Christianity Condemns Cowardice

Before he died, Moses commended the Israelites to be courageous in the name of the Lord.  Deuteronomy 31:6 says, “‘Be strong and courageous.  Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.’”

After the shooting in Uvalde, the general public rose up in anger at law enforcement for failing to enter a classroom and take out the shooter.  A recent surveillance video that was released recorded the police officers seemingly retreating from the shooter, standing around unsure of how to proceed, and ultimately waiting at the end of a hallway instead of going in to take down the active shooter.

Many have condemned them as cowardly, especially in light of the heroic actions of one mom who became famous after she ran into the school to get her two sons and their classmates.

As a farmworker on probation, Angeli Gómez is hardly the ideal model of a hero, however, she displayed the strength and courage commended by Moses and put the police officers of Uvalde to shame.

Not only did she rush into the school, she did so after escaping officers who had handcuffed her to prevent her from entering the building.

Gómez alleged that the US marshals handcuffed her to stop her from rushing toward the school…Gómez said that she was able to convince local police to uncuff her, and as soon as she was free, she jumped over a fence and rushed into the building to grab her two sons, who are in the second and third grade, from inside.  According to her account, police chased her while she ran toward the building.

Video footage shows the police holding back parents who are pleading with them to enter the school and attempt to save their children.  Between expletives and screams, parents beg for their children’s lives while police officers repeatedly tell them to stand down.

While one should not be too quick to judge the actions of every police officer that showed up at Uvalde, the fact of the matter is, those in command displayed inexcusable incompetence.  At best, they were apathetic but, altogether, their actions smack of cowardice.

We are commanded in scripture to obey civil authorities, which certainly includes the police, but that should never excuse a situation where the police are clearly derelict in taking on their God-given authority and responsibility.

The fact that an untrained, unarmed, and unarmored woman was more willing to save the lives of innocent children than trained, armed, and armored men speaks volumes about the disgracefulness of law enforcement’s inaction in this situation.

It is for this reason that the courage of people like Gómez shines as such an example of parental love and heroism.

Christians are not called to be cowards.  We are called to be willing to lay our lives on the line for those that we love.  Self-sacrifice is the core of our religion.  It is the self-sacrifice of God Himself that made possible our salvation and that led Jesus Christ to say, “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (John 15:13).

We ought to heed the cautionary tale of Uvalde as an example of the devastating consequences of cowardice and resolve within ourselves to do better.

 

Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.

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

Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel

There Shouldn’t be a “Battle of the Sexes”

1 John 4:20 says, “Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar.  For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.”

All Christians are brothers and sisters in Christ.  We are called to love one another if we truly love God.  And yet, all too often, the secular sphere deems it appropriate to pit men and women against one another as if the gain or loss of one sex must be to the detriment or benefit of another.

Unfortunately, unlike the Christian worldview, this winner-take-all viewpoint seems to be the one dominating our conversations.

For example, many have touted how women are winning the so-called “battle” of the sexes as men continue to backslide academically and female enrollment in college soars.  While some feminists have glorified this trend, they do so by denigrating the human problems this backsliding will cause for the men in our society.

While this is an issue of its own, on the flip side is the problem we see in Hollywood.  At the same time as women in the real world are taking on greater and greater academic leadership roles, female-led franchises (Wonder Woman being a notable exception) keep bombing at the box office.

In the latest chapter of this saga, reporters everywhere have reflexively come to the defense of Disney’s “Ms. Marvel” which features a character who is touted as the first female, Muslim, and South Asian hero in the Marvel franchise.  Reporters have excused the series’ poor performance on Disney+ by claiming that the show has been “review-bombed” and targeted for poor reviews by sexist and racist xenophobes.

To suggest that the reviews are the result of a poorly written character without any relatable human flaws would be blasphemy.

Unfortunately, it is not just Ms. Marvel, it’s also the similarly named “Captain Marvel,” played by Brie Larson in the Marvel franchise, who has failed to win the hearts and minds of the public.

Not only was Captain Marvel described by one female YouTube reviewer as “annoying,” the actress who portrays her came off as unlikeable in interviews because she constantly touted the overpowered character’s lack of weaknesses.

