CRT Divisiveness

A cartoon pictured a school classroom with elementary age students and a teacher writing at the chalkboard.  One student comments, “I thought we were studying division today!”  As the teacher finishes writing Critical Race Theory (CRT) on the board, she responds, “We are.”  

The divisiveness of CRT is being slammed into our culture— especially in the education system.  It is purported to be one of the “unifying factors” needed in America.  Yet, all it is actually accomplishing is division and the separating of our citizens from one another. Our Pledge to the American Flag includes the word “indivisible.”  Are we?  We are only if we intend to be.  Webster’s Dictionary defines “intend” as, “… to have in mind as a purpose or goal: PLAN … to direct the mind on.  The English word is derived from the Latin, intendere, meaning to “stretch out, aim at.”  The picture of a bow and arrow come to mind.  The bow and string (liberty, freedom, unity) are not stretched for the purpose of snapping or breaking, but for the purpose of sending the arrow (constitution) toward the actual target, indivisibility, in this case.

CRT seeks to destroy the unity of this great nation, and the proof is in what it has accomplished so far.  It has only caused destruction of the “one nation.”  It has only caused destruction of the “one race”— the human race as God sets out in His Holy Bible. The Bible shows us multiple ethnicities— but one race.  It shows us multiple cultures— but one human race.  It defines a multitude of sins (individual, cultural, national, global)— but one Redeemer for all.  That Redeemer is God Himself through His Son Jesus Christ. His sacrifice cuts across all the “multiples” to bring salvation to all who believe.

CRT seeks to break that unity apart.  It promotes the evolutionary theory which only separates and raises the fittest, the meanest, the power grabbers.  If one “race” (ethnicity, culture, etc.) can gain enough strength, then it earns the “right” to control and subdue all others as it pleases.

“For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters.  But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature.  Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.” (Galatians 5:13)

If we Christian Americans are to be living our intentions for the redemption and unity of our nation, then we must stand for them, and push forward for them by getting involved in the workings and forth-telling of the truth given to us by our God.

In a recent article we heard that the “White House indicates support for Critical Race Theory in K-12 schools.”  In another article we find that a “School Board Approves Termination…” of a teacher intending to brainwash his students in CRT rather than teach truth or even alternate views of an issue or theory.  Reading these articles will shed much light.

The need is now to provide Christian congregations with the information needed to both, contact our politicians to oppose when needed, and to attend School Board meetings and others to support when the right and good is being decided.  Pastors: Feed, defend, and inform your flock so that each can become salt and light in this depraved world. [read Mathew 5:13-16]

 

Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.
Chaplain (Colonel-Ret), U.S. Army
Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel

Core Integrity

What is a core value?  According to Webster’s Dictionary, core refers to that which is central and foundational, distinct from the enveloping parts.  It goes on to say that core is the internal memory, such as in a computer.  It provides the common background for all that exists on the surface.

Taking these definitions and applying them to the “core values” of the United States should provide the cohesive building blocks for our nation.  If ideas, politics, actions, etc., do not fit with the original core, then they do not fit with the nation.  Both political camps currently claim to have the interest and security of America at the heart of their concerns regarding the other camp.  So, how do we know which side is correct in knowing what those foundational and core values are?

As in all history, it is extremely important to study original sources.  Further, it is also important to understand the perspectives and word meanings of the time that is being examined.  In other words, what was life like?  What issues, difficulties, and circumstances surrounded and contributed to the needs being addressed?

At the core of America, we find our founders and the founding documents they wrote establish the core of ideals, philosophy, and politics that make this nation function and continue.  Without the core in place, the nation fails.

Consider this: Many of our portable devices operate on lithium-ion batteries.  When healthy and intact, they work remarkably well.  However, they are also known for their capacity to malfunction and catch on fire or explode.  When that happens, all fails that depend on the power of the core in the battery.  What happens to cause this?  A process called thermal runaway.  The thin plastic film in the core fails and the highly flammable solvents mix and heat up beyond recovery.

Similarly, when the core of our nation is torn apart and improperly mix in a solution of false history and misunderstood foundational values … the result is fireworks, explosions, and devastation of real values.  Inside the battery, the anode and cathode are not intended to touch.  This allows them to produce proper and safe power while working together in balance.

In our current American political arena, the core of our nation is being purposely broken down.  Philosophies like CRT (Critical Race Theory) and organizations, such as BLM (Black Lives Matter) are tearing apart our core foundations.

Psalm 102:25 and Hebrews 1:10 both remind us that, “In the beginning, O Lord, You laid the foundations of the earth, the heavens are the work of Your hands.”  The more we know and understand the Creator, the more we understand what He has made.  It follows that the more we know and understand our national founders and what they produced, the more we keep our core values solid and operational.

 

Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.
Chaplain (Colonel-Ret), U.S. Army
Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel

Broken Rules Have Consequences

The Bible teaches Christians that God is the embodiment of Justice and that His Law is absolute.  It also teaches that sin (itself) is an act that falls short of God’s glory.  For example, take James 4:17, which says— “If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.”

Psalm 19:1-2 shows that humanity has no excuse for failing to acknowledge the Lord and His Law— because this Law is evident all around us … even if we are too proud to see it: “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge.”

Similarly, this moral lesson applies to the secular world: If someone knows the rules and fails to follow them, they have earned the negative consequences that result. Unfortunately, this lesson is not always learned.

For instance, New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio Cortez (better known as “AOC”) proudly attempted to put pressure on the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency to reverse their decision after black runner Sha’Carri Richardson tested positive for marijuana usage and received a temporary suspension from the Olympic team that will prevent her from competing in the women’s 100-meter dash at the Tokyo Olympics.

Even though Richardson herself has (rightly) taken responsibility for her use of marijuana, according to AOC, Richardson should not have been suspended because “Their decision lacks any scientific basis.  It’s rooted solely in the systemic racism that’s long driven anti-marijuana laws.”

No matter what AOC may say, racism is not the driving factor in this decision.

First, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), which regulates the substances used by athletes in events like the Olympics, has a clearly published set of guidelines that specifically prohibit the use of “cannabinoids” in competition.

This rule applies to all athletes, including white Olympic-hopeful Cory Juneau— who was also suspended before the 2020 Olympic Games for marijuana use.  The rule itself was not applied to Richardson because she is black— it was applied to her because she is an athlete.

Second, banned substances are only included on the WADA list if they meet two of three criteria:

1) It enhances, or could potentially enhance, an athlete’s performance,

2) It could pose a health risk for athletes, or

3) It “violates the spirit of sport.”

The Centers for Disease Control acknowledges that marijuana usage can lead to increased risk of stroke and heart attack— which checks the box for a health risk. Furthermore, an article co-authored by the scientific director of WADA, Olivier Rabin, also notes that marijuana use “is not consistent with the athlete as a role model for young people”— which points to the notion that marijuana “violates the spirit of sport.” Clearly, it meets two criteria.

No matter what AOC may think, Richardson’s suspension was justified.  It was not the result of racism, but the result of Richardson’s decisions— the same decisions that she took ownership of in an interview where she stated: “I know what I did, I know what I’m supposed to do ... and I still made that decision.”

Biblical morality makes clear that, if someone knows the rules and fails to follow them, then they deserve to receive the consequences.  God bless Sha’Carri Richardson for having greater moral fortitude than one of our nation’s leading politicians.

Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.
Chaplain (Colonel-Ret), U.S. Army
Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel

Inaccurate Claims Won’t Correct Injustice

The Old Testament law commanded that the Israelites were not to level inaccurate allegations against one another.  This 9th Commandment is recorded in Exodus 20:16, where it says— “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.”  Although this is traditionally understood to mean that one should not unfairly slander the reputation of another (which is true) it also serves another purpose: To ensure that allegations that are made are likely to be truthful and, thus, taken more seriously than if there was an element of doubt.

This has become more relevant (today) because there is a fine line to be walked between pointing out real injustice and becoming a reactionary who makes inaccurate accusations.  Contemporary members of the black intelligentsia are calling attention to this difficult balancing act by citing their forefather, James Baldwin, who wrote: “In a society that is entirely hostile [to black people] … and, by its nature, seems determined to cut you down – that has cut down so many in the past and cuts down so many every day – it begins to be almost impossible to distinguish a real from a fancied injury.”

The importance of this idea is displayed by a recent article that was published by USAToday titled “White supremacy colors everything, even art: Tattoo artists of color battle narrative that ideal skin for ink is white.”  Although the title is not enough to provide a fair assessment of the article’s content, it points to one of the article’s allegations that it is an act of “white supremacy” for a tattoo artist to feel more comfortable working on the skin tones that they have tattooed most often, i.e., white skin.

Although the author rightly points out that many black Americans have had hurtful experiences with tattoo artists refusing to work on them— because they “don’t know how to do it”— these individuals would likely have been more traumatized if an artist who was unfamiliar with how to create shading and detail on their skin tone had done a bad (and permanent!) tattoo.

The point of this anecdotal example is not to say that there are no racist tattoo artists or to say that all of these concerns are imaginary— but merely to say that not every slight to a person of color is derived from the desire to achieve “white supremacy.”

The article further makes an overly simplified accusation that white tattoo artists are “marginalizing the same [black and brown] people they stole these practices from”— citing to countries like India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Japan, Egypt, Morocco, and Ethiopia. This claim pointedly ignores the fact that the oldest known sample of tattooing that we have comes from Ötzi, the European Tyrolean Iceman who died and was buried beneath an Alpine glacier along the Austrian-Italian border or the fact that tattooing was independently invented and practiced by ancient Celts (Scotland, Ireland, Wales), Pazyryks (Russia), Picts (Scotland), Greeks, Romans, and more.

These two glaring problems with the article’s claims undermines the credibility of the author and the broader point that they are trying to make about the problems of black tattoo artists and aficionados.

Although this inaccuracy likely comes from a place of emotional distress at the perceived injustice and a desire to grab eyeballs with the shock value of the article’s content, it is ultimately detrimental.  Like the boy who cried wolf, the author may soon find that people will not take their cries of injustice seriously.  Once more, the truth of the Godly wisdom of the Bible reminds us in Proverbs 12:19— “Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue lasts only a moment.”

Yes, it is hard to provide a fair and balanced assessment of the challenges facing black tattoo artists in 2021 America.  However, if one has been blessed with a platform, that platform ought to be used to speak the truth and not to exaggerate or embellish. Otherwise, the kernels of truth will be ignored, and the claims will grab peoples’ attention for only a moment before being dismissed as overstatements.

 

Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.
Chaplain (Colonel-Ret), U.S. Army
Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel

Cursing Christians

There have been some obvious changes happening in the English language of late. Some people refer to these as the simple evolution of communication that takes place as technology, culture, and knowledge grow.  We may very well agree that it can be natural, necessary, and even good— but not all of it is good in the eyes of God.

Some of these new or expanded meanings are okay— such as in the technology world— after all, things do change.  However, others do not improve or clarify understanding when used.  A prime example is seen in the huge spike in using vulgarity in communication.  Many “four-letter-words” are now considered ordinary, expected, and necessary in both personal and business communication.

What is God’s advice and commands regarding this type of communication?

In Colossians 3:8-10, God says this through the Apostle Paul— “But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as this: anger, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips ... since you have taken off your old self with its practices, and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.”

With these instructions in mind, it is surprising to hear even Christians use expletives freely in today’s world.  Perhaps many believers are not aware of God’s perspective. Often, one-third to one-half of what people may say are simple vulgar expletives in their attempt to express themselves or make a point or shock you to grab your attention. Some live in this kind of environment daily at work or in the home.  It is easy to see how they would fall in step if not taught the Biblical truths.  This is like the days of the Colossian Christians to whom Paul wrote.

What else does God’s Word have to say about our use of words?  In I Kings 5:7, Solomon’s words brought praise to the Lord.  When Nehemiah heard the words of his countryman Hanani (Nehemiah 1:4), these words caused weeping and mourning.  In the Bible, we also read of vain words (Psalm 4:2), pure words (Psalm 12:6), words that bring trouble, wickedness, and deception (Psalm 36:3), rash words (Ecclesiastes 5:2), or words that bless (I Kings 5:7).  

Our words have a great effect on those around us in positive or negative ways.  They build up and they tear down.  They curse and they bless.  In the case of vulgarity, they are often used to distract from otherwise mindlessness and nothingness regarding the lack of content or truth.  Those who speak in this way have little to offer (if anything) to create good or new descriptive clarity to a message.  Rather, they are simply returning to old lies, ancient godlessness.

As Christians may we be careful to kindly and lovingly bring truth and clarity to understanding God, His ways, and His creation.  Let us not confuse those around us or blur their view of God in the way we speak.  “Like a muddied spring or a polluted well is a righteous man who gives way to the wicked.” (Proverbs 25:26)  “Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self-control.” (Proverbs 25:28)

In contrast, we read that, “A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.” (Proverbs 25:11)

Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.
Chaplain (Colonel-Ret), U.S. Army
Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel

The Ideas of Antifa are Social Injustice

Undoubtedly, you’ve heard of Antifa— the shadowy organization that became popularly known for their claims of being “anti-fascist” (i.e., opposing a system with authoritarian power that includes “forcibly suppressing opposition and criticism”).  What you may not have heard is that their ironically named organization is promoting a violent form of intellectual fascism.

No more clearly can this be seen than in the fact that they are staunchly opposed to freedom of opinion, conscience, or religion— because they view dissent as inherently threatening.  They made this very clear when they organized a violent counter-protest to harass attendees of a Colorado event known as the Western Conservative Summit (WCS) because those attendees dared to have differing opinions about society’s values.

One Denver Communist who attended and supported the Antifa-hosted event shamelessly boasted about threatening teenagers who attended the predominantly Christian event, saying “a few dozen young conservatives in the cartoonishly formal clothing that young conservatives like to wear managed to board one bus before all three reversed down a full city block to escape the angry mob.  We advanced as they retreated, as you do.”

In short, the guy who says he opposes oppression is determined to oppress the ideas of others through the use of intimidation and violence.

While the fact that the WCS represents values with which they disagree is obvious— the reaction is disproportionate and shameful.

The idea of punishment-fitting-the-crime is embedded in the very idea of justice itself.  It comes from Leviticus 24:19-20— “Anyone who injures their neighbor is to be injured in the same manner: fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth.  The one who has inflicted the injury must suffer the same injury.”

No one speaking at the WCS called for violence against Antifa, BLM, Denver Communists, Denver Witches, or anyone else who joined the mob.

Opinions that differ from your own do not warrant violence.  That is not justice.  That is not fighting “for your right to free speech”— like Antifa’s website claims.

One of the most notable scholars on and supporters of Antifa, Dr. Mark Bray, defends these violent tactics by claiming that Antifa members have a special right to violence as marginalized and “oppressed” groups: “Anti-fascists are illiberal.  They don't see fascism or white supremacy as a view with which they disagree as a difference of opinion.  They view organizing against them as a political struggle where the goal is not to establish a regime of rights that allow neo-Nazis and victims to coexist and exchange discourse, but rather the goal is to end their politics.”

The problem is that the way that Antifa defines Nazism makes a mockery of true Nazism. They consider the police, Christians, and capitalism to be examples of “Nazism.”

Unfortunately, this radical group is not the only threat against the freedom of conscience. Other threats are slower and more creeping.

In the recent case of Fulton v. Philadelphia, the U.S. Supreme Court (SCOTUS) ruled that Catholic social service agencies in the City of Philadelphia could not have their contract with the city terminated for refusing to place foster-children with same-sex foster parents.  The SCOTUS ruled that the city had failed to neutrally apply a generally applicable anti-discrimination law and had unfairly treated the private Catholic organization.

While this was largely seen as a victory for religious rights, the broader implication of the ruling remains concerning for people with sincerely held religious beliefs: If the City of Philadelphia’s law had applied to a “public accommodation”(which is broadly defined as any facility used by the general public) and had been neutrally enforced, they would have been allowed to curtail the religious rights enshrined in the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment.

This is part of a concerning shift in our culture toward normalizing restrictions on religious freedom if the beliefs of those religions no longer align with the wishes of the culture at-large.  These small steps are conceding ground to the ideologies of “Antifa.”

As Christians, we must not be silenced but we must not be baited into violence against a group that wants to prove we are “fascists” who deserve to be silenced and threatened. We are not and we must never let ourselves believe that we are.

Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.
Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel
Chaplain (Colonel-Ret), U.S. Army

Christian Schools Exempt from LGBT Inclusion Laws

In a break from its support for pro-LGBT legislation, the Biden Justice Department sided with Christian universities in a court filing that states it will defend a federal rule exempting Christian universities and schools from being forced to follow anti-discrimination laws on sexual orientation and gender identity.

The exemption dates back nearly half a century ago and allows faith-based organizations to practice their right of adhering to sincerely held beliefs concerning sexuality, but with the President Biden and Democrats having clearly stating their belief that the LGBT community is a protected class, legal action has been taken to force schools to defy their faith’s teaching on human sexuality on campus.

“Under current federal rules, religious institutions are exempt from Title IX – a 1972 law that prohibits discrimination based on sex in education programs and activities,” Christian Headlines explained.  “The Biden Administration interprets Title IX as also banning discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.”

A movement to do away with adherence to Christian and other faith-based principles in religious education institutions was launched in March – just two months after the Biden Administration took control of the White House – with LGBT activists looking to further spread their agenda and lifestyle on campuses.

Believing that the Justice Department under the pro-LGBT Biden Administration would grant them a favorable outcome, a coalition of 33 students from the LGBT community attending Christian and religious schools sued the Department of Education in federal court arguing that the Title IX religious exemption clause is unconstitutional because it allows “discrimination” against what they consider a protected class.

Even though Biden has unapologetically promoted the LGBT agenda, his Justice Department split from its allegiance in the matter and stated in a court filing that its interests “coincide” with Christian institutions seeking to preserve an environment conducive to their faith.

Corban University, Phoenix Seminary and William Jessup University – along with the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU) – are among the institutions that have asked the court to intervene in the lawsuit to defend the religious exemption, arguing the Biden Administration fails to accurately represent their interests with its track record of promoting so-called “LGBTQ rights.”

Consequently, a 12-page court filing penned by the Biden Justice Department was filed last week imploring the court to reject the schools’ request to intervene in the case.  “[The Christian schools’] interests and the Federal Defendants’ interests coincide, and the Federal Defendants will represent those interests adequately,” the Biden DOJ claimed in its filing.  “The Christian institutions and the Biden Justice Department] share the same ‘ultimate objective.’”

The Director of the Religious Exemption Accountability Project, Paul Carlos Southwick – whose group filed the original lawsuit against the universities – insisted that the Biden DOJ’s stand for the Christian colleges’ use of the religious exemption is siding with “hate.”  “What this means is that the government is now aligning itself with anti-LGBTQ hate in order to vigorously defend an exemption that everyone knows causes severe harm to LGBTQ students using taxpayer money,” Southwick told The Washington Post.  “It will make our case harder if the federal government plans to vigorously defend it like they have indicated.”

On the opposing side of the issue, the three universities argue that declaring the Title IX religious exemption unconstitutional would send students a message that contradicts their faith and discourages them from living and honoring a Christian lifestyle.  “[Altering the federal law would dramatically affect our schools, impacting what is said and taught in chapel, in the classroom and in counseling –] all of which encourage students to live consistently with biblical views on marriage and human sexuality,” the Christian universities proclaimed in their motion to intervene.”

 

Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.
Chaplain (Colonel-Ret), U.S. Army
Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel

Moment of Silence is “Constitutionally Solid”

A pro-life, pro-family attorney says the legislation Governor Ron DeSantis (R-Florida) recently signed requiring schools to hold a daily moment of silence is “one of the most important bills that we have passed in a long time.”

John Stemberger, President and General Counsel of the Florida Family Policy Council (FFPC), says the impact will be immediate and direct, and that is especially true for young people in public schools.  “In today’s world, young people’s minds are constantly being distracted through social media, through music, through some headphones,” he observes.  “The ability to be in silence for one minute is a really big deal, if you think about it, for a young person that doesn’t want that and looks for ways to occupy their mind.”

“Every family in our state should be able to send their children to school and know that they will be protected from harm and be able to practice their faith,” said Gov. DeSantis. “I’m proud to sign these bills today to help protect religious freedom in Florida.”

The state leader signed the bill in front of members of the Florida Legislature as well as leaders in the Jewish community at the Shul of Bal Harbour.  “I will continue to make sure that in Florida we root out anti-Semitism and that every day we show our support for Israel and our Jewish communities,” said the governor.

“We know that many children struggle with mental health issues, which impact them, their families, and their schools most of all,” said Commissioner of Education Richard Corcoran.  “HB 529 empowers families to begin those ongoing conversations with their child on what they might reflect on during the moment of silence and help them use this time as an opportunity to prepare for the upcoming day.”

The Freedom From Religion Foundation and other like-minded groups have often frowned on prayer in public schools and on other initiatives aimed at protecting religious freedom.  But Stemberger says this bill is “constitutionally solid.”  “It makes no reference to religion or faith or any kind of a higher power of even a vague kind,” the FFPC president details.  “It simply asks for a moment of silence, which is non-sectarian, non-religious.  It simply allows for contemplation in whatever way that person would want to express it.”

Stemberger finds it interesting that HB 529 replaced a statute that had an optional moment of prayer for mediation.  He says the problem was nobody did that because it was optional.  “This mandatory moment of silent meditation for one minute … can have a very profound impact every day upon a young person,” Stemberger concludes.

 

Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.
Chaplain (Colonel-Ret), U.S. Army
Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel

Constitution Trumps Cultural

Defenders of religious liberty and the family agree that children are the real winners in a recent unanimous decision from the U.S. Supreme Court (SCOTUS).

Catholic Social Services (CSS) filed the case against Philadelphia when the city decided to force the organization to place foster and adoptive children in homes with homosexual parents.  But the SCOTUS has ruled unanimously that the organization can practice its faith when making those placements.

“I think the fact that this was a 9-0 unanimous decision shows that the Constitution is very much on the side of the religious liberty of faith-based organizations that shouldn’t have to shut down just because they won’t line up and salute to the latest cultural whims,” responds Ashley McGuire of The Catholic Association.  She says the LGBT agenda should not be considered superior to constitutional protections for the religious freedom of foster/adoption organizations that aim to maintain their long-standing, firmly-held religious beliefs.  “These activists basically tried to force them out of the foster and adoption care space because of those beliefs,” McGuire asserts.  “The true losers would have been the vulnerable children who are by the hundreds of thousands waiting to be placed in loving homes by those agencies.”

In fact, approximately 400,000 children are currently on that list.  LGBT activists have managed to shut down Catholic adoption organizations that refused to trade their religious beliefs and practices for accommodating the left in Boston, San Francisco, and Illinois.  So Kent Ostrander of The Family Foundation of Kentucky says this decision’s impact reaches beyond Philadelphia’s city limits.  “We do believe it applies to the current controversy here in Kentucky dealing with Sunrise Children’s Services, the Baptist foster care system,” he tells One News Now.  “The governor is refusing to renew their contract, [but] we think that this gives them the upper hand in the ongoing discussions.”

Previous governors have signed off on the Baptist organization, but not Governor Andy Bashear (D).  Ostrander says the children are the ones the governor should be considering, “particularly given the fact that if somebody shuts down a foster care place, that’s that many more children that are not being cared for.  So when Philadelphia did it, or as our governor tries to do it, he’s not putting the children’s interests first.”  The family advocate adds that each Christian organization must operate on the basis of the biblical truths to which they adhere, and he deems it un-American to require them to change that fundamental element of their work.

 

Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.
Chaplain (Colonel-Ret), U.S. Army
Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel

Religious Freedom is Key to a Healthy America

According to a poll by Rasmussen Reports and Summit Ministries, they found that 67% of respondents said freedom of religion is “very important to a healthy American society,” while 15% said it was “somewhat important to a healthy American society.”  Some 9% of respondents said they believe freedom of religion was either “not very important” or “not at all important” to a “healthy American society,” while 9% said they were unsure.

Party affiliation only offered slight variance, as 86% of Republican respondents said freedom of religion is very important or somewhat important, while 83% of Independents and 79% of Democrats also responded that it was very or somewhat important.

The poll also found that 50% of Americans believe that churches and faith-based charities should not be required by law to hire people who oppose their religious beliefs, while 20% of Americans say they should be required, and 30% of Americans were not sure.

Summit President Jeff Myers said in a statement included in the announcement that he believed the findings showed “that the American people overwhelmingly support the continued protection of the Constitutional right of freedom of religion.”  “Yet, leaders in Washington, D.C., are aggressively pushing forward on legislative measures such as the mislabeled Equality Act, which specifically strips away religious freedom protections,” stated Myers.  “In an era of hyper-partisanship, freedom of religion retains broad, bi-partisan support among Democrats, Republicans and Independents.”

The poll drew from a sample of 1,000 likely voters in the U.S.A., being conducted June 16-17 and with a margin of error of +/- 3 percentage points. 

Earlier, the U.S. Supreme Court (SCOTUS) issued a unanimous ruling in which they conclude that a Christian foster agency could not be forced to place kids in same-sex households.  Known as Fulton v. City of Philadelphia, SCOTUS ruled city officials were wrong to quit working with Catholic Social Services (CSS) of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia for refusing on religious grounds to place children with same-sex couples.  “Government fails to act neutrally when it proceeds in a manner intolerant of religious beliefs or restricts practices because of their religious nature,” wrote Chief Justice John Roberts for the court.  “The refusal of Philadelphia to contract with CSS for the provision of foster care services unless it agrees to certify same-sex couples as foster parents cannot survive strict scrutiny, and violates the First Amendment.”

 

Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.
Chaplain (Colonel-Ret), U.S. Army
Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel

Standing Up to Today’s Bullies

We all stand up and cheer for the heroes of old who stood up to a bully.  Audie Murphy (1945, WWII), David vs. Goliath (I Samuel 17; 21:9), Jesus (trial/cross, St. Luke 23), William Wallace (Braveheart, 1297-1298, Scotland), George Washington (1787–1797), Martin Luther King, Jr. (1955–1968) … and the list can go on and on.

Each era in history has had its bullies to contend with and God’s people to do the contending.  What are we called to contend with today?  What bullies do we face that God has called us and equipped us to stand up to?  Here are a few of the many we can name: abortion, transgender males in girl’s/women’s sports, COVID-19 lockdowns, sanctuary policies for illegal immigration, Black Lives Matter, defund the police movement … and the list can go on and on.  What can we do as individuals and churches?  We can stand up to the bullies.  We may expect to receive some injuries and losses— but it has to be done.

Let’s look at one example: women’s/girl’s sports and state’s constitutional authority vs. NCAA.  Many states have been passing, or considering the passing of bills, to save girl’s sports— banning transgender boys from participation.  The result has been the NCAA bully, driven by GLAAD, LGBT, HRC and others— coming in with huge threats to move their events out of state.  This would cost each threatened state millions of dollars of income.

In a surprise turn-a-round, more and more states are standing up to the bully and calling their bluff.  What changed?  “One thing did … the states that are passing these laws ‘are no longer outliers.’”  This is forcing the NCAA to reverse their decisions.  In Florida, the NCAA Softball Championships will now remain in the state.  “I guess the NCAA boycott of Florida is over after two weeks” said State Representative Chris Latvala.  It appears that as each new state passes such laws, other states are considering the same.  Beth Stelzer, President of Save Women’s Sports said it well, “We need to do the right thing and stand up for females.  People over profits.  Facts over feelings.”

Leading the way should be God’s people— the Church.  Nehemiah gives us a strong model to follow in Nehemiah 4.  He and the Israelites faced several forms of opposition: ridicule, 4:1-6; intimidation, 4:7-9; discouragement, 4:10; and fear, 4:11-23.  Nehemiah knew he could not stop the work at every opposition, so they all moved ahead until, “… I had rebuilt the wall and not a gap was left in it.” (Nehemiah 6:1)

“The work is extensive and spread out, and we are widely separated from each other along the wall … Our God will fight for us!” (Nehemiah 4:19-20)  We each need to find our place along the “wall” that God is building today.  Find your place (individual, family, church), learn what needs to be done, and trust God as you work.

Do not be deterred by ridicule, intimidation, discouragement or fear.  Get busy, pray consistently, and support your brothers and sisters in Christ.  Charles Spurgeon said, “Nehemiah is a record of combat with sin, and labor for the Lord.”  Dr. Alan Redpath also commented on Nehemiah, “The people had a mind to work, a heart to pray, an eye to watch and an ear to hear.  This gave them the victory.”

“Therefore … be steadfast, immoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord.” (I Corinthians 15:58)

 

Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.
Chaplain (Colonel-Ret), U.S. Army
Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel

Biden: You Can’t Have It both Ways!

In 1 Kings 3:16-28, the Bible recounts the story of how the wisdom of Solomon ascertained the true mother of a child by offering to cut the baby in half to resolve the dispute between the two women— who both claimed to be his mother.  By dividing the baby up “equally” between the two women, Solomon would have ultimately killed the child.  This, of course, leads to the discovery of the true mother, who loves the baby enough to give up so as to preserve the life of her baby.

Like the child in this story, the “parentage” of our modern society is being fought over by several competing interest groups— whose desires are mutually exclusive.  This is best illustrated by the tension between LGBT activists and Muslim rights activists— whose disputes made the national news in April after the Biden Administration announced that it would allow U.S. diplomatic outposts to begin flying the rainbow pride flag on the same flagstaff as Old Glory.

Shortly thereafter, the U.S. Embassy for Vatican City proudly put a pride flag on display in an act that was widely viewed as a decidedly undiplomatic attempt to provoke the Roman Catholic Church (RCC)— whose official stance on LGBT rights (like same-sex unions), is at odds with the policies of the Biden Administration.

This put the Biden Administration in a bit of a ‘Catch-22’ conundrum since it has also sought to portray itself as a champion of religious tolerance and coexistence.  For example, President Biden issued the following statement in recognition of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan and later urged Americans not to give in to bigoted prejudices against Muslim society: “Today, Muslims are … playing a leading role in our ongoing struggle for racial equity and social justice.”

This statement is ironic given its simultaneous endorsement of LGBT causes since Muslims comprise a far more intolerant religious sect toward LGBT rights than the RCC. For instance, in Brazil, a RCC majority country, 60% of Brazilians believe that society should accept homosexuality.  In contrast, in Indonesia, the country with the highest Muslim population, a mere 3% think society should accept homosexuality.

The only conclusion to be drawn from the inconsistencies between these stances is simply that the Biden Administration is pushing mutually exclusive causes.  The only consistent thread between LGBT rights and Muslim religious rights are that both are minority groups.  This indicates that the Biden Administration’s stances are not supporting these causes based on their moral rightness but only because they are minority groups.

If the LGBT agenda was to be achieved, it would erase the “religious tolerance” being preached toward orthodox Muslims— who maintain that LGBT identities are not tolerated.  In contrast, if the agenda of preserving Muslim religious beliefs (in their purest cultural form) was achieved, then LGBT individuals would, at a minimum, need to remain closeted.

Attempting to “equitably” cater to both LGBT activists and religious tolerance will result in the same kind of hollow victory that both women would have had if King Solomon had actually cut the baby in two.  Both sides cannot win.  These positions are nothing short of the hypocrisy illustrated by Romans 2:21-22: “You who preach against stealing, do you steal?  You who say that people should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples?”

Despite any assurances the Biden Administration may give, religious freedom is in jeopardy of being sacrificed on the altar of political correctness— and this will not only impact minority religious sects.  The incoherence of current administration policies may be a harbinger of significant trouble for all people of faith.

Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.
Chaplain (Colonel-Ret), U.S. Army
Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel

A State’s Overreach with a Church Costs Them in Legal Fees

Nevada has agreed to pay a church $175,000 for legal fees incurred during its legal battle against the state’s worship restrictions enacted during the coronavirus pandemic.

The Nevada Board of Examiners unanimously approved a request from the Office of the Attorney General to pay a tort claim to Calvary Chapel Dayton Valley.  Susan Brown, chief of the Board, explained at the meeting that the $175,000 payment was “to comply with the consent decree in this case that requires the state of Nevada to pay a reasonable attorney fees,” adding that “this cost will come out of the tort claim fund.”  From there, no questions on the item were asked by those attending the board meeting in-person or virtually, with a motion to approve the tort claim coming without a nay vote.

Calvary Chapel Dayton Valley filed a lawsuit against Nevada in May 2020, accusing Gov. Steve Sisolak of treating churches worse than secular institutions in the state’s COVID-19 rules.  For example, while churches could only have 50-people in attendance regardless of the size of the building, secular businesses like casinos and gyms could operate at 50% capacity.

In June 2020, District Court Judge Richard Boulware II ruled against the Dayton church, claiming that the church had failed to prove that it was facing discrimination.  “It is difficult to establish a pattern of selective enforcement directed toward places of worship when new, more restrictive measures have been imposed against secular activities and no similar restrictions were imposed on religious activities,” wrote Boulware last year.  “Plaintiff’s requested relief would require the court to engage in potentially daily or weekly decisions about public health measures that have traditionally been left to state officials and state agencies with expertise in this area.”

Last July, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 5-4 to reject a request by the church to block the restrictions, allowing the district court’s ruling against them to stand for the time being.  However, a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit sided with the church last December.  Judge Milan D. Smith Jr. wrote in the panel opinion that the church “has demonstrated a likelihood of success on the merits of its Free Exercise claim.”  “It has also established that the occupancy limitations contained in the Directive — if enforced — will cause irreparable harm, and that the issuance of an injunction is in the public interest,” concluded Smith.  “Accordingly, we reverse the district court, instruct the district court to employ strict scrutiny review to its analysis of the Directive, and preliminarily enjoin the State from imposing attendance limitations on in-person services in houses of worship that are less favorable than 25% of the fire-code capacity.”

Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.
Chaplain (Colonel-Ret), U.S. Army
Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel