Protecting the lives of murderers and not babies illustration by Greg Groesch / The Washington Times

If unclear, there is some room for vagueness, and grayness in the mind can we get clear? VERY clear and understood? Not according to me, no, no, no —according to God. According to Jesus. According to the Holy Spirit and according to THEIR Word. THEIR inerrant infallible UNCHANGEABLE ETERNAL living and active word…

When scrolling down to the article Biden protects the lives of murderers, but not babies there a sub-heading is found that reads; President is practicing “cafeteria Christianity.”

Let’s get clear of mind, heart, spirit, soul and what is permitted to enter and reside — stick around within us as being sound, true, real — there is no such a person as a liberal Christian, a DEI Christian, a practicing homosexual Christian, an adulterous Christian, a Sunday Christian, a part-time Christian, a this or that Christian, or a cafeteria Christian.

There are only two kinds of individuals on earth. No matter where they reside, what their gender is, their age, their native language, their level of education, their net worth, and on and on with all the labels folks can’t seem to live or carry on without attaching to everyone and everything.

There are true, authentic, convicted of heart and mind, renewed of mind, serious, indwelt of the Holy Spirit faithful, obedient followers of the Lord Jesus Christ, Yeshua Hamashiach — and anyone and everyone else.

A person either is an honest to God genuine, born again, believer in every word within the Word of God faithful obedient disciple of Jesus, Yeshua, placing their faith, their trust, their life, their all in the Good Shepherd as one of His. Or they are someone else. But not His. Of the world. Of so many other things.

Forget the labels. “Good Catholic” means nothing. Just as belonging to a denomination means nothing. Or placing the emphasis, the priority on a certain church membership if first, foremost the priority isn’t being a faithful, obedient part of the BODY looking to THE HEAD; The Lord Jesus Christ, Yeshua Hamashiach.

How is it so much clutter, litter, debris, grimy buildup that has been permitted and accepted, approved within the professed body? By believers?

What are we afraid of? The words and repercussions of man? While not fearing and trembling before the Word of God, before the Lord of lords and King of kings for our appeasing and pleasing men and women, approving of all the weakness, the falseness, the pretending, the labeling and not reproving, rebuking, admonishing and standing firmly for THEE FAITH. For what is written in the Holy Bible which is God’s breather words to select men. Via the Holy Spirit. Every word within the Word of God.

His words. God’s words.

Either an individual believes that fact or they don’t and they then begin to allow seepage. Contamination. The world to come in, perhaps slowly at first but over time allowing so much of the world in the pure true Word of God vanishes and is replaced. A different sort of replacement theology. To appease, approve of the ways and words of the world forsaking the inerrant infallible unchanging eternal living and active Word of God.

Ever come across these words?

“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it. Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them. Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’”

Matthew 7:13-23

Those words are not in red text because I hit the wrong keys. I hope and pray it is understood Who said those words. And why He said them. Out of love. If looking for a 21st-century Jesus just open the Holy Bible and read, study, pray, and meditate upon its words deeply. For Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Always. So who has done the changing and why? Who is correct? Jesus or 21st-century men and women and children attempting to fit a Jesus to suit them while they cast aside the Jesus of the Holy Bible?

Ever wonder how we arrived at the point we are in our society? Ever hear anyone, or perhaps saying it yourself, “How did things get like this!?”

Simple. Because by our laxity, our not being diligent, our not being vigilant, our not suiting up in the full armor of God and never taking it off — keep it on over your PJs and when you shower. And every moment in the full-on war we’re all in and that rages on all around us, around everyone.

The attitude, “Ahh, lighten up, it’s no big deal, there are bigger battles to fight.”

“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—”

Ephesians 6:10-18

A large rock formation falls and is broken into countless bits by the first cracks forming, the constant yet seemingly harmless winds pushing on it. Erosion. Bit by bit.

Until we’re where we are now.

And do not fall for the delusion that with an election outcome, all is well and it’s time to relax. Sit back. Be comfortable.

Be right in the sight of God, with God, possessing a peace within beyond human words while being in constant raging battle daily. We begin by neglecting to give God thanks from the start of the day. He has blessed us with, no matter what the weather, how we feel, or what has happened. God has blessed us with a new day. One more day of life. To learn His will. Do His will. Praise and glorify Him. To be that light in the world — the world each of us inhabits.

Not being lazy or accepting, accommodating, or approving of any erosion. Any bit of the world seeping in and staining our pure white linen washed in the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, Yeshua Hamashiach.

Words matter.

Christian.

And each person either is a faithful obedient Christ follower. Or they aren’t.

And only those two kinds of people inhabit this world.

And only the former will inhabit heaven, eternally, face to face with Jesus, Yeshua, being made like Him.

And that doesn’t happen by appeasement, accommodating the world, approving of the erosion or partaking of it.

These words are only written out of love. Hope. Love and hope. Concern for the spiritual health of the body which is suffering due to not eating, drinking, or living right. Not according to me. According to He Who we profess to love, serve, believe, and follow.

So, who and what are we then truly following? If not the Lord Jesus Christ, Yeshua Hamashiach?

Can’t be double-minded.

Can’t serve two masters.

Right?

The war is intensifying. The battles are raging. Many are falling away. Weak or never were.

Suit up, brother, sister, friend, and engage The Enemy knowing the Creator is Who we are to follow and obey in this battle. Not to side with, become confused, muddy the waters, or come across as a deserter.

Don’t demean God, Jesus the Lord, or the Holy Spirit with words that water down and muddy things. Be clear. Be bold. Be firm. Don’t defame the Lord with labels such as cafeteria Christian, ______ Christian, _________ Christian, or this that and on and on and on Christian.

God didn’t come to this sinful world in need of a Savior to be abused, beaten to be unrecognizable as a human being, shedding His precious, sinless blood on the floors of the illegal courts He was dragged into deep into the night, shedding His precious and sinless blood on the streets of Jerusalem and on the way to Golgatha to be nailed with Roman spikes to a tree of utter shame, to be mocked, spat upon, to take upon Himself and thus be alienated from God the Father for the time all the sin — all the sin — of every sinner who hears His voice, repents, and truly turns to Him to be born again by the Holy Spirit, to die. To be buried in a tomb. To rise from the dead three days later and be witnessed by more than 500 people for the next 40 days, to then ascend to heaven right in front of the eyes of some of His disciples — so that we can please, appease, accommodate, approve of the ways and words of the world and taint what He did.

Kapish?

Time to solder up, soldier. Leave is canceled. Until the Lord comes to get us to leave this present world, or we leave this fleshly body and become face-to-face with him. Oh, it’s possible to go AWOL or remain AWOL…but then do we want to learn the consequences of such an action? An eternal consequence?

Read on…

Ken Pullen, Monday, December 30th, 2024

Biden protects the lives of murderers, but not babies

President is practicing “cafeteria Christianity”

Thursday, December 26, 2024

By  Cal Thomas

Reprinted from Higher Ground — by The Washington Times

As if his 1,500 pardons weren’t enough to cause outrage, President Biden has gone further. Near the expiration of his failed presidency, Mr. Biden has commuted the sentences of 37 of the 40 people on federal death row to life sentences without the possibility of parole, just weeks before President-elect Donald Trump takes office.

Mr. Trump has said he wants to expand capital punishment, so this looks like another preemptive strike to thwart the incoming administration. Will Mr. Biden also issue preemptive pardons to people Mr. Trump’s Justice Department might prosecute? It could happen.

Among those receiving commutations, the Daily Mail reports, are convicted murderers Brandon Basham and Chadrick Fulks, who kidnapped and killed a woman after making a break from prison; Marcivicci Barnette, who killed a man and his ex-girlfriend; and Anthony Battle, who killed a prison guard.

In addition, a man who participated in a murder-for-hire plot on a Navy officer’s life, and Thomas Sanders, who killed a 12-year-old girl, will be spared from execution. Several convicted bank robbers who killed while committing their crimes are also getting clemency, including Billie Allen and Norris Holder, Brandon Council and Daryl Lawrence.

Mr. Biden issued a ludicrous statement to explain the inexcusable: “I’ve dedicated my career to reducing violent crime and ensuring a fair and effective justice system.”

What? Mr. Biden says his only exceptions are for people convicted of terrorist acts and hate crimes. Why the distinction? Those not receiving commutations for their murderous crimes are Dylann Roof, who murdered nine people in 2015 at Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina, Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev and Robert Bowers, who murdered 11 congregants at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh in 2019.

Mr. Biden is engaging in selective morality. Why should motives play a role when it comes to murder? By his illogic, a pardon should be given to Luigi Mangione, who is charged with murder in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.

This is what C.S. Lewis called “the humanitarian view of punishment.” Depriving a murderer of liberty is not a penalty equal to the taking of innocent life. Mr. Biden is engaging in what has been called “cafeteria Christianity,” obeying doctrines he agrees with while ignoring others with which he disagrees.

Mr. Biden appears to have no sympathy for unborn babies, however, and has done nothing to halt abortions in America, even late-term abortions.

Mr. Biden styles himself a “good Catholic.” He has been called that by Pope Francis, whom he will likely visit during his final foreign trip as president next month. Some Catholic politicians have even called him “devout.”

As the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops notes: “Since the first century, the Church has affirmed the moral evil of every procured abortion. This teaching has not changed and remains unchangeable. Direct abortion, that is to say, abortion willed either as an end or a means, is gravely contrary to the moral law.”

That Rep. Nancy Pelosi and other Catholic politicians say otherwise does not make any of them an authority on the church’s doctrine.

True, that same doctrine opposes capital punishment, but one shouldn’t be able to pick and choose which teaching to accept and which to reject and still be considered devout and not guilty of breaking the “moral law.”

On Oct. 23, 2014, in an address to the International Association of Penal Law, Pope Francis called for an end to capital punishment. He may praise Mr. Biden for his commutations, but will he issue anything approaching condemnation for the president’s refusal to defend the unborn who cannot defend themselves? I doubt it.

• Readers may email Cal Thomas at tcaeditors@tribpub.com. Look for Cal Thomas’ latest book, “A Watchman in the Night: What I’ve Seen Over 50 Years Reporting on America” (Humanix Books).