by Right to Life UK

Attendees at the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Chicago and members of the public are being offered free abortions at a Planned Parenthood mobile abortion clinic.

The pop-up clinic situated just a few streets away from the venue where Kamala Harris is expected to be selected as the Democratic Party’s presidential nominee, has been offering free medical abortions both today and yesterday.

The chief medical officer of Planned Parenthood Great Rivers told the New York Post: “There are going to be people traveling to Chicago from all over the country”.

As part of their promotion of the mobile abortion clinic, Planned Parenthood also teamed up with a local fast food vendor who said that everyone who attends the clinic, will receive a coupon for a free hot dog.

The New York Post reports that the form previously said that the services would be provided “on a sliding-fee scale – pay what you can and get the health care you need”.

Abortion provider Planned Parenthood advises women having an abortion to do so in a comfortable setting and to take painkillers before a medical abortion.

Planned Parenthood explains that in a medical abortion, it is “normal to see large blood clots (up to the size of a lemon) or clumps of tissue during the abortion”.

Writing for the National Review, Haley Strack explains what having a mobile abortion clinic in close proximity to the DNC may mean: “Does Planned Parenthood expect women to go back to their Chicago hotel rooms, get comfortable, and take the abortion pill? What is the pre- and post-care offered at this week’s abortion pop-up? The DNC lasts for four days. All abortion appointment slots have been filled this week, Planned Parenthood said. It’s entirely possible that some number of women will be bleeding in the bathrooms at the DNC, as Harris brags about her pro-woman platform”.

Kamala Harris and abortion

Kamala Harris has been a long-time supporter of abortion and has a track record of using her political position and influence to promote it. If she is selected as the Democrats’ presidential nominee and wins the election in November, it is likely that the defense and expansion of abortion access will be among her priorities.

In selecting Tim Walz as her vice presidential nominee, Harris appears to have chosen someone who has taken an even more extreme position on abortion over the years than she has.

In June 2018 at a Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL) convention, Walz said “My record is so pro-choice, Nancy Pelosi asked me if I should tone it down”.

Walz has made abortion a cornerstone of his legislative agenda while in office and has consistently voted for radical pro-abortion legislation, including against legislation that sought to prohibit abortion on the basis of the race or gender of the baby, as well as voting against legislation that would have required health care practitioners to provide the same medical care to babies born alive after an abortion as they would to any other baby born at the same gestation.

Spokesperson for Right To Life UK, Catherine Robinson, said “Planned Parenthood appears to be trivializing abortion by offering hot dog coupons, monopolizing on the increased footfall from the DNC. Sadly, as has been pointed out, this means there may well be women having an abortion in the toilets of the Democratic National Convention venue itself, without any medical oversight”.

But while knowledge makes us feel important, it is love that strengthens the church. Anyone who claims to know all the answers doesn’t really know very much. (1 Corinthians 8:1b-2)

If you think you know a lot, you over-estimate yourself. Proud knowledge is the most significant proof of our ignorance.

Those from whom I have learned the most, are people who are most humble. Albert Einstein once said, “The definition of genius is taking the complex and making it simple.” The trait of a good teacher is to take a subject that is difficult for most people to understand and make it understandable to almost everyone. In my university experience, I have had professors who seemed to try and take simple things and make them complex. If you are continually speaking over people’s heads, you are not teaching them; you are endeavoring to impress them. Einstein further commented, “If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough.”

The commentator Matthew Henry once wrote, “There is no proof of ignorance that is more common than proud knowledge. Those who understand their ignorance are ones who know best.” God is the source of all knowledge. When we believe that knowledge comes through our great intellect or is expressed only through our eloquent words, we are becoming a fool. Proverbs 9:18 (NLT) tells us that “Fear if the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” Without God, we know nothing.

The Apostle Paul was often criticized for his lack of eloquence. He responded by saying he only sought to know Christ and him, crucified. The power of the Gospel speaks for itself.  Proud knowledge is the language of fools and only broadcasts our ignorance.

I worked for seventeen years as a missionary with Youth With A Mission. My missionary work has taken me to Mexico, Canada, Chile, Argentina, Bolivia, Spain, and the Ukraine.I hold a Masters of Education in curriculum and instruction from Virginia Commonwealth University. kenbarnes737@gmail.com

In the unfolding history of humankind, where empires have emerged and then vanished, and where ethical principles have often proved unstable, there remains an enduring longing for that which is permanent and eternal. In this profound search for immutable truth, we encounter the divine words of Psalm 45, a hymn to a King whose reign transcends the transient boundaries of earthly dominions.

Psalm 45 is not merely a song of celebration but a theological affirmation of a King who possesses divine attributes. The depiction of the king in this Psalm serves as a typology of Christ, portraying a rule characterized by righteousness. The statement, "The scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom" (Psalm 45:6), articulates a central doctrine that reverberates through the totality of Scripture.

The king's portrayal as one filled with grace, victorious in truth, and eternally enthroned, points to a higher reality. This symbolism of the righteous king finds its fulfillment in Christ, whose rule is imbued with perfect justice and divine love. The echo of this Psalm in Hebrews 1:8 affirms the Christological interpretation and forms a theological bridge between the Old Testament covenant and New Testament revelation.

The doctrine of divine righteousness is not an abstract concept—it is integral to the very nature of God and His covenant relationship with His creation. This righteousness motivated the sending of Christ to atone for humanity, an act of love that reconciles the chasm between the holiness of God and the sinfulness of mankind.

The only appropriate response to this unparalleled act of love must be one of reverence and awe, prostrating ourselves before Him on His throne, with absolute worship that is grounded in the biblical doctrines of grace and divine sovereignty. In a world where the natural man believes himself to be the center of his own universe, the eternal truths of this Psalm provide a corrective, calling the believer to align with the transcendent and eternal attributes of God.

The contemporary church must respond to this call by embodying a theology that aligns with the unchanging nature of God. It must stand as a witness to truth in a relativistic world, reflecting the righteous rule of Christ, the divine King portrayed in Psalm 45.

In contemplating these truths, we are drawn to anchor in the eternal King of Glory, to find direction in the righteousness of Christ, and to rejoice in the love that was ultimately fulfilled in God's redemptive act on the cross.

Rick Warren, Saddleback Church's former pastor, is attempting to cloak his unbiblical false teachings in the legacy of Charles Spurgeon. Despite the fact that Saddleback is facing disfellowshipping from the Southern Baptist Convention—a scenario well-known and anticipated—Warren has chosen to double down on his views, but not without twisting the words of one of Christianity's most respected figures.

“We’re not challenging the Executive Committee ruling for Saddleback’s benefit. No one wants to stay where they aren’t wanted,” Warren said in an article at Church Leaders explaining his reason for contesting the Southern Baptist Convention's move to disfellowship the church after ordaining several women to the pastorate over the last few years. “Instead we are challenging the EC ruling for five reasons that involve others.” Those reasons, said Warren, are as follows:

What's worse, though, is Warren's attempt to justify his unbiblical views by misrepresenting Charles Spurgeon and attempting to paint Spurgeon as one who would approve of ordaining women to the pastorate. As justification for his aberrant views, Warren told ChurchLeaders that “the 167-year-old Spurgeon’s College in London inducted me as their Chancellor, telling me that my views on ordination are identical to Spurgeon’s.”

However, let's examine Spurgeon's own words. In a sermon delivered on April 19, 1885, Spurgeon stated,

"Women are best when they are quiet. I share the apostle Paul’s feelings when he bade women be silent in the assembly."But notice that what this good woman did was very appropriate. Peter’s wife’s mother did not get out of bed and go down the street and deliver an address to an assembled multitude. Women are best when they are quiet. I share the apostle Paul’s feelings when he told women to be silent in the assembly. Yet there is work for holy women, and we read about Peter’s wife’s mother that she arose and ministered to Christ."

Spurgeon was clear in his adherence to traditional gender roles within the Church's leadership, a stance rooted in his unwavering commitment to Scriptural truth. Spurgeon, like complementarians today, does not discount the ministerial roles of women in the Church, but he does uphold the biblical truth that women should not hold the office or function of a pastor.

In stark contrast, Warren, a vocal proponent of female ordination, seeks to falsely align himself with Spurgeon, a man whose beliefs starkly contradict his own. This blatant misalignment is not a mere misunderstanding or difference in interpretation; it is a bald-faced lie.

Warren's claim is not only a gross distortion of Spurgeon's views but also an affront to the evangelical tradition that Spurgeon so passionately upheld. It is an attempt to hijack Spurgeon's legacy to lend credence to his own godless stance, a move as transparent as it is arrogant.

This distortion becomes more grievous in light of Spurgeon's College's decision to name Warren as its first honorary Chancellor. What a lamentable way to honor the legacy of Charles Spurgeon, a man unwavering in his commitment to Scriptural truth and the traditional understanding of Church leadership. By endorsing Warren, the College has done more than just tarnish Spurgeon's name - it has abandoned the very principles its namesake stood for.

The stark reality is that Spurgeon, stalwart in his convictions, would have nothing to do with such a presumptuous false teacher as Warren. Warren's actions and teachings would, instead, position him as a figure of Spurgeon's scorn: a clown preoccupied with entertaining the goats, rather than embodying the dutiful role of a shepherd devoted to feeding the sheep.

As Christians living in a world that is hostile to God, we face a barrage of challenges to our faith every day. These attacks come in the form of anti-Creation propaganda, such as evolution and theories about the origins of the universe, as well as an all-out assault on Christian morals and values. It is not uncommon for these spiritual attacks to cause us to doubt our own faith and feel fear.

Many modern Christian churches have neglected the crucial role of biblical apologetics which provides a solid foundation for defending the Christian faith. A strong apologetic approach begins with the recognition that the Word of God is the ultimate authority and uses it to interpret the world around us. However, too many churches have adopted the dangerous idea that we should interpret Scripture through our own limited human reasoning rather than using Scripture to interpret the world. This approach is flawed and undermines the authority of God's Word—and it often leads to doubt.

It is with this understanding that we approach the doctrine of faith and understand what it means to have a saving faith in the midst of a world that hates God. In the New Testament, faith is defined as a strong and confident belief in God, his promises, and his Son, Jesus Christ. The Greek word for faith, "pistis," is used throughout the New Testament to describe this kind of belief.

The biblical understanding of faith consists of three elements:

1. Notitia: This is the knowledge or information aspect of faith. It refers to a person's understanding and knowledge of the Gospel message, particularly the fact that salvation comes through faith in Jesus Christ. In other words, you've heard the truth, or you've heard about the truth, but not necessarily given any thought to the veracity of the claims.

2. Assensus: This is the intellectual or cognitive aspect of faith. It involves assenting to the truthfulness of the Gospel message, based on the knowledge and understanding of it. Assensus means acknowledging the truth of the Gospel and accepting it as true but not necessarily having placed your trust in it.

3. Fiducia: This is the personal or volitional aspect of faith. Fiducia involves a personal trust and reliance on Jesus Christ for salvation. It is the act of placing one's faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, entrusting one's eternal destiny to Him.

Fiducia is the most important aspect of saving faith and since this is where most professing Christians fall short, this is where we will spend our time. At its core, Fiducia is the means by which we receive the free gift of salvation that is offered to us through Jesus Christ

First and foremost, having a saving faith consists of all three of these elements and it is the belief in the gospel of Jesus Christ and it is the understanding and acceptance of the message that Jesus died for our sins, was buried, and rose again on the third day. But it is far more than just an intellectual acceptance of the facts. Saving faith is a personal response to the truth of the gospel, a recognition that our sin has separated us from God, and a repentant heart that is turned toward Christ upon whom we place our full trust in Jesus as our Savior and Lord.

Fiducia is the most essential component of saving faith because it is the active trust that we place in Jesus Christ. This is the element of saving faith that only God can grant us. Ephesians 2:8-9 explains that it is "by grace that we have been saved through faith" and that even that is not of ourselves, but a "gift of God." There is no amount of intellectual assent we can give to the gospel that will change our hearts and cause God to save us—it must be wholly a work of God Himself.

When we truly believe in Jesus, we are not just acknowledging that he exists or that he did certain things in history, including dying on the cross. We are actively entrusting our lives to him, surrendering our wills and our hearts to his lordship. This trust is far more than just a mere one-time decision; it is an ongoing relationship granted and maintained by Christ Himself that deepens and grows over time.

In Scripture, we see many examples of Fiducia in action of which Abraham's faith is arguably one of the most important and well-known. When God called Abraham to leave his home and go to a new land, Abraham responded in faith, trusting in God's promise to bless him and make him into a great nation. Despite his own intellectual doubts and questioning, this trust was not just a passive belief in God's existence or goodness, but an active obedience to God's call on his life. As James 2:22-23 says, "You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, 'Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.'"

Similarly, we see Paul arguing that it was the gospel itself that Abraham heard and believed in Galatians 3:8, "And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, "In you shall all the nations be blessed.'"

Knowing that it is the gospel itself, the Word of God, that is the power unto salvation (Romans 1:16), we must see that it is the gospel itself that grants saving faith. It is God's word that transforms us, causing us to believe by removing our hearts of stone and giving us a new heart of flesh.

We also see an example of saving faith played out in the story of the woman with the issue of blood. In this often overlooked but powerful passage from the Gospel of Luke 8:40-56, we witness a woman who had suffered from a discharge of blood for twelve years and had exhausted all her resources on doctors, yet still remained unhealed. However, upon hearing Jesus, her faith in Jesus was unwavering, and she reached out to touch the fringe of his garment, and at that moment, she was immediately healed.

Some may argue that it was the woman who came to Christ before Christ even knew who she was, but this misses the point and fails to understand the work of the Trinity in salvation. Had she not already had a saving faith, she would have never reached out to touch Christ's garments. Her faith was not just a mental acknowledgment of who Jesus was; it was an active trust in his power to heal and save. Jesus himself affirmed her faith, saying, "Daughter, your faith has made you well" (Mark 5:34).

So how do we know we have this saving faith, this faith that goes beyond an intellectual assent or general knowledge? The Scriptures tell us first and foremost to trust in the promise of Christ. But there are evidences we can point to as well. A saving faith leads to a transformed life. When we trust in Jesus, we are not just saved from the penalty of our sins, but we are also given new life in Christ.

In 2 Corinthians 5:17, Paul reminds us that being in Christ means becoming a new creation. Our old self passes away, and we embrace a new way of living that is devoted to God and his commands. This transformation is made possible through sanctification, which leads us to despise not only the sins of others but also our own. We begin to love what God loves and hate what he hates, although our love and hate will not be perfect. As we put our trust in Christ and follow him, we receive the Holy Spirit's power to live a life that pleases God and bears fruit for his kingdom.

Having a saving faith empowers us to face the onslaught of hostility toward God, toward our beliefs, our values, and our convictions with confidence. The world will hate us for believing what seems foolish to a lost and dying population (1 Corinthians 1:18), but Jesus reminds us that if they hate us, it's because they hated Him first (John 15:18). If you still find yourself attracted to the fleeting pleasures of sin and feel no remorse for your wrongdoing, or if you do not find the world's hostility towards God repulsive, it is likely that you do not possess saving faith.

"When it walks like a duck..." Well, you know the rest. You're probably aware of the He Gets Us Jesus propaganda campaign that has been pushed heavily by Ed Stetzer and other moderate-left Evangelicals. He Gets Us is essentially a public relations campaign for Jesus making him out to be a big-time social justice warrior who identifies with all of the leftist social causes as a way to make him attractive to leftists.

It turns out that his campaign was heavily funded by a group called The Signatry. The Signatry is essentially a money-funneling organization that is designed to create a smokescreen between donors and so-called Christian charities.

As we've watched over the past three weeks during the Asbury "revival," we've noticed quite a few interesting facts. One interesting detail is that it concluded on February 23—the Collegiate Day of Prayer.

Originally, as we reported, Francis Chan and Rick Warren were slated to simulcast live from the Asbury University campus on February 23, but after the students at the school hyped the event up as a "nameless revival" which was "student-led" and didn't promote any "celebrity speakers," Chan, Warren, and others who were to appear as "special guests" ultimately did not show. (We have reached out to Asbury for comment and will report when we know more.)

Despite the fact that Chan and Warren didn't appear as promised, Asbury's conclusion of the "revival" with the Collegiate Day of Prayer still took place.

So what is the Collegiate Day of Prayer? According to its website, it is to promote “united prayer” for college students around the nation. “According to Matthew 18:18-20,” the website reads, “the greater the number united in faith and prayer, the easier the battle for this generation can be won. Just as a team of horses can move a heavy load faster and easier together, so our greatest barriers can be better overcome through united prayer.”

The organization is governed by leaders from several leftist social justice organizations including CRU (Campus Crusade), Passion Conferences, the Luke 18 Project, and IHOPKC. But the Collegiate Day of Prayer is actually a creation of a registered charity called Student Churches. According to its 990, Student Churches "continued it's partnering initiative with several US college ministries to mobilize the Collegiate Day of Prayer, which mobilizes an annual national day of prayer for college campuses, uniting ministries and individuals in all 50 U.S. States to pray for college campuses."

Student Churches is chaired by a man named Erik Fish. Erik Fish teaches that one does not need to repent of homosexuality when they come to Christ and that one can continue living in homosexuality after they came to Christ and that God may change them after they decided to follow Jesus.

It turns out that Student Churches is also funded in large part by The Signatry, the same organization providing funding to the He Gets Us campaign. According to Student Churches' most recent publicly available 990, the charity reported $166,371 in total income through contributions, gifts, and grants of which it paid out $95,446, roughly 57 percent, in wages and benefits to its chairman, Erik Fish. And according to Cause IQ, a huge portion of it comes from three top donors, including The Signatry, which paid over 21 thousand,

When you start to grasp the big picture, and see the big money, behind these movements and see how they're all interconnected, one then has to ask: are these really movements of the Holy Spirit?

There’s a reason the psalmist cried, "Zeal for your house has consumed me." That same fiery zeal lit the eyes of our Savior as He drove the moneychangers out of the temple with a whip. And it should light our eyes too—if we truly belong to Christ. Because the house of God is under siege. Not by tanks or tyrants, but by soft-handed theologians, cowardly pastors, and a parade of smiling apostates who peddle compromise in the name of relevance.

The Church today is riddled with termites—false teachers who eat away at the foundation while pretending to renovate the walls. Heresy is no longer whispered in the dark corners of liberal academia. It's broadcast from pulpits. It’s streamed online. It's wrapped in hashtags and TED Talk tones. And what do we do? We sip our coffee, nod politely, and call it "dialogue."

We’ve watched as once-undisputed doctrines—young earth creation, the historical Adam and Eve, the virgin birth, penal substitutionary atonement, eternal judgment, male headship—have been dragged into courtrooms of academic snobbery and cultural shame. And instead of rising in their defense, many have joined the prosecution. Not because the text changed. But because they wanted a seat at the cool kids’ table.

Let’s make something painfully clear…we don’t have the right to question what God has made plain. Scripture is not a sandbox for theologians to play pretend in. It is the Word of the Living God. To treat its authority like a rough draft is not intellectual honesty—it’s spiritual treason. And dressing it up as “being open-minded” doesn’t make it noble. It makes it pathetic.

Sure, there’s room for genuine inquiry as we grow in knowledge and faith. But once Scripture has spoken—once the matter is settled—the only godly response is belief and obedience. Period. Those who keep questioning after clarity has been given aren’t seekers—they’re saboteurs. And if the Church has any sense of self-preservation, it will treat them accordingly.

God is not passive toward rebellion. He’s not amused by revisionism. He’s not interested in "meeting people where they are" when "where they are" is a pit of doctrinal sewage. Scripture says, "God judges those outside. 'Purge the evil person from among you.'" That’s not a footnote. That’s a command. The Church doesn’t just have the right to draw lines—it has the obligation to do so.

If you’re spreading heresy, you don’t belong in the camp. If you’re undermining foundational doctrine, you’re not a reformer—you’re a liability. And if you refuse correction, you shouldn’t be tolerated. Titus 1:13 doesn’t say, “Gently dialogue with them over fair trade coffee.” It says, “Rebuke them sharply.”

Truth will make enemies. Paul knew it: “Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?” So will we. And that’s fine. We weren’t called to be liked. We were called to stand.

The Church is not a public square. It’s not a spiritual democracy. It’s a battleground. And too many are trying to build peace treaties with wolves while the sheep are getting devoured. We don’t need more nuance. We need a backbone.

So let’s stand. Not with compromise. Not with cowardice. But with steel in our spine and fire in our hearts. The purity of the Church is not optional. It’s essential. The faith once delivered to the saints is not up for renegotiation. And those who treat it like a draft proposal should be shown the door—not handed a microphone.

Put on the armor. Hold the line. And don’t flinch. Because Christ didn’t die to create a platform for apostates—He died to redeem a people who would worship in spirit and in truth.

Stand. Because the Church is worth it. And more importantly, because Christ is worthy.

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is an essential and unshakable doctrine of the Christian faith. It is foundationally and definitionally crucial to the true Gospel and without it, the entire faith would crumble. The Apostle Paul, in his first letter to the Corinthian church, states unequivocally that anyone who preaches a gospel that denies the resurrection has believed in vain. This highlights the paramount importance of the resurrection in historic orthodox Christianity.

The resurrection of Jesus Christ holds this immense significance for believers because it demonstrates God's power over death, hell, and the grave and thereby faithfully keeps His promises of resurrection and glorification made to His chosen ones for the future. As stated in 1 Corinthians 15:20, "Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep," emphasizing that just as Jesus was raised from the dead, so too will His followers be raised in like manner.

Being central to the Christian faith, the resurrection proclaims Christ's ultimate victory over sin and death and serves as the cornerstone of the doctrine of justification. Through His death and resurrection, Jesus achieved redemption from sin and death for all who would turn to Him in faith, thus decisively defeating the power of all of God's enemies.

This display of omnipotence, wrought solely by God Himself, serves as a guarantee of the believer's own resurrection and eternal life with God. Jesus’ Resurrection demonstrates that his death was a substitutionary atonement for our sins and that those who trust Him alone for their salvation will be forgiven and cleansed. Perfectly and forever. This is the ultimate display of God's power and love for His people, and through the resurrection, we have hope and certainty that one day we too will live eternally with Him.

1 Corinthians 15:26 tells us that death will be completely defeated, serving as a powerful reminder of the victory achieved through Jesus' resurrection. This passage underscores the central importance of the resurrection to the Gospel faith, as it pointedly reminds us that death is not the end, but a mere temporary state that will be overcome by God's power over life and death.

Jesus's resurrection was not merely a spiritual event, but His human body actually died and literally, physically rose again on the third day. This is not a metaphorical or symbolic language, but an actual, literal historical event. The Bible clearly demonstrates that Jesus, after he rose from the grave, was not a ghost or an apparition, but a real human being who ate and drank, and was still showing his wounds. This is evident in passages such as Luke 24:36-43 and John 21:10-14, which attest to the physical nature of Jesus' resurrected body.

The resurrection of Jesus' physical human body is the cornerstone of the Christian belief in the resurrection of the dead, and the ultimate redemption of our bodies and serves as a powerful reminder that just as Jesus' physical body was raised from the dead; so too will our physical bodies be resurrected and transformed into glorified, eternally perfect bodies. Never again to be a source of temptation and never again to die.

In Romans 8:18-25, the Apostle Paul explains to us that the entire creation, the physical world and all of its creatures, is groaning and waiting eagerly for the redemption that God has promised to those thus raised in Christ. This redemption includes not only the redemption of our souls, which happened when we were born again but also the redemption of our physical bodies. This means that our bodies, which were not designed for self-indulgence and immorality, and which have been subjected to futility, will be redeemed for their original purpose: to glorify God. No longer will our bodies be subjected to disease, sickness, deformation, or any other of the Adamic curses brought to us by the fall of our first parents into sin.

In recent years, there has been a movement in man-centered seeker-friendly Christendom that attempts to dilute the essential doctrines of the faith and replace them with unbiblical pragmatic approaches to just about everything that are designed to keep people in the pews (and giving money) rather than in a right and growing relationship with God. This is a major and mortal cause for concern as it undermines the very foundation of the Christian faith and destroys the message and means of salvation. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is a non-negotiable doctrine that should be defended and preached with all due emphasis and conviction.

Without it, there is no good news.

Dear Mother, Made in the Image of God,

I write to you today with a message of hope, a message that should pierce through the veil of despair that has enshrouded your heart, and bring forth a ray of light to guide you out of the dark abyss of guilt and shame. I understand that you have been carrying a heavy burden, one that has caused you to question your worth and your place in the eyes of the Lord. You may have thought that your actions are so terrible that God would never forgive you. You may have asked yourself, "Does God forgive murderers?"

Oh, my dear friend, let me assure you with the utmost conviction that God's love and forgiveness know no bounds. He is a God of grace and mercy, who desires nothing more than to save and redeem those who come to him in repentance and faith. The Bible tells us that there is nothing that can separate us from the love of God (Romans 8:38-39), not even the most heinous of sins. The love of God is not dependent on our actions, but on the sacrifice of His son, Jesus Christ, who paid the penalty for our sins on the cross.

I understand that you may be feeling guilty and ashamed of your decision to have an abortion. The weight of that decision may have caused you to spiral into a pit of despair, where you feel that you are beyond redemption. This is not meant to undermine the gravity of this crime against God and His image—it is most serious. Such a crime is, like any transgression against the Holy "I Am", according to Scripture, deserving of the eternal wrath of God. But God's mercy is just as great as his justice and wrath and it's important to remember that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). He took upon himself the punishment that we deserved, and through his death, burial, and resurrection, he reconciled His people to Himself.

You may be wondering how this could be true. You may be thinking, "But I've done something terrible, something that can't be forgiven." But the truth is that there is nobody righteous, not even one (Romans 3:10) and that our "good works" are like filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6) without the covering of the blood of Jesus. God sent his son to die on the cross to save sinners (Mark 2:17), and that includes you.

When we confess our sins and turn to Jesus in faith, God is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). He does not look at our past transgressions, but at the righteousness of Jesus Christ, imputed to us through faith. He sees us as if we have never sinned, and that is the power of the gospel. He doesn't just forgive us, but He also transforms us and makes us new creations in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17). He removes our heart of stone and gives us a new heart, a heart of flesh (Ezekiel 36:26), one that desires to follow Him in faith and obedience all the days of our life from that moment forward.

It's important to note that this forgiveness and cleansing is not based on our efforts or good works, but on the finished work of Christ on the cross. Ephesians 2:8-9 says, "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast." God's forgiveness and cleansing is a free gift for all who will receive it.

My dear friend, I urge you to let go of the guilt and shame that has been holding you captive, enslaving you in mental and emotional torment. Allow the love and grace of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, to wash over you and cleanse you from all unrighteousness. Cry out to Him in repentance and faith, confess your sins, and ask for forgiveness. Believe in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead, and you will be saved (Romans 10:9).

As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us (Psalm 103:12). He will not remember your sins anymore (Hebrews 8:12). He will not stay angry with you forever, for He delights in mercy (Micah 7:18).

I understand that this may be a difficult time for you. You may be feeling alone and lost. But please know that you are not alone. There are people who care about you and want to support you through this process. Find a bible-believing Church that doesn't water down the gravity of sin, but stands on the firm foundation of the truth of Scripture, the holiness of God, and the gracious gospel that He has entrusted the Church to proclaim in its fullness. And most importantly, "Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. (2 Peter 3:9)"

So, let go of your guilt and shame and turn to him, lay it at the foot of the cross. He is patiently waiting to redeem all of His children whom He has entrusted to His Son for eternal salvation.

Grace and peace be with you!

The concept of the aseity of God, or God's independence and self-sufficiency, is a fundamental doctrine in Christianity and constitutes one of God's key incommunicable attributes. This doctrine finds its roots in scripture, which attests to God's absolute sovereignty and complete autonomy over all creation. The aseity of God is exemplified in Exodus 3:14, when Moses inquires about the Lord's name, to which God responds, "I AM WHO I AM," emphasizing God's self-existence, eternal nature, and independence from all other entities.

The aseity of God denotes that God is the ultimate source, origin, and sustainer of all things. He is the omnipotent force that maintains all life. This attribute is closely linked to God's eternality and immutability, as He is eternal and unchanging, and has always been and always will be. His qualities of love, power, and wisdom are all eternal and unchanging. The aseity of God reassures us that His autonomy is absolute and that He is able to fulfill His promises.

Additionally, the doctrine of the aseity of God is interconnected with the person of Jesus Christ. Jesus, as God incarnate, shares the aseity of God with the Father. He claimed the name "I AM" for Himself (John 8:58; 18:6) and Paul declared that "all things were created through Him and for Him" (Colossians 1:16-17), solidifying that Jesus is not a created being, but rather the creator, who took on human form, and after his resurrection, returned to his position as the creator of the universe.

The aseity of God is an essential aspect of Christianity as it serves as a constant reminder of God's absolute sovereignty, immutable character, and His ability to keep His promises. It assures us that those whom God has predestined for salvation will come to Christ and nothing can prevent it. An understanding of the biblical doctrine of the aseity of God will help us avoid the fallacy of thinking that God is limited, that He becomes tired, or that He will ever be insufficient to meet our needs. We can trust that God, the independent, self-sufficient being, is able to deliver, protect and keep those who trust in Him.

Critics, particularly atheists, have argued that the concept of the aseity of God is illogical, asserting that everything must have a cause. However, this perspective implies that God is subject to the laws of nature that He Himself created and fails to acknowledge that even the very possibility of logic, rationality, and science depend on the existence of an eternal, independent, self-sufficient, and immutable being, who is identified as God.

Furthermore, without a transcendent and eternal being, it would be impossible to have any grounding for knowledge and science as all laws of nature, and mathematical and logical principles would be arbitrary and contingent, ultimately making any rational inquiry unintelligible.

Additionally, the concept of causality itself depends on the existence of an eternal, uncaused being. The principle of causality states that for every effect, there must be a cause. However, for this principle to make sense, there must be something that is not caused, something that exists independently, something that is the ultimate cause, and which everything else depends on. Therefore, the very intelligibility of the world, logic, science, morality, and causality, all point towards the existence of an eternal, self-sufficient, and independent being, who is identified as God in His self-revelation to man.

The aseity of God is a critical teaching of Christianity that reminds us of God's absolute sovereignty, immutable character, and His power to keep His promises. It is intimately connected to the person of Jesus Christ and is an integral component of our faith in God. Most importantly, it teaches us that God, the eternal and independent being, is self-sufficient and dependable to us.

The exclusivity of Christ is a fundamental truth of the Christian faith, and it is a doctrine that is under attack from many quarters today. In an age of increasing pluralism and tolerance, the notion that salvation is only through faith in Jesus Christ is often seen as narrow-minded and intolerant. But the Bible is c…

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According to the Ukrainian government website, Zelenskyy said that the new law will “[make] it impossible for religious organizations affiliated with centers of influence in the Russian Federation to operate in Ukraine.”

“The State Service for Ethnopolitics and Freedom of Conscience was commissioned to ensure the religious examination of the Management Statute of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church,” Zelenskyy said, “for the presence of a church-canonical connection with the Moscow Patriarchate and, if necessary, to take measures provided for by law.”

Take note. A government that wants to ban your religious allegiance on the claim that those who practice the religion answer to another authority should cause us all to recoil. Notice just how much the government of the United States is in bed with Zelenskyy—and notice just how much the leftist government of the United States hates our Christian faith.

This is not a defense of the Orthodox religion, but it does set a precedent. This is what leftists want, they want to ban religion, particularly the various Christian sects (they make no distinctions), because those who practice Christianity answer to a higher authority than the state.

I also do not intend to defend Russia, but our defense of Ukraine which is based on the notion that the country is a “freedom-loving democracy” as our government overlords continue to tell us actually paints us a picture of what these clowns believe “democracy” actually is.

Because we Christians believe that we answer to the highest authority, God, who sits in the heavens and does all that he pleases (Psalm 115:3) and who sets up kings and deposes them (Daniel 2:21), and who calls us to obey Him rather than men (Acts 5:29), our days of freedom are numbered.

Don’t believe kids should be subjected to men wearing dresses in public schools? You’re a threat to the state, we must ban your religion.

Don’t think killing babies by the millions per year is good for society? You’re a threat to the state, we must ban your religion.

Get the point? Buckle up, we got a rough ride ahead of us.

by Ed Dingess

It is no secret that the great deconstruction of evangelical Christianity has been underway for some time now. It’s hard to say when this deconstruction began or who is mostly responsible for initiating the project but at the end of the day, that really isn’t terribly important. After all, Christianity had its internal and external enemies from day one. What is important is that modern men who claim to be conservative Christians are clearly not.

The sine qua non of evangelicalism is the ancient gospel as set down in the pages of the sacred Scripture. Without the biblical gospel, there is no evangelicalism. In fact, without the ancient gospel, there is no Christianity. If you deny the ancient gospel, you are, ipso facto not evangelical and not Christian for that matter.

The biblical gospel, which is a supernatural gospel, has been eclipsed by and replaced with a completely natural and humanistic gospel. In some cases, the gospel has been replaced with rationalism. In other cases, the gospel has been wholly swallowed up by a new postmodern Christianity that looks nothing like historic Christianity in any sense of the word. In this latter case, the gospel has several definitions so that it can mean whatever modern men want it to mean. And since these are postmodern minds, the idea that these new definitions could be wrong is a foreign concept to their thinking. In fact, it seems to me the only definition of the gospel that could be wrong where these postmodern men are concerned is the biblical definition itself. Strange how that works but this is the self-defeating nature of postmodernism.

The intent of this short article is to explore the negative impact that postmodern thought is having on the doctrine of Christian Soteriology. This is our cherished doctrine of salvation. Only when we turn our attention to the true source for true knowledge can we understand, confess, and believe the truth that sets us free. This brings us to the question: what is true biblical faith? What is the kind of faith that saves? And this brings us to the Latin words that are the title of this article: Notitia, Assensus, and Fiducia.

Thoughts on the Present Position of Protestantism

The inmost truth which the doctrine expressed was that the spoken Word becomes power and life solely by the work of the Holy Spirit, and that we should trust the Holy Spirit and await its coming. But at the same time, this belief of the Church, as Notitia, Assensus, and Fiducia,—that is to say, as intellectual perception, intellectual assent, and complete trust,—was expected to become, in an absolutely uniform manner, the personal possession of each individual, and no one was to nourish himself on aught but the Word, of which Theologia Sacra was only the elaborated form.

In reformed theology, there are three components involved in saving faith: the Latin terms notitia, assensus, fiducia refer respectively to intellectual perception, intellectual assent, and finally, the trust that applies the grace of God given in the gospel.

Intellectual Perception

What is meant by intellectual perception? What is the difference between intellectual perception and intellectual assent? Intellectual perception or notitia refers to getting the facts of the gospel right. Romans 1 tells us that all men know some facts about God. This knowledge of God through general revelation exists in all human beings. While this knowledge is sufficient for culpability, it is not sufficient for salvation. Man needs accurate knowledge of the content of the gospel. Many modern American Christians have a basic working knowledge of the content of the gospel. Let’s look at 1 Cor. 15:1-3

1 Corinthians 15:3–4 — 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,

This text contains the essential ingredients of the gospel, without which, man cannot be saved. First, Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures. Second, He was buried. And finally, He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures. This is the gospel. Knowing this does not save you. But not knowing it means you cannot be saved. This is echoed in Rom 10:17

Romans 10:17 — 17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.

Saving faith begins with the hearing of the facts about the gospel. But hearing the gospel is not sufficient for saving faith to exist. One has to look no further than Israel in Jesus’ day to see that these people heard the gospel from the lips of God Himself and still did not possess saving faith. False gospels do not produce true converts. Only the true gospel can produce true converts. Perhaps this explains why our churches are filled with so many false converts.

Intellectual Assent

What is meant by intellectual assent? Assent is a bit closer in terms of connections. A person might say that they understand that Jesus was a prophet and even a good man but they reject the idea that He was the Messiah. Nicodemus is a good example of intellectual assent or assensus.

John 3:2 — 2 this man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.”

Nicodemus had examined the teachings and life of Christ and had drawn the right conclusion about him as far as it goes. He was a man sent from God, and God was with Him. But this was not enough for saving faith. Think about James’ discussion regarding true faith and the demons. The demons know God and yet, even though they could assent to the fact that Jesus was the Messiah, they lacked saving faith.

There are millions of Evangelical church members across this nation and the entire world who possess the facts of the gospel and who claim a certain connection with the gospel but their faith is not a saving faith. They embrace Christ outwardly as the Messiah and Savior of the world. They embrace much of Christian morality. They embrace several historic Christian traditions and rituals. But they still lack the one thing that is necessary for salvation: genuine trust in the work and person of Christ. Possessing intellectual knowledge and intellectual assent concerning the gospel is not sufficient for salvation.

True Faith

Men may know the facts about the gospel. They may even intellectually assent to the truth of the gospel. They may go to church, get baptized, join a Sunday school class, become a member of a church, and even read the Bible on occasion. But this does not mean they possess a genuine trust in the person and work of Christ.

Hebrews 11:6 — 6 And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.

Without genuine trust, one cannot please God. And unless one can please God, one cannot be saved. Faith is the third component of genuine salvation. But faith only comes by hearing the word of God.

Romans 10:17 — 17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.

This is true saving faith. This faith is a gift of God given by the Holy Spirit through the preaching of the cross.

Ephesians 2:8 — 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;

In summary, three things are absolutely necessary for true conversion: we must know the facts of the gospel. This means we must hear it. Second, we must assent to these facts of the gospel. There must be a connection between us and these facts. These facts should move us to a specific end. Finally, we must trust in the gospel. That is to say, we must trust the good news we see in the person and work of Jesus Christ. What is the evidence that someone actually has saving faith then?

1 John 3:10 — 10 By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother.

In #3, we brought to you Terri Copeland Pearsons (ad-free version), daughter of the infamous king of false prophets, Kenneth Copeland, who promised that angels were going to come and destroy "every wicked ballot" that was cast in the swing states. Of course, that didn't pan out either. Now, we bring you #4, Amanda Grace, founder of Ark of Grace Ministries and a regular contributor to Steve Schultz's Elijah List Ministries, who read a prophesy she supposedly received from God that promised that the governor of Michigan would be overturned and that Michigan would turn red, and also promised that the leadership of Chicago would fall "this fall."

Amanda Grace, during a live stream of the Elijah List podcast on August 4th, prophesied that the midterms would be a surprise for wicked Democrats and Republicans:

The Spirit of the Lord says this day, "A SURPRISE WITH THE MIDTERMS – UNSETTLING FOR BOTH THE DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS WHO HAVE HELD HANDS IN THE DARK. OH, YOUR SPEAKEASIES SHALL BE EXPOSED, ALONG WITH YOUR CODE WORD; FOR WHEN ONE HAS ARISEN WITH SOMETHING CALLED 'MORALS' AND 'INTEGRITY' – YOU HAVE A CODE WORD FOR SUCH, AND IT SHALL BE EXPOSED AND LEAD TO YOUR CELLS," says the Lord of hosts this day.

She then went on to prophesy that Michigan's governor would be overturned along with the leadership of Chicago, which, of course, did not pan out and Michigan turned even bluer than it already was.

…when a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the word does not come to pass or come true, that is a word that the Lord has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously. You need not be afraid of him. —Deuteronomy 18:22

With the future of this nation hanging on today's election, it's important to realize that the nuance-bros in Christian-land are out in full force attempting to persuade Christians that both the Democrat and Republican parties are equally right and wrong on certain issues and that voting for either party is a matter of conscience. Their purpose in doing so isn't that they actually believe this—they know that Christians primarily vote Republican, at least historically. They know that by convincing the Church that Democrats and Republicans are two sides of the same coin, they have an opportunity to shift conservative votes to the left. That is their whole agenda.

I ran across an article in Christianity Today that, as usual, attempts to push this point. "But every election season, other Christians tell us that it’s wrong to vote for a candidate who supports abortion," the author wrote, "or that Christians should vote only for candidates who will fight racial injustice." The implication of this narrative is that Republicans are right about abortion but Democrats are right about racial injustice—and that both of these issues carry equal weight, therefore, Christians must vote their conscience. Allow me to submit to you that neither of these is true.

First and foremost, the entire narrative of "racial injustice" in America today is completely fabricated. Historically, Blacks in America have been treated unfairly, enslaved, abused, and given disadvantages. But those days are long over and not only are there laws that prohibit such treatment of minorities, the vast majority of people in this nation only even think about it because the narrative is perpetuated by the leftist talking heads who profit from perpetual victimhood.

The idea of "racial injustice" is fabricated by the Democrat party because the Democrat party can only survive by enslaving the minds and hearts of people to them through victimhood. When we look at the political landscape, Black people—and everyone, for that matter—do far better in society in Republican-controlled areas. When we look at the nation's major cities that are controlled by Democrats, we see huge increases in violence and poverty among Black communities. The reason for this is that the Democrat party has convinced a large portion of the Black community that they are victims of "white supremacy" and are unable to survive in a conservative, Capitalist economy and, therefore, Blacks need the salvific efforts of the Democrat party to prop them up and give them the advantage of affirmative action and wealth redistribution.

Of course, this narrative—and this so-called solution—is concocted in the pits of Hell by Satan himself and is designed to keep Black people enslaved to the white masters of the Democrat plantation. The only disadvantage that Black people have in society today is the belief that they are unable to accomplish anything without the help of the Democrat party. This notion is repulsive and degrading and should be rejected by anyone who claims to be a Christian.

Does racism exist? Of course, it does. Racism is a sin and is a result of the fall. Any actual forms of racism should be denounced by Christians and those who participate in actual racism should be called to repent. But the narrative that has been built by the Democrat party is that America is a racist nation and that conservatives have built a "system" in this nation that perpetuates the disadvantages of Blacks and advantages of Whites. This is completely and totally absurd and the history of politics in this nation proves it beyond any doubt. People, including Blacks, are always less dependent on government and achieve more under conservative policies.

This is not to say that there aren't things we can do as a society to help impoverished communities, namely Black communities, that have been that way for so long. But it starts with forsaking the ideals of the Democrat party and embracing freedom. The welfare system does not encourage Black communities to strengthen themselves through education, employment, and family structure. It does the opposite—it encourages sloth. Why work, why bother with going to school if "big brother" is just going to take care of me? Government policy should encourage individual responsibility. This is the general principle taught by Paul in 2 Thessalonians 3 in his warning against idleness, and it is what Christians should support.

The Scriptures are replete with warnings against idleness and sloth:

The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied. —Proverbs 13:4

The Scriptures also warn that laziness demonstrates your loyalty to the enemy. Proverbs 18:9 says "Whoever is slack in his work is a brother to him who destroys." In fact, there are literally hundreds of verses in Scripture denouncing slothfulness as sinful, so it's easy to see why a Satanic secular religion like the Democrat party would encourage it.

While there may be issues that are a matter of conscience within the Republican party that may cause one not to support a candidate, it's clear that there is absolutely nothing redeemable about the Democrat party and the one thing that they hang their necks on to garner support from professing Christians is a farce. I saw someone post on Twitter earlier today that if all you have is a poop-soaked rag to put out a fire, don't let your house burn down. The Democrat party exists only to burn down. Don't fall for their antics—the Democrat party is from Hell.

I have been dealing with people online who criticize me for "lack of love" when I insist that one's relationship with Christ determines one's relationship with God the Father. That is, does the unbeliever, whether of another religion or none, have access to God, such as to have cause to expect His love and answers to his or her prayers? I answer "no," without regard to any concept of personal worthiness in that person. My answer is the same whether the question regards Gandhi or Stalin. I have addressed the supposed universal love of God before, such as here.

But Scripture addresses the question I present here in a more-explicit fashion. In Proverbs 15:8-9, 26, we read,

The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,
     but the prayer of the upright is acceptable to Him.
The way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,
     but He loves him who pursues righteousness.
The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord,
     but gracious words are pure.

We see three times in these verses that the spiritual activities of unbelievers, "the wicked," are an abomination to the Lord. That is not a word that indicates a universal love toward them, but rather wrath! In the words of John the Baptist (Matthew 3:7), we are to warn unbelievers to "flee the wrath to come." Instead, they must turn to "Jesus, who delivers us from the wrath to come" (I Thessalonians 1:10).

Biblical Christianity holds forth this contrast: If you remain in your unbelief, then you remain under the wrath of God. The way to escape that wrath is turn from your sin to Christ our redeemer. As Paul said to the Christians in Rome (Romans 5:9), "Since, therefore, we have now been justified by His blood, much more shall we be saved by Him from the wrath of God."

Will people be offended when we tell them this? Absolutely! The Bible even calls Jesus "a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense" (I Peter 2:8). To attempt to avoid offending people is to turn Jesus into something other than Who He is. And how is it loving? How can it be called love not to warn a person that he is on a path to destruction? If a person were about to walk over a cliff, wouldn't a loving person call out in warning? Of course! To warn a person of danger is to act in a loving manner.

Here I must, in love, give a warning to the preachers of love of the wrath that they risk themselves. God says (Ezekiel 3:18), "If I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,’ and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, in order to save his life, that wicked person shall die for his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand." If your concept of love is so syrupy that you will not warn your neighbor of his spiritual danger, then God will hold you accountable for your neighbor's destruction. If you don't love him enough to warn him, I hope that you love yourself enough to avoid that kind of judgment, so that you warn him, out of a sense of self-preservation.

Stanley says this in Contradiction to the clear teaching of Romans 1:18-20, which says:

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.

Notice that not only does it say that God's revelation is "plain" to them because God has "showed it to them," it also says that those who refuse to see it are under the wrath of God for suppressing that clear revelation. For this, they are without excuse.

Stanley’s hostility to the Scriptures is nothing new. He’s asserted that the Scriptures are indefensible and that expository preaching is “easy” and “cheating,” even going as far as saying that it doesn’t matter if the Scriptures are true regarding the virgin birth of Christ. It is unsurprising that Stanley has stooped to such utter nonsense as he has clearly rejected the Scriptures as the authoritative Word of God, and has called for a de-coupling of Christianity from the Old Testament, which clearly reveals God's moral character in his law. In a sermon in 2019, Stanley said that the Ten Commandments didn't apply to Christians today.

Of course, God has revealed a universal standard of "good" to all of us. Further, Jesus told us that it was God alone who is the standard of good in Luke 18:19:

And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.

The notion that there is no standard of good is completely absurd and this foolishness should be outright rejected by Christians.

Chick-fil-a has partnered with MVP Kids to bring a new series of Social Emotional Learning (SEL) books and resources to families and children through their kid's meals. SEL is basically a psychological model of training and teaching children to embrace the agenda of the woke, social justice movement and has been described as the new "trojan horse" in woke education.

“Possibly the most important topic happening in education, at least if you care about the well-being, health and safety of children and the future of this country, is Social-Emotional Learning (SEL),” says James Lindsay, an expert in the infiltration of Marxist ideology in our nation's institutions.  “Social Emotional Learning is the psychologizing of schooling, and, as one might expect, it comes in a variety of forms.  The most contemporary and relevant form is the most Marxist form because the Marxist educators have completely hijacked any legitimacy the program ever had and turned it into a Maoist nightmare to ruin the children so they can achieve their revolution.”

Essentially, SEL is a way to smuggle in Marxist doctrines such as equity (not to be confused with equality) and transform the way children think about social justice issues. According to a teacher's guide released by CASEL:

Educators can use social and emotional learning (SEL) to promote the cultural assets that all students bring to their classrooms—if SEL instruction and assessments are implemented with a culturally responsive lens, according to a recent summary of the Assessment Work Group's Special Issues brief on SEL and equity. The summary, from the American Institutes for Research, demonstrates how an equity lens is essential for understanding the social-emotional development of children, youth, and adults.

And some of the guiding questions include:

• Can you recall times or events in which your identity (race/ ethnicity, social class status or gender) were made obvious or important to you?

• How do your personal preferences/biases affect how you interact with your students?

• In what ways can you address power relationships that discourage engagement in academic, social and emotional learning?

The books that Chick-fil-a will be handing out to your children teach the same principles based on woke, Marxist ideology of "diversity, equity, and inclusion." And some of the resources offered by MVP Kids is heavily tainted with the Marxist idea of "diversity," and we all know that "diversity" doesn't just stop at ethnic diversity, but includes LGBTQ, transgenderism, and every other aspect of "diversity" that the Marxist model of intersectionality requires we embrace:

While some of the materials may seem to be benign on the surface, you can rest assured that it is not grounded in sound, biblical theology and the principles that SEL teaches are designed to open the doors of young children to completely embrace a social justice worldview.

There is a growing movement within Evangelical churches to reject the doctrine of original sin. The doctrine of original sin teaches that through Adam, all people are born with an inherent nature inclined toward sin and are in need of the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit to remove the sin nature and replace it with a new nature inclined toward God. In short, this is the biblical definition of being "born again."

The doctrine of original sin is supported by various passages within Scripture including the following: Romans 5:12-14 states:

12 Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men[e] because all sinned— 13 for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. 14 Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come.

and Psalm 51:5, where David states:

Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.

While these passages do directly support the doctrine, it is evident, theologically, that the denial of original sin undermines the nature and work of Christ and the purpose of the gospel. A robust and biblically-supported theological argument for the doctrine helps us wrap our minds around the necessity of it while addressing arguments against the teaching. As the late R.C. Sproul stated, "We are not sinners because we sin. We sin because we are sinners."

Both Roman Catholics and Protestants historically hold to the doctrine of original sin. One of the first major historic figures to oppose this doctrine was Pelagius, a fifth-century heretic who taught that man is essentially good and that through their free moral agency, man chooses to rebel against God. This denies the corrupt nature of man's will despite the fact that Paul tells us in Ephesians 2:1 that we are “dead in the trespasses and sins” and in Ephesians 2:3 that all of mankind are "by nature children of wrath." Notice the emphasis in that verse, "by nature." Paul does not claim that we are children of wrath by our free will, but that we are born into a natural, spiritually-dead state of enmity with God.

Today, those who deny the doctrine of original sin follow in the tradition of Pelagius. The denial of the doctrine of original sin leads to a number of problems in Christian theology. For example, as stated in Romans 1:12 above and also in Romans 6:23, the consequence of sin is death. But for those who deny the doctrine of original sin, there would need to be another explanation for why infants die. Of course, opponents of original sin could argue that even if one is sinless, one could still suffer the consequences of sin inflicted upon them by others. But then, even that would give credence to the idea that the whole creation is in unwillingly in bondage to corruption and needs to be set free from it (Romans 8:20-21).

If the entire creation is in bondage to corruption, yet men are exempt from this bondage with no natural inclination toward sin, then it's worth exploring the reason that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23)" and why the Apostle John would say (1 John 1:8) "If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." Both Paul and John seemed quite sure of their assertion that everyone is a sinner, yet, without original sin, how could this be true? Would the opponents of original sin argue that it was revealed to the Apostles that everyone would freely choose to sin? If it's written in the Bible that all would sin, is there any possibility that it would be possible for one not to commit sin? When you reduce that argument to its logical conclusion, it seems absurd.

The denial of original sin also logically concludes that one can walk away from their salvation. Yet, these same opponents of original sin will also argue that one can return to a state of grace willingly after walking away. This notion suggests that either a.) one can be "born again" multiple times or b.) there are born-again people in Hell.

First, the notion that people can be born again more than once is nowhere found in Scripture. The Apostle writes in 1 Peter 1:23 that we "have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable." This tells us that our first birth, natural birth, is a birth that surely leads to death because of sin, but that once we're born again, a spiritual birth (John 3:5), there is no possibility of spiritual death from that point. Something that is imperishable cannot choose to perish.

Secondly, the alternative explanation is that there would be born-again people in Hell. Of course, this notion is even more absurd than the first and is certainly refuted by Scripture being that Hell, according to Revelation 21:8, is the second, or spiritual, death.

So then, what is the attraction of people to embrace Pelagius's error and deny the doctrine of original sin? Most essentially, it's pride. The natural man is unable to acknowledge the corrupt state he carries with him and out of pride, one naturally wants to "prove" himself good by attempting to attain perfection. The great Protestant theologian Jonathan Edwards argued that it is often pride disguised as humility that creeps into the Church:

Remember that pride is the worst viper that is in the heart, the greatest disturber of the soul's peace and sweet communion with Christ; it was the first sin that ever was, and lies lowest in the foundation of Satan's whole building, and is the most difficultly rooted out, and is the most hidden, secret and deceitful of all lusts, and often creeps in, insensibly, into the midst of religion and sometimes under the disguise of humility.

What's best is to understand that original sin plagues all of us, and because of it, we all need a savior. Our hearts are naturally sick and deceitful, so much so that we can't even understand them (Jeremiah 17:9) and we all need to have our hearts of stone replaced with new hearts of flesh (Ezekiel 36:26).