christians. Whether it’s a tweet from Beth Moore denouncing so-called Trumpism and nationalism, or a radical right-leaning group pointing to Trump as the Savior, the divide has left many people confused.
Here are a few points I’m hoping will help. But first, I’d like to begin with a question: Since when did being concerned about protecting innocent life become nationalism, and wanting God’s Word honored and the freedom to preach the gospel become Trumpism? Could it be that we are allowing a secular, godless society to wrongly label many of us? Is it possible to love what God has done in America without being stereotyped as a “bad” person?
Granted, many of us, including myself, can do a better job of communicating our feelings via humility and gentleness. But when we see that a Biden administration would promote transgenderism to our little ones, allow eight-year-olds to acquire a sex change, encourage the most perverted legislation any society has ever known, stifle Bible-believing churches, mock God, and kill children at nine-months’ gestation, we get a little fired up. And so should you.
(Special note: I will also discuss some of these issues with Dr. Michael Brown, who has a good grasp on understanding both sides. The links to listen are below.)
1. Where we acquire our information can divide us.
For example, some believe there is no evidence of massive fraud in the recent election, while many others are convinced there is. Many are arguing opinions, not facts, just because they don’t like President Trump. This is really the root of where the division begins. The fact is that political officials, many news organizations (see the short list below), and attorneys like Lin Wood and Sidney Powell have been sounding the alarm about election fraud and “errors” since day one. (Some even before the election.)
Do your own research and see where the facts take you. For example, I think there is plenty of evidence to show that the Dominion voting software was designed to influence elections, not simply count votes. (Again, see the links below.) Some people are trusting the mainstream news outlets and never look at the other side. Most of the mainstream news is owned by just a few large corporations who are hell-bent on destroying America — even if it involves lying, stealing and manipulating. Do your homework. Find sources of actual journalism, and let the facts lead you to your conclusions rather than being told what to think.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
Finally, be gracious when communicating with others, and try to be helpful and compassionate. For example, someone who disagrees with me and my wife often on social media is currently going through tremendous hardship. My wife just told her that we could help her out financially. That one gesture broke down the walls of offense.
2. How we think about hot topics can divide us.
A statement I’ve been hearing goes something like this: “I do not believe most Christians are moved with concern about abortion since they do virtually nothing about it.” This statement is not correct. Believers do everything from stand outside abortion clinics, pleading with the women not to kill their babies, to hosting prayer meetings and volunteering at pregnancy resource centers.
A recent report said that one-third of independent abortion facilities have shut down. So is it wrong to desire a leader who will help us accomplish these things? I am not sure who “they” are who do nothing about it, but I can state with confidence that there are many who contend for what is right, regardless of who is in office. I would argue that any person not moved to oppose abortion should examine themselves, as 2 Corinthians 13:5 says, to see if they are in the faith.
3. False narratives that appear real can divide us.
Some say that President Trump denies and attacks all who disagree with him. They add that we do not care about the truth, and that Trump has normalized slander and ridicule. Although I agree that the way he communicates could be toned down considerably, I would challenge folks to look at what the president has actually said, and then compare that to what is said by the left about the president. Then, tell me who is primarily responsible for “normalizing slander and ridicule.” As I’ve said before, the president is hated not because of his character but because of what he stands for. He is a disruptive force. If the abortion industry, George Soros, most of the media, ANTIFA and Hollywood are on your side, are you sure that you’re on the right side?
We are more concerned about our national character and morality — the laws we make and the people we appoint — than “mean-spirited” tweets. Again, I wish his communication was seasoned with grace, but to use this as an excuse to not support him makes no sense to me and 74 million other Americans.
We are to prepare for persecution but never to invite it. I have talked to persecuted Christians from Iran to China, and they all tell me that we must value our freedom to worship God over Trump’s character flaws.
Are we making a deal with Satan to get what we want, as some may suggest? Hardly. These charges, to use a favorite term of the left-wing media, are baseless and show an alarming lack of genuine concern for the issues. As one friend told me, “I have four boys and a wife I’m praying for daily. If one can tell me how the LGBTQ agenda being forced down our throats and the ushering in of the anti-Christian, anti-God, ‘throw Bibles in a bonfire’ mentality of the left is okay and we shouldn’t support Trump, then I’m all ears.”
Aren’t we supposed to strive for the best for our kids and future generations? Aren’t we to defend the weak and the fatherless and to give a voice to those who have no voice? Or are we to roll over, embody the modern misconception of what it is to be “meek,” and look at our children and grandchildren as we hand them over to a godless society? We are to prepare for persecution but never to invite it. I have talked to persecuted Christians from Iran to China, and they all tell me that we must value our freedom to worship God over Trump’s character flaws. There is no seat in the mushy middle for the believer. Truth does not give us that option — there is right and wrong, good and evil, and we must choose a side.
4. Those saying, ‘The actions of the president hurt the gospel’ divide us.
I want to tread carefully here because it’s a vital topic — in fact, there is no topic more important than the gospel witness. We can hurt the gospel if our attitude is arrogant and bombastic. But, as I said in a past article, the view that says supporting the president always hurts our witness is flawed in at least three ways. Read them here.
I have thought about this issue for months, and I’m open to hear what the “middle-ground” is. But if we take this line of thinking about hurting the gospel to its logical end, does that also mean we shouldn’t speak out against abortion because it may hurt our witness to physicians who perform them? Or what about the mother who had an abortion — should we not mention any pro-life positions because it may offend her? What other evils should we remain silent about so as not to offend? I am pretty sure Jesus never said, “Go out to all nations and preach the Word, unless it hurts someone’s feelings or makes them uncomfortable with their sin, in which case, quietly walk away.”
No, it’s okay to speak the truth in love and then offer hope. In fact, love requires us to speak the truth, to stand firm for the gospel, to oppose lies and slander, and to expose the unfruitful works of darkness (Ephesians 5:11). That is what it is to be a Christian — a sojourner in a land that is not our home but one in which we have been called to serve — to be the shining city on a hill, a light in a dark world.
My Discussion With Dr. Brown
I’ll be discussing some of these issues with Dr. Michael Brown later today, Dec. 23rd. That discussion should be uploaded to these platforms shortly thereafter: YouTube, Twitter, Parler, Facebook, MeWe and Rumble.
News stories about voter fraud below:
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2020/11/voter-integrity-project-releases-evidence-thousands-vote-fraud-issues-combined-affidavits-rudy-statistical-analysis-enough-information-available-confirming-tr/
https://www.newsmax.com/us/peter-navarro-white-house-trade-adviser-irregularities/2020/12/17/id/1002106/
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2020/11/complete-list-suspected-fraud-issues-2020-election-sorted-state-recommended-actions-address/
https://www.theepochtimes.com/election-fraud-allegations-infographic_3605589.html
https://www.rightwirereport.com/2020/12/04/summary-portal-of-alleged-election-fraud-in-2020/
https://theconservativebunker.com/2020-election-fraud-summary-by-state/
https://wethepeopleconvention.org/articles/More-Votes-than-Voters
Shane Idleman is the founder and lead pastor of Westside Christian Fellowship in Southern California and the creator of the WCF Radio Network. His program, Regaining Lost Ground, points us back to God and reminds us that although times change, truth does not. His books, blogs, and sermons can all be found at ShaneIdleman.com.


thestream--2020-12-23--Military Photo of the Day: Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony

Santa Claus poses with U.S. Marines at Combined Arms Training Center Camp Fuji during a Christmas tree lighting ceremony on @ @ @ @ @ in Shizuoka , Japan .
Merry Christmas and thank you for your service , Marines @

Santa Claus poses with U.S. Marines at Combined Arms Training Center Camp Fuji during a Christmas tree lighting ceremony on December 13, 2020, in Shizuoka, Japan.
Merry Christmas and thank you for your service, Marines!
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.


thestream--2020-12-23--Receiving His Gift When We Have Nothing to Give in Return

You know that feeling when someone hands you a Christmas present and you didn ’ t get one for them ?
It ’ s awkward .
You wonder if they expected a gift from you , and if their feelings are hurt that you don ’ t have one .
Moreover , it ’ s humbling .
Someone did something generous for you , and you gave nothing in return .
Why does this make us so uncomfortable ?
Many times , we don ’ t want them to think poorly of us .
We don ’ t want them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ afford it , or aren ’ t organized enough .
We don ’ t want to be outdone .
A few days ago as I reflected on a gift I ’ d just received from a friend ( I actually did order her a gift in advance and it truly hasn ’ t arrived yet ) , I realized these moments perfectly illustrate the meaning of Christmas .
God didn ’ t come to earth because of anything we could do in return .
Just the opposite .
He came because we sinned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ourselves .
We needed Jesus , and he gave himself — freely .
It isn ’ t up to us to “ pay Jesus back.
” We don ’ t have to prove to him that we have our lives together enough to offer something amazing in return so he ’ ll be impressed .
It ’ s up to us to accept his gift , to be thankful for it , and to love him with our whole lives .
Too often we act as if it is up to us to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ around frantically trying to do as much good as we can , as if volunteering for one more thing will build up our points in Heaven .
Or we try to be “ our best selves ” without actually inviting his Holy Spirit to transform us from the inside out .
In our hearts we forget — or ignore — what his Word says about his unconditional love for us .
We neglect the throne of grace , afraid he ’ ll decide he doesn ’ t love us anymore .
The Bible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than to receive .
But when we become obsessed with doing something because we feel guilty , we ’ re not truly giving out of love — pure , selfless , unconditional love for God and others .
We ’ re hoping to receive — affirmation , acceptance , a sense of superiority .
If we “ give ” with these motivations , we aren ’ t really giving at all .
There ’ s nothing wrong with planning thoughtful gifts for all the people in your life .
In fact , I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at not forgetting people I ’ d really like to buy gifts for .
But I ’ m not going to become embarrassed anymore if I receive an unexpected gift and have no gift to give in return .
I ’ m going to accept it with love and genuine gratitude .
And instead of worrying what the giver will think of me , I ’ m going to think of Christ ’ s unconditional gift to us all .
Liberty McArtor , former staff writer for The Stream , is a freelance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , where she lives north of Dallas with her husband and son .
Follow Liberty on Twitter @ LibertyMcArtor , or learn more about her at LibertyMcArtor.com .

You know that feeling when someone hands you a Christmas present and you didn’t get one for them?
It’s awkward. You wonder if they expected a gift from you, and if their feelings are hurt that you don’t have one. Moreover, it’s humbling. Someone did something generous for you, and you gave nothing in return.
Why does this make us so uncomfortable? Many times, we don’t want them to think poorly of us. We don’t want them to think that we can’t afford it, or aren’t organized enough.
We don’t want to be outdone.
A Gift We Can’t Repay
A few days ago as I reflected on a gift I’d just received from a friend (I actually did order her a gift in advance and it truly hasn’t arrived yet), I realized these moments perfectly illustrate the meaning of Christmas.
God didn’t come to earth because of anything we could do in return. Just the opposite. He came because we sinned, and literally couldn’t redeem ourselves. We needed Jesus, and he gave himself — freely.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
It isn’t up to us to “pay Jesus back.” We don’t have to prove to him that we have our lives together enough to offer something amazing in return so he’ll be impressed. It’s up to us to accept his gift, to be thankful for it, and to love him with our whole lives.
Checking Our Motives
Too often we act as if it is up to us to prove something to God. We run around frantically trying to do as much good as we can, as if volunteering for one more thing will build up our points in Heaven. Or we try to be “our best selves” without actually inviting his Holy Spirit to transform us from the inside out.
In our hearts we forget — or ignore — what his Word says about his unconditional love for us. We neglect the throne of grace, afraid he’ll decide he doesn’t love us anymore.
It isn’t up to us to “pay Jesus back.” It’s up to us to accept his gift, to be thankful for it, and to love him with our whole lives.
The Bible says it is more blessed to give than to receive. But when we become obsessed with doing something because we feel guilty, we’re not truly giving out of love — pure, selfless, unconditional love for God and others. We’re hoping to receive — affirmation, acceptance, a sense of superiority.
If we “give” with these motivations, we aren’t really giving at all.
There’s nothing wrong with planning thoughtful gifts for all the people in your life. In fact, I am trying to do a better job at not forgetting people I’d really like to buy gifts for.
But I’m not going to become embarrassed anymore if I receive an unexpected gift and have no gift to give in return. I’m going to accept it with love and genuine gratitude. And instead of worrying what the giver will think of me, I’m going to think of Christ’s unconditional gift to us all.
Liberty McArtor, former staff writer for The Stream, is a freelance writer in the great state of Texas, where she lives north of Dallas with her husband and son. Follow Liberty on Twitter @LibertyMcArtor, or learn more about her at LibertyMcArtor.com.


thestream--2020-12-23--Sorry, But the American Flag is Not Directly Related to the Banner of Christ

It is one thing to be a patriot , even a Christian patriot .
It is another thing to conflate the American flag with the banner of Christ .
Yet that is what General Michael Flynn did in a recent editorial .
Writing for the UncoverDC website , Flynn opined , “ The battle we are engaged in can not be fought with only human weapons : it requires the intervention of God because in a war against the forces of Evil , only the Lord can obtain the victory .
And as American citizens , we must refuse to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ independence.
” Flynn is Right in Several Ways Speaking in broad terms ( rather than in the specific context of the 2020 elections ) , I second Flynn ’ s sentiments .
The ultimate battle for the soul of our nation is a spiritual and moral battle , not simply a political battle .
And we can only see lasting , positive change with the help of the Lord .
Amen to that .
And certainly , this is no time for passivity or cowardice .
Once again , I concur .
Flynn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ proud to proclaim that the United States of America is ‘ One Nation under God ’ — in this public profession of faith in God , we recognize his Lordship over our country , and we proudly stand beneath the banner of Christ and our flag in which millions have sacrificed their very lives for .
In scripture through the strength and commitment of Matthew , he said , ‘ Whoever is not with Me is against Me ’ .
” But was Jesus , as quoted in Matthew , actually saying that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ right was for Him ?
Isn ’ t that a massive oversimplification , to say the least ?
And does the fact that we recognize the Lordship of Jesus over all of life mean that we can require others to do the same ?
Recognize the Vast Difference Between the Banner of Our Lord and the Flag of Our Country The biggest concern , however , is Flynn ’ s statement that “ we proudly stand beneath the banner of Christ and our flag in which millions have sacrificed their very lives for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pray tell , is the banner of Christ directly connected to the American flag ?
And did the countless Americans who fought in our wars all fight under the banner of Christ ?
We are certainly deeply indebted to those who risked their lives ( or lost their lives ) fighting for our freedom .
And every American should be grateful to our veterans ( and their families ) for their service .
That is not in question , and that is a healthy part of our patriotism .
We should also deeply @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in America , a country unlike any that came before it in many significant ways .
We can also recognize the important role that the Bible played in the founding of our country .
But all that is a far cry from viewing America as a truly Christian nation or conflating the cross with the flag .
Rather , that is the type of Christian nationalism that can be so dangerous , the kind that non-Christians ( or , even simply non-fundamentalist Christians ) find so concerning .
That is the type of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a theocracy , something that I want no part of until Jesus returns and sets up His kingdom .
That is the type of mindset that sees the battle for the 2020 elections as a battle for the gospel , as if the anti-Trump forces are all anti-Jesus and the pro-Trump forces all pro-Jesus .
Yes , Our Loyalty is to Truth Flynn said , “ Our protest , our denunciation of electoral fraud , is not only motivated by the fact that we are supporting Donald J. Trump as a candidate : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ justice and truth , which goes far beyond membership in a party or voting for a candidate.
” Again , I can agree with those sentiments .
If the election was stolen , that would be a travesty of justice , and that should be of concern to atheists and theists , to Christians and Muslims , to agnostics and believers .
We should all want justice and truth .
But as many others have emphasized , patriotism is not the same as loyalty to the kingdom of God , and we confuse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Do We See the Left as Deeply Sinful and Ourselves as Mostly Free of Sin ?
There is also a subtle self-righteousness that infuses this “ us ” against “ them ” mentality , as if the sins of the left are heinous and the sins of the right quite trivial .
As if the left ’ s hatred is vile and ours is justified .
As if God overlooks the mountain of sin in the church , from sexual scandals to greed , and from gossip to failure to love our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ matters is abortion .
As if electoral fraud completely outweighed deception from the pulpit and slander in the pew .
Almost 2,000 years ago , Peter wrote that “ it is time for judgment to begin with God ’ s household ; and if it begins with us , what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God ?
” ( 1 Peter 4:17 ) That is a sobering thought .
Divine judgment starts with us , the believers .
Austin Cline , himself a secular humanist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Nazis because they believed that Adolf Hitler was a gift to the German people from God .
German Christianity was a divinely sanctioned religious movement which combined Christian doctrine and German character in a unique and desirable manner : True Christianity was German and True German-ness was Christian.
” While Cline paints with too broad a brush , and while America is far from Nazi Germany and Trump is far from Hitler , the parallels remain striking and concerning .
He added , “ Christian churches were willing to tolerate widespread violence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of foreign nations , banning labor unions , imprisonment of political dissenters , detention of people who had committed no crimes , sterilization of the handicapped , etc .
This includes the Confessing Church .
Why ?
Hitler was seen as someone restoring traditional values and morality to Germany.
” Again , Trump is not Hitler and we who voted for him are neither Nazis nor supporters of Nazism .
But to the extent that we think that true American-ness equals true Christianity , we make a serious mistake .
And to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ American flag , we degrade the gospel .
By all means , then , let us love our country and serve our country and pray for our country .
But let us not confuse America with the kingdom of God .
Many will be hurt if we make this mistake .
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 @ @ @

It is one thing to be a patriot, even a Christian patriot. It is another thing to conflate the American flag with the banner of Christ. Yet that is what General Michael Flynn did in a recent editorial.
Writing for the UncoverDC website, Flynn opined, “The battle we are engaged in cannot be fought with only human weapons: it requires the intervention of God because in a war against the forces of Evil, only the Lord can obtain the victory. And as American citizens, we must refuse to go to the funeral of our own independence.”
Flynn is Right in Several Ways
Speaking in broad terms (rather than in the specific context of the 2020 elections), I second Flynn’s sentiments. The ultimate battle for the soul of our nation is a spiritual and moral battle, not simply a political battle. And we can only see lasting, positive change with the help of the Lord. Amen to that.
And certainly, this is no time for passivity or cowardice. Once again, I concur.
Flynn continued, “We the people are proud to proclaim that the United States of America is ‘One Nation under God’ — in this public profession of faith in God, we recognize his Lordship over our country, and we proudly stand beneath the banner of Christ and our flag in which millions have sacrificed their very lives for. In scripture through the strength and commitment of Matthew, he said, ‘Whoever is not with Me is against Me’.”
But was Jesus, as quoted in Matthew, actually saying that the left was against Him and the right was for Him? Isn’t that a massive oversimplification, to say the least? And does the fact that we recognize the Lordship of Jesus over all of life mean that we can require others to do the same?
Recognize the Vast Difference Between the Banner of Our Lord and the Flag of Our Country
The biggest concern, however, is Flynn’s statement that “we proudly stand beneath the banner of Christ and our flag in which millions have sacrificed their very lives for” (sic).
How, pray tell, is the banner of Christ directly connected to the American flag? And did the countless Americans who fought in our wars all fight under the banner of Christ?
We are certainly deeply indebted to those who risked their lives (or lost their lives) fighting for our freedom. And every American should be grateful to our veterans (and their families) for their service. That is not in question, and that is a healthy part of our patriotism.
That is the type of mindset that sees the battle for the 2020 elections as a battle for the gospel, as if the anti-Trump forces are all anti-Jesus and the pro-Trump forces all pro-Jesus.
We should also deeply appreciate the incredible opportunities we have here in America, a country unlike any that came before it in many significant ways.
We can also recognize the important role that the Bible played in the founding of our country.
But all that is a far cry from viewing America as a truly Christian nation or conflating the cross with the flag.
Rather, that is the type of Christian nationalism that can be so dangerous, the kind that non-Christians (or, even simply non-fundamentalist Christians) find so concerning.
That is the type of rhetoric that can lead to calls for a theocracy, something that I want no part of until Jesus returns and sets up His kingdom.
That is the type of mindset that sees the battle for the 2020 elections as a battle for the gospel, as if the anti-Trump forces are all anti-Jesus and the pro-Trump forces all pro-Jesus.
Yes, Our Loyalty is to Truth
Flynn said, “Our protest, our denunciation of electoral fraud, is not only motivated by the fact that we are supporting Donald J. Trump as a candidate: it is above all a battle for justice and truth, which goes far beyond membership in a party or voting for a candidate.”
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
Again, I can agree with those sentiments. If the election was stolen, that would be a travesty of justice, and that should be of concern to atheists and theists, to Christians and Muslims, to agnostics and believers. We should all want justice and truth.
But as many others have emphasized, patriotism is not the same as loyalty to the kingdom of God, and we confuse the two concepts to our own harm.
Do We See the Left as Deeply Sinful and Ourselves as Mostly Free of Sin?
There is also a subtle self-righteousness that infuses this “us” against “them” mentality, as if the sins of the left are heinous and the sins of the right quite trivial. As if the left’s hatred is vile and ours is justified. As if God overlooks the mountain of sin in the church, from sexual scandals to greed, and from gossip to failure to love our neighbor, because the only sin that matters is abortion. As if electoral fraud completely outweighed deception from the pulpit and slander in the pew.
Almost 2,000 years ago, Peter wrote that “it is time for judgment to begin with God’s household; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God?” (1 Peter 4:17) That is a sobering thought. Divine judgment starts with us, the believers.
Don’t Equate True American-ness With True Christianity
Austin Cline, himself a secular humanist, claimed that “German Christians supported the Nazis because they believed that Adolf Hitler was a gift to the German people from God. German Christianity was a divinely sanctioned religious movement which combined Christian doctrine and German character in a unique and desirable manner: True Christianity was German and True German-ness was Christian.”
While Cline paints with too broad a brush, and while America is far from Nazi Germany and Trump is far from Hitler, the parallels remain striking and concerning.
He added, “Christian churches were willing to tolerate widespread violence against Jews, military rearmament, invasions of foreign nations, banning labor unions, imprisonment of political dissenters, detention of people who had committed no crimes, sterilization of the handicapped, etc. This includes the Confessing Church. Why? Hitler was seen as someone restoring traditional values and morality to Germany.”
Again, Trump is not Hitler and we who voted for him are neither Nazis nor supporters of Nazism. But to the extent that we think that true American-ness equals true Christianity, we make a serious mistake. And to the extent we wrap the cross in the American flag, we degrade the gospel.
By all means, then, let us love our country and serve our country and pray for our country. But let us not confuse America with the kingdom of God. Many will be hurt if we make this mistake.
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.


Christmas Lights

You ’ d be hard-pressed to find someone who loves all things Christmas more than I do .
I could be very happy being a year-round Christmas person .
If only it could last all year .
In my house the decorations go up early and stay up late and I couldn ’ t care less what anyone else thinks .
I was singing “ We Need a Little Christmas ” back in July .
Bring on the hot cocoa and Christmas cookies , snow , crackling fireplace , cozy blankets , red and gold and green and silver and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with sentimental ornaments and ribbon , garland strung on anything that will stand still , gnomes and elves and Santas , reindeer and sleighs and gifts , poinsettias and pinecones , Christmas cards and Christmas music , and of course — most of all , in fact — lights .
Twinkling lights everywhere .
Is there anything more magical , more enchanting than a twinkling , glowing Christmas tree ?
I can never get enough .
It Is So Dark Even as every room of my home twinkles with light and cheerful decorations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year .
The weight of sadness , suffering , fear , illness and death , the uncertainty of what lies around the corner as our poor country seems to be coming unraveled , it all just lingers in the air .
It steals joy and dumps gloom on our heads .
It stokes anger and scorches the interior earth of mind and heart .
It robs our hope and fills us with dread .
Fond as I am of all the colorful , festive trimmings , they have no real power to save @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or heal the sick or find the lost or rescue the soul from death .
In truth , those festive trimmings have little to do with Christmas at all .
Those little lights strung on my trees serve to show me that darkness can indeed be pierced .
Those lights are never more beautiful than at night when all around is dark .
They speak to my heart of the night that darkness fell because the Light of the world had come .
Each little bulb seems to say , “ I am @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Christmas alright .
We need a lot of Christmas right now .
Not the trappings and trimmings , but the Light that shines in the darkness , the Light which the darkness will never overcome .
Christmas is that light .
Christ is that Light .
Strangers hurled their ire and insults at me on Twitter this week for daring to state that Christmas is Christ , and one can not celebrate Christmas without celebrating Jesus .
The world seeks to dismiss Him and turn the day into a generic show of goodwill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the sun in the gift-buying frenzy , but whatever that is , it is not Christmas .
Food and gatherings and parties do not make Christmas .
Gifts and shopping do not make Christmas .
Even beautiful decorating does not make Christmas .
Christmas is the celebration of the Son of God in human flesh , born of the Virgin , to save the world from sin and death .
The day brings joy not because of Santa or time off work but because Emmanuel , “ God with us ” has come @ @ @ @ @ @ @ great darkness now .
We are a people crushed by the weight of sin and all its consequences .
We are a nation floundering because of that sin .
We desperately need the reality of Christmas .
Our future depends on whether we receive the gift found in the manger .
So arise , shine .
On us a great light has shone .
The glory of the Lord has risen upon us .
We have seen a great light .
“ The Light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Christ is our hope .
Christ is our Light .
Christ is our salvation .
Unto us a child is born , a Son is given .
The Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world .
Yes , the darkness around us is heavy .
The darkness within us may be heavier still .
I feel it as do so many people .
Despair taunts and fear shouts at us that hope is gone , and evil has won .
It has not .
Hear the prophet and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appeal to emotion but a statement of immovable truth : a Savior is born .
On all of us a light has shone , and we no longer have to walk in darkness .
I will delight in my twinkling trees and listen to the good news they proclaim : Christmas is the light in our darkness , the light that will never be overcome .
Come , Lord Jesus , into our darkness .
Bring Your Christmas light .
Jennifer Hartline is a senior contributor to The Stream .
You can follow @ @ @ @ @

You’d be hard-pressed to find someone who loves all things Christmas more than I do. I could be very happy being a year-round Christmas person. If only it could last all year.
In my house the decorations go up early and stay up late and I couldn’t care less what anyone else thinks. I was singing “We Need a Little Christmas” back in July.
Bring on the hot cocoa and Christmas cookies, snow, crackling fireplace, cozy blankets, red and gold and green and silver and blue and white decorations, trees bedecked with sentimental ornaments and ribbon, garland strung on anything that will stand still, gnomes and elves and Santas, reindeer and sleighs and gifts, poinsettias and pinecones, Christmas cards and Christmas music, and of course — most of all, in fact — lights. Twinkling lights everywhere.
Is there anything more magical, more enchanting than a twinkling, glowing Christmas tree? I can never get enough.
It Is So Dark
Even as every room of my home twinkles with light and cheerful decorations, the darkness seems so heavy this year. The weight of sadness, suffering, fear, illness and death, the uncertainty of what lies around the corner as our poor country seems to be coming unraveled, it all just lingers in the air. It steals joy and dumps gloom on our heads. It stokes anger and scorches the interior earth of mind and heart. It robs our hope and fills us with dread.
Fond as I am of all the colorful, festive trimmings, they have no real power to save. They cannot ease the suffering or heal the sick or find the lost or rescue the soul from death. In truth, those festive trimmings have little to do with Christmas at all.
Except the lights.
What Christmas Means
Those little lights strung on my trees serve to show me that darkness can indeed be pierced. Those lights are never more beautiful than at night when all around is dark. They speak to my heart of the night that darkness fell because the Light of the world had come. Each little bulb seems to say, “I am not overcome.”
We need a little Christmas alright. We need a lot of Christmas right now. Not the trappings and trimmings, but the Light that shines in the darkness, the Light which the darkness will never overcome. Christmas is that light. Christ is that Light.
Hear the prophet and the angels. They make not an appeal to emotion but a statement of immovable truth: a Savior is born.
Strangers hurled their ire and insults at me on Twitter this week for daring to state that Christmas is Christ, and one cannot celebrate Christmas without celebrating Jesus. The world seeks to dismiss Him and turn the day into a generic show of goodwill and cheer after selling us everything under the sun in the gift-buying frenzy, but whatever that is, it is not Christmas.
Food and gatherings and parties do not make Christmas. Gifts and shopping do not make Christmas. Even beautiful decorating does not make Christmas.
Christmas is the celebration of the Son of God in human flesh, born of the Virgin, to save the world from sin and death. The day brings joy not because of Santa or time off work but because Emmanuel, “God with us” has come.
Arise, Shine
We are a people walking in great darkness now. We are a people crushed by the weight of sin and all its consequences. We are a nation floundering because of that sin. We desperately need the reality of Christmas. Our future depends on whether we receive the gift found in the manger.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
So arise, shine. On us a great light has shone. The glory of the Lord has risen upon us. We have seen a great light. “The Light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it.”
That is our hope. Christ is our hope. Christ is our Light. Christ is our salvation. Unto us a child is born, a Son is given. The Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.
Yes, the darkness around us is heavy. The darkness within us may be heavier still. I feel it as do so many people. Despair taunts and fear shouts at us that hope is gone, and evil has won.
It has not. Hear the prophet and the angels. They make not an appeal to emotion but a statement of immovable truth: a Savior is born. On all of us a light has shone, and we no longer have to walk in darkness.
I will delight in my twinkling trees and listen to the good news they proclaim: Christmas is the light in our darkness, the light that will never be overcome.
Come, Lord Jesus, into our darkness. Bring Your Christmas light.
Jennifer Hartline is a senior contributor to The Stream. You can follow her at @jenniehartline.


thestream--2020-12-22--Turning ‘Christian Nationalism’ Into a Slur

Will America ’ s elites , with the help of timid , bribed , or servile Republican politicians and Christian leaders , push through this deeply dubious election of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris ?
By the time our Congress meets to certify that or question it , we ’ ll know one more crucial fact .
We ’ ll know about Georgia .
( Assuming they manage to get the ballots counted . )
Will elections conducted in Georgia by the same Governor and Secretary of State who refused any sane ballot security hand the Senate over to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ same farrago of mailed-in votes whose signatures might not match ?
We might never know .
The Republicans running Georgia for some reason refuse to check .
Will we have fake water leakages ?
And poll workers who blow the whistle , then get fired ?
Will voting machines be connected to the Internet and “ corrected ” overseas ?
The Democrats Have Promised to Crush Us However it happens , if the Democrats claim the Senate we know what they will do .
Because they have warned us .
They will tear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been governed for more than a century .
They ’ ll wipe out the Senate filibuster , leaving the minority party helpless .
They will introduce new , frivolous states to the Union , like Washington , D.C .
They will amnesty millions of illegal aliens , and keep the supply of new ones flooding in by weakening our borders .
Then they ’ ll enroll those newly minted Democrats as voters .
Total newcomers , whose very residence in America they looted like a flatscreen during a riot , will now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ benefits .
It will come at the expense of honest citizens of every race .
The cheap labor lobby and the cheap vote party will throw a bipartisan hootenanny together .
The immigrants will humbly bring them canapes on little silver trays .
Worst of all , the most powerful Democrats in Congress have promised to bloat the Supreme Court with new , politicized appointees .
They couldn ’ t convincingly smear Brett Kavanaugh as a rapist .
Nor reject Amy Coney Barrett as a Catholic .
Or even keep Ruth Bader Ginsburg @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) to surrender months of their lives to add a few days to hers .
I guess whatever gods the Democrats worship don ’ t have that kind of pull .
To avenge those failures , the Democrats will expand the size of the court to whatever size they like .
Ten , fourteen , maybe twenty new justices will saunter onto the Court .
And they will shred key elements in the American Bill of Rights .
A grim , bitter part of me hopes the Democrats are candid enough to appoint @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even pretend that the Constitution matters anymore ?
Let fake lynching victim Tawana Brawley , real porn star Ron Jeremy , abortionist Kermit Gosnell , and Islamist Ilhan Omar join the court .
That would underline the fact that it ’ s no longer a court at all .
It ’ s a kind of Politburo , an unelected legislature whose decisions can not be challenged .
Yes to Porn , No to Political Speech Such justices will fulfill Hillary Clinton ’ s campaign promise of overturning Citizens United .
That ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ campaign finance laws ” that forbade political speech by outsiders , pro-lifers , and small business groups .
So the First Amendment will exist to protect lurid pornography , which our Founders clearly rejected .
But not free political speech or religious conduct — the two goods they cherished most .
Social media monopolies and global media companies will wield even more power over us .
We ’ ll barely be free even to whine about it .
Faithful Christian churches that reject abortion , same-sex marriage , and transgender madness ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , as rejection of sexual perversions gets equated with ( you guessed it ! )
… racism .
Already , the “ secularist ” faction of the Democrat party is equating orthodox Christians with white supremacists .
And demanding that we be carefully monitored as potential sources of “ terrorism.
” NBC is following the Southern Poverty Law Center in smearing our ministries as “ hate groups ” that shouldn ’ t get neutral benefits like PPP loans .
Black churches will suffer too , though only after a decent interval .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , of course , exempt .
We Will Take Your Guns These new , mass-produced SCOTUS justices will also overturn the Heller decision .
It accurately asserts that Second Amendment rights belong to us as individuals .
And not merely as members of “ well-ordered militias , ” which Democrats read as meaning merely “ the National Guard.
” That will free up an all-Democrat Congress to leave citizens in Texas and South Dakota just as helpless as those in Oregon and Maryland in the face of crime and political mobs .
We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the U.S. Constitution .
Shamelessly politicized judges and a one-party Congress will impose their will on the nation .
On a nation demoralized and defeated by an electoral fraud conspiracy .
A nation lied to by its own intelligence community , which affirmed the Russia Collusion hoax and denied the Biden Crime family ’ s corruption .
A nation infantilized by blatantly partisan media and silenced by social media giants , whose ex-employees are already filling key Biden policy slots .
The Democrat party unleashed violent mobs on our cities last spring .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ arrest citizens like Mark and Patricia McCloskey .
Now it will impose the gun policies of Manhattan on every square inch of the country .
Anarcho-Tyranny will go from a dark , secret dream of our leftist elites , and enter the textbooks as America ’ s official system of government .
But to a certain type of bourgeois , comfortable Christian none of this matters .
If you care about what happens to the country where you and your kids and grandkids will live ?
Then you ’ re abandoning citizenship in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a politician like Trump who tried to protect you ?
You ’ re committing “ idolatry.
” ( Notice that none of these Christians apply such fine-grained , unworldly standards to George Floyd rioters , or angry sharia Muslims . )
If you aren ’ t content to be subjugated to third-class citizenship in an anti-Christian , viciously race-baiting country where new Islamist immigrants strut around demanding sharia ?
Then you ’ re a dangerous “ Christian Nationalist.
” Are you unwilling to pervert Christianity into a philosophy of craven surrender , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would demand of any other group ?
Then expect to have that epithet hurled at you .
Our new elites demand of us the same servility white racists demanded of black Americans under Jim Crow .
And a certain kind of Christian is happy to comply .
He ’ ll pretend that some groups of people have the right to practice moderate , defensive nationalism ( a perfectly respectable God-given impulse , as Yoram Hazony shows ) .
But not us .
We ’ re somehow unworthy .
At the heart of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a plan to demoralize , demonize , then oppress our nation ’ s historic majority groups .
While the pretext for doing these things will always be “ justice , ” in fact it ’ s frankly revenge .
Rich , mostly white , leftists will wield angry mobs of “ Woke ” leftists .
Those will recruit urban poor folk long trapped in poverty by socialism , welfare , and the crippling results of the Sexual Revolution .
The elites will aim these mobs at those of us who dare to cling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ life .
And a certain kind of Christian is eager to dodge such bullets and cling to respectability in the eyes of our pagan elites .
This coterie will actively help to oppress the rest of us .
They will write anguished op-eds , condemning any resistance , denouncing us as “ worldly.
” They ’ ll demand that we renounce our imaginary “ privilege , ” while they rip out little proof-texts from the Bible to pin to their Pharisaical cloaks .
They ’ ll also take time to laugh at us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think we had any hope in the first place .
Here ’ s Rod Dreher doing that , admitting that he spent six hours sneering at the Christians and conservatives in the Jericho March .
I wonder if he has spent six minutes deigning to examine the evidence of 2020 vote fraud .
Doing that , of course , wouldn ’ t earn him little head-pats from Jake Tapper of CNN .
When such people have the gall to step forward and offer to lead us through the persecution they helped ensure by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the very least we can laugh at them .
And paraphrase Alexander Solzhenitsyn ( who didn ’ t sneer at people who chose to resist the Bolsheviks ) when we tell them , “ Live not by LARPing.
” John Zmirak is a senior editor at The Stream , and author or co-author of ten books , including The Politically Incorrect Guide to Immigration and The Politically Incorrect Guide to Catholicism .
He is co-author with Jason Jones of “ God , Guns , & the Government .
”