The problem is that writers in Hollywood do not seem able to write a female character that is positive without portraying her as if she were an (unlikeable) man.  To dislike Captain Marvel or Ms. Marvel is not to dislike women, it is to recognize that there is a fundamental problem in the way they are being portrayed.

This is not about people being sexist, this is about people rejecting female characters that ironically fit the definition of “toxic masculinity.”  In other words, these characters are known for exhibiting “stoicism, strength, virility, and dominance…that is socially maladaptive.”

As Christians, this brings us back to the point raised by 1 John: We cannot love God without loving those around us, even members of the opposite sex.  The all or nothing approach to relations between the sexes can create division and sow the seeds of unnecessary conflict.

Christians need to push back on the narrative that men and women are locked in a war that needs to be “won”— whether that war is in academia or entertainment media.

As a Christian in society, we must be willing to recognize the unique challenges being faced by men and women throughout our community without scapegoating the opposite sex for those problems.

As 1 Thessalonians 5:11 says, “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”  Men and women must encourage and build one another up, not spend their days fighting proxy wars by pretending human dignity is a toy that is being yanked back and forth between the sexes.

 

Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.

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

Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel

Proud To Be An American

“If tomorrow all my things were gone, and I had to start again …”  

When song artist, Lee Greenwood, penned those lyrics for God Bless the USA in the 1980’s he could not imagine a world shut down and lives lost from a deadly virus. America as we knew her before the pandemic is coming back.  Will people stand up together and be proud of America?  Will they pray, “God bless the USA”?

Recently, we had the return of celebrating Independence Day after the pandemic. Hotdogs, kids in the park, families coming together, and fireworks were back from sea to shining sea.  The tradition of shooting off fireworks on the 4th of July was started in Philadelphia in 1777.  Freedom over Texas, an event held in Houston, counted an estimated 32,000 back for the celebration.  Numbers were down from the expected 50,000.  Heat and continued concern of Covid-19 were surmised as possible reasons for the decline.  For the 46th year, Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks show lit the sky over New York with nearly 50,000 shells launched from five barges along the river.

There were celebrations and a renewed spirit of American pride on at least one day of this year.  Will the afterglow be enough to uphold the spirit of those who are starting over again?  Small businesses still struggle.  The tech industry is starting to level off in its growth.  Fitch-Ratings reports “Thirteen states have recovered all job losses resulting from the pandemic.  Hawaii and Louisiana are the only states to not have recovered at least 70 percent of all jobs lost during the pandemic.”  Conversely, Pew Research results found that half of those numbered as losing their job during the pandemic are still unemployed.  Which seems to conflict with the recovery of 70% of jobs lost.  Prices for commodities continue to rise— further stressing the hope of rebound for many families.

America is America.  Land of the free and land of opportunity.  Through the years America has landed on its feet time after time.  That spirit of “can do” and “endless possibilities” has drawn people from all over the world to seek citizenship in the USA. Despite the recent losses of life and economic stress, America stands tall.  Her strength is in the mindfulness that many have died to keep America free.  Americans standing shoulder to shoulder together to defend their rights.  People can thank their Creator that they live here today, cause the flag still stands for freedom.

             And I’m proud to be an American

Where at least I know I’m free

And I won’t forget the ones who died who gave that right to me

And I’ll gladly stand up next to you and defend her still today

Cause there ain’t no doubt I love this land, God Bless the USA.

May that be the prayer today.

 

Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.

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

Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel

A Christian Father

“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him” (Luke 15:20).  

We remember this encounter between a father and son from the Jesus’ parable of the prodigal son.  There are two very distinct relational responses here: That of (1) a son who is literally beaten by the world and anticipating reuniting with the father whom he does not expect forgiveness and (2) a father’s open arms to a beloved son.  The outcomes for both were probably unexpected.  

Many times, relationships between a father and son are the most difficult to remain strong and almost impossible to repair.  A possible query would be, why is that so?

There is an upturn towards the “father present” in the home statistics.  Data released in the U.S. Census Bureau’s survey that 18.3M children are living without a father in the home.  A decline of 25.1% since 1993.  According to this report, when children have a father or father-figure helping to raise the children in the home they are less likely to live in poverty, drop out of high school, become pregnant before age 18, and less likely to commit a crime resulting in being sent to prison.  Fathers matter.

From the beginning, every father was once a son.  It is a struggle to not pattern what has been handed down (caught) by generations of fathers.  How often does a man cringe at his short comings reflecting “I remind myself of my Father?”  In an effort for a young boy to become an independent man with his ideals and expressions, he may also find the need to reject some of what he has been caught or taught by his father.  This can make for strained relationships later in life.

Those relationships that we wish to hold dearest and nearest take work.  They take prayer and focus and a willingness to change.  Jesus knew the struggle.  He spoke about the father-son relationship.  John 5:19 reads “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner.”  This verse, speaking of the unique relationship between God the Father and God the Son, also gives a strong lesson for every father in every household.

Nurturing the relationship between fathers and their children is not to be taken lightly and it is a massive responsibility.  In an article entitled “Facing the Lions of Fatherhood,” there are four strategic areas of fatherhood that can assist the journey:

• Engage when you can.  Having the courage to stay engaged makes room for the unexpected.
• Own what you can.  Be willing to tackle underlying causes.
• Celebrate where you can.  Allow yourself to fully share the joy of restoration.
• Entrust the rest to God.  Know that there is no higher, better good we can do than acknowledge our own powerlessness and pray for God’s mercy over our children and us.

God bless your journey as you wear the crown of a Christian father.

 

Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.

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

Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel

Like Cain, Sin Exposed Provokes Anger

The anger of pro-abortion activists, antifa-types, and anti-police protesters proves one thing, according to a Christian apologist— Be careful getting between a sinner and their sin.

The fury of the Left in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade has been on full display since the ruling was announced on June 24.  Many conservatives seem genuinely puzzled at the level of anger because it’s coming not just from feminists.  For example, many in the LGBTQ+ community seem furious— arguing the decision will eventually invalidate “same-sex marriage.”

John Casey, editor at large for The Advocate, penned the day after the ruling:

“In the days, weeks, months, and years ahead, this decision will cause massive pain, destruction, and death.  The legal and moral implications are a category 5 hurricane that will wash over the United States for some time.  A stalled, damaging storm over our nation.  The reversal of Roe also spells doom for our community in myriad ways.  It will prevent lesbians, bisexual women, some nonbinary people, and some trans men from having a choice protected by the government."

In addition, liberal men are incensed— and there were vicious and random attacks on police over the July 4th weekend.  

For those who may be confused by those responses, biblical apologist Dr. Alex McFarland says the biblical story of Cain and Abel provides some insight.  As he explains, the Lord was pleased with Abel’s animal sacrifice, but not with Cain’s offering of grain.  “And it says in Genesis 4 that Cain was enraged.  [In verse 6 of the KJV] the word is ‘wroth’ – W-R-O-T-H.  In other words, the strongest possible word for just crazed anger,” McFarland tells American Family News.  Continuing to use Cain’s anger for comparison, McFarland says people to this day go to great lengths to justify their sinful behavior.  “People very often panic when their carefully crafted identity is exposed and taken away,” he states.  “When you peel away the layers that people are hiding behind, very often what you find is that it’s pretty ugly.”

McFarland contends that that level of rage has to have some demonic inspiration.  He refers to Genesis 4:7, where God warns Cain: “… Sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.”

 

Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.

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

Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel

SCOTUS Opens Doors for the Faithful

Christian historian, David Barton of WallBuilders, sat down last week with American Family Radio to reflect on what he considers an epic year at the U.S. Supreme Court (SCOTUS).  The overturning of Roe v. Wade tops the list; but not far behind, he says, was the decision to allow Coach Joe Kennedy to pray on the field after football games.

“This year at the Supreme Court we won five religious liberty cases,” Barton emphasized.  “We usually don’t win five cases in 20 years at the court.”  According to Barton, it’s been a good year in local politics as well – even in liberal cities.”  The Denver school board was taken by conservatives.  Four of the school boards in Colorado Springs are now in hands of conservatives, completely flipped in the election.  There were 15 school board seats open in Dallas – and we got all 15 of them,” he listed.

But Barton warns conservatives and Christians not to think the work is done … or to quit too soon.  “The court has not made significant changes; they’ve opened significant doors.  [But] if we don’t walk through those doors and take it advantage of this, it will mean nothing in the nation,” he stated.  “While these are great, great, great, great victories, they’re only the beginning of what needs to happen.”

Barton says the Church needs to step up to the plate next.  Toward that end, he’s been asking pastors what they’ve seen over the past few decades as the greatest threats to the culture and the family.  “The transgender movement, the LGBTQ+ movement, the movement of secularism – they’ll go through all these things that have attacked our families and undermined them,” Barton described.  “I said [to the pastors], ‘Okay, I want you to show me the sermons you’ve preached on [and confronted] all the topics you just mentioned.’ ”  Sadly, Barton shared, surveys have shown that only 2.8% of American pastors will confront those kinds of issues. 

Nevertheless, he sees the American Church beginning to wake up. “I never thought I’d see so many churches get involved in local areas and communities – but now [pastors are] seeing that they need to confront the danger,” he added.  “It’s just phenomenal to see local church pastors getting involved in local issues, and churches and Christians starting to be leaders again.”

 

Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.

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

Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel

The Loss of Real Beauty

We know from the New Testament 1 Peter 3:3-4 that “Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes.  Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.”

Femininity has taken many forms as the ideals of beauty have changed across cultures and generations.  From the floor-length locks of Heian Japan to the hourglass ideal pursued by Edwardian women, the idea of “beauty” has had many different physical connotations and yet at the same time our definitions of inner beauty have stayed largely the same.

Across many cultures, a respectful, virtuous, faithful, honest, and chaste woman like the one described in 1 Peter 3:3-4 has remained the ideal of inner beauty.

Unfortunately, many of our current American celebrities do not reflect this ideal of inner beauty.  Nonetheless, it should not be surprising for Christians, after all, 2 Timothy 3:2-5 says that before Christ’s return, “People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power.”

While it has become all too easy to criticize celebrities who find themselves under the harsh glare of the limelight, some, like Kim Kardashian have invited that criticism by capitalizing on their moral failures (specifically, one especially infamous sex tape) to achieve their fame.  The whole Kardashian clan is known for flaunting beautiful looks and ugly personal lives on reality television.  While it is true that this kind of behavior is largely an act put on for the cameras, it is also highly narcissistic and hardly portrays values that ought to be emulated.

This narcissism became particularly clear after Kim Kardashian insisted on wearing Marilyn Monroe’s iconic “Happy Birthday, Mr. President” dress, which is an irreplaceable historical artifact and the most expensive dress in the world, to the Met Gala.

Despite being advised by the Smithsonian against wearing the dress— which had to be sewn on to the much-smaller-framed Marilyn Monroe, is made of irreplaceable souffle silk, and is decorated with thousands of delicate rhinestones— Kardashian demanded that she be allowed to wear the gown on the red carpet.  Unsurprisingly, the fabric was torn, rhinestones were lost, and the shape of the dress was warped by forcing the dress on to Kim’s body.  As “beautiful” as Kim may have looked while wearing it, her narcissism was nothing but ugly.

Perhaps women like Kim Kardashian ought to take a timeless lesson from the scriptures: Iit does not matter how beautiful one is on the outside, if their character is ugly on the inside.

 

Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.

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

Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel

‘Gender-Affirming Care’ Increases Suicide

The LGBTQ movement’s chief arguments against state bills to ban minors from undergoing medical gender transitions has been that preventing them from doing so increases their risk of suicide.  Such treatments, often described as “gender-affirming health care,” they say are “medically necessary” and “lifesaving,” given that transgender youth are “more than four times as likely to attempt suicide than their peers,” according to studies cited by the Trevor Project.

But according to his research, Jay Greene of The Heritage Foundation says, “if anything, the opposite appears to be true.”  In states where the availability of gender-transition drugs are made more available, suicide rates among gender dysphoric students are increasing, not decreasing.  In fact, suicide rates spiked among teens aged 12 to 23 in states where minors may access hormones and puberty blockers without parental consent.  “Our new research finds that … rushing into puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones, making those drugs more widely available, actually elevates suicide risks,” he summarizes.

The release of these findings has resulted in outraged transgender advocates resorting to character assassinations.  “They have no appropriate response, because frankly, there’s virtually no evidence on the other side,” Greene asserts.  “The claim that the Biden Administration is making, that these drugs need to be readily and widely available, is based on three studies that were very poorly done.”  Even so, Greene laments that parents are being extorted with the threat that if they do not get on board with what the left claims, then their children will commit suicide.

 

Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.

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

Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel

The God-Shaped Hole

Forgiveness is not the same as reconciliation.  Given the current political climate, there is a great need for both.  Reconciliation may prove elusive in many arenas.  Social media is buzzing.  On the cusp of the pandemic full of fear, loss, and controversy there is no allowance to come up for air.  Inflation, the overturn of Roe v Wade, continuing war in Ukraine, corruption in government, mass shootings, and more leave one gasping for relief.  The waters of controversy hang heavy while treading uncharted waters.

The “United” States is far less than united.  Opinions run hard and fast and hot.  Has the vitriol of the political world compromised the unity of the home as well?  Are families taking “social sides?”

Sarah Holland, author of “How to Move Forward When We’re Divided” says “Everyone is still really hurt by some of the fallout in their relationships over COVID.”  She expresses that as people begin getting together once more, there will be pain from the last blowup. Will there be forgiveness and reconciliation, or will the fire be continually fanned?

In an on-camera interview with the editor-in-chief of the Daily Wire, Ben Shapiro discussed issues facing families and our nation.  Cautioning that when a person lives in a godly community in which they treat people well then move away from that toward “that person offends me, and ‘I don’t like them, so I am morally superior’ their attitude creates a God-shaped hole in the American heart, filled with dislike for their neighbors.”  When a true Christ-like reaction can make the most impact, Christians often risk falling short with an exclusive “I’m right, you are wrong” attitude.

How, then, can Christians hold a line for Biblical truth and stand shoulder to shoulder with the people they most disagree with?  Be it family, friend, teacher, political leader, or criminal we take our lead from Jesus.

When Peter asked Jesus if he should forgive someone who sins against him seven times, Jesus replied “No, not seven times, but seventy times seven” (Matthew 18:21-22). The implication is that Peter is to forgive every time.  A bitter pill to swallow for those who passionately strive for morality and are constantly shut down, expecting justice in an unjust world.  Jesus also promises justice.  In Luke 18:7-8 Jesus says, “And will not God bring about justice for His chosen ones, who cry out to Him day and night ... I tell you; He will see that they get justice…”

Forgiveness and reconciliation are not synonymous.  Christians do not have to “reconcile” themselves to another’s belief to forgive.  To be friends with the “enemy” it is not necessary to make your beliefs compatible with theirs.  To love your enemy as yourself does not demand surrender to the enemy, but a surrender to the heart of God.  

Reconcile where you can.  Fill the “God shaped-hole” in your relationships by showing Christ as Christ lived.  He, too, lived within a political hotbed and immoral society.  He never wavered in His compassion for mankind.

 

Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.

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

Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel

The Boom of the Boomers

The resounding boom of the Boomer Generation still reverberates.  The massive “Great Resignation” has left a ripple effect throughout the world.  In 2021, more than 47M Americans quit their jobs, and 4.5M resigned in March 2022.  Included in this number were Baby Boomers.

Many Boomers and Gen X’ers stepped aside when the pandemic hit.  Millions took early retirement or resigned.  Many thousands were retired involuntarily.  Faced with health concerns and feeling ill-equipped to take their work remote, they chose to throw in the proverbial towel— leaving serious gaps in the workforce.  Boomers chose to spend more time with family and focus on priorities that were not related to work.

Though less likely to be overly concerned about the COVID virus in a “been there-done that attitude,” nearly 80% of COVID deaths were Boomers.  Age was a factor as well as underlying health conditions.

The “Great Resignation” accelerated the already shortfall of workers including pilots, truck drivers, clinicians, trade and construction workers, farmers, and other professions. Employers have loosened qualifications— desperate to fill the needs more quickly. Some have dropped the requirement for a four-year degree.  Others are amending the forced retirement age to allow older employees to remain in their positions longer.

Despite the numbers, which the avalanche of resignations reflects, there is evidence many Boomers are once again rallying and re-entering the workforce.  The fastest inflation in decades has added to the pressure to return to work.  Finding their retirement savings less than adequate and a more age-receptive working climate, Boomers are amenable to going back to work.  There is an uptick in hiring seniors in teaching and school-related jobs, restaurants, theaters, stadiums, construction, business, and professional services.

Churches, as well, are utilizing the skills of older members.  Senior ministries include visiting the sick, assisting with food banks, teaching Sunday School, singing in the choir, construction projects and more.  Psalm 71:18 says, “Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, my God, till I declare Your power to the next generation, Your mighty acts to all who are to come.”  Job proclaims, “wisdom belongs to the aged, and understanding to the old.”  A “great resignation” should not occur for our seniors in the churches.  Senior adults are less likely to quit and more likely to show up.  They offer the wisdom of years of experience.  They have time to spare.  When older adults are allowed to contribute, they feel needed and successful and wanted.  It gives purpose to their lives.  Mentorship is the new wave of training in the workforce.  Who better to mentor than those who have years of life to fall back on?

Let the boom continue to reverberate.  Use the wisdom of the senior adult to bless your lives and ministries and, employ them in the workforce.

 

Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.

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

Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel

Is the Bible Racist?

Many leftists have claimed that many of the Bible’s most faithful adherents are racists. As the word “racist” has been diluted, it has become increasingly easy to make this claim. Nonetheless, this contradicts the truths of the Bible.

John 16:29 describes a moment when “Jesus’ disciples said, ‘Now You are speaking clearly and without figures of speech.  Now we can see that You know all things and that You do not even need to have anyone ask You questions.  This makes us believe that You came from God.’”

Jesus knew that there was a proper time to reveal the truth and He knew that once His crucifixion had passed, the time had come for the truth to be made plain.

As Christians, we derive our morals and ethics from the Bible.  We seek to preserve the truth.  Although our traditions have changed over the centuries, the essential truths of God are passed down from generation to generation.

One of those truths is that God taught Christians to love one another indiscriminately— regardless of their outward characteristics.  It is for this reason that Christians were the most vocal and profound advocates of abolition.

Deuteronomy 10:17-19 provides one such example of God’s love for all people: “For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes.  He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the foreigner residing among you, giving them food and clothing.  And you are to love those who are foreigners, for you yourselves were foreigners in Egypt.”

Not only is this theme of universal “unracialized” love found throughout the Bible, but there is also a general consensus among scholars that the categories of “White,” “Black,” “Brown,” etc. are products of the modern world and have no place in an analysis of what the Bible’s human scribes would have been thinking about.

Simply put: Despite what some leftists may say, the Biblical worldview provides no room for racism.

That is not to say that the Bible supports the view that feeling any form of discomfort, such as having one’s name mispronounced, is the same “racism.”  Although there have been efforts in recent years to redefine what constitutes racism, the classic understanding of its meaning is connected to the idea of eugenics, or, rather, the belief that race is a fundamental determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race.

The dilution of the word “racism” has now weakened our ability to identify its evils.  Now, instead of rooting out the truly evil beliefs of genuine racists, the word is being used to describe discrimination and prejudice— lumping otherwise well-meaning people in with a group that is known for murdering people over their skin color.

Although both discrimination and prejudice are wrong, they are nowhere near as dangerous as a racial supremacist’s views.  While many are lulled into believing that such views are a thing of the past, this kind of racism is hardly extinct.  In fact, the American public was reminded of this recently when a road rage incident led a White motorist to threaten a Black off-duty police officer and his son, screaming “You’ll never be White!  You'll never be White!”

No, Christianity is not racist, in fact it calls us to push back on the evils of this racism. Furthermore, we must not allow definitional arguments to confuse us or lead us to believe that the vicious evil of this form of racism is dead; rather, we must speak the Biblical truth that racism is evil while fulfilling the command to love one another.

We ought to uphold what Ephesians 4:15 teaches us: “speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of Him who is the head, that is, Christ.”

 

Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.

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

Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel

All in a Day’s Thoughts

People are creatures of habit.  What they eat, drink, act on, navigate through the day can take on a mind of its own— when we go about life mindlessly.  The routines of life can sweep one into a path that rarely strays from the norm.  People are comfortable in their path— their mindlessness.  This is in contradiction to what many Christians believe from Ephesians 4 verses 22-23— “you are taught, with regard to your former ways of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds.”

