Faith, Current Events, Politics
Veritéetfeu
For I 'Resolved to Know Nothing' About ...

Until recently, I’ve opted not to speak on the Israel-Palestine conflict in any public capacity: not on any of my platforms, not on social media, not at social gatherings, and especially not at work!

While the conflict predates my existence, it’s been an especially contentious topic since October 7, 2023 - the day Hamas led a coordinated, surprise attack against Israel. As others rushed to social media and traditional media spaces to voice their take on the matter, I decided to remain silent - not because I had nothing to say, but because I doubted my ability to engage the topic competently and graciously. I also feared the backlash and “cancellation” that would surely come to me for expressing deep concerns for, as well as sharp criticisms of, parties on both sides.

Nevertheless, a recent conversation with a coworker gave me a new perspective on the topic, and it finally emboldened me to publicly speak on the matter as much as the Lord would allow. 

For I 'Resolved to Know Nothing' About Israel-Palestine
Faith, Current Events
Veritéetfeu
Should Christians "Beg Off” Alistair Begg?

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?

Should Christians "Beg Off” Alistair Begg?
Faith, Pop Culture
Veritéetfeu
Something in the Milk Ain't Clean: Christian ...

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.

Something in the Milk Ain't Clean: Christian Influencers to Leave in 2023
Faith, Current Events, Celebrity Conversion
Veritéetfeu
Kat Von D Got Baptized, But…

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. 

Kat Von D Got Baptized, But…
Podcast Episode, Christian Living, Relationships
Veritéetfeu
S4E1: Married Single Mothers?

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?

S4E1: Married Single Mothers?

pro-choice

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"Then the Lord called to the man...'Where are you?'": Men on Abortion

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"Then the Lord called to the man...'Where are you?'": Men on Abortion

After thousands of years of human existence, women remain the only gender (of the only two genders) that can biologically become pregnant with, carry, and give birth to another human life. As such, it is only natural and understandable that the female perspective is considered in discourse on abortion.  Yet, in the past 40 years, society has systematically and disingenuously presented the female perspective as the only perspective that matters, especially when that perspective is “pro-choice”. 

Sure, the very camp that’s long supported rhetoric like  “It’s a woman’s right to choose!” now also supports the “right to choose” of  women who feel they’re men (thus, per society, they are “men”) -  because, apparently, “men can get pregnant, too.”  But gender confusion and obvious delusions aside, the male perspective on, and a man’s experience with, abortion is typically silent and silenced. And with abortion in the news quite frequently in recent months, I’ve found their silence rather deafening - perhaps as deafening as Adam’s as he watched Eve eat the forbidden fruit (Genesis 3:6). 

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Pro-Life, Pro-Logic: Thoughts on Abortion

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Pro-Life, Pro-Logic: Thoughts on Abortion

With the recent passage of near total bans on abortion in several states, the pro-choice/pro-life debate has reached a fever pitch. While I’d prefer to stay far, far away from the highly contentious back-and-forth these discussions tend to yield, it’s been extremely challenging for me not to chime in. Indeed, if this were a matter where all stakeholders could plead their own case, perhaps I might be less vocal about this topic. But at the center of this issue lies the fate of innocent, unborn human beings who aren’t able to speak up for themselves, and the truth from which my passion for this topic stems is simply that God created humanity in His image (Proverbs 31:8; Genesis 1:26-27).

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Pro-Life, Pro-Logic: Thoughts on Rape

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Pro-Life, Pro-Logic: Thoughts on Rape

The unborn, though spiritual inheritors of a sin nature just as we all were, are innocent in word and deed. They’ve done nothing wrong for which to be sentenced to death. Though the pro-abortion position suggests the unborn are indeed guilty of being an inconvenient consequence of their parents’ choices. EVERY consenting adult knows full well that sex produces babies and that contraceptives aren’t 100% effective. To claim anything to the contrary is, put plainly, A WHOLE LIE. Even Alyssa Milano, who’s encouraging women to avoid the risk of pregnancy in the wake of Georgia’s abortion ban, has called for a “sex strike” rather than an increase in contraceptive usage. She knows the only sure way to prevent unwanted pregnancies is abstinence. So do most with at least a 7th grade education.

But what about rape? What about unwanted sex that produces an unwanted child?

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Pro-Life, Pro-Logic: Thoughts on a Woman's Right to Choose

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Pro-Life, Pro-Logic: Thoughts on a Woman's Right to Choose

While they do occur, fortunately rape is rare, pregnancies resulting from rape are rare, and abortions due to rape are extremely rare. Even when one includes aborting pregnancies resulting from incest, that’s still less than 2% of all abortion cases. As such, there are at least 98% of women who’ve elected to abort for reasons resulting from their own choices.

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Pro-Life, Pro-Logic: Thoughts on Child Abuse + Other Strawmen

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Pro-Life, Pro-Logic: Thoughts on Child Abuse + Other Strawmen

As I shared in the opening of this piece, I recently discussed abortion with a couple of colleagues that left me stunned. One believed abortion should be legal because the death penalty is legal. The other sees abortion as an answer to child abuse.

“If you’ve worked with unwanted and abused children, you’d understand why abortion is needed,” he said.

“So, to protect children from abuse we should kill them,” I asked.

“Well...yeah.”