Will America’s elites, with the help of timid, bribed, or servile Republican politicians and Christian leaders, push through this deeply dubious election of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris? By the time our Congress meets to certify that or question it, we’ll know one more crucial fact. We’ll know about Georgia. (Assuming they manage to get the ballots counted.)
Will elections conducted in Georgia by the same Governor and Secretary of State who refused any sane ballot security hand the Senate over to the Democratic party? Will we see the same farrago of mailed-in votes whose signatures might not match? We might never know. The Republicans running Georgia for some reason refuse to check. Will we have fake water leakages? And poll workers who blow the whistle, then get fired? Will voting machines be connected to the Internet and “corrected” overseas?
The Democrats Have Promised to Crush Us
However it happens, if the Democrats claim the Senate we know what they will do. Because they have warned us. They will tear up the norms by which our country has been governed for more than a century. They’ll wipe out the Senate filibuster, leaving the minority party helpless. They will introduce new, frivolous states to the Union, like Washington, D.C.
They will amnesty millions of illegal aliens, and keep the supply of new ones flooding in by weakening our borders. Then they’ll enroll those newly minted Democrats as voters. Total newcomers, whose very residence in America they looted like a flatscreen during a riot, will now get free health care and other welfare benefits. It will come at the expense of honest citizens of every race. The cheap labor lobby and the cheap vote party will throw a bipartisan hootenanny together. The immigrants will humbly bring them canapes on little silver trays.
The United States Supreme Farce
Worst of all, the most powerful Democrats in Congress have promised to bloat the Supreme Court with new, politicized appointees. They couldn’t convincingly smear Brett Kavanaugh as a rapist. Nor reject Amy Coney Barrett as a Catholic. Or even keep Ruth Bader Ginsburg alive by offering (as some suggested) to surrender months of their lives to add a few days to hers. I guess whatever gods the Democrats worship don’t have that kind of pull.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
To avenge those failures, the Democrats will expand the size of the court to whatever size they like. Ten, fourteen, maybe twenty new justices will saunter onto the Court. And they will shred key elements in the American Bill of Rights. A grim, bitter part of me hopes the Democrats are candid enough to appoint not just non-scholars but non-lawyers. Why even pretend that the Constitution matters anymore? Let fake lynching victim Tawana Brawley, real porn star Ron Jeremy, abortionist Kermit Gosnell, and Islamist Ilhan Omar join the court. That would underline the fact that it’s no longer a court at all. It’s a kind of Politburo, an unelected legislature whose decisions cannot be challenged.
Yes to Porn, No to Political Speech
Such justices will fulfill Hillary Clinton’s campaign promise of overturning Citizens United. That’s the decision which correctly tossed out suffocating “campaign finance laws” that forbade political speech by outsiders, pro-lifers, and small business groups. So the First Amendment will exist to protect lurid pornography, which our Founders clearly rejected. But not free political speech or religious conduct — the two goods they cherished most. Social media monopolies and global media companies will wield even more power over us. We’ll barely be free even to whine about it.
Faithful Christian churches that reject abortion, same-sex marriage, and transgender madness? They will likely lose their tax exemptions, as rejection of sexual perversions gets equated with (you guessed it!) … racism. Already, the “secularist” faction of the Democrat party is equating orthodox Christians with white supremacists. And demanding that we be carefully monitored as potential sources of “terrorism.” NBC is following the Southern Poverty Law Center in smearing our ministries as “hate groups” that shouldn’t get neutral benefits like PPP loans. Black churches will suffer too, though only after a decent interval. The most hateful, misogynist mosques will remain, of course, exempt.
We Will Take Your Guns
These new, mass-produced SCOTUS justices will also overturn the Heller decision. It accurately asserts that Second Amendment rights belong to us as individuals. And not merely as members of “well-ordered militias,” which Democrats read as meaning merely “the National Guard.” That will free up an all-Democrat Congress to leave citizens in Texas and South Dakota just as helpless as those in Oregon and Maryland in the face of crime and political mobs.
We will see in effect the end of the U.S. Constitution. Shamelessly politicized judges and a one-party Congress will impose their will on the nation. On a nation demoralized and defeated by an electoral fraud conspiracy. A nation lied to by its own intelligence community, which affirmed the Russia Collusion hoax and denied the Biden Crime family’s corruption. A nation infantilized by blatantly partisan media and silenced by social media giants, whose ex-employees are already filling key Biden policy slots.
The Anarcho-Tyrannical States of America
The Democrat party unleashed violent mobs on our cities last spring. It stood down local police except to arrest citizens like Mark and Patricia McCloskey. Now it will impose the gun policies of Manhattan on every square inch of the country. Anarcho-Tyranny will go from a dark, secret dream of our leftist elites, and enter the textbooks as America’s official system of government.
Christian Collaborationists
But to a certain type of bourgeois, comfortable Christian none of this matters. If you care about what happens to the country where you and your kids and grandkids will live? Then you’re abandoning citizenship in heaven. If you’re loyal to a politician like Trump who tried to protect you? You’re committing “idolatry.” (Notice that none of these Christians apply such fine-grained, unworldly standards to George Floyd rioters, or angry sharia Muslims.)
If you aren’t content to be subjugated to third-class citizenship in an anti-Christian, viciously race-baiting country where new Islamist immigrants strut around demanding sharia? Then you’re a dangerous “Christian Nationalist.”
If you aren’t content to be subjugated to third-class citizenship in an anti-Christian, viciously race-baiting country where new Islamist immigrants strut around demanding sharia? Then you’re a dangerous “Christian Nationalist.”
Are you unwilling to pervert Christianity into a philosophy of craven surrender, a renunciation of basic rights no one would demand of any other group? Then expect to have that epithet hurled at you. Our new elites demand of us the same servility white racists demanded of black Americans under Jim Crow. And a certain kind of Christian is happy to comply. He’ll pretend that some groups of people have the right to practice moderate, defensive nationalism (a perfectly respectable God-given impulse, as Yoram Hazony shows). But not us. We’re somehow unworthy.
Not Justice, But Vicious Revenge
At the heart of the post-Christian Woke cult’s theology is a plan to demoralize, demonize, then oppress our nation’s historic majority groups. While the pretext for doing these things will always be “justice,” in fact it’s frankly revenge. Rich, mostly white, leftists will wield angry mobs of “Woke” leftists. Those will recruit urban poor folk long trapped in poverty by socialism, welfare, and the crippling results of the Sexual Revolution. The elites will aim these mobs at those of us who dare to cling to our old loyalties and way of life.
And a certain kind of Christian is eager to dodge such bullets and cling to respectability in the eyes of our pagan elites. This coterie will actively help to oppress the rest of us. They will write anguished op-eds, condemning any resistance, denouncing us as “worldly.” They’ll demand that we renounce our imaginary “privilege,” while they rip out little proof-texts from the Bible to pin to their Pharisaical cloaks. They’ll also take time to laugh at us, for being so naïve as to think we had any hope in the first place. Here’s Rod Dreher doing that, admitting that he spent six hours sneering at the Christians and conservatives in the Jericho March. I wonder if he has spent six minutes deigning to examine the evidence of 2020 vote fraud. Doing that, of course, wouldn’t earn him little head-pats from Jake Tapper of CNN.
When such people have the gall to step forward and offer to lead us through the persecution they helped ensure by telling us not to fight, at the very least we can laugh at them. And paraphrase Alexander Solzhenitsyn (who didn’t sneer at people who chose to resist the Bolsheviks) when we tell them, “Live not by LARPing.”
John Zmirak is a senior editor at The Stream, and author or co-author of ten books, including The Politically Incorrect Guide to Immigration and The Politically Incorrect Guide to Catholicism. He is co-author with Jason Jones of “God, Guns, & the Government.”


thestream--2020-12-22--BioNTech CEO is ‘Confident’ Coronavirus Vaccine is Effective Against New European Strain

The CEO of BioNTech , the German drug maker who partnered with Pfizer in developing the world ’ s first approved coronavirus vaccine , said that he was “ confident ” it will be effective against a mutated strain of the virus found in the United Kingdom .
“ The likelihood that our vaccine works… is relatively high , ” Uğur Şahin told reporters during a Tuesday press conference , explaining that the mutated strain still shares approximately 99 % of the original strain ’ s spike protein .
Despite confidence that the original vaccine , which began distribution earlier @ @ @ @ @ @ @ BioNTech are conducting tests to reaffirm the vaccine ’ s effectiveness , and aim to have the results published in early January .
If the vaccine proves to be ineffective then a new vaccine could be developed in just six weeks , Şahin said .
Though health experts believe that the vaccines will be effective against the new strain and that it is no more lethal than the strain that has spread across the globe , they have warned that it could be up to 70 % more transmissible .
In response to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ halted travel from the U.K. Monday .
The United States has not stopped travel , but multiple airlines announced that they would require travelers from Britain to provide evidence of a negative coronavirus test before flying .
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson imposed a series of new lockdowns over the weekend following a dramatic spike in cases across the island nation .
The lockdowns are the strictest the country has seen since the beginning of the pandemic in March , and extend into 2021 .
Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ news publisher that can provide a large audience .
For licensing opportunities of our original content , please contact licensing @ dailycallernewsfoundation.org .

The CEO of BioNTech, the German drug maker who partnered with Pfizer in developing the world’s first approved coronavirus vaccine, said that he was “confident” it will be effective against a mutated strain of the virus found in the United Kingdom.
“The likelihood that our vaccine works… is relatively high,” Uğur Şahin told reporters during a Tuesday press conference, explaining that the mutated strain still shares approximately 99% of the original strain’s spike protein.
Despite confidence that the original vaccine, which began distribution earlier in December, Şahin added Pfizer and BioNTech are conducting tests to reaffirm the vaccine’s effectiveness, and aim to have the results published in early January. If the vaccine proves to be ineffective then a new vaccine could be developed in just six weeks, Şahin said.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
Though health experts believe that the vaccines will be effective against the new strain and that it is no more lethal than the strain that has spread across the globe, they have warned that it could be up to 70% more transmissible.
In response to the new strain, dozens of countries halted travel from the U.K. Monday. The United States has not stopped travel, but multiple airlines announced that they would require travelers from Britain to provide evidence of a negative coronavirus test before flying.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson imposed a series of new lockdowns over the weekend following a dramatic spike in cases across the island nation. The lockdowns are the strictest the country has seen since the beginning of the pandemic in March, and extend into 2021.
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--2020-12-22--Joy Break: 5 New Jersey Teens Rescue 2 Young Children From Icy Pond After Sledding Mishap

When we turn on our televisions or smart phones we are bombarded with news that brings us down .
Where are all the good stories ?
They ’ re still there .
Here ’ s one that we hope will bless you .
They ’ re being called the “ Fab Five Heroes ” in Middletown , New Jersey .
Five high school freshmen — Kieran Foley , 14 , Joseph Dietrich , 14 , Drew Scalice , 14 , Ryan Day , 15 , and Tyler Armagan , 14 — were standing by a pond at Beacon Hill Country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thursday when they heard screaming .
“ I didn ’ t see anyone else be able to do anything , so I just jumped in , ” Foley said .
“ I was like , whatever .
It wasn ’ t deep so I could walk right over to them .
I picked them up and my friends formed a chain and we got the boy first , and handed him to my friends .
Then I got the girl.
” The five boys rescued the children from the shallow pond .
Foley @ @ @ @ @ @ @ finished the rescue barefoot .
Foley and Scalice are members of Middletown Boy Scouts Troop 47 .
Day works as a caddy at the country club and estimated that the pond was only a few feet deep .
That wasn ’ t the problem Scalice said .
“ It wasn ’ t how deep it was .
It was how cold.
” Olivia ’ s and RJ ’ s parents were thankful the boys were where they were when the kids ’ sled went through the ice .
“ We offered them money @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” said mom Stephanie Irlbeck .
“ My husband took off his pants and gave Kieran his pants and his boots ; thankfully , he took those .
My husband shook all the boys ’ hands and we wanted to give them a ride home , but they said no , their mom was coming to pick them up in half an hour .
They were insanely humble .
They didn ’ t want anything , they just wanted to make sure my kids were OK .
They kept saying to my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now .
You ’ re going to get a hot chocolate and a warm bath at home . '
” “ We had to race to get the kids home because we didn ’ t want them to get hypothermia , ” she continued .
“ I didn ’ t cry ; I was just shaking .
I felt like I was going to throw up the entire ride home.
” Irlbeck posted a note to a Middletown Facebook page to let the boys ’ parents know they raised good kids .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ don ’ t really care and all they do is take their phones out and videotape when something happens , these kids did not even hesitate , ” she said .
“ I just wanted to call their parents and say , ‘ you raised some really great kids . '
” “ We ’ re just glad the kids are all right , ” Dietrich said .
Nancy Flory is an associate editor at The Stream .
You can follow her @ NancyFlory3 , and follow The Stream @ Streamdotorg .

When we turn on our televisions or smart phones we are bombarded with news that brings us down. Where are all the good stories? They’re still there. Here’s one that we hope will bless you.
They’re being called the “Fab Five Heroes” in Middletown, New Jersey.
Five high school freshmen — Kieran Foley, 14, Joseph Dietrich, 14, Drew Scalice, 14, Ryan Day, 15, and Tyler Armagan, 14 — were standing by a pond at Beacon Hill Country Club in Middletown, New Jersey, Thursday when they heard screaming.
“We heard this Dad yelling, ‘Hop off, hop off!'” said Foley. “We turned around and see these kids coming down the hill. They were going backwards.”
“They were going fast, really fast,” said Dietrich. Olivia Heid, 8, and her brother RJ, 4, were sledding down the hill on a blowup inner-tube when their sled hit a patch of ice near the bottom. According to Patch.com, the sled then ricocheted, shot over a snow bank, and slid over the pond before starting to sink.
“I didn’t see anyone else be able to do anything, so I just jumped in,” Foley said. “I was like, whatever. It wasn’t deep so I could walk right over to them. I picked them up and my friends formed a chain and we got the boy first, and handed him to my friends. Then I got the girl.”
The five boys rescued the children from the shallow pond. Foley lost his boots during the ordeal and finished the rescue barefoot.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
Foley and Scalice are members of Middletown Boy Scouts Troop 47. Day works as a caddy at the country club and estimated that the pond was only a few feet deep. That wasn’t the problem Scalice said. “It wasn’t how deep it was. It was how cold.”
Olivia’s and RJ’s parents were thankful the boys were where they were when the kids’ sled went through the ice.
“We offered them money; they wouldn’t take it,” said mom Stephanie Irlbeck. “My husband took off his pants and gave Kieran his pants and his boots; thankfully, he took those. My husband shook all the boys’ hands and we wanted to give them a ride home, but they said no, their mom was coming to pick them up in half an hour. They were insanely humble. They didn’t want anything, they just wanted to make sure my kids were OK. They kept saying to my kids, ‘You’re safe now. You’re going to get a hot chocolate and a warm bath at home.'”
“We had to race to get the kids home because we didn’t want them to get hypothermia,” she continued. “I didn’t cry; I was just shaking. I felt like I was going to throw up the entire ride home.”
Irlbeck posted a note to a Middletown Facebook page to let the boys’ parents know they raised good kids. “In this day and age when kids don’t really care and all they do is take their phones out and videotape when something happens, these kids did not even hesitate,” she said. “I just wanted to call their parents and say, ‘you raised some really great kids.'”
“We’re just glad the kids are all right,” Dietrich said.
https://twitter.com/News12NJ/status/1341065918416367617
Nancy Flory is an associate editor at The Stream. You can follow her @NancyFlory3, and follow The Stream @Streamdotorg.


thestream--2020-12-22--Slanted: A Political Hit Job and a Tom Cruise Moment

Who ordered the “ code red ” on me ?
That ’ s what I was wondering recently while listening to Megyn Kelly interviewing journalist Sheryl Attkisson .
The two prominent journalists talked about how broken and agenda-driven the media has become .
Atkinson wrote the new book Slanted : How the News Media Taught Us to Love Censorship and Hate Journalism .
Reporters , writes Attkisson , are committed to “ The Narrative , ” the storyline that will bolster whatever liberal cause is currently in vogue .
Kelly agreed , citing the 2018 attempted immolation of Brett Kavanaugh @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” watching as more and more bizarre , violent and crazy accusations about the future Supreme Court justice came out in September 2018 .
This after a California professor named Christine Blasey Ford accused Kavanaugh of sexual assault while in high school .
Ford would also claim that I was in the room when the high school incident allegedly happened .
I was friends with Brett in the 1980s when we were students at Georgetown Prep .
The Truth ?
You ’ re Not Ready for the Truth !
The allegation came out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wave of negative media stories that seemed to suddenly appear fully formed .
Politicians , oppo researchers and the media had ordered a “ code red ” on us .
Its planning required weeks , if not months or even years .
Code red is a term used in the Marines to describe the violent hazing of a serviceman .
It ’ s a pivotal plot point in the 1992 Tom Cruise movie A Few Good Men , when a code red results in a Marine ’ s death .
One of all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ me one stuck out .
As I wrote recently in The Stream : One thing that I always wondered , and even brought up with friends and law enforcement , was why Ford had never attempted to contact me in the summer of 2018 , before everything blew up .
I ’ m a conscientious person who strives ( and fails ) to be a good Christian .
I ’ ve been sober for thirty years .
It was a devastating accusation about an alleged event that I have no memory of — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there .
I ’ m always willing to listen and examine my conscience about anything someone wants to bring to my attention .
Why not ask me about it before triggering World War III ?
The answer : a code red is more effective .
Coercion beats appeals to humanity and reason , especially when a charge is bogus .
I ’ m not saying Ford knew the scale of the attack that so many had a hand in .
She may have been used by forces she was not fully aware of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ don ’ t know .
In the 1992 film A Few Good Men , Tom Cruise plays a lawyer .
He is investigating the murder of a Marine named William Santiago , who was disliked by his colleagues at Gitmo , and died as the result of a code red .
But who ordered it ?
A key suspect , Col. Nathan Jessup ( Jack Nicholson ) , at first denies it .
Instead he insists that he gave an order that Santiago was not to be harmed in any way .
Jessup @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the letter , he says , otherwise “ people die.
” Jessup adds that he ordered Private Santiago transferred off Gitmo because he was “ in danger.
” Santiago was killed before he could leave .
At the trial Cruise asks a simple , smart question : If Jessup ’ s orders are always strictly followed , and he ordered that Santiago was not to be touched , then why was Santiago in danger ?
Why did he have to be transferred off the base if his life was in no danger ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
That ’ s because Jessup himself ordered the code red .
Then he covered up his crime by blaming others .
In her book Supreme Ambition : Brett Kavanaugh and the Conservative Takeover , liberal Washington Post reporter Ruth Marcus recalls the summer of 2018 .
Ford started contacting the media and politicians in early July with her claim .
Marcus writes : That ’ s weird .
Ford had my Twitter handle but was unsure how to contact me .
There ’ s more .
In The Education of Brett Kavanaugh @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Robin Pogrebin introduce readers to a man named Keith Koegler .
An attorney and close California friend of Ford ’ s , Koegler had known Ford since 2016 .
In the summer of 2018 he “ had become not just a personal ballast , but [ Ford ’ s ] researcher in chief.
” Not just researcher , but researcher in chief .
Kelly and Pogrebin describe Koegler ’ s prep work for the September publication of Ford ’ s charge .
They write : So Ford was unsure how to contact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ moment her close friend , “ personal ballast ” and “ researcher in chief ” was scouring through social media to unearth everything I ’ ve ever said , written , eaten or drunk .
Private Santiago was perfectly safe , aside from the fact that he was about to get choked to death .
Mark Judge is a writer and filmmaker in Washington , D.C .

Who ordered the “code red” on me?
That’s what I was wondering recently while listening to Megyn Kelly interviewing journalist Sheryl Attkisson. The two prominent journalists talked about how broken and agenda-driven the media has become. Atkinson wrote the new book Slanted: How the News Media Taught Us to Love Censorship and Hate Journalism. Reporters, writes Attkisson, are committed to “The Narrative,” the storyline that will bolster whatever liberal cause is currently in vogue.
Kelly agreed, citing the 2018 attempted immolation of Brett Kavanaugh. Kelly says her “stomach turned” watching as more and more bizarre, violent and crazy accusations about the future Supreme Court justice came out in September 2018. This after a California professor named Christine Blasey Ford accused Kavanaugh of sexual assault while in high school. Ford would also claim that I was in the room when the high school incident allegedly happened. I was friends with Brett in the 1980s when we were students at Georgetown Prep.
The Truth? You’re Not Ready for the Truth!
The allegation came out of nowhere. Flanking it were a wave of negative media stories that seemed to suddenly appear fully formed. Politicians, oppo researchers and the media had ordered a “code red” on us. Its planning required weeks, if not months or even years. Code red is a term used in the Marines to describe the violent hazing of a serviceman. It’s a pivotal plot point in the 1992 Tom Cruise movie A Few Good Men, when a code red results in a Marine’s death.
One of all the things that made no sense to me one stuck out. As I wrote recently in The Stream:
One thing that I always wondered, and even brought up with friends and law enforcement, was why Ford had never attempted to contact me in the summer of 2018, before everything blew up. I’m a conscientious person who strives (and fails) to be a good Christian. I’ve been sober for thirty years. It was a devastating accusation about an alleged event that I have no memory of — nor do the others Ford claims were there. I’m always willing to listen and examine my conscience about anything someone wants to bring to my attention. Why not ask me about it before triggering World War III?
The answer: a code red is more effective. Coercion beats appeals to humanity and reason, especially when a charge is bogus. I’m not saying Ford knew the scale of the attack that so many had a hand in. She may have been used by forces she was not fully aware of and unable to control. I honestly don’t know.
Code Red: A Coordinated Lynching
In the 1992 film A Few Good Men, Tom Cruise plays a lawyer. He is investigating the murder of a Marine named William Santiago, who was disliked by his colleagues at Gitmo, and died as the result of a code red. But who ordered it? A key suspect, Col. Nathan Jessup (Jack Nicholson), at first denies it. Instead he insists that he gave an order that Santiago was not to be harmed in any way. Jessup’s orders are always followed to the letter, he says, otherwise “people die.” Jessup adds that he ordered Private Santiago transferred off Gitmo because he was “in danger.” Santiago was killed before he could leave.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
At the trial Cruise asks a simple, smart question: If Jessup’s orders are always strictly followed, and he ordered that Santiago was not to be touched, then why was Santiago in danger? Why did he have to be transferred off the base if his life was in no danger?
Jessup doesn’t have an answer. That’s because Jessup himself ordered the code red. Then he covered up his crime by blaming others.
Doesn’t Everyone Have a “Researcher-in-Chief?”
In her book Supreme Ambition: Brett Kavanaugh and the Conservative Takeover, liberal Washington Post reporter Ruth Marcus recalls the summer of 2018. Ford started contacting the media and politicians in early July with her claim. Marcus writes:
One possibility: Ford would call Mark Judge, remind Judge of what had happened, tell him to call Kavanaugh, and advise him to spare his family the ordeal. She dug up Judge’s Twitter handle but wasn’t sure how to go about contacting him.
That’s weird. Ford had my Twitter handle but was unsure how to contact me.
There’s more. In The Education of Brett Kavanaugh, New York Times reporters Kate Kelly and Robin Pogrebin introduce readers to a man named Keith Koegler. An attorney and close California friend of Ford’s, Koegler had known Ford since 2016. In the summer of 2018 he “had become not just a personal ballast, but [Ford’s] researcher in chief.”
Not just researcher, but researcher in chief.
Ambush and Destroy
Kelly and Pogrebin describe Koegler’s prep work for the September publication of Ford’s charge. They write:
A tech industry lawyer, Koegler was a voracious reader and a technical thinker. In his second-floor home office, he’d spent many hours that summer poring over news coverage of the nomination process, biographical information about Kavanaugh, and writings and videos produced by Mark Judge. In combing through YouTube, articles, and social networks, Koegler had learned more about the house parties … and the lexicon of 1980s Georgetown Prep than he had ever thought he would care to know.
So Ford was unsure how to contact me, while at the exact same moment her close friend, “personal ballast” and “researcher in chief” was scouring through social media to unearth everything I’ve ever said, written, eaten or drunk.
Private Santiago was perfectly safe, aside from the fact that he was about to get choked to death.
Mark Judge is a writer and filmmaker in Washington, D.C.


