Loyal Defender: 2020

https://juicyecumenism.com/2020/12/10/ecumenism-in-the-next-methodism/ (downright heretical theology is tolerated in the National Council of Churches, and has been for decades)

https://www.theamericanconservative.com/articles/religious-persecution-on-the-rise-worldwide/

https://www.exposingtheelca.com/on-social-media-elca-wolves-blog/advent-drag-show-is-an-elca-church-fundraising-event

https://www.theamericanconservative.com/articles/why-we-question-the-election-results/

https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/catholic-hong-kong-activist-jimmy-lai-the-lord-is-suffering-with-me-89843

The sad irony of celebrity pastors | Spectator USA

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

December 12

https://religionnews.com/2020/12/11/dave-ramsey-christian-financial-guru-ridicules-covid-19-fears-plans-large-in-person-christmas-party/

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

https://www.thedailybeast.com/protests-marches-and-some-serious-shofar-blowig-as-trumpers-set-to-descend-on-dc-yet-again?ref=scroll

https://www.thedailybeast.com/bad-news-for-evangelicals-god-doesnt-need-donald-trump-in-the-white-house?ref=home

https://www1.cbn.com/cbnnews/politics/2020/december/tx-election-case-gains-traction-as-house-republicans-join-and-6-states-sign-on-as-plaintiffs

https://bismarcktribune.com/opinion/letters/letter-proud-of-pastors-response-during-pandemic/article_9080c04b-2307-5139-a8f2-42a7b7f42482.html

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)

https://www1.cbn.com/cbnnews/us/2020/december/let-the-church-roar-national-prayer-rally-comes-to-dc-for-jericho-march-to-stop-the-steal

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

December 16

https://juicyecumenism.com/2020/12/14/political-idolatries/

https://juicyecumenism.com/2020/12/14/rethinking-christmas-lights-part-one/

https://cathedral.org/press-room/dean-hollerith-and-bishop-budde-hate-has-no-home-here/

http://conservativeactionproject.com/conservatives-call-on-state-legislators-to-appoint-new-electors-in-accordance-with-the-constitution/ (for information purposes)

https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2020/12/one-of-the-most-conservative-states-is-the-hottest-marijuana-market/ (not persuaded that this is good)

https://www.startribune.com/more-us-churches-commit-to-racism-linked-reparations/600001248/ (theologically liberal Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod pastor Matt Staneck supports this in my opinion ridiculous idea at https://www.lutheranforum.com/blog/a-lutheran-case-for-reparations-summer-2020 ), which conservative LCMS pastor Phil Hale opposed at https://christiannewsmissouri.com/2020/12/01/a-lutheran-case-for-reparations/ ) (Some people deny that there are theologically liberal pastors in the LCMS.)

https://juicyecumenism.com/2020/12/16/yuri-shumaev-kazakhstan-christians/

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/12/15/giving-trump-credit-vaccine-is-best-way-biden-unite-country/

https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2020/12/15/franklin-graham-i-am-grateful-to-god-for-the-last-four-years/

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2020/12/15/hungary-adoption-lgbt-constitution/

https://www.charismanews.com/us/83692-rodney-howard-browne-insists-this-is-greater-than-trump-it-s-about-america “Howard-Browne also says he has a peace about the outcome and confidence that Trump will be sworn in for a second term as U.S. president on Jan. 20.”

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

December 17

https://juicyecumenism.com/2020/12/16/black-lives-matter-methodist-churches-destroyed/

https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/cult-christian-trumpism/

https://www.democracydocket.com/2020/12/a-threat-to-democracy/

https://ilc-online.org/2020/12/08/french-lutherans-elect-new-president-2/

https://ilc-online.org/2020/11/25/finnish-lutherans-enter-into-fellowship-with-the-lcms/

https://ilc-online.org/2020/11/08/malagasy-lutherans-elect-new-president/

https://ilc-online.org/2020/12/11/former-kenyan-bishop-enters-into-glory/

https://ilc-online.org/2020/12/07/finnish-lutherans-to-elect-a-new-bishop-in-2021/

https://www.cph.org/default.aspx?

https://juicyecumenism.com/2020/12/17/redemption-or-damnation-for-america/

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

https://juicyecumenism.com/2020/12/21/jan-davis-on-the-virgin-birth/

https://www.exposingtheelca.com/exposed-blog/when-jesus-comes-back-shell-be-gay

https://www.theamericanconservative.com/dreher/charlie-kirk-tpusa-hooters-conservatism-jesus/

The Story Behind Handel’s Messiah - BreakPoint

https://www.christianitytoday.com/news/2020/december/hungary-constitution-family-define-christian-lgbt-adopt.html

December 23

https://www.pilotonline.com/news/education/vp-nw-bachmann-regent-20201222-oppx7cdpvjhbtflup3zr2syrdq-story.html

Joni Eareckson Tada tests positive for COVID - The Christian Post

https://www.exposingtheelca.com/exposed-blog/the-elca-drag-queen-storytime-queer-christmas-celebration

https://www.theamericanconservative.com/state-of-the-union/trump-pardons-war-criminals-again/

https://www.regent.edu/news/regent-university-names-michele-bachmann-as-dean-of-the-robertson-school-of-government/

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

https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaeltnietzel/2020/12/23/concordia-university-chicago-becomes-latest-university-to-put-academic-programs-on-chopping-block/?sh=2701ca7e7eff&fbclid=IwAR1Yf66JBlDEGllCWPINl4z2oMt3HluvsYwA2xKOcv_Ey4hs-C3UnEnzuWA

https://steadfastlutherans.org/2020/12/lutheran-laymens-declaration-and-petition/

https://bismarcktribune.com/news/local/bismarck/christmas-in-a-pandemic-churches-offer-messages-of-hope-in-2020/article_299334d2-d2a5-5bf3-a9dc-887b8c83801c.html#tracking-source=home-top-story

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

https://religionnews.com/2020/12/24/how-much-longer-will-the-middle-east-celebrate-christmas/

https://www.donsweeting.com/why-i-love-a-service-of-lessons-and-carols-at-christmas-time/

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

http://pastoralmeanderings.blogspot.com/2020/12/glad.html

https://thefederalist.com/2020/12/24/in-america-churches-may-be-closed-on-christmas-but-in-pakistan-they-may-be-bombed/

https://www.thedailybeast.com/when-a-flat-earther-refused-to-concede-and-all-hell-broke-loose?ref=home

December 28

https://juicyecumenism.com/2020/12/28/the-sexual-revolution-shows-its-endgame/ Scary.

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

https://www.theamericanconservative.com/prufrock/norways-stave-churches/

https://www.theamericanconservative.com/articles/gerald-ford-and-the-perversion-of-presidential-pardons/

https://www.theamericanconservative.com/articles/the-gospel-according-to-roger-stone/

https://thefederalist.com/2020/12/28/hemingway-if-lockdowns-worked-california-wouldnt-have-this-problem/

https://thefederalist.com/2020/12/29/what-big-tech-didnt-want-you-to-see-on-the-federalist-in-2020/

https://stream.org/president-trump-kept-this-2016-promise-to-us/

Monday, November 02, 2020

Interesting Links from November 2020

https://www.christianpost.com/news/north-korean-christians-executed-for-owning-bible-babies-killed.html

https://juicyecumenism.com/2020/11/02/nadia-bolz-weber-goddess-sex-politics/

https://thefederalist.com/2020/11/02/democrats-could-shoot-a-baby-in-the-street-and-john-piper-would-blame-trumps-arrogance/

https://www.christianpost.com/news/calvary-chapel-san-jose-lawsuit-350k-fines-indoor-services.html

https://cbmw.org/2020/10/29/virginia-mollenkott-feminist-author-and-activist-dies-at-88-a-reminder-that-reimagining-the-creation-order-leads-to-reimagining-the-creator/

http://vaticanfiles.org/en/2020/11/181-all-brothers-the-unbearable-cost-of-roman-catholic-universalism/

November 4

https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2020/11/03/trump-president-what-he-has-accomplished-his-four-years-column/6112366002/

https://juicyecumenism.com/2020/11/03/virginia-values-act/

https://www.theamericanconservative.com/dreher/trump-national-conservatism-big-night/

https://www.getreligion.org/getreligion/2020/11/1/attention-sean-feucht-and-evangelical-leaders-hatred-of-the-press-is-hurting-your-cause

https://religionnews.com/2020/11/04/nick-challies-son-of-well-known-evangelical-blogger-dies-at-college/

November 6

https://stream.org/want-media-praise-pastor-easy-get-sex-change/

https://stream.org/an-urgent-appeal-to-christian-supporters-of-president-trump/

November 8

https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/biden-elected-christians-response-robert-jeffress

https://amgreatness.com/2020/11/07/went-to-bed-in-america-woke-up-in-a-banana-republic/ (for information purposes)

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/trump-s-election-falsehoods-put-smile-faces-dictators-observers-warn-n1246766

https://stream.org/how-trump-won-while-losing/

https://stream.org/how-to-biblically-handle-your-post-election-triggered-self/

https://www.christianpost.com/news/pro-life-groups-react-as-joe-biden-is-declared-winner-of-election.html

November 9

https://www.exposingtheelca.com/exposed-blog/is-carthage-college-the-right-school-for-you

https://www.theamericanconservative.com/articles/its-time-for-conservatives-to-unite-behind-ye/

https://religionnews.com/2020/11/09/bishop-harry-jackson-jr-trump-evangelical-adviser-has-died/

https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/nov/8/donald-trumps-temperament-may-have-cost-him-the-el/

https://www.faithwire.com/2020/11/09/christian-ministry-sues-bank-over-claims-of-religious-discrimination/

https://griffingulledge.com/2020/11/03/the-bereans-had-no-bibles/

November 10

https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2020/11/a-civil-war-an-internal-cold-war/

http://pastoralmeanderings.blogspot.com/2020/11/curiosity-kills-more-than-cats.html

https://stream.org/the-media-says-joe-biden-will-be-president-and-im-relieved/

https://stream.org/a-time-to-heal/

https://www.christianpost.com/voices/rural-pastor-donald-trump-was-my-president-joe-biden-now-is.html

November 11

https://www.theamericanconservative.com/articles/its-not-your-fathers-gop/

https://juicyecumenism.com/2020/11/11/the-mayflower-compact-a-covenant-with-god/

https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2020/november-web-only/political-prophecy-false-bible-scholar-trump-election.html?utm_source=ctdirect-html&utm_medium=Newsletter&utm_term=30701241&utm_content=741909699&utm_campaign=email

https://www.christianpost.com/voices/is-alex-trebek-in-heaven-the-question-and-urgency-of-eternity.html

https://www.politico.com/news/2020/11/11/how-biden-swung-the-religious-vote-435954

https://www.gottesdienst.org/gottesblog/2020/10/24/the-bronze-idol-of-infrequent-communion (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.)

https://www.lifenews.com/2020/11/09/joe-biden-says-he-would-sign-executive-order-week-1-forcing-americans-to-fund-planned-parenthood/?fbclid=IwAR2gjl2Eu_X02rQjFM1VirKBbsE2BG2WAqUvDbtFSbraz70Kb4VNzxCJJgk#.X6r8672x9mE.facebook

https://www.concordia-ny.edu/about/news/1685242/rev-dr-joshua-hollmann-accepted-to-external-phd-program-at-radboud-university-in-the-netherlands (Comment: doesn’t sound like he upholds Biblical Christology, the teaching the Jesus is the only way to heaven, or Biblical Evangelism, despite being affiliated with a denomination with a theologically conservative reputation)

https://www.christianpost.com/news/author-trumps-character-problems-cost-him-evangelical-votes.html

https://www.christianpost.com/news/ark-requires-face-masks-at-church-services-in-new-guidelines.html

https://juicyecumenism.com/2020/11/12/liberal-megachurch-set-to-leave-umc/

https://world.wng.org/2020/11/opposition_ousted

https://www.nydailynews.com/opinion/ny-oped-trump-hissy-fit-20201111-5hbr5ot5ovfnffubxqgcwhhgsm-story.html

https://ca.thegospelcoalition.org/article/what-legal-rights-do-canadian-governments-have-to-restrict-assemblies/

November 14

https://www.getreligion.org/getreligion/2020/10/28/heres-a-very-fluid-take-on-evangelicalism-new-york-times-obituary-of-a-progressive-pioneer

https://www.baptistpress.com/resource-library/news/nevada-protects-gay-marriage-in-constitution-exempts-clergy-from-ceremonies/

https://www.theamericanconservative.com/articles/the-americans-who-politicized-the-bible/

https://www.challies.com/articles/the-cruelty-of-quarantine-a-lament/

https://fightoffaithblog.com/2020/11/12/it-is-a-weakness-of-faith-to-refuse-to-mourn-the-death-of-loved-ones/

November 15

https://protestia.com/2020/11/13/bethel-churchs-sean-feucht-has-1-album-in-the-world/

http://ichabodthegloryhasdeparted.blogspot.com/2020/11/guess-who-called-election-in-october.html (clickbait)

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/factcheck/2020/11/14/fact-check-dominion-voting-machines-didnt-delete-switch-votes/6282157002/ (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.)

https://religionnews.com/2020/11/13/fauci-and-collins-mull-thanksgiving-covid-19-advice-at-cathedral-forum/

https://www.christianpost.com/news/san-diego-strip-clubs-reopen-but-churches-ordered-remain-closed.html

https://infanttheology.wordpress.com/2020/11/15/trying-to-get-as-many-heavenly-rewards-as-you-can/

https://www.efca.org/blog/leading-churches/efca-2018-doctrinal-survey

November 17

https://www.christianpost.com/news/british-police-break-up-baptism-that-defied-lockdown-rules.html

https://www.christianpost.com/news/bidens-chief-of-staff-pick-called-himself-pro-choice-soldier.html

http://bradhambrick.com/a-tribute-to-the-life-of-jay-adams/

November 18

https://religionnews.com/2020/11/17/rachel-held-evans-father-on-his-daughters-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.)

https://juicyecumenism.com/2020/11/17/religious-coalition-for-reproductive-choice/

https://thefederalist.com/2020/11/17/if-americans-can-no-longer-trust-our-elections-were-in-big-trouble/ (any cheating that exists will be judged by God even if it isn’t in this life)

http://pastoralmeanderings.blogspot.com/2020/11/the-hegemony-of-china.html

November 21

https://encourage.pcacdm.org/2020/11/16/post-template-213-82/

https://www.efca.org/blog/understanding-scripture/wrath-god-should-come-our-minds-more-often?fbclid=IwAR2Q702dRpBztH7lJQ2V6aEq6TewkjvHk3kpoM3kYnnW0liY1B3s5F7vceI

https://www.getreligion.org/getreligion/2020/11/17/daily-beast-stunned-to-learn-that-the-great-commission-remains-in-new-testament

https://www.getreligion.org/getreligion/2020/11/16/john-macarthur-and-california-church-closings-so-many-stories-so-few-reporters

https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/9-things-you-should-know-about-president-elect-joe-biden/

https://christiannews.net/2020/11/04/delaware-elects-first-transgender-state-senator-in-american-history/

https://www.theamericanconservative.com/dreher/lgbt-lobby-coming-after-christian-schools/

https://albertmohler.com/2020/11/18/a-direct-threat-to-christian-education-the-human-rights-campaign-demands-that-the-biden-administration-deny-accreditation-to-christian-colleges-and-schools

https://juicyecumenism.com/2020/11/19/gender-ideology-bostock-decision-destruction-freedom-part-3/

https://juicyecumenism.com/2020/11/19/serving-god-military/

https://religionnews.com/2020/11/19/carl-lentz-and-the-hot-pastor-problem/

https://stream.org/i-know-sidney-powell-she-is-telling-the-truth/

https://www.christianpost.com/news/keith-kristyn-getty-christianity-and-science-are-not-at-odds.html

https://www.thedailybeast.com/was-jesus-ugly-the-early-church-thought-so?ref=home

https://religionnews.com/2020/11/19/adam-taylor-succeeds-jim-wallis-as-sojourners-president/

https://religionnews.com/2020/11/18/five-faith-facts-about-former-president-barack-obamas-book-guns-wright-prayer/ “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.

https://juicyecumenism.com/2020/11/20/sojourners-jim-wallis-georgetown/ (Sojourners is extremely theologically liberal.)

https://www.theamericanconservative.com/articles/trumps-legal-battle-for-the-election-is-a-mess/

http://pastoralmeanderings.blogspot.com/2020/11/have-we-become-wimps.html

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

https://thehill.com/opinion/campaign/527065-team-trump-offering-fire-hose-of-conspiracy-kool-aid-for-supporters

https://tntribune.com/vanderbilt-divinity-school-alumna-becomes-nashvilles-first-gay-woman-lutheran-pastor/

https://www.theamericanconservative.com/articles/its-time-for-conservatives-to-dump-trump/

https://www.theamericanconservative.com/dreher/pro-abortion-catholic-joe-biden-archbishop-wilton-gregory-communion/

https://www.valpo.edu/news/?type=post&site=239&id=11986

https://www.valpo.edu/news/?type=post&site=239&id=12094

https://juicyecumenism.com/2020/11/25/christian-celebrities/

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

http://pastoralmeanderings.blogspot.com/2020/11/it-is-hard-to-be-thankful-when.html

https://juicyecumenism.com/2020/11/26/thankful-in-2020-international-religious-freedom-edition/

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.

•

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

•

“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

•

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

https://weedon.blogspot.com/2020/11/remembering-friend-paul-timothy-mccain.html

https://www.iwf.org/2020/11/16/some-in-aclu-have-new-cause-book-banning/

https://www.theamericanconservative.com/articles/saudi-arabia-the-ally-from-hell/

http://pastoralmeanderings.blogspot.com/2020/11/when-pastors-downplay-their-role-as.html

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

https://juicyecumenism.com/2020/11/29/advent-wait/