‘Marriage’ Continues to be Redefined as we Travel the Slippery Slope

This should come as no surprise to those who ‘count the cost’ and consider the ‘2nd and 3rd order effects’ of any ‘course of action.’  This is what one could only expect from traveling down the ‘slippery slope.’  But for those who thought that the ‘gay agenda’ was only about equal rights and recognition in marriage: Is this what you had in mind?

There are already “throuples” (meaning three men or three women in “committed” relationships) in America (and other nations); but for the first time, one of these throuples has come up with an innovative way to be legally married – or at least almost legally ‘married.’

Two Canadian men, Adam Grant and Shayne Curran, were ‘married’ in 2011.  In 2012, they met Sebastian Tran in a nightclub and decided to turn their relationship into a threesome.  Now, the fact that they involved a third person in their sex lives is not that unusual with gay male couples.  Gay activists like Dan Savage actually encourage gay couples to be “monogamish” rather than monogamous … claiming that this makes their relationships healthier and more stable.

Shayne was all for this, stating that, “Adam and I wanted to have a little more fun so we decided to experiment with multiple partners.”

Sounds like your typical, heterosexual couple, right?  Getting married, going to bars, and experimenting with multiple partners.  Not!

What makes things unique with this gay throuple is that Adam and Shane decided to get a divorce so Sebastian wouldn’t feel left out; and instead, they could make a commitment to each other as a three-some.  Said Shayne, “We’re the happiest we’ve ever been  -- all our dynamics and personalities work so well in a relationship.  The three of us bring out the best in each other.”

As Sebastian explained, “It just seemed like the natural path for us, we just realized what we were.  Together as a threesome, we were all complete.”

Now, if you are still reading you might ask: What’s wrong with that?  If they’re in love and they’re happy, why not?  And why shouldn’t the law accommodate them?  After all, love is love, right?  Long live marriage equality for all!

In July, radio talk show host – Michael Brown – wrote an article titled, “Why Two?  The Question Gay Activists Cannot Answer.”  The question behind that article was simple: If marriage is not the union of one man and one woman, why limit it two people?  Why, for that matter, require two people? Why can’t you marry yourself?

In response, a writer for the Huffington Post posted an article titled, “Polygamy Is Not the Next ‘Gay Marriage.”  [This is among the publications that the thoughtless read.]

Now, with this new development in Canada, things have gone one step further, and this gay throuple wants to see a change in the law to recognize their relationship.  As Adam said, “Although being married to more than one person is not yet legal, we have spoken [to] lawyers who can draw up paperwork to make sure we are equally bound and obligated to each other in the eyes of the law.”

The other week, Brown tweeted out, “Why is it when I say, ‘God intends marriage to be the union of a man & woman,’ I get flooded with death wishes, vulgarity, & profanity?”  A gay man responded, stating that Brown was bigoted to hold to this position.  Brown said, “That still doesn’t explain the death wishes, vulgarity, and profanity, but we’ll ignore that for the moment.”  When Brown probed him on his position on marriage, he made it clear that he believed in marriage equality for all, regardless of number or even family relationships.  (In other words, even adult incest was okay).  Brown then asked him if he was calling out gays who wanted to limit marriage to two people, accusing them of being bigots.  Brown never got a reply.

Now that gay throuples are asking for the right to ‘marry,’ what will gay activists say?  This is not polygamy or even a polyamorous combination of males and females.  This is gay all the way – three men in this case; three women in other cases.  Why not three?  And what objection can gay activists have to this throuple’s plan – which is as sickening as it is selfish – to have children together with the help of their sisters: “The threesome hope to conceive three children together with the help of Shayne’s sisters as surrogates whilst Seb’s sister will donate her eggs.”

This current, real-life development further under-score how gay activists are making marriage meaningless.

My response to all these developments is simple: I refuse to redefine marriage, regardless of the Supreme Court’s recent decision (one that needs to be overturn); and I will demonstrate God’s intent for marriage – a lifelong relationship between one man and woman, with the goal of producing godly children and grandchildren for the future.

Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.

Chaplain (Colonel-Ret), U.S. Army

Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel

There’ll Be NO Harvest in TX for ‘Planned Murderhood’

The ‘Lone Star’ State of Texas is truly the ‘lone star’ state in my book!  Texas will kick Planned Parenthood (PP) out of its Medicaid program due to revelations made in a series of undercover videos released by the Center for Medical Progress (CMP).

“The state has determined that you and your Planned Parenthood affiliates are no longer capable of performing medical services in a professionally competent, safe, legal and ethical manner,” a state watchdog announced in a letter to Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast (PPGC) today.

The state said the videos showed PP officials admitted to illegally altering their abortion technique to maximize the number of organs that could be harvested for medical research firms, disregarded safety standards to prevent infection, and that PPGC may have committed billing fraud.

“Earlier this year, you committed and condoned numerous acts of misconduct captured on video that reveal repeated program violations and breach the minimum standards of care required of a Medicaid enrollee,” wrote Stuart Bowen, Jr. – the Inspector General in the state Human Services Commission.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott hailed the decision for showing the Lone Star State’s “unyielding commitment to both protecting life and providing women’s health services.”

“The gruesome harvesting of baby body parts by Planned Parenthood will not be allowed in Texas and the barbaric practice must be brought to an end,” said Gov. Abbott – a Republican who defeated pro-choice Wendy Davis (last fall).  Abbott continued, “As such, ending the Medicaid participation of Planned Parenthood affiliates in the State of Texas is another step in providing greater access to safe health care for women while protecting our most vulnerable — the unborn.”

Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.

Chaplain (Colonel-Ret), U.S. Army

Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel

The Dream Defense in the Middle East Battle With ISIS

In an amazing story of redemption and hope, an Islamic State (IS) militant who sought to kill Christian missionaries providing aid to those displaced by the terrorist group ended up surrendering his life to Christ after hearing the Gospel and witnessing the love of the believers.

According to a report from Christian Aid Mission, a humanitarian group that assists indigenous Christian workers in their native countries, the jihadist fighter traveled to Amman, Jordan after learning that relatives there were receiving aid from Christians, who he viewed as unclean “pigs.”

The Muslim, whose name is withheld for security reasons, went to a Christian meeting with the intention of killing the aid workers gathered there, the director of a ministry in the Middle East told the organization.  However, something kept him from following through on his plan; and that night, Jesus revealed Himself in a dream.

“The next day he came back and said, ‘I came to kill you, but last night I saw Jesus, and I want to know what are you teaching - who is this One who held me up from killing you?’” the director said.  The missionaries were able to share the Gospel with the militant, and, after witnessing the love and compassion of the believers, the fighter surrendered his life to Christ.  “He received Christ with tears, and today he’s actually helping in the church, helping out other people.  We’re praying for lots of such Sauls to change to Pauls,” the ministry director recounted.

The eyes of the former jihadist were opened to how Islam brainwashed him about Christianity, and how it contrasted with the reality of what he saw in Christians:  “We’re talking about an area of Jordan that has three Salafist [a strict, fundamentalist branch of Sunni Islam] mosques.  They raise up people to go and fight,” the director said.

Because he was so excited about sharing his new-found faith, the man quickly put himself in danger.  “He even got threats from them, and that’s when I began trying to calm him down, because otherwise they may kill him,” the director said.  “They may take him and create a big threat among the refugees.  We need to work very quietly and slowly.”

The IS fighter’s dramatic conversion story is just one of many to emerge out of the Middle East, where ISIS has waged a brutal campaign seeking to establish a caliphate, or a Sunni-led Islamic government.  In an attempt to rid the region of religions other than radical Islam, the jihadist group routinely targets Christians, Yazidis, and other minorities for persecution … killing them by stoning, beheading, hanging, and other violent means.

In June, one fighter, known for his brutal killing of Christians, converted to his victims’ religion after dreaming of “a man in white,” according to Gina Fadely, director of Youth With A Mission Frontier Missions, Inc. (YWAM).  “He told this YWAM leader that he had begun having dreams of this man in white who came to him and said, ‘You are killing my people.’  And he started to feel really sick and uneasy about what he was doing,” Fadely said during an appearance on The Voice of the Martyrs (VOM) Radio Network, Christian Post reported.  “The fighter said just before he killed one Christian, the man said, ‘I know you will kill me, but I give to you my Bible.’  The Christian was killed and this ISIS fighter actually took the Bible and began to read it.  In another dream, Jesus asked him to follow Him and he was now asking to become a follower of Christ and to be discipled.”

Fadely noted that the militant’s encounter with Jesus Christ brings to mind the story of the Apostle Paul, who was dedicated to the persecution of the early disciples of Jesus Christ.  However, after experiencing a dramatic encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus, Paul emerged as one of the greatest missionaries of all time, spreading the Gospel throughout the Roman Empire.  “So who knows.  Perhaps this man will be like Saul in the Bible that persecuted Christians and he turned from that persecution of the early church to become the Apostle Paul who led it,” Fadely said.  “God can turn it around.”

Kevin Sutter, the other YWAM director who appeared with Fadley on the VOM Radio program, said that despite ongoing persecution, there is a “spiritual hunger” that is “unprecedented” among Muslims.  “Many people are now following Jesus but they keep it quiet.  They haven’t gone public about it.  They even have church in their own home, they’re watching, they’ll serve communion to one another as they’re watching TV,” Sutter said.

Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.

Chaplain (Colonel-Ret), U.S. Army

Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel

The Agenda Targeting Christians

I’ve felt all along … and expressed it (myself) in previous blog postings … that the legal action against Kim Davis (the Rowan County clerk in Kentucky) is evidence of the hostile homosexual agenda.  Mat Staver of Liberty Counsel, says it is confirmation that gay activists wanting to make an example of her and warn the rest of the nation to bow to their agenda.

Remember: The original legal action that jailed Davis was for ‘contempt of court’ for refusing to issuing licenses for unnatural marriage.  [As a Christian, Davis’ religious conviction prohibited her from signing gay marriage licenses.]  Federal Judge David Bunning released her on the condition that she wouldn’t interfere with other staff issuing the licenses.  Davis’ name was then removed from the licenses.

Now her attorney (Staver) says, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has filed another contempt request because Davis’ name isn’t on the licenses.  “This is a motion that they filed asking for the judge not to jail her, but ... believe it or not, to put the Rowan County Clerk of Court office in receivership and to fine it excessively because of Kim Davis,” Staver tells OneNewsNow.  According to Staver, the judge could then appoint someone else to operate the office, even though it's an elective office approved by voters.

The marriage licenses are being issued by the clerk’s office, but Staver says that’s not enough for the ACLU.  “Frankly, they want her scalp attached to the license and put on the wall.  This has never been about getting a license, as we’ve said from the very beginning,” he continues.  “It’s always been about targeting a specific person – in this case Kim Davis, because of her Christian views – and attempting to crush [those views] and put her in jail or fine her into oblivion.”

Staver adds that “it’s an agenda of absolute intolerance” that they want to punish Davis when they’ve already gotten what they wanted.  That agenda, he says, sends a message to other office holders to get out of the way of the homosexual movement or be crushed.

Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.

Chaplain (Colonel-Ret), U.S. Army

Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel

Christians in the Crosshairs! Where’s the Protest?

The Oregon college shooter undeniable targeted Christians during his shooting spree.

Attorney, David French, a staff writer at National Review asks: “With Christians explicitly targeted for mass murder, are we now going to launch a round of anguished soul-searching about anti-Christian rhetoric?  Will we cleanse political discourse of anti-Christian expression?  Will militant, angry atheists be universally shamed into silence?”

We heard the national conversation after other recent mass murders: the horrific 2011 shooting that left six people dead and one congresswoman wounded in Tucson, AZ; the racist massacre of a black Bible-study group in Charleston, SC.

If recent history is any guide, in the days following an explicitly anti-Christian hate crime, the national conversation centered mainly on gun control.  The unmistakable rise of a particularly contemptuous brand of discourse directed at Christians is a mere afterthought in the face of the “real” issue: America’s failure to confiscate guns … like other countries.

Imagine if the gunman had asked Muslims to stand before shooting them, what would the conversation look like today?  As French so pointedly reminds us, “… we’re still talking about the brief detention of a young Muslim student who made a clock look like a bomb.  Will we talk about anti-Christian bigotry after Roseburg as much as we discussed “Islamophobia” after Ahmed?  I doubt it.”

In reality, these national conversations are often hypocritical.  No rational person believes that the Tea Party caused the Tucson shooting; yet that didn’t stop the Left from spending weeks browbeating the Right over its political rhetoric.  No rational person thinks that a flag flying on the South Carolina capitol grounds caused the Charleston murders; but CNN transformed itself into the ‘Confederate News Network’ in a weeks-long crusade against symbols of the historic South.

French states, “Here’s the truth of many, if not most, American mass killings — there is, in this nation of 320-million souls, a certain small number of evil young men who have convinced themselves that the path to greatness lies over the bodies of the innocent. Some of them hate African Americans. Some of them hate Christians. Some of them hate indiscriminately.  Finding these young men is like finding a needle in a haystack, and it’s just as hard to deprive them of access to weapons.”

Bottom Line: There is no true ‘solution’ to men like this.  Nor does more gun control provide the answer.  Short of repeal of the 2nd Amendment and a large-scale, coercive confiscation of America’s firearms — neither of which will ever take place — it won’t be hard to find a gun in the United States.

Oregon, in fact, had recently tightened its gun laws.  It did not save the victims at Roseburg.  Even in states with more-permissive gun laws, the vast majority of people don’t carry a gun.  But while we can’t know if any of the Roseburg victims would have carried, we’ll never know if they could have effectively engaged the gunman (if they did carry).  But this we know: the school’s policy tightly restricted their access to weapons; and that’s the core violation of individual rights at the heart of gun-free zones — they effectively gut the citizenry’s unquestioned right of self-defense, rendering Americans involuntarily vulnerable.

French concludes: “While the quest for answers after this shooting likely won’t lead to a national conversation about Christianity, that doesn’t mean that we all have to brush past yesterday’s realities.  I woke up this morning awed by the courage of men and women who stood and affirmed their faith in the face of death itself.”

Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.

Chaplain (Colonel-Ret), U.S. Army

Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel

The Martyrdom of Christians in America

Picking up where I left off on Friday (October 16), I’d like to have you reflect on something Fox News & Commentary host, Todd Starnes, wrote for Townhall.com is a piece he entitled – “The Day Christians Were Martyred on American Soil.”

Regarding the anti-Christian gunman who stormed into a classroom at Oregon’s Umpqua Community College, Starnes wrote, “Life or death was determined by the answer to a single question: Are you a Christian?”  That was the question asked by the shooter … according to eyewitnesses.

Kortney Moore was inside the classroom.  She told the Roseburg Beacon News that the shooter ordered students to get on the ground – and then told them to stand up and state their religion.

“And they would stand up and he said, ‘Good, because you’re a Christian, you’re going to see God in just about one second,’” Stacy Boylan said in a televised report.  “And then he shot and killed them.”  18-year-old Boylan was struck in the back by a bullet – that traveled down her spine.  She survived … as did Moore.

Starnes wrote, “Christians were martyred for their faith – on American soil – a fact mostly ignored by most of the mainstream media and the White House.  The New York Times only mentioned that the gun-man inquired about people’s ‘religions’ and one cable television news channel opined that the shooter’s motive was unclear.”

Is it politically incorrect to address the persecution of Christians?  If so, that would explain why the White House has expressed less than passionate outrage over the near-genocide of Christians in the Middle East.  And that could also explain why the Obama Administration has failed to secure the release of an American pastor being tortured in an Iranian jail.

Starnes concludes: “These days ‘lambs being led to the slaughter’ is not exactly a politically correct narrative.  I cannot even begin to imagine the courage it took for our fellow believers to stand – knowing that to do so – would require the ultimate sacrifice.  But their families can take comfort in knowing that after they took their last breath on Earth, they took their first breath in Heaven.”

Given the same question asked by the shooter – “Are you a Christian? – What is your response?  Your reply is very much a matter of life or death … whether at gun-point or not.

Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.

Chaplain (Colonel-Ret), U.S. Army

Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel

Christians to this Administration – Our Lives Matter, Too!

Perhaps I missed it.  Did you hear anything from anybody after the October 1st shooting at Umpqua Community College in Oregon that suggested that ‘Christian Lives Matter’?  Eye witnesses revealed that the shooter asked if students were Christians; and if they replied “yes” they were shot in the head.

The Roseburg Beacon News reported receiving this text from a female student who was in the classroom during the shooting: “The shooter was lining people up and asking if they were Christians,” the message read.  “If they said yes, then they were shot in the head.  If they said no or didn’t answer, they were shot in the leg.”

It seems that any person singled out to be executed because of race, gender, religion, sexual orientation or ANY other factor is usually and unequivocally condemned by our leaders and institutions.  Isn’t it the responsibility of our political leaders to publicly condemn that tragic form of violence in the clearest and strongest way possible?  So where are they? 

It’s troublesome that President Obama and the establishment press have been virtually silent on Christians being singled out for execution during the mass shooting in Oregon.  Instead, it has focused on gun-control.

“It is difficult to believe that several days after the shooting, with the facts fully known, the White House has not addressed and condemned this targeting of Christians for execution because of their faith,” said Rev. Patrick Mahoney, Pastor of Church on the Hill and Director of Church on Hill in Washington, D.C.  “The Christian community is left to wonder what the response of President Obama would have been if a person had been asked if they were gay or Muslim, and then shot in the head.  Our sense is, if President Obama could call Michael Sam and Jason Collins and publicly congratulate them for being openly gay as professional athletes then he should at least publicly condemn the violent targeting of Christians for execution,” Mahoney said.

What say you – Do ‘Christian lives matter’?  Where is the outcry from this administration?  It’s deafening, isn’t it?

Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.

Chaplain (Colonel-Ret), U.S. Army

Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel

P.S. – I think ALL lives matter ... including those dying at the hand of ISIS!

Forensic Evidence Supports Planned Parenthood’s Guilt

Unable to defend their words and afraid Americans would watch the videos and make up their own minds, Planned Parenthood (PP) employed a Democratic opposition research firm to discredit the videos and promote the narrative that the Center for Medical Progress (CMP) videos are all “heavily edited.”  PP’s defenders then turned to a thesaurus and began an ever-escalating series of claims about the videos.  From “edited” to “manipulated” to “doctored” to “fraudulent.”  And the mainstream media played right along.

But PP has got a BIG problem – they can no longer hide behind a defense of distraction.  With hours of video footage available on-line showing its senior level executives and its harvesting corporate partner, StemExpress (SE), discussing the business of selling baby-body parts, coupled with Congress now taking a look at the unedited videos, PP and its allies have done the only thing they can do – deflect.

The problem is: Last week Alliance Defense Fund (ADF) released the results of a new forensic report that debunks these talking points.  Coalfire, one of the country’s most trusted digital forensic analysis companies, released a report indicating the undercover videos recorded by the CMP are “authentic and show no evidence of manipulation.”  Forensic analysts were granted access to all of the raw investigated footage recorded by the CMP and checked it against the full length videos posted on the CMP YouTube account.  They found the only events not depicted in the publicly available videos fell into five common categories: commuting, waiting, adjusting recording equipment, meals, and restroom breaks.  All of the edited content was “non-pertinent” to the actual investigation.

For months PP defenders have been pounding on the door of CMP, demanding to see the videos in their entirety.  We now know the door they have been pounding is to the restroom!

David Daleiden, the videos’ creator, has been saying exactly this about the videos ever since a Democratic activist firm was hired to do what it does – discredit opponents.  Even PP’s own paid-for “analysis” confirms that there is “no evidence of audio manipulation” and that it did not reveal “widespread evidence of substantive video manipulation.”

So now we have confirmation that these videos are true and unadulterated.  PP executives did negotiate prices for baby-body parts and discussed how they can “crush” the parts they don’t need in order to retain the organs their buyers are willing to pay for.

CMP released short highlight videos of its investigatory footage instead of forcing people to watch the sometimes 5-hour long meetings.  Only a PP partisan would call that “deceptive.”

Every American taxpayer should watch these videos for themselves and make up their own mind about whether they want their taxpayer dollars funding this highly profitable and scandal-ridden organization.

PP is undeniably engaged in the for-profit trafficking of the hearts, lungs, livers and brains of the unborn children it has destroyed.  They can no longer claim that 5-hour long videos are “doctored” … because David Daleiden didn’t share with the world his trips to the bathroom.

Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.

Chaplain (Colonel-Ret), U.S. Army

Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel

Unedited Undercover Planned Parenthood Videos Are Being Viewed by Congress

Last week, U.S. District Judge William H. Orrick III ruled that David Daleiden and The Center for Medical Progress (CMP) may respond to Congress’ subpoena seeking all unedited video footage of Daleiden’s undercover investigation into trafficking in fetal body parts by Planned Parenthood (PP) and other National Abortion Federation (NAF) affiliates.

“The National Abortion Federation has gone to extraordinary lengths to keep David Daleiden’s footage of its annual meetings out of the hands of law enforcement and the Congress,” said Peter Breen, Thomas More Society Special Counsel.  “We’re pleased that the District Court has decided to allow Congress to seek the unedited footage of the wrong-doing uncovered by David’s investigation.  We will continue to urge the District Court to allow David to release more undercover videos featuring the footage from these annual meetings to the public, so that the American people can make their own assessment of the practices of Planned Parenthood and the National Abortion Federation.”

The NAF had urged Judge Orrick to forbid Daleiden from providing the footage requested by Congress.  However, Judge Orrick’s order stated unequivocally that “Congress has the power to investigate, and it is not up to the courts to go beyond the narrow confines of determining that the committee’s inquiry is in its province.”  Judge Orrick’s order further stated that, “Importantly in our Constitutional system, there are three equal branches of government, and courts should refrain from creating needless friction with a coordinate branch of government.”

Congressman Jason Chaffetz, Chairman of the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, authorized the subpoena for the unedited footage in the wake of claims by PP that the videos released by David Daleiden and The CMP were somehow doctored … a claim vigorously denied by Daleiden.  With the order from the District Court, Congress will now be able to review the investigative materials and reassure the public that the videos about PP and the NAF are authentic and true.

In Wednesday’s posting, I’ll share a new forensic report that debunks PP’s claim that the CMP videos were “doctored.”  One of our country’s most trusted digital forensic analysis companies, released a report indicating the undercover videos recorded by the CMP are “authentic and show no evidence of manipulation.”

Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.

Chaplain (Colonel-Ret), U.S. Army

Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel

First There Was One KY Clerk, Then There Were Two OR Judges. What’s Next?

While most eyes will be fixed today on the undesired visit of President Obama to Umpqua, Oregon … and whether or not it will be a platform for his gun control stance… elsewhere in Oregon two circuit court judges will be getting less attention because they are declining (for religious reasons) to perform same-sex marriage ceremonies.  Both Washington County Judge Thomas Kohl and Marion County Judge Vance Day are known as devout Christians.

Same-sex marriage became legal in Oregon as a result of a May 2014 decision by a U.S. District Court judge.  State law allows judges to perform marriage ceremonies but doesn’t require them to provide the service.

Kohl acknowledged in an email to The Oregonian that last summer, for “personal faith-based reasons,” he had decided to no longer perform weddings as a judge.  He declined any further comment. 

Kohl has held his judgeship since 1997, and Day since 2011 … both initially appointed by then-Gov. John Kitzhaber.  As noted by The Oregonian, Kohl’s situation is different from Day’s in that Kohl is not currently facing any complaint or investigation, while Day is.

Day’s refusal to perform same-sex weddings was one factor in an investigation by the state Commission on Judicial Fitness and Disability. That panel alleges that Day’s actions and statements are calling into question his impartiality as a judge.  According to the commission, Day told his staff to send same-sex marriage requests to other judges.  Like Kohl, Day has stopped doing any wedding ceremonies.

The Oregonian further reported that the state commission’s probe looked into additional allegations against Day, including that Day displayed a picture of Adolf Hitler in the Salem courthouse, allowed a convicted felon to handle a gun and took lawyers’ money to fund a pet project.  Day denies doing anything improper and explained that the Hitler picture was part of a war-memorabilia collage intended to honor veterans.  A commission hearing is set for November 9th.

Kohl wrote a book titled Losing Megan, and also speaks to audiences in prisons and churches, on how his faith in Christ enabled him to forgive the man who is now serving life in prison for killing Kohl’s 21-year-old daughter in a murder-for-hire plot in 2006.

Day received his bachelor’s degree from Warner Pacific College and law degree from Willamette University.  He has worked at Regent University in Virginia and Middle East Television, both affiliated with the Christian Broadcasting Network.  He attends Morning Star Community Church in Salem.  His stance on marriage garnered substantial criticism in local media; for example, Oregonian columnist Steve Duin wrote that Day should step down from the bench.

But both Day and Kohl also received support from Christian media and legal agencies nationally.  Among those strongly backing both judges and their right to accommodation of their religious beliefs was Family Research Council President Tony Perkins, who in his blog charged that Day is now facing an “all-out smear campaign” by gay rights activists.

Clearly there is an all-out assault on the religious conscience of Christians who hold to the biblical definition of marriage (between one man and one woman).  We see it with Kim Davis (the Kentucky county clerk) and with these judges.  Of course, the initial focus will be on governmental officials … which will shortly include U.S. military chaplains.  Ultimately it will lead to those Christian clergy who do not recognize homosexual ‘marriage.’  Stay tuned – more to follow.

Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.

Chaplain (Colonel-Ret), U.S. Army

Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel

The Solution to Gun Violence

Assuming you read my posting of Monday; let me now address what is missing in our national dialogue, and is the only true hope for lessening the violence across America. [If you didn’t read the October 5th posting, please do so before proceeding.]

The only hope for this nation is the reinstituting of moral and ethical Judeo-Christian teaching in the public arena.  More gun laws will not (has not) resulted in less gun related murders.

Shortly after the April 1999 Columbine shooting, Darrell Scott, the grieving father of student victim Rachel Scott, was invited to address the House Judiciary Committee’s sub-committee back in June 1999.  What he said to our national leaders during this special session of Congress was painfully truthful.  They were not prepared for what he was to say, nor was it received well.  The following is a portion of the transcript:

“Since the dawn of creation there has been both good and evil in the hearts of men and women.  We all contain the seeds of kindness or the seeds of violence … The first recorded act of violence was when Cain slew his brother Abel out in the field.  The villain was not the club he used … The true killer was Cain, and the reason for the murder could only be found in Cain’s heart … Men and women are three-part beings.  We all consist of body, soul, and spirit.  When we refuse to acknowledge a third part of our make-up, we create a void that allows evil, prejudice, and hatred to rush in and reek havoc.  Spiritual influences were present within our educational systems for most of our nation’s history.  Many of our major colleges began as theological seminaries.  This is a historical fact.  What has happened to us as a nation?  We have refused to honor God, and in so doing, we open the doors to hatred and violence.  And when something as terrible as Columbine’s tragedy occurs, politicians immediately look for a scapegoat such as the NRA.  They immediately seek to pass more restrictive laws that contribute to erode away our personal and private liberties.  We do not need more restrictive laws … The real villain lies within our own hearts …”

Darrell Scott is correct – The real solution to humanity’s sinful nature of rebellious evil against the moral codes of the Creator is to invite the living presence of God’s Spirit into our hearts, and live according to righteousness as manifested by God through the incarnate Christ Jesus.  The absence of moral absolutes in our society has contributed to our nation’s moral decay and decadence.  More gun control will not (and has not) changed the hearts and minds of our fallen humanity.  Only the indwelling Spirit of God can “lead us not into temptation and deliver us from evil” … as we so often pray in the prayer the Lord Jesus taught us (Matthew 6:13).

What a shame that the political left only see more restrictive laws and even confiscating weapons as the only resolution to the problem of gun violence in America.  If they were only more tolerant and less closed-minded, then they would consider the Judeo-Christian moral and ethical solution.

Meanwhile, we’ll go on thinking that mass murderers have mental and emotion problems, and completely ignore their spiritual void due to a society that denies moral absolutes.

Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.

Chaplain (Colonel-Ret), U.S. Army

Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel

Would Jesus Own a Gun?

As the politicians bloviate on the matter of gun ownership in America, and whether or not the government should prohibit private citizens from owning some or all kinds of guns, the Christian ought to be asking this: What does the Bible say about possessing a gun?

Though there is no reference to “guns” in the Word of God, the biblical worldview is relevant to the question of self-defense.  Is it right to defend ourselves (and others) from physical attacks; and is it right ever to use a weapon in such self-defense?  If self-defense is morally right, then gun ownership is primarily a question of what kind of weapon(s) to use in defending oneself and others from physical harm when able to do so.

The naïve reader of the Bible wrongly interprets Jesus’ words to His disciples to “turn the other cheek.”  These people mistakenly think that Jesus prohibited all self-defense when He instructed, “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’  But I say to you, do not resist the one who is evil.  But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.” (Matthew 5:38-39)  Jesus is not prohibiting self-defense, but barring individuals from taking personal vengeance so as to “get even” with another person.  The English verb “slaps” is the Greek word ῥαπίζει (rhapizō), which refers to a sharp slap given in insult (a right-handed person would use the back of the hand to slap someone “on the right cheek” according to rabbinic literature).  So the point is not to hit back when someone hits you as an insult.  But the idea of a violent attack to do bodily harm or even murder someone is not in view of this text.

Other passages of Scripture seem to show that it is right to try to avoid being harmed by a violent attacker.  In the Old Testament, when King Saul threw a spear at David, David “eluded Saul, so that he struck the spear into the wall,” and David fled from him. (1 Samuel 19:10).  In the New Testament, when King Aretas attempted to capture the Apostle Paul in Damascus, he escaped by being let down in a basket through an opening in the wall (2 Corinthians 11:32-33).  Jesus also escaped from an angry crowd at His hometown of Nazareth where they tried to throw Him off a cliff (Luke 4:29-30).  On another occasion, Jesus hid Himself in the Temple and then escaped from hostile Jews who were seeking to harm Him (John 8:1-59; 10:31-39).  In none of these cases did the person who was attacked “turn the other cheek” – That is, David did not hand the spear back to Saul and say, “Try again!”

In antiquity, people commonly carried swords for protection against robbers.  In another passage of Scripture, Jesus seemed to encourage His disciples to have swords for self-defense.  He said to them, “But now let the one who has a moneybag take it, and likewise a knapsack.  Let the one who has no sword sell his cloak and buy one.  For I tell you that this Scripture must be fulfilled in Me: ‘And he was numbered with the transgressors.’  For what is written about Me has its fulfillment.”  And they said, “Look, Lord, here are two swords.”  And He said to them, “It is enough.” (Luke 22:36-38)  Apparently, at least two of Jesus’ disciples … who had been with Him for three years … were still carrying swords; and Jesus had not forbidden this nor rebuke them.  When Jesus says, “It is enough,” He means that two swords are enough – an expression of approval for what they had just said and done.  Clearly, Jesus encouraged His disciples to carry a sword for self-defense; and even to “buy one” (v. 36) if they don’t have one. 

While it is true that Jesus later rebuked Peter in the Garden of Gethsemane for cutting off the ear of the servant of the high priest (Luke 22:50; John 18:10), this was because Jesus did not want His disciples to attempt to stop His forthcoming crucifixion or to try to start a revolt against Rome.  This is also the meaning of Matthew 26:52 – “All who take up the sword will perish by the sword.”  In that context, Jesus meant that those who take up the sword in an attempt to do the spiritual work of advancing the Kingdom of God by force will not succeed in that work; and if Jesus’ followers attempted to overthrow the Roman government as a means of advancing the Kingdom of God at that time, they would simply fail and perish by the sword.  It is noteworthy – Jesus did not tell Peter to throw away his sword, but to keep it … for He went on to say, “Put your sword back into its place.” (Matthew 26:52)

If these biblical accounts authorize the idea of self-defense (in general), and if Jesus encouraged His disciples to carry a sword as an effective weapon to protect themselves, then it appears morally right for a person to be able to use other kinds of weapons for self-defense.  Today that would include the use of a gun (where the nation or state allows this) or the use of other means such as pepper spray that would deter an attacker.  God wants us to protect and preserve life, and not to encourage actions that would harm self or others.  Therefore, acting in love both toward the attacker and toward one’s self would include opposing a violent attack before harm is done.  Our failure to face a vicious attack will often lead to even more harm and more wrongdoing.

In Wednesday’s posting, I’ll address what’s missing in our national dialogue.

Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.

Chaplain (Colonel-Ret), U.S. Army

Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel

Expelled for Exposing the TRUTH about Homosexuality

Reportedly, a Harvard-affiliated hospital expelled a popular doctor after he voiced his religious beliefs about homosexuality.

Dr. Paul Church, who had admitting privileges at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) in Boston, was told his position on homosexuality constituted “discrimination,” “harassment,” and “unprofessional conduct;” and that Bible verses regarding homosexuality are similarly “offensive” and discriminatory.

“Dr. Church was censured and subjected to disciplinary action for stating an objection on medical and religious grounds to the promotion of homosexuality,” says Richard Mast, a Liberty Counsel attorney representing Church.  Mast confirmed Church received a letter from the hospital, assessed the letter and exercised his rights under the bylaws for admission purposes.  Though the hospital had handed down the expulsion in March, Church was denied an appeal in early September.

LifeSiteNews reports the hospital began censuring Church’s comments more than a decade ago. 

Church’s comments were allegedly posted on a BIDMC communication several years ago.  Church reportedly wrote: “The evidence is irrefutable that behaviors common within the homosexual community are unhealthy and high risk for a host of serious medical consequences, including STD’s, HIV and AIDS, anal cancer, hepatitis, parasitic intestinal infections, and psychiatric disorders. … Life expectancy is significantly decreased as a result of HIV/AIDS, complications from the other health problems, and suicide.  This alone should make it reprehensible to the medical community, who has an obligation to promote and model healthy behaviors and lifestyles.”

For attorney Mast, Church’s case represents the fight for religious freedom many Christians face when making their faith public in the private sector.  Just because an act is legal — be it abortion, education standards or gay marriage — doesn’t make it moral, Mast says.

“This needs to be a wake-up call for America,” Mast says.   “What we see being enacted in corporate America is vague terms like labeling something ‘offensive’ is grounds for being fired.  We’re seeing delegitimized expressions of religious beliefs. ... Rather than disagreeing with ideas, (corporate America) is characterizing the expression of a Christian worldview as offensive, hateful and hurtful; effectively enacting gag orders across corporate America for religious beliefs.”

Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.

Chaplain (Colonel-Ret), U.S. Army

Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel