FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH ORLANDO PASTOR DAVID UTH WILL HOST THE KICK OFF TO THE SBC 2020 MEETINGS IN ORLANDO. THE CONTROVERSIAL PASTOR ALSO HOSTED REVOICE LEADERS IN 2017 “POSTURE SHIFT INTENSIVES” AT FBC ORLANDO
Rev Thomas Littleton 2/12/ 2020
David Uth pastor of First Baptist Church Orlando has recently found himself in the midst of controversy after announcing the speakers for the 2020 Southern Baptist Pastors Conference to be held at this church.
The line up of speakers is problematic in part because it includes several non Southern Baptist one of whom is a woman “Pastor”. This comes in the midst of a push for the SBC to consider the election of a woman (i.e. Beth Moore ) as president of the Convention while the SBC remains firmly committed to resist egalitarian ideology in ordination practices and pastoral roles for women.
David Uth explains his reasoning
“”My goal, my prayer was that we could open ourselves up to hear from people that maybe were good friends of ours, but not in our Southern Baptist Convention,” Uth said. “I feel like they have a message for us. I feel like God wants to speak to us through them. So my goal and my hope was that we could hear their message, we could learn from them, and we could embrace it.”
UTH PAST CONTROVERSY OVER LGBT /PULSE TRAGEDY
“Orlando’s Leaders Mourn Massacre Victims at Church Service”
“ORLANDO, Fla. — The city’s civic and religious leaders gathered on Tuesday night for prayer and song at the First Baptist Church of Orlando to mourn the 49 victims who died at the Pulse nightclub early on Sunday.”
In a Rueters article David Uth issued the following “Apology ” for Christians
‘WE APOLOGIZE’
“On Sunday, First Baptist Orlando Pastor David Uth plans to use his pulpit to remind his 19,000-member congregation that even if they do not agree with people’s lifestyle, they should remember that God’s love encompasses all.”
“We’re the worst at really, genuinely loving like Jesus,” he said of Baptists, calling it a church failure that gays and lesbians feel unwelcome in its pews. “That we own completely. We apologize.”
WHAT IS THE ERROR HERE?
PASTOR UTH IS OPERATING ON THE FALSE PRESUMPTION: “CHRISTIANS LACK COMPASSION TOWARD LGBTQ”
DAVID UTH HISTORY WITH REVOICE LEADERS AT FIRST BAPTIST ORLANDO
Meanwhile Daivid Uth and First Baptist Orlando have hosted the leaders of the disturbingly radical and divisive “Revoice LGBT+ Flourishing “movement in 2017 for a “Posture Shift Intensive” training session. ( Posture Shift is a ministry which is lead by Bill Henson who works closely with Revoice leaders who he has hosted at the PS Orlando. Henson also works in/ with the Revoice event which was in the planning and pre-launch stages inn 2017)
REVOICE HISTORY
REVOICE was founded by Albert Mohler disciple and SBTS New Testament teacher Nate Collins from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. While still in the planning stages for the first Revoice conference held in St Louis MO in a PCA church -the Revoice leadership held a trail run working together in the POSTURE SHIFT INTENSIVE of leader Bill Henson’s “Lead Them Home” ministry .
ALBERT MOHLER AND LGBT+ / REVOICE CONNECTIONS
Albert Mohler has his own history of compromise AND APOLOGIES for the church on LGBTQ as detailed in the recent video by Dr E S Williams from the UK.
“Albert Mohler and the Gay Revolution”
“The purpose of this video is to evaluate the teaching of Dr Albert Mohler, president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, on the subject of homosexuality. Mohler is encouraging the Church to embrace the issue of sexual orientation, a psychological concept that is entirely without biblical warrant. He accuses evangelicals of having lied about the nature of homosexuality and of practicing a form of homophobia. He fully supports the ministry of same-sex attracted Sam Allberry, a Church of England priest. His position is similar to that of the gay agenda, which seeks to normalize homosexuality in society and the Church.”
REVOICE FOUNDER/ ALBERT MOHLER DISCIPLE – NATE COLLINS PROMOTED THE POSTURE SHIFT CONFERENCE AT DAVID UTH FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH ORLANDO 2017
“Check out this Posture Shift Intensive course by Lead Them Home that is taking place in Orlando right after the 1-year anniversary of the Pulse nightclub shooting. I’ll be attending, so look me up if you’re going to be there!
Lead Them Home presents Posture Shift Intensives, our 2-day course to train churches and ministries on effective LGBT+ outreach, care and relational skills. Bring your whole leadership team (at a discounted price) to transform your church’s capacity to live out the Gospel for LGBT+ people in your co…”
Lead Them Home presents Posture Shift Intensives, our 2-day course to train churches and ministries on effective LGBT+ outreach, care and relational skills. Bring your whole leadership team (at a discounted price) to transform your church’s capacity to live out the Gospel for LGBT+ people in your congregation and community.”
**Sign up by May 31 to save $30/pp! Code = “MAYDISCOUNT”
**Save Even More! Register as a Group — See Group Discounts!
$30/pp Coupon only for Individual Registrations.
Group Pricing, as listed, is already discounted!
Contact ps@leadthemhome.org for help registering groups.
Featuring:
Teaching by national church and ministry consultant Bill Henson (Creator of Posture Shift)
Book release meet-and-greet with Dr. Preston Sprinkle (Grace/Truth, 2017)
Meet-and-greet with emerging authors Gregory Coles (Single, Gay & Christian, 2017) and Nathan Collins (All But Invisible, 2017)
Schedule
Day 1: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Day 2: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Registration Details
Included With Ticket:
Course Handbook (80+ pages)
Lunch, snacks and drinks for both days
Check-in begins at 8:00am (Printed or digital ticket MUST be presented)
Event commences at 9:00am
Room # at First Baptist Orlando shared with paid registrants
Refund Policy
“For cancellations at least 30 days in advance of your registered event, you will be refunded all except the $100 non-refundable deposit. The $100 can be fully applied toward the ticket price of a future event.”
For cancellations less than 30 days prior to your registered event, there will be NO REFUNDS. You can, however, schedule to attend a future event for a $25 fee.
“Attending a portion of conference is not recommended, since significant foundational learning occurs on Day 1 that is integral to a productive Day 2. If you could only attend Day 1, you will get the full Curriculum Teaching. On Day 2, we will focus on “application” with table work and challenging Case Studies. It is very important to apply Day 1 content in order to process the teaching and increase retention rate and skill development. There is no discount for attending only one day.”
Can I bring a child with me?
There is no childcare available. Content is not suitable for small children.
“Lead Them Home is North America’s leading training and consulting resource for church and ministry leaders on LGBT+ inclusion and care.”
“Our vision is loving LGBT+ people in the Church via our mission: to enhance church inclusion, increase family acceptance, protect against victimization, and nourish faith identity in LGBT+ lives.”
POSTURE SHIFT GOALS
“ENHANCE CHURCH INCLUSION”
“INCREASE FAMILY ACCEPTANCE ”
“PROTECT AGAINST VICTIMIZATION ”
“NOURISH (LGBTQ PEOPLE) FAITH IDENTITY ”
The 2019 Orlando event was marketed at an “undisclosed location ”
Location
Specific location shared ONLY with Paid Registrants.
“ANNOUNCEMENT: Bill Henson, Lead Them Home Founder, will be a presenter at the Revoice Conference in St. Louis, MO”
“A new conference is on the horizon and we could not be more excited! Revoice Conference is being developed by some amazing friends and ministry partners of Lead Them Home, including Nate Collins, the author of All But Invisible, with the mission “to encourage, support, and empower gay, lesbian, and other same-sex-attracted Christians so they can experience the life-giving character of the historic, Christian sexual ethic.”
“Revoice is a non-profit that believes in the traditional Christian sexual ethic and view of marriage. The aim though is to make the Church a place where LGBT+/SSA people are more welcomed and able to grow in their faith identity. The Conference will take place July 26-28 in St. Louis, MO and bring together the well-known speakers on this topic from all over the country.”
“We are excited to announce that Bill Henson, our founder, will be among those speakers. Bill will be teaching a workshop entitled Building Justice Bridges: How a Missiological Approach Shifts Our Posture and Reaches LGBT People. In this workshop, Bill will be presenting the missiological approach of Posture Shift for church leaders at the conference.”
“Along with Bill, other speakers include Preston Sprinkle, author of People to Be Loved, Wesley Hill, author of Washed and Waiting, as well as our very own Ray Low!”
CONCLUSION
SBC CHOICE OF THE CONTROVERSIAL PASTOR DAVID UTH TO HOST THE PASTORS CONFERENCE WHILE SBC 2020 IS HELD IN ORLANDO IN THE CULTURAL SHADOW OF PULSE NIGHTCLUB TRAGEDY IS NO ACCIDENT.
SBC leaders like Albert Mohler, Russell Moore, Ed Stetzer ( who will chair the SBC 2020 Resolutions Committee) and others KNOW that the Revoice movement in the SBC is a VERY DIVISIVE ISSUE . Response , or lack thereof. to Revoice errors in the Presbyterian Church of America is splitting that denomination already.
WILL THE SBC SPLIT ? IF IT DOES -THE REASONS WILL BE CLEAR.
SBC LEADERS WANT TO MAINSTREAM “LGBT+ THRIVING ” ALONG WITH CRITICAL RACE THEORY AND INTERSECTIONALITY AND “REFUGEE RELOCATION” SOCIAL JUSTICE GOSPEL BECAUSE….
Clearly the main reason for the push of these controversial issues like Revoice and the choice of David Uth and First Baptist Church to host SBC 2020 Pastors Conference to “kick off” the Southern Baptist Conventions annual meeting in Orlando is because it PAYS.
Given the bonanza of Faith Based Grants and long term partnerships with state and federal government and private foundation/ corporations -the “New- Next -With It” SBC leadership can position themselves well in the “Brave New World”.
IF THE SBC SPLITS AND CONSERVATIVES LEAVE…THEY WILL SIMPLY BE DONE WITH THOSE OF US WHO HOLD BIBLICAL CONVICTION WHICH INSPIRES THE OPPOSITION TO THEIR LONG AND SHORT TERM GOALS !
It is likely that Albert Mohler, Ed Stetzer, Russell Moore, David Uth are SIMPLY “WAITING TO EXHALE ” and say to regular, CONVENTIONAL, “problematic” and non progressive Southern Baptist -“GOOD RIDDANCE “.
WHILE SBC TALKING HEADS ATTACK BLOGGERS AND WHISTLE BLOWERS THEY POINT BONY FINGERS BLAMING THOSE PROPHETIC VOICES OF BEING DIVISIVE …
But in reality –
It is the change agents in SBC leadership embracing Revoice and OTHER radical ideologies who are dividing the denomination . It just may be intentional and according to plans.
ROMANS 16
Avoid Divisive Persons
17 “Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. 18 For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple. 19 For your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf; but I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil. 20 And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly.”
“The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.”
Southern Baptist North American Missions Board, under the direction of Albert Mohler’s former pastor and pick to head the Southern Baptist entity has been busy spending millions of missions dollars on developing a network of Send Relief Ministry Centers across North America.
NAMB “AMBULANCE CHASING ” WITH RUSH TO PARTNER WITH FEMA IN PUERTO RICO ?
NAMB had abandoned its work in Puerto Rico several YEARS ago and had NO BOOTS ON THE GROUND on the island which is a US territory. That all changed after the 2017 Hurricane named Maria. NOW NAMB has built the Send Relief Center as a launching pad for “Crisis Response and Storm Recovery”.
Former SBC Seminary/ University professor Dr. Robert Oscar Lopez who is of Puerto Rican descent recently returned to to the island to visit family and the ancestral home now in ruins form Maria. He pointed out that many native churches remain and are very involved in ministering to Puerto Rico’s people while NAMB had pulled all resources off the island . NAMB have now returned to position themselves with the FEMA effort long term . Dr. Lopez likened the sudden return to an abandoned and storm ravaged Puerto Rico to “Ambulance Chasing ” on the part of Ezell and NAMB/ Send Relief leaders.
NAMB RECENT CELEBRATIONS IN PUERTO RICO
After dedicating a NEW Puerto Rico Send Relief Center with NAMB Trustees , Ezell last week held a meeting announcing plans to expand the development of these Send Centers from 7 to perhaps 20 or more across the nation. The Puerto Rico Send Relief Center is in partnership with FEMA focused on the disaster response and rebuild of Puerto Rico after the 2017 Hurricane Maria and recent earthquakes. All look to be based on the Faith Based Partnership models with local, federal government entities and private foundations and corporations. These partnerships seek to utilize the church and ministries such as the Send Relief Center as delivery systems for human and social services. NAMB looks to have bought DEEPLY into the “Faith Based” vision and is investing even MORE with the development of this network of Send Relief Centers.
Several other centers around the country are focused on “Poverty” “Sex Trafficking ” and other popular and easily funded FBP initiatives …while the ONE CLOSEST to NAMB home offices near Atlanta is an even more controversial use as a “Muslim Welcome Centers”
NAMB/SEND RELIEF CENTER CLARKSTON GEORGIA
REFUGEES AND INTERNATIONALS
Clarkston
Ministry Center
“Ministry to any refugee community requires sensitivity and a focus on meeting basic needs while helping refugees become established in a new home and unfamiliar culture. We invite you to join us in Clarkston, Georgia, at our Clarkston Ministry Center and experience an international mission opportunity right here in North America. Known as the “Ellis Island of the South,” there are great needs, but there are also great opportunities for churches and individuals to invest in and learn from the residents of this unique community.
According to Refugee Resettlement statics in GEORGIA:
Refugee resettlement
“Georgia is among states that receive the highest amount of refugees for resettlement, and has resettled more than 37,000 refugees since 1993.[18] Clarkston receives a large portion of these refugees, but arrivals have gradually declined yearly since 2016.[19] In 2016, then Georgia Governor Nathan Deal issued and then reneged on an executive order attempting to cease influx of Syrian refugees into the state.[20] Additionally, as of 2019 federal funding for refugee programs has decreased and executive orders have been issued that allow states increased authority to limit resettlement, which has resulted in the downsizing of several Georgia resettlement organizations.[21]
Organizations that aid the resettlement of refugees in Clarkston include:”
Southern Baptist North American Missions Board is the domestic “Missions” arm of the Southern Baptist Convention Cooperative Missions Program . NAMB President is Kevin Ezell the former pastor and close associate of Albert Mohler .
Al Mohler’s pastor recommended as new NAMB president
“ALPHARETTA, Ga. (ABP) — The pastor of one of the Southern Baptist Convention’s most visible leaders will be recommended as the new head of the denomination’s North American Mission Board.”
“At Highview, Ezell serves as pastor to Southern Baptist Theological Seminary President Al Mohler, a nationally prominent Calvinist theologian and conservative commentator on social issues.”
“A native of Paducah, Ky., Ezell is a graduate of Union University, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and Southern Seminary. He has served as pastor of churches in Kentucky, Illinois, Tennessee and Texas.”
“If elected, he will succeed Geoff Hammond, who resigned just over a year ago after clashing with board members amid allegations of cronyism and low staff morale at NAMB. Hammond himself replaced Bob Reccord, who resigned in 2006 after allegations of mismanagement.”
NAMB SPENDING SPREE PLANNED
NAMB has been busy spending millions of missions dollars on developing a network of Send Relief Ministry Centers across North America.
“SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (BP) – North American Mission Board (NAMB) president Kevin Ezell shared a series of five-year goals, including more than doubling the entity’s number of Send Relief ministry centers throughout North America.
“Our goal,” Ezell said, “is to add at least 13 more by 2025 so we can have 20.”
During their full board meeting trustees took action on several other items:
Trustees approved spending up to $15 million from NAMB reserves for the expansion of Send Relief ministry centers throughout North America.
Trustees voted to receive an independent auditor’s report for fiscal year 2018-2019. The auditors gave NAMB an unqualified, clean audit, the highest rating possible.
NAMB Chief Financial Officer Matt Smith shared fiscal year financial details to-date which show revenues over expenses are running $456,382 ahead of budget as of December 31, 2019.”
“Thank you so much,” NAMB president Kevin Ezell told the missionaries. “You are our heroes and we are so grateful for you. We can’t wait to see how your churches are multiplied and what’s going to be here in the years to come.”
SBC CURRENT PRESIDENT J.D. GREEAR SPOKE AT THE EVENT
“J.D. Greear, pastor of Summit Church in Durham, N.C., and current president of the Southern Baptist Convention attended a portion of the meetings with trustees.”
“I can’t tell you how grateful I am and what an impact this has had just to be with you all for a little bit and to experience, this afternoon with our Puerto Rican brothers and sisters, the movement that they are a part of,” Greear said. “This is something that is really, really special, and I just sat there today thinking, ‘It doesn’t get much better than this.’”
EZELL OUTLINES NAMB PLANS
“The broader goals Ezell outlined for NAMB include 6,000 new Southern Baptist churches by 2025 coming from a combination of new church plants, new church affiliations and new church campuses. In addition to the ministry centers, Ezell wants to see 100,000 people engaged in Send Relief compassion ministry. In evangelism, NAMB will pursue commitments from at least 50,000 people who say they will share Christ with at least one person.”
“A lot can happen in five years and a lot might need to be adjusted,” Ezell said. “But as we look at 2025, this where we want to be.”
Ezell’s announcement came during NAMB’s Board of Trustees meeting in Puerto Rico this week as the group met February 3-4 in San Juan.”
NAMB SEND RELIEF CENTERS
“NAMB’s Send Relief ministry centers each focus on one or more area of work: poverty; refugees and internationals; foster care and adoption; human trafficking and crisis response.”
SEND RELIEF WORK IN MUSLIM RESETTLEMENT
NAMB VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES INCLUDE CLARKSTON GA.
“The city is noted for its ethnic diversity, and is often referred to as “the most diverse square mile in America” and “the Ellis Island of the South. In the 1990s, refugeeresettlement programs identified Clarkston as a good fit for displaced persons of many backgrounds. The rental market was open, residents were moving farther out from the Atlanta urban core, and Clarkston was the last stop on a transit line into the city. At present students attending Clarkston High School come from over 50 different countries; the local mosque (Masjid al-Momineen, or Mosque of the Faithful in English) has a diverse and sizable congregation; and over half the population is estimated by some to be foreign born”
“Georgia is among states that receive the highest amount of refugees for resettlement, and has resettled more than 37,000 refugees since 1993. Clarkston receives a large portion of these refugees, but arrivals have gradually declined yearly since 2016. In 2016, then Georgia Governor Nathan Deal issued and then reneged on an executive order attempting to cease influx of Syrian refugees into the state. Additionally, as of 2019 federal funding for refugee programs has decreased and executive orders have been issued that allow states increased authority to limit resettlement, which has resulted in the downsizing of several Georgia resettlement organizations.”
“Organizations that aid the resettlement of refugees in Clarkston include:”
“Ministry to any refugee community requires sensitivity and a focus on meeting basic needs while helping refugees become established in a new home and unfamiliar culture. We invite you to join us in Clarkston, Georgia, at our Clarkston Ministry Center and experience an international mission opportunity right here in North America. Known as the “Ellis Island of the South,” there are great needs, but there are also great opportunities for churches and individuals to invest in and learn from the residents of this unique community.”
LAWSUIT BY NAMB
“NAMB sues Georgia town over plans for new $10 million Send Relief ministry center”
“The Southern Baptist Convention’s North American Mission Board is suing the city of Clarkston, Georgia as the town’s city council stands in the way of plans related to a proposed $10 million Send Relief ministry center.The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that the lawsuit was filed last week in the Superior Court of DeKalb County. ”
“The document accuses the Clarkston government of unlawfully halting progress on a proposed missionary center by not approving a permit allowing the SBC entity to demolish two uninhabitable homes from the early 1900s located on property that it owns.”
“NAMB, the domestic missions agency of the SBC, owns the Clarkston International Bible Church and seeks to build a massive Send Relief ministry center that will be spread out across four blocks and include spaces for missionary housing, a medical center, parking, a gym, and training center. ”
“According to Baptist Press, NAMB purchased the congregation’s property in May 2018 as part of a partnership to replace the church’s aging buildings. ”
According to its website, Send Relief aims to provide resources, training experiences and events to help churches engage in relief work for those in crisis. The Send Relief center in Clarkston will focus on providing aid to “refugees and internationals.”
EZELL REPRESENTS BATTLE IN CLARKSTON AS RELIGIOUS LIBERTY CONCERN FOR CHURCHES
KEVIN EZELL FEAR MONGERING ?
“In its lawsuit, NAMB stated that it seeks to build the campus in Clarkston because of the towns’ large refugee population.”
“In an interview with The Christian Index, Ezell warned that actions such as those taken by the Clarkston City Council should be of concern to churches everywhere. ”
“We own property and … to retroactively do this violates our basic rights,” Ezell was quoted as saying. “This is not only to protect our property but others. It could affect other churches. Who’s to say where it can stop?”
NAMB’s BOHEMIAN MAYOR ALLY
CLARKSTON MAYOR THE NAMB ALLY FROM QUEER EYE FOR THE STRAIGHT GUY
What Happens When a Georgia Mayor Gets a Queer Eye Makeover
“The public official was first elected in 2013 at just 30 years old, the youngest mayor in the history of Clarkston, Georgia, the Ellis Island of the South. But his wrinkled flannelsand tattered Converse shoes didn’t impress his older constituents.”
“So Terry appeared on season two of Queer Eye, Netflix’s reboot of the mid-2000s makeover show hosted by five gay men. The Fab Five mentored the “hipster mayor” on public speaking, hosting dinner parties, and keeping his resistance beard moisturized at all times.”
“NAMB Clarkston Refugee involvement began in 2017 “In effect, NAMB will take away the church’s microphone and give it a megaphone to train others in mercy/compassion ministries.”
“The City of Clarkston appreciates that recognition by the Southern Baptist Convention. In some ways it is tracking right alongside the church with its unwavering acceptance of refugees and immigrants.”
Clarkston Mayor Ted Terry affirms Clarkston International Bible Church’s historic outreach to the refugee community and for standing by the group during the national debate. CITY OF CLARKSTON/Special
On February 7 – the same day NAMB trustees tentatively approved the partnership – the Clarkston City Council passed a proclamation reaffirming the town as a welcoming place of refuge to its ever-growing refugee and immigrant population. Read the document here.
“We want to say, once again, that Clarkston loves refugees and we very much remain a compassionate and welcoming city. We are proud to be a part of such a blessed community of neighbors,” Terry told The Index.
“The document was passed in the wake of a recent national ban on immigration signed as an Executive Order by President Donald Trump. The 90-day ban caused chaos at airports internationally, resulted in protests around the world, and was suspended by the nation’s judicial syst due to a lack of detail on how the order was to be enforced.”
MORE ON CLARKSTON GEORGIA TRANSFORMATION
Georgia city transformed by refugees
CLARKSTON GEORGIA IS NOW DESCRIBED ASELLIS ISLAND OF THE
MUSLIMS HAVE THEIR OWN WELCOME CENTER IN ATLANTA AREA SINCE 1089
Muslim presence in Clarkston SINCE 1989. From the Mosque and Muslim Center website
“Masjid Al-Momineen was established in 1989 in a rented 4 bedroom house on Church Street in Clarkston – by Divine Providence and generous donations from a group of 100 Afghan immigrants residing mostly in and around the city of Clarkston. Soon other Muslims from Pakistan and the Indian subcontinent joined the community followed by refugees from war stricken Iraq, Kurdistan, Somalia, Ethiopia, Bosnia, and Kosovo. At that time, there were fewer than 7 other mosques in the greater Atlanta metropolitan area. Over time, Muslims from many other countries of the world including Myanmar and Syria came in to make Clarkston the biggest international Muslim community in Atlanta. “
“The primary services offered by Masjid Al-Momineen are the five daily prayers, Friday prayers, Tarawih prayers during the entire month of Ramadan, and the two annual Eid prayers. In addition, Masjid Al-Momineen provides funeral and matrimonial services to all Muslims. What makes Masjid Al-Momineen unique is its very location in the heart of Clarkston, Georgia, where the vast majority of political asylum seekers from around the world are brought in by various government and non-governmental refugee settlement organizations. Clarkston; therefore, serves as the main jumping platform for the Georgia immigrant Muslim population. Masjid Al-Momineen, by extension, receives the bulk of the Georgia immigrant Muslims for the duration of their stay in the city. Over the years, wave after wave of refugees have come to Clarkston, and left the city for other locations upon achieving financial stability. Some in the process stay behind, open businesses, and engage in gainful employment in Clarkston or the surrounding cities. Masjid Al-Momineen has the distinct privilege of servicing the religious and social needs of every immigrant Muslim to this city. Our goal is to provide the community with proper social services such as family and marital counseling, job and career training, language and ESL training; and to provide them with after school care, and internet access. Our objective is also to embark upon a permanent campaign to build bridges of understanding between Muslims, non-Muslims; city, county, and state officials. We would like to build a model that will ultimately benefit not just the Muslims but also the non-Muslim refugee populations.”
Goal
“Our goal has been to build a place of worship that serves as the community center for a diverse group of immigrant and local Muslims representing over 30 countries; to build a beautiful landmark in the city of Clarkston which hosts expats from no fewer than 70 countries; to build a place where Clarkston and neighboring residents could convene and to build bridges of understanding and love towards other fellow human beings and to celebrate the diversity of the city and the congregation of Masjid Al-Momineen; to construct not just a building but a center for human networking, promotion of family values, free education for all but specifically for the girls and for the underprivileged, and to build a youth center that advances athleticism, diversity, talent development, and community engagement.”
“With the Grace of Allah SWT, and generous donations from metro Atlanta Muslims and even partially from other areas, we have finally achieved the first part of our goal of building a beautiful landmark. We now turn our focus on the real work! Let us begin by making sincere Du’as. Let us come together to make the new facility a true center of positive human interaction dedicated to promotion of worshipping God and servicing mankind.”
WHY DOES NAMB NEED TO BE PRESIDING OVER THESE ACTIVITIES ?
CONCLUSION
THE SBC ELITE WANT TO GET RID OF TRUMP ADMINISTRATION AND ITS POLICES .WHY?
While feeding at the FEMA trough of public funding The SBC/ NAMB /Ezell still appear to be concerned about problems with further opportunities to cash in with Muslim Human Migration marketed as Muslim Refugee Resettlement .The problems were caused by the Trump administration’s immigration and border security standards. Never mind that these are among some of the Presidents most publicly supported policies.
President Trump immigration policies and reforms limiting refugee numbers is a big issues for NAMB/ World Vision / World Relief and other organizations who have partnered with the Obama Administrations Muslim Migration /open borders policies.
Trump looks to be getting in the way of NAMB and these other organizations pot of gold at the end of the Faith Based Immigration Rainbow.
ANTI-TRUMP NEO-EVANGELICALS PACKAGE NOVEMBER 2020 AS GOSPEL ISSUE
“Anti-Trump Neo-Evangelicals Package November 2020 As Gospel Issue with Host Brannon Howse & Guest Tom Littleton ”
NAMB TROUBLES MULTIPLY
NAMB/ Ezell are already in the midst of a a lawsuit which is protest to both centralizing of controls by Ezell and NAMB officals and bully /intimidation tactics to force State level NAMB officials to comply with the centralized demands.
News Report Collection: McRaney vs. NAMB/Ezell & Several Court Filings
Various Articles Published on Our Legal Case
“In Dec. 2019, the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled against NAMB’s request to NOT have oral arguments heard. The judges granted our request to argue before a panel of 3 judges. The publicly conducted and audio recorded court proceeding will take place Feb. 6, 2020 at 9:00 AM in New Orleans LA, unless NAMB Trustees reach a resolution in advance.”
IMPORTANT TO NOTE: NO SOUTHERN BAPTIST PRESS HAS REPORTED ON THIS LAWSUIT NO DOUBT BECAUSE NAMB FUNDS THE BAPTIST PRESS .
THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM-ZERO TRANSPARENCY
NAMB PARTNERSHIPS WITH GOVERNMENT AND SECULAR FUNDING HINDER THE GOSPEL
Top NAMB officials are seeking to centralize power against the bylaws of the SBC and the Cooperative Program over which NAMB is given shared cooperation with State offices. Is the effort to centralize control in part driven by the need for secrecy and the expansion of NAMB’s faith based partnerships / FEMA centers and Muslim Immigration focus? Time will tell and so will the current legal challenges as they play out.
Meanwhile growing calls for TRANSPARENCY and ACCOUNTABILITY are going unheeded by Kevin Ezell and NAMB national offices.
NAMB / SEND RELIEF CENTERS are in full blown partnership with government and include opportunities for secular and private donors . These are problematic in the short and long term since the Federal and State funding guidelines actually forbid ministry in any Faith Based funded programs in the name of protecting non-establishment clauses AND “non-discrimination” demands. Being yoked with Government funding/ tax dollars adds many such restrictions.
Most private Foundations and many corporate board room are driven by political ideologies and certainly by political correctness and progressive “discrimination ” appearances and imagery. They will not fund NAMB or Send Relief to preach the Gospel and minister beyond the bounds of “seeking common ground for the common good /humanitarian aid. So for NAMB to market their activities as Gospel ministry and home missions is far from honest. The rush back in to Puerto Rico looks to be far more facilitated and motivated by FEMA funds than by a desire to spread the Gospel.
NAMB /EZELL / MOHLER HAVE CHOSEN TO LOOK TO MAN NOT GOD AND RELY ON THE ARM OF THE FLESH
NAMB stats on the over 760,000 meals provided, nearly 100,000 man hours invested in Puerto Rico vs the 1510 opportunities to share the Gospel on some level in the Maria recovery effort are shameful. According to their own reports 115 people came to faith in Christ. These numbers prove major problems exist with the entire NAMB/ Send Relief Centers and crisis response.
The missing ingredient would be the presence of the Holy Spirit and the motivations would likely be the single biggest factor in His absence.
John 16:5-15
The Holy Spirit Promised
5 “But now I am going to Him who sent Me; and none of you asks Me, ‘Where are You going?’6 But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart.7 But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the [a]Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.8 And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment;9 concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me;10 and concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father and you no longer see Me;11 and concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged.
12 “I have many more things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.13 But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.14 He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you.15 All things that the Father has are Mine; therefore I said that He takes of Mine and will disclose it to you.”
FAITH BASED PARTNERSHIPS ARE BEYOND PROBLEMATIC- AS BAPTIST ERLC PUSHES FOR PRISON REFORM AND CHURCH OF THE HIGHLANDS SEEKS TO HOUSE SEX OFFENDERS IN RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITIES, THIS ONE IS AMONG THE WORST.
Rev Thomas Littleton 2/3/2020
A little more than a year and a half ago some residence of Northeast Alabama near Muscle Shoals discovered a local motel in their residential community had begun the transition to a half way house for prisoners in a new program called Prison Re-entry , a work release program in a Faith Based Partnership with the Department of Corrections, Church of the Highlands/ Life Link and local business men. Upon further investigation the converted hotel had been purchased by a local businessman to house the Re-entry program from which he and other local businesses would find a ready labor force in partnership with the local Chamber of Commerce AND a newly planted Highlands “Shoals” location of Alabama’s fastest growing “multi site” Mega Church.
CITIZENS CONCERN FOR CHILDREN / FAMILIES NEAR THE HALF WAY HOUSE
Already scheduled to be moved into the half way house were around 6 to 7 inmates the majority of whom were to be newly released sex offenders. Total capacity for the facility was proposed at 35-40 residents. Not only were local members of the community never informed of the plan or given opportunity to object to it, the local website tracking such offenders whereabouts had never been updated to include the motel and its residence in what the Re-entry “industry ” refers to as “clustering sex offenders”.
Concerned citizens sought answers and found the main partner in this new community development plan was not just local businesses but the Church of the Highlands -a popular Alabama church now boasting a new Muscle Shoals location for one of it’s 20 plus multi -site churches. Highlands choice to locate a new branch in the North West Alabama region looks to have been coordinated with the start up of the Re-Entry housing and partnerships. More updates guidelines including the Highlands / Life Link position as ” Stakeholders” in the ongoing plan also discusses the problems with placement of “Sex Offenders”.
LOCAL HIGHLANDS SHOALS PASTOR DENIED INVOLVEMENT WITH THE RE-ENTRY HALFWAY HOUSE.
An interview was set up with the local Highlands pastor which was recorded out of concerns that Muscle Shoals Highlands pastor would be less than forthcoming. The recording proved to be a wise move as the pastor denied any Church of the Highlands involvement. This denial is just one of MANY ongoing problems to surface with the scheme which is also derived from the Southern Baptist Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) and other evangelical groups years long push for broad Prison Reform and key Faith Based Partnership involvement.
The push for broad Prison Reform has produced, among other things, the Re-entry Program. Claims that Highlands was not involved are not credible since it’s own Prison Ministry and Life Link has now taken over MOST of the work on Prison campuses which includes “ownership ” of operating the “Faith Dormitory ” through which all Re-Entry program inmates must flow into the program state wide. Given the acknowledged problems with locating sex offenders -the Partners involved cannot dismiss the validity of these issues related to citizens concerns over Children and families in the community which had been identified for the RE-Entry program.
ADVANCING IN THE SHADOWS
So why was the project advancing in the shadows without engaging the citizens in the process?
(Note : This author has done many years of Prison and Jail ministry and worked with Chaplains and faithful local ministries, inmates, and the families of inmates. The idea of providing Gospel ministry to and opportunity for inmates successful return to society and outreach and support to family members of inmates is NOT at issue here. What is at issue is a very flawed Faith Based Partnership model from the Obama administration and progressive partners like the ERLC that is a disaster waiting to happen.
Nothing good will come from allowing opportunity for inmates to be released into indentured service for a cheap labor pool through the Chamber of Commerce in order to attract businesses.
Church of the Highlands statewide take over of prison ministries, which began in 2013 looks to be driven to form such partnerships. These are problematic in the long term since the Federal and State funding guidelines actually forbid ministry in any Faith Based funded programs in the name of protecting non-establishment clauses AND “non-discrimination” demands. Being yoked with Government funding/ tax dollars adds many such restrictions.
MINISTRY AT THE EXPENSE OF ENDANGERING A COMMUNITY?
Church of the Highlands prison ministries cannot help to serve the spiritual needs of inmates at the expense of endangering the local communities in which they intend to run MANY such Re-Entry half way houses with clustered inmates including sex offenders.)
RE-ENTRY HOW IT WORKS AND OTHER PARTNERS WITH THE CHURCH
New Collaborative Efforts will Launch a Prisoner Re-Entry Ready to Work Program
September 13, 2017, 3:53pm
“Collaboration is a fundamental factor in building success. One of the ways in which West Alabama Works is achieving progress is by merging the strengths of the faith-based community, post-secondary education, and workforce development partners to create a Prisoner Re-Entry Ready to Work Initiative. Looking at the area’s needs, available resources, and how those combine to make long term, systemic change is a fundamental aspect of what occurs through West Alabama Works’ mission.”
“The Church of the Highlands has been working with correctional facilities for 5 years, offering assistance to thousands of inmates. More than 2,000 inmates attend church each Sunday and participate in small groups in the 14 correctional facilities The Church of the Highlands serves. The Church of the Highlands partners with LifeLink, a non-profit service provider to the Alabama Department Of Corrections, to deliver content to ex-offenders and offer instruction in areas such as soft skills. The University Of Alabama School Of Commerce also provides adult education to inmates.”
“Ready to Work classes will start in January 2018 at the Bibb County Correctional facility. Randy Walker, Highlands Correctional Ministries Pastor states, “We are always hopeful that any efforts to help incarcerated citizens successfully navigate their next steps will result in a better, more peaceful society for us all. We as a local church, are fully committed to serve and to support all efforts to make our state’s correctional system the best.”
“Local employers, such as CEMEX and Ready Mix USA are already excited to hire graduates of the Prisoner Re-Entry Ready to Work Program. Ready Mix USA is committed to hiring people that need a second chance. According to Marc Bryant Tyson, President of Ready Mix USA, “Our people drive for our success. We develop their potential in a meaningful way while keeping them healthy, safe and engaged. We are excited about the opportunity to partner with the LifeLink CORE Program, the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama, The University of Alabama School of Commerce, Shelton State Community College, Bibb County Correctional Facility and Church of the Highlands.”
“Innovation that helps industries and benefits the community is welcomed and encouraged. The team at Church of the Highlands would like to open up the opportunity to any faith based organization in the West Alabama region interested in partnering in this extremely valuable endeavor.”
LARGER PRISON REFORM MOVEMENT LED BY BAPTIST ERLC / RUSSELL MOORE
The Southern Baptist Ethics and Religious Liberties Commission is headed by former Democratic Congressional staffer Russell Moore who loves being in controversial political skirmishes. Moore’s ERLC commissioned a consulting firm Arrowhead Advising to help ERLC lobby for Prison Reform at the Federal level
The ERLC consultant’s name is Branden Polk and his area of expertise is in Social Justice and Social Change at the intersection of racial and “LGBTQ civil rights”. This is realm is called “Intersectionality ” which confirms that Polk and his Arrowhead Advising work with Prison Reform is being approached as a ” Justice ” issue for the incarcerated.
This also means that the ERLC Reforms have a decidedly leftward leaning political component which will include “restoring voting rights ” to convicted felons -a hopeful winning strategy for Democratic Party Candidates in keeping with ERLC’s Russell Moore’s own political leanings and agenda.
“Currently, Tennessee is one of 11 states that bans people with a felony record from voting unless they run a complex bureaucratic gauntlet to restore their right to vote. If the person moves, even within the state, they have to repeat the process. Restoration of voting rights also requires people to pay all fines and costs in full—a standard that’s often unattainable for people working low-wage jobs. ”
“Crime is serious and requires accountability, but voter disenfranchisement lasts long after people have paid their debt to society.”
BAN THE BOX ANOTHER ADVOCACY FOR CONVICTED FELONS RIGHTS
Another Part of the Prison Reform effort includes what is called “Ban The Box ” a product of multiple Civil Rights organizations regarding “employment discrimination” for requiring applicants to check a box indicating they HAVE been convicted of a crime before.
“How it Began: The Ban the Box campaign was started by All of Us or None, a national civil rights movement of formerly-incarcerated people and our families. We started the campaign in 2004, after a series of Peace and Justice Community Summits identified job and housing discrimination as huge barriers to our successfully returning to our communities after jail or prison. “
BAN THE BOX VIEWS THE CHALLENGES OF RE-ENTRY AS A JUSTICE ISSUE
So in order to secure “justice ” for those convicted of a felony the general public , employers, neighborhoods, and even schools and day cares would be POTENTIALLY be denied the ability to know if a person has been convicted of a felony or has been incarcerated.
LEFT LEANING CORPORATIONS “BAN THE BOX”
LEADING THE WAY AMONG NATIONAL COMPANIES TO “BAN THE BOX…?
“Several large companies have adopted the “ban the box” policy: Starbucks, Facebook,
Home Depot, Target .” Interesting that all those eager to provide “justice” for offenders potentially at the expense of past of future victims are MOSTLY VERY LEFT LEANING Corporations.
TARGET “BANNING THE BOX” SHOULD COME AS NO SURPRISE SINCE IT WANTS TO OPEN THE DOORS OF THE WOMEN’S RESTROOM TO ALL COMERS FROM THE TRANSGENDER COMMUNITY.
BAPTIST ERLC CALLS ON COMMUNITIES AND CONGREGATIONS
ERLC “A trend toward second chances”
“Tennessee is on the right track. Gov. Lee has served on the board of a faith-based reentry program for men and exhibits strong leadership toward restorative solutions in criminal justice. The governor even issued a proclamation making April Second Chance Month to “[increase] public awareness about the reentry needs of returning citizens and opportunities for individuals, employers, congregations, and communities to extend second chances.”
BACK TO HIGHLANDS SHOALS RE-ENTRY
“The Four Way Inn motel on U.S. 43 is part of an Outreach Re-entry Ministry for individuals who have served time in prison. File/Times Daily”
CHURCH OF THE HIGHLANDS SHOALS DENIED INVOLVEMENT BUT….
Since the local concerned citizens both met with Church of the Highlands Shoals pastor , where he denied Highlands involvement , a broader coalition of concerned citizens also organized multiple efforts to raise awareness and have twice brought the issues with Highland’s Re-entry work release program and Sex Offenders before the local government in public meetings. Out of this effort has come a BILL proposed to limit the location of such Re-entry programs to non residential areas AND to force inspections of operations and require the locations to be BONDED to protect citizens in the case a child or local citizen is victim to a Re-entry Program inmate.
That Bill is called –
“REAGAN’S REENTRY PROGRAM FOR SEX OFFENDERS CHILD PROTECTION”
HIGHLANDS INVOLVEMENT AT THE CORE OF RE-ENTRY CONFIRMED
During the local efforts to stop the locating of the Re-entry half way house in a residential community, Highlands prison minister and other partners were busy compiling this 2019 plan for Re-entry and its partnerships .
TRANSITIONAL HOUSING
FOR
ALABAMA’S FORMER INMATES
Certified Public Manager® Program
Solutions Alabama 2019
PARTNERS INVOLVED
Alabama Department of Corrections
Alabama Department of Insurance
Alabama Department of Revenue
Alabama Law Enforcement Agency
Retirement Systems of Alabama
Alabama Department of Corrections, Re-Entry Director
“The transitional housing project team would like to acknowledge and thank the following people and organizations for providing their assistance and support throughout this project.”
Chamber of Commerce West Alabama, Workforce Development
The Foundry Ministries
Without Walls Counseling P.C., CEO and Licensed Professional Counselor
A Cut Above the Rest,
Church of the Highlands, Pastoral Staff
“There will be a large number of non-violent inmates released each year. In 2018,
15,225 inmates were released from ADOC’s jurisdictional custody with approximately seventyfour percent (11,217) having served less than ten years. These newly released inmates often leave prison without much assistance; however, they are expected to thrive as productive, lawabiding members of society.”
“Of the facilities identified through research, forty-seven
percent designate themselves as transitional facilities for former inmates; thirty-six percent are homeless shelters and eighteen percent are recovery facilities. ..Family homeless shelters are the strictest on who is allowed to stay, due to
concerns for the women and children who seek shelter there. Recovery shelters generally do not provide transitional housing for former inmates, even though some former inmates will still need the recovery programs on the outside of prison to succeed.”
WHERE IS CHURCH OF HIGHLANDS CONCERN FOR LOCAL FAMILIES ?
( NOTE :CONCERN FOR WOMEN AND CHILDREN IN “FAMILY HOMELESS SHELTERS” IS ACKNOWLEDGED BUT NOTHING IS DISCUSSED ABOUT SAFETY OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN IN COMMUNITIES IN WHICH RE-ENTRY PROGRAMS ARE TO BE LOCATED.)
SEX OFFENDERS DISCUSSED
“Mr. Jerome Wells, CEO and Licensed Professional Counselor of Without Walls Counseling P.C., counsels federal prison sex offenders and individuals with addictive type behaviors. Those counseled are generally from Dismas Charities in Montgomery, a residential halfway house for federal inmates. At Dismas, the former inmate is required to complete a three month stay. Dismas provides transportation and medical services. According to Mr. Wells, it is difficult for sex offenders to find suitable housing and Alabama refuses to allow a contract for a sex offender to stay in a halfway house. Mr. Wells stated the federal government has re-entry services to ensure
Transitional Housing | Certified Public Manager® Program CPM Solutions Alabama 2019 a former inmate has access to resources to get identification cards and other services before leaving prison. ”
WITH NO LEGAL NOTICE THE MUSCLE SHOALS RE-ENTRY PROGRAM HAD PLANNED/ ASSIGNED INMATES OF WHOM OVER 65% WERE SEX OFFENDER AMONG THOSE SCHEDULED FOR THE 4 WAY INN.
The problems with “clustering ” of sex offenders in residential communities might seem to be obvious to most but it seems they are not to Church of the Highlands or Prison Re-entry Program partners .
CHURCH OF HIGHLANDS WAS DOING THE SAME THING IN HARPERSVILLE ALA.
“A post is making its way across social media regarding the future use of a flea market on Highway 25 between Harpersville and Wilsonville. The post’s author claimed the site will be turned into a halfway house for sex offenders, and he urged his community to “show up and help stop” the plans at a meeting that has since been rescheduled.”
“The Church of the Highlands ministers to Bibb County Correctional Facility inmates, some of whom may have a role at the new transition facility, according to the mayor’s sources. As part of the church’s ministry program, inmates will build “tiny houses” for use at the former flea market site. After inmates complete the program and are released from prison, they can qualify to live at the facility’s tiny houses for a certain period of time. In their time at the facility, former inmates can receive training in a specialized trade. We are told that some of the residents would be sex offenders, and the address of the facility is compliant for registered sex offenders.”
HOW MANY RE-ENTRY HOUSING FACILITIES ARE THEIR ACROSS THE NATION ?WHAT PERCENTAGE OF SEX OFFENDERS WILL BE HOUSED IN THEM? NO ONE KNOWS .
This program continues to spread across not only the state of Alabama but the 2019 plan shows the participation of states all across the South East. Residents in the Shoals have NOW been INFORMED that their community “WILL have the Re-entry Program whether they like it or not”!
Perhaps in stead of merely waging an ongoing battle in the press and the struggle for legislation alone – Residence could /should also BOYCOTT Church of the Highlands who APPEARS to have CHOSEN TO locate in the Shoals area to launch it’s Re-entry program in partnership with the local businesses eager to hire sex offenders which Church of the Highlands seems only to glad to provide without notifying the local community.
CONCLUSION
Faith based Partnerships prohibit ministries form freely proclaiming the Gospel. Explicitly Religious Activity is forbidden in Government funded programs. Of course the limits are often tested on these prohibitions BUT it is the law under Faith Based Partnerships guidelines. Ministries are compelled to provide services funded by the Government in a “non discriminatory ” manner and must seek to find and operate on “common Ground” for “the common ground “.
In the case of Faith Based Prison Re-entry programs ,for EXAMPLE this would include access to these programs by the growing prison population of radical “Nation of Islam ” followers. This is Louis Farrakhan organization known for it’s racist and anti Christian rhetoric and widespread evangelism among the incarcerated. Farrakhan is very controversial and operates on the fringes.
“On May 8, 2010, Farrakhan publicly announced his embrace of Dianetics and has actively encouraged Nation of Islam members to undergo auditing from the Church of Scientology.” Nation of Islam is a huge issue for Prison Ministries among prison populations. This movements affinity with both radical racism and Islam is only made more problematic by adding association with the CONTROLLING cult of Scientology . Faith Based Programs like Highlands Re-Entry CANNOT turn these religious “seekers” and devotees away from participation on some level with Re-Entry programs without being charged with discrimination.
VICTIMS/CITIZENS RIGHTS VS SOCIAL JUSTICE FOR PRISONERS ?
Based on the inmates who have surfaced thus far in the Church of the Highlands Re-Entry program locations and half way houses – Sex Offenders enjoy equal protected status. The COURTS have long favored the rights of VICTIMS of crime over the perpetrators “rights”. In the rush to Prison Reform and to CASH IN on Faith Based Grant funding- the rights of both victims and communities looks to be taking a back seat to INMATES while the citizens whose communities are left in the dark, impacted and whose tax dollars are supporting the “partnerships”.
Perhaps Church of the Highlands many pastors should locate the Re-Entry programs in their own communities so they can understand these communities concerned with and in opposition to their Faith Based Partnership “Re-entry Vision “.
“The purpose of this video is to evaluate the teaching of Dr Albert Mohler, president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, on the subject of homosexuality. Mohler is encouraging the Church to embrace the issue of sexual orientation, a psychological concept that is entirely without biblical warrant. He accuses evangelicals of having lied about the nature of homosexuality and of practicing a form of homophobia. He fully supports the ministry of same-sex attracted Sam Allberry, a Church of England priest. His position is similar to that of the gay agenda, which seeks to normalize homosexuality in society and the Church.”
‘Albert Mohler and the Gay Revolution’ — New Documentary Exposes Sell-Out
NEWS PROVIDED BY
Cathy Mickels
Feb. 4, 2020
SEATTLE, Feb. 4, 2020 /Christian Newswire/ — Dr. ES Williams, a member of Charles Spurgeon’s Metropolitan Tabernacle in London, in collaboration with respected researcher, Reverend Thomas Littleton, has produced a new video titled Albert Mohler and the Gay Revolution. Drawing heavily from Mohler’s own words, a strong case is made that the President of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary has strayed from historical, biblical teachings on one of the most important cultural issues of the day.
The facts uncover that Mohler is playing into the hands of a pro-homosexual ideology that has contributed to the undermining of the family and the culture at large. Mohler’s comments reveal his view that the Church must appropriate sexual orientation, a psychological concept that is without biblical warrant.
Dr. Williams states, “As we shall see in this video, Mohler’s position today is similar to that of the gay agenda, which seeks to normalize homosexuality.” Williams also points out that in spite of a 2005 position held by Mohler declaring that the modern concept of sexual orientation opens the door for the homosexual lobby to reinterpret the meaning of Scripture, a decade later Mohler has changed his mind; we see a compromised man who radically changed his position. Similarly, the video shows that Mohler uses the language and tactics of the progressive left to accuse those who disagree by calling them “homophobic.”
Albert Mohler has made repeated public statements exposing his theological drift from sound, biblical doctrine. He makes a very strong defense of his 2011 article from The Christian Science Monitor where he accuses evangelicals of having “lied about the nature of homosexuality.” He also belittles those who adhere to a conservative viewpoint on homosexuality, claiming it “can only be described as a form of homophobia…” In other venues, he has indicated that the traditional, conservative Christian viewpoint on homosexuality is “rooted in ignorance and fear.”
Mohler’s full support of the same-sex attracted narrative is also shown in his promotion of the book “Is God anti-gay?” written by Sam Allberry, a same-sex attracted priest in the Church of England. Allberry has publicly described himself as having “sexual, romantic and deep emotional attractions to people of the same sex,” and his book claims to offer a positive and liberating way forward for the same-sex attracted. Mohler applauds the ministry of Allberry and stresses that his book is full of “biblical wisdom.”
In contrast to the secular worldview espoused by Mohler, Dr. Williams affirms the biblical response stating, “Same-sex attraction, which Mohler wants the Church to embrace, is a sterile, unnatural perversion that denies the creation of God.”
The evidence outlined in this video makes a compelling argument that Albert Mohler’s accommodation to progressive ideologies and worldviews will not only destroy the Southern Baptist Convention, but indicates that Mohler’s theological error is a direct attack on what the Word of God declares regarding the sin of homosexuality.
IT APPEARS THE ACTIVIST IN THE REVOICE MOVEMENT ARE EXCITED THAT THEIR MOVEMENT IS HELPING SPLIT ONE OF THE CONSERVATIVE DENOMINATIONS IN AMERICA. PCA PASTOR GREG JOHNSON MAY EVEN BE FLAUNTING IT.
Rev Thomas Littleton 1/29/2020
SOME REVOICE HISTORY
The idea of “LGBTQ Thriving in Historic Christian Tradition” is the theme of Revoice .The movement began in 2017 as Nate Collins teacher of the New Testament at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary ( Albert Mohler, President) and Presbyterian Church of America pastor Scott Sauls (Tim Keller protege’ ) traveled from Nashville to St Louis to join a fervent team of Covenant Theological Seminary ( PCA ) graduates and activist to plan the 2018 debut Revoice event.
The controversy created by the brazen promotion of LGBT+ “Christianity” has continued through two SBC annual meetings and two PCA General Assemblies. The SBC leaders most closely associated with Revoice may be making strides in their efforts to hide Revoice SBC origins. Albert Mohler of SBTS educated and employed Revoice founder while Russell Moore’s ERLC team has endorsed Revoice and one ERLC consultant has both spoken in the 2018 and 2019 events and taken a leadership role in it. a Team of PCA faithful have taken the issue head on.
Most recently Revoice leaders Nate Collins and Preston Sprinkle have joined the push for “Fairness for All” legislation which is a push calling for Christians to support “compromise with Religious Liberty and LGBTQ Rights “. One of “Vulture Capitalist” Paul Singer’s organizations American Unity Fund is the force and funding behind Fairness for All. Singer is the billionaire who has focused his foundations and political PACs on ending GOP opposition to to Gay Marriage and is funding the Human Rights Campaign push for the Equality Act- the dream list for LGBTQ total equality and protections with no consideration of Religious Liberty protections. So Singer is investing in the Equality Act and hedging his investment by supporting Fairness for All. The exemptions and protections offered to the church and ministries in Fairness for All are both token and temporary . In reality there is no possible compromise with LGBTQ rights and Religious Liberty extended to any person, church, organization or denomination holding to Biblical marriage and sexuality.
Revoice has been a movement in part to soften up the SBC /PCA and other conservative denominations and churches toward LGBTQ “inclusion ” in the church and possibly further sentiments of support for the Fairness for All “compromise”. This is how it works in the wold of highly financed activism .These movements are playing the long game AND have serious funding behind them like that of Paul Singer. Given that the “rights” of gays and lesbians have been marketed in the SBC and PCA for some time as a Social Justice Issue – it is easy to make the honest assertion that denominational and seminary leaders look to be fully signed on to moving the church toward Fairness for All or something like it.
RESPONSES TO REVOICE
Most other conservative Evangelical responses to Revoice have been weak with the exception of the God’s Voice Conference in February 2019 of which this writer was a part in both organizing and speaking at the event. God’s Voice 2019 EXPOSED the errors of Revoice and the SBC powerhouse Albert Mohler’s influence educating and employing the Revoice founder Nate Collins. God’s Voice also provided clear and powerful case for the promise of transformation for people wanting out of the LGBTQ lifestyle and bondage by the power of the Gospel and Salvation through Jesus. God’s Voice Conference asserted that God’s “voice” on matters of human sexuality and redemption did not need “revoiced” and provided testimonies to prove it.
“In May 2018, Southern Baptist evangelist and writer Tom Littleton began warning Christians about the impending debut of a conference called “Revoice.”..Soon, the Christian world learned the truth about Revoice’s unbiblical messaging and terminology, like “LGBT+ Christians,” “sexual minorities,” “sexual orientation,” “mixed-orientation marriages,” “redeeming queer culture” and “race, sexuality and intersectionality.”
GODS VOICE 2020 UNCERTAIN FUTURE
Originally a 2020 event for God’s Voice Conference was not scheduled after key members had left it’s leadership team. In September 2019 a partial God’s Voice leadership Team had re- assembled minus this writer who was notified without consultation via email. This writer had both broken the 2018 Revoice story and did most of the investigation into it’s links in to the Southern Baptist,Albert Mohler (SBTS), the ERLC team and to the PCA/ Covenant Theological Seminary St Louis.
The 2020 Gods Voice Conference is speaking not to Revoice but to “LGBTQ Tyranny ” and will reportedly give an update on the impact of Revoice in the PCA while NOT touching on it’s actual origins in the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary of Albert Mohler. This is according to it’s press release and updates.
The event will also focus on political resistance to the Equality Act and will host numerous ministries who do “ex gay” counseling. Such counseling it a major target of the Equality Act and may find some limited “protections” in the Fairness for All alternative.
Meanwhile Revoice in the SBC looks to be buried and Albert Mohler who is running for SBC President in Orlando 2020 is receiving plenty of cover from Revoice origins exposure all around. This writers entire archives of over 10 months of research have been deleted / removed from one website associated with God’s Voice Conference 2020. Revoice 2019 in the SBC and efforts to rally support for an SBC Resolution condemning Revoice in the Southern Baptist 2019 were also buried in the same push back effort.
PCA SPLIT COMING
The PCA is splitting and one of the major reasons is the Revoice controversy after the 2018 Revoice event was held in July at Memorial PCA church in St Louis .This took place as planned -after the 2018 PCA General Assembly . The issues carried over to 2019 General Assembly where 11 overtures condemning Revoice were scheduled . Of those overtures 10 were squashed and one was turned into an affirmation of the extremely weak Nashville Statement which does not condemn assertions of “Gay Christianity ” put forth by Revoice.(other NS problems exist but this one is most critical.)
SCOTCH AND PIZZA AT THE REVOICE PCA HOSPITALITY SUITE
Revoice Leaders brazenly celebrated a VICTORY at the 2019 PCA General Assembly with Scotch and Pizza in the Revoice Hospitality Suite after Memorial Pastor Greg Johnson took to the floor and a microphone to state his case to a round of applause. He was accompanied by Tim Keller Protege’ Revoice supporter Scott Sauls and SBTS former teacher of New Testament Revoice founder Nate Collins who has now joined the PCA.
( NOTE – this writers wife was targeted for removal from a student medical ministry (CMMA ) board after the above article was published covering the factual events of the PCA 2019 General Assembly over Revoice. The church / staff who targeted her are in reputation as one of the most conservative churches in the PCA… Briarwood Church in Birmingham Alabama. Yes exposing the truth about the Revoice movement gets this kind of push back even from the supposed “good guys” and one time allies .)
THE CORRUPTED REVOICE INVESTIGATION
The PCA “Investigation” into Revoice was an insider job by the Missouri Presbytery who assigned the task to the founder of one of the Revoice supporting ministries whose own offices are housed at Memorial PCA where the 2018 Revoice event was held. It was a FOX investigating the HEN HOUSE approach.
Three PCA regional Presbyteries have already announced their split from the PCA and plans to form another denomination beyond the split which is expected just after the June 2020 General Assembly .
Vanguard Presbytery: A New Presbyterian Denomination Being Formed
“Those forming Vanguard Presbytery intend to formally organize the denomination sometime during 2020.”
Written by Dewey Roberts | Monday, December 2, 2019
“The Steering Committee, comprised of both teaching and ruling elders (from within and outside of the PCA), is guiding the development of the new denomination. These elders are developing what they believe is a true grassroots Book of Church Order. At some time in 2020 there will be a convocation of sessions that will be open to all who desire to be a part of this denomination.”
MEANWHILE REVOICE 2020 LINEUP HOST A DEFIANT GREG JOHNSON
The FACT that the PCA is being torn asunder by the divisions over Revoice and several other issues seems to be of no concern to those who are part of the Revoice leadership. Thriving looks to be a matter of deep self interest and not in any consideration of the hundreds of thousands of Biblical conservative believers who have built the 40 plus year old denomination. Many of these Christians left churches elsewhere because of the liberal movements in other Reformed denominations like the PCUSA . They left to start a new work based on fidelity to the Word of God and their Confessional faith. Champions like D James Kennedy and Evangelist like Frank Barker led the PCA into becoming a major voice in the American Evangelical movement .
Today activist trained in their own seminaries look to be using their own church polity and efforts to maintain respectful dialog and order to prevent the all PCA efforts to stop the Revoice movement . Meanwhile the activist are free to go about robbing the denomination and its churches and institutions once again taking them into the same divisions and apostasy that ruined groups like the PCUSA .
In the meantime Revoice leaders like Greg Johnson of Memorial Presbyterian seem blissfully unaware of the pending storm and the inevitable decline and divine judgement that will follow as they make ready for Revoice 2020. No denomination has grown in reach or numbers after embracing “gay Christianity” or gay marriage. It is simply not possible to mistake this effort as a growth strategy. History only repeats itself as denomination after denomination attempts to defy reality.
Greg Johnson is scheduled to speak at the Revoice 2020 event
“Greg Johnson is lead pastor of Memorial Presbyterian Church in St. Louis, the host church for the Revoice18 conference. He is the author of The World According to God: A Biblical View of Culture, Work, Science, Sex & Everything Else (InterVarsity Press).”
CONCLUSION OFFERED IN THE WORDS OF DEWY ROBERTS OF THE FORTHCOMING VANGUARD PRESBYTERY MOVEMENT
“Our world is no different than the world of the Lord Jesus and His apostles when they walked upon the earth. We know that the darkness of our world takes many forms, including the dissolution of the nuclear family, drug and alcohol addiction, pornography, homosexuality, transgenderism, idolatry, racism and bigotry all over the world, corruption in the public and private sectors. Without the power of the Holy Spirit we will simply continue our slide into Sodom. The awareness of this darkness moves us to a sense of desperation, an intolerable burden, an intense agony, grief, and alarm at the status quo in our personal lives, in our families, in the church, and in the world. Therefore, we are cognizant of our need daily to surrender totally to the only One who can save and sanctify us, our Lord Jesus Christ.”
“So while we are very aware of the darkness of our day, while we know that unless Jesus “shows up” by the Spirit we are doomed, we nonetheless, in our surrender to God have an unwavering faith and confidence that He can do far above what we could ever ask or think according to the power that works within us (Eph. 3:20).”
JESUS RED INK ON THE SUBJECT
MATTHEW 12
A House Divided Cannot Stand
22 Then one was brought to Him who was demon-possessed, blind and mute; and He healed him, so that the blind and mute man both spoke and saw. 23 And all the multitudes were amazed and said, “Could this be the Son of David?”
24 Now when the Pharisees heard it they said, “This fellow does not cast out demons except by [e]Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons.”
25 But Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them: “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand.26 If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand?27 And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they shall be your judges.28 But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God,surely the kingdom of God has come upon you.29 Or how can one enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house.30 He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad.”
A Tree Known by Its Fruit
33 “Either make the tree good andits fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit.34 Broodof vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things?For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.35 A good man out of the good treasureof his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things.36 But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment.37 For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
PAUL SINGER IS THE HEDGE FUND BILLIONAIRE WHOSE FOUNDATIONS AND POLITICAL PACs INFUSED ENOUGH MONEY INTO THE GOP AND THE ROMNEY CAMPAIGN TO END REPUBLICAN OPPOSITION TO GAY MARRIAGE.
NOW SINGER HAS TURNED HIS FOCUS ON EVANGELICALS AND FOUND EAGER PARTNERS IN RUSSELL MOORE’S FRIENDS AT & CAMPAIGN AND DEEP INSIDE THE SBC’s NAMB “SEND NETWORK”
Rev Thomas Littleton 1/23/2020
“Perhaps Russell Moore can answer -If “Working together for the Common Good” on LGBTQ rights could and should be done …where does the Paul Singer American Unity Fund MONEY end?”
“Also Russell Moore should answer- If Mormon Republicans have sold out fully to partner with Paul Singer dollars & AUF then why should Southern Baptist trust a Mississippi Baptist Democrat who is a regular appearing with & Campaign leadership?”
(Questions above arise from Russell Moore quote on Fairness for All later in this article)
On December 6, 2019 the fairnessforall.org website began promoting the “Alliance for Lasting Liberty “and it partnership organizations.
“LGBT Americans should have civil rights protections when it comes to employment, housing, and publicly available services; and religious Americans – and their faith-based institutions – should be able to live, work, and serve their community in ways that are consistent with the teachings and tenets of their faith.”
“ALL is a coalition that has been created to house, advance, and formalize conversations that have been taking place among religious and LGBT advocates for more than three years.”
These conversations have resulted in the introduction of the Fairness For All Act.
The Members of Alliance For Lasting Liberty include Paul Singers American Unity Fund and a SLICK EVANGELICAL PARTNER called & Campaign.
(Note the Mormon or LDS and the Seventh Day Adventist are also in the partnership. The partnership with LDS and Singer AUF & PAC go back to at least 2012. In this effort with Fairness for All the origins again trace back to Utah Republicans, the LDS and the “Utah Compromise” STARTING at least as long ago 2015.)
SOME FAIRNESS FOR ALL HISTORY
Utah Passes Antidiscrimination Bill Backed by Mormon Leaders
“American Unity Fund fully endorses the Fairness for All Act. This is the right solution for such a complex problem that urgently needs to be solved. Fairness for All acknowledges that we live in a diverse society. Civil rights should be guaranteed for everyone regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, sex, or religion. Those rights can be fully protected while safeguarding religious freedom. Fairness for All is a lasting and balanced approach that will advance more freedom and liberty for all Americans, codifying significant protections for freedom of religion and freedom of speech. We urge the House to pass this historic legislation and prove that both sides of the aisle can find common ground and mutual respect for one another.”
AND Campaign
“All attempts to remove more traditional religious beliefs from the public square should be opposed. We, like many other Americans, affirm the historic Christian sexual ethic, and we also believe that religious freedom and LGBTQ civil rights are not necessarily in irreconcilable conflict. Faith-based charities, hospitals and colleges should not have to choose between surrendering their convictions and closing their doors. At the same time, LGBTQ people should not lose jobs and housing because of how they identify. We must pursue ways to disagree and live together without bullying or compromising our conscience. Towards that end, we encourage all 2020 candidates to support the Fairness for All Act, which will grant basic civil rights for LGBTQ people while also protecting religious freedom for all faiths.”
& CAMPAIGN AND SOUTHERN BAPTIST LEADERS
Many of the members of & Campaigns leadership council are Urban minority pastors from SBCs North American Missions Board church plants. The & Campaign was launched in 2016 at the Blueprint Church in Atlanta whose pastor Dhati Lewis is the Vice President of NAMB’s Send Network church planting . Lewis brother Amisho Lewis is a co-founder of the & Campaign while Dhati is an ERLC leader /contributor.
& Campaign is led by Justin Giboney an Atlanta Attorney and Democratic Party Strategist and Michael Wear the former Obama administration faith coordinator and now the “Obama Foundation Ambassador the America’s Believers”.
SBC LEADER RUSSELL MOORE IS A REGULAR ON TOUR WITH & CAMPAIGN’S JUSTIN GIBONEY AND MICHAEL WEAR .
In April 2018 at the ERLC/ TGC MLK/50 Conference in Memphis Russell Moore hosted & Campaign leader Giboney as a speaker and panel member. In March 2020 Moore will platform with Giboney again in the “Just Gospel 2020 Conference” at an SBC church plant Del Ray Baptist Church ( whose pastor is an ERLC Fellow) in the DC area. The Gospel Coalition who cosponsored MLK/50 with Moore’s ERLC is where Russell Moore works his progressive politics. TGC promotes Giboney as well.
Russell Moore is often on stage at events like Trinity Forum and the controversial Soro’s funded National Immigration Forum /Evangelical Immigration Forum with & Campaign’s Michael Wear. Wear and Moore also both work with The Gospel Coalition. So Moore works closely with BOTH &Campaign Executive Directors on progressive political issues including LGBTQ “rights” where & Campaign is fully vested partner of the Singer AUF.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE RUSSELL MOORE’S DUPLICITY
Moore denounces Fairness for All in public when used as a source for discussion on it BUT also openly works with both & Campaign executive leaders who are partners with Paul Singer’s American Unity Fund to promote Fairness for All and whose organization is part of the “Alliance for Lasting Liberty”. It is important also to note that Russell Moore’s job at the ERLC is in part to protect Religious Liberty for Southern Baptist who budget his organizations operation and salaries with over $4 million dollars a year.
“ERLC President Russell Moore acknowledged proponents of the Fairness for All Act “mean well,” but he described the legislation as “a wrong turn” and “counterproductive,” according to Baptist Press.
“Placing sexual orientation and gender identity as protected classes in this kind of legislation would have harmful, unintended consequences and make the situation worse in this country, both in terms of religious freedom and in terms of finding ways for Americans who disagree to work together for the common good,” Moore said.”
YET it is Russell Moore and the ERLC who have welcomed the Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity and worked since 2013 embedding it within the Southern Baptist collective identity. His call for “Ending the Culture War and loving our gay and lesbian neighbors” came in October 2013 in the WSJ as he declared the “Culture War over” and informed Christians they had “Lost”.
AGAIN
Perhaps Russell Moore can answer -If “Working together for the Common Good” could and should be done …where does the Paul Singer AUF MONEY end?
Also Russell Moore should answer… If Mormon Republicans have sold out fully to partner with Paul Singer AUF than why should Southern Baptist trust a Mississippi Baptist Democrat who is a regular with & Campaign leadership?
WHILE MAINTAINING PLAUSIBLE DENIABILITY OF OFFERING SUPPORT FOR FAIRNESS FOR ALL-RUSSEL MOORE IS PLAYING BOTH SIDES :A ROLE HE PERHAPS LEARNED AS A SOUTHERN BAPTIST DEMOCRAT IN MISSISSIPPI !
& CAMPAIGN AND FAIRNESS WITH ALLIANCE FOR LASTING LIBERTY
In November
& Campaign coordinated with A.L.L. at the same time to launch it’s video in open support of Fairness For All in December 2019
“Religious Liberty vs. LGBTQ Rights? Our political system is broken because groups who disagree won’t work together for the common good. That must change! We can protect our LGBTQ neighbors without violating our timeless Christian convictions. Support the Fairness for All Act.” #AND2020 #FairnessforAll
LGBTQ Equality is part of the & Campaign platform among 5 main talking points.
”We uphold the historic Christian sexual ethic. We also believe our LGBTQ neighbors should be treated with respect and dignity. No contradiction there…it’s the Gospel. ”
This section of the website linked above outlines what the compromise SUPPOSEDLY brings FOR the LGBTQ community and FOR those concerned about protecting Religious Liberty but being “Fair ” to the LGBTQ community whose rights they feel endanger religious freedoms .
HEDGING INVESTMENT- WHAT HEDGE FUNDERS DO.
SINGER HEDGING HIS BETS AND INVESTING IN BOTH SIDES OF ISSUE.
Singers American Unity Fund has long partnered with and funded Human Rights Campaign on efforts like ENDA in 2013.
Singer has also funded the Human Rights Campaign for years on multiple fields of battle . They are long time partners in the quest for full LGBTQ rights. Now it is Clear Singers AUF is partnering in Fairness for All
REVOICE LEADERS LIKE THE SBC (HISTORIC AFFILIATION) NATE COLLINS AND PRESTON SPRINKLE HAVE ENDORSED THE & CAMPAIGN
Revoice has been endorsed by ERLC leaders (while Russell Moore has not denounced it but rather dishonestly denied knowledge of it) and that Revoice supports
LGBT+ Thriving in Historic Christian Tradition by those who uphold Christian Sexual Ethic !”
Whose quote is this below ?
REVOICE OR & CAMPAIGN ?
“We uphold the historic Christian sexual ethic. We also believe our LGBTQ neighbors should be treated with respect and dignity. No contradiction there…it’s the Gospel.”
It is & Campaign but sounds exactly like Revoice core justification- so who is coordinating the language ?
Did Singer’s organizations fund the Revoice movement in the SBC and PCA denominations ?
THE BIG DUST UP
EQUALITY ACT VS FAIRNESS FOR ALL
One might ask what does it matter if Paul Singer’s AUF is supporting both ?
HRC is promoting the Equality Act with Paul Singers AUF while opposing Fairness for All with Paul Singers AUF.
Press Releases:
HRC Foundation Launches Program to Fight Homophobia and Transphobia Internationally
“WASHINGTON – Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) communities around the world face stigmatization, harassment, violence and blatant human rights violations. To combat these horrific acts and to advance the cause of LGBT justice internationally, The Paul E. Singer Foundation is teaming up with the Daniel S. Loeb Family Foundation to award the Human Rights Campaign Foundation (HRC), the education and research arm of United States’ largest LGBT civil rights organization, major grants over three years.”
““Every day around the world, LGBT individuals face arrest, imprisonment, torture and even execution just for being who they are,” said Paul Singer. “Some of the worst offenders in this area also happen to be the same regimes that have dedicated themselves to harming the United States and its democratic allies across the globe. As an organization that has been at the forefront of the equality movement for over three decades, the Human Rights Campaign is uniquely positioned to work in tandem with NGOs to empower LGBT and human rights advocates abroad and help stop these abuses.”
MEANWHILE HRC “OPPOSES “IT’S OWN FUNDING HEDGE FAIRNESS FOR ALL.
The “Fairness for All” Act is an Affront | Human Rights Campaign
“If enacted, this bill would undermine civil rights protections for women, people of color, people of faith and create substandard protections for LGBTQ people. In a joint statement, the groups wrote:”
“The “Fairness for All” Act is anything but fair, and it certainly does not serve all of us. It is an affront to existing civil rights protections that protect people on the basis of race, sex, and religion and creates new, substandard protections for LGBTQ people with massive loopholes and carve-outs, and upends critical federal programs that serve children in need.”
“This legislation is deeply dangerous for many reasons, mainly because it would erode protections that already exist for people based on race, sex and religion, rolling back protections that have been on the books for decades. It would expand the number of places and situations in which lawful discrimination could occur.”
HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN OFFICIALS AND OTHER LGBTQ ACTIVIST HAVE HAD WARM WELCOME FROM RUSSELL MOORE SINCE 2014
Southern Baptists, Gay Community Break Bread at Conference
Baptists Strike New Tone on Homosexuality From the Pulpit, in Private
“In a sign of the practical struggles Baptists face, some of the conference focused on advice. “What if you get invited to a same-sex wedding ceremony?” Russell Moore, president of the SBC’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, was asked. “In that case, I would not attend the wedding. I would attend the reception,” he said. In that way, he said, a Baptist could say, “I love you and I’m here with you. I disagree with you, but I love you.”
MOORE’S MENTOR SBTS PRESIDENT ALBERT MOHLER WAS ALSO IN THE “BREAD BREAKING” EVENT WITH LGBTQ ACTIVIST .
THIS IS THE 2014 ERLC EVENT IN WHICH MOHLER OWNED THE FALSE ASSERTIONS OF “SEXUAL ORIENTATION” AND “APOLOGIZED FOR SOUTHERN BAPTIST FOR BEING WRONG ABOUT ORIENTATION FOR YEARS”
“When Mr. Moore was asked what do to if a “family member in a lesbian relationship wants to come visit for the holidays,” he said, “You should not cut yourselves off from relatives or friends who are lost or in situations you do not agree with.”
“Mr. Mohler, head of the theological seminary, said he hoped the conference would make Christians “motivated to be unafraid to engage with LGBT persons.”
“Mr. Mohler this week met with Matthew Vines, an openly gay Christian author who argues the Bible doesn’t prohibit lifelong same-sex marriage. Mr. Mohler wrote a response to Mr. Vines’ book, “God and the Gay Christian.”
“It was a gracious, honest conversation. I think all evangelical Christians are having to learn anew how to discuss these issues,” Mr. Mohler said.”
“The pair agreed to keep in touch over email, and alert each other if one ever felt wrongly portrayed by the other.”
LGBTQ ACTIVIST PLEASED AS PUNCH
“This was an amazing event,” said Mr. Vines. “Not for the public sessions but for the private meetings. It’s not like anyone is suddenly pro-gay,” said Mr. Vines. But, he added, “it feels like a new era.”
( Calling Wallis an Evangelical is a stretch except in the Circles where Russell Moore and other Baptist live and breath the rarefied air of the Oval office during the Obama years)
What Southern Baptist and Evangelical conservatives in general must do is attempt to discern where the partnerships and associations begin and where the billionaires money ENDS. On the matter of Religious Liberty – we cannot allow political and social trends driven by wealthy globalist with their own reasons for supporting LGBTQ as a civil right to dislodge Religious Liberty from the US Constitution and redefine it through the lens of LGBTQ or it’s legal construct of SOGI- Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity.
Christians need to know much more is a stake and much -much more is in the room with these issues. More like the billionaires who fund it and the DNC , Obama Foundation, Mormon and GOP leaders who have embraced it. These players have nothing to lose once the donors own them but Southern Baptist and Christians as a whole have MUCH to lose in the ability to take a faithful Gospel Stand in both private and public arenas and even inside their own churches.
The Alliance for Lasting Liberty AUF and & Campaign also has open advocacy for pro Muslim inclusion in the Religious Liberty redefinition but Shari and the Constitution have their own contradictions. That is for another discussion.
On the issue of LGBTQ Russell Moore, Albert Mohler and the herd of NAMB/ Send Network Pastors comfortably associating, platforming, and partnering with & Campaign / Singer’s AUF and LGBTQ Fairness for All- the question is “If you fully hold to the Biblical view that Homosexuality and notions of Gender fluidity are sinful, rebellious, harmful and eternally condemned then why are you playing footsies with it’s advocates?
No matter how winsome, loving, inclusive, or understanding Russell Moore desires to present himself and his ERLC regime or his mentor Albert Mohler, the facts remain unchanged .They are promoting the rights of people to embrace sin as normal and a moral- civil right. No matter how much assertion of historic /biblical Christian conviction these assumed conservative SBC /NAMB leaders boast- they are in the room with the funding from the far left and with the partners on BOTH sides of the supposed divide between the Equality Act vs the Fairness for All Compromise.
It is not possible to be thus DOUBLE MINDED and be faithful to Him who called you or to the Baptist who pay their salaries.
Ephesians 5:
Walk in Light
8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the [b]Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), 10 finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. 11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather [c]expose them.12 For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. 13 But all things that are [d]exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light. 14 Therefore He says:
“Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light.”
CHRISTIAN COLLEGES, UNIVERSITIES AND SEMINARIES ARE IN TROUBLE AND OUR INSTITUTIONS HAVE BECOME BOILING CAULDRONS OF SOCIAL JUSTICE, LIBERAL POLITICS AND CRITICAL THEORY.
HOW DO PARENTS DISCERN THE GOOD – THE BAD -AND THE UGLY AMONG CHRISTIAN INSTITUTIONS ?
Rev Thomas Littleton 1/18/2020
*If your faith and worldview does not see a problem with indoctrination by Cultural Marxist /Frankfurt School progressive social policy and political ideology then perhaps these schools ARE for your family. This guide is to provide some practical ways for parents to spot the influences which are transforming our educational institutions in American evangelicalism. No effort is made to identify or compile a list of those which are not influenced by these forces but to confirm the ones which ARE and to help with your independent research.
If you are a Biblical conservative Christian parent and have been researching colleges, universities and possible seminaries with your young adult then be careful that you do not send the disciple you invested a lifetime making into the hands of compromised men and institutions who are brazenly willing to undo all you have invested in your family and children and their faith. Many Institutions are attempting to turn them into the next generation of social justice warriors and Democrats for Christ”. More pitfalls than ever exist in Christian higher education and they must be identified and navigated as these choices are made.
Christian education is the target of massive infiltration. It is not just Christian Higher Education that is being impacted but even K-12 Christian schools and home school curriculum are as well.
The landscape among Christian colleges, universities and seminaries has changed drastically since 2013 . You will need to be VERY careful because that CHANGE is being driven by a FLOOD of funding and left leaning political influence pouring into these institutions.
FIRST ON YOUR WATCH LIST – AVOID ANY INSTITUTIONS WITH TIES TO THE GOSPEL COALITION AND THE OIKONOMIA NETWORK.
The Gospel Coalition is THE number one source the deepest problematic teachings in the evangelical church today. What appears to be historic reformed theology in TGC is little more than window dressing for top down progressive politics and social policy.
Avoid THESE Partner Schools with Oikonomia Network which coordinates the funding and partner schools as well as the social justice curriculum.
The list of Institutions on the Oikonomia Network site provides a good list of those to avoid due to the grants and influence of Oikonomia Network and the funding behind it .
“The Oikonomia Network is a learning community of theological educators and evangelical seminaries dedicated to raising up church leaders who help people develop whole-life discipleship, fruitful work and economic wisdom for God’s people and God’s world.”
“The network is currently impacting classes with attendance of over 9,300 students each semester. Check out our annual impact report and learn more about what our partner schools are doing to transform theological education.”
Note : These problems began around 2009 in earnest but intensified in 2013 . You can read about the 2013 scaling up of this infiltration as recounted (in a positive light) in this book -page 63
If you want the real bullet points for discerning a Seminary -ask if they teach Critical Theory , Race, Gender , Feminine or Queer Theory as gospel tools and if ,as DeYoung insist that social justice /equity is essential to the Gospel. These are the core curriculum ideals of TGC and other affiliated institutions.
DENOMINATIONAL SCHOOLS ARE NOT SAFE
Be Careful of any and all Schools associated with The Southern Baptist and Presbyterian Church in America where the TGC and Oikonomia have strong holds .
NUMBER ONE FOLLOW THE MONEY
Ask to see whose grants they are getting. If they are not open about whose funding they are willing to take then MOVE ON.
Look out for Kern Family Foundation.
Involvement with faculty with Kern Family Foundation (KFF) or it’s on campus overseer Oikonomia Network or with Acton Institute /Acton University training and grants are clear and present danger signs.
ACTON INSTITUTE & UNIVERSITY IS KEY PLAYER IN TRAINING FACULTY AND CONNECTING TO FUNDING. ACTON ALSO PROVIDES CURRICULUM
“In the summer of 2016, BioLogos further expanded its range of activities by launching a speakers program: BioLogos Voices. Funded by a $1.7 million grant from the John Templeton Foundation, Voices brings together 24 experts, including Davis, in fields such as biology, physics, history, and theology, to lecture at academic and non-academic venues around the country. “
INTERFAITH DIALOG A SIGN OF RIGOR MORTIS
Watch for deadly Interfaith Dialog like the “Neighborly Faith” error recently hosted in November 2019 at Wheaton and backed by Moody Bible Institute.Christian and radical Muslim leaders are involved in this campus focus.The Wheaton event was hosted by the Billy Graham Center at Wheaton. The Graham family may not be aware of this fact. Ed Stetzer who is the Chair of the Billy Graham Center at Wheaton is likely VERY aware and is a favorite of the TGC circles.
“A nationwide movement, bringing Christians and Muslims together. “
Do not assume the school is fine because of it’s historic reputation . Wheaton and Moody are now among some of the worst compromised.
LGBTQ CHRISTIANITY -THE NEW BLACK
WATCH FOR THOSE INSTITUTIONS WHO PROMOTE COMPROMISED VIEWS ON LGBTQ AND HOST SPEAKERS LIKE WHEATON’S MARK YARHOUSE WHO ENDORSES UNCHANGING SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND GENDER IDENTITIES BASED UPON APA .
“Mark A. Yarhouse, Psy.D., is a clinical psychologist who specializes in conflicts tied to religious identity and sexual and gender identity. He assists people who are navigating the complex relationship between their sexual or gender identity and Christian faith. He is the Dr. Arthur P. and Mrs. Jean May Rech Chair in Psychology at Wheaton College, where he runs the Sexual and Gender Identity (SGI) Institute. “
Yarhouse promotes the views of the pro LGBTQ American Psychological Association (APA) .His work is not based upon Biblical understanding of sin or of Gospel transformation. He supports the idea of “LGBTQ Christianity “and SOGI , Sexual Orientation Gender Identity as the basis of normalization for merging ones LGBTQ identity with their faith. SOGI is the legal language driving legislation and social activism of “sexual minority inclusion” in the church and the broader LGBTQ movement.
YARHOUSE AND TGC
Yarhouse in 2010 ,according to his bio , played the central role in drafting the LGBTQ ideology of The Gospel Coalition.
“Yarhouse is currently the Chair of the task force on LGBT issues for Division 36 (Psychology of Religion and Spirituality) of the American Psychological Association. He was also invited to write the featured white paper on sexual identity for the Christ on Campus Initiative edited by Don A. Carson for The Gospel Coalition.”
REVOICE LGBT+ FLOURISHING IN THE CHURCH
Yarhouse influence helped develop and promote the radical Revoice movement from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (SBC) and Covenant Theological Seminary (PCA). The infiltration and tolerance of Revoice “LGBT+ Flourishing in historic (conservative ) churches” movement stands to split both of these once conservative denominations.
Yarhouse also works with CRU and Intervarsity and MANY evangelical colleges and seminaries once considered to be Biblical and conservative.
COUNCIL FOR CHRISTIAN COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES
CCCU is a membership organization which once reflected a commitment to Christian Higher Education but today CCCU is one of the main leaders of the push for compromise to redefine Religious Liberty through the lens of both Islam and LGBTQ rights . CCCU Chairperson is a leader in the “Neighborly Faith” interfaith dialog mentioned above in this article at Wheaton and is a strong ally in the push for “Fairness for All”.
Fairness for All is a partnership of the & Campaign, The American Unity Fund and billionaire Paul Singer whose massive pro-LGBTQ funding political organization ended GOP/Republican opposition to gay marriage in 2012 election through funding candidate Mitt Romney and the GOP 2012 convention. Romney, a Mormon, has helped lead the LDS into full partnership with the push for Fairness for All coupled with the CCCU, & Campaign and the funding of Paul Singer.
& Campaign also brings with it MANY of the Southern Baptist recent seminary grads who are funded for urban church planting by the Baptist missions organizations NAMB/ Send Network. These young social justice warrior pastors are willing to help lead in the & Campaign and partner with Singer, the Obama Foundation, the Democratic Party, CCCU and others, Their goal is to push “Biblical Values & Social Justice ” along with compromises over immigration laws, abortion, LGBTQ / Fairness for All, and more.
HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH AN INSTITUTION AFFILIATED WITH TGC’s MANY CHURCH PLANTING ORGANIZATIONS
Watch for the TGC related church planting organizations both denominational and non-denominational – like NAMB- Send Network -ACTS29 – 9MARKS – Association of Related Churches – and for speakers from those organizations. If you seminary student is involved in one of the schools partnering with these church planting organizations then he or she may be offered funding and employment to staff one of these corrupted church plants. Many are urban churches participating in “Community Development ” and “Faith Based Partnership ” grants co-mingling the vision of re- urbanization and church mission. These efforts actually further the compromise of doctrinal stability and are both justice and globalist driven.
WATCH FOR CROSS POLLINATION WITH LIBERAL DENOMINATIONS LIKE LUTHERAN, PCUSA, EPISCOPAL OR ECUMENICAL AND IVY LEAGUE FAITH GROUPS
Example -Louisville Institute is FUNDED by Lilly Endowment grants. This is one the main methods of corruption at Covenant College (PCA) for example . Louisville Institute is led by/ tied to PCUSA but being welcomed into PCAs Covenant College in Georgia. This provides direct but unseen impact of liberal theology on a Biblical conservative, denominational institution.
About Louisville Institute
“In late 1990, Lilly Endowment Inc. (an Indianapolis-based private philanthropic foundation) launched the Louisville Institute, based at the Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary (PCUSA). Created in 1937 by three members of the Lilly family through gifts of stock in their pharmaceutical business, Eli Lilly and Company, the Endowment supports the causes of religion, education, and community development. The Religion Division of Lilly Endowment works with people and institutions of promise to generate knowledge, communicate insights, nurture practices, and renew and sustain institutions that help to make accessible and effective the religious resources upon which a flourishing and humane society depends.”
LOUISVILLE INSTITUTE FUNDING IN CONSERVATIVE PCA’S COVENANT COLLEGE.
“Dr. Alicia Jackson, associate professor of history, was awarded a 2016 Louisville Project Grant for Researchers from The Louisville Institute. The institute provides grants to both scholar/pastors and scholar/educators and is interested in advancing American religious and theological scholarship. The Louisville Project Grant for Researchers supports research projects for researchers who are interested in work that will enrich believers and benefit the church.”
WATCH THE CULTURAL ENGAGEMENT DEPARTMENTS ON CAMPUS
Look at the “Cultural Engagement “department – look for grants speakers and events by that department. Speakers on Race- LGBTQ – Immigration – Political Civility – anti Nationalism or from any of The Gospel Coalition or Christianity Today circles or entities.
“Samford University’s Beeson Divinity School received its third grant from the Kern Family Foundation for the extension of the school’s Faith and Work program …In the last four years, funds from these grants have brought in scholars and experts in the field of faith, work and economics to speak in chapel services, workshops and symposia. These guests have included Tim Keller, Os Guinness, Russell Moore, Wayne Grudem and Scott Rae. “
WATCH FOR SPEAKERS SPREADING THESE IDEOLOGIES
Watch for Ivy League liberals being invited in.
Watch for Tim Keller or others speaking at chapel or graduation /fundraisers.
FAITH AND WORK FOCUS INDICATES SOCIAL JUSTICE ECONOMICS
Watch out for the “Faith and Work ” programs – they are generally liberal socialist economics and social justice driven progressive politics often with a variety dark money behind them.
“The God and Human Flourishing Program is dedicated to cultivating and resourcing a new theological movement grounded in the conviction that Jesus Christ is the key to human flourishing.”
“Work to the glory of God, Mohler says in Commonweal Project lecture”
Tim Keller of the PCA is king of the Social Justice buzz phrases like “Human Flourishing ” ” Common Good” and making up a “Theology ” to mate with every progressive political ideology he is promoting at the time.
“Eight influential senior pastors from four states and Washington D.C., representing six theological traditions, gave intensive attention to the intersection of faith, work, and economics at a March pastors’ symposium hosted by Beeson Divinity School. The symposium was led by Greg Forster of The Kern Family Foundation and Dan Scott, pastor of Christ Church in Nashville….. Next year, we plan to welcome Tim Keller, who will lead a major conference on faith and work, exploring themes from his book “Every Good Endeavor.”
TIM KELLER SOURCES HIS IDEOLOGIES LIKE HUMAN FLOURISHING AND THRIVING FROM FRANKFURT SCHOOL INSPIRED ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THE IASC
“Our mission to understand contemporary cultural change and its consequences is carried out in the rare context of a thriving community in which disciplines and generations intersect. Institute Fellows come together to pursue the highest level of scholarship on the most important questions facing the late-modern era. The Institute is led in this endeavor by the Institute Council.”
WATCH FOR LEFTIST POLITICAL IDEAS AND PARTNERS BEING WELCOMED ONTO CAMPUSES LIKE OBAMA FOUNDATION LED “& CAMPAIGN ” .
Example
Patrick Henry College has welcomed & Campaign Justin Giboney and Michael Wear
“Michael Wear is the founder of Public Square Strategies LLC, and a leading expert and strategist at the intersection of faith, politics and American public life. Michael was one of the youngest White House staffers in modern American history: he served in the White House faith-based initiative during President Obama’s first term, where he led evangelical outreach and helped manage trafficking efforts. Michael’s book, Reclaiming Hope: Lessons Learned in the Obama White House gives an unvarnished account of faith inside the world’s most powerful office, and an unprecedented insight into the most controversial stories of the last eight years. He serves on the national board of Bethany Christian Services, the nation’s largest adoption agency, and holds an honorary position at the University of Birmingham’s Cadbury Center for the Public Understanding of Religion.”
CONCLUSION
Committed Christian Parents and their young adult prospective student will need to vet these institutions and the funding and political powers behind them. Go into this process with eyes wide open and informed. Some may feel led to go as missionaries into these compromised institutions while others will not find these concerns to be deal breakers. Still the rapid advance of these problems and the issues troubling Christian Higher Education are not to be ignored or overlooked unless parents are willing to pay the high cost of tuition while paying the ultimate price of potentially losing the hearts and minds of their most important disciples in the process.
LEST WE FORGET -THE REVOICE LGBT FLOURISHING CONFERENCES AND MOVEMENT WERE BIRTHED BY FOUNDER NATE COLLINS AS HE STUDIED, TAUGHT,AND WROTE HIS BOOK AT ALBERT MOHLER’S SOUTHERN BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY.
Rev. Thomas Littleton 1/6/2020
The Revoice movement continues to represent the head of the spear for LGBT activism infiltration deep within both the Southern Baptist and conservative reformed PCA. The PCA IS splitting and the toleration of the Revoice and broader compromise over LGBTQ issues are at the VERY core of the PCA Split.
With the help of a complicit media and Albert Mohler’s August 2nd 2018 article “denouncing” Revoice, Mohler and other leaders buried the SBC and SBTS ties to Revoice. Those ties also included at least 6 direct endorsements and participation in Revoice 2018 by ERLC Fellows and contributors. Mohler did finally name his disciple in his August 2nd article just after Revoice 2018. Mohler named Collins 8 or 9 times BUT never made any mention connecting him to the SBTS or the SBC.
By SBC 2019 in June of last year Revoice was all but buried with the exception of a Resolution by Oklahoma pastor Steve Kern condemning the Revoice movement. The Resolution Committee killed the Resolution and introduced it’s own Resolution assuming and allowing for the existence of unchanging sexual orientation which is the VERY premise upon which Revoice is built.
REVISITING REVOICE BY FOUNDERS MINISTRIES / MOHLER’S CLOSE FRIENDS
Nary a peep had been said about Revoice in Baptist leadership circles for some time when suddenly this week (January 6th 2020) Founders Ministries, led by loyal Albert Mohler friend and fellow Calvinist leader, Tom Ascol began publishing a series on the controversial event and movement. The article is the 1st of 5 which Founders has planned and unless the next four installments represent a serious change of approach ..Revisiting Revoice looks like another round of Reformed tee ball practice game for toddlers where no one loses.
Any simple and honest look at the timeline for Revoice founders tenure at Mohler’s school proves that Mohler’s institution – the SBC’s flagship seminary incubated and encourage Revoice development AND both educated and employed it’s founder Collins for years. Collins spent from 2003 through 2017 at SBTS remaining after he “came out “/ self identified as “Gay”. This is according to his own biographical information, his CV and his social media.
“Happy #NationalComingOutDay2019! It’s been almost 12 years since I came out, and I have no regrets. Jesus was enough then, he’s been enough since, and he’ll be enough no matter what the world, the flesh, or the Enemy may do. Give your LGBT friends a hug and tell them you love them.”
SIMPLE MATH
This means Nate Collins who founded Revoice LGBT movement “Came Out” or went public about his self identification as “GAY” in 2007 which was years into his Masters degree studies at Albert Mohler’s SBTS and a full two years BEFORE that Degree was completed. Collins then went on to spend another decade at SBTS both working on his Doctorate and teaching the New Testament as a self identified homosexual in a “mixed orientation marriage”. (Meaning Collins identifies as a homsexual in a heterosexual marriage. Confusing ? It is one of the labels like “SSA but celibate “associated with belief in unchanging sexual “orientation ” but asserting commitment to “Christian Sexual Ethic”.)
Collins Dissertation at SBTS during his doctoral studies was on the topic Paul’s reference to “Virginity ” during writings to 1st century believers as “proof ” that the designation of some people as “virgins ” in the New Testament SUPPORTS Collins ASSERTIONS OF A Third Gender besides Male and Female in the New Testament. Remember Mohler hired Collins to teach New Testament for 3 years as documented below.
“Virgin” as Secondary Gender Identity in 1 Corinthians 7 and Its Jewish and Greco-Roman Background
Collins at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
Total Duration3 yrs 10 mos
TitleOnline Teaching Assistant
Dates EmployedAug 2015 – May 2018
Employment Duration2 yrs 10 mos
LocationLouisville, Kentucky Area
Creating online learning assessments, engaging with students in discussion forums, compiling and assigning final course grades
TitleInstructor of New Testament Interpretation
Dates Employed Jul 2015 – Jun 2016
Employment Duration 1 yr
Location Louisville, Kentucky Area
Title Garrett Fellow
Dates Employed Aug 2014 – May 2016
Employment Duration 1 yr 10 mos
“Responsibilities include grading class assignments, corresponding with students regarding course requirements, assisting with teaching responsibilities as needed”
COLLINS LIST HIS TEACHING AND COUNSELING POSITIONS AT MOHLER’S SBTS
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
“The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
Instructor of New Testament Interpretation 2015-16
“Elementary Greek Grammar” and “Greek Review”
“Taught two graduate-level courses (approx. 30 students each) covering all introductory elements of Koine Greek grammar, administered and graded all learning assessments,provided outside-the-classroom help to underperforming students, assess
ed students’ qualifications to continue graduate-level study of Greek beyond the elementary grammar stage The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
Guest Lecturer”
–
“Counseling and Sexuality ”
2015
Delivered three hours of guest lectures on the subject of LGBT issues and Christiancounseling
An iOS app to aid in memorizing biblical Greek paradigms (Zondervan Academic, forthcoming)
REVOICE AND THE & CAMPAIGN – PAUL SINGER MONEY IN THE SBC?
Collins has also become an outspoken advocate for the SBC WOKE movement often promoting the writings of Jemar Tisby and others in the CRT explosion in The Gospel Coalition and SBC circles.
Now both Collins and Revoice leader Preston Sprinkle are working to promote the radical Obama Foundation led & Campaign. & Campaign is not only a push for compromise by the church on LGBTQ and REligious Liberty (more on that in a moment) but is a top down Democratic Party /Obama Foundation political operation for the 2020 election and part of the broader effort to detract from evangelical support of the Trump reelection .
See more on the radical roots of & Campaign and its DEEP STATE infiltration of the SBC and NAMB/Send Network here.
“THE MOST DANGEROUS THING THE CHURCH CAN DO IS THINK IT CAN COMPROMISE RELIGIOUS LIBERTY WITH THE ADVANCE OF LGBTQ RIGHTS. &CAMPAIGN NOW LEADS THE WAY IN PROMOTING THIS FAULTY IDEOLOGY AND “FAIRNESS FOR ALL”. BUT WHO IS REALLY BEHIND IT?”
GOAL OF COLLABORATION -REDEFINE RELIGIOUS LIBERTY THRU LGBT RIGHTS
FAIRNESS FOR ALL /ALLIANCE FOR LASTING LIBERTY (ALL)
“ALL is a coalition that has been created to house, advance, and formalize conversations that have been taking place among religious and LGBT advocates for more than three years.”
PARTNERS INCLUDE & CAMPAIGN AND SINGERS AMERICAN UNITY FUND
IN THE END MOHLER’S WORK WITH THE ERLC PROMOTING “ORIENTATION ” WITH HIS SBTS DISCIPLE RUSSELL MOORE OPENED THE DOOR TO REVOICE -NOW MOHLER’S DISCIPLE COLLINS AND REVOICE ARE OPENING THE CHURCH DOORS TO “FAIRNESS FOR ALL” -TO & CAMPAIGN AND THE INFLUENCE OF PRO LGBTQ FUNDER/ BILLIONAIRE PAUL SINGER AND THE OBAMA FOUNDATION.
“Southern Baptist Theological Seminary’s Dr Albert Mohler hands doctorate diploma in Spring 2017 to Revoice CEO Founder Nate Collins after 14 ½ years under Mohler’s discipleship and teaching New Testament And online Greek as well as counseling students, grading papers, and traveling as SBTS scholar . Mohler has never admitted to date that Collins is an SBTS graduate and instructor.”
NICE JOB ALBERT MOHLER ..IF YOUR INTENTION WAS TO TRANSFORM THE SBC THROUGH YOUR LGBT+ FAVORING DISCIPLES.
MANY questions abound. How have Nate Collins and others at SBTS who struggle with homosexual temptation not actually been denied the true Gospel at SBTS and instead been trained for some reason by the SBC flagship seminary as activist for Social Change in the church, ending opposition to the promotion of LGBTQ normalization and full LGBTQ “civil rights”?
Albert Mohler now wants to be President of the Southern Baptist Convention.
Baptist need to deny him that additional empowerment.
ALBERT MOHLER, IS A MAN WHO COMES FROM DEEP WITHIN THE TROUBLED SBC ESTABLISHMENT.
AFTER 25 YEARS AS PRESIDENT OF SBTS MOHLER WANTS TO BE NEXT SBC PRESIDENT. BUT WHO IS MOHLER REALLY?
MEASURE THE MAN BY THE DISCIPLES HE MAKES !
Rev Thomas Littleton 1/3/2020
If Albert Mohler becomes President of the Southern Baptist Convention what will the SBC “look like ” when he is done? Review the career paths of three of Mohler’s disciples.
First consider the progressive Democrat /ERLC leader Russell Moore who spent over 20 years under Mohler’s mentorship.Moore has become one of the most divisive, controversial and activist leaders of the modern era of the SBC. Today his ERLC is openly in partnership with members of the Obama Foundation and the Democratic Party Strategist.
Or secondly consider Nate Collins founder of the “Revoice LGBT+ Thriving” in the church movement who spent 14 1/2 years at Mohler’s institution 13 plus of those years as a self professed gay Christian and to whom Mohler personally handed two theological degrees. One of those degrees was based up on Collins’ dissertation asserting that the New Testament represents “virgin as a third gender” achieved while Collins taught New Testament for 3 years at Mohler’s SBTS institution.
SOME VIEW MOHLER AS A THEOLOGICAL ANCHOR WHILE OTHERS SEE HIS BEHIND THE SCENES WORK AND THAT OF HIS DISCIPLES AS A BETRAYAL OF ALL THAT HE PUBLICALLY ESPOUSES.
HAS A MAJOR MOHLER DISCIPLE GONE OVER TO THE DARK SIDE ?
Mohler is not a pastor. Instead Albert Mohler is trusted by Southern Baptist to shape hearts and minds or future pastors and to disciple young leaders, the leaders of tomorrow, leaders like Mohler’s first Research Assistant and the third disciple for consideration, Gregory Alan Thornbury.
Thornbury is one of the MOST CELEBRATED of Mohler’s disciples, having been his first research assistant a a favorite student/ faculty member/ scholar/ son of SBTS. Thornbury left SBTS for Union College and by 2013 accepted a celebrated post at Kings College in New York. BUT in four short years the honeymoon looked to have ended for the Mohler disciple and Thornbury by 2018 had taken up residence in the New York Academy of Art founded by pop culture artist / icon Andy Warhol who became a fixture of Studio 54 and the radical gay and bisexual Disco Music scene of the 1970s.
“While his sexuality is frequently suppressed or debated, Warhol was a gay man who had several partners throughout his life. Warhol’s boyfriends, including Edward Wallowitch, John Giorno, and Jed Johnson, were also his colleagues and collaborators, helping to shape and define his career as an artist.”
“The Board of Trustees of The King’s College is pleased to announce the appointment of Gregory Alan Thornbury, Ph.D. as Chancellor. In this new role Thornbury will counsel the College with strategic advising and networking. He served as the sixth President of The King’s College from 2013 until the present. ”
Thornbury does not list Kings College on his Linked-in resume timeline and according to Kings history “Thornbury served as Chancellor during the transition period, then stepped down to give greater place to scholarly and artistic pursuits, including post-publication opportunities related to his book on the Christian rock-and-roll artist Larry Norman.”
SOME MOHLER BACKGROUND MAY HELP UNDERSTAND HIS PROBLEMATIC IMPACT
Mohler is himself CELEBRATED as a conservative savior of sorts as head of the flagship SBC seminary Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville KY. Yet Mohler’s close friend Mark Dever reminded Baptist at SBC 2017 that in undergrad at Birmingham Alabama’s Samford University, Mohler was liberal in his views on egalitarianism (ordaining women to the pastorate) and did not believe in inerrancy of the Bible. Later after being educated at SBTS while it was filled with Liberal theologians Mohler suddenly appeared to have become a Biblical conservative. Mohler then rode his growing acceptance as part of the conservative resurgence, the movement which was built around the stand for Biblical inerrancy, to become President of SBTS in 1993 at just 33 years old. He then became a leading figure in the Neo- Calvinist movement in the SBC with people like Tom Ascol.
But by 2007 Mohler was leading the effort of the SBC to merge their growing Reformed camp into The Gospel Coalition along with Tim Keller which has been at the epicenter of much of today’s compromise related to the false Social Justice gospel, LGBT+ Christianity, the rise of Critical Race Theory and intersectionality in the church and a HOST of other errors. Also all these problems have proven to be driven by problematic grant funding flooding TGC affiliated Institutions. In the case of SBTS Mohler himself spoke at the event which welcomed the social justice driven funding to SBTS in the “Commonweal Project” and the drift leftward has intensified.
A THORNBURY CAREER OVERVIEW
A CLOSER LOOK AT THE CAREER PATH, DISTURBING POLITICS AND CULTURAL VIEWS OF GREGORY ALAN THORNBURY WHO IS ONE OF THE MOST CELEBRATED DISCIPLES OF ALBERT MOHLER.
“During the presidency of R. Albert Mohler Jr., seven men have worked for him as research assistants and directors of theological research. Not only did they help him organize material and prepare for writing projects, speaking and preaching engagements, debates and more, but they received a UNIQUE kind of education in return.”
Now: President of The Kings College, New York, N.Y.
“The most exciting part about being Dr. Mohler’s research assistant, and really the best part of my seminary education, was the education after hours. I would go over to Dr. Mohler’s library and help him work on writing projects and things that he was working on, finding references and looking up things while he was working. I got to see him thinking out loud while he was writing and preparing.”
“That was really exhilarating, because what I began to realize as I was completing my doctoral dissertation — which he supervised — is how much of my own mental furniture had been placed there as a result of seeing him think out loud in all of those different scenarios. Not only in those key moments of crises in the history of the institution, but also in journal articles and in book projects and in public engagement and debate. To be able to witness first hand all of the stuff that he was reading — I mean, we all know what a polymath he is — and to have access to that was like getting a massive influx of bibliography, which I would never be able to repeat in my entire life.”
GREGORY ALAN THORNBURY
So Gregory Alan Thornbury is an SBTS graduate and personal research assistant to Albert Mohler and “received a UNIQUE EDUCATION ” from Mohler.
Thornbury is a contributor to SBTS “Equip magazine”.
“Gregory Thornbury, above anyone else, has the opportunity, the mind, the character, the experience and the heart to bring about exactly what needs to happen at Kings College.”
“Dr. Gregory Alan Thornbury was inaugurated as the sixth president of The King’s College on April 3rd, 2014. Read more: http://www.tkc.edu/media/newsrelease….. In the heart of New York City, The King’s College is an accredited, Christian liberal arts college. Using a biblical worldview and great works in politics, philosophy, and economics, we are educating the next generation of leaders for America and the world. For more information, visit http://www.tkc.edu. “
“In July, the Board of Trustees announced Dr. Gregory Alan Thornbury as the College’s sixth president. Focused on a renaissance of Christian thought and life, President Thornbury worked to connect the College to key partners and institutions to collaborate with the mission and vision of King’s for the common good.”
“The seminary has had a particular impact on Christian higher education, with many of its administrators later serving as college and university presidents, including: …David Dockery (Union University, 1996-2014; Trinity International University, 2014-present); Danny Akin (Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, 2004-present); Jason Allen (Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, 2012-present); and Greg Thornbury (The King’s College, 2013-present).”
Mohler endorsement of Thornbury’s book.
“The enduring influence of what Greg Thornbury wisely calls ‘classic evangelicalism’ is critical for the health and vitality of Christianity in America. He rightly
looks to the greatest intellectual figure of twentieth-century evangelicalism, Carl
Henry, as a mentor and guide. At the same time, this is a radically current book,
directed at the most crucial issues facing the evangelical movement today. This is an
important work by a leading evangelical scholar. We can only hope that this book
becomes widely influential.”
R. Albert Mohler Jr., President and Joseph Emerson Brown Professor
of Christian Theology, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
“Gregory Alan Thornbury, Ph.D., serves as Vice President at the New York Academy of Art, founded by Andy Warhol and a group of like minded patrons who were committed to traditional skills in the visual arts applied to contemporary discourse.”
“He previously served as the sixth president of The King’s College in New York City.”
“He is the author of the critically acclaimed biography on Rock legend and Jesus freak, Larry Norman (Convergent/Penguin/Random House, March 2018).”
“He was called “America’s First Hipster College President.”
ALL QUIET ON THE AL MOHLER /SBTS FRONT . WHY?
THORNBURY DEPARTURE FROM KINGS COLLEGE WAS GIVEN LITTLE NOTICE WHILE HE BECAME A VICE PRESIDENT AT ANDY WARHOL’S NEW YORK ACADEMY OF ARTS.
By 2018 Thornbury has surfaced as Vice President of Development at Andy Warhol’s New York Academy of Art. The Academy is a landmark of the edgy New York City arts scene and celebrates the legacy of the famed gay pop culture artist icon Andy Warhol.
According to a post by Thronbury’s wife on August 15, 2019 – Thornbury, in his position as VP of Development at NYAA, is living in New York and taking over as “acting President” for a year at New York Academy of Art. She recently has left her own position at Kings College and is working with the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust in Vancouver, WA.
“Late last spring, Greg accepted responsibility to step into an expanded leadership role at the New York Academy of Art as the current president is on sabbatical this year, and he will fulfill that commitment. ”
THORNBURY MAKING HIMSELF AT HOME AMONG THE NYC ART ELITE
THORNBURY POSES WITH GUEST AT NEW YORK ACADEMY OF ART “TAKE HOME A NUDE ” EVENT.
“Today I join millions around the world in celebrating the arrival of divinity on earth, who came into this world not in riches but in poverty, not as a citizen but as a refugee. No matter where or how we celebrate, merry Christmas.”
“From the Obama family to yours, Merry Christmas!”
THORNBURY FLURRY OF TWEETS RETWEETS IN SUPPORT OF CHRISTIANITY TODAY LEADERSHIP IN CHRISTMAS WEEK CONTROVERSY
Thornbury is also working on the Board of Paul Singer funded Philos Project which is a client of Christianity Todays new CEO Timothy Dalrymple .
Gregory Thornbury
@greg_thornbury
·
Merry Christmas!
Quote Tweet
Timothy Dalrymple
@TimDalrymple_
·
Breaking news. Turns out we’re *not* funded by George Soros. You can all sleep a little sounder tonight 😉 https://snopes.com/fact-check/christianity-today-george-soros/
Gregory Thornbury
@greg_thornbury
·
“It’s a hostage situation.” Me Great reporting, as usual, from the brilliant
from his reading list is really going to have a dramatic effect on #POTUS policy choices and expressions of character. Don’t you? OTOH, it does leave more time for his reading in C.S. Lewis and Chesterton.
Quote Tweet
Gregory Thornbury
@greg_thornbury
·
ET?
“As if you ever read @CTmagazine in the first place.”
“Then again. Yes. We are ETs – aliens to this world, your world, and sojourners toward heaven.” https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1207997319821615105
“There’s a prayer warrior on staff at Rolling Stone. “Mr. President, you should know that many, many of us have been saying a PRAYER that the divisions you have sown and the hatred you have propagated will not live on after you.” Grateful & amazed.”
SOME ADDITIONAL POSITIONS THORNBURY HOLDS /HAS HELD AMONG EVANGELICALS
TGC Thornbury and the ARTS sign of things to come ?
Given that Albert Mohler is credited by some with being a mainstay in the “conservative resurgence ” in the SBC, the disturbing career paths of some of his most celebrated proteges’ leaves plenty of room to question what a Mohler Presidency would bring to the TROUBLED SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION.
How have so many years been invested in the discipleship of and hands on mentoring with such men as Russell Moore and Gregory Thornbury produced such contrary fruit and what looks like a “harvest of tares” ?
How can Albert Mohler save the SBC from the looming denominational split like the coming divides in the Methodist and PCA when it is his own disciple Nate Collins who birthed the Revoice LGBT+ Thriving movement that is at the root of the PCA split taking place as we speak?
SOMETHING IS AMISS AT SBTS
Something troubling is going on in Mohler’s SBTS house and the leaders he and his seminary are sending into the church appear to be unstable in their careers and liberal in their political views and social convictions.
It might be worth looking at several dozen Mohler SBTS graduates who had been elevated at SBTS and in the SBC in an episode of “Where are They Now?”
IN 2009 AND AGAIN IN 2012 THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION ENGAGED EVANGELICAL LEADERS BEHIND CLOSED DOORS. FOR 2020 THE EVANGELICAL DEEP STATE IS WORKING OPENLY WITH THE OBAMA FOUNDATION FAITH AMBASSADOR COORDINATING THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION FOR THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.
Rev Thomas Littleton 1/3/2020
Christianity Today made itself the topic of political news just before Christmas as editor Mark Galli (heading out the door for the holidays and leaving for good) echoed the Democratic House leaders impeachment results as Galli and CT called for President Trump’s “Removal”. A closer look Michael Wear’s follow up below on the CT’s editorial and the partners involved in it provides a compelling case for a carefully coordinated effort to grab headlines and further the appearance of deep division in the conservative Evangelical camp over Trump.However Wear is clearly revealing the election strategy behind both the CT story and his own work among Evangelical leaders with his & Campaign.
A host of Christian leaders, most of whom are promoted heavily by Christianity Today, have been colluding and community organizing against Trump since the 2015 primaries. These modern day “political prophets” nestled themselves among trusting conservative evangelicals wearing conservative branding, while in reality it appears that men like Tim Keller and members of his organization The Gospel Coalition and Southern Baptist ethicist Russell Moore have been engaged in an ugly game of political seduction, collusion, and counter – conservative treason for over a decade.
In 2012 Keller and his “Good Faith ” (see the book by the same name ) partners met in the Oval office to agree on a strategy to offer the the church up on a silver platter to the President during his radical second term. The effort was all in the name of the “civility” and “for the common good”.
In 2015 /2016 Keller and partners like the ERLC’s Russell Moore took their rhetoric of betrayal a bit too far. They were too open about it to retain plausible deniability as they campaigned against GOP nominee Donald J Trump. Moore took heat from his own SBC bosses for a time and even became a topic on the Real Donald Trump Twitter feed. Trump called the subversive SBC ethicist Moore “heartless”. Moore has mask his rhetoric in theological jargon and steadily reminded Christians that his politics are a “Gospel Issue”. Still few evangelicals knew the close relationship Moore had maintained with the Obama Whitehouse even during the 2016 election cycle.
(Huffington Post photo- “US President Barack Obama (L) talks to Dr. Russell Moore, Southern Baptist Convention…during a meeting with faith leaders in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, DC on April 15, 2014”)
FAST FORWARD TO 2020 AND & CAMPAIGN/OBAMA FOUNDATION’S MICHAEL WEAR.
NOW in the 2020 election cycle the progressive evangelicals thin layer of theological veneer has worn off and these brazen betrayers have no shame in their public alliances, while acting in fierce opposition to the convictional political engagement of their own base. With heavily funded partners like & Campaign – a Paul Singer allied organization -these Evangelical leaders are openly coordinating their efforts to defeat Trump working with a Democratic Party Strategist and the Obama Foundation Ambassador in the & Campaign.
You can read more on the Evangelicals the & Campaign and Just Gospel 2020 here :
RUSSELL MOORE AND & CAMPAIGNS MICHAEL WEAR NOVEMBER 2019
Pictured above is Russell Moore of the Southern Baptist ERLC with Obama Foundation’s Michael Wear on stage at the Fall 2019 Trinity Forum event pushing for more VERY liberal immigration reform as part of the Evangelical Immigration Roundtable funded by Open Borders political interest. “A Civil Discourse” was the topic of their presentation which is another way of saying “True Conservatives make nice and shut up while we transform your faith and the world” .
Further information on how the Obama Foundation Ambassador Wear is working with TGC and Southern Baptist North American Missions Board urban pastors is documented here :
“Michael Wear serves as Chief Strategist and a member of the executive team for The And Campaign. He is a leading expert, speaker and strategist at the intersection of faith, politics and American public life.”
“As one of President Obama’s “ambassadors to America’s believers” (Buzzfeed), Michael directed faith outreach for President Obama’s historic 2012 re-election campaign. Michael was also one of the youngest White House staffers in modern American history: he served in the White House faith-based initiative during President Obama’s first term, where he led evangelical outreach and helped manage The White House’s engagement on religious and values issues”
In this video, Michael Wear, founder of Public Square Strategies, explains how Christians should think about politics. How does the Bible shape my reaction to who wins and loses? ”
RATHER THAN GIVE LOADS OF COMMENTARY LET’S ALLOW WEAR TO SPEAK TO THE CHRISTIANITY TODAY EDITORIAL AND THE & CAMPAIGN’S GOALS FOR 2020.
EXCERPTS FROM WEARS RECENT NEWSLETTER IS BELOW
More on the CT editorial, thoughts on 2020 and other ideas.
Michael and Melissa Wear January 2nd 2020
“Happy New Year, friends!”
“My hope is to write an *official* State of the Race overview over the next few days as an exclusive for subscribers, but here I want to provide some thoughts concerning a number of different events and discussions that have percolated over the last couple of weeks.”
“Also, the image above is from the Piedmont region on our recent trip. It was taken early in the morning while at the top of a vineyard, and the rising sun hadn’t totally cleared the fog.”
-Michael
“Christianity Today Editorial on Removing Trump”
“When the CT editorial by Mark Galli came out, I wrote to you that it was a big deal, and the fact that there was such a big debate over whether or not it is a big deal, is evidence that it is, in fact, a big deal. It provoked several tweets from President Trump, and I’m sure some anxious phone calls from White House staff that resulted in statements and op-eds in response. Mark Galli was everywhere for 72 hours, including major newspapers, cable news and the editorial was even discussed on at least one of the Sunday morning shows.”
“As I suggested in my previous post on this, how we define “big deal” is important. If skepticism that this is a big deal amounts to doubt that now 40%+ of white evangelicals are going to vote Democratic in 2020, then count me a skeptic! Politically, the import of this editorial begins with the effect it will have on the Christian leadership: does it provoke conversations that would otherwise not occur? Are certain leaders and organizations making plans and acting differently because of what the editorial opened up in terms of explicit opposition to Trump? I think the answer to these kinds of questions is yes. It can already be seen publicly, if you pay attention to who is sharing the editorial. But I’ve been most attentive to the quiet conversations, of which many I’ve heard or been a part of and have to assume there are exponentially more to which I am not privy.”
“Electorally, I think the environment is such that Trump can be limited to 70-78% of the white evangelical vote, and receive less support from Hispanic evangelicals than he did in 2016. This editorial can be a part of that, which makes it a “big deal.” This is especially true if the Democratic nominee actually makes a case to these voters as well.”
“Then, of course, as I explained in my previous post, part of what makes this a big deal has little to do with electoral outcomes directly, and more about the Christian witness in relation to those outcomes.”
“Pushback on some of the pastoral pushback”
“One bit of pushback I’ve heard, both privately and publicly, particularly from pastors, but also others, suggests that the CT editorial’s direct pronouncement was overly prescriptive and too directly political. Christians should not get involved in such a partisan scuffle, but should focus on God, on higher things, the argument goes.”
“I have been very public and clear in my defense of pastors who feel it is off-mission to speak to day-to-day political machinations, and I stand by that conviction. I believe—again, generally—the frequency and flippancy of calls to “leave your church if your pastor doesn’t mention (x)” is misguided.”
“Yet, in the same way I would urge advocates and activists to not place the burden of their calling on pastors, I would also suggest that pastors ought not place the burden of their calling on others. In fact, they should be grateful for institutions like Christianity Today, and organizations that are directly in the political fray. It might be wise for a specific pastor, and even pastors generally, to be more hesitant to use the authority of their position to speak into discrete public policy challenges. I tend to think there’s room for a number of different approaches here that all can amount to a faithful stewardship of the pastoral vocation and leadership of a local church. However, pastors should be careful not to impose their approach—one that factors in unique responsibilities that are not shared by every Christian leader and certainly not every individual Christian—on others and therefore make a general theological edict with the pretense of open-mindedness and being “above the fray.” Third way approaches still amount to a way, and are often no less prescriptive or limiting than any other approach. Additionally, when we suggest that all Christians in positions of influence should stay out of speaking directly and clearly on political issues, what does that suggest to those who actually work in politics? To those who serve in public office? To the Christian in the voting booth? I’ve argued that the message they receive is that politics is an area that is cordoned off from God, the one square inch over which God looks and says “all yours.” This is why so many are ready to put their faith to the side when they vote and when they think about politics. If pastors aren’t supposed to speak to political issues of the day, and leaders associated with Christian institutions aren’t supposed to speak to political issues of the day, can we blame Christians for getting the message that they’re better off taking their political cues from cable news and talk radio hosts?”
“In a healthy environment, we would have churches and pastors partnering with organizations and Christian leaders who have a specific mandate to work in politics. This is consistent with, for instance, C.S. Lewis’ discussion of politics in Mere Christianity. It is also a major driving idea behind The AND Campaign. We hope to alleviate some of the burden local churches and pastors feel to be involved in day-to-day politics. This requires a certain transfer of legitimacy and leadership in the area of politics that has to be more or less explicit. In some denominations, this is embedded in the denomination itself, even if it is not always honored practically—this is essentially the role of the ERLC in the Southern Baptist Convention, or the Methodist Church’s General Board of Church & Society. This happens regularly in other areas. Local churches might decide they care a great deal about, say, access to water or serving immigrants. But the local church’s expertise is most likely not in drilling wells, or helping immigrants navigate the legal process, so a church will throw some of their weight behind an organization or effort that does have that specific mandate. The local church can’t do everything, even in areas it thinks is important, but local churches can find ways to point to the leadership of those it trusts to lead in those areas.”
“All of this is to say: you might not think weighing in on impeachment is appropriate as a pastor, but if you hold that view, it is does not answer the question of how an institution like Christianity Today should act. Furthermore, such a view might even put additional weight on the imperative of institutions like Christianity Today to provide a clear point of view on political issues like impeachment.”
“Joe Biden’s RNS Op-ed”
“On New Year’s Eve, I did a segment on NPR’s Morning Edition about Joe Biden’s op-ed for Religion News Service. The op-ed is not revolutionary, but it is a great example of how faith can fit in a campaign’s mission. It is a textbook example of the power of communicating about faith…..”
“The op-ed is a powerful tool for faith outreach. It’s the kind of thing that will be referenced in Christian media, and circulated among people who consider faith when they vote. The references to Pope Francis’ encyclical on the environment, the scriptural references, and importantly, to his own respect for and experiences with religious institutions, and the way the op-ed describes faith as central to and affirming, to quote the op-ed, his “whole idea of self,” is really powerful for many Christians and Catholics, in particular.”
“But I would also suggest that we view this kind of communication as not just a matter of faith outreach, but about helping voters understand who the candidate is as a person and what guides them. There are obviously many ways to do this, but faith is a powerful one, and an op-ed like this helps to fill in that picture in a way that’s resonant.”
“It’s just one more example of how Democrats are emboldened on faith in 2020. There are a number of reasons for this, including the increasing focus on base constituencies and a judgment that the party’s lack of attention to faith in 2016 was a mistake. However, the biggest reason is Donald Trump, and the unique opportunity and challenge he presents. The challenge, of course, is what Democrats see as Trump’s rejection of fundamental American values, or what Biden would refer to as Trump’s testing of the soul of the nation. The opportunity is Democrats feel like they no longer have to be defensive in the values debate, and that includes the opportunity to sort of actively test Republican dominance when it comes to talking about values.”
“Of course, the op-ed will not be sufficient for some, and it probably shouldn’t be. It certainly doesn’t answer my every question, or erase every disagreement I have with Biden. I’m not arguing here that the op-ed is a silver bullet, but rather that it a) is an indication someone like Joe Biden is at least prepared to not make the same mistakes regarding faith that the party made in 2016, and b) exemplifies that faith outreach is not mystifying or ethereal. In 2017, I wrote for The Atlantic about what faith outreach on a presidential campaign entails for the purpose of demystifying faith outreach.”
“Star Wars and our politics”
“So I haven’t seen the new one yet, but I’ve read some of the reviews. Everyone knows I think Alissa Wilkinson is the best movie critic out there, and I can watch a movie, think it was bad, read her review and go, “I get it now. That movie was great, I’m just a doofus.” I’ll also be excited about a movie, read her review of it, see the movie, and shake my fists in the air because she was right again. She’s just that good.”
“So this is not a critique of Alissa’s critique of Star Wars (I haven’t seen it yet!), but there was something in Alissa’s review of Star Wars that sent me on a thought trail.”
I could say some other stuff about The Rise of Skywalker.About its insistence on a morally simple universe where you’re either dark or light, but you only get to be on one side. About its continued mixing of gnostic and biblical imagery, but without a lot to say about either. About how it could have said something intriguing about our contemporary culture, power, or empires, but just doggedly insists on broadcasting the same two messages that Disney movies fall back on time and time again: first, that you have to believe in yourself, and second, that the real Force was the friends we made along the way.
But The Rise of Skywalker isn’t good enough to earn that kind of discourse.
“Ouch. But I’m mostly concerned here with the line in italics, which struck me because it’s a criticism I’ve heard of the movie from others, and it’s often pitted directly against what so many thought was great about The Last Jedi. And what people thought was so great about The Last Jedi is that it was evolved storytelling, that included “morally complex” characters. It modernized the Star Wars franchise, many thought.”
“Here, though, it seems, morally complex characters and evolved storytelling are often just euphemisms for the kind of plot, tone and characters popularly associated with the 1990s HBO series, The Sopranos. It’s the much-praised sophistication of the anti-hero, of the protagonist who has dark secrets, of the villain who we learn is more complicated and can’t really be blamed for how he is. It’s mature art that gets beyond the binaries of good and evil, of pretending like there are always consequences for the bad guys and that the good guys always win out. Scratch that, the real maturity is to know that there are no good guys.”
“This makes me think of two things. First, I thought of the challenge of building a just moral universe as a storyteller in an environment like this. The most compelling recent example of a show wrestling with this has been the final season of The Affair. Showrunner Sarah Treem was interviewed by Deadline after the final episode aired, and spoke directly to this idea regarding the character of Noah Solloway….”
“This, to me, feels like a healthier prism for storytelling. Not suggesting good and evil do not exist, or being content or even reveling in the fact that characters are both good and evil, but setting the pursuit of moral improvement as a good (this is at the center of one of the greatest sitcoms of the last decade, The Good Place). Of course, I do not think we should require any specific moral vision on art in order to appreciate it, but I do think we should stop pretending like the height of sophistication is moral confusion.”
“Which leads me to the second thing I thought about in relation to these ideas, predictably, which is politics. Read this response to the CT editorial on Trump from Trump-supporting Christians like Robert Jeffress, and I think you’ll see more than a bit of praise for the rationalization of the anti-hero in it. I think you’ll see more than a bit of moral confusion in it. Everything bad about Trump can be ignored in light of everything that is good about him. These rationalizations represent a Sopranos ethics where Trump doesn’t lack integrity, but is just a leader with “a different kind of integrity.” Trump is some folks’ anti-hero: maybe they had some reservations during the first few episodes, but it’s now season 4. Too much is riding on his success, and they’re way too invested to change the channel now.”
Michael Wear
(END OF THE WEAR JANUARY 2ND NEWSLETTER )
THIRTY PIECES OF SILVER COMMENTARY
To keep it short and to the point -the open collaboration of evangelical leaders with the Obama Foundation and the Democratic Party Strategist of the & Campaign is 100% political and 100 % originating from the FAR LEFT. There are no political, let alone Biblical CONSERVATIVES INVOLVED in & Campaign’s leadership.The NAMB “WOKE pastors” who help provide leadership for & Campaign admit to their support of wedding the Gospel with Social Justice while taking support from their alliance with GOP activist funding of Paul Singer and his American Unity Fund.
Third Way Political engagement is itself a deception of the left. The collaboration of ERLC/TGC and Wears organization is not even a good effort at achieving the perception of the deception it is promoting. This effort is simply progressive politics unmasked in order to see how gullible Conservative Evangelicals will be.
These pulpit prophets rely on believers assumption that the leaders are social, theological and Biblical conservatives because of their affiliations with and positions in historically conservative denominations. It is likely these leaders NEVER shared the political or social views of those who follow them. Now these men are openly working to undermine conservative Evangelicals impact on the presidential politics of 2020 and beyond.
As the 2020 election cycle unfolds -at least 3 major denominations are on the verge of splitting over the influence of the VERY SAME theological compromise related to this VERY movement and it’s leaders. Don’t be fooled. These prophets simply want to bring down the conservative Christian movement in the US . They want your vote and to help progressives own your faith and your children and their future. We must all consider the cost of cowardice and the seller’s remorse that await those who follow the path of Judas
for Thirty Pieces of Silver.
Matthew 27:3-5
3 Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,
4 Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that.
5 And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.
thirtypiecesofsilverdotorg 