Commentary, analysis and opinion.

‘Heretic’ in the Vatican

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“The shift may seem like small beer to non-Catholics — and Francis’ suggestions are already the practice among many priests. But the changes have become the touch-paper for conservative dissent, enflaming mutterings of disapproval into open mutiny. The Vatican’s conservative flank is increasingly taking action.”

(Hannah Roberts – Politico)  ROME — “They call me a heretic.”

Not the words you’d expect to hear from the head of the Roman Catholic Church. But that’s what Pope Francis told a group of fellow Jesuits in Chile earlier this year, acknowledging the fierce pushback from arch-conservatives in the Vatican. Continue reading →

Was Monday the Clintons’ Last Pre-Indictment Memorial Day?

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Latest treasure trove of ‘pay-to-play’ Hillary State Department emails is full of bad memories for America’s best-known crime family

(Charles Ortel – LifeZette)  Just when the Clintons thought they might open a new chapter in their lives, shining at a fundraising gala for their “foundation,” hell has broken loose and is assaulting the family from myriad directions.

On the worse-than-tawdry side, New York state and federal prosecutors are ramping up criminal cases against sex ghoul and Clinton family pal Harvey Weinstein, whose horrific practices against Hollywood starlets Hillary only belatedly and half-heartedly condemned; she profited politically for years from Weinstein’s direct and indirect financial support. Continue reading →

The Wretched Art of Loveless Discernment

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“when it comes to doctrinal issues, we must wield discernment like a surgeon’s scalpel, carefully incising into a teaching to separate the bad tissue of error from the healthy tissue of truth. But we must be precise in how we go about exercising discernment as well.”

(Reagan Rose – The Master’s Seminary) Christians are called to speak the truth (Eph 4:15). It is no surprise, therefore, that our enemy’s preferred tactic is deception (Rev 12:9). Consequently, because of this war between truth and deception, believers are called to exercise discernment—to be vigilant in dividing truth from error (Acts 17:11; Jude 3). Continue reading →

Did Hell Disappear?

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“Is there a Hell? Is it how the Bible describes it? I read in the Bible that there is a hell and that Jesus affirmed it and warned that some will go there. I have staked my life on its veracity. “

(Herescope) The Wall Street Journal wrote last week that “Italian journalist Eugenio Scalfari, a friend and frequent interviewer of the pope, reported that the pontiff had denied the existence of hell.”

Sinners who die without achieving eternal salvation “are not punished,” the pope said, according to an article by Mr. Scalfari in the Itlaian newspaper La Repubblica. “There is no hell; there is the disappearance of sinful souls.”[1] Continue reading →

10 Incredible Reminders of American Military Battles and Bravery

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(Kyle Becker – LifeZette) The 10 pieces of our history shown in this slideshow call out to us from the past.

They invite us to take a closer look.

They invite us to understand what went into the creation — and the defense — of our country over the years.

As we remember the courage and sacrifice of our military this weekend, as we celebrate their accomplishments, mourn their loss and honor their service — these pieces of war memorabilia provide a closer look at the history of America. View article →

Ireland Makes History: Legalizes Murder of the Unborn

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(Cherie Vandermillen – Pulpit & Pen) Abortion has been illegal in Ireland since 1861.  In 1983, there was a growing concern among Ireland’s population, which was heavily influenced by the pro-life ethic of the Roman Catholic Church, that their country would follow the pattern of the more secular nations around it and legalize the practice of killing babies in womb.  Pro-lifers fought to maintain the protection of the unborn. On September 7th, 1983, the “Eighth Amendment of the Constitution Act” was enacted, giving the mother and the unborn equal rights and protection under Irish law.  Yesterday, May 25, Irish voters, in a referendum, had the opportunity to perpetuate or repeal the Eight Amendment. Sadly, in a landslide vote, Irish voters decided to repeal the amendment. View article →

Apostles Today Part 1

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Bible teacher and Christian apologist Elliott Nesh tackles the unbiblical notion that the office of Apostle and Prophet has made a comeback in modern day churches. As you will see, nothing could be further from the truth.

Elliott Nesh is the founder of Holy Bible Prophecy (HBP) and director of HBP films. Following is part one of his four-part series.  He writes:

In his article, “Understanding How Apostles Minister in Different Spheres,” the late modern Apostle C. Peter Wagner defines an apostles as a “Christian leader gifted, taught, commissioned, and sent by God with the authority to establish the foundational government of the church within an assigned sphere of ministry by hearing what the Spirit is saying to the churches and by setting things in order accordingly for the growth and maturity of the church.” … Continue reading →

Why Pope’s Response to a Gay Man is Wrong, But in Line With Many Evangelicals

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Author, speaker and talk show host Julie Roys reminds us that when it comes to the sin of homosexuality, Christians must remember that “The same power that raised Christ from the dead is alive in us. We should not be resigned to defeat; we should be proclaiming the hope of victory. We should not be affirming the sin nature; we should be affirming the new creation.”

In this must read post, Roys addresses evangelicals’ concerning response to the gay issue. She writes:

It was the most depressing conference I’ve ever attended. For two days, people on different sides of the gay issue debated how Christians should counsel those with same-sex attraction. Some pushed for gay affirmation and full acceptance of same-sex relationships; others upheld the Bible’s prohibition on homosexuality and urged gays to remain celibate. Many expressed sympathy and compassion. But none believed in healing – and no one offered hope. Continue reading →

Gandalf (Ian McKellen): ‘Half of Hollywood is Gay’

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“Confused” made the following comment on Michael W. Chapman’s piece:

“…half of Hollywood is gay…”. He forgot bipolar, antisocial, leftist, narcissistic, alcoholic, drug-addicted, pedophilic, presumptuous, prima donnas. Or maybe he figured all that was understood.”

Here’s Chapman’s piece over at CNSNews:

Award-winning actor Sir Ian McKellen, who played “Gandalf” in the Lord of the Rings series, is openly gay and in a recent interview about his life said that “Hollywood has mistreated women in every possible way” and that “half of Hollywood is gay.”   View article →

Indoctrinating Next Generation’s Leaders With Mickey & Minnie Mouse Celebrity Status

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(Judy McCloud – Canada Free Press)  Boom! and Bingo! all at once.

The celebratory sound of Barack and Michelle Obama hitting Netflix pay-dirt.

Until Jan.  20, 2017 they were just U.S. President and First Lady where they got to torment half of the masses they were elected to serve for eight, miserable, long years.

Suddenly and out of the blue, now the entire world and not just the White House is their proverbial oyster. Continue reading →

The Wrath of God Poured Out — The Humiliation of the Southern Baptist Convention

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According to Dr. Albert Mohler, president of Baptist Theological Seminary, the judgment of God has come to the house of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC). “The terrible swift sword of public humiliation has come with a vengeance. There can be no doubt that this story is not over,” says Dr. Mohler. He admits that “The SBC, solidly conservative theologically, has been revealed to be morally compromised.”

The SBC has affirmed complementarianism — the belief in the Bible’s teachings on male leadership in the home and in the church. Is this part of the problem?

The #MeToo moment has now come to American evangelicals, and it has come to Albert Mohler. In the following commentary, Dr. Mohler deals with the affect #MeToo is having on the Christian community. He writes: Continue reading →

How Socialist School Teachers Brainwashed the Snowflake Generation

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(Ileana Johnson Paugh – Canada Free Press) “The universe is made of protons, neutrons, electrons, and morons.”  –  Anonymous

While the left is busy demonizing President Trump for his remarks about the MS-13 gangs who enter our country illegally through the porous southern border, Congressional members, working against the safety interests of the American people and cheered by the leftist media and half of the voting population, are doing their best to stall, defund, and vilify any effort by our president to build a border wall and to deport the illegal criminal elements who are already in this country and have committed atrocious crimes. Continue reading →

Just Stop It: Instructions on how to repent

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(Clint Archer – The Cripplegate) “If you want to stop gossiping, then stop lingering at the water cooler, stop reading tabloids, stop being part of the grapevine, stop feeding your appetite for the scuttlebutt, stop soliciting “news” from the office gossip, and tell them that you are not interested in people’s personal lives.”

Instructions printed on products are quite often, well, instructional. After a nail-breaking, white-knuckled attempt at prying open the child-proof cap on a medicine bottle, I have meekly consulted the instructions on the label— push down, pinch sides, and twist anti-clockwise— and in an instant access was granted. That’s the point of the child-proof lid, to be complicated. But sometimes the instructions printed on products give the impression that the manufacturers think humans are really obtuse. Continue reading →

Are there codes in the Bible?

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Well, a lot of professing Christians believe that there are secret codes in the Bible. Supposedly the original text of Scripture contains hidden messages.  In fact, some “experts” would have us believe that they’ve used mathematical patterns to discover codes in the Bible. Others who’ve searched for codes claim to have discovered them though the use of computers.

So, what does researcher and blogger Elizabeth Prata think about hidden codes in the Bible? Are those who claim they’ve discovered cryptic messages God hid in Scripture and written books about their discoveries to be believed? Let’s visit Elizabeth’s blog, The End Time, and find out what John MacArthur has to say about Bible codes: Continue reading →

In Politicized Justice, Desperate Times Call for Disparate Measures

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(Andrew C. McCarthy – National Review) “Clinton’s bid was saved, not destroyed, by Obama’s law-enforcement agencies, which tanked a criminal case on which she should have been indicted. And the hush-hush approach taken to the counterintelligence case against Donald Trump was not intended to protect the Republican candidate; it was intended to protect the Obama administration from the specter of a Watergate-level scandal had its spying on the opposition party’s presidential campaign been revealed.”

We wuz robbed. That’s the theme Democrats and their media allies are working hard to cement into conventional wisdom. And robbed in a very specific way: The 2016 presidential election, we’re to believe, was stolen from Hillary Clinton by disparate treatment. As Democrats tell it, the FBI scandalized their candidate while protecting Donald Trump. Continue reading →

10 ways to identify false teaching

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In March we linked to Rick Becker’s “8 reasons believers shouldn’t remain in a church” and in April “10 invalid arguments in defense of false teachers.” So now Becker offers his view of the 10 ways to identity false teaching. In #5, False teaching Misinterpret the kingdom of God, he reminds us:

Jesus said that His kingdom is not of this world, but some teachings make the kingdom all about this world.  Dominion theology teaches that man lost dominion in the garden, and this is the time of restoring that dominion. The church will supposedly conquer the seven mountains of society: religion, education, business, family, government, arts, media.  Jesus contradicted this false notion: ” “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.” John 18:36

Learn more on the New Apostolic Reformation aka Dominionism’s 7 Mountain Mandate here

Now, discover some of the ways in which we can identify false teaching: Continue reading →

A Royal Wedding: How Bishop Michael Curry’s Sermon Was Not Royal Enough

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(Gabriel Hughes – Junction City) So there was a royal wedding this weekend. Did you know that? You’ve probably had little contact with the outside world in the last several weeks if you hadn’t at least heard about it. Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Meghan Markle, an American actress, were proclaimed husband and wife yesterday during a fairy-tale wedding at Windsor Castle in the English county of Berkshire.

As you might expect, it was quite lavish: the bride wore a 16-foot veil, the couple rode in a 1968 Jaguar E-Type Concept Zero converted to electric, and they had a wedding cake worth more than I’ve ever made in a year. An estimated 1.9 billion people tuned in to watch worldwide. Yet I was not one of them. Continue reading →

Pope Says God Makes People Gay

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(Rod Dreher – The American Conservative)  “But if the Pope means that homosexuality is a matter of moral indifference, then Catholics have a very serious theological problem on their hands with this Pope, who has just blown a hole into Catholic moral theology with regard to sexuality.”

Via Eponymous Flower, one of the molestation victims of a Chilean priest tells the Spanish daily El País what Pope Francis said to him in their recent meeting:

“Juan Carlos, that you are gay does not matter. God made you like that and he loves you like that and I do not care. The Pope wants you like that, you have to be happy with who you are.”

Continue reading →

Transgender Woman Sues After Muslim Refuses Body Waxing Service

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(Amanda Prestigiacomo – Daily Wire)  An unnamed male-to-female transgender is suing a spa in Canada after a female Muslim employee refused to wax him, citing religious grounds.

According to the filed complaint, the trans woman tried to get a body waxing at Mad Wax beauty spa in March but was turned away when no one was available to perform the waxing. The employee who typically waxes male customers was out on sick leave, and the other employee working, a Muslim woman, refused, as she will not make physical contact with any male she is not related to. View article →

Let’s Stop Calling It Liberalism

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(Yosef Cohen – American Thinker) “…if we are to move forward during the Trump presidency and when it comes to its close, men and women of dignity across the land must abandon the words “liberal,” “progressive,” and “Democrat.”  Yes, a linguistic turn is that important.  To continue with misleading propaganda is to carry forth in darkness, when we have been given one last chance at the light.”

America is being made great again in the wake of Obama’s failed presidency, which in hindsight already appears as nothing more than the absurd climax of affirmative action gone off the rails.  Trump has wiped the floor with his legacy while building an incredible one of his own. Continue reading →

Sharing Faith Is Increasingly Optional to Christians

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(Barna) “Christians today, more than 25 years ago, perceive social barriers to sharing their faith. They are more likely to agree that faith-sharing is only effective when they already have a relationship with the other person (47% vs. 37% in 1993) and to admit they would avoid a spiritual conversation if they knew their non-Christian friend would reject them (44% vs. 33%).”

When was the last time you had a conversation about God? For most people, the unfortunate and surprising answer to that question is not very often. Spiritual conversations are exceedingly rare for most Americans, and even for Christians, who are at best reluctant to have them. Continue reading →

Discernment: A Spiritual Battle, Not a Logical One

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When it comes to convincing a professing Christian that their doctrine is unbiblical or that a teacher they follow is actually a wolf in sheep’s clothing, Bible study author, speaker and blogger Michelle Lesley reveals how she deals with this issue:

“My job is not to argue my friend into believing that Joel Osteen or Beth Moore or Benny Hinn or Christine Caine is a false teacher.  My job is to lovingly present what Scripture says, demonstrate how the teacher is in conflict with it, leave it on the table, walk away, and continue to pray for my friend. My job is done. It is now the Holy Spirit’s job to open my friend’s eyes and change her heart.” Continue reading →

Should I Stay Home from Church When Life Gets Hard?

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(Eric Davis – The Cripplegate) A wise man once said, “Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22). The “many,” “tribulations,” and “must” combine to make life really, really hard at times. Pain seems to crash upon its victims with inhumane force. It comes in all forms—physical, spiritual, relational, some excruciating combination. There are times when it just seems impossible to continue another moment.

Thankfully however, we have a loving God who is sovereign over suffering. He’s not pushing buttons from a distance, but intimately walking through it with us. What a great thing it is to have the Lord as our shepherd. He cares for us, not by always sparing us from sorrow, but leading us through it. He binds us up through various means; the word of God, prayer, corporate worship. Continue reading →