Elon Musk, antisemitism, and ignoring the wisdom of Romans 14:22 "Blessed is the one who does not condemn himself by what he approves."

 

Romans 14:22  So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who does not condemn himself by what he approves.

After buying Twitter, the world's richest man, Elon Musk, has numerous times "condemned himself" by approving of racist and antisemitic statements and conspiracy theories.  While Musk has insisted that, "nothing could be further from the truth," much of the world isn't buying it, not when it keeps happening, not when he seems to have so little interest in repairing the damage he is causing.

Elon Musk addresses claims of antisemitism: ‘Nothing could be further from the truth’ - by Sarah Fortinsky, 11/19/23, The Hill

The latest example was Elon Musk's reply, "You have said the actual truth" in response to this tweet:

I’m deeply disinterested in giving the tiniest shit now about western Jewish populations coming to the disturbing realization that those hordes of minorities that support flooding their country don’t exactly like them too much. - The tweet on X (formerly Twitter) to which Musk replied.

This of course comes in the context of the horrific mass murders in Israel on October 7th, and is a repetition of the deeply antisemitic conspiracy theory that inspired the Pittsburgh Synagogue shooter and the Charlottesville wanna-be Nazis who shouted, "Jews will not replace us" known as the Great Replacement Theory.  

{Here is a post I wrote in the wake of the Pittsburgh shooting that examined the support of the Great Replacement Theory by Tucker Carlson: Another Mass Murder inspired by the Evil of the "Great Replacement" theory}

The point is, by now, anyone who has an opinion worth hearing on the subject of immigration, Jews, and racism is aware of how dangerous the White Supremacist's conspiracy that Jews are financing global migration to eradicate white people really is.  And yet, Elon Musk felt the need to lend his support to this idea and share that "opinion" will his 100 million + followers.

Whatever the outcome is down the road for Elon Musk, X (Twitter), and the rising tide of antisemitism that we must once again confront, there is a profound lesson for all of us to be learned from watching Musk try to defend himself against his own words: If you support evil, don't be surprised when people associate you with evil.

If you share, promote, and like antisemitic tropes and conspiracy theories, the world is going to conclude that you yourself are an antisemite.  That's not unfair, it isn't unwarranted, it is an application of Jesus' wisdom, 

Luke 6:45  A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.

Why plans to build a "Christian" Nationalist Retreat Center in Franklin, PA is not a good idea for the local churches or our town.

The view from the Allegheny River Retreat Center

My wife and I moved to Franklin in January of 2012 when I was called to be the new pastor at the First Baptist Church of Franklin (the one next to the Sheetz station, the red brick one, not the other one).  In the years since we've come to know Franklin and Venango County as a place that has a lot of positive things going for it, and as a good place to raise our daughter.  I've worked closely during my twelve years here with my neighboring churches, with charities (including of course Mustard Seed Missions, which I helped to found and serve as the President of), and local government officials.  I think I have a solid understanding of what this community needs moving forward, and what it doesn't.

For example: Franklin (and Venango County) would benefit if the new owners of Joy Plant #1 are able to find good tenants who will hire a significant number of workers at a living wage; that seems like a fairly obvious one.  As a second example, we are blessed in this community to have Emmaus Haven, the Christian charity that runs the men's shelter in Siverly, but our community's people will benefit when Emmaus Haven is also able to open a shelter in our county to house women with children.  Thirdly, we would benefit from an influx of doctors, nurses, dentists, police officers, and all the other professions that we, like most rural communities in this generation, need more of.  The list could go on an on, but let me end it with this, our town and our county need to continue to have churches that preach the Word of God, maintain the faith handed down to us from our ancestors, and work together to help those in need in our community.  At present, this is something we have, a tremendous resource, and something worth every effort that I and thousands like me put into maintaining what we collectively refer to as The Church.

On the flip side, there are numerous things that could change about Franklin and Venango County that would not benefit the people of our community, things that would be a detriment to the efforts of Christians and non-Christians alike.  For example: While some might celebrate the jobs that a casino would bring, or the tax revenue, the dark side of gambling's affects on individuals and families would not benefit our community (that one is unlikely to come here is a blessing).  A second example of the kind of developments that would be unhelpful to the health and vitality of our community would be the opening of a strip club, the closing of one of our libraries, or the loss of another significant employer.

None of the preceding thoughts are all that controversial.  We all want our community to have good jobs and a safety net for those in need.

Which after a long-winded introduction brings us to the topic at hand, which is the proposed "Seven Mountain training center."  Would it benefit Franklin or Venango County if this dream were to become a reality?  It would not.  That may feel like a very definitive statement, even a judgmental one coming as it does from a local pastor, but my belief on this matter comes from a lifetime of experience within the Church, a career of serving local churches, and an understanding of history, both secular and religious.  Given that the future is unknowable, and what is better or worse for a community can be a subjective question (as our recent bruhaha over the Witch Walk demonstrated in spades), I will certainly understand those who don't see this in the same way that I do, but everything that I know about the Church, the Gospel, America, and democracy tells me that "Christian" Nationalism is a bad idea, and that Seven Mountain Dominionism is a particularly dangerous form of "Christian" Nationalism.

Why am I talking about "Christian" Nationalism attempting to come here to Franklin, PA anyway?  When did this happen?  In June of 2023, The Atlantic published an article written by Stephanie McCrummen about the efforts of Tami Barthen and her husband Kevin (the article is almost exclusively about Tami) who moved to Franklin, PA in 2017 looking to buy a retirement cabin, but instead bought the former Vision Quest property where they are in the process of turning it into a retreat center for "Christian" Nationalists under the name Allegheny River Retreat Center.  The website for the planned retreat center doesn't mention anything (that I could find) about the theological and political nature of its purpose, but given the daily social media postings from "prophets" associated with the New Apostolic Reformation that populate both Tami's page and that of the ARRC, and her stated intention to make the property a "Seven Mountains training center," it seems only fitting that the churches and community of Franklin and Venango County take notice of this effort.

{The Watchman Decree: 'Christian' Nationalism's 'name it and claim it' dangerous prayer.  I wrote this on 8/23/22 to explain why Seven Mountain Dominionism is so dangerous to the Church and to America.  For those unfamiliar with the term, Seven Mountain Dominionism is a subset of "Christian" Nationalism, a specific type of effort at turning the country into a "Christian Nation."  Throughout this essay I have continued my habit of putting the "Christian" in "Christian" Nationalism in quotation marks, not because it is a generally accepted grammatical practice, but in deference to my own dislike of the association of this movement, historically and today, with the love and peace of the faith and practice that I hold dear.  There is nothing authentically Christ honoring about Christian Nationalism.}

Some of you may have met Tami and/or Kevin, I have not, and they may indeed be pleasant people to share a meal with, and in their own way be faithful Christians who are seeking to honor God with their lives.  My purpose in writing is not to cast dispersions upon them, as people, I don't have any basis for judgment either way, nor any reason to share it if I did.  Rather, it is the ideas behind Seven Mountain Dominionism (and "Christian" Nationalism) that are dangerous.

I was unaware of this effort to open a retreat center or this article about it until last week.  I contacted Tami via FB instant messaging, after seeing that she has the article pinned to the top of the Retreat Center's FB page and also uses an image of it on her business card, to let her know that I would be writing an article about this proposed retreat center from the perspective of someone who believes strongly in the Separation of Church and State as well as Religious Freedom (two ideals that are anathema to the "Christian" Nationalist movement, as they are to Fundamentalists in every religion). I asked her if she wanted to clarify anything from the article.  In the ensuing conversation with instant messaging, Tami indicated that she had never heard of the New Apostolic Reformation (she shares multiple posts daily from that movement's prominent and nationally known leaders), that in addition, "I don't know what Christian Nationalism is," and stated that you cannot judge someone by a magazine article (which, again, she displays prominently inviting others to read it).  In the end, Tami told me that my "tone" was accusatory, but declined to state anything from the article that she believed was a mischaracterization.  That's the long way of saying, I tried to offer the people behind the Allegheny River Retreat Center the opportunity to disclaim their apparent connection to Dutch Sheets, Lance Wallnau, the New Apostolic Reformation, and/or "Christian" Nationalism, but was rebuffed. 

To read the article from the Atlantic, click here: THE WOMAN WHO BOUGHT A MOUNTAIN FOR GOD, by Stephanie McCrummen, The Atlantic, 6/20/23

To read the article from the  Atlantic, together with my response to it, click here: A response to: "The Woman Who Bought a Mountain for God", a nationally published article (on 6/20/23) about "Christian" Nationalism in Franklin, PA

I have written much over the years about the dangers of "Christian" Nationalism both to the Church and to the government, and especially to the rights of those who don't conform to the particular definition of the Church that would then be backed up by governmental coercion.  In fact, I'm still working on my series: Listen to the Word of God: 62 Scripture passages that refute 'Christian' Nationalism.  I've made it to number 30, Listen to the Word of God: 62 Scripture passages that refute 'Christian' Nationalism - #30 - John 17:16 & 18:36, but it'll be a while until I can work all the way to #62.

Let me make a few brief distinctions between the type of patriotism that can honor God and the "Christian" Nationalism that endangers the Gospel, the Church, and any nation it attempts to control.

1. There is a key difference between prayer for the government that hopes to make our democracy better for all who live in this land...and "Christian" Nationalism's willingness to overthrow the government and end democracy in order to win.

2. There is a key difference between working with, or conversely protesting against, the government as an exercise in freedom...and "Christian" Nationalism's claim of a God-given right to rule in his name over everyone else.

3. There is a key difference between influencing culture and the government for the better, seeking to make them more moral and righteous...and claiming that only you, and those like you, have the answers as to what that culture and government should be, and that those who disagree are in league with the Devil.

I am fully in favor of the first half of those three statements, and in fact I've done my share of all three.  But that's not what the committed "Christian" Nationalists have in mind when they envision what America would look like under their rule, they have the second half of those statements in mind.  

We have a good community here in Franklin and Venango County, it isn't perfect, we all know that, but it is one of the better places to live in our world today.  Working to maintain it is important to us all.  That being said, this is America, if they can raise the millions the project will need, the Allegheny River Retreat Center may indeed become a beacon of "Christian" Nationalist training that attracts speakers and guests from all over the country.  I'm not proposing that anyone take action to try to stop them from fulfilling their dream, and certainly don't want anyone to harass Tami or Kevin online or in-person, in part because I do believe in everyone's freedom of religion, including those who don't reciprocate.  Maybe this "prophecy" of what this retreat center could become will result in a functioning enterprise here in our town, maybe it won't.

No matter what happens next, the answer to falsehood is truth, the answer to darkness is light, and the answer to hate is love.  I truly believe every bit of that sentence.  So, if the planned "Seven Mountain retreat center" becomes a reality, my response to this militancy will be truth, light, and love, I won't respond with anything else even though I know in my heart, my mind, and in my soul, that this is not a good idea for our local churches or our town.

There certainly isn't time here to make the case that "Christian" Nationalism is the destructive force that I know it to be, I have however written and taught on this subject for years, so anyone seeking to learn more about this movement and how dangerous it is to the Church and America can simply continue reading some of the links below.

Here is a six hour seminar outlining what the Biblical relationship is between the Church and human government: What Every Christian Should Know About: The Church and Politics

Scripture Abuse: 2 Chronicles 7:14, idolatry, nationalism, and antisemitism

The irrefutable rejection of Christian Nationalism by the New Testament

The blasphemous "One Nation Under God" painting by Jon McNaughton

The Climate Change denialism of Evangelicals will be damaging global Gospel witness for generations to come

 

It was painful, personally and professionally, to watch so many of my fellow Evangelicals (as well as Fundamentalists) in America deny the reality of COVID-19 in the face of ever increasing evidence.  It was also disheartening to hear fake 'cures' touted by some of these same voices while the readily available vaccine was rejected (as part of some global, even Satanic, conspiracy).  Having spent time in our area hospital praying with and for exhausted nurses, and having presided over the funeral of a fellow pastor and his wife who died on the same day of COVID, this lack of acceptance of basic facts and the nasty hostility toward doctors and scientists, has left a mark.  I won't soon forget it.  However, when it comes to the grand sweep of history, as traumatic and disruptive as COVID-19 was to the world for two plus years, it will one day be relegated to the history books along with such momentous moments as the fall of the Berlin Wall and 9/11.  Future generations will be unlikely to continue to hold the mostly politically motivated, fact denying, COVID-19 related actions of millions of American Christians against them.  Climate change is a different sort of beast.  Why?

The affects of COVID-19 are fast fading, wounds of this sort to the human psyche heal when the harms fade away, but the mounting affects of climate change are increasingly being felt.  If the predictive models are true, the ongoing cost will be upon the shoulders of billions of people throughout the world, and not just once, but over and over again with each successive drought, wildfire, flash flood, and hurricane.  COVID-19's impact lasted 2+ years, and we were all so tired of dealing with it, climate change won't have an expiration date, it will build and remain, year after year.  With widespread suffering, and the pain (as it always is with such things) felt more by the poor and powerless, the world will look to blame those who stood in the way of mitigating the worst of climate change's affects in the early decades of humanity's grapple with it, when decisive action might have made a big difference.  There will be plenty of blame to go around, China will receive some of it, but most will fall upon the West, America in particular, in part because only in America has there been widespread denialism and opposition to mitigating steps, even by private businesses. {In Europe, conservative parties disagree with liberal ones about how to mitigate climate change, not about the reality of it.}

To those on the outside looking in, it may seem curious that American Evangelicals/Fundamentalists have been so deeply and vehemently opposed to the scientific consensus regarding climate change {As if, by force of will, you can change facts}.  Four reasons for this stance stand out among others: 

(1) An anti-science attitude that dates back to the Scopes Trial {Young Earth Creationism paved the way for anti-science / anti-vaccine Evangelicals}

How exactly does one witness to those with a degree in science if your theology demands that they abandon generally accepted scientific conclusions on a whole host of topics in order to become a Christian?  This is a long standing issue, but one that has grown in recent years into outright hostility toward not only scientific facts, but those whose work revolves around science.

(2) An embrace of conspiracy theories, especially when they involve the U.N. {For example: An analysis of Rev. Danny Jones, "Is this Coronavirus a Sign of the End of the World?"}

When #'s 1 & 2 combine, we have the increasingly common acceptance of the notion that any scientific consensus is itself evidence of a conspiracy theory, something we saw manifested during COVID-19.  If 99% of global climate scientists agree that our current era's climate change is largely affected by human activity, that fact becomes a primary reason to oppose said consensus.  One of the reasons why is #4.

(3) A political viewpoint that declares that whatever 'they' support we must oppose, to the death. {The proper counter-point: Afraid of being called 'woke' or 'conservative'? Preach the Whole Counsel of God - Wisdom on this issue from John Piper}

We know this to be true: If the Republican party supported policies to combat climate change, and the Democrats (for whatever reason) opposed them, Evangelicals and Fundamentalists would be shouting their support of these policies to combat climate change from the rooftop, and thumping their chests about how important this is to God.  This is certainly not the only issue where we see the Church in America acting as if it has a Red wing and a Blue one, often to our shame.

(4) An in-our-lifetime eschatology that is convinced the End Times are upon us, thus negating any serious commitment to environmental conservation or protection.  If it is all going to be destroyed in the next few years, who cares? {This attitude disastrously applied to COVID-19: The Mark of the Beast isn't what you think.}

Yesterday I saw, for the first time, a meme from a pastor that proclaimed that climate change MUST be false because it violates the sovereignty of God.  A small amount of knowledge about world history will debunk this foolishness.  Humanity has been affecting the environment in which we live for thousands of years, mostly in a negative capacity.  North Africa during the time of the Roman Empire was a productive province, responsible for much agricultural production, things have changed.  God's power and control has not been diminished by this human impact on our world in the past, nor is it in the present.  

In the end, what is sorely lacking in much of the 'Christian' vitriol against the scientific consensus regarding climate change is a proper orthodox understanding of stewardship.  The Biblical narrative begins with stewardship in the Garden of Eden, but somewhere along the way segments of the Church in America decided that environmental stewardship was not our responsibility.  A biblical understanding of stewardship would also act as a check on the rampant consumerism, and disregard for the poort, that affects so much of the American Church, but alas it is a neglected theological imperative.

One hundred years from now, when communities the world over are grappling with the negative affects of climate change, those hoping to share the Gospel in them will have to respond to accusations such as this: "We are in this mess because of American Christians, why should we listen to what you have to say about Jesus?"

Another Mass Murder inspired by the Evil of the "Great Replacement" theory

Nine people murdered at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina in 2015.  In August 2017, White Supremacists in Charlottesville, Virginia marched with torches shouting, "The Jews will not replace us!"  Eleven people murdered at Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 2018.  Twenty-three people murdered at an El Paso, Texas Walmart in 2019.  Fifty people murdered at two mosques in New Zealand in 2019.  And now, ten people murdered at a grocery story in Buffalo, New York on May 14th, 2022.  All of the killers were white men, and all of their targets were chosen because of race.  It is racism at its most vile, empowered by the ability of one person to murder dozens in a few moments, but otherwise little different in terms of the hatred involved and the goal desired from the lynching's of the Klan.  The history of this attitude in America also includes the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act and the Know Nothing party's anti-immigrant rhetoric, and similar such efforts to preserve America for people 'like us' in skin tone and culture.

What is the 'Great Replacement' and how is it tied to the Buffalo shooting suspect? - By Dustin Jones, NPR

It would seem like an obvious response to condemn the ideology of those who perpetuate mass murder, it was certainly what happened in America after 9/11 to Islamic Fundamentalism, but in fact the "Great Replacement" has been gaining acceptance and supports from well known pundits and politicians in recent years (in the midst of the ongoing slaughter of innocents), most notably from Tucker Carlson.

Fox News star Tucker Carlson's 'great replacement' segment used a new frame for an old fear There are still plenty of Americans seeking confirmation that their rank nativism is right. - by Casey Michel, NBC

How does one avoid politics, my goal, when pundits (and politicians) are advocating an ideology that continues to inspire mass murderers?  In this case, I cannot.  What America's immigration policy should be is another conversation, but what cannot be mainstreamed is the notion that White lives are of more value than non-White lives.  There is not way around the conclusion that the "Great Replacement" theory embraced by Tucker Carlson (and others) is making this 'us' vs 'them' mathematical calculus.  

Matthew 28:18-20 (NIV) Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Galatians 3:28 (NIV) There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Revelation 7:9 (NIV) After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.

I have heard Galatians 3:28 quoted against those fighting racial injustice, along with MLK Jr's famous, "I look to a day when people will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character."  Both of course out-of-context uses that twist the meaning in the opposite direction to protect racial injustice.  In fact, it is the White Supremacists, and those adjacent to them advocating the "Great Replacement" who ignore the call of Scripture to ignore race for the sake of the Gospel.  To God, our Creator, it is anathema to proclaim that 'we' cannot let 'them' replace 'us'.  Who do 'we' think we are?  By what right do we deserve this land, this nation, any more than they?  Nationalism gives us reasons to thump our chests and call it 'our land', but a Christian Worldview that affirms that we are but stewards of God's Creation must reject such claims of preferential treatment, we live here by the Grace of God, not our own merits. 

The Church is growing rapidly in the non-White parts of the world, it has been for the past several generations at the same time that is has been shrinking in Europe and America.  The Church is less White today than it was thirty years ago, and that trend continues.  That the Church in the West is struggling is cause for grief, repentance, and renewed faithfulness, that it is growing rapidly in much of the rest of the world is cause for celebration, joy, and hope.

The Gospel rejects, utterly, racial superiority.  The Gospel rejects, utterly, tribalism and nationalism.  The Church in America must have none of this, millions of self-proclaimed Christian Americans may look to Tucker Carlson and others pushing the "Great Replacement" as some sort of 'savior' of Christianity, but like Vladimir Putin has monstrously proven himself to be, this is a false hope, an anti-Christ (in the New Testament sense, something against-Christ).  One cannot 'save' the Church through racism, one can only stain the Bride of Christ.

The irrefutable rejection of Christian Nationalism by the New Testament

White Nationalism and White Supremacy are an abomination to the Church

How should Christians feel about refugees?

Josh McDowell's folly in addition to racism: Claiming that the Bible only talks about individuals

It doesn't have to be this way, hope exists: That time UAW members worked with Quakers to build integrated housing

When the shameful past of Racism hits close to home

Taking the name of the LORD in vain: PragerU's "Social Justice Isn't Justice"

Addendum: Following the revelation that the Buffalo shooter was influenced by the "Great Replacement" Theory, Tucker Carlson responded by defending his ongoing use of it because, in his mind, it isn't a conspiracy theory but a reality.  That this 'theory' is based upon an us vs. them mentality, viewing the lives of American citizens as inherently superior to those of the rest of the world, reminds us that its roots are in Nationalism and Racism, concepts that are anathema to the Universal Church.

QAnon's kidnapping and “adrenochroming of children” is just repackaging the medieval antisemitic Blood Libel, the whole movement must be utterly rejected.

 John 8:44 (NIV)  You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

2 Corinthians 11:14 (NIV)  And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.

The Truth matters, embracing lies, for whatever reason, is the path of self-destruction.  If the Chruch fails to exorcise this QAnon 'demon' now, it will reap the whirlwind later.

When QAnon first appeared on my radar I shared briefly some responses debunking its odd conspiracy theories, with one respondent telling me that I was wasting my time with such a fringe element.  That was a year ago.  Today, roughly 20% of Americans believe (to an extent) that there really is a global conspiracy of elites to kidnap children for pedophelia and/or 'adrenochroming'.  That this is not actually true has not slowed the ludicrous speed of the spread of these lies.  In addition to endangering our republic, and inspiring violence, the basis of QAnon's primary conspiracy is just a repackaged medieval Blood Libel, and if it grows strong enough, it will lead to mass violence against Jews; again, with so-called Christians cheering them on, again.

In April, "Passsion of the Christ" star Jim Caviezel gave an interview {‘Passion of the Christ’ Star Jim Caviezel Pushes False QAnon Conspiracy at Right-Wing Conference} to a COVID-19 conspiracy theory conference in which he claimed to have knowledge of secret riturals being performed by an international elite to harvest the adreneline from the bodies of children (who would be killed in the process) in order to obtain perpetual youth for those who drank this unholy elixir.  The "adrenochroming of children" is just one of the manifestations of the QAnon conspiracy theory about the kidnapping and abuse of children by a shadowy organization, comprised of elites from the political world and Hollywood; a group significantly more Jewish than the population as a whole.  To those who know the sordid history of the relationship between the Church and Jews, this revival of the medieval Blood Libel is not surprising, as evil ideas do not fully die when discredited, but it is ominous, as the last time the Blood Libel gained a wide audience it began the dark road of modern antisemitism that led to the Holocaust.

The History of the Blood Libel

The following section in bold is verbatim from the Anti-Defamation League website: adl.org

The “blood libel” refers to a centuries-old false allegation that Jews murder Christians – especially Christian children – to use their blood for ritual purposes, such as an ingredient in the baking of Passover matzah (unleavened bread). It is also sometimes called the “ritual murder charge.” The blood libel dates back to the Middle Ages and has persisted despite Jewish denials and official repudiations by the Catholic Church and many secular authorities. Blood libels have frequently led to mob violence and pogroms, and have occasionally led to the decimation of entire Jewish communities.

The blood libel is particularly appalling in light of the fact that Jews follow the Hebrew Bible’s law to not consume any blood, which is found in the book of Leviticus. In order for an animal to be considered kosher, all its blood must have been drained and discarded.

ORIGINS OF THE BLOOD LIBEL

The first ritual muder charge took place in Norwich, England, in the twelfth century. A boy named William was found dead in the woods outside of town, and a monk, Thomas of Monmouth, accused local Jews of torturing him and murdering him in mockery of the crucifixion of Jesus. Although many townspeople did not believe this claim, a cult venerating the boy eventually sprang up. At this time the myth began to circulate that each year, Jewish leaders around the world met to choose a country and a town from which a Christian would be apprehended and murdered.

The blood libel spread throughout the Christian world in the Middle Ages. When a Christian child went missing, it was not uncommon for local Jews to be blamed. Even when there was no evidence that any Jew had anything to do with the missing child, Jews were tortured until they confessed to heinous crimes. Some Christians believed that the four cups of wine that Jews drink at the Passover Seder celebrations were actually blood, or that Jews mixed blood into hamantaschen, sweet pastries eaten on the Jewish holiday of Purim. Others claimed that Jews used Christian blood as a medicine or even as an aphrodisiac. Scholars have documented about 100 blood libels that took place from the twelfth to sixteenth centuries. Many of them resulted in massacres of Jews.

THE BLOOD LIBEL IN MODERN TIMES

The blood libel persisted into modern times. In 1840, members of the Damascus Jewish community were charged with kidnapping and killing a Christian priest who had disappeared. Several notable Jews from Damascus were tortured to extract confessions, and an angry mob destroyed a synagogue and its Torah scrolls. Jews were massacred repeatedly in the Muslim world, partly as a result of this libel, which had been imported from Christian society.

Blood libels continued even into the twentieth century as well. In 1913 a Ukrainian Jew named Menahem Mendel Beilis was charged with ritually killing a Christian child whose body was discovered near a local brick factory in Kiev. During a sensational trial, numerous respected Russian intellectuals and scholars testified that Jews attacked Christians and used their blood in obscene rituals. Ultimately Beilis was acquitted of the charges, but not before horrific anti-Semitic claims were repeated and broadcast throughout Russia.

A blood libel even occurred in Massena, New York, in 1928. When a four-year-old girl went missing from her home, a rumor spread that local Jews had kidnapped and killed her. Crowds gathered outside Massena’s police station, where the town’s rabbi had been summoned. A state trooper questioned the rabbi, and asked him whether Jews offered human sacrifices or used blood in rituals. The girl was eventually found alive and unharmed.

And this discussion of origins from Diarmaid MacCulloch's amazing book: Christianity, the First Three Thousand Years, p. 400-401

One of the characteristics of Western Christianity between the eleventh and thirteenth centuries is its identification of various groups within the Western world as distinct, marginal and a constant potential threat to good order: principlal among such groups were Jews, heretics, lepers and (curiously belatedly) homosexuals.  In 1321 there was a panic all over France, ranging from poor folk to King Philip V himself, that lepers and Jews had combined together with the great external enemy, Islam, to overthrow all good order in Christendom by poisoning wells.  Lepers (as if they had not enough misfortune) were victimized, tortured into confessions and burned at the stake, and the pogroms against Jews were no less horrific.  Muslims were lucky enough to be out of reach on that occasion.  From the mid-twelth century, a particularly persistent and pernicious community response to the occasional abuse and murder of children was to deflect guilt from Christians by blaming Jews for abducting the children for use in rituals.  This so-called 'blood libel' frequently resulted in vicious attacks on Jewish communities.  Sometimes higher clergy did their best to calm the community hysteria in such cases; sometimes they allowed shrine-cults of the murdered victims to develop.  Recurrences of the blood libel persisted into the twentieth century as a blemish on Christian attitudes to Jews, spreading from the West into Orthodoxy in later centuries.

And this chilling conclusion about the path that led to the Holocaust from MacCulloch, p. 948

It will not do to point out the undoubted fact that most Nazis hated Christianity and would have done their best to destroy its insitutional power if they had been victorious.  As the Nazi extermination machine enrolled countless thousands of European Christians as facilitators or uncomplaining bystanders of its industrialized killing of Jews, it could succeed in co-opting them in the work of dehumanizing the victims because the collaborators had absorbed eighteen centuries of Chrstian negative stereotypes of Judaism..the most mendacious and marginalizing such as the 'blood libel'

Lastly, below are quotes from the articles linked at the bottom.

But historians offer another thesis for the purpose QAnon serves. The “nocturnal ritual fantasy”—a term coined by the historian Norman Cohn in his landmark study of European witch trials, Europe’s Inner Demons—is a recurring trope in Western history. And it is often a politically useful one. Deployed by the Romans against early Christians, by Christians against Jews, by Christians against witches, by Catholics against “heretics,” it is a malleable set of accusations that posit that a social out-group is engaged in perverse, ritualistic behaviors that target innocents—and that the out-group and all its enablers must be crushed. - Talia Lavin

It is easier to imagine violent predation by political opponents—and perhaps unleash vengeance against them—when you already believe they consort with demons and drink the blood of children for amusement. - Talia Lavin

“This whole blood libel is very prominent there, the idea of kidnapping children for blood,” said Magda Teter, a Jewish studies professor and author of “Blood Libel: On the Trail of an Antisemitic Myth.” “People are going to start googling ‘killing children for blood.’ That will lead them to anti-Semitism even if they may not be initially inclined.”- Ben Sales

Some of QAnon’s supporters are surely aware that they are targeting Jews. But the ideas of harvesting children’s blood and controlling the world through a secret cabal are anti-Semitic even if the growing numbers of QAnon adherents don’t realize it, or don’t directly refer to Jews, Teter said. These ideas are so old and established, she said, that they function as codes for anti-Semitism and obviate the need to mention Jews directly. - Ben Sales

QAnon, Blood Libel, and the Satanic Panic How the ancient, antisemitic nocturnal ritual fantasy expresses itself through the ages—and explains the right’s fascination with fringe conspiracy theories - by Talia Lavin, The New Republic

Fear and adrenochrome: The conspiracy theory right is addicted to crazy ideas about a drug - by Ben Sixsmith, The Spectator World

QAnon an old form of anti-Semitism in a new package, say experts Some of those tracking conspiracy theory note its use of tropes, vocabulary of anti-Semitic propaganda and blood libels throughout history By Ben Sales, The Times of Israel

** An added connection to antisemitic tropes: QAnon's foe is a shadowy group of elites, not much different from the nonsense that "Jews run the world", that lie was used to devestating effect against Jews.  In addition, two of the biggest villains of Q are the Rothschild family and George Soros, in other words, rich Jews. **

There is NO place in the Church of Jesus for QAnon; period, end of story.  Just as there is not place in the Church of Jesus for antisemitism.  A rational analysis of QAnon's beliefs will demonstrate that at its heart, in addition to being a lie, it is full of antisemitism.  The Church must firmly, fully, and forcefully reject this belief system, even if it causes those who adhere to it to leave the church (showing their true loyalty) and even if it costs some ministers their jobs.  This issue is that serious.

An analysis of Rev. Danny Jones, "Is this Coronavirus a Sign of the End of the World?": 1 part very poor interpretation of Scripture, 2 part conspiracy theory = a danger to the Church

Recently the YouTube video of a sermon by the Rev. Danny Jones of the Northlake Baptist Church (GA) has exploded in popularity, and is currently being shared throughout my Facebook feed by various people.  So I watched the whole thing, took notes along the way, and offer this analysis:

If you want to watch the video, use the link below as it is from the church's own YouTube channel (thus no fear of editing) and the time signatures will match up with my comments {bold bracketed in italics}.  Note: I have no prior knowledge of this minister, am making no comments about his ministry as a whole or that of his church.  The matter at hand is the techniques, focus, and conclusions of this particular sermon.

Is this Coronavirus a Sign of the End of the World? - by Rev. Danny Jones, Northlake Baptist Church (GA)

24:30 - The sermon begins with a reading of 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12 with only a few comments
28:30 - Matthew 24 is referenced
29:30 - Daniel 2 is mentioned
30:24 - The interpretation of Daniel 2 is that no world empire is possible after Rome. {Daniel makes no mention of other empires beyond the 5 in his dream interpretation.  The Babylonians were certainly not a global empire, only a regional power.  Knowing that something will happen in the future does not preclude other things from happening.  This interpretation is adding to the limited point that the prophecy is making; perhaps not egregious, but a sign of things to come.}
30:30 - Daniel's 4th empire is connected explicitly with Western Civilization {Another eisegetical leap, while Daniel makes a connection between the empire of iron (typically thought of as Rome) and its follow-up, that of iron mixed with clay, to say that this must be something derived from Western Culture is not from the text itself.  Western Christians have always assumed that the Antichrist will be one of their own.  Is this a weird form of pride, as if our culture is the only one important enough for Satan to work through against God?}
30:44 - The terms "final world empire" and "One World Government" are first utilized in connection with Daniel 2.  {Daniel's prophecy says nothing about the prophesied empire being one that spans the world (the previous ones in the vision did not), thus is makes no claim that the empire of iron/clay will rule the whole world under one government.  This conclusion from Rev. Jones likely is drawn from other texts, such as Revelation, but not from Daniel 2.  Note the exact text of Daniel 2:39-43 below}
30:47 - "It will be weaker than the other empires, because they're going to try to build their New World Government by mixing and mingling the various ethnic groups around the world is what Daniel tells us."  {If this isn't a not very subtle critique of mixed-race marriages and other forms of integration, I'm not sure what to make of it.  Daniel is saying nothing of the sort; his text makes no mention of ethnic groups, and certainly isn't saying that an empire of mixed ethnic groups is weaker.  What kind of mixture will the people be, what will keep them from being united?  The assumption that this is about race/ethnicity is from Rev. Jones.  This is certainly eisegesis, hopefully it isn't racism too.}

Daniel 2:39-43 New International Version (NIV)
39 “After you, another kingdom will arise, inferior to yours. Next, a third kingdom, one of bronze, will rule over the whole earth. 40 Finally, there will be a fourth kingdom, strong as iron—for iron breaks and smashes everything—and as iron breaks things to pieces, so it will crush and break all the others. 41 Just as you saw that the feet and toes were partly of baked clay and partly of iron, so this will be a divided kingdom; yet it will have some of the strength of iron in it, even as you saw iron mixed with clay. 42 As the toes were partly iron and partly clay, so this kingdom will be partly strong and partly brittle. 43 And just as you saw the iron mixed with baked clay, so the people will be a mixture and will not remain united, any more than iron mixes with clay.  

31:30 - Daniel 7 mentioned
32:10 - Daniel 8 mentioned
32:40 - "This Antichrist will be a diplomat, a politician." {The text of Daniel 8 calls him, "a master of intrigue...He will become very strong but not by his own power." (Daniel 8:23-24).  This is a minor point, but part of the pattern of making assumptions and taking the prophetic texts further than what the authors are actually saying.}
32:55 - Daniel 11 mentioned
34:02 - Revelation 13 mentioned with respect to a "world government"
34:35 - Daniel 12, "transportation and information will increase, we've witnessed that during our lifetime." {Was Daniel talking about cars, planes, and the internet?  The text of Daniel says, "Many will go here and there to increase knowledge." (Daniel 12:4)  To state that Daniel was talking about the 20th century's technological increases is once again reading into the text what isn't there.  Why not the invention of the printing press, public education, steam trains and ships; why right here and right now?  Because it fits the overall narrative, not because it fits a proper exegetical interpretation of Daniel.  FYI, transportation and information have been increasing significantly for a thousand years, and have been on the rise since the time of Daniel.  Was Marco Polo a sign of the End Times?  He went 'here and there to increase knowledge'?  The point is simple: Making Daniel's words about "our lifetime" is entirely arbitrary.}
34:55 - "We've watched this Mystery of Iniquity in our time, for at least the last 100 years, billionaire bankers and businessmen have been trying to sell the world on a One World Government."  {A reference back to 2 Thessalonians 2, but once again one that makes huge assumptions.  #1 That Paul is talking about businessmen (and super rich ones at that) rather than any other type of influential person, #2 that Paul is talking about human beings at all, what prevents the 'secret power of lawlessness' from being from the spiritual realm?  #3 and that the Apostle Paul was talking in this text about a OWG.  Where in the text are the billionaire bankers trying to set up a OWG?  They are there in his interpretation because he needs them to be here to fit the narrative, not because Paul wrote anything to imply it.  Again, why now, why in our generation as opposed to a previous or future one?  Paul's words are no help in answering that question.}

2 Thessalonians 2:7 New International Version (NIV)
7 For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way.  

Here ends the interaction with Scripture, roughly 1/3 of the way through the sermon, 8 texts have been mentioned in 11 minutes, none have been examined in detail.  What the listener is left with is an impression of a broad Scriptural foundation for the next 2/3 of the message, but is in reality only a cherry-picked collection of references that are not nearly as connected, nor as clear, as the specific interpretation offered by Rev. Jones is claiming.  Significant questions are not touched upon: Are the texts of Matthew, Daniel, 2 Thessalonians, and Revelation all talking about the same time period?  The same person?  If previous generations of Christians saw these passages differently (and they did, some equally applying the interpretation to their own times, also using eisegesis), what makes this interpretation better than theirs? (given that they were wrong, Napoleon wasn't the AntiChrist, the Reformation wasn't the start of the Millenial Kingdom, etc.)  Daniel's prophecies are 2,500 years old, those of the NT are 2,000 years old; on what basis is the conclusion made that they are being fulfilled right now, and that this is the only interpretation of that fulfillment?  Context matters, authorial intent matters, original audience interpretation matters; none of which have been examined here.  The perspective is us, here, now.  If we don't start our interpretation with them and there before considering its implications for us, here, our conclusions will reflect our circumstances and our priorities, not those of the Word of God.

From 35:44 to 1:02:37, Rev. Jones issues a string of conspiracy theory culprits, workers in the vast web of the OWG that he is weaving together to call into question everything about the COVID-19 pandemic.

35:44 - Marxism and the Hegelian Dialectic are posited as the lens through which the conspirators are operating.  It is insinuated that 'globalists' are the cause of terrorism, the global warming 'hoax', and various pandemics, all to be able to offer 'pre-packaged' solutions of more government control.
36:50 - Trump's presidential election {See 100:00:05 for the conclusion that no politician can stop the OWG.  That being the case, why would the globalists try to impeach Trump if he is powerless against their plotting?}
37:33 - When impeachment fails, the globalists next move is COVID-19 {Just one problem with the timeline, COVID-19 was already spreading BEFORE the impeachment process began.  Later, Rev. Jones states that COVID-19 was in the works even earlier as part of the globalist plot.  The 'globalists' are portrayed as nearly all powerful, able to shape the world, yet unable to remove one politician standing in their way?  Consistency is lacking, that's not a good sign.}
37:40 - Rockefeller, George Soros, Bill Gates, and Henry Kissinger listed as part of the conspiracy {Two Jews in the list of headliners, I don't know if this is a coincidence for Rev. Jones, but it isn't for many who agree with him.}
39:10 - Warren Buffet, Oprah Winfrey, and Ted Turner added to the list; along with the start of an anti-vaccine stance that will grow toward the end.
39:45 - The Davos meeting mentioned, will be repeated, as the cabal where billionaires plot to take over the world
40:20 - The US Army is involved (through DARPA)
40:40 - Bill Gates' Netflix movie, Pandemic (2017), "Is Bill Gates a prophet or is it a plan?" {The idea that Bill Gates planned and put into motion a global pandemic is hinted here, not with subtlety.}
41:15 - Johns Hopkins work with a Chinese doctor is mentioned, "interesting to note" {More guilt by association, more inferences for the true believers to nod at and say, "Oh, I see."}
42:00 - World Military Games in Wuhan in 2019 {Why mention this if not to imply that the US Military is part of the conspiracy?}
42:50 - Dr. Anthony Fauci mentioned, primarily as a dupe of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
45:01 - "Novel means Corona didn't come crawling out of the woods, makes you wonder where it did come from?" {It takes 30 seconds and Google to show how much nonsense this sentence is.  Novel actually means: not previously identified.  It says nothing about the origin of the virus, simply that we have not previously experienced it.}
45:50 - "I was planning on being a doctor, I was a pre-med major" {Less excuse for the last statement then.}
47:45 - "Something is going on there..." {Conspiracy theories, insinuations, these are not fitting for a preacher of the Word of God.}
48:10 - Bill Gates calls for a shutdown
48:45 - Where did it come from?  Either man-made by China or U.S. {Clearly a false dichotomy, one that dismisses the natural cause for a nefarious one, without proof.}
49:15 - "Bottom Line: This novel coronavirus, COVID-19, is a manufactured crisis, designed to deceive people to accept a radically different world" {First question: What has any of this to do with the text of 2 Thessalonians?  Second question: How does he KNOW, not suspect, not think, know?}
49:35 - Not saying people don't get sick or die from COVID-19 {Something, at least.}
49:45 - Flu comparison {Debunked over and over by real doctors, real professionals.}
50:25 -  30k deaths compared to a "low flu year" {The problem, of course, is that this sermon aired on April 19th, the number in the US has doubled since then, and is only going higher.  The flu comparison was wrong when he made it, is getting worse each day.}
50:35 - "Why are we being deceived and where are we going with this?"  According to Daniel and Paul: The Mystery of Iniquity to prepare for the Antichrist.  {Daniel and Paul said nothing of the sort, that's your conclusion being paraded as the fulfillment of their prophecy; this sermon doesn't serve the text of Scripture, it uses it as a prop.}
51:15 - Former President Obama thrown in for good measure
54:45 - With sermons now given online, "All of our words are being saved and stored in the NSA's new and huge data center in Utah, which as long as we have a government that's ok with Christianity is ok, but what if our New World Government is more like China?  Then our very words will be used against us in a criminal trial."  {Where to begin, evidently Big Brother is coming for us all too; and soon.  My sermons are public, always have been, I'm happy to have anyone hear them, including the NSA, if they're listening, which they are not.}
100:35 - Will you take the vaccine when it comes out?  The vacccine for COVID-19 is connected to biometric tattoos, Bill Gates, MIT, Davos, etc.
101:10 - Revelation 13, no longer about the vaccine, now about the Mark of the Beast with the U.N. named as the One World Government.  {The anti-vax movement is growing, and it will cost lives worldwide from preventable diseases.  If millions refuse to get the COVID-19 vaccine because of conspiracy theories like this, people will die.  The 'this is the Mark of the Beast' false cries have been repeated endlessly; terrifying to know that now they will be used to scare people about life saving medicine.  This is entirely irresponsible, and morally repugnant.}
101:40 - Roman Emperor Domitian's persecution cited as a parallel, those who get the vaccine (it is implied) are one step closer to denying Christ.  {If that isn't the implication, why bring up that moment in Church History when Christians were given a choice between obeying the government and holding to their profession of faith?  Those who believe Rev. Jones would be fools if they accept the COVID-19 vaccine if/when it is a reality; if they believe him and refuse, some of them will die of COVID-19.}
1:02:37 - Is COVID-19 a sign of the End?  Don't know {A surprising conclusion given the past 45 minutes, but actually the correct answer.}

In the end, the interpretation of the Biblical passages is both brisk and faulty (eisegesis), 2/3 of the message has nothing to do with Scripture and everything to do with politics and conspiracy theories.  This message is dangerous, and there are many more like it.  Why?  Because it has real world implication for people's health and well being, AND it portrays to the Lost that followers of Jesus are anti-government, anti-vaccine, and not to be trusted regarding facts and truth.  COVID-19 is a controversial topic, but handing the Word of God this way in response is helping no one, and potentially harming many.

God reveals his secret wisdom: 1 Corinthians 2:6-10a

Every year a new book purports to reveal the secret things hidden from the public by the Church.  In the end, these books merely reveal things which have been known for centuries, not mysteries at all, nor any grand conspiracy, but simply the writings of heretics forgotten over the centuries.  The apostle Paul does reveal, however, that God kept an important secret from humanity, for thousands of years.  The secret wisdom of God was at last revealed, although it had been hinted at previously in the form of prophecies, to be the coming of the Son of God to dwell among men as Immanuel.  After the coming of the Christ, the people of God were commanded to share this news throughout the earth.

To watch the video, click on the link below:

Warning signs of an unbalanced worldview

As I was meandering about on Youtube recently, looking to see if there were any new interesting videos posted in the areas of textual criticism and the KJV Only debate, I happened across a series of videos made by Chick Publications that reminded me of the warnings signs of a Christian organization/church that is dangerously unbalanced.  There could be many ways in which those who claim to follow Jesus become lost in warped thinking, these ones are prevalent among them:

1. The Conspiracy Theory - It doesn't matter who the villain of the theory is, although the most common choices are the Vatican (i.e. the Jesuits and Illuminati), the Jews (the Rothschilds and Zionists) and the United Nations (the New World Order is the code word for various one-world gov't theories).  If a central tenant of the belief system of the individual/organization/church is a grand conspiracy theory, this mindset will warp and twist all manner of other thoughts and attitudes and end up leading to isolation and paranoia, not good qualities upon which to minister for the Gospel.

2. The Eisegetical Scripture Citation Defense - That doesn't really work as an acronym, what it means is that the common defense of such groups is to utilize a Scripture reference as a comeback or rebuttal to any criticism instead of utilizing historically accurate facts and/or logically sound reasoning.  The primary problem with such a method is that the Scripture cited is almost invariably unrelated to the conversation at hand.  An out-of-context eisegetical (which means "reading into" the text) citation is NOT a valid argument.  For example: To cite Psalm 12:6 as a defense of KJV Onlyism is an affront to the words of David who was in no way talking in that Psalm about translations of the Bible, certainly not about English translations, and was also certainly not declaring that the KJV Bible would be a second work of inspiration for his words two thousand years later.  And yet this verse is routinely cited by KJV Only advocates as if the mere citation of Psalm 12:6 proves something for them.

When the primary defense of a position advocated by a Christian individual/group/church is to improperly cite Scripture that does not apply to their situation, it is a sure sign of lazy thinking, poor scholarship, or most likely, a very weak position in the first place.

3.  The We're the Only Ones Going to Heaven conclusion - Another common trait among groups that have lost their way and strayed from the Gospel is the firm conviction that they, and they alone, are in possession of the knowledge that will lead to eternal life, all other so-called "Christians" are at the least deluded, and in all likelihood in league with Satan.  Set aside for a moment the sad state of the Church of Jesus Christ if this were true (how weak would should a Gospel be to be misunderstood and misapplied by so many, and how ineffective would the Holy Spirit be if 99% of those who thought they were Christians were on their way to hell?), and just contemplate the megalomania required to convince yourself that everyone else is wrong, nobody else can see the Truth, only you and those like you have penetrated the lies and schemes of Satan to be saved.  Yikes!  And yet such groups exist, persistently in their bunker mentality, scorning cooperation between churches, calling Ecumenism the work of the Devil (no doubt as part of some vast Vatican conspiracy), and waiting for the sky to fall.  How can this attitude lead to an effective witness for the Gospel or effective help for those in need?

Other warnings signs could be added, these happen to crop up again and again among these individual and groups.  There are many, many churches alive and well within the Church of Jesus Christ today, places where the Gospel is being preached, where truth and facts are elevated, and where the victory that Christ has purchased for us is being realized, there is no need to buy into what they're selling.