Loyal Defender: 2020

Ecumenism in the Next Methodism - Juicy Ecumenism (downright heretical theology is tolerated in the National Council of Churches, and has been for decades)

Religious Persecution on the Rise Worldwide - The American Conservative

Advent Drag Show is an ELCA Church Fundraising Event - EXPOSING THE ELCA

Why We Question the Election Results - The American Conservative

Catholic Hong Kong activist Jimmy Lai: ‘The Lord is suffering with me’ | Catholic News Agency

The sad irony of celebrity pastors | Spectator USA

John MacArthur: World 'perfectly suited' for Antichrist's arrival - The Christian Post

December 12

Dave Ramsey, Christian personal finance guru, defies COVID-19 to keep staff at desks

Hemingway: Governor Ralph Northam Has No Right To Dictate The Theology Of Virginia Residents (thefederalist.com)

Letter to the Church in Response to Governor Northam's Statements on Worship — Esgetology

Bad News for Evangelicals, God Doesn’t Need Donald Trump in the White House

Supreme Court Rejects Texas Lawsuit Challenging Results in 4 Key Swing States | CBN News

Protests, Marches, and Some Serious Shofar Blowig as Trumpers Set to Descend on D.C. Yet Again

Letter: Proud of pastors' response during pandemic

Kathie Lee Gifford doesn’t follow man-made religious rules - The Christian Post

December 14

‘Biden Did You Know?’: Metaxas turns Christmas carol into conspiracy parody (religionnews.com)

The Dangerous Idolatry of Christian Trumpism - The French Press (thedispatch.com)

'Proud Boys' burn Black Lives Matter signs at churches in Washington (religionnews.com)

'Let the Church ROAR!' Prayer Rally Comes to DC for Jericho March to 'Stop the Steal' | CBN News

Beware Those Hasty & Severe in Judgment – Entrusted to the Dirt

December 16

Political Idolatries? - Juicy Ecumenism

Rethinking Christmas Lights, Part One - Juicy Ecumenism

Dean Hollerith and Bishop Budde: Hate Has No Home Here - Washington National Cathedral

Conservatives Call on State Legislators to Appoint New Electors, in Accordance with the Constitution - Conservative Action Project (for information purposes)

One Of The Most Conservative States Is The Hottest Marijuana Market | Gene Veith (not persuaded that this is good)

More US churches are committing to racism-linked reparations | AP News (theologically liberal Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod pastor Matt Staneck supports this in my opinion ridiculous idea at A Lutheran Case For Reparations (Summer 2020) — Lutheran Forum), which conservative LCMS pastor Phil Hale opposed at A Lutheran Case for Reparations? – Christian News) (Some people deny that there are theologically liberal pastors in the LCMS.)

Thirty Churches in 30 Years: Post-Soviet Congregation Arises - Juicy Ecumenism

Opinion | Giving Trump credit for the vaccine is the best way for Biden to unite the country - The Washington Post

Franklin Graham: ‘I Am Grateful to God’ for ‘the Last Four Years’

Adoption by same-sex couples in Hungary effectively banned by constitutional change - The Washington Post

Franklin Graham Says Trump 'Will Go Down in History As One of the Great Presidents' (newsweek.com)

December 17

Black Lives Matter Signs at Historic Black Methodist Churches in D.C. Destroyed by Proud Boys Rioters - Juicy Ecumenism

The Cult of Christian Trumpism

A Threat to Democracy - Democracy Docket

Finnish Lutherans enter into fellowship with the LCMS - International Lutheran Council

Malagasy Lutherans elect new president - International Lutheran Council

Former Kenyan bishop enters into glory - International Lutheran Council

Finnish Lutherans to elect a new bishop in 2021 - International Lutheran Council

Redemption or Damnation for America - Juicy Ecumenism

My Top 10 Theology Stories of 2020 (thegospelcoalition.org)

The New Moral Majority Endorses Warnock & Ossoff — New Moral Majority (not that there aren’t also problems on the political right but this list of endorsements includes many way out there lefties like Brian McLaren)

December 19

In VOA Nominee Fight, WaPo Insists Christians Cannot Hold Public Office (thefederalist.com)

Proud Boys Leader Admits Burning Church BLM Sign Following Washington Rally (newsweek.com)

How to start your own blog in 2021 – Building Jerusalem

MAGA leaders call for the troops to keep Trump in office - POLITICO

NAE Condemns Burnings at Black Churches - National Association of Evangelicals

A Note from JD Hall: Goodbye, 4,830 Facebook Friends - Protestia

Trump’s path to an electoral college victory isn’t narrow. It’s nonexistent. - The Washington Post (my friend Stu Rothenberg from 2016)

December 20

North Carolina governor establishes “Gender Expansive Parents’ Day” in recognition of LGBT parents | Disrn

Members of John MacArthur's Church Say They’re Being Pressured Not to Report New COVID Outbreak | The Roys Report (julieroys.com)

How Postmodern Pseudo-Prophecy Dishonors God (thegospelcoalition.org)

December 22

Rev. Dr. Jan Davis on the Virgin Birth - Juicy Ecumenism

'When Jesus Comes Back She'll Be Gay' - EXPOSING THE ELCA

Charlie Kirk's Hooters Conservatism - The American Conservative

The Story Behind Handel’s Messiah - BreakPoint

Hungary Amends Constitution with Traditional Definition of Family - Christianity Today

December 23

Michele Bachmann to lead Regent University’s school of government, wants to expand ‘biblical worldview’ – The Virginian-Pilot

Joni Eareckson Tada tests positive for COVID - The Christian Post

The ELCA Drag Queen Storytime Queer Christmas Celebration - EXPOSING THE ELCA

Trump Pardons War Criminals Again - The American Conservative

Michele Bachmann Named Dean of Regent University Government School

Hungary amends Constitution to uphold traditional marriage - The Christian Post

Raven 23 & President Trump: The Team Deserves Pardons | National Review

Ted Cruz Blocks Hong Kong Immigration Bill That Jeopardizes National Security | ImmigrationReform.com

Ted Cruz’s Terrible Case for Keeping out Hong Kong Refugees – Reason.com

December 25

Concordia University-Chicago Becomes Latest University To Put Academic Programs On Chopping Block

Lutheran Laymen’s Declaration and Petition

Christmas in a pandemic: Churches offer messages of hope in 2020

Major pro-life group gives Trump its ‘Person of the Year’ award - The Christian Post

How much longer will the Middle East celebrate Christmas?

Why I Love a Service of Lessons and Carols at Christmas Time - Don Sweeting Blog

Limbaugh slams Biden's 'darkest days' comment about coronavirus - The Christian Post

December 27

Why Hollywood Praises Elliot Page (and Blacklists Me) (thegospelcoalition.org)

VA Governor: “You Don’t Need to Sit in the Pews for God to Hear Your Prayers” | Answers in Genesis

Pastoral Meanderings: Glad. . .

In Pakistan, Christians May Be Bombed On Christmas

When a Flat Earther Refused to Concede and All Hell Broke Loose

December 28

The Sexual Revolution Shows Its Endgame - Juicy Ecumenism

Los Angeles Finally Agrees to Drop COVID Restrictions Against Churches – Faithwire

The Dangerous Love of Ease | Desiring God

December 29

A woke church is doomed to fail | The Spectator

Norway's Stave Churches - The American Conservative

Gerald Ford and the Perversion of Presidential Pardons - The American Conservative

The Gospel According to Roger Stone - The American Conservative

Hemingway: If Lockdowns Worked, California Wouldn’t Have This Problem

What Big Tech Didn't Want You To See On The Federalist In 2020

President Trump Kept This 2016 Promise to Us - The Stream

Monday, November 02, 2020

Interesting Links from November 2020

North Korean Christians executed for owning Bible, babies killed | World

Nadia Bolz-Weber Talks Goddess, Sex & Politics at Seminary - Juicy Ecumenism

Dear John Piper: No, Arrogance Is Not As Deadly As Murder

Calvary Chapel San Jose lawsuit, $350K fines indoor services | Church & Ministries

Virginia Mollenkott, Feminist Author and Activist, Dies at 88: A Reminder That Reimagining the Creation Order Leads to Reimagining the Creator - CBMW

181. “All Brothers”: The Unbearable Cost of Roman Catholic Universalism - Vatican Files

November 4

Trump as president: what he has accomplished in his four years

Virginia Law Banishes Conscience from the Public Square - Juicy Ecumenism

National Conservatism's Big Night - The American Conservative

Attention Sean Feucht and evangelical leaders: Hatred of the press is hurting your cause — GetReligion

Nick Challies, son of well-known evangelical blogger, dies at college

November 6

Want the Media to Praise You as a Pastor? It’s Easy: Get a 'Sex Change' - The Stream

An Urgent Appeal to Christian Supporters of President Trump - The Stream

November 8

Pastor Robert Jeffress: Biden is president-elect — how should Christians respond? | Fox News

Went to Bed in America, Woke Up in a Banana Republic › American Greatness (for information purposes)

Trump's election falsehoods 'put a smile' on the faces of dictators, observers warn

How Trump Won While Losing - The Stream

How to Biblically Handle Your Post-Election Triggered Self - The Stream

Pro-life groups react as Joe Biden is declared winner of election | Politics

November 9

Is Carthage College the Right School For You? - EXPOSING THE ELCA

It's Time for Conservatives to Unite Behind Ye - The American Conservative (for information purposes)

Bishop Harry Jackson Jr., Trump evangelical adviser, has died

Donald Trump's temperament may have cost him the election, but his record attests to kept promises - Washington Times

Christian Ministry Sues Bank Over Claims of Religious Discrimination – Faithwire

November 10

A Civil War? An Internal Cold War? | Gene Veith

Pastoral Meanderings: Curiosity kills more than cats. . .

The Media Says Joe Biden Will Be President, and I'm Relieved - The Stream

A Time to Heal? - The Stream

Rural pastor: Donald Trump was my president, Joe Biden now is

November 11

It's Not Your Father’s GOP - The American Conservative

The Mayflower Compact: A Covenant with God - Juicy Ecumenism

When Political Prophecies Don’t Come to Pass - Christianity Today

Is Alex Trebek in Heaven? The question and urgency of eternity

How Biden swung the religious vote - POLITICO

The Bronze Idol of Infrequent Communion — Gottesdienst (Comment: As I read the Scriptures, the Lord said to partake often but He didn’t say how often the often should be. Some people give little to no indication that they would have supported Martin Luther had they lived at the time Luther did. Some things that Luther emphasized are not emphasized.)

Joe Biden Says He Would Sign Executive Order Week 1 Forcing Americans to Fund Planned Parenthood - LifeNews.com

Author: Trump's ‘character problems’ cost him evangelical votes | Politics

Ark. requires face masks at church services in new guidelines | U.S.

Liberal Megachurch Set to Leave UMC - Juicy Ecumenism

Opposition ousted | WORLD

His (hopefully) final hissy fit: Trump’s post-election meltdown is so typical and so pathetic – New York Daily News

What Legal Rights Do Canadian Governments Have to Restrict Assemblies? - The Gospel Coalition | Canada

November 14

Here's a very fluid take on evangelicalism: New York Times obituary of a progressive pioneer — GetReligion

Nevada protects gay marriage in constitution, exempts clergy from ceremonies | Baptist Press

The Americans Who Politicized the Bible - The American Conservative

The Cruelty of Quarantine: A Lament | Tim Challies

It is a Weakness of Faith to Refuse to Mourn the Death of Loved Ones – The Fight of Faith

November 15

Bethel Church's Sean Feucht Has #1 Album in the World - Protestia

Fact check: Dominion voting machines didn't delete or switch votes (not helpful if one is kooky in pressing one’s case. Could lose some votes for conservatives in the future. Best to use common courtesy in arguing one’s case too.)

Fauci and Collins dispense Thanksgiving COVID-19 advice at cathedral forum

San Diego strip clubs reopen but churches ordered remain closed | U.S.

Trying to Get as Many Heavenly Rewards as You Can | theology like a child

November 17

British police break up baptism that defied lockdown rules | World

Biden’s chief of staff pick called himself pro-choice ‘soldier’ | Politics

A Tribute to the Life of Jay Adams | Brad Hambrick

November 18

Rachel Held Evans’ father on his daughter’s final days and the ongoing impact of her life (Mrs. Evans was extremely theologically liberal and everyone who is honest knows it. Her totally unexpected death was unusual.)

Pro-Abortion Religious Coalition RCRC Shrinks Further - Juicy Ecumenism

If Americans Can No Longer Trust Our Elections, We’re In Big Trouble (any cheating that exists will be judged by God even if it isn’t in this life)

If Americans Can No Longer Trust Our Elections, We’re In Big Trouble

November 21

Daily Beast team stunned to learn that 'The Great Commission' remains in New Testament — GetReligion

Pastor John MacArthur and California church closings: Why isn't this a national story? — GetReligion

9 Things You Should Know About President-Elect Joe Biden

Delaware Elects First 'Transgender' State Senator in American History | Christian News Network

LGBT Lobby Coming After Christian Schools - The American Conservative

A Direct Threat to Christian Education—The Human Rights Campaign Demands that the Biden Administration Deny Accreditation to Christian Colleges and Schools - AlbertMohler.com

The Denial of Truth in the Bostock Decision and the Destruction of Freedom - Part 3 - Juicy Ecumenism

Serving God & Military - Juicy Ecumenism

Carl Lentz and the 'hot pastor' problem

I Know Sidney Powell. She Is Telling the Truth - The Stream

Keith, Kristyn Getty: Christianity and science are not at odds | Entertainment

Was Jesus Ugly? The Early Church Thought So

Adam Taylor succeeds Jim Wallis as Sojourners president

Five faith facts about former President Barack Obama’s new book: ‘A Promised Land’ “My assortment of charms grew steadily: a miniature Buddha, an Ohio buckeye, a laminated four-leaf clover, a tiny bronze likeness of Hanuman the monkey god, all manner of angels, rosary beads, crystals and rocks,” former President Obama said.

Sojourners' Jim Wallis Georgetown Bound - Juicy Ecumenism (Sojourners is extremely theologically liberal.)

Trump's Legal Battle for the Election is a Mess - The American Conservative

Pastoral Meanderings: Have we become wimps?

Isn't love just love? - The Christian Post

November 26

Eric Metaxas Promotes Donald Trump’s Last-Ditch Effort to Destabilize Election – Warren Throckmorton (wthrockmorton.com)

Out Of Office, Trump Could Face Significant Legal Peril : NPR

Team Trump offering ‘fire hose’ of conspiracy Kool-Aid for supporters

Vanderbilt Divinity School Alumna Becomes Nashville’s First Gay Woman Lutheran Pastor – The Tennessee Tribune

It's Time for Conservatives to Dump Trump - The American Conservative

Pro-Abortion Biden Kosher With DC Archbishop - The American Conservative

Christian Celebrities vs Living Unseen - Juicy Ecumenism

'Transhood': New HBO Max show 'more exploitative than Cuties - The Christian Post

Pastoral Meanderings: It is hard to be thankful when. . .

Thankful in 2020: International Religious Freedom Edition - Juicy Ecumenism

Transgender Pakistanis find solace in a church of their own (apnews.com) (for information purposes)

Finnish Lutherans enter into fellowship with the LCMS - International Lutheran Council (ilc-online.org)

Those Dern Lutherans: An Interview with Paul T. McCain (thegospelcoalition.org). Although little known outside of the LCMS, McCain was a prominent leader in the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod for many years. Mary Ann McCain wrote in a wonderful tribute on Facebook on November 26, “My dad suddenly passed last night. Although this is a shock to us all, this is not a shock to God. My dad was a man of incredible faith; strong, determined, devoted. He was a pastor, a writer, an avid gun collector, and a very loving husband. To me, he was my hero. He gifted me with a new Bible on Tuesday and I kissed him goodbye yesterday. We are also blessed to have pictures from a recent family photoshoot. My dad is now in the loving arms of our Heavenly Father, whole and free. I love you, Dad.

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“The Lord has given, the Lord has taken away, blessed be the name of the Lord” Job 1:21.

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“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” Revelation 21:4

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Dad’s Favorite Verse: “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20”

November 27

DC archbishop will serve Biden communion despite abortion stance - The Christian Post

A Day of Reckoning: Victorian Government pushes to ban Christian practices with threat of 10 years in prison | MurrayCampbell.net

November 28

Weedon's Blog: Remembering a Friend: +Paul Timothy McCain

Some in ACLU Have New Cause: Book Banning | Independent Women

Saudi Arabia: The Ally From Hell - The American Conservative

Pastoral Meanderings: When pastors downplay their role as pastors. . .

Obituary: Rev. Paul Timothy McCain, publisher and executive editor, Concordia Publishing House (lcms.org)

The Election May Never Be Over for White Supremacists | Time

November 30

Advent in a Pandemic: An Invitation to Wait - Juicy Ecumenism