Confront Political Polarization - act justly, love mercy, walk humbly

 

Christians Must Confront Political Polarization with the Truth of Micah 6:8, David French Says

Michael Foust | ChristianHeadlines.com Contributor | Tuesday, May 4, 2021

Christians living in a polarized political world are called by God to stand for truth while displaying kindness and humility, says conservative author David French.

French, the senior editor of The Dispatch and a conservative commentator, told a group of media members at the Evangelical Press Association convention last week that believers should follow the words of Micah 6:8 when speaking out.    

"What does the Lord require of you?" French said, paraphrasing the verse. "... It is to act justly. It is to love mercy, and walk humbly with the Lord your God."

By walking with humility and mercy, French said, Christians will differentiate themselves from the polarized political realm but also from so-called cancel culture.    

"There's a significant minority of Americans now who ascribe dehumanizing characteristics to their political opponents," French said. "... [It's] not everybody of course, but [it's] many, many millions of Americans."

Meanwhile, cancel culture, he said, leads to many people being fearful of standing up for truth.

"So what ends up happening is a lot of the better voices – people who have interesting and thoughtful things to say – sometimes silence themselves," French said. "... A lot of good people feel afraid to speak."

The irony, French said, is that people are fearful of speaking out even though today's generation, through social media and the Internet, "has a greater ability to reach more people than any other generation of human beings" in "the history of humanity."

French urged Christians to follow the three principles of Micah 6:8: act justly, love mercy and walk humbly.

Acting justly, he said, means "opposing" what is wrong and "upholding what is good." 

To love mercy – or as some translations render it, to "love kindness" – means that Christians will "see the humanity in your opponents." "What that means is you're not engaging in the public square to own the libs or to trigger the conservatives. That's not why you're engaging," French said. "You're engaging to seek justice. With one hand you're reaching for justice, and [with] the other hand you're reaching for kindness. You're doing these things at the same time."

"Acting justly" and "loving mercy," he said, "require courage."

"If you're somebody who doesn't want to engage in the fight, [then] the 'act justly' part of it really is convicting. But if you're somebody who is driven to the fight and you often don't see the humanity in your opponents, [then] the 'loving kindness' or 'loving mercy' is deeply convicting," he said. 

Walking with humility, he said, "can defuse a lot of situations." He called it an attribute that's "in short supply online."

In conclusion, French said engaging the culture in a polarized world is not easy.

"Somebody might try to cancel you. Somebody might try to humiliate you," he said. 

But, he said, it's what Christians always "have been called to do … even through cancel culture."

Photo courtesy: ©David French Facebook/McLellan Style

I’m tired of being sad. I’m tired of being tired.

 

ARE YOU TIRED OF FEELING SAD? 

[12 TIPS TO OVERCOME SADNESS]

APRIL 23, 2019BY LEILA GRANDEMANGE

I’m tired of being sad. I’m tired of being tired. What will I do?

When life losses its luster and disappointment weighs the heart, we typically struggle with feelings of sadness. Feeling sad isn’t bad or wrong. It’s a God-given emotion.  But when sadness lingers, it can be hard to endure.

So what do we do? 

Before I share 12 awesome tips that have helped me overcome sadness, I’d like to share a Bible verse that I believe lays the foundation for everything else we do, in our quest to find relief from sadness. Psalm 43:5 from the Message translation puts it this way:

“Why are you down in the dumps, dear soul? Why are you crying the blues? Fix my eyes on God— soon I’ll be praising again. He puts a smile on my face. He’s my God.”

Fixing our eyes on God is like setting our face towards the sun. Walt Whitman writes, “Keep your face always toward the sunshine – and shadows will fall behind you.” Everything begins with God. He is our hope, and solid rock. I know it’s not always easy to take our eyes off of our circumstances and fix them on God, but I’m praying God will help you. Here are some things I’ve done that might encourage you:

1. Believe that God is good, that He love’s you, and has a plan for your life.

2. Focus on things above. Nourish your soul with hopeful happy things. Stay positive. Tell yourself, “This too shall pass.”

3. Talk to God often, and listen. Prayer reminds us we are not alone. Prayer also help us get God’s perspective, let go of our burdens, and surrender to His will.

4. Read God’s Word daily. He speaks to us through His Word. Also try listening from the Bible App.

5. Renew your mind with God’s Word. Declare His promises daily (out loud if you can). Here’s one to start : “You, Lord, are my lamp; the Lord turns my darkness into light.” 2 Samuel 22:29

6. Believe that God is working all things together for good.

7. Give thanks. Make a list daily of 3-5 things you’re thankful for. Post it where you walk by often and read it throughout the day, giving thanks to God for each one.

8. Play soothing worship music at home or in your car. Sing along.

9. Don’t isolate yourself. Talk with a friend or family member, or your pastor. Seek professional counseling if needed.

10. Hug (interact with) your dog, cat, or other beloved pet often.

11. Spend time in nature. Take walks, enjoy the outdoors.

12. My personal favorite: eat chocolate!

Praying your heaviness will lift, and soon you’ll be praising God with a smile  

What helps you to deal with sadness? Please share in the comments 

One last thought …

It helps to remember that sadness is not a sign of weakness. It’s just part of life. Once you’ve experienced a season of sadness, you’ll appreciate the glad times even more. I found this quote very encouraging:

“There is a sacredness in tears. They are not the mark of weakness, but of power. The speak more eloquently than ten thousand tongues. They are the messengers of overwhelming grief, of deep contrition, and of unspeakable love.” – Washington Irving

What's the Christian way to deal with toxic people in your life?

'Looking out for number one' is so often a terrible mantra but sometimes it's wise to step back and let God deal with the people you can't.

What's the Christian way to deal with toxic people in your life?

By JB Cachila, Christian Post Contributor| Monday, May 08, 2017

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Many Christians have this wrong idea that a Christ-follower has to be so accepting of other people that we would never stay away from them even if their presence in our lives is toxic and harmful; that we should always be there for them and help them see the light.

After all, we believe that God can change them, right? And maybe He'll use us for that purpose, right? Hmm, let's talk about that.

A wrong mindset

I'm pretty sure there are many who consider the idea of staying away from certain people as rejecting them. To be honest, it's not. The Lord Jesus Christ commanded all His followers to be wise, and that includes dealing with certain people in our lives (see Matthew 10:16).

And for this article, I will talk about dealing with toxic people in your life.

What are toxic people?

Toxic people are the kind who are loaded down with various lusts and issues that they are either not dealing with or are using to in some way manipulate or control their relationship with you. They might appear good, kind, even "angelic," but you'll know by their fruits that they really aren't. Paul warns us about such people:

"But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power..." (2 Timothy 3:1-5)

These people possess in them the kind of character that Christians must not have. Befriending and spending time with such people becomes dangerous because "Bad company corrupts good morals" (see 1 Corinthians 15:33).

So, yes, we are called to be loving to all and do our best to be a witness, but Paul warns us there are actually some people we should distance ourselves from for our own sakes.

Do you know some people like this and are you thinking of ways to deal with them as a Christian? Here are some steps to consider:

1) Warn them of the consequences of sin

James encourages us, "Brothers, if any one of you strays from the truth and someone corrects him, let him know that he who converts the sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins." (James 5:19-20) It still is a good thing to try to help turn toxic people away from the wrong they think is right.

Friends, try to prayerfully convince the toxic person of the dangers of sin (see Romans 6:23). These people are very much in need of grace just like us, and since we as Christians carry the hope of the world in us (see Colossians 1:27), we have the power to reach out to them.

Every person deserves a chance, so yes, do your best to reach out to them, especially if they belong to your family. However, if you've attempted many times to reach out to them and it's having no impact, it might be wise to consider distancing yourself while continuing to pray for them.

2) Turn away from them and their works

Next, be careful not to associate with their works. Paul warns us towards the end of 2 Timothy 3:5,

"...And from such people turn away!

It's not a sin to turn away from certain people, especially after you've done what you can to bring them to the light (see Matthew 10:14, 18:15-17). The Lord Jesus Himself, while reaching out to sinners like us, carefully stayed away from those who had a "form of godliness" but lived in ungodliness. Let's learn from that.

3) Don't hate them, but pray for them

Staying away from such people doesn't mean hating them or trying to hurt them. While we stay away to avoid being influenced, we keep praying for and hoping for their salvation in Christ. It's not a sin to keep yourself safe – it's actually a wise thing to do because the Bible also warns that we too can stumble while trying to save the immoral brother. If you don't have the spiritual strength necessary to deal with the toxic person, it can be in your own best interests to look after your own spiritual health first. As you step back and pray for that person, it gives God the opportunity to work in their lives and it may well be that a door opens for you to try again with them in the future when you or they are in a better position for you to do so.

10 Things Not to Do with Narcissists

10 Things Not to Do with Narcissists

Avoid common pitfalls when dealing with the self-absorbed.

Posted Jul 16, 2019 |  Reviewed by Devon Frye

Narcissists follow different norms than most people. Once you recognize these norms and understand what lies beneath them, you can cope with narcissistic people more successfully.

Here are 10 “don’ts” for dealing with narcissists:

1. Don’t give them ammunition.

Narcissists need to feel superior. Anything you share with narcissists may eventually be used to humiliate or manipulate you, particularly when you are most vulnerable or in need. Be mindful about what you reveal.

2. Don’t take them at face value.

Image is everything to narcissists. Narcissists lie easily and often seem entirely convinced of even their most preposterous lies. They work tirelessly to present a perfect, shining façade. Yet underneath, people with narcissism often feel empty and illegitimate. We can have compassion for narcissists’ wounds yet not be taken in by their pretenses. All that glitters is not gold.

3. Don’t try to justify or explain yourself.

Narcissists often put others on the defensive with pointed questions or sarcasm, posturing as though you must explain yourself to them. You need not justify your feelings or explain your thoughts. The more you do, the more you are at risk for them gaslighting you to induce self-doubt. Defending yourself to narcissists is generally a waste of time. Narcissists tend to be interested in winning, not listening; self-promoting, not communicating.

4. Don’t minimize their outrageous behavior.

Narcissists’ self-absorbed behavior and need for attention can take up all the emotional oxygen in the room. Over time, people around narcissists may become inured and fail to recognize how unhealthy narcissistic behavior can be.

Let's be clear: Deceiving, manipulating, and humiliating others is unhealthy and wrong. At times it may be best to let narcissists’ immature or provocative behaviors pass without comment, but that doesn’t mean you should fail to note, at least to yourself, how dysfunctional it is.

5. Don’t expect them to own their part.

Narcissists take credit and give blame. They do not apologize or admit responsibility. Seeking to get narcissists to be accountable for unhealthy behavior can be a waste of time. Narcissists believe they have more rights than others and have little interest in introspection. They love to look at their accomplishments, successes, or "special" talents, but fear looking within or owning their mistakes.

If you want to hold them accountable, fine—but do so because you need to say it, not because you expect they will ever hear or validate your concerns.

6. Don’t try to beat them at their own game.

It may be tempting, but remember: Narcissists have spent a lifetime perfecting a campaign of self-aggrandizement. They carry out more manipulative actions in a week than most people do all year. Narcissists have a mortal fear of feeling humiliated or inferior. As a result, they devote massive energy to cultivating sources of ego-boosting, generally at others’ expense.

Trying to beat them in a war of words or adopt their techniques is akin to an amateur going up against a seasoned pro. It won’t feel good, and it rarely works. Instead, be you and be true to your values.

7. Don’t expect loyalty.

Many people are stunned at how quickly and easily narcissists cast off others when the narcissist feels his or her needs are unmet. Narcissists view others as sources of gratification, not as equals. They use language as tools and weapons rather than to convey truth. This comes from a shaky sense of self which gives their needs and fears a life-or-death quality. Expecting loyalty from people who are in it only for themselves is counterproductive. Depending on narcissists for important needs is a prescription for disappointment.

8. Don’t personalize what they do.

Narcissists tend to view others as either potential threats or potential victims. They seek advantage over everybody. While their worst mistreatment is often reserved for those closest to them, nobody is immune from narcissists’ manipulations.

If you take what narcissists do personally, you grant them real estate in your mind and psyche—which is exactly what they seek. Narcissists will target anyone who happens across their path. It’s not personal; it's just what they do.

9. Don’t expect empathy.

A hallmark of narcissism is a lack of empathy. Empathy is based on the assumption that others are worthy and deserve equal attention and compassion. Does that sound like something a narcissist would believe? Their sense of entitlement leaves them feeling little interest in playing fair or reciprocating. Their grandiosity leads them to see others as inferior and therefore undeserving of compassion.

Rather than expecting empathy and reciprocity from a narcissist, focus on respecting yourself and honoring your needs and rights.

10. Don’t underestimate the power of narcissism.

Narcissism is a deep distortion in one’s sense of self. A narcissist’s life is about gaining “narcissistic supply”: attention, wealth, power, control, sexual conquest, and more. They have a bottomless hunger and need to be endlessly fed.

Furthermore, while people with Narcissistic Personality Disorder or a strong narcissistic style may alter some behaviors over time, the psychological dynamics of narcissism generally last a lifetime.

Hoping narcissists will change is a setup. Recognizing that narcissists are caught in an endless quest for attention and approval can free you from false expectations and allow you to set healthy boundaries.

We can have compassion for the struggles and limitations of people with narcissism. Yet compassion does not mean allowing others to hurt or take advantage of you. It is up to you to take care of yourself. That is not narcissism; that is healthy living.

© Copyright 2019 Dan Neuharth, Ph.D., MFT

from here: https://www.str.org/w/live-according-to-a-plumb-line-not-a-pendulum

Live According to a Plumb Line, Not a Pendulum

AUTHORAlan ShlemonPUBLISHED ON03/02/2021

You may have heard the stories. Sadly, it’s a pattern many Christians follow. A believer grows up with a misconception about the Christian worldview. One day, he discovers the truth and realizes he was mistaken. He becomes disillusioned with his faith and reacts by adopting a completely opposite—but also unbiblical—position. We often say the pendulum swung the other way. He went from one extreme to the next. Both positions, however, are wrong.

Examples abound. A girl who was raised in a “fundamentalist Christian home” was told Muslims are the enemy and dangerous people. When she went to high school, she met Saeed, a friendly Muslim in her class. Saeed was kind, chivalrous, and respectful of her Christian faith. All of her preconceived notions were destroyed. Saeed was nothing like the way her parents had characterized Muslims. Eventually, she began dating him, they fell in love, and she converted to Islam. The pendulum swung the other way.

In another example, a family was attending a conservative church in the Bible Belt. “Homosexuality is sin” was drummed into their heads. It was as if the church disproportionately singled out the sin of homosexuality as one of the most grievous sins. When the son reached high school age, he told his parents he was gay. Disillusioned, the parents looked for answers by scouring the internet and asking their friends for support. They came across Matthew Vines’s book, God and the Gay Christian, a book that supports the idea that one can be gay (e.g., have a same-sex lover, marry someone of the same sex, etc.) and be a faithful Christian. The parents were relieved to discover this “option” and fully embraced pro-gay theology. The pendulum swung the other way.

I’ve also heard multiple testimonies of progressive Christians explaining how they rejected the legalistic Christian “fundamentalism” of their youth and now hold more “reasonable” positions like being pro-choice, pro-gay, and claiming Jesus was a socialist. The pendulum swung the other way.

There’s a similar pattern repeating itself. A Christian becomes aware of an error in their faith but then overcorrects by adopting a view on the other end of the spectrum. The pendulum swings to a position that’s opposite of their starting point but still wrong in a different way.

Scripture offers a better and more accurate approach to gauge our spiritual life and discover what our position should be on any matter: a plumb line. A plumb line is a builder’s tool. It consists of a heavy, pointed weight attached to a string. Gravity makes the string hang perfectly straight (or plumb), giving a builder a vertical line by which to build a structure.

Scripture uses a plumb line as a metaphor for spiritual truth by which we can align our lives. For example, God tells Isaiah, “I will make justice the measuring line and righteousness the plumb line” (Isaiah 28:17). God also sends the prophet Amos to warn Israel of impending judgment because of their disobedience:

The Lord was standing by a vertical wall with a plumb line in His hand. The Lord said to me, “What do you see, Amos?” And I said, “A plumb line.” Then the Lord said, “Behold I am about to put a plumb line in the midst of My people Israel. I will spare them no longer.” (Amos 7:7–8)

The plumb line makes it clear to God’s people how far they’ve strayed from his perfect will.

The mistake is to follow the swing of a pendulum rather than adjust your position according to a plumb line. The problem with swinging the pendulum the other way is that it mistakenly presumes that the opposite position of an incorrect view is always correct. It can be, but that isn’t always the case. When you realize you’re in error, the biblical approach is to look at Scripture like a plumb line and realign your view according to that unchanging standard.

Had the people in my previous examples heeded this advice, they’d still be faithful Christians. The girl wouldn’t have become a Muslim, but she would recognize that that no person—even a Muslim—is your enemy; they’re a valuable image-bearer of God who needs a pardon. Rather than adopting pro-gay theology, the parents would have simply embraced Jesus’ sexual ethic while unconditionally loving their son. The progressive Christians would have jettisoned their theological error and adopted a more biblical view.

The proper corrective in these cases is to align your views to the plumb line of Scripture. That’s why God has given it to us. It’s for our good and for the health the church.

How In the World Do We “Honor” Joe Biden?

How Do We “Honor” Joe Biden?

Written by Costi HinnPosted on March 11, 2021  14 min read

from: https://www.forthegospel.org/how-do-we-honor-joe-biden/

I didn’t vote for him. Maybe you did or didn’t. Or, maybe you didn’t vote at all. But based on what the Bible teaches, there’s a pretty strong case for honoring Joe Biden. 

But how in the world are we supposed to honor governing authorities we vehemently disagree with on certain policies? What do we need to be generally submissive to, and what should we outright reject? Does honor mean that we have to agree, celebrate, or accept worldviews that aggressively attack what our God commands of us? 

These are important questions, and the extremes beckon us from all sides. Thankfully, wherever we find ourselves on the political spectrum, the gospel transforms every believer into a generally law-abiding, government-honoring, human-loving, God-fearing (most important of all) people!

Is this a new concept or a new challenge for Christians? 

If you’re tempted to think that honoring governing authorities is a new issue for Christians, rest assured that for thousands of years God’s people have wrestled with two extremes: 

Extreme #1: An overemphasis on rule-following to the point of blindly submitting to everything the government says. 

Extreme #2: An overemphasis on civil disobedience to the point of rebellion that declares, “Since we submit to God on everything, we will submit to the government on nothing!” 

Both of these extremes miss the point of passages like 1 Peter 2:13-17 which remind us: 

Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.

In short expositional summary, Peter is saying that Christians should be generally submissive to governing authorities and the law of the land, known for good works which will render slanderous accusations false, using freedom as a license to serve and not to arrogantly sin, and to have our relational priorities in order — especially the fear of the Lord. 

Does being “subject” mean blind obedience? 

At the time that Peter wrote these words, it’s not hard to imagine how frustrating this could have been for some believers as the tyrannical rule of Nero was heating up and the tone of culture was aggressive towards Christian views. But Peter reminds us all of the “why” behind the “what.” We submit to government “for the Lord’s sake” (1 Peter 2:13).

Does God expect us to blindly follow and submit to the government when their directives contradict God’s commands? No. How could we ever say that we are submitting to government “for the Lord’s sake” when we go against the Lord in acting out our submission? God expects submission from us regarding the law, but the government must punish evil, and reward good. When it steps beyond that boundary, we can do no other but obey God over the government. That is 100% biblical. 

We see proper disobedience to governing authorities in Acts 4:18-21 when Peter and John are told to stop preaching but Peter and John answer, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.”

We see a very sobering example in the life of Daniel who doesn’t just lay low and worship God in secret. He dares to do it as he always did. Daniel 6:10 records, “When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously.”

Just in case we ever get tempted to say: “Oh come on, just endlessly follow the rules and lay low and you’ll be fine. Nowhere in the Bible does it say we should just be out there in the open, flaunting our faith and daring people to do something about it. If you do that, you’re asking for it”. 

Think about this: Daniel could’ve shut his windows. Daniel could’ve laid low. Daniel could’ve prayed in a different direction. Perhaps God would understand. It would keep Daniel out of the lion’s den. It would even keep his prayer life going since he’d be alive to keep praying!

The two extremes we must avoid are a blatant dishonor towards the government (complete with rebellious attitudes towards authority unless it caters to us), or blind obedience in the name of Romans 13:1 and a passage like 1 Peter 2:13-17. If we let the Book talk, and scripture interpret scripture, we find when to obey, and when to disobey the government.

But beyond the tightrope walk of generally being submissive and knowing when to disobey the government, there is another aspect that has no caveat. 

Perhaps showing “honor” is the greatest challenge of all — especially when dealing with governing authorities we strongly disagree with. 

How in the world do we honor Joe Biden? 

In 1 Peter 2:17, we read, “Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.” It’s as though Peter (and the Holy Spirit) knew how the blood pressure of Christians then — and now — would rise and our knee-jerk responses would cause us to say: But…but…not this leader! 

Generally speaking, the laws that punish evil and reward good are to be followed, and government laws that do not directly contradict commands given in God’s word are to be obeyed. In other words, pay your taxes, buy a fishing license, drive the speed limit, don’t steal, assault, rape, murder, abuse, exploit, molest, vandalize, break-in, hit and run, kidnap, trespass, lie, launder, resist arrest, deal drugs, smuggle goods, tamper with or disable smoke alarms in an airplane lavatory, leave your baggage unattended in the terminal, or discharge a firearm illegally.  

Overall, Peter’s words offer very little nuance and command we have the right priorities and attitude. In particular, “honor the emperor” is easier to overlook, but we do well to face it head-on and apply it to our 2021 context. 

But how would Christians honor a man like Joe Biden if feelings of frustration boil towards the surface and disagreement with him is constantly inevitable?

Here are four ways: 

1.         Pray for him as a governing authority

The Bible calls on Christians to pray for leaders of the land. Paul the apostle writes, “I urge the entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who in authority…” (1 Timothy 2: 1-2). Whether you like him or not, voted for him or not, or feel like it or not, we must pray for him. Honor does not include blindly obey into sin, but it could certainly include prayer. Furthermore, prayer and honor are connected! The rest of this list shows how. 

2.         Empathize with the state of his soul

Did you know that if President Joe Biden dies in his current spiritual condition, his problem has nothing to do with how you feel about him? How you voted doesn’t even matter in Biden’s eternity. He will meet the Creator of heaven and earth and his pagan policies and shallow religiosity would not save him from God’s wrath. That should cause us to pray with sympathy for his soul! He needs Jesus. No judgment you or I could ever administer will compare with what awaits those who actively labor against God’s Law in flagrant rebellion. Sure, you can join the parade of Facebook haters and accomplish nothing but wasted time. Or, you can honor Biden by spending time empathizing with the state of his soul. 

3.         Respect the rank of “President of the United States”

I was talking with a military friend recently who said it this way, “I don’t like Biden, didn’t vote for Biden, and didn’t vote for other presidents in the past that I didn’t generally agree with. But I respect the rank or office of ‘President of the United States.'” Perhaps you have slanderous words or nicknames for President Biden, but as a Christian, it may be the most honorable thing to keep his title clean and honor his rank, while vehemently disagreeing with his policies. Does everyone agree with how he came into office? No. But he is there, and that’s not changing for now. Our gospel witness is not made more effective by reviling revilers, repaying evil for evil, and insult for insult (1 Peter 3:9-14). Scripture calls us to do the opposite. 

4.         Take a seat on the bench for a political “timeout” 

A dear pastor friend of mine who is a patriotic American and has taken an oath to serve this country has offered an approach to “honoring Joe Biden” that might be especially useful for people who have a difficult time with self-control amid political unrest. Playfully, think of this one as putting yourself in the “penalty box” for two minutes because you’re playing too rough on the ice. He encourages people to do what is on this list, then take a seat and generally ignore (yes, ignore!) the President, the news media, the social media fights, and focus on living for the gospel. This is a counter-intuitive way to honor the President because it protects you from slander and sin. This is not an option that all must take but could be a wise detox step for some of us who have been firing on all cylinders and overheating over everything Biden does. If you’re in politics, this is not an option. If you’re one of the helpful Christian lobbyists working hard to impact politics, this is not an option. But if you’re blowing your witness by blowing a gasket every time Biden does something you don’t like, it may be time to sit on the bench for a bit. 

If you’re looking for more resources on how to relate to government, here is a sermon I preached this past week on 1 Peter 2:13-17. The Bible doesn’t call for blind obedience to the government when it oversteps its duty, but the Bible does guide how we act, and how we speak amid political turbulence. 

May we stand courageously, and yet, graciously!

Save America's Workers from the Church of Wokeness

Save America's Workers from the Church of Wokeness | Opinion

from here: https://www.newsweek.com/save-americas-workers-church-wokeness-opinion-1573536?fbclid=IwAR0cd8lWe4cgmC4nSM5fDwDWgvLqow_FDzjYPoplpS7D7mFeXD2yOAt6hgg

VIVEK RAMASWAMY , ENTREPRENEUR AND AUTHOR

ON 3/4/21 AT 6:00 AM EST

Woke corporations in America today think they can fire employees for their politics without legal liability. They're mistaken.

Last month, Disney fired actress Gina Carano after she compared Nazi persecution of Jews to the persecution of conservatives in America today on social media. The company called her post "abhorrent and unacceptable," declining to explain why her co-star Pedro Pascal remains employed despite his own posts comparing Trump supporters to Nazis. Distinguished science reporter Donald McNeil was recently ousted from The New York Times for vocalizing the n-word when answering a high school student's question about whether a classmate deserved to be suspended for saying it. Emmanuel Cafferty, a Latino truck driver for San Diego Gas & Electric Company, was fired for accidentally—yes, accidentally—making the "OK" hand gesture used by some white supremacists.

Last week, Coca-Cola reportedly provided online training to its employees teaching them to "try to be less white," claiming that "to be less white is to: be less oppressive, be less arrogant, be less certain, be less defensive, be less ignorant, be more humble," and that "white people are socialized to feel that they are inherently superior because they are white." Coca-Cola later said the video was "not a focus of our company's curriculum."

Other examples abound, and they are all cases of religious discrimination—but not in the way you might think.

It's well established that an employer violates Title VII if it fires an employee because of his religious beliefs. But was Ms. Carano expressing religious beliefs through her social media post? Very unlikely. Nor was Mr. McNeil when he uttered the racial slur, nor was Mr. Cafferty, who said nothing at all. But that's not the end of the matter.

Often forgotten is that Title VII protects not only religious employees from being fired for their beliefs, but equally protects nonreligious employees from being fired for refusing to endorse an employer-mandated religion. "What matters in this context is not so much what [the employee's] own religious beliefs were," the Seventh Circuit federal court of appeals said in the 1997 Venters v. City of Delphi. What matters is whether the employee was "fired because he did not share or follow his employer's religious beliefs."

The real question, then, is whether wokeness in America today qualifies as a religion under Title VII. If it does, Ms. Carano has a straightforward claim of religious discrimination—she was fired for refusing to follow an employer-mandated religion.

Surprising as it may seem, the answer to that legal question is almost certainly yes. The Supreme Court's definition of religion used to require a belief in God, but the Court abandoned that position 60 years ago in Torcaso v. Watkins. Today, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)—which administers Title VII—employs a much more expansive definition: "A belief is 'religious' for Title VII purposes if it is...a 'sincere and meaningful' belief that 'occupies a place in the life of its possessor parallel to that filled by...God.'" "Religious beliefs include . . . non-theistic 'moral or ethical beliefs as to what is right and wrong which are sincerely held with the strength of traditional religious views.'"

Most secular beliefs don't qualify because they are only, as the Third Circuit explained in 2017 in Fallon v. Mercy Catholic Medical Center, an "isolated moral teaching"—like objections to the flu vaccine—rather than a "comprehensive system of beliefs about fundamental or ultimate matters," including ones that give adherents a sense of purpose or a moral code.

A demonstrator wears a protective mask as he holds a placard reading 'Silence supports violence' during a Black Lives Matter protest following the death of George Floyd outside the United States Embassy on June 07, 2020 in Madrid, Spain. The death of an African-American man, George Floyd, while in the custody of Minneapolis police has sparked protests across the United States, as well as demonstrations of solidarity in many countries around the world.ELY PINEIRO/GETTY

Employing these definitions—which fit wokeness to a tee—courts have repeatedly found non-theistic belief systems to be religious. For example, in Peterson v. Wilmur Communications, the court held that "Creativity," a non-theistic worldview that adheres to white supremacy as its main axiom, counted as a religion. According to the court, Creativity teaches that its adherents should "live their lives according to the principle that what is good for white people is the ultimate good and what is bad for white people is the ultimate sin." If Creativity, professing white supremacy, is a religion, then wokeness, professing the opposite, must be too.

Or consider "Onionhead." In 2007, a company called CCG adopted a program known as "Harnessing Happiness" or "Onionhead" to boost morale and cooperation. Onionhead is a nontheistic positive-thinking belief system. CCG employees had to attend positivity sessions where they were taught, among other things, that "choice, not chance, determines human destiny," just as employees at woke corporations today are forced to attend "diversity and inclusion" sessions where they are taught that systemic oppression determines human destiny. Employees at CCG who rejected Onionhead beliefs were fired, and the EEOC successfully sued on their behalf under Title VII, claiming this was religious discrimination even though CCG insisted Onionhead was secular. In the 2016 case EEOC v. United Health Programs, the court agreed with the EEOC, finding that Onionhead was indeed a religion.

Creativity and Onionhead aren't legal one-offs. The Supreme Court has called even Secular Humanism a religion for legal purposes. "If there is any doubt about whether a particular set of beliefs constitutes a religion," stated a federal district judge in United States v. Meyers, "the Court will err on the side of freedom and find that the beliefs are a religion." If Secular Humanism is a religion, surely wokeism is too.

This doctrine protects woke employees from being fired for their woke beliefs. That's intuitive, but legally it also means woke employers can't fire employees for failing to adopt those same beliefs. Yet that's the essence of what's happening across corporate America today.

Further strengthening the legal case that wokeness is a religion is the uncomfortable fact that, well, wokeness really is a religion. As Joshua Williams argues, Americans "have not lost their religion" but "relocated their religion to the realm of politics." Like most religions, wokeism is comprehensive and indivisible; just as no good Christian can pick his or her favorite five commandments, no woke practitioner can pick and choose which parts of the LGBTQ or BIPOC acronyms to like or dislike. Wokeism doesn't give suggestions; it gives affirmative commands. You can't just be "not racist," but must be "anti-racist."

And like any good religion, wokeness has its catechisms, clothing guidelines (no cultural appropriation) and taboo words. Mr. Cafferty's sin was the accidental use of a prohibited hand gesture. Mr. McNeil's was that he vocalized an unspeakable word, akin to blasphemy.

Ritualized confession and excommunication are hallmarks of religion, and wokeness has cornered the market in both. Mr. McNeil learned as much when he was obliged to recite a repentant shibboleth for his sin before being banished from his institution. For the truly faithful, the greatest sin is not nonbelief, but apostasy. That's why J.K. Rowling was excommunicated with a special vengeance reserved for traitors. When she said that Dumbledore was gay, she became an LGBTQ ally and was baptized to great celebration. But when she said transgender women aren't women, she became an apostate—a sin even greater than being a deplorable.

Indeed the word "woke" itself forges an explicit connection to past American "great awakenings"—periods of renewed religious fundamentalism. With its new versions of blasphemy and heresy, its new doctrine of original sin (exemplified by the 1619 Project), its claims to ultimate truth and its mandatory catechisms of professed belief, wokeness has become America's newest creed—more religious in character than Creativity, Onionhead or Secular Humanism.

Ms. Carano and others like her weren't just fired for having the wrong politics. They were fired for refusing to bow at the woke altar. The law gives them recourse, just as it would if they were fired for refusing to bow before a cross.

Americans shouldn't have to choose between speaking their minds freely and putting food on the table. Today's creedal firings are not just ill-advised. They are illegal. Our Founding Fathers and civil rights activists gave us the legal toolkit we need to defend against dogmatic orthodoxies seizing control of our institutions. Aggrieved plaintiffs should take their cases to court now—not just to save themselves, but to protect fellow Americans who will soon face the same fundamentalism.

Vivek Ramaswamy is a biotech entrepreneur and author of the forthcoming book WOKE INC.

The views expressed in this article are the writer's own.