Blasphemy on a Billboard: Governor of California manages to reach a new Low
Is his The Briefing for Monday 3rd October 2022, Albert Mohler looks at the billboards sponsored by the Governor of California.
Related:
John MacArthur to the Governor of California on the slaughter of the innocents
“Sir,
Almighty God says in His Word, ‘Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people’ (Proverbs 14:34). Scripture also teaches that it is the chief duty of any civic leader to reward those who do well and to punish evildoers (Romans 13:1–7). You have not only failed in that responsibility; you routinely turn it on its head, rewarding evildoers and punishing the righteous.
The Word of God pronounces judgment on those who call evil good and good evil (Isaiah 5:20)…”
– John MacArthur, Pastor of Grace Community Church in California, has released an open letter to Governor Gavin Newsom who has been promoting his state as a destination for those wanting abortions – and quoting the Bible in support. (Click the image to read the text on the billboard.)
The letter is a clear and blunt call to repentance. PDF version.
Related:
Can California Become Even More Pro-Abortion? Governor Newsom Signs 13 New Bills to Increase Access to Abortion – Albert Mohler’s The Briefing, 28 September 2022.
From silence to complexification to capitulation
“I don’t often agree with David Gushee, the liberal Christian ethicist whose ‘battles,’ by his own description, have included ‘issues like climate change, torture, LGBTQ inclusion, and white supremacism.’ But he spoke the uncomfortable truth when he observed years ago that when it comes to LGBTQ issues, there is no middle ground: ‘Neutrality is not an option. Neither is polite half-acceptance. Nor is avoiding the subject. Hide as you might, the issue will come and find you.’…”
– Kevin DeYoung explains why evangelical surrender on LGBTQ is almost never a surprise.
See also:
Pivoting to Surrender: A Warning for All Christians – Albert Mohler, March 2021.
Image: St Helen’s Bishopsgate.
Freedom22 National Conference videos available
Executive Director of Freedom for Faith, Rohan McHugh, writes,
“For those of you who were unable to attend our Freedom22 National Conference, there are several videos below of the speakers on the day, including Dr. Sarah Irving-Stonebraker, Stephen McAlpine, Mark Sneddon and Mark Spencer.
I would encourage you to take the time to watch them, as they provide helpful context for why religious freedom is at a crisis point in Australia.”
– Watch them at Freedom for Faith’s Youtube channel.
And visit the Freedom for Faith website to learn more.
Assembly of Confessing Congregations — UCA situation is ‘untenable’
The Assembly of Confessing Congregations National Assembly has been meeting on the Gold Coast this weekend. Chief among their discussions was their position within the Uniting Church when that organisation’s Assembly holds to two contradictory doctrines on marriage.
This statement has been posted today on the Assembly of Confessing Congregations Facebook page:
“The ACC National Council has come to the conclusion that the situation we are in is ‘untenable’. We cannot continue to live within the illusion of so called ‘two integrities’. The position of the UCA Assembly on the one hand, and that held by orthodox Christian members, congregations, networks and Presbyteries on the other, represent two contradictory and mutually exclusive understandings of truth, salvation, and therefore also of mission. This situation raises an essential impossibility of pursuing a common mission between these two respective positions.
This weekend, the ACC National Assembly has now put in place a mechanism of action towards navigating its way to a process of a collection of action items to be decided in an upcoming decision in March 2023.”
– Source of the text and photo.
Earlier:
A message to Uniting Church members about the decision on marriage from Uniting Church President Dr Deidre Palmer – 20 July 2018.
How a humble Western Sydney Pastor got Canberra’s attention on Religious Freedom
“Sydney Anglican Minister Mark Tough does not see himself as a political animal.
And yet, in 2019 he organised a 500-person rally in Western Sydney that discussed the issue of religious freedom. He was then invited to speak to then Shadow Attorney-General (now Attorney-General) Mark Dreyfus about his concerns.
I caught up with Mark a little while ago to hear how he did this, and to encourage more Pastors to become engaged about these sorts of issues …”
– A story of encouragement from Akos Balogh.
(Photo: As well as blogging, Akos serves as External Engagement Manager at Moore College.)
The Making Of The Western Mind — John Anderson speaks with Tom Holland
“John joins Tom Holland in his London home to discuss Christianity’s role in shaping Western civilisation.
Holland prompts us to reflect on the intricate moral web our society still upholds today and consider the intertwined history of the Western imagination and Christianity.”
Related:
Review: War on the West, by Douglas Murray – at John Anderson.net.au
Assisted suicide is spiralling out of control in Canada
“Canada is widely seen as one of the world’s most progressive nations in the world, ‘leading the way’ (depending on where you stand) on a variety of social issues. But in recent months, Canada has been garnering some less than savoury international attention because of the dark side of one of its recent progressive accomplishments …
3.3 per cent of all deaths in Canada in 2021 were assisted deaths. This has matched and surpassed the rates in places like Belgium and the Netherlands, despite it being available in Canada for less than a decade.”
– The National Post (Canada).
Link via Challies.com. Image via St. Helen’s Bishopsgate.
“Legal fight over same-sex faith as blokes not welcome in Anglican Church for getting married”
“A recently married, churchgoing couple living contentedly in the mountains of northern NSW are at the heart of an issue that is currently tearing apart the Anglican Church in Australia. They’re a loving couple who happen to be blokes. …
early next month, at a hearing before the NSW Anti-Discrimination Board, the bishop and the two Peters will attend a compulsory mediation.”
– The Australian’s Weekend Magazine has another story on the same-sex marriage challenge in the Diocese of Armidale. (Subscription.) A matter for prayer.
An earlier opinion:
The Final Stone – David Robertson writes at AP (Australian Presbyterian), 15 October 2021.
GAFCON leading the way
“A game of AFL is taking place on a local oval when a small group jump the fence and start kicking a round ball along the ground. The game stops. Players approach the group and ask them to desist.
They retort, ‘we’re also playing football’.
The players answer, ‘no, you’re playing a different game. Different ball, different shaped ground, different goals….if you’re interested, you can join us but first of all, get rid of the soccer ball’.
The group insist, ‘no, we are playing football. We can all play together at the same time.’ …
A significant announcement was made this week, one which may change the Church landscape in Australia. The decision is not so much about changing the game but is confirming that we will not change the game. GAFCON is responding to what is a tireless intrusion onto Christian Churches by certain bishops and leaders who are trying to change the Gospel beyond recognition. They are not playing the same game as Christians Churches, but something quite different.”
– Murray Campbell looks at why it was necessary to form the Diocese of the Southern Cross.
A new Anglican diocese, bishop and church in Australia
“The first congregation of the new Diocese of the Southern Cross started at Beenleigh in Brisbane last Sunday and the Diocese’s first bishop Glenn Davies will be appointed on Thursday. …”
– The very latest news – from The Pastor’s Heart.
Related:
An open letter to the Archbishop of Brisbane – 11 July 2022.
Dr Robert Tong on the Appellate Tribunal Opinion – 12 November 2020.
Many posts relating to General Synod 2022.
The Line in the Sand: The Appellate Tribunal Opinion and the Future of the Anglican Church in Australia – Joint publication of The Australian Church record and The Anglican Church League.
The Line in the Sand Author Interview: Glenn Davies.
Should Church-run hospitals be forced to perform abortions?
“I’m beginning to think that when some people read ‘1984’ and ‘A Brave New World’, their impression is, what a great idea. Let’s model our society on ‘Oceania’ or ‘World State’!
There is a certain predictability about our political and social overlords: Christianity is bad, science is a subject in the Arts faculty, and conscience is only free for those who follow the right agenda. …”
– In this piece published last week, Murray Campbell in Melbourne responds to a move to force Church-based hospitals and health institutions to perform abortions.
He implores his readers, “please read the entire piece & not just one or two snippets. The whole argument matters, not just a quote or two.”
GSFA Bishops and Canterbury both release Statements on Lambeth 1.10
“At almost the same time, the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Global South Fellowship of Anglican Churches (GSFA) released statements on Lambeth Resolution 1.10. Both could not have been more different in tone.
Canterbury released a letter to those at Lambeth stating that the Anglican Communion did, in fact, affirm Resolution 1.10. He even writes that the fact that Lambeth Calls: Human Dignity quotes the resolution three times should be enough to show that this is true.
What he doesn’t say is that the part of the resolution that affirms the traditional view of marriage and human sexuality was unceremoniously removed from the Call after causing liberal backlash. It is evident he is trying to appease Global South leaders and progressive leaders at the same time. …”
– Report from The American Anglican Council.
Image: Lambeth website.
Review: War on the West, by Douglas Murray
“Douglas Murray continues the expose and critique that he began in his Madness of Crowds, focussing on the West’s increasing loathing of itself, particularly through the lens of Critical Race Theory (CRT) and a general contempt for its own culture and history.
It covers the remarkable events of the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests and riots, showing the ideology animating that movement.
Murray gives a highly engaging account of how the same ideologies animating BLM are increasingly taking over corporations, schools, universities, and our politics. …”
– This review of Douglas Murray’s latest book is published at JohnAnderson.net.au.
Peter FitzSimons doesn’t understand the Manly 7
“The rainbow message doesn’t represent inclusion, it’s about capitulation. It represents doing away with traditional sexual ethics and embracing a new and unforgiving ‘truth’. …”
– Murray Campbell writes an incisive article on the latest push in this culture war.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…