thestream--2020-12-22--Planned Parenthood Bid to Kill Hyde Amendment to Face Pro-Life Pushback

Planned Parenthood is preparing its wish list for former Vice President Joe Biden ’ s prospective administration , but pro-life forces are gearing up for a fight .
In a Roll Call interview , Planned Parenthood Action Fund President and CEO Alexis McGill Johnson said her organization ’ s top goal in 2021 is abolishing the Hyde Amendment , which for 40 years has prohibited federal funding for most abortions .
“ A lot of , I think , the public conversation has to be around how a policy like Hyde , which discriminates against low-income people largely and people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a moment where those same people are being disproportionately affected by a pandemic and access to health care broadly , ” McGill Johnson told Roll Call .
“ I think you can send a different message , that the very things that we ’ re trying to address , like racism , are also baked into our various policies , ” she said .
The Hyde Amendment is named for the late Rep. Henry Hyde , R-Ill. , who sponsored the amendment , first adopted in 1976 .
McGill Johnson ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as the incoming chairman of the House Appropriations Committee , Rep. Rosa DeLauro , D-Conn. , has said she also wants to do away with the Hyde Amendment .
In a statement to The Daily Signal , Jeanne Mancini , president of March for Life , said she is concerned about the obvious pro-abortion trajectory of a Biden administration .
“ Despite his pledge of unity , it is truly heartbreaking that Joe Biden is taking his policy direction from our nation ’ s largest abortion business , Planned Parenthood , a group @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and potential fraud , not to mention the trafficking of baby body parts , ” Mancini said , adding : Melanie Israel , a research associate in the DeVos Center for Religion and Civil Society at The Heritage Foundation , told The Daily Signal that a Biden administration will remove life-affirming policies set in place by the Trump administration .
“ The abortion lobby , along with its allies in Congress , is committed to [ rolling ] back the pro-life movement ’ s progress , ” Israel said , adding : From @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at home and overseas to rolling back conscience and religious freedom protections , pro-abortion actors are eager to remove critical guardrails through both legislative and administrative action .
Pro-life policymakers will , without a doubt , have their work cut out for them .
Regardless of who is in control of Congress and the administration , the pro-life movement will continue its crucial work serving women , children , and their families .
As far back as January , CNBC reported that Planned Parenthood was gearing up to support pro-abortion candidates for elective @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would spend $ 45 million in the 2020 elections to help its chosen candidates win .
Dean Nelson , executive director of Human Coalition Action , told The Daily Signal that Planned Parenthood ’ s agenda is clear .
“ It ’ s plain to see that Planned Parenthood ’ s top priority is not protecting women ’ s health — as they want the public to believe — but in promoting abortions , ” he said , adding : Kristan Hawkins , president of Students for Life of America and Students for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that taxpayer funding for abortions isn ’ t as popular among the public as Planned Parenthood would like it to be .
“ Given all the interviews Planned Parenthood leadership is giving , with their shopping list for taxpayers , it ’ s clear that they expect some real payback for what they spent during the election , ” Hawkins said , adding : Rachel del Guidice ( @ LRacheldG ) is a reporter for The Daily Signal .
She is a graduate of Franciscan University of Steubenville , Forge Leadership Network , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Leaders Program .

Planned Parenthood is preparing its wish list for former Vice President Joe Biden’s prospective administration, but pro-life forces are gearing up for a fight.
In a Roll Call interview, Planned Parenthood Action Fund President and CEO Alexis McGill Johnson said her organization’s top goal in 2021 is abolishing the Hyde Amendment, which for 40 years has prohibited federal funding for most abortions.
“A lot of, I think, the public conversation has to be around how a policy like Hyde, which discriminates against low-income people largely and people of color, you know, is in a moment where those same people are being disproportionately affected by a pandemic and access to health care broadly,” McGill Johnson told Roll Call.
“I think you can send a different message, that the very things that we’re trying to address, like racism, are also baked into our various policies,” she said.
The Hyde Amendment is named for the late Rep. Henry Hyde, R-Ill., who sponsored the amendment, first adopted in 1976.
McGill Johnson’s effort already has support in Congress, as the incoming chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., has said she also wants to do away with the Hyde Amendment.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
In a statement to The Daily Signal, Jeanne Mancini, president of March for Life, said she is concerned about the obvious pro-abortion trajectory of a Biden administration.
“Despite his pledge of unity, it is truly heartbreaking that Joe Biden is taking his policy direction from our nation’s largest abortion business, Planned Parenthood, a group under investigation for waste, abuse, and potential fraud, not to mention the trafficking of baby body parts,” Mancini said, adding:
Joe Biden would do well to review where the majority of Americans stand on the radical policy goals pushed by Planned Parenthood, including eliminating the Hyde Amendment, a move that would quickly cement his role as the most pro-abortion president in history.
Melanie Israel, a research associate in the DeVos Center for Religion and Civil Society at The Heritage Foundation, told The Daily Signal that a Biden administration will remove life-affirming policies set in place by the Trump administration.
“The abortion lobby, along with its allies in Congress, is committed to [rolling] back the pro-life movement’s progress,” Israel said, adding:
From forcing taxpayers to fund elective abortions both at home and overseas to rolling back conscience and religious freedom protections, pro-abortion actors are eager to remove critical guardrails through both legislative and administrative action. Pro-life policymakers will, without a doubt, have their work cut out for them. Regardless of who is in control of Congress and the administration, the pro-life movement will continue its crucial work serving women, children, and their families.
As far back as January, CNBC reported that Planned Parenthood was gearing up to support pro-abortion candidates for elective office, reporting that the abortion provider would spend $45 million in the 2020 elections to help its chosen candidates win.
Dean Nelson, executive director of Human Coalition Action, told The Daily Signal that Planned Parenthood’s agenda is clear.
“It’s plain to see that Planned Parenthood’s top priority is not protecting women’s health — as they want the public to believe — but in promoting abortions,” he said, adding:
In recent days, they’ve even tried to paint the Hyde Amendment as racist, when in fact the Hyde Amendment restrains the racist exploitation of minority and impoverished communities by the abortion industry.
Kristan Hawkins, president of Students for Life of America and Students for Life Action, told The Daily Signal that taxpayer funding for abortions isn’t as popular among the public as Planned Parenthood would like it to be.
“Given all the interviews Planned Parenthood leadership is giving, with their shopping list for taxpayers, it’s clear that they expect some real payback for what they spent during the election,” Hawkins said, adding:
But one thing that is consistently bipartisan is that people don’t want to pay for abortion here at home or around the world. The majority of Americans, pro-lifers, will be calling for the Hyde Amendment to stay in place and for Planned Parenthood to quit picking the pocket of taxpayers. Their ‘choice’ to ending preborn lives to make money doesn’t mean we should pay them to do it.
Rachel del Guidice (@LRacheldG) is a reporter for The Daily Signal. She is a graduate of Franciscan University of Steubenville, Forge Leadership Network, and The Heritage Foundation’s Young Leaders Program.
Copyright 2020 The Daily Signal