With more than 50 years of faithful preaching of the Scriptures and zero public scandals, Pastor Begg had certainly earned my unofficial designation as a “solid” celebrity pastor. However, his recent handling of a cultural matter countered a Biblical worldview, and this was not at all consistent with the reputation that has long preceded him.
Which begs the question that many have raised in recent weeks: What are we, as Believers, now to do with Alistair Begg?
Since publishing the original SITMAC series in 2018, I’ve received several requests to write another installment. Admittedly, I didn’t believe one would be necessary because, as my logic went, by exposing the up and coming protégés of the old guard (see Joel Osteen, TD Jakes, Kenneth Copeland, etc), it should be easy to sniff out other false and extremely problematic preachers and pastors by association. Those birds all seemed to flock together, so writing about yet another member of their coop felt redundant.
What I didn’t consider at the time, however, was the role social media was beginning to play in platforming charlatans who don’t necessarily have ties to the old guard. I also didn’t consider how, thanks to social media, false teachers and problematic brothers (and sisters) no longer need a pulpit or a local church to sow error and confusion before a mass of God’s people.
Prior to episode 902 of the Relatable Podcast with Allie Beth Stuckey, I had extremely little knowledge of Kat Von D.
I’ve certainly heard her name in passing as I’ve consumed pop culture news over the years. In recent weeks, for example, I’d seen various headlines reporting on her recent baptism into Christianity. So, indeed, I’ve definitely heard of her.
Yet, I’m embarrassed to admit that I was so unfamiliar with her claims to fame and professional résumé that I initially confused her with the burlesque dancer Dita Von Teese. In my defense, both women do have “Von” in their names; they’re both undeniably gorgeous, fair-skinned brunettes who often rock a bold, red lip; and they are both closely associated with Marilyn Manson.
In the premiere episode of Season 4 of Truth + Fire: The Podcast, host Veritéetfeu tackles "married single motherhood", a parenting phenomenon where married mothers take on the sole responsibility to care for their children. But is this practically beneficial for the mother, the father or their children? More importantly, is it Biblical?
While browsing through Twitter the other day, I happened upon an interesting post from one of my favorite Christian writers, Samuel Sey.
In it, he declared:
“If a woman doesn’t want to be a mother, she shouldn’t be a wife. My dude, stay away from her.”
Founder and blogger at slowtowrite.com and contributing writer for various other outlets, Sam has done well to pen prolific thought pieces on the state of our culture, and he always endeavors to do so through a Biblical worldview. We also share a platform at Pyrolithos Foundation, where we each publish articles that address cultural issues from a Biblically-conservative perspective. In other words, Sam and I are on the same team; he is indeed my brother in the Lord; and, in most instances, I agree with his commentary.
Yet, admittedly, I found his tweet to be a bit provocative and potentially discouraging.
The debate over student loan forgiveness has been a surprisingly controversial topic among Americans and Christians alike. In this episode, host Veritéetfeu picks up where her article Student Loan Forgiveness: Considerations for Conservative Christians leaves off to discuss the realities, reactions, and the rhetoric surrounding this topic.
The day the Biden Administration announced its Student Loan Debt Plan, my best friend sent me a text.
“Thoughts?”, it read.
It accompanied an infographic detailing who qualifies for student loan forgiveness and the maximum amount to be forgiven per borrower under the Plan.
My immediate response was, “It ain’t enough,” along with a laugh out loud emoji.
I then went on to express that if this plan would tank the American economy, “I don’t want it.” “For me, if they could just waive the interest, I’d be grateful,” I added.
“I’m glad I went ahead and paid off my loans, with the help of [my husband] of course,” my best friend replied. “I wouldn’t qualify for this program anyway.”
My best friend, a mechanical engineer, paid off her student loans a few years back thanks to an aggressive repayment plan she and her husband, also a mechanical engineer, devised. I saw the sacrifices they made and was there to witness God lovingly “interrupting” their plan along the way with the birth of their children. But, eventually, she would taste the gloriousness that is freedom from student loan debt, and I have continued to praise the Lord on her behalf for that!
My scenario hasn’t been quite the same, but I’ve been nonetheless on my own plight to rid myself of student loan debt.
As current cultural trends and ideological differences seemingly divide Christians along political lines, Host Veriteetfeu is joined by Truth + Fire Subscribers and other special guests to discuss whether these divisions are actually Biblically necessary. Join the discussion live Friday, July 29th at 7PM ET.
Even as we might disagree politically with our progressive friends, I think the average American Christian has done a bang up job of trying to respect their “rights”, under U.S. law, to engage in what we well know are sins against God. For the most part, we really haven’t worked with fierce intention to overturn policies like Roe v. Wade, Obergefell v. Hodges (the 2015 ruling on same sex “marriage”), or other such laws. Instead, we have simply sought to reach the hearts and minds of those who would take advantage of their “right” to engage in those sins. We’ve discussed with them the spiritual and practical implications of their choices, and we have hoped that, in response to the Gospel, they’d come to repentance. Other than that, we’ve tried to mind our business and live quiet lives, all while knowing the days are evil.
Kyle Rittenhouse, who was charged with first-degree intentional murder, first-degree reckless murder and attempted murder, was acquitted this month of all charges. Rittenhouse was 17 at the time he shot and killed two men and injured a third, and he faced a misdemeanor charge for the illegal possession of a firearm by a minor.
However, testimony from Rittenhouse and Gaige Grosskreutz (the surviving witness) along with video evidence from the night of the shooting all presented extremely strong support for Rittenhouse’s claim of self-defense. Moreover, shortly before the trial concluded, Judge Bruce Schroeder dismissed the weapons charge, as it was not applicable to Rittenhouse under Wisconsin law.
Thanks to the merits of the evidence presented, and some good old fashioned grace and mercy from the Lord, justice prevailed. Rittenhouse is a free young man, and I couldn’t be happier for him!
Yet, even as I celebrate and wholeheartedly agree with the jury’s verdict, I do take particular issue with Rittenhouse for being in his predicament in the first place.
Regardless of one’s eschatological view or thoughts about “the mark of the beast,” there’s something rather sinister behind mandating all men to become vaccinated against a disease with a 99% survival rate. Even more immoral is to link Covid-19 vaccines to a human being’s access to goods and services and to restrict their agency if they refuse it.
For the past couple of months, a worst case sampling of such woefulness has been mainly on display in Australia, where their citizens are enduring extended lockdowns, travel and relocation restrictions, and privacy violations - at least until they reach a vaccination rate of 70%. Once this goal is attained, the economy will reopen and things will return to “normal” - at least for the vaccinated. Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews recently announced his state will move to a “vaccine economy” that will “lock out” the unvaccinated from most aspects of their society, including access to healthcare. New South Wales (NSW) Premier Gladys Berejiklian recently announced a similar plan as she admonished unvaccinated residents to not get “left behind” once NSW is back in full swing.
As I and others have pointed to Australia as a cautionary tale to our family and friends, it was easy for most to dismiss their experience as irrelevant to our way of life in America. Despite the lockdowns, church closures and mask mandates we’ve enjoyed here in the U.S., there have been those who believed what’s happening in Australia could and would never happen here.
I feel good right now! Though, I must admit, I do find my joy a little peculiar. I didn’t expect I’d be so elated to finally have Joseph Robinette Biden, Jr. and Kamala Devi Harris-Ermhoff as leaders of our nation...and the free world. As I watched the swearing in ceremony during the inauguration, I found myself rolling my eyes and sucking my teeth as each took oaths to “faithfully preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States” so help them God.
So help them…God. Ha! Mmcht!
If their policy positions hold true during their term, they’re about to rip the U.S. Constitution to absolute shreds!
And yet, here I am, typing up this article filled to the brim with peace and joy in the Lord Jesus Christ. Indeed, the Holy Spirit MUST be at work in my heart. He truly does give us peace that surpasses all understanding. Though, if the Lord would allow me, I will attempt to explain how my unexpected jubilation came to be.
#KamalaHarris is energizing quite a few “minority” intersections within the electorate as #JoeBiden’s VP pick.
She’s a woman and an HBCU graduate (Howard University). She’s also “Black” (Jamaican), “Asian” (Indian) and “Greek”...and by “Greek”, we mean she’s a member of a Greek-lettered organization. In addition to the ethnic and educational diversity Harris brings to the Biden ticket, her membership in Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc (AKA) is also a major selling point amongst some minority voters.
