Older Adults May Reverse Cognitive Decline With One Simple Strategy

(Ben Bartee – PJ Media) From time immemorial, that adults lose cognitive ability over time has been taken for granted. The conventional wisdom is that loss of mental faculties is a natural consequence of the aging process.

However, recent research published in Aging and Mental Health calls that assumption into question, demonstrating that, in fact, not only can cognitive decline be prevented through lifestyle interventions alone, but it can potentially be reversed through cognitive gains even late in life. Continue reading

What Are Legalism and Antinomianism?

“Antinomianism works on people’s consciences by convincing them that God does not require us to turn from our wicked ways. Antinomianism presents a Christianity that requires no personal effort or spiritual striving against sin. It offers a counterfeit freedom to the true freedom that Christ gives believers.

(Ligonier) What are legalism and antinomianism?

The terms legalism and antinomianism describe two false teachings regarding the relationship between the law and the gospel. Legalism is the insistence that a person is accepted by God on the basis of his law keeping. It teaches that we are declared righteous before God through our own observance of either God’s law or man-made rules and regulations. Continue reading

To Live is Christ

21 For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain. (Philippians 1:21 translated from the NA28 Greek text 

As we have been seeing over the past several months (or is it years?) as we have dug deeper and deeper into the persons of the Holy Trinity, the doctrines of the Church, which is the Body of Christ himself, hasn’t it also been true how in our drawing closer and closer to God that in this that the disingenuousness of the man-centered elements of the visible church becomes more and more exposed to those with eyes of genuine saving faith? On the other hand, those with their self-focused, self-edifying faith in their in their own self-made religiosity simply continue to go deeper and deeper into their self-made deceptions that are based on a world view as shallow and insipid as post-modernity. Those people actually are guilty of saying that Christianity and the Church as formed by Jesus Christ is wrong and they have a better idea.  Continue reading

David Platt Says Political Convictions like ‘Anti-Abortion’ are Idolatry

“Platt’s position, of course, is terminal because he sees evil as a political issue, rather than a moral one. He states, “You cannot follow Jesus as a member of this church and advocate for abortion.” Yet, apparently you can promote, campaign for, vote for, and ostensibly run for office for the party that does all it can to advocate for, protect, expand, entrench, and promote it.”

(Protestia) Two years ago, David Platt gave an earnestly couched ultimatum to church members who were upset and contemplating breaking fellowship with other congregants who were promoting, working for, or voting for the pro-baby-killing Democratic party: maybe you should leave. Continue reading

Andy Stanley Says His Father’s Dying Words to Him Were ‘I Couldn’t Be Prouder of You’

Watch the shocking video

(The Dissenter) Andy Stanley, a clearly-defined and well-exposed false teacher, has faced a well-deserved backlash from conservative Christians for his unorthodox and aberrant teachings on such things as biblical interpretation, theology, and the role of the church. His approach, which is to be “seeker-sensitive”, focuses on luring non-believers to church over teaching biblical truth, diluting the gospel to cater to the goats. Stanley is dismissive of traditional orthodox doctrine and teachings and disregards the authority of the Bible while pushing his own personal beliefs as gospel. Continue reading

Looking for answers to the autism epidemic in all the wrong places

(Joan Swirsky – RenewAmerica) According to the Atlanta-based U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s latest statistics, in 2020 one in 36 children (approximately four percent of boys and one percent of girls) was estimated to have autism spectrum disorder, estimates that are significantly higher than those in all previous years. White children are about 19 percent more likely than black children and 65 percent more likely than Hispanic children to be diagnosed with autism.

Experts offer various reasons for the general increase in this condition: Continue reading

Christians Should Bear Their Crosses With Patience

33 These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 (LSB) 

The natural man in each of us wants to paint God as a combination of a spiritual Santa Claus and the Genie from Aladdin’s Lamp. We tie our good works into how well our lives go. If we do good things then God will surely see to it that we don’t lose our jobs or we get a great raise each year or our health is good. Equity or fairness is our cry. Just look at our society. Even though it isn’t a reality everyone seems to demand that no one be offended or that everyone be treated fairly. This has bled over into the Church in the 21st Century. Continue reading

Biologos Publishes Guide on How to Worship Mother Earth on Earth Day: A Biblically Balanced Response

Who’s behind BioLogos? Progressives Tim Keller and Francis Collins.

“BioLogos urges us to “confess” our role in “environmental degradation.” This movement, like many progressive ones, seeks to instill a sense of collective guilt, which can ultimately leads to collective punishment. For example, when a single mass shooter attacks a school and kills innocent children, the left blames society as a whole and then advocates for widespread gun control, which does nothing to address the root cause of individual sin.” 

(The Dissenter) In recent years, extreme environmentalism has taken center stage in the public discourse, with numerous overly-impassioned voices calling for a radical reevaluation of our relationship with the natural world, as though the future of humanity is solely dependent upon “Mother Earth.”… Continue reading

Allen Parr vs Discernment Ministries: How Allen Parr Gatekeeps on Discernment

“In a biblically illiterate culture, it is easy for misconceptions to metastasize while many have been led into false theological upbringings. Many of those people, particularly when they came out of hyper-charismatic or NAR movements, are especially thankful for discernment ministries.” 

In the realm of Christian YouTube, there is few channels greater in size than that of “The Beat by Allen Parr.” For a channel of around 1 million, his videos contain flashy headlines that do not reveal assertions about the underlying content or stances, which include hot takes on theology and discernment on false teachers delivered in short form videos. Of his top 10 videos, eight of them deal directly either with discernment against large false churches and teachers or are against the excesses of the charismatic church movement. Allen Parr is a discernment YouTuber, regardless of whether he would identify as one or not. Continue reading

Attorney General Merrick Garland is ‘senior’ Biden official in Hunter Biden IRS whistleblower claim

(Steven Nelson – New York Post) Attorney General Merrick Garland is the unnamed official whose sworn testimony before Congress is being challenged in a bombshell letter from an IRS whistleblower’s attorney that also alleges a cover-up in the Hunter Biden criminal investigation, The Post has learned.

Attorney Mark Lytle wrote Wednesday that the longtime IRS employee wants to provide information to congressional leaders to “contradict sworn testimony to Congress by a senior political appointee” — Garland — and also to detail “preferential treatment” in the criminal probe of the first son. Continue reading

The Transgender Cult Owns the Democratic Party

“Unfortunately, today on the floor, not one Democrat could stand up for Title IX, or stand up for women in sports. I believe that’s wrong.” 

(Matt Margolis – PJ Media) Make no mistake about it, the transgender cult owns the Democratic Party. On Thursday, the United States House of Representatives voted to pass the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, but not a single present Democrat voted in favor of it. Continue reading

Biden Rule Forces Good-Credit Homebuyers to Subsidize Loans to Higher-Risk Borrowers

“Those who work in the industry believe the new rules will only serve to frustrate and confuse people as home ownership becomes an increasingly distant dream for so many under the Biden administration.”

(Breitbart) Good-credit homebuyers will be forced to pay more for their mortgages to subsidize loans to higher-risk borrowers when a Biden administration rule begins to take effect next month. Continue reading

Did The ‘Genuine Outpouring of the Holy Spirit’ at Asbury Bring Lasting Changes as Promised?

“Reports circulated of openly homosexual people leading worship and people frequently taking the stage to preach or share testimonies, often misquoting and twisting Scripture and promoting bad, even terrible theology. Regrettably, the absence of mature leadership to offer correction or guidance resulted in a disordered and chaotic atmosphere.” 

(The Dissenter) You may recall the Asbury Revival at Asbury University in Wilmore, Kentucky, back in February 2023, which generated quite a buzz. People eagerly shared news of the event through social media and Christian online publications, hoping that it signaled a genuine spiritual awakening. But did this revival really deliver on its promises? Continue reading

Granger Smith feels ‘relief’ leaving country music to ‘serve’ God: ‘I need to completely surrender’

Watch the video.

(Stephanie Nolasco – Fox News) Granger Smith is walking away from his successful country music career – and he’s relieved.

Earlier this month, the singer/songwriter took to his social media pages and announced that his upcoming “Like a River” tour, named after his son, would be his last. The 43-year-old is gearing up to devote his life to ministry at his local church outside of Austin, Texas. His final show is on Aug. 26. Continue reading

Senior IRS agent blows whistle, alleging Biden DOJ thwarting criminal prosecution of Hunter Biden

“It’s clear from our investigation that Hunter and other members of the Biden family engaged in deceptive, shady business schemes to avoid scrutiny as they made millions from foreign adversaries like China. We’ve been wondering all along where the heck the DOJ and the IRS have been.” 

(John Solomon – Just the News) A decorated supervisory IRS agent has reported to the Justice Department’s top watchdog that federal prosecutors appointed by Joe Biden have engaged in “preferential treatment and politics” to block criminal tax charges against presidential son Hunter Biden, providing evidence as a whistleblower that conflicts with Attorney General Merrick Garland’s recent testimony to Congress that the decision to bring charges against Biden was being left to the Trump-appointed U.S. Attorney for Delaware. Continue reading

Only Begotten

16 For thus God loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that everyone believing in Him may not perish, but have life eternal. John 3:16 (translated from the NA28 Greek text)

There are many great truths in John 3:16 such as God’s love (ἀγαπάω (agapaō)) for His own, and the eternal life that comes by faith (πιστεύω (pisteuō)) in Christ, it is strikingly unique because the apostle John is the only Scripture writer who uses the term μονογενής (monogenēs) to describe the relationship of Jesus to the Father. Several modern translations (ESV, NRSV, NLT, CEV, and GWT) replace “only begotten” with “only” or “one and only” (NCV and NIV)…. Continue reading

Southern Baptist Convention ERLC President Throws Denomination’s Support Behind Gun Control

“In a three-page letter addressed to the lieutenant governor and the entire legislative body, Leatherwood implied that the large number of Southern Baptists in Tennessee, which comprise 1/5 of the state’s population, were behind the law, accusing those who oppose the red flag law of using “weapons of partisan warfare.” The letter fails to address the clear pro-LGBT motive in the shooting.,,,”

(Paul Brown) Brent Leatherwood, President of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, the convention’s political lobbying organization, has thrown the support of the ERLC behind proposed red flag gun control laws in his home state of Tennessee. Under a bill proposed by Governor Bill Lee and supported by Leatherwood, courts would have the ability to remove firearms from the possession of those deemed “extreme risk,” a mechanism that violates individual gun owner rights by infringing on constitutional due process. Continue reading

Biden’s State Department Concealed COVID19 Wuhan Lab Origins

(Mary Dowling – Independent Sentinel) Biden’s State  Department concealed the COVID-19 Wuhan Lab origin as gathered by US intelligence. The Department page was axed, but a “Wayback Machine”  archive still exists. It was posted in February 2021.

There is the original Washington Times report as well.

US scientist Dr. Peter Daszek admitted that it originated in Wuhan but lied to shield Chinese scientists. Continue reading

What Are They Hiding About the Nashville Shooter’s Manifesto?

“The manifesto may show that this person was ill-treated by people on the Right, or it may prove that those in the trans community, and for that matter the Left, are not the blameless, selfless victims they have made themselves out to be. And I suspect that there is far too much money and far too many egos, reputations, deals, and political ambitions involved to allow the information in the shooter’s writings to be published. And so the sin will remain unexpiated.”

(Lincoln Brown – PJ Media) A short time back, our editor-in-chief said that there had been a school shooting in Nashville, and asked if anyone would cover it. I wrote the first story about it for PJ Media…. Continue reading

Will the Death of Charles Stanley Open the Floodgates of LGBTQ Acceptance in Evangelicalism?

(The Dissenter) Today, longtime pastor and founder of In Touch Ministries, Charles Stanley, passed away at 90. Charles, who served as senior pastor of First Baptist Church in Atlanta, was no theological gatekeeper and he certainly was not without his problems. We’ve written about many of them over the years right here at The Dissenter. However, Charles did appear to genuinely love his son Andy, and on many occasions, vocalized his opposition to many of Andy’s progressive views, albeit in a non-forceful way. Continue reading

Do Not be Conformed to This World

3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, 4 who gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, 5 to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen. Galatians 1:3-5 (LSB) 

In the late 1970’s I read of a physician in a large urban hospital finding a man admitted with many of his vital organs failing due to extreme alcohol and drug poisoning. He recognized him as one whom he had treated a few years earlier for the same problem. The man was destitute and had been given free medical care…. Continue reading

Disney May Soon Wish It Hadn’t Messed With Florida

DeSantis reiterated the fight over RCID, remarking that lawmakers decided last year that “this idea of one corporation having its own government in Central Florida is something that is no longer in the best interest of the state of Florida.”

(Chris Queen – PJ Media) Bless Disney’s heart. The Walt Disney Corporation keeps trying to overrule Sunshine State voters, but like David facing Goliath, Florida has smooth stones and a heck of an accurate slingshot at its disposal. Continue reading

How is the Church to Treat Wolves? A Biblical Approach to False Teachings

“Rebuking and correcting false teachers is not only necessary but an essential duty of church leaders, who are responsible for protecting the flock from dangerous doctrines and standing firm in the truth.”

(The Dissenter) In the present ecclesiastical landscape, the danger of encountering false teachers who infiltrate our churches and disseminate their deceptive doctrines is a growing concern. These wolves in sheep’s clothing insinuate themselves within the congregation, sowing confusion and division, and lead countless souls astray with their facile interpretations of Scripture…. Continue reading

G3 vs Christian Nationalism

This report is one man’s opinion.

(Ray Fava – Evangelical Dark Web) G3 Ministries is one of the most influential conferences among conservative Evangelicals. Founded in 2013, Josh Buice wanted an alternative to many of the church growth (by any means) conferences that dominate Evangelicalism. G3 stands for Gospel, Grace, and Glory, and the organization puts on conferences and workshops throughout the year. It’s organizational leaders including Josh Buice, its founder, and Scott Aniol, G3’s EIC, have come out fast and loose against Christian Nationalism. Continue reading

California Hits the Gas on Its Way to Failed Commie Statehood

“That’s what communism is all about, at least in theory: leveling out economic differences between people by confiscating earnings from the rich and awarding them to those who have less.”

(Stephen Kruiser – PJ Media) I am well aware that many who read today’s headline will think, “On its way?!?!?”

California is a lot more than what people outside of it see. I lived there for four years when I was a kid and spent over 20 years there as an adult. There are still a lot of good people there, and the physical beauty of the state remains unchanged. Continue reading