Disntr Agrees With My Observation: "Conservatives" aren't conservative

 Finally I'm not the only one seeing and saying this.

Excerpts from Disntr:

 "A distressingly growing number of people who claim to be conservative are being taken captive by the LGBTQ movement and led to believe that sexual deviants, simply because they share a dislike of certain Democrat politics, have become our allies."

Indeed, there are many who have been deceived in this way—groups like “Gays Against Groomers” or Bruce Jenner, a cross-dresser and a contributor to Fox News, are now somehow the talking heads of the new conservative movement.

None of these people are conservatives, and none of these people are our allies. These people represent the very essence of progressivism, and simply because they don’t agree with some pet Democrat political issue, we are quick to rush and join hands with these circus clowns as a way to virtue signal our “big tent” mentality and, all in the name of diversity and inclusion, conservatives are now LGBTQ-friendly....

Can we genuinely claim to believe that same-sex marriage and the erosion of the traditional nuclear family precipitate society’s decline, while allying ourselves with “Gays Against Groomers” solely because their approach to their destructive lifestyle is slightly less radical?

End quote. (Bold, my emphasis, italics, mine).

It then goes on, "We shouldn’t be a big tent. We should be exclusive. True conservatives have morals, convictions, and should be unwilling to compromise them this way."  Continue reading here.

I've been saying this for while now. I'm glad Disntr is seeing it and saying something about it too. 

My belief of why "conservatives" are doing this is because they are desperate and want heroes, and want validity at best; at worst they were never conservative but only less liberal. Either way, this is the mentality of "voting for the lesser evil" outworking from politics into society.

They're ok with transgenders as long as they don't prey on children.

They're ok with homosexuals, especially the "conservative" types. 

Seriously?

"Conservativism" is suppose to conserve traditional values and principles, not the least of which is God-ordained marriage and family.

Conservatives aren't even pro-life now.

Conservatives applaud Democrat leaders who leave the DNC, not understanding that they are typically still liberal. The neo-conservatives' pragmatic view is, "the enemy of my enemy is my friend". That's corrupt, desperate, and pathetic. And it'll come back to destroy them, or more likely, assimilate them into their side.

More importantly, biblical Christians are truly and unwaveringly conservative, not by man's standard by solely by Scripture's standard. We are not pragmatic, nor desperate, therefore we do not violate Scripture and make allies with people which Yahweh (the Self Existent One (Ex. 3:14-15)) never sanctioned. We don't evaluate things by the flesh, but spiritually and according to the Word through the Holy Spirit.

2Co 10:3  For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, 4  for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. 

1Co 3:19  For the wisdom of this world is foolishness before God. For it is written, "He is THE ONE WHO CATCHES THE WISE IN THEIR CRAFTINESS"; 20  and again, "THE LORD KNOWS THE REASONINGS of the wise, THAT THEY ARE USELESS." 

Jas 4:4  You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

Isa 30:1  "Woe to the rebellious children," declares the LORD, "Who execute a plan, but not Mine, And make an alliance, but not of My Spirit, In order to add sin to sin; 

Isa 30:2  Who proceed down to Egypt, Without consulting Me, To take refuge in the safety of Pharaoh, And to seek shelter in the shadow of Egypt! 

Isa 30:3  "Therefore the safety of Pharaoh will be your shame, And the shelter in the shadow of Egypt, your humiliation. 

 If it didn't work for Israel, neither will it work for those today who use the name of Christ Jesus while seeking shelter in men---especially "less evil", but nonetheless, evil men. Seek shelter in the ONLY Rock that is eternal: God Himself.

Php 3:20  For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; 

Apostate Hank Hanegraaff Endorses Homosexual Author For Defending The West

The former "Bible Answer Man" and apostate  Hank Hanegraff (now Greek Orthodox which is a works-righteousness religion), now promotes a homosexual for answers to saving the West. Never mind that a huge part of the West's downfall is it's sodomy. 

This started when he read Spencer Klavan's book. Be careful of what you read! Romans 1-3 makes it clear WHY we're at this point in the West: the rejection of the biblical God and His Word. Deny the Creation account, then you'll deny that the sin of homosexuality is especially heinous because that's a sin that goes against God's created order of nature and is dishonoring and deviant behavior, with its lusts as unnatural. An apostate like Hanegraaff will of course now consider these things to be of personal opinion, as he inferred in the clip. But he's not the first to go to the world for answers. Al Mohler has done the same but with Romanist author Flannery O'Connor and the cult of Mormonism. He also did the same with Marxist authors he read in college which he still goes back to. (Interesting that Mohler's discussion on Marxism was with Eastern Orthodox Rod Dreher.)

Be careful of the books you read. This was started by the apostate reading a book by the homosexual. The world's wisdom is absolute foolishness, useless, earthly, and demonic according to Scripture.

1Co 3:19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness before God. For it is written, "He is THE ONE WHO CATCHES THE WISE IN THEIR CRAFTINESS"; 20 and again, "THE LORD KNOWS THE REASONINGS of the wise, THAT THEY ARE USELESS."

Mal 3:13 "Your words have been arrogant against Me," says the LORD. "Yet you say, 'What have we spoken against Thee?'

Mal 3:14 "You have said, 'It is vain to serve God; and what profit is it that we have kept His charge, and that we have walked in mourning before the LORD of hosts?

Mal 3:15 'So now we call the arrogant blessed; not only are the doers of wickedness built up, but they also test God and escape.'"

1Co 1:18 For the word of the cross is to those who are perishing foolishness, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

1Co 1:19 For it is written, "I WILL DESTROY THE WISDOM OF THE WISE, AND THE CLEVERNESS OF THE CLEVER I WILL SET ASIDE."

1Co 1:20 Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?

1Co 1:21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.

Elyse Fitzpatrick Joins Matt Chandler, Beth Moore, and Gay promoter Preston Sprinkle At Conference

Elyse Fitzpatrick is to join heretical teachers like Matt Chandler and Preston Sprinkle, a homosexual and promoter of the gay "Revoice" movement at "Theology In The Raw" (the same name of Sprinkle's podcast) conference in March.  This is about promoting debates on various issues, contrary to Scripture. She continues to show embracing of heretics and their heresies, if at BEST, as a mere optional opinion rather than sound biblical doctrine that the true Christian not only is told to believe, but we're also told to not welcome nor greet false teachers who do not hold to the sound teaching of Christ Jesus (2 John 9-11). Preston Sprinkle, by the way, has taught at Cedarville University and Francis Chan's Eternity Bible college.  He is a huge pusher of sodomy within Evangelicalism.

Truth is never to be debated alongside error. Rather, Truth is to be proclaimed and error and false doctrines are to be destroyed and demolished by Scripture. Reject all these people if you value Christ Jesus and Scripture.

2Co 10:5  We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, 

1Co 1:18  For the word of the cross is to those who are perishing foolishness, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 

1Co 1:19  For it is written, "I WILL DESTROY THE WISDOM OF THE WISE, AND THE CLEVERNESS OF THE CLEVER I WILL SET ASIDE." 

1Co 1:20  Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 

1Co 1:21  For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. 

Eph 4:17  This I say therefore, and affirm together with the Lord, that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind, 18  being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart; 19  and they, having become callous, have given themselves over to sensuality, for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness. 20  But you did not learn Christ in this way, 21  if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus, 

1Co 1:10  Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree, and there be no divisions among you, but you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment. 

Eph 4:4  There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; 5  one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6  one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all. 

Rebranding Jesus

We're getting blasted with the notorious "He Gets Us" campaign that promotes an anti-Christ Jesus with woke values, which has spent $20 million for a Super Bowl Sunday ad. Their funds are up to $100 million right now and one report states that the business expects $1 Billion in two years. But if you can't pay for cable or the internet, or pay for enough food or heating this winter, or pay for medication or other things, never you mind.

This is about a Jesus that the world just loves; one that winks at their sin; one that tolerates wickedness, is non-judgmental, fights for social justice, and has no holiness nor righteous standard. A Jesus Satan loves.

2Co 11:3  But I am afraid, lest as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds should be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.  2Co 11:4  For if one comes and preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted, you bear this beautifully. 

John 7:7 The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify about it that its works are evil.

1Jn 4:1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

1Jn 2:15 Do not love the world, nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

1Jn 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.

1Jn 2:17 And the world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God abides forever.

1Jn 2:18 Children, it is the last hour; and just as you heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have arisen; from this we know that it is the last hour.

The true Jesus "gets you" alright:

Joh 2:23  Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name, beholding His signs which He was doing.  Joh 2:24  But Jesus, on His part, was not entrusting Himself to them, for He knew all men,  Joh 2:25  and because He did not need anyone to bear witness concerning man for He Himself knew what was in man. 

Heb 4:12  For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 
Heb 4:13  And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do. 

Veganism Is Anti-biblical

