A WordPress Blog-THE CHURCH MILITANT Ephesians 5:11-"And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them". This Christian News Blog maintains a one stop resource of current news and reports of its own related to church, moral, spiritual, and related political issues, plus articles, and postings from other online discernment ministries, and media which share the aims to obey the biblical commands to shed light on and refute error, heresy, apostasy, cults, and spiritual abuse. ALL CONTENT FROM HTTPS://RATHEREXPOSETHEM.BLOGSPOT.COM MOVED TO THIS NEW BLOG, MAY 2020
The Cortez-Chakrabarti story is starting to get more interesting. First there were a few puffs of smoke, then more puffs and now a whole lot of smoke.
Two political action committees founded by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s top aide funneled over $1 million in political donations into two of his own private companies, according to a complaint filed with the Federal Election Commission on Monday.
Campaign finance attorneys described the arrangement as “really weird” and an indication “there’s something amiss.” They said there was no way of telling where the political donations went — meaning they could have been pocketed or used by the company to pay for off-the-books campaign operations.
Doppelganger LLC versions of the PACs soaked up a lot of the money from the PACs. And that’s where the trial ends.
In 2017, Brand New Congress PAC transferred another $240,000 to Brand New Congress LLC, also for “strategic consulting.” Another PAC co-founded by Chakrabarti that year called “Justice Democrats” transferred an additional $605,000 to Brand New Congress LLC in 2017.
Chakrabarti was a Bernie Sanders person and the Sanders campaign was notorious for all sorts of shady money issues. As is Bernie Sanders, whose Sanders Institute employs his own family, and it could have been a clumsy effort by a political novice to siphon funds.
Or, it could be something more sophisticated. And there might be a whole network moving lefty money around.
That said, I wouldn’t count on consequences. Obama, Bernie and Hillary all got away with shady campaign finance stuff. Worst comes to worst, the Dems will sacrifice Chakrabarti and bring in one of their own vets to be Cortez’s new political puppeteer. ______________________________________________________________
Ocasio-Cortez Faces Five Years in Prison for FEC Crimes
Elizabeth Warren: progressive stalwart or crony capitalist?
Warren’s latest bill to increase the FDA’s regulatory power over hearing aids for millions of Americans is the latest indicator of her true crony capitalist intentions.
Warren introduced the Over-the-Counter Hearing Aid Act of 2017 in March, which, on the surface, sounds great. I mean, who wouldn’t want to increase access to medical devices for seniors?
The problem is that these aren’t even medical devices; they’re sound amplifiers that are already available over the counter for anyone to buy. Under the guise of increasing access to over-the-counter hearing aids for seniors, Warren cleverly paved the way for her big donors to sell personal sound amplification products (PSAPs) as hearing aids.
These devices are commonly used to amplify sounds for outdoor and indoor activities, and are more closely related to headphones than to hearing aids. Big donors such as Bose, which is headquartered in her home state of Massachusetts, spent no less than $50,000 this year lobbying Warren and other legislators to have the FDA reclassify these devices as ‘hearing aids,’ when they are anything but.
Warren’s bill opens a whole new market for these speaker companies, allowing them to re-brand their products as medical devices subject to FDA regulation. In doing so, they trick the consumer into thinking they’re getting a solution to a problem that affects nearly half of seniors, when it can often have the exact opposite effect.
True hearing aids are medical devices and should be treated as such. Most people wouldn’t just pop a random pair of prescription lenses on and walk out of the store. An individual with common sense would go to a physician for an eye exam, and then get fitted for lenses there. Why should we treat hearing devices any differently?
The bill’s first sentence leaves no ambiguity as to its intended effect, which is “to provide for the regulation of over-the-counter hearing aids.” Make no mistake, this is a ploy by industry giants to unfairly increase their profits at the expense of seniors.
The House version of the bill recently passed, and was conveniently packaged into an FDA user fee bill. Hopes of stopping this bill now lie with the Senate, where Sens. John Cornyn (R-Texas), Pat Roberts (R-Kan.), and Susan Collins (R-Maine) have vowed to reform it.
With its history of decreased safety, higher prices, and lack of innovation, the FDA is the last agency that should be given more power over the American consumer. We should be decreasing the power the FDA has to regulate hearing devices, not increasing it. The worst part is that some Republican senators, as well as a bipartisan group of House members, have signed on to this crony capitalist bill.
Warren’s bill is typical of big government bureaucrats, who sell the idea of increased consumer access to consolidate their own power. This bill is not simply against free-market principles: It will hurt the very people it is designed to help.
