Is Yesterday’s Frankenstein Now Artificial Intelligence?

Artificial intelligence (AI) has been a constant presence in the news cycle ever since the release of ChatGPT.  The latest Hollywood strike is centered on concerns that, soon enough, actors will be replaced by digital puppets of themselves and writers by thinking machines that are optimized to prey upon the tropes that inspire human experience.

Even worse, if such a thing begins to develop human emotions and experiences, what implications will that have for its role in human society?  Commentators are simultaneously wrestling with whether AI will be made into something either all too human or not quite human enough.  But what are the dangers of making AI in man’s image?

As Christians, we know that God made us in His own image; that much is attested to in Genesis 1:26, which says, “Then God said, ‘Let Us make mankind in Our image, in Our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.’” The image of God, or imago Dei, is regarded as a sacred echo of the perfection that once abided in the Garden of Eden.

Conventional wisdom teaches that man should not attempt to act as God.  This basic axiom is the subject of many fables and stories told throughout human history, whether it is Icarus flying too close to the sun or the failure of the Tower of Babel.  

One of the most famous stories to tell this tale is Mary Shelley’s novel Frankenstein, renowned worldwide as a harrowing cautionary tale of the dangers of man playing God. Though the book has been adapted and re-adapted into over 80 on-screen versions, the Hammer Horror film The Curse of Frankenstein stands out as one of the only versions highlighting the depravity of both the Monster and Dr. Frankenstein himself.  Unlike the many pathos-heavy interpretations of Shelley’s story, this version takes an unflinching look at the unique evils perpetrated both by Dr. Frankenstein in his murderous attempts to subvert the divine order and in the Monster’s bestial acts of violence.

The ultimate moral of the movie is that God did not make man to be God, lest what proceeded from mankind manifest the same fallen nature that has led to the present evils of this world.

Although many researchers, like Nir Eisikovits, have argued that AI will never truly be sentient, it nonetheless remains a threat to the sacred nature of the imago Dei due to its role and uses as a perceived replacement for human beings.  While this seems far-fetched, one can already see evidence of the phenomenon as actors like Peter Cushing are being recreated decades after their death to serve as digital puppets at the disposal of Disney and the Star Wars franchise.  There is already talk of doing the same thing with the image of George Michael.

The modern-day Dr. Frankenstein does not resurrect corpses stolen and pieced together from graveyards; instead, he codes and creates artificial intelligence, which is then regarded as a valid replacement for God’s own organic life.  This is not to accuse all those who have worked to develop AI of harboring devilish motives.  Only to say that, like Dr. Frankenstein, those who seek to harness the power of AI to replace the humanity of mankind will be doing so at their own peril.

Those of us who are educated on the truth of our own depravity and dependence on God cannot turn our backs on the reality that even though AI can be an incredible tool, it also holds dangerous potential as a conduit for mankind’s fallen nature and as a means of defacing the image of God which is reflected in our creation.

As Jeremiah 10:6 declaratively states, “No one is like you, Lord; You are great, and Your name is mighty in power.”  Those who seek to harness the power of AI would do well to remember that.

 

Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.

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

Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel

The Christian Difference

It seems that in their bid to treat people fair and with love, many Christians have been swooped up into religious pluralism without even being aware of it.  We are so careful not to step on the toes of our friend or co-worker that we have washed away the essentials of our own faith.

What is religious pluralism and why do some embrace it?  Basically, it is the yellow brick road. Follow it and you will reach the wizard; God, as it were.  No matter how you walk the road or what you believe about the “wizard” you are still all getting there and that’s what counts.  To expand, let’s say that you are Dorothy the Christian.  You have received information that God can be found by following the yellow brick road.  Your Bible is your friend, Toto.  You bring it along in your basket.  Along the way, you encounter a Tin man. He also wants to follow the road and find the wizard.  He brings along his axe which is the Koran.  He seems harmless enough.  You are both on the yellow brick road, so, it must be alright.  Along comes the Cowardly Lion.  The lion is very unsure of himself and cannot decide any belief, so he comes along with his emotions on his sleeve, but a big heart.  The scarecrow carries the five Pillars of Islam and is sure that his path to the wizard will ultimately prove to be the only path. Dorothy desires to build relationships with her companions.  She does not want to be judged, even though she knows in her heart that Jesus is the only way.  She believes Christianity teaches that God is three persons in one.  She chooses not to argue with her compatriots. Who is she to know what is truly the one path to God for each of them?

Is Dorothy tolerant?  Is religious pluralism tolerant and accepting?  Not really.  Its very nature is to prove that its own way is the right way and therefore boastful.  This isn’t tolerance; it’s a power play.  When asserting all religions lead to God, the distinctive and very different views of God and how to reach the divine in Buddhism, Hinduism, Christianity, and Islam are brushed aside in one powerful swoop.

Jesus Himself was humble and accepting of others.  However, He never wavered from the message of “I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6).

The Christian difference might be summed up with these three components.  First, other religions teach that a follower must earn their way to God.  Romans 5:8 reveals that we are still sinners and Christ died for us.  Next, some religions have numerous rules to follow to find their way to God.  Christianity fulfills our desires and saves us if we believe and have faith in the fact that Jesus died for our sins.  And, last but surely not least, we have the cross and the resurrection.  The empty tomb speaks for itself of the difference.

The belief that religious pluralism is the GPS on the yellow brick road will surely not lead to God.  Christians, we are called to lead the way.

 

Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.

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

Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel

Expletive Christians

There have been some very 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 command 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 similar to 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, 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

Who Let the Dogs Out?

In the book of Genesis, we find the birth of the Earth and all that is on the Earth, including plants, animals, the sun and moon, and mankind.  In Genesis 1:18,19 we find these words, “The Lord said, it is not good that man should be alone” so He created Eve for Adam.  The passage continues with “out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the air, and we brought them to the man to see what he would call them.”  God then gives dominion over the fish and birds and every living then. (Genesis 1:26-27)

Some argue that humans were vegetarian before the flood.  This is based on verses in Genesis that relate to eating fruit, greens, and seeds, but there is no overt ruling against eating animal flesh.  The earth was created perfectly in balance and the Garden of Eden must have contained everything that was needed.  After the fall there is mention of Abel tending the sheep while Caine was tending the gardens.  As masters, humans are to be mindful of creation as responsible stewards, and in Genesis reference to the two offerings made by Cain and Abel in Genesis 4:3-4.  Cain offers produce and Abel offers his firstborn lamb.

However, PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) has recently created a new version of the Creation Story.  Its modern version “targets Generation Z and includes an animal rights religious message.  It is ‘filled with vegan teachings and tells of a cruelty-free story of creation.’”  In this version, the sentient being is protected.  The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines sentient as “capable of sensing or feeling; conscious of or responsive to the sensations of seeing, hearing, feeling, tasting, or smelling.”  No creatures were harmed for food or clothing or sacrifice.  This is an attempt from PETA to elevate animals to the level of humans.

More than one family has pondered the decision to adopt a family pet because of the watchful eye of organizations that would elevate dogs to the status given to people. They ask, “If I don’t do everything the veterinarian deems necessary for my animal, will I be fined or even arrested?  Will someone call animal control if I speak harshly to my dog in public?”  PETA, founded in 1980, defends the rights of animals.  It disallows any experimenting, eating of, wearing, entertaining with, or abuse of any animals.  They are deemed sentient beings. Taking this to its fullest meaning, should animals be kept in any form?  Should there be no leash laws and animals of all kinds left to roam and do as they wish?

The answers lie in the Word of God.  Going back to the verse giving dominion over the animals.  God is pleased when we are responsible for His creation and take care of the earth. Sin in the world has caused creation to be at the mercy of money, greed, idolatry, and lust. Much of creation has been destroyed by mankind.  The Christian response is to be thankful for everything God has made and treat animals and growing things with respect and economy, but not to worship them.  When we raise animals to the level of man and man is made in God’s image, they become idols.  Nothing can come before God in our worship.  Be careful when you let the dogs out.

 

Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.

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

Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel

A Time For Every Season

Recognizing your season as a Christian may be challenging.  Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 lists several of what the Bible calls seasons in which our activities under heaven will fall. Some of these are not of our choosing such as a time to die and a time to be born and, a time to mourn those whom we have lost.  Other seasons are thrust upon us unexpectedly and we are called on by the Holy Spirit to prayerfully consider the activities we choose in that season.  The key to the season is how we respond to it.

There are many seasons to laugh and dance such as weddings, celebrations, baptisms, and much more.  To completely embrace those elements of life is to be grateful in the season. Focusing on that time in life wholly and to the greatest degree.  Often that season is when children are growing up and getting married.  

Churchgoers’ views on marriage are changing.  In 2006, 82% of regular church attendees agreed that it is important to be legally married if you want to spend your lives together.  That number is now 67%.  Along with this statistic is 70% of Americans in general agree that same-sex marriages should be legal.  Within our embrace of the season of marriage, is there also, a time to tear down that which God abhors and build up what God has created.  “At the beginning, the Creator made them male and female … for this reason, a man will leave and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh” (Matthew 19:4-6).  Marriage is worth the dance, the tearing down, and the building up when it comes.

Some may interpret the casting away of stones (Ecclesiastes 3:5) to be about ridding yourself of unwanted obstacles or beliefs.  Building up the stones would be to gather those who are like-minded together for strength.  This season in America does not deny credulity when we see sin being glorified everywhere.  It is necessary to continue building a strong foundation of Christian principles together to stand against the darkness closing in.  According to Barna’s recent State of the Church report, 39% of Millennials report attending church on a weekly basis.  This puts them at a higher rate of attendance than Generation X and even the Boomer Generation which previously had been higher.  Our “stones” are few, yet there is an awakened spiritual awareness growing.

Perhaps Christians are healing from the times of tearing down.  The recent havoc played on them by COVID, political stress, and inflation has given rise to the need for a season of silence and mending.  The “physic effect” is ongoing.  Several studies report the physical aftereffects of the pandemic include depression, loneliness, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress. In that season of quiet, wait on the Lord to renew your strength.  (Isaiah 40:31)  It is a time to heal.

There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under the heavens. Recognize your season and allow God to work your activities through it.

 

Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.

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

Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel

Hold On to History

After the Israelites crossed the Jordan River to enter the Promised Land, Joshua instructed them to erect a stone monument, explaining:

“In the future your children will ask, ‘What do these stones mean?’  Then you can tell them, ‘This is where the Israelites crossed the Jordan on dry ground.’  For the Lord your God dried up the river right before your eyes, and He kept it dry until you were all across, just as He did at the Red Sea when He dried it up until we had all crossed over” (Joshua 14:19-24).

The Israelites actually erected several such monuments throughout their history.  They found that the only way to fully understand their present was to look back and remember their past.

In America today, there is a growing movement to eradicate any knowledge about much of our past— especially anything about our nation’s Founders.  For example, students at Hofstra University demanded the removal of a statue of Thomas Jefferson, believing that it represents an oppressive history that exploited non-whites.  And the Heritage Foundation similarly drew heavy criticism after it posted a tweet with a picture of Jefferson’s statue and the caption summarizing his writings: “This nation was founded not on blood or ethnicity, but on an idea: that of natural human equality.”

Critics ignore the fact that the ideas Jefferson espoused were used by abolitionists in the movement toward equality in the United States.  In fact, when slavery was banned with the passage of the Thirteenth Amendment in 1865, the US House asked noted civil rights leader and black pastor Henry Highland Garnet to deliver a special sermon on the occasion.  Garnet did so, and rejoiced that Jefferson was celebrating with the angels over the end of slavery— something Jefferson had advocated for throughout his life.

To deny this fact is to deny history itself.  But even if one does not accept this view, then, as African American journalist Sophia A. Nelson wrote in an opinion piece for NBC: “Keep the statues where they are so that people can explain history to their kids.”

In Romans 15:4, Paul reminds us:

“For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.”

America today has much that can be learned from its history.  And even if it is bad or becomes romanticized, it is still far better to remember history than to erase it.  While it certainly is not spotless, to pretend that something did not happen, or to degrade the forefathers who created our remarkable nation is counterproductive and even dangerous.

George Santayana said, “Those who do not know history's mistakes are doomed to repeat them.”  The quotation has been used so often that it borders on a mere cliché.  But without monuments to our history, it truly is easy to forget.

 

Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.

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

Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel

Acclimation

There are many times and places in life that call for us to acclimate to survive and thrive as individuals.  Climbing a high mountain that is 14,000 feet or more in altitude usually requires the body to acclimate first if it is used to living at sea level.  When exploring a cave, one’s eyes must be given time to acclimate or adjust to see anything at all.  A missionary heading to a foreign country must acclimate to social, language, and environmental changes that will be experienced.  All of these represent the necessities for getting along in a new environment. Essentially, these are good adaptations used to thrive.

However, we must be very careful about acclimatizing in spiritual matters.  A church sign was posted that said, “Open doors.  Open hearts.  Open minds.”  This sounds nice, even friendly and welcoming.  Our openness and love should, indeed, demonstrate to the world around us that we want to welcome them in.  However, in the spiritual realm, we must be very careful of what we are saying.  Many churches have allowed themselves to be so open as to alter, change, and acclimate to a different doctrine— a false belief that leads to destruction rather than healing.  Nehemiah 13 gives us a stern warning as to what can happen when we become too “open” and welcoming to the world around us. Verses 23 - 25 say this, “…I saw men of Judah who had married women of Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab.  Half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod or the language of one of the other peoples, and did not know how to speak the language of Judah…I rebuked them…and said ‘You are not to give your daughters in marriage to their sons, nor are you to take their daughters in marriage for your sons or yourselves.’”

It makes you wonder: What might we have allowed our families and church members to ‘marry into’ these days?  We have been losing our young people from our churches and watched our families falling apart from acclimating too much to the world around us. Who is God?  Creation or evolution?  What is gender and how many are there?  Who is in control of the education of our children?  How do we decide what is right or wrong? Which prophet do we trust in?  How do we determine truth in what we read or hear?  All very important questions that today’s church has not always done well answering.

In John 5 we read of the man who was healed by Jesus (“…pick up your mat and walk…”).  When this man was asked who it was that healed him, “he had no idea” (verse 13).  At this point he was physically healed, but spiritually dead.  We cannot allow our churches to be so excited about people being healed, accepted, and having a feeling of wholeness by the world’s definition, that we are leaving people spiritually dead along the way.  Too quickly we acclimate to apathy when it comes to proclaiming truth.  Jesus proclaimed, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14: 6).

With God’s help, may we never acclimate to a worldly message of death.  Speak only truth, offer only eternal life!

 

Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.

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

Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel

A Whole New World

As mega-corporation Disney continues to expand its WOKE agenda, many Christians believe it is time for David to take down the giant.  Disney’s movies and programming are sending tentacles of evil to capture our youngest, innocent children.  They are sucking them in with their “Happiest Place on Earth” promise and leaving them ruined with their blatant, twisted sexual message.

Disney Corporation has long been in controversy with biblical morals and beliefs, polarizing many Christian families into two factions of “it’s all just fun” and “read between the lines.”  The so-called innocent themes of classic Disney movies such as Cinderella may not be as innocent as it appears.  Reading between the lines we may find an abused, disgruntled, abandoned girl placing all her hopes and dreams on a Prince she has never met.  The reality is that only God can save and with Him all things are possible.  Aladdin steals and lies and uses witchcraft from a friendly Genie to gain access to Jasmine and the castle.  Little Mermaid, written by Hans Christian Andersen, originally portrayed the Mermaid as not giving up her one true gift, her voice, to a man. The villains of Disney are the huge snake of Aladdin, the dark octopus in The Little Mermaid, and the many “evil queens.”  This teaches our children that evil is easily recognizable.  But in truth, evil often looks like the neighbor next door.  “Many look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (I Samuel 16:7).

The modern Disney is now the giant reaching out to steal more than a voice— it is stealing innocence.  In November of 2022 Disney’s “Strange World” took to the big screen.  For the first time since its beginning in 1923, Disney chose to feature a same-sex teen romance.  One parent who took his children to see the movie posted on Twitter: “Took the kids to the movies today to watch a Disney cartoon called ‘Strange World.’ Within 10 minutes of the movie, my 10-year-old son said, ‘Dad, I have no desire to watch this movie.  Can we leave?’”  Disney’s “Lightyear” promoted the gay agenda.  Tim Allen who was the voice of the original character, Buzz Lightyear, refused to be part of the new version which had little to do with the original toy character.  “Lightyear” did not do well at the box office.  “Elemental” is losing big time at the box office because of its WOKE agenda woven within the characters.  The new “Barbie” movie is predicted to be a failure financially, as well.  Blatantly defending the movie, transgender actor Hari Nef, told Out Magazine that the film had an empowering message about being transgender.  Actor, Simu Liu praised the film for “deconstructing heteronormative gender roles about toys and colors.”  David is loading his slingshot, and the stone he loads is the dollars we chose to spend elsewhere.

This whole new world is going to depend on the voice and actions of everyone who is committed to following God’s standards.  If we do not stand against this voice of evil, their whole new world will destroy many innocent lives.

Satan appears in many forms.  Our entertainment should not reflect one of them. Ezekiel 28:17 says, “Your heart was proud because of your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor.  I cast you to the ground.”  This giant must repent or fall.

 

Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.

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

Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel

Holy Cow, Holier Than Thou: Ice-Cream Company Condescension

In the hit Breaking Bad spin-off show Better Call Saul, much of the plot is driven solely by the fact that one of the main antagonists is perceived as self-righteous and condescending to the main character, Jimmy McGill.  This trope works well in America’s individualistic culture because our values and sense of universal human dignity lead us to resent the condescension of the proud.  This idea was not invented in the United States; the sanctimoniousness of those who think themselves holier-than-thou has been condemned since the beginning of time.

The Fall in the Garden of Eden, the creation of the Tower of Babel, and the unfaithfulness of the Israelites worshipping the Golden Calf are all examples of the failures of those proud men who thought they knew better than God.  It is for this reason that Proverbs 11:2 teaches that “When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.”

Despite the commonality of this wisdom, it is surprising how uncommon its practice really is in daily life.  For evidence of this fact, consider the tweet published by Ben & Jerry’s on Independence Day: “This 4th of July, it’s high time we recognize that the US exists on stolen Indigenous land and commit to returning it.  Learn more and take action now.”

In principle, no Christian should, in good conscience, condone conquering other people for personal gain.  However, this tweet was plainly not intended to stir a sincere discussion of the matter.  It was instead intended for one purpose only: to virtue signal and assume a position of self-righteousness— never mind the fact that the company’s own South Burlington, Vermont, headquarters are built on what was formerly indigenous-owned land.

Clues to these self-righteous intentions are evident in the tweet’s incendiary timing on a day on which America celebrates its formation and the impossible— yet “sexy”— proposal that non-Indigenous people should somehow transplant themselves elsewhere to “return” land that was “stolen” by generations that are long dead.

As people across the United States called for a Ben & Jerry’s boycott, others dug into the company’s business dealings to find evidence of its latent hypocrisy.  Aside from building their headquarters on stolen land, the New York Post also uncovered revelations made by the Ukraine Solidarity Project, which reported that “Unilever [the owner of Ben & Jerry’s] is contributing hundreds of millions in tax revenues to [Russia] which is killing civilians and funding a mercenary group about to be designated a terrorist organization in the UK … Some of the world’s biggest companies have already left Russia … It’s possible — after 16 months of war — that the time for excuses has passed.”

Just like the Pharisees, Ben & Jerry’s “righteousness” is nothing but an act: a public performance without internal substance.  Ultimately, all of us have fallen.  While we can seek righteousness through the redemptive love of Jesus Christ, none of us can do so while continuing to live in the sin of self-righteousness without recognizing our own moral impurity.

Let us not forget the admonishments of Romans 12:3: “Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.”

Neither people nor their companies should think of themselves more highly than they ought. Until we learn to accept that basic fact, our discourse will continue to devolve.

 

Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.

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

Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel

We Are Just People

We have become obsessed with ourselves— our ethnicity, our skin color, our gender, our physical stature, our body shape, our adornments (jewelry, tattoos, hairstyles, etc.), our clothing.  Many people are willing to pay any price to “make themselves” just right.  That payment comes in the form of money, habits, surgeries … some of which may very well cost your life or the future lives of your potential children.  A permission slip from the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA) named “Puberty Blockers for Young Teens” says, “If your child starts puberty blockers in the earliest stages of puberty, and then goes on to gender-affirming hormones, they will not develop sperm or eggs.  This means that they will not be able to have biological children.”  To say the least, the consequences can be enormous.

The problem is that our focus is on the worldly things not the godly.  Our vision is regarding the body, not the Body of Christ (the Church).  Our purpose is to serve and honor our own selves, not to serve and honor God.  We refer to ourselves as black, white, Asian, Hispanic, straight, transgender, queer, binary/non-binary, religious, atheist … and so on.  You get the point.

The reality is that we are all just people.  Fallen, broken, sinful, and in need of a Savior. Daily Wire’s Michael Knowles, in his article on 6/27/2023, said it this way, “There’s no such thing as transgender people.  There are just people.  There are people and people are defined by things outside of their own self-perception and their own disordered desires … some people are confused … some have fallen into fantasies … disordered sexual desires and fetishes. But that doesn’t change who and what they really are…” Part of Mr. Knowles’ point in this article has to do with whether transgendered people have a right to a job just because they are transgendered.  His answer is, “No.”

What people, of any ilk, do have is a right to hear and accept the Good News of Jesus Christ. The true message is that none of us need certain clothes, jewelry, surgeries, ethnicities, or any other false identity factor to be included or fulfilled.  We all need the saving grace of Jesus Christ.  We all need the transforming power of the Holy Spirit within.  We all need the guiding truth of God’s Holy Word— the Bible.

God has left it up to us, as His children, to spread this truth through our words, our actions, and His love in us.

“Clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature” (Romans 13:14).

Model and teach your children these things, and in so doing, equip them to avoid the temptations of this world.  Then we all can demonstrate to the world around us what the world needs to see and hear.

“Your beauty should not come from outward adornment … Instead, 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” (1 Peter 3: 3-4).

 

Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.

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

Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel

Racism is A Forgivable Sin

The Bible teaches us that all sins except those against the Holy Spirit are forgivable.  As Matthew 12:31 says, “And so I tell you, every kind of sin and slander can be forgiven, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven.”

This fact might come as a surprise given the social climate we are in, which endorses the idea that racism is the “unpardonable” sin.

Reading black liberationist theologians like James Cone, one could easily be deceived into believing that the metric against which God Himself is measured is that of racism. As one of his mentees quoted Cone as saying, “If God is white, kill God.”  This kind of explosive, exaggeratory language is just not true.  Whether he meant to or not, Cone set up racism as the ultimate abomination.  He was wrong.

All sins are forgivable.  Even as statues deemed “racist” are toppled around the world, activists remain unsatisfied, demanding yet more erasure of historical figures who dared to partake of the common morality of their time.  Out goes any accomplishment or significance if the person who did it is deemed a racist.

A recent news article was titled “Black America should stop forgiving white racists.”  Headlines like this one that appeared in the Washington Post merely fan the flames of this unrelenting quest for “cleansing.”

As one pastor wrote for United We Pray, “Sometimes believing that racism is unforgivable can enable the belief that racism is unconfessable.  But the gospel offers real justice and mercy for sins committed by and against image bearers, and it offers real peace and forgiveness achieved between God and one another.  Racism isn’t the unpardonable sin, so let’s forgive and confess.”  If racism is unforgivable, it leaves us trapped in the past with no way forward, a moving target that will never be reached.

This advice aligns with the Gospel of Luke’s statement in 17:3, which outlines the proper result of repentance from sin, “So watch yourselves.  ‘If your brother or sister sins against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them.’”

This is not an idle theological discussion.  Whether or not racism is forgivable has massive implications for the well-being of the United States and its citizens.

If Christians do not stand up to the notion that racism is unforgivable, battle lines will be drawn and all hope of reconciliation will be lost in the name of misguided fanaticism.

 

Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.

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

Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel

Wisdom, Knowledge, and Glorifying God

Max Planck, the father of modern physics, once described the integral relationship between faith and science: “Religion and science demand for their foundation faith in God.  For the former (religion), God stands foremost; for the latter (science), at the end of all thought, for religion, He represents a basis; for science, a crowning solution towards a world view.”

Although religion and science are often seen as conflicting with one another, this is merely a falsehood fabricated by post-modernists who have sought to replace God with knowledge. However, such individuals fail to remember that many of history’s greatest scientists were also deeply committed men of faith; for instance, Albertus Magnus, Francis Bacon, and Galileo Galilei.

Although we live in a fallen world, that does not mean we live in utter darkness.

In its purest form, scientific research is meant to be geared toward the pursuit of wisdom. If we search the Bible, it is abundantly clear that the pursuit of wisdom is considered to be a Godly occupation.  As we see in Proverbs 19:8: “The one who gets wisdom loves life; the one who cherishes understanding will soon prosper.”  We should not fear the wisdom and knowledge gained from science since such wisdom can be used for the betterment of mankind.

It is the sacred compassion imbued by God in all of humanity that leads to innovations that improve the quality of human life.  For instance, the use of vaccinations which were developed through scientific discovery has drastically decreased child mortality around the world.  Prior to their inventions, hundreds of babies died in infancy.  However, because of these advances in human wisdom, millions of people are alive today who would otherwise be dead.

Yet another example of these wonderful possibilities can be found in the recent headline published by The Hill, pronouncing that the “End of AIDS could happen by 2030.”  The report outlines that many countries have adopted aggressive research-based responses in order to meet the so-called “95-95-95” rule, which means “95 percent of the people who are living with HIV know their HIV status, 95 percent of the people who know they’re living with HIV are on lifesaving antiretroviral treatment, and 95 percent of people who are on treatment are virally suppressed.”

Whereas an HIV/AIDS diagnosis was once a death sentence, the miracle of modern science has made it possible to not only survive but thrive despite the horrific disease.

Of course, we must always remember that wisdom and knowledge pale in comparison to the power of God: “I said to myself, “Look, I have increased in wisdom more than anyone who has ruled over Jerusalem before me; I have experienced much of wisdom and knowledge.”  Then I applied myself to the understanding of wisdom, and also of madness and folly, but I learned that this, too, is a chasing after the wind” (Ecclesiastes 1:16-17).

We must always be careful to remember that our ultimate loyalties are to God and that science is merely a means to an end, not an end in and of itself.  However, we must not become afraid to celebrate the glimmers of the world to come, the glimmers of hope and healing that God has imparted through the wisdom He allows us to discover.

 

Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.

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

Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel

Playing Fair Wins the Day

Imagine attempting to play a sport on an unequal field or court.  Or, playing where all the rules seem to be tilted against you and for the opposing team or player.  Perhaps you even discover that upon your arrival you will not even be allowed to play for some ridiculous reason like you are wearing an unacceptable color or the wrong brand of shoes.  These types of rules are becoming the norm across our nation in many ways.

Consider the movie, “What Is A Woman?”  When the Daily Wire went to post this as an event on Twitter they suddenly found the movie was being defined as “hateful conduct” and “misgendering” and would, therefore, not be allowed to be posted.  In the process, the critics were not even reviewing the film.  Clearly, the LGBTQ+ community has a powerful grip on many things these days.  The rules have been changed and they are not fair to both sides of the argument.  In Public Libraries across our country, thousands of LGBTQ+ volumes have been showing up on the shelves.  Often, they have circumvented the normal paths for acceptance – even being sneaked in and simply placed of the shelf.  Similarly, transgenders in sports are having a free-for-all in girls’ and women’s sports as they walk in, mostly unannounced, to compete.  Not only are the female athletes shocked on the field and pool, but even more so when the males are using the female-designated showers and locker rooms.

The point here is that many of these incidents are taking place and gaining approvals behind the scenes, not in a court of law or in open public debate.  Why is this?  Simply because they know they cannot win there.  As Matt Walsh, who produced “What Is A Woman?” puts it, “…the Left cannot win in a fair fight.  They cannot meet us out on the field, in a pitched battle, and hope to prevail.  They suppress, censor and deplatform because they know their position is insane and can’t be intellectually or morally defended.  Their arguments are laughable and flimsy.  Their claims fall apart under the slightest scrutiny.  If open discussion on this topic was allowed, their side would be crushed into oblivion in less than a day.  It is as simple as that.”

We must be vigilant at all times, watching in every direction for deceptive moves.  “Half of my men did the work, while the other half were equipped with spears, shields, bows and armor…Those who carried materials did their work with one hand and held a weapon in the other, and each of the other builders wore his sword at his side as he worked” (Nehemiah 4:16-18). 

Be ready always to call for truth and a level playing field on which to display that truth. Again, Matt Walsh explains, “He (Matt Walsh’s therapist Jordan Peterson) said that when you speak the truth, whatever happens is the best possible thing that could have happened.  In other words, there is no use lamenting the consequences of speaking the truth.  Because if you do not speak it, if you remain silent, then the results will always be worse, ultimately.”

 

Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.

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

Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel