An Enemies List: The Saints of God

 

The Church is in trouble in America in a strange kind of way—the political against love and faith.

 Almost six months ago, I stated I would keep adding to my review of Megan Basham’s book Shepherds for Sell, beginning with my posting on chapter 3, “Hijacking the Pro-Life Movement.” I spent too many weeks not wanting to read at all, and then I listened to a review by an evangelical pastor, I can’t remember his name. While he said he agreed with some of the book mostly he was disappointed with it and would not finish reading it. His reason, there were simply too many statements by Basham based on only two or three word quotes from those she was critiquing to back up her assumptions about their faith. He had no desire to do that much research. Also noted by others her critiques are not particularly theological. I suddenly, as I listened, realized why I no longer wanted to read—any book! I was forcing myself to deal with nonsense.

I decided I would no longer review the book—but there is still something I have to say that is connected to that book and to other sources. And this will take me far beyond any book review.

This will be a bit political at first but I promise to return to a theological and biblical outlook. Since I wrote the review on chapter 3, we have elected a new president. Some are concerned by a candidate for the President’s cabinet who is friends with Russia’s Putin and the now disposed ruler of Syria.  Many are concerned about the lack of morality among some of the candidates. But important for what I am writing many are troubled by enemies lists, by an insistence on retribution.

One of Trump’s choices for a cabinet position, director of the FBI, Kash Patel, has an enemies list in his book, Government Gangsters. Some high officials, some mostly unknowns, at least one news person is on that list. And this is like a dark shadow in my thoughts about the Church—there are Christians who are also forming an enemies list. I see that when I see a link to a Christianity Today article on Facebook and someone in the comment section states that “that magazine has been dead for a long time.” I see that list when I hear Eric Metaxas referring to  Tim Alberta author of The Kingdom, The Power, and The Glory: American Evangelicals in an Age of Extremism, as a  Marxist, globalist, and his book as coming from the “pit of hell.” 

There is a whole list in Megan Basham’s book Shepherds For Sell. There Is Gavin Orland, Beth Moore, Tim Keller, Karen Swallow Prior, Russell Moore, too many. All of the people on the lists are faithful Christians; they believe in the orthodox teaching of the Church, the truth of the Scriptures, they are pro-life and honor the biblical teaching about marriage. Above all they are faithful to the Lord of the Church, Jesus Christ.

In a troubling time when the secular political culture of the United States has those who wish to do damage to others via courts and institutions and the extremist on both the left and right wish to do damage via violence and courts, to see those who call themselves followers of Jesus begin their own battle against brothers and sisters is grievous.[1] If someone is a heretic say what their false teaching is as it applies to Christ and his church. Are they denying the Trinity, the bodily resurrection of Jesus, the deity of Jesus, the redemptive work of Christ on the cross, but if they are not do not lie about their faithfulness.

I intend to keep posting on Facebook and X any of these people, (I include David French among them who has been badly persecuted) when I see good videos and articles by them. And I predict that those in the Church who keep insulting and defaming faithful Christians will sink (slink) into darker and more troubling areas. Eric Metaxas has already started down that path with his troubling view of justification by faith, insisting that Martin Luther was too obsessed by “justification by faith alone.”[2] When you do not love your brother and sister well you will too soon start fusing that contrariness to the Lord of the Church with false doctrine.

Let love be without hypocrisy, abhor what is evil; cling to what is good.

Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor. Not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation. Devoted to prayer, contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality.

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep.

Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation.

Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men.

If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.

Never take your own revenge beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written , “vengeance is Mine I will repay says the Lord.” (Romans 12: 9-19)

 

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[1] The Haman Effect: MAGA Looking Forward to Hanging Enemies Naming His Grace: The Haman Effect: MAGA Looking Forward to Hanging Enemies

 

[2] Eric Metaxas' Letter to the American Church and the Rest of the Story Naming His Grace: Eric Metaxas' Letter to the American Church and the Rest of the Story

 

Eric Trump, Lance Wallnau- Judging Churches according to their political aspirations

 

Eric Metaxas, on New Apostolic Reformation leader, Lance Wallnau’s recent video states “Trump is a new man, he’s a new man, he knows that he’s at war with satanic enemies in the deep state[1] …  “they are the enemies of America they are enemies of we the people.”-- "The message is we’re going to go scourged earth on the deep state.”

Speaking of the future after Trump has finished his first two-years, Wallnau asks, “what can we do to unify before the midterms the next time? The suggestion, referring to a hoped for web site asks, “What if we had people rate the pastor?”

Metaxas excitedly tells him there already is such a web site MYCHURCH FINDER.ORG where churches and pastors are rated. There are three grades of churches explained on this web site. A: “Biblically Sound, Culturally Aware & A Non-Socialistic Legislatively Active Church.”

B: “Biblically Sound AND either Culturally Aware (with a Biblical Worldview) OR A Non-Socialistic Legislatively Active Church, but not both.”

And,

C: “Biblically Sound Church.”

There is also the letters WNR for churches that do not supposedly possess any of those characteristics.

 The description of a Biblically sound church carries all the points most orthodox churches would own including the Nicene Creed and The Apostles Creed. (Well of course the Baptist and the Pentecostals while agreeing with those creeds in their theology do not generally accept the use of creeds.) That would be simply C, according to their rating.

 Going much farther A would include both Culturally awareness described this way:

“ A Biblically based church that is culturally aware with a Biblical Worldview will, in addition to the above, be committed to countering the culture with God’s objective moral truths, teaching regularly on other religions, the Biblical view of Family, Sexuality & Marriage. It will be Pro-life and encourage the congregation to stand boldly for righteousness in the face of the current cultural decay. It will advocate for Biblical values in the arts, entertainment and the marketplace. It will teach Apologetics and a defense of the faith and why Christianity is true vs other religions. It will teach the evils of Marxism, Liberation Theology, Critical Race Theory, DEI, Wokeism, One World Government and any new depravity and corruption that the world will attempt.”

Most orthodox churches would agree with most of the above except the gospel of God’s redemption through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ would be the priority and core message rather than teaching about, “the evils of Marxism, Liberation Theology, Critical Race Theory, DEI, Wokeism, One World Government and any new depravity and corruption ...” Plus, an orthodox church would emphasis the Beatitudes and other biblical principles such as caring for strangers, feeding the hungry, forgiving enemies.

The third part of the description of an A church is called “legislatively active but non-socialistic.” The explanation of that is:

The church will, “be involved with educating the church and be involved with all legislative matters concerning Morality, Family, Sexuality, Marriage, Life, the freedom to evangelize and the protection of Life, Liberty and Property. It will recognize that the Church is the conscience of the government and take that calling seriously. It will understand the legislative responsibilities given to the Church in Exodus 18 and teach God’s plan for government. It will fight for moral justice, not “social justice.” It will understand that the government’s role is to protect Unalienable Rights and not to manage the economy or provide charity or free goods and services to citizens. This is because the latter takes by force the fruits of labor from one person and gives it to another, it forcibly violates the Unalienable Right of an individual to do as he wills with the fruits of his own labor. See kansasvideo.j3ip.com for a full explanation of rights vs goods. And just as important, this kind of church will encourage its congregation to run for office and vote and be involved in campaigns.”

The above “legislatively active but non-socialistic” description is political and consists of points that believers can agree or disagree on. It is the involvement in legislature and political campaigns by the Church that is the problem. We can disagree over federal charity but we shouldn’t disagree with the importance of separation of Church and State—too many have lost their freedom when there was no separation. Many of the first peoples to come to America came because there was no separation of Church and state and they had lost their religious freedom.

I want to return to Metaxas and Wallnau, their very comments, here and in other videos reveal their unkindness and hurt both to faithful followers of Jesus and to the whole Church. In their political ambitions they have lost the biblical distinctiveness that is to mold our love for brothers and sisters and our care for a broken world that needs God’s healing. In this particular video they are speaking about the new Bonhoeffer movie and a review of it in Christianity Today entitled, ‘Bonhoeffer’ Bears Little Resemblance to Reality. Unhappy with the review they insist that Christianity Today is dead. They see others who don’t embrace their political views as satanic.

God has called the Church to preach the good news of God’s grace through Jesus Christ. God always places His Church under the cross not under the banner of any nation.

 

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[1] Eric Metaxas on Bonhoeffer, Political Courage, and Faith in Film

The New Border Czar Connected to a Racist Group

 

I have updated with some extra material.

I don’t usually write political posts, at least not intentionally, but as David French states two important acts in times like this is to care for the vulnerable and speak the truth. Two days ago I posted a small piece on caring for immigrants. In that posting I linked to an earlier post I wrote in 2016, The Federation of American Immigration Reform: abortion & population control merges with anti-immigration. In my posting I linked to an article written by the hate-watch group the Southern Poverty Law Center about the Federation of American Immigration Reform (Fair). I pointed out that immigration group began as an anti-population, pro-abortion and pro-eugenics group. It was racist at its core. It still is.

Here are some quotes from a SPLC paper on the racist’s statements and actions of FAIR’s past founder, John Tanton, and present president Dan Stein:

“Do we leave it to individuals to decide that they are the intelligent ones who should have more kids? And more troublesome, what about the less intelligent, who logically should have less? Who is going to break the bad news [to less intelligent individuals], and how will it be implemented?” – John Tanton, letter to eugenicist Robert K. Graham (now deceased), Sept. 18, 1996

“I’ve come to the point of view that for European-American society and culture to persist requires a European-American majority, and a clear one at that.” – John Tanton, letter to eugenicist and ecology professor Garrett Hardin (now deceased), Dec. 10, 1993”

“I blame ninety-eight percent of responsibility for this country’s immigration crisis on Ted Kennedy and his political allies, who decided some time back in 1958, earlier perhaps, that immigration was a great way to retaliate against Anglo-Saxon dominance and hubris, and the immigration laws from the 1920s were just this symbol of that, and it’s a form of revengism, or revenge, that these forces continue to push the immigration policy that they know full well are [sic] creating chaos and will continue to create chaos down the line.” – FAIR President Dan Stein”

Today I read the whole article about FAIR written by the SPCL. I may have read it all before but I don’t remember. Toward the end of SPLC’s article they write about some of the people who were connected to FAIR and were then in the 2016 Trump administration. A man, Tom Homan, who was the 2016 head of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is now in Trump’s new 2025 administration as the border czar. His connection to FAIR was as a senior fellow in their legal department.

MNS news recently reported that in 2917 he angered immigrant advocates by "by putting together his ICE office with top appointments for operatives from groups like CIS and the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR).

Also The Hill reporting on the actions of Homan wrote of two different appointees from both FAIR and one of their sister organizations, CIS. Author Rafeal Bernal writes:

"Jon Feere, formerly a legal policy analyst at the Center for Immigration Studies (CIS), has been hired as a special adviser to Thomas D. Homan, acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), according to CNN.

And the former executive director of the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR), Julie Kirchner, was hired as an adviser to Customs and Border Protection (CBP) acting Commissioner Kevin McAleenan."

Homan is still a member of FAIR through his official position, as Senior Fellow, in IRIL the legal division of FAIR, 

The problem with too many of these new candidates for various positions in the coming administration is their connection to racist groups. Tied to this is their own racists actions because of those connections. Their viewpoint is not layered with any kind of mercy, thoughtfulness, generosity or as Karen Swallow Prior would say imagination. How do you tend to the needy, even the illegal needy. They are not all the same, they are not all equally guilty. Some are children, some are frightened like children.

Hide the Outcasts; Do Not Betray the Fugitive: Immigrants Today

Then like fleeing birds or scattered nestlings the daughters of Moab will be at the fords of the Arnon. Give us advise, make a decision; cast your shadow like night at high noon; hide the outcasts, do not betray the fugitive. Let the outcasts of Moab stay with you; be a hiding place to them from the destroyer. (Isaiah 16:2-4) 

Moab, like many nations at the time, was under siege by Assyria. There is a promise to the daughters of Moab, those fleeing, that they could come under the protection of Zion and that with reference to the house or (tent) of king David. Isaiah says of this place of safety: 

A throne will even be established in lovingkindness, and a judge sit on it in faithfulness in the tent of David; moreover, he will seek justice and be prompt in righteousness. (5) 

Moab, as the prophet explains, does not choose that protection because of their pride. And although the scripture does not say so one could hope that at least a few of the daughters found refuge in Judah, as one of their ancestors, Ruth, did. Ruth was a Moabitess, of the nation whose people God had forbidden to be a part of Jewish worship. And yet she is an ancestor of the Lord Jesus Christ. The refugees of Moab were a people that God longed to shelter. 

 The Lord still longs to shelter refugees. His tent “home” is the tent of the son of David, Jesus is the only and final Son of David. And we, the adopted sons and daughters of Christ are enclosed in that tent. We should be the sheltering people embracing the refugees. 

 The problems connected to refugees in the United States are of course complex. There are parents who are illegal yet have children who are not. It has been suggested that rather than splitting the families up they all be sent back to their former country. (Where their children will often be in danger.) There are illegal Venezuelans who are not allowed back in their country. There are people like the legal Haitians of Springfield, Illinois, falsely accused of stealing and eating pets, who have been threatened with deportation. There are Latino churches with many closely connected to refugees. There are Catholic and other religious groups being maligned because of their care for both legal and illegal refugees. 

 One of the groups concerned with both illegal and legal immigrants, The Federation For American Immigration Reform (FAIR), I wrote about in December of 2016, “The Federation of American Immigration: abortion & population control merges with anti-immigration.” They have some connections with the past Trump presidency and the newly appointed officials for the coming Trump presidency. The important information about this for Christians is that the organization is not just anti-immigration, but was also began by a man who had ties to Planned Parenthood and was also an anti-population advocate. Also FAIR is a racist group. 

So the complications are deep and connected to extreme moral questions. Some who call themselves Christians insist they are an army sent by enemies to destroy our nation. Some false prophets see them as those who would destroy Christianity. Yet, the daughters and sons of many nations are standing at the gulfs, pastures and gates of our land, yes, some may be criminals, some bringing drugs, but many, most, are seeking to be hidden by our shadow, not betrayed, not be destroyed by the destroyers. They are fleeing from a cross that should not be theirs to bear, but it may be ours; we who hold tightly to the cross of Jesus Christ.

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Donald Trump: Stepping Out on the Edge of Fascism

Sometimes individuals who have a background in cult and new religions ministry find themselves treading on strange ground and making unexpected connections. That happened to me today and yesterday. After listening to Donald Trump speak, on a video, about his religious history and beliefs, and then reading in The New York Times about John E Kelly who was Chief of Staff to Trump when he was president a lot of disconnections connected in my mind. 

The first part listening to Trump speak at the 11th Hour Faith meeting in North Carolina revealed that his biggest religious influence was Norman Vincient Peale, author of The Power of Positive Thinking as well as long time pastor of Marble Collegiate Church. Trump spoke fondly of him, as too many have over the years. Peale was supposedly a Christian, but hardly. 

Pastor and author Tim Challies in a series on false teachers points out that Peale did not even believe in a personal God. He writes: 

“Yet as a Christian minister he denied that God was a being, saying “Who is God? Some theological being? He is so much greater than theology. God is vitality. God is life. God is energy. As you breathe God in, as you visualize His energy, you will be reenergized!” (Plus: The Magazine of Positive Thinking). As a Christian minister he told Phil Donahue, “It’s not necessary to be born again. You have your way to God, I have mine. I found eternal peace in a Shinto shrine … I’ve been to Shinto shrines and God is everywhere. … Christ is one of the ways! God is everywhere.” He denied the very heart of the Christian faith and replaced it with his doctrine of positive thinking.” 

The positive thinking has undoubtedly shaped some of Trump’s thinking. This would explain why Trump does not believe he has to be forgiven, but just sets about making things right if he feels he has erred. And positive thinking may include never realizing that you are a sinner who needs forgiveness. It also might explain why as Kelly, his former Chief of Staff stated to New York Times reporter, Michael S, Schimdt, … “that on multiple occasions Mr. Trump told him that those Americans wounded, captured or killed in action were “losers and suckers.” 

In my mind connected to all of this is Trump’s liking for authoritarian or strong man leaders including Hitler. Kelly is quoted in the NYTs article: 

“Mr. Kelly confirmed previous reports that on more than one occasion Mr. Trump spoke positively of Hitler."

“He commented more than once that, ‘You know, Hitler did some good things, too,’ 

Mr. Kelly said Mr. Trump told him.” 

This understanding of Peale’s positive thinking and flirting with fascism really fits together. The Fascists of Nazi Germany, those who considered themselves Christians, the German Christians as opposed to the Confessing Church, held to what they referred to as Positive Christianity. It wasn’t exactly the same ideology as Peale’s but somewhat like it. Jesus was considered not a bloody savior but a noble warrior. Repentance was not necessary. 

 Within this positive ideology—what could really be called a pagan faith—there was a negative—the outsider, the “foreigner.” For Nazi Germany it was the Jew, the Roma, the disabled, the Poles, the LGBT community, the disagreeable Confessing pastors who refused to praise Hitler. Within Trump’s positive ideology there are also some negatives—no not China or Russia but enemies within the United States—those who oppose him. If necessary, he will use the military against them he says. And slightly below the opposition, the Democrats, the press, those who disagree with him. The foreigner, those he has referred to as vermin. Those he believes will contaminate the blood of Americans. 

Trump’s Maga people also see some citizens of the United States as enemies—some of them are calling for them to be imprisoned or hung.1. 

 But where is the Kingdom of God in all of this? Where are the people of Jesus? Sheltered in the arms of the Lord, hearing His word, dwelling in His keeping. Caring for those considered unworthy of Trump’s pleasure. Hopefully building a wall of peace and love against a wall of hate, serving a King whose reign is not of this world but is eternal. 

Forever, O Lord, your word is settled in heaven, Your faithfulness continues throughout all generations, You established the earth, and it stands. They stand this day according to Your ordinances, for all things are Your servants. (Psalms 119: 89-91)

1. 

The Haman Effect: MAGA Looking Forward to Hanging Enemies https://naminghisgrace.blogspot.com/2024/06/the-haman-effect-maga-looking-forward.html

Once Again: Listening to Scripture While Wolves Are Howling

I listened to some wolves today. I thought about some wolves today. I grieved for the Church today because of too many wolves preying on the sheep. 

Today I listened to a video where Roseanne Barr told Tucker Carlson that the Democrats kill and eat children and drink their blood. I was reminded today in a video of Tucker Carlson hosting and praising a Nazi historian.

 I also listened to the New Apostolic Reformation and Maga Pastor Lance Wallnau say of Kamala Harris that when dealing with her you are dealing with a Jezebel spirit. There is no redemption, no words of Jesus love for sinners. Wallnau continued: “What’s accomplished was she can look presidential…that’s the seduction of witchcraft. That’s the manipulation of imagery that creates an impression contrary to the truth but it seduces you into seeing—so that spirit, that occult spirit I believe is operating on her and through her—similar to Obama that there’s a kind of angel of light, charisma you can see…the good news of that we’re going to go full tilt Pentecostal—Jezebel may be the spirit you’re up against, but then Trump has like an Elijah mantal on him probably from the intercession of a million Christians …we’ve got to lean into this thing because the Elijah mantal can break the spell of witchcraft off America.” 

I was thinking of all of this while reading a posting I wrote in 2008 which began with a Willa Cather story which included a scary story about Russian wolves eating a whole wedding party. I am going to include the end of that posting because it speaks to the Church of the warning, comfort and promises of Jesus about wolves and our faithfulness.

 “Often the Scripture uses such images. Jesus sends his disciples out into a world of wolves far more dangerous than those found on a nineteenth century Russian hilltop. “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves.” (Matt 10:16) And then Jesus goes on warn his disciples of coming suffering: “It is enough for the disciple that he become like his teacher, and the slave like his master. If they have called the head of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign the members of his household! (25) He comforts with promises of his care, “But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows.” (30-31) 

 Jesus encourages the disciple’s witness among the wolves so that the wolves might become sheep, “Therefore everyone who confesses me before men, I will also confess him before my Father in heaven.” (32) And he challenges them to courageous discipleship, “And he who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for my sake will find it.” (38-39) 

 Paul was later to warn that wolves would enter the Church tearing and rending the sheep. They would draw them away into strange teaching, perhaps into antinomianism as a means of seducing them. “Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which he purchased with his own blood. I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them.” (Acts 20:28-30) 

 We have no faithless sleigh driver, but instead the Lord who gave his life on the cross. This is his promise: 

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me; and I give eternal life to them and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of my hand.” (John 10:27-28) So though you barely hear the first howl, or there be hundreds of savage wolves on dark hills, Christ is Lord of his Church and King of tomorrow.

 

Naming His Grace: Listening to Scripture while Wolves are howling

Telling a Crooked Story: A Continuing Review of Shepherds for Sale

 

In a time of deepening trouble, division, lies, unfaithfulness, power grabs—that may become worse, the Church of Jesus Christ, her people, are called not only to love one another but to also lift up each other in prayer and thankfulness—they are also called to uphold righteousness and truth. Love “does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth (I Cor. 13:6).

I am reading Megan Basham’s new book, Shepherds for Sale: How Evangelical Leaders traded the Truth for a Leftist Agenda. My intention was to write a review of it, but after seeing how complex that would be for me, with a great deal of research, I have decided to write several posts on it. This first one will be on chapter 3. “Hijacking the Pro-Life Movement.” I will return to the earlier chapters in future posts.

In her usual method, Basham begins with a tale of someone she admires, and the lady is certainly admirable in her work for the Lord. But then she goes on to contrast that person with others she defames. And while we read the personal stories of those she admires we read few personal details about those Basham attacks.  

Basham chooses Karen Swallow Prior as the first pro-life person she feels sold out to the leftist agenda—and yes, Prior is very pro-life. Prior, who is a professor and author, has spent a good deal of time as a member of the pro-life movement. In a New York Times column, after Roe was defeated, Prior wrote:

  “Roe stripped from the prenatal child the right to continue to live and grow, safe and free from intentional harm. If you believe, as I do, that abortion unjustly ends the life of a being that is fully human, a life that exists independently of the will of the mother, is self-organizing and unique, developing yet complete in itself, then you will understand Roe not as a ruling that liberates but as one that dehumanizes, first the fetus, then the rest of us.” Opinion | The End of Roe, From a Pro-Lifer’s Perspective - The New York Times (nytimes.com)

She also wrote this:

I joined the movement decades ago. My friends and co-laborers in the movement across the political spectrum have over the years established and worked in pregnancy help centers. We have opened our rooms and homes to women who needed them. We have educated them about prevention, alternatives, resources, employment, schooling and empowerment. We have offered help at doctors’ offices and abortion clinics. We have held baby showers, attended weddings, kindergarten graduations and legislative sessions. We have cried with those who regretted their choices, and we have cried with those who didn’t (but cried anyway). We have marched and protested.

Basham did not include any of these quotes in her book, instead she found some quotes that made it seem like Prior was more interested in the “pro-abortion narrative.”

Basham quoted this: “Legalized elective abortion was the consolation prize given to women in 1973 for the centuries of inequality and oppression that stemmed from their sin of not being men.”

And then Basham skipped almost a page of Prior’s writing to put this: “it does take a village to become who we are. Thankfully, America’s romance with radical autonomy and rugged individualism is cooling. Roe gave our nation some of the most liberal abortion laws in the industrialized world and a high rate of abortion compared with that of many other industrialized countries, in no small part because of our individualist cultural and economic ethos.”

Basham skipped further to put this: “We can do better than asking women (and men) to choose between their children and themselves.”

Basham quoted only these paragraphs so she could write this:

Prior’s framing –that pregnancy forces women to ‘choose between their children and themselves’—sounded disconcertingly close to the pro-abortion narrative that babies are a fundamental obstacle to female fulfillment. It legitimized the erroneous and self-focused worldview that career achievement and material wealth provide women more satisfaction than starting a family.

But no. Not only is it not “framing’ it doesn’t sound like that. Basham can attempt to get by with her insinuation because she has left out Prior’s amazing words about life for the unborn baby and her work within the pro-life community.

Basham complains that Prior states that Christians need to now step up and add to the work of helping those who are in need and pregnant, which includes government programs. Pulling Beth Moore, the excellent Bible teacher for women, and her discussion with Prior about the needs for Christian helps, into her complaint, Basham writes as though they know nothing about the many pro-life Centers in the United States, and this is perhaps why she did not quote Prior’s words about working in Pregnancy Centers.

Basham has made or tried to make Prior seem to be a radical feminist. She is not and it is all lies.

Basham then mentions Mika Edmondson, a pastor who sometimes writes for the Gospel Coalition. In fact Southern Baptist Professor Albert Mohler praises Edmondson for an article he wrote for the Gospel Coalition, Is Black Lives Matter the New Civil Rights Movement? Mohler’s article is on the Coalition’s site also, Ugly Stain, Beautiful Hope: My Response to Mika Edmondson.

Edmondson is a black pastor in the Presbyterian Church of America, a conservative Reformed church, and he fervently advocates for social justice. I believe this might have created a problem for Basham. She quotes from his X (Twitter)feed. She writes “…Mika Edmondson sounded downright apologetic [writing after the end of Roe] suggesting like Prior, that outlawing abortion would only be morally legitimate if accompanied by an expanded welfare state.” (First one needs to say that is not at all what Prior said.)

This is what Basham quoted from Edmondson:

Now that roe is overturned, I pray that we will provide the access to healthcare childcare, living wages, education and job opportunities that well support the lives people in desperate situations.

I have to add that Basham likened that to Lincoln with the Emancipation Proclamation promising the freed slaves a mandatory minimum wage and scholarship program.  The historical truth is they were offered something they wanted badly although it was soon taken away from them. For a very interesting story about this read, The Truth Behind ’40 Acres and a Mule’, written by Henry Louis Gates, Jr.

Basham added other tweets that Edmondson made that sounded too socially left to her. But she did not use these quotes, perhaps she could not understand them:

For many, the constant news coverage, countless articles, and heated debates about Roe v. Wade dredges up the painful memories of some of the very worst moments of their lives. May the Lord comfort you with his grace and healing during this hard season.

And:

National discussions about abortion often press us to choose whose rights to speak up for: the rights of vulnerable unborn babies *OR* the rights of vulnerable mothers. But Christ calls us beyond this false dichotomy. In Christ’s grace, nobody’s rights & dignity are expendable.

Next Basham goes after Dr. Russell Moore new editor of Christianity Today and her biggest complaint is that he did not write anything about the ending of Roe for many weeks, and that he refused to call President Trump a pro-life president but mentioned that one of the judges that concurred with the decision was appointed by Bush.  Moore is pro-life, that is not in doubt. This pro-life chapter is very political.

The final person I will write about, but not the last Basham wrote about in this chapter, is Pastor Tim Keller. His views about abortion includes the understanding that there are several ways abortion could be at least lessened in the United States.

Basham quotes his tweet:

Here are two Biblical MORAL norms: 1) It is a sin to worship idols or any God other than the true God & 2) do not murder. If you ask evangelicals if we should be forbidden by law to worship any other God than the God of the Bible—they’d say ‘no.’

We allow that terrible sin to be legal. But if you ask them if Americans should be forbidden by law to abort a baby, they'd say ‘yes.’ Now why make the first sin legal and NEVER talk about it and the second sin illegal and a main moral/political talking point?

The Bible tells us that idolatry, abortion, and ignoring the the poor are all grievous sins. But it doesn’t tell us exactly HOW we are to apply these norms to a pluralistic democracy. … I know abortion is a sin, but the Bible doesn’t tell me the best political policy to decrease or end abortion in this country, nor which political or legal policies are most effective to that end.

While Basham does leave out some of the first part of the tweet which doesn’t matter. Keller is simply making a point that the Bible does tell us what is sin, but doesn’t always tell us how to solve them when they become political problems. But Basham does leave out the last part of the tweet which matters because she is angry that Keller is not promoting Trump as president. In that last part he writes:

The current political parties will say that their policy most aligns morally with the Bible, but we are allowed to debate that and so our churches should not have disunity over debatable political differences! It is also why I have never publicly or privately told Christians who they should vote for. I have also never told anyone they should vote Democrat or Republican. Depending on the policy we can find more or less alignment with Biblical morals. I believe all Christians should be active in politics, but it is unwise to identify Christianity with any particular party.

This is the bigger problem with at least this chapter on abortion. Basham has two goals, to make it seem like the people she is writing about have leftist leanings and that those in the Church should be voting for Trump. Basham doesn’t seem to realize that much of what she sees as woke or leftist is simply a desire to follow the beatitudes of Jesus and all of the moral teachings found in the New Testament. All of these Christians she is aiming at, are faithful followers of Jesus and committed to Him because of His great gift of salvation.