Peter Van Voorhis is a conservative activist, commentator, and journalist. He is a weekly contributor to iHeartRadio’s PowerTalk 96.7FM.
Muslim Rep. Ilhan Omar just can’t seem to stop making antisemitic statements. She is a devout believer in Islam, and the Qur’an demonizes the Jews in numerous ways. It depicts the Jews as inveterately evil and bent on destroying the well-being of the Muslims. They are the strongest of all people in enmity toward the Muslims (5:82); they fabricate things and falsely ascribe them to Allah (2:79; 3:75, 3:181); they claim that Allah’s power is limited (5:64); they love to listen to lies (5:41); they disobey Allah and never observe his commands (5:13). They are disputing and quarreling (2:247); hiding the truth and misleading people (3:78); staging rebellion against the prophets and rejecting their guidance (2:55); being hypocritical (2:14, 2:44); giving preference to their own interests over the teachings of Muhammad (2:87); wishing evil for people and trying to mislead them (2:109); feeling pain when others are happy or fortunate (3:120); being arrogant about their being Allah’s beloved people (5:18); devouring people’s wealth by subterfuge (4:161); slandering the true religion and being cursed by Allah (4:46); killing the prophets (2:61); being merciless and heartless (2:74); never keeping their promises or fulfilling their words (2:100); being unrestrained in committing sins (5:79); being cowardly (59:13-14); being miserly (4:53); being transformed into apes and pigs for breaking the Sabbath (2:63-65; 5:59-60; 7:166); and more. They are under Allah’s curse (9:30), and Muslims should wage war against them and subjugate them under Islamic hegemony (9:29).
The chances that Ilhan Omar will continue to make antisemitic statements are 100%. So will she be removed from the Foreign Affairs Committee and repudiated in other ways? Or will Democrats circle the wagons, defend her, and thereby continue to normalize antisemitism? The latter is more likely.
“Omar Doubles Down On Anti-Semitism, Accuses Jewish Congresswoman Of Wanting Her To Have Dual Loyalty To Israel,” by Ryan Saavedra, Daily Wire, March 3, 2019:
Embattled Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) ignited another firestorm on Sunday when she made anti-Semitic comments to a Jewish member of Congress, accusing the congresswoman of wanting her to have dual loyalties to Israel.
Rep. Eliot Engel (D-NY), who is Jewish and the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, condemned Omar on Friday for anti-Semitic remarks she made last week, calling her comments “vile,” “anti-Semitic,” “outrageous,” and “deeply hurtful.”
On Sunday, Rep. Nita Lowey (D-NY), who is also Jewish, also called out Omar for her anti-Semitic remarks from last week, tweeting: “Lawmakers must be able to debate w/o prejudice or bigotry. I am saddened that Rep. Omar continues to mischaracterize support for Israel. I urge her to retract this statement and engage in further dialogue with the Jewish community on why these comments are so hurtful.”
Omar responded: “Our democracy is built on debate, Congresswoman! I should not be expected to have allegiance/pledge support to a foreign country in order to serve my country in Congress or serve on committee. The people of the 5th elected me to serve their interest. I am sure we agree on that!”
In essence, what Omar is saying is that she believes Jewish people expect her to have dual loyalties to Israel.
“I have not mischaracterized our relationship with Israel, I have questioned it and that has been clear from my end,” Omar falsely claimed.
Omar later falsely claimed: “I have not said anything about the loyalty of others, but spoke about the loyalty expected of me. There is the difference.”…
Omar’s latest round of anti-Semitic remarks drew a lot of criticism from notable figures in the media and in politics:
“Someone please write ‘Antisemitism for Dummies,”’ Bret Stephens tweeted. “Nobody expects @IlhanMN to pledge ‘allegiance’ to Israel. But her attacks on pro-Israel Americans of doing so is a charge of dual loyalty. That is classic anti-Semitism.”…
In this new Jamie Glazov Moment, I discuss Tlaib’s Jew-Hate Problem Growsand unveil what the establishment media doesn’t want you to know about its new anti-Trump Muslim hero.
In this informative video, Patriot Nurse discusses the coming civil war and the influence of communist infiltration into the American church, as well as the obvious signs of impending conflict in the United States. The Left has steadily shown that they intend to continue taking away the rights of citizens, all the while attempting to soothe and placate them with the siren song of antipathy fomented even now in the Church.
[Emily McFarlan Miller | Religious News Service] The allegations of “sexually inappropriate words and actions” by Bill Hybels, the founder of Willow Creek Community Church, are credible, according to an independent group of Christian leaders advising the church.