What is the mind directed at daily for the average American?  According to statistics, there are roughly 15 hours of awake time each day.  Personal care getting ready in the morning takes around 30-40 minutes and is mostly routine.  Influencer, Brenden Burchard, believes these first few moments of the day can be amplified by setting goals, by meditating even before rising from bed, being grateful for people in your life, and thinking of people to purposely serve during the day.  Most people, however, are not as mindful of their first hour of the day as they go through the routines of personal care and grabbing the first cup of coffee.

The average work week consists of 35-40 hours.  The hours spent on work-related activity can go up or down depending on where you are working.  Working from home can be less time-consuming with no commute as well as less personal care prep.  A case can be made on both sides of the working space for better productivity.  Arguments for both lies in individual work ethics, organizational skills, work setting, and availability of resources.  Colossians 3:23 directs us to “work at it with all your heart.”  It’s so easy to slip into a “just get it done to check the block” attitude.

As time passes at work, thinking about leisure time begins.  Television, sports, movies are some of the top choices.  How often does conversation with friends or co-workers turn to the latest episode of a television show or the next football game?  Social media is a huge mind stealer.  Each time you check a post, scroll, or check personal e-mail at work or home, the distraction can take your brain up to 30 minutes to re-focus.

The rest of the day is filled with family activities, errands, shopping, household chores, etc.  The mind has more than enough to keep track of.  Clubs, community activities, and church are far too often, and sadly, at the low end of our time priorities.

As Christians, do we give thought to the renewing of our minds?  Are we consciously becoming new creatures in Jesus every day?  Can we put aside old habits and remake our daily schedule to fit time for our spirits?  Time for thoughts of God, His Word, and His mission?  It’s a battle for the mind we must fight.

 

Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.

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

Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel

Fired Factory Worker Over Bible vs ‘Pride Month’

A man who was fired after objecting when his employer displayed the rainbow for “Gay Pride Month” is suing his former employer and alleging he is the victim of religious discrimination.

Daniel Snyder, who worked as lead operator at lightweight metals supplier Arconic Davenport Works, was fired from the Iowa facility in June 2021 after his online comments were posted on the company’s intranet, where another employee complained.  The lawsuit, which was filed May 18, is Daniel Snyder v Arconic, Inc.

Michael McHale of Thomas More Society (TMS), the law firm representing Snyder, tells American Family News the lawsuit alleges Snyder was fired after expressing his First Amendment-protected views about marriage and the rainbow.  “And his main point is that the Bible teaches the rainbow is a sign of God’s covenant between God and man,” McHale says.  “And here it’s being used for something that goes against God’s plan for marriage.”

That view as not welcomed at the woke corporation, however, which is headquartered in Pittsburgh, PA.  The federal lawsuit is especially timely considering tens of millions of Bible-believing American workers are currently witnessing their employer celebrate homosexuality during the month of June, which is “Pride Month.”

Much like Snyder, many of those workers know the Bible condemns homosexuality and does not condone same-sex marriage.  They also know public objecting to the steady stream of propaganda in the breakroom, or on a factory floor, could mean a trip to human resources and possible termination.  In the case of Snyder, TMS says he took part in an anonymous company survey in which he did not hold back.  He said using the flag for “Gay Pride Month” is an “abomination to God.”  Somehow that comment was posted in the company’s intranet, which was not Snyder’s intention, and he was later fired for violating Arconic’s “diversity policy.”  

Arconic advocates for ‘diverse culture.’  The corporate website for Arconic certainly suggests Snyder’s former employer has embraced wokeness in all its forms.  One web page shows the corporation has adopted the E-S-G designation, which stands for Environmental, Social, and Governance, and which typically lays a foundation for left-wing activism from the executive offices to the cubicles.

Four months before Synder was fired at the Iowa plant, Arconic was praised in a Pittsburgh Post Gazette story after the corporation’s North Shore employees volunteered at or donated to “social equity-focused nonprofits” in the Pittsburgh area.  Six groups, including the homosexual-rights group PFLAG, split $360,000 in donations as part of the campaign.  “We grow stronger together as a company and create a better society for everyone,” the corporate website states, “as we cultivate an inclusive and diverse culture that advocates for equity.”

The lawsuit is filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa.

 

Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.

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

Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel