A way to celebrate July 4 with righteous anger

These three videos are just ways to express my frustration with the evil things that are going on today in our world.

I was born in 1961, and growing up in the 60s and 70s; I fully realize I am a baby-boomer and I have an internal skepticism of authority, especially our government, and most especially, our current government.  The stuff Nixon did at the time seemed really bad, but the stuff that goes on now, with the liberal media protecting the liberal politicians, is much, much worse.  Government take over of health care - ObamaCare, Benghazi- Gate, IRS scandals, Hillary lying Clinton, the Supreme Court's recent decision on so called "same sex marriage"; abortion that has been going on with government sanction since 1973, President Obama refusing to call Islamic governments, ISIS/ISIL/IS as "Islamic" and terrorists and other Jihadists - "Islamic".  For our current government to label what Nidal Hassan did at Fort Hood as "work-place violence" is one of the most disgusting things ever done by our liberal governement idiots.    Judges making laws, judges fining the bakers, photographers, florists - massive injustice!  Of course I also am angry at the evil racist white guy who killed those Black church folks in Charleston too!  (If I don't mention that, the leftist people will ask, "why don't you get upset with that also?"  Well, it is evil and wrong, and sad; but it was not caused by government force or institutionalized racism or "white supremacy" or a flag that just symbolizes history for most people.)



I realize that Randy Stonehill has been divorced, and that he had problems in his life also; but some of his songs, like this one, are just great.

"Be angry, and yet, do not sin"  - Psalm 4:4 and Ephesians 4:26

I like this song, for it communicates there is a time for righteous anger at sin and injustice and corruption.

I think we can say legitimately that, "There is a time for righteous anger" - Ecclesiastes 3:1-8  (a time to kill and a time to hate = killing murderers and wars against evil regimes and hating sin and evil are good things)

"You who love the Lord, hate evil"  - Psalm 97:10


Angry Young Men
by Randy Stonehill

He wants some angry young men
Ones who can't be bought
Ones who will not run from a fight
Ones who speak the truth whether it's popular or not
Ones who'd give up anything to walk in His light

Chorus

Rest assured when Jesus comes again
He'll be looking for some angry young men

He wants some angry young men
With fire in their eyes
Ones who understand what Jesus gave
Ones who have grown weary
of the world and all its lies
Ones who won't forget they've been
delivered from the grave

(Repeat Chorus)

They say if you don't laugh you cry
I say if you don't live you die
Well, well, the road to hell is paved with
some impressive alibis
But unless you thirst for Jesus first
Man, heaven will pass you by
Heaven will pass you by

You'll be tempted, tried and tested
There'll be wars the devil wins
But God's love is not a license to lie 
there in your sins
He understands the human heart
His mercy is complete
But His grace was not intended
As a place to wipe your feet

(Repeat Chorus)

He wants some angry young men
Who love the Lord they serve
Ones who'll do much more than make a speech
Ones who'll act their faith out with a passion it deserves
'Cause if we cannot live it
Tell me, who are we to preach?

(Repeat Chorus)  

Just Gimme Some Truth!!  

Here is another song - John Lennon's "Gimme Some Truth" (from 1971).
I realise that Lennon was talking against Nixon ("Tricky Dicky"), the Vietnam War, hypocrites in government, and that he is seen as an icon of the left.  I also realise that if Lennon was alive today, he would more than likely approve of, at least, the freedom for homosexuals to have "same sex marriage".  Though he was the most radical of the Beatles, and sometimes a real jerk to people, full of anger, sometimes he was refreshingly honest.  The most famous of Lennon's songs, "Imagine", is the leftist anthem of all that modern liberals want and desire and love.  Many people think "Imagine" was Lennon's best song, rivaling McCartney's "Yesterday".  Bolderdash!  Lennon's, "In My Life", "Nowhere Man", "Strawberry Fields", "I am the Walrus", and "Beautiful Boy" were much better than "Imagine".  "Imagine" is a terrible song, because of the words and the philosophy it espouses.  Good music, terrible words.  Leftist utopian dreams, a unity without truth.  Lennon and Harrison were hypocrites also, committing adultery many times and being very rich, but criticizing others who had wealth.  But I do like a lot of their music; I just wish they had come to know Christ before they died.  

But since the left interprets the Constitution in opposition to its original intent, then I am going to interpret Lennon here against his original intent, and say to President Obama, the liberal Supreme Court Justices, Hillary Clinton, Harry Reid, and Nancy Pelosi, Jonathan Gruber, nbc, cbs, cnn, abc, etc. - "I am tired of your hypocrisy and lies - gimme some truth; just gimme some truth".  



Mr. Smith Goes to Washington

A scene from the movie, "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington", starring Jimmy Stewart.  He was a "boy ranger" (like a boy scout of the old days) who went on to be a senator and fought the evil graft and greed and control of politicians by corrupt businessmen and newspapers.

I interpret Mr. Smith as speaking truth to the power against all the lies of Hillary Clinton, Barak Obama, and the other leftist liberals and democrats who don't seem to understand that we cannot have a good government when we don't believe in good vs. evil anymore and are throwing out the moral foundation for our society.  Mr. Smith is like a mouse with truth, standing against the large elephants of the government and media, and corrupt business men and women - we take him for our cause and say to all who have shoved so called "same sex marriage" down our throats, - repent of your evil and go back and read the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence.  "the laws of nature and nature's God", "endowed by their Creator", etc.

Celebrate the 4th of July by watching Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, focusing your anger against sin and lies, scream "Gimme some truth", and praying for our leaders.  (1 Timothy 2:1-4)

I realize I wrote about "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" before on July 4.    And yeah, I know Frank Capra was Roman Catholic, etc.  Read the comments there, if you want to bring that up again.  I appreciate the Supreme Court Judges who are Roman Catholic - Scalia, Thomas, Alito, and sometimes Roberts.  I like the media cultural commentators also who are Roman Catholic and those that are conservative Jews, like Dennis Prager and Michael Medved.  We can agree with each other on those things - moral values and small government, etc.  It is great to have that political freedom, without persecuting or killing one another, as in the theocracy days of Roman Catholicism, and, to a lesser extent, Calvin's Geneva.

2 of Denny Burk's excellent posts on the Supreme Court's bad decision today

Denny Burk:  "Today's Supreme Court decision was a moral and judicial travesty"

https://apologeticsandagape.wordpress.com/2015/06/26/a-moral-and-judicial-travesty/


Denny Burk:  "A Prophetic word 11 years ago from John Piper"
https://apologeticsandagape.wordpress.com/2015/06/26/denny-burk-a-prophetic-word-from-11-years-ago-about-today-john-piper/

Hillary Clinton and the Supreme Court upcoming ruling on "same sex marriage" and the "Gay Agenda's" threat to Christian colleges and Universities and churches

Hillary Clinton said that deep seated religious beliefs have to be changed.

No Mrs. Clinton, you must repent of your sinful position.  Luke 13:1-5

She is saying this to her base, and showing them that she is against Christians who believe abortion is murder and evil, and that homosexuality and so called "same sex marriage" is wrong.

She seems to deliberately mix in things about women's rights in other countries with code speech for other issues she wants to change in the USA.  (abortion; homosexuality; so called "same sex marriage")

Her context talks a lot about other countries and the dangers to girls and women in other countries and cultures.  I wonder why she doesn't come out clearly and say anything about the fact that most of these problems and unjust treatment of women are in Muslim countries, which we have no authority to change their own laws and cultures.  We can agree that women suffer great injustices in Muslim countries, but liberals and leftists mix that in with abortion and homosexuality here in USA to try and bolster their base and sway the middle of the road voters.




I tried maybe 100 times, it seems, to embed the fox news video clip below, but I was unable to get it to work.  So be sure to go to click on it and watch it, if you have not seen this.

This report points out that the lawyer admitted to Justice Sam Alito that Christian colleges and Universities and organizations (and probably churches) are going to be hit with lawsuits and this will become a real issue if the Supreme Court rules that "same sex marriage" should be legal in all 50 states.

http://video.foxnews.com/v/4220594877001/same-sex-marriage-case-raising-religious-liberty-concerns/?playlist_id=2114913880001#sp=show-clips

Biblical Response to Transgenderism

Understanding Trans-genderism - Denny Burk - "When Psychological identity trumps Bodily Identity"

See the video message at the end by Denny Burk.

http://www.dennyburk.com/transgender-when-psychological-identity-trumps-bodily-identity/

Trans-gender Contradiction at Smith College
http://www.dennyburk.com/transgender-contradiction-at-smith-college/#more-30508

Piper's insightful analysis of the homosexual / "same sex marriage" issue

Two of John Piper's "Ask Pastor John" podcasts; one recent and one from 2013:

1.  What to say to a pastor who wants to officiate a "gay wedding".   (April 30, 2015)


http://www.desiringgod.org/interviews/what-to-say-to-a-pastor-who-wants-to-officiate-a-gay-wedding

The same can be said of Transgenderism - it is a disorder in the soul and rebellion of the way God created the person.

excerpts:

"The emotional and physical sensations that we call same-sex attraction are disordered emotions and disordered sensations. And that disordering of the soul’s emotions and the body’s sensations are rooted in the fall of humanity into sin and, more specifically, they are rooted in the sin that is understood as exchanging God’s glory for images (Romans 1:23). So the exchange of woman as the glory of man for another man is a parable of the exchange of God for images like ourselves.
A person who experiences this disorder — this disordering of the emotions of the soul and the sensations of the body — may or may not himself exchange God for images. He may be a Christian. But the disordering he is experiencing is rooted in that original sin and in that ongoing human bent of soul that we all have, all of us.
The issue becomes: What do we do with the disordering effects of sin in our lives? I say our lives. And you will see why in a minute — John Piper’s life. The Bible says that if we embrace the disordering as good and normal and live our lives in accord with the disordered inclinations, then we will be living and affirming a parable of rebellion against God. And the Bible says those who live out that kind of rebellion do not enter the kingdom of heaven (1 Corinthians 6:9)."

Do not be deceived. Neither the sexually immoral [that is fornication, because it is distinguished from the next two], nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. (1 Corinthians 6:9–10)
In other words, if you embrace and live out as normal and good any of these, you perish, because you are living a parable of rebellion.  . . . 

Officiating at a so-called same-sex “wedding” is the same as putting your blessing on the choice of two people to commit eternal suicide. The pastor is solemnizing and making official and blessing their choice not to enter the kingdom of heaven. . . . 

“American society is in the midst of a passionate pursuit of self-destruction.” 

"Now I would say that if a pastor asks his board if he can do that, he has given a signal that he is disqualified from his role of leading the sheep into the kingdom of heaven. And so he has put himself in a position of needing church discipline. And his board should follow the principles of Matthew 18 to seek his repentance as gently and patiently as they can. And then if he does not repent of his willingness to bless people’s eternal suicide and thus lead them out of the kingdom of heaven and into destruction, he should be dismissed as a false shepherd from both the pastorate and the church."
(John Piper; embolding and italics are my emphasis)

2.  Would you attend a "gay wedding"?   (October 10, 2013)

Listen to the voice of broken-ness and compassion, but holding firm to the truth of the Scriptures.  No Christian should attend a "gay wedding"; but we can still love our family members and friends who take this route, talk to them, share the gospel with them, have them over for a meal, etc.

Politicians need to listen to Piper on his issue.

http://www.desiringgod.org/interviews/would-you-attend-a-gay-wedding

Denny Burk's excellent JETS article "On the Ethics of Sexual Attraction (Same-Sex and otherwise)"

Denny Burk's excellent JETS article "On the Ethics of Sexual Attraction (Same-Sex and otherwise)"

http://www.dennyburk.com/on-the-ethics-of-sexual-attraction-same-sex-and-otherwise/

I made a couple of comments in the com-boxes:

Denny,
Excellent article. Definitely needed and thorough. Unfortunately, 20 pages of in-depth analysis like yours will not be analyzed in the sound bite media and “yes or no” questioning of modern journalism.
The problem seems to me that the majority of our western culture, regular man on the street, and secular non-Christians, journalists, politicians, etc. do not consider any kind of thoughts, desires, fantasies, imaginations as sinful. We hear people say all the time, “nothing wrong with looking, as long as we don’t touch”, and phrases like “eye candy”, etc.
This kind of thinking goes against the Biblical analysis of the heart of human beings and the roots of sin – Genesis 6:5, Matthew 5:21-30; Mark 7:20-23; Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 7:14-8:13; Colossians 3:5-10.
One thing I disagreed with though, is that you seemed to tie all the temptations of Jesus to His temptations in the sufferings and crucifixion (garden to cross ?) (page 103 – Hebrews 4:15 seen in the light of Hebrews 2:18, seems to overlook the 3 types of temptation in Matthew 4 and Luke 4. ) I agree that Jesus’ temptations did not include every single individual type of temptation that humans experience, but I do think that “tempted in every way” includes the 3 categories of temptations in Matthew 4 and Luke 4 – of “lust of the flesh” (food, sex, sleep, etc. – “turn the stones to bread”; 2. Lust of the eyes” – “I will give you all these kingdoms if You bow down to me” and 3. “the boastful pride of life” – “throw Yourself off the temple edge”, etc. (from Luke 4 and Matthew 4, and I John 2:15-16 and parallel with the temptation to Eve in Genesis 3 – “the fruit was good for food” (lust of flesh), “pleasing to the eyes”, and “could make one wise like God” (pride).

Denny,
Your analysis of “orientation” and “temptation” and desire and the Greek term epithumia was excellent and the whole discussion of the teleological aspect of when desires are sinful – the purpose and object of the desire as the key to determining the sinfulness of the desire.

Your analysis of James 1:13-14 with Matthew 5:28 is especially helpful.

The evidence of Augustine’s earlier thought on concupiscence and lust/desire vs. his later musings was helpful – I did not know that. Thank you for digging that out for us.
On page 104 – The discussion of the fact that it is more intense of a temptation to not give in to it – and the quote from Leon Morris was very good and needs to be emphasized. (and was very convicting, when thought about my own temptations and giving in to them.)
“This points us to the glorious irony of Jesus’ sinless nature. It did not lessen his experience of temptation but only intensified it.” (page 104)
Wow! This needs to be emphasized and preached on and talked about a lot more.
This should stir all of us to consider more deeply our sinful hearts in our gluttony, anger, greed, and heterosexual lust and need for deeper internal repentance.
These other two statements stood out to me:
“Temptation had no landing pad in Jesus’ heart nor did it have a launching pad from Jesus’ heart.” (page 105)
“This aspect of Jesus’ impeccability ought to invoke worship when we really think about it.” (page 107)
The discussion of not using “orientation” was needed also. We should call it “people who experience same sex attractions and temptations” and Christians who struggle with them.
Another thing that is missing is that some Lesbians have admitted that their Lesbianism was a choice based on other up-bringing and environmental factors and responses and her feisty nature and rebellion and challenge to traditional ideas of being a girl and a lady. Camille Paglia made that point very clear on one of Dennis Prager’s radio shows. see below:
https://apologeticsandagape.wordpress.com/2014/09/29/feminist-and-lesbian-camille-paglia-homosexuality-is-not-an-inborn-trait/

I also linked to Denny Burk's article at my other blog, Apologetics and Agape, along with the above article about Camille Paglia and also Dr. Michael Kruger's article  "What the Media is not telling you in the Judicial arguments in the same sex marriage case."

These two articles also deserve separate future blog posts.

Another "Finally!" - what Bible believing Christians already knew

Transgender-ism and getting a sex change operation is a mental disorder.

http://cnsnews.com/news/article/michael-w-chapman/johns-hopkins-psychiatrist-transgender-mental-disorder-sex-change

HT:  Steve Hays - I saw this earlier at Triablogue.