That alleged behavior, directed mostly at women connected to the Chicago-area megachurch, took place at various points during Hybels’ more than four decades of leadership.
“The credibility of the allegations would have been sufficient for Willow Creek Community Church to initiate disciplinary action if Bill Hybels had continued as pastor of the church,” according to the report by the Willow Creek Independent Advisory Group.
The group’s report was posted online Thursday (Feb. 28) by Willow Creek Community Church and the Willow Creek Association.
Hybels stepped down from his roles with both the church and association early last year after allegations of misconduct surfaced against him. He has publicly denied allegations of misconduct.
Members of the advisory group — which looked into Hybels’ role as pastor of Willow Creek and as leader of the association — included Jo Anne Lyon, general superintendent emerita of The Wesleyan Church; Leith Anderson, president of the National Association of Evangelicals; Margaret Diddams, provost of Wheaton College in Wheaton, Ill.; and Gary Walter, past president of the Evangelical Covenant Church.
Their investigation included interviews with Hybels and members of his family, the women who came forward with allegations against Hybels, staff who worked directly with Hybels at both the church and association and others.
Hybels was accused last year of sexual harassment and misconduct spanning decades by a number of women connected to the church in a series of newsreports. He and Willow Creek initially dismissed the allegations as “lies.” They also accused former church staff and pastors of conspiring against Hybels.
After Hybels stepped down, the church’s elders admitted that he had sinned. All the church’s elders and Hybels’ successors — Heather Larson and Steve Carter — eventually resigned.
“While we cannot change the events of the past, we grieve what has happened, ask for forgiveness, and commit ourselves to pursuing healing and reconciliation,” Willow Creek’s newly installed elder board wrote in a statement on the church website.
The report concluded that Hybels also verbally and emotionally intimidated both male and female employees.
And neither the church nor the association did enough to stop him.
[Michael Snyder | End Of The American Dream] What I am about to share with you is absolutely sickening. But if we do not shine a light on these practices, they will never stop. And once you learn what is really going on behind the scenes, you have a responsibility to help do something about it. Since Roe v. Wade was decided in 1973, more than 60 million children have been murdered by abortionists in America. Future generations will not look back on this time in history with fond memories. Instead, they will look back with horror at a generation that committed evil on an unprecedented scale.
Abortion is murder, but sometimes babies survive the abortion attempt.
So what happens to those babies that are born alive?
The unnamed patient shared her horrifying experience with Pro-Life Action Ministries. She was 22 weeks pregnant when she went to a Planned Parenthood in St. Paul, Minnesota for an abortion in 2017, but she said she chose life after hearing what the abortionists would do to her son.
The woman said she asked the two abortionists, “If you guys were to take him out right now while he’s still, his heart rate is still, you know, going, what would you guys do?”
She said one of the abortionists looked at the other one, then looked back at her, “and she told me that we don’t tell women this, and a lot of women don’t even ask this question, but if we was to proceed with the abortion and the baby was to come out still alive and active, most likely we would break the baby’s neck.”
I don’t even have the words to describe how sickening this is.
You can learn much more about the investigation that uncovered this right here. We must shine a light on these absolutely wicked people, otherwise, they will just keep on killing.
Earlier this week, the U.S. Senate considered a bill that would have ended this practice, but Democrats were able to successfully block it…
Senate Democrats on Monday blocked a Republican bill that would have threatened prison time for doctors who don’t try saving the life of infants born alive during failed abortions, leading conservatives to wonder openly whether Democrats were embracing “infanticide” to appeal to left-wing voters.
All prominent Democratic 2020 presidential hopefuls in the Senate voted down the measure, including Bernie Sanders of Vermont, Kamala Harris of California, Cory Booker of New Jersey, Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts. The final vote was 53-44 to end Democratic delaying tactics — seven votes short of the 60 needed.
One of the Senate Democrats that voted to block this bill could potentially become our next president.
Thankfully, we currently have a president that was supportive of the bill, and he is greatly disturbed that Democrats apparently “don’t mind executing babies AFTER birth”…
In response, President Trump tweeted late Monday that “This will be remembered as one of the most shocking votes in the history of Congress.”
“Senate Democrats just voted against legislation to prevent the killing of newborn infant children,” Trump wrote. “The Democrat position on abortion is now so extreme that they don’t mind executing babies AFTER birth.”
Following the abortion procedure, organs are usually harvested from the children and are sold off to the highest bidder.
President Trump vowed to issue an executive order protecting free speech at America’s universities Saturday as he invited Hayden Williams, a conservative victim of leftist violence on campus, to share the stage with him at this year’s Conservative Political Action Conference.
“We reject oppressive speech codes, censorship, political correctness and every other attempt by the hard left to stop people from challenging ridiculous and dangerous ideas. These ideas are dangerous,” Trump said March 2 in a speech that was interrupted by chants of “USA! USA! USA!” “Instead we believe in free speech, including online and including on campus.”
“Today I’m proud to announce that I will be very soon signing an executive order requiring colleges and universities to support free speech if they want federal research grants.”
“If they want our dollars, and we give it to them by the billions, they’ve got to allow people like Hayden and many other great young people and old people to speak. Free speech. If they don’t, it will be very costly,” he said. “Every day we’re restoring common sense and the timeless values that unite us all. We believe in the Constitution and the rule of law.”
The president did not provide details about the upcoming executive order. Robby Soave of Reason reports that “an official with knowledge of the executive order confirmed … that a draft exists. Indeed, the plan is to penalize universities that do not protect free speech by taking away their federal grants.”
The announcement came after student leaders from a group of taxpayer-funded universities in Kentucky urged state lawmakers to approve legislation to protect free speech on campus. A letter to lawmakers was signed by 18 student leaders, including representatives of College Republicans, Young Americans for Liberty, and the Council on Post-Secondary Education. “Across the country, speech codes have been used against students of all parts of the political spectrum,” the letter states.
Williams, a field representative for the grassroots conservative training academy, the Arlington, Va.-based Leadership Institute, briefly joined Trump on the dais at CPAC in a National Harbor, Maryland hotel a few miles from the nation’s capital.
“It’s great that I’m being recognized … but there’s so many conservative students across the country who are facing discrimination, harassment, and worse if they dare to speak up on campus,” said Williams, a black eye visible on his face.
“So I’m glad that we could we could bring this to the forefront and I’d just like to say if these socialist progressives had their way they would put our Constitution through the paper shredder in a heartbeat. So it’s as important now [as] ever, the work at Leadership Institute and Campus Reform, exposing these liberal abuses to the public.”
Williams, 26, was coldcocked Feb. 19 when he was allegedly assaulted by Zachary Greenberg, 28, at the University of California, Berkeley.
At the time Williams was assisting the campus chapter of Turning Point USA at that group’s recruiting table. Turning Point strongly backs Trump. The president’s son, Donald Trump Jr., headlined the group’s event, “AmericaFest,” on the first night of CPAC, Feb. 28.
Although the attack was captured on video, Berkeley officials abruptly dropped an investigation into the assault and then re-opened it under pressure from conservatives who claimed officials weren’t taking the matter seriously because the victim was a conservative activist. Greenberg was arrested March 1 and charged with assault with a deadly weapon and attempting to cause great bodily injury. His bail was set at $30,000. He is scheduled to appear in court March 4, Fox News reports.
In his animated, well-received address to CPAC that lasted more than two hours –reportedly the longest of his presidency— Trump urged Williams to file suit against his attacker and the authorities.
“Sue him. But he’s probably got nothing but sue him forever. But sue the college, the university, and maybe sue the state. Ladies and gentlemen, he took a hard punch in the face for all of us. Remember that. He took a punch for all of us.”
That may be good advice.
In December, UC Berkeley agreed to compensate Young America’s Foundation (YAF) and Berkeley College Republicans for trampling the First and Fourteenth Amendment rights of conservative speakers and students on its campus. The Trump administration sided with campus conservatives against the school. The Department of Justice filed a statement of interest on behalf of the two groups. The department “will not stand by idly while public universities violate students’ constitutional rights,” Associate Attorney General Rachel Brand said at the time.
When conservatives had been scheduled to speak on campus, the campus administration typically didn’t forbid their appearances. Instead, it made the speeches inconvenient to the point of impossibility, for example, forcing students to use venues a mile off campus or at times when students couldn’t attend. Berkeley also often required non-leftist groups to hand over thousands of dollars to defray security costs, a requirement not rigorously or consistently imposed on left-wing speakers or groups.
An aggressive crackdown on non-leftist speech came after Berkeley officials—emboldened by a violent Antifa mob blocking a Feb. 1, 2017 campus appearance by firebrand Milo Yiannopoulos—decided to formalize viewpoint discrimination in the school’s policy on speakers.
Around that time, Trump threatened to withhold federal funds from Berkeley.
“If U.C. Berkeley does not allow free speech and practices violence on innocent people with a different point of view – NO FEDERAL FUNDS?” Trump tweeted Feb. 2, 2017.
The speech, which was sponsored by the David Horowitz Freedom Center (publisher of FrontPage), never happened. Police stood down and allowed left-wing students and activists to “no-platform” Yiannopoulos because they didn’t like his views. Demonstrators caused $100,000 in damage to the campus and several times as much damage to the surrounding town.
The continuing threat of violence by Antifa at Berkeley also led to the cancelation of a planned on-campus premiere of a documentary film this writer executive-produced, America Under Siege: Antifa, during Yiannopoulos’s planned Free Speech Week at the school.
Under the terms of the out-of-court settlement attorney Harmeet K. Dhillon reached with Berkeley, the university was to pay YAF $70,000, rescind its unconstitutional “high-profile speaker policy,” rescind its viewpoint-discriminatory security fee policy, and abolish its heckler’s veto—protesters are no longer allowed to shut down conservative expression.
Berkeley is no longer able to impose a 3:00 p.m. curfew on conservative speech. Nor is it allowed to ban advertisements for YAF-sponsored campus lectures or relegate conservative speakers to remote or inconvenient lecture halls on campus while giving leftist speakers access to preferred locations.
At CPAC, Trump praised the conservative activists in the audience.
“Young Americans like you are leading the revival of American liberty sovereignty and self-determination in the face of left-wing intolerance. The anger, the unbelievable anger. I see it every day. Fortunately for you it’s mostly pointed at me. You have the courage to speak the truth. To do what is right. And to fight for what you believe and keep doing it.”
republished below in full unedited for informational, educational and research purposes:
“He’s Pat. He’s Andy. They’re going on a blind date at their local Walmart to see if love is in the aisle,” states a controversial video recently posted to social media by mega-retailer Walmart.
“Oh my [Lord’s name in vain], you’re handsome!” Pat exclaims to Andy upon meeting him at the entrance.
The men walk through the store jokingly discussing various items, such as coconuts, cast iron pans and 3-in-1 body wash. Andy also opens a box of oatmeal cookies in the store and has Pat try one.
“You’re gonna have one of these right now,” he says. “You’re gonna eat it right up. It’s gonna be awesome.”
“This is amazing,” Pat replies after taking a bite.
At the end of the video, the two men express a mutual interest in each other.
“I don’t know why, but I like Andy,” Pat states.
“Grocery shopping is usually a chore, but Pat made it fun,” Andy remarks. “And I would very much like to go grocery shopping again with him sometime.”
The marketing effort has generated both praise and concern, with some opining that the video is “pretty cute” and others stating that the social media post is “disappointing.”
“Walmart, you may want to reconsider pushing the envelope on morals. Target has tried it with gender neutral restrooms and that hasn’t worked out well,” one commenter wrote.
Walmart commented under a number of supportive remarks, but did not reply to the complaints.
“I think it would be so awesome if during pride month all the associates wore rainbow vest or pins!” one commenter wrote. “That sure is a great idea,” Walmart responded, giving a thumbs up.
The American Family Association has now launched a petition drive, calling upon Walmart President Doug McMillon to keep the company neutral on the issue.
“Walmart’s shift away from neutrality on this controversial issue to full support for same sex relationships is something Sam Walton would never have approved of,” it reads in part. “I urge you, Mr. McMillon, to return Walmart back to its founding principles by removing the pro-homosexual video and agreeing to remain neutral on the controversial issue of homosexuality.”
As previously reported, the Bible teaches that all men are in the same predicament: All are born with the Adamic sin nature, having various inherent inclinations that are contrary to the law of God and being utterly incapable of changing themselves. It is why Jesus outlined in John 3:5-7 that men must be regenerated by the second birth, and be transformed from being in Adam to being in Christ, or they cannot see the kingdom of Heaven.
“Jesus answered and said unto him, ‘Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.’ Nicodemus saith unto him, ‘How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?’
Jesus answered, ‘Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, ‘Ye must be born again.’”
John 8:34-36 also reads, “Jesus answered them, ‘Verily, verily, I say unto you: Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. And the servant abideth not in the house forever, but the Son abideth ever. If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.’”
republished below in full unedited for informational, educational and research purposes:
The Houston Chronicle news series shed light on the dark crisis of abuse in the church today.
In one of the most shocking and disturbing Christian news stories in years, the Houston Chronicle And San Antonio express released a 3-part series in which their research into Southern Baptist Churches revealed over 700 cases of sexual abuse and over 250 convicted sexual predators working in prominent positions of church leadership – many of whom were permitted to work after being caught and convicted. This horrific study showed decades of neglect and outright opposition to the claims of abuse by many churches and the battle against sin right within the walls of God’s house.
20 YEARS: 700 VICTIMS AS SOUTHERN BAPTIST CHURCHES REFUSE REFORMS TO PREVENT SEXUAL ABUSE
“Thirty-five years later, Debbie Vasquez’s voice trembled as she described her trauma to a group of Southern Baptist leaders.
She was 14, she said, when she was first molested by her pastor in Sanger, a tiny prairie town an hour north of Dallas. It was the first of many assaults that Vasquez said destroyed her teenage years and, at 18, left her pregnant by the Southern Baptist pastor, a married man more than a dozen years older.
In June 2008, she paid her way to Indianapolis, where she and others asked leaders of the Southern Baptist Convention and its 47,000 churches to track sexual predators and take action against congregations that harbored or concealed abusers. Vasquez, by then in her 40s, implored them to consider prevention policies like those adopted by faiths that include the Catholic Church.
“Listen to what God has to say,” she said, according to audio of the meeting, which she recorded. “… All that evil needs is for good to do nothing. … Please help me and others that will be hurt.”
Days later, Southern Baptist leaders rejected nearly every proposed reform.
The abusers haven’t stopped. They’ve hurt hundreds more.
In the decade since Vasquez’s appeal for help, more than 250 people who worked or volunteered in Southern Baptist churches have been charged with sex crimes, an investigation by the Houston Chronicle and the San Antonio Express-News reveals.
It’s not just a recent problem: In all, since 1998, roughly 380 Southern Baptist church leaders and volunteers have faced allegations of sexual misconduct, the newspapers found. That includes those who were convicted, credibly accused and successfully sued, and those who confessed or resigned. More of them worked in Texas than in any other state.
They left behind more than 700 victims, many of them shunned by their churches, left to themselves to rebuild their lives. Some were urged to forgive their abusers or to get abortions.” (source).
A STUNNING ABUSE OF TRUST AND THE FAITH
Gwen Casados, mother of Heather Schneider, who was sexually abused in church. Heather later died of a drug overdose.
“Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me. But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.” – Matthew 18:4-6
The report found that over 250 who worked or volunteered in Southern Baptist Churches have been charged with sex crimes. Since 1998, 380 workers and volunteers have faced allegations. Of these nearly 100 are incarcerated, registered sex offenders. The report even created its own database of all of these church sexual predators.
For some of the victims like David Pittman, who stated that he was 12 when he first molested by a youth pastor, the assailant (who 2 other men told the Houston Chronicle molested them as well) still works at a Southern Baptist Church.
“That is the greatest tragedy of all,” he said. “So many people’s faith is murdered. I mean, their faith is slaughtered by these predators.”
The calls for reform in the SBC often fell on deaf ears. As the infographic below shows: in many instances, even confessed molesters were permitted to remain working in leadership positions in their respective churches.
In one particular outrageous case, Leslie Mason, an Illinois pastor who confessed to sexual abuse of four young girls was not only rehired after serving prison time for his crimes, but defended by Glenn Akins, then-interim Director of the Illinois Baptist State Convention. Michael Leathers, a writer for the State Baptist newspaper who outed Mason in an article, was forced to resign for writing factually about the criminal past of Mason – a convicted sex offender, who again hired after seven years in prison:
“That just appalled me,” Leathers said. “They had to have known they put a convicted sex offender behind the pulpit. … If a church calls a woman to pastor their church, there are a lot of Southern Baptist organizations that, sadly, would disassociate with them immediately. Why wouldn’t they do the same for convicted sex offenders?” (source).
NOT JUST A “CATHOLIC PROBLEM”
Many Church leaders covered up abuse claims and supported child predators.
“Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God? For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written.” – Romans 2:23-24
Although the Roman Catholic Church has been repeatedly reported in the media for massive ongoing scandals of abuse, there should be no confusion that this is just a “Catholic issue.” In the most Bible-based, fundamental churches, abuse of children should be a glaring, red-flag issue for church leadership.
Make no mistake: churches are targets for child abusers. With the chance for direct access to children, freedom to build relationships and the “spiritual endorsement” of church leadership, child and youth ministry positions are a priority for those wicked predators engulfed in the sin of child abuse. Note in the video below, the church “leader” shows absolutely no remorse for his abuse even once convicted.
100 YOUTH PASTORS CONVICTED OF SEX CRIMES – THE BIBLICAL ERROR IN CHOOSING “LEADERS”
Youth Ministries love fun, cool events. But are the leaders properly vetted?
“ Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless.” – 1 Timothy 3:8-10
The report also stated that over 100 youth pastors were convicted of sexual abuse – many again who were permitted to work in other churches after being outed. In today’s modern church – hyper-focused on building large congregations, sprawling campuses and dozens of ministries many new attendees are encouraged immediately to “join a ministry.” In many cases, the Youth Pastor or Youth Leader is an inexperienced, spiritually immature and unscreened “leader” for those most vulnerable in the church.
Again, Christians have to face the facts: churches attract pedophiles and child abusers. Being a Youth Pastor provides direct access and influence over children who are putting full trust in the men or women their pastor has appointed over them. What is your church’s process for selecting a Youth Pastor or any ministry worker? The book of Acts provides a clear model:
“And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration. Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables. Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.
But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word. And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch:
Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them. And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith. And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.” – Acts 6:1-8
Notice the standards the Apostles used in selecting men to serve in ministry:
1) Honest report: these were men who other members of the church could testify to their living righteous lives for Christ. This means the witness actually personally knew these men and they were not new people who just showed up for one or two services. In other words, they were vetted.
2) Full of the Holy Ghost And Wisdom: These were men who knew the Bible and demonstrated their Biblical wisdom. Spending time in the Word is one of the most powerful ways to combat sinful temptation in your life. Does your church test the knowledge of Scripture of their leaders? Are Youth Pastors required to demonstrate their understanding, knowledge and Biblical wisdom?
And these requirements were for a position in bread distribution. Not as a pastor or leader but as a bread distributor. If the Apostles took that role so seriously that they went through the above process – how seriously should Christians treat the role of leaders who are actually responsible for teaching and preaching and serving the spiritual needs of the congregation? The modern model of throwing inexperienced, unknown attendees into ministry is wildly unbiblical and a formula for the disastrous criminal activity that is rampant in the church today.
HOW A CHURCH CAN COMBAT AND PREVENT SEXUAL ABUSE
Children’s church classes should be safe havens for children – not places of danger.
“And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.” – John 3:19-20
Child predators do not want the light of Christ to shine on their wicked deeds. A church that is outspoken and public in their opposition and condemnation of child abuse will scare many potential abusers away. All churches need to take a long look at their policies on preventing and reporting abuse and ask some simple questions:
Formal Policy on Sexual Abuse – Pastors and Church leaders should openly preach and discuss the heinous sin of sexual abuse and make it a part of their church’s culture. Bathrooms should have posted signs with confidential emails and phone lines that congregants can call if they are in or being pressured into inappropriate relationships. Church nurseries should have very clear signage outlining the church’s policy on sex abuse and screening protocol for all teachers and volunteers – including making sure no volunteer is ever alone with a child.
Biblical Vetting of Teachers, Leaders – as stated above all ministry workers, without exception should be subject to criminal background checks before ever working for a church. If the church cannot afford the cost of a background speaking then that ministry worker should pay for it. If no one has the funds, then the church should remain with the small leadership they have until they have appropriate funding to grow. Additionally, all ministry workers should be required to demonstrate their Biblical knowledge either in an interview or written form and provide at least 2 or 3 witnesses of their moral character and Christian life. All ministry workers should sign a letter of commitment that clearly outlines the church’s position on moral issues with specific statements about abuse.
Child Abuse Training – All ministry workers should be required to go through child abuse and domestic abuse training. All ministry workers should be trained in identifying red flags in the behavior of their colleagues to report any suspicious behavior. http://www.netgrace.org/how-we-help
Take All Allegations Seriously – When a victim finds the courage to step forward with an accusation against a church leader – reassure them that they are believed and they will be supported. It is incredibly intimidating to accuse and tarnish the reputation of a “leader.” In this age, when pastors, ministry workers and leaders have large social media followings, plaster their faces all over every piece of marketing material and embrace celebrity status, it is even more daunting to reveal their criminal behavior. Victims should be comforted, believed and their charges taken seriously. And the church leadership should regularly encourage victims to come forward.
Involve the Police Immediately – It is incredibly foolish and potentially criminal for churches to conduct their own “investigations” into matters as serious as abuse of children. This is an issue for the police to get involved immediately and resolve.
Remove Accused Abusers Immediately – There is nothing wrong with stating someone is “innocent until proven guilty.” However in the case of child abuse, the accused should be removed from their role on a temporary basis pending the outcome of the investigation. And the church should be informed publicly of this. While this may seem unfair to the accused leader – they should be encouraged to know that the church leadership takes these issues seriously.
As displayed in the video above many child abusers, even after they are convicted, do not believe they have done anything wrong. Many even blame the young children for “seducing them.” Do not let the proclamations of innocence by a ministry worker prevent the church leadership from immediately removing that person and publicly sharing the situation with the church.
7. Prepare The Ministries To Support The Abused –
“The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.” – Psalm 9:9-10.
God’s house should be a refuge and safe haven for those who have been victimized by abuse. Ministry workers need to be trained in dealing with victims after abuse takes place and understanding the massive damage done to their psyche and spiritual walk. The church should readily use funds to pay for Christ-centered counseling for the victims as well whatever arrangements need to be made for their families.
8. Repent – Where there is abuse there must be repentance. The Pastors and Church leadership need to openly repent to the church for any abuse that took place on their watch. And again, should encourage any victims to come forward.
THIS BATTLE AGAINST ABUSE IN CHURCH IS SPIRITUAL WARFARE
“…I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” – Jesus Christ, Matthew 17:18
The Devil and his minions want to do anything to destroy the church. And the rise of sexual predators infiltrating congregations is a major tool in the Adversary’s arsenal. While this is a sad situation, it should not be a surprise to a Bible believing Christian that Satan wants to ruin your church. If you go to a church that has not outlined their policies on sexual abuse, challenge your Pastor and leadership to do so and take the steps outline above or implement similar protocols. Pray for churches throughout the United States and worldwide to use Godly wisdom and proactively confront child abuse before it even takes place.
“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” – Galatians 6:7
A blasphemous comic book that mocked the Christian faith by portraying Jesus Christ as a failure has been cancelled. Over the past month, much news was made about DC Comics’ plan to release ‘Second Coming’ – a comic about Jesus returning to Earth to learn from His “mistakes” by shadowing a superhero. After a petition by Christians went viral, DC reversed course and cancelled the comic series before it ever hit shelves.
CHRISTIANS STAND UP FOR THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST
According to reports:
“A new comics series in which Jesus Christ is sent on “a most holy mission by God” to learn “what it takes to be the true messiah of mankind” from a superhero called Sun-Man, has been cancelled by DC Comics. The move follows a petition that called it “outrageous and blasphemous”.
The Second Coming series, from DC imprint Vertigo, was due to launch on 6 March. Written by Mark Russell and illustrated by Richard Pace, its story followed Jesus’s return to Earth. “Shocked to discover what has become of his gospel,” he teams up with a superhero, Sun-Man, who is more widely worshipped than him.
But the comics publisher has now told retailers that the series has been cancelled. The decision follows a 200,000-signature petition from anti-abortion, anti-LGBT conservative campaign site CitizenGo calling on DC to pull the comic. “Would DC Comics publish similar content about other religious leaders, such as Muhammad or Buddha?” said the petition. “This content is inappropriate and blasphemous.”” (source).
Jesus is viewed as a failure by God The Father for dying on the cross during His first incarnation on Earth.
He is sent back to Earth to learn what being a Messiah means from a superhero named Sun Man whom God The Father truly loves.
When Jesus returned to Earth He was “appalled” at modern Christians.
Mark Russell, the writer of the comic made it clear that his intention with the comic was to mock Christians today because he does not feel the Church follows “true Christianity.” After the cancellation, he could not hold back his disdain for believers in Christ:
“I first heard of CitizenGo … when they ran this silly campaign to get the buses in Portland to drop ads featuring lesbians. They would be completely ridiculous if not for the fact that social media’s anger-made-easy platforms give them access to cranks from all over the world. But it’s OK. Some enemies are worth having,” he told Syfy Wire. “I think the religious fundamentalists and critics who are trying to stop Second Coming aren’t interested in protecting Christ so much as their ability to control his narrative … They probably (correctly) suspect that it’s not Christ who’s being parodied, but themselves and how they’ve twisted his teachings of mercy for the powerless into a self-serving tool of the powerful.” (source).
PRAISE GOD FOR THE VICTORY
If you are a Christian, give God thanks and praise for DC Comics changing their mind about publishing something so offensive to the Christian faith. And for the hundreds of thousands of Christians who made their feelings known. And pray for Mark Russell and the others involved with his comic as they will no doubt seek another publisher to print their comic. Pray they will repent and believe the Gospel for the free forgiveness of sin. Pray they will lose their desire to attack Christians and show some of the mercy and love they profess the religion to truly be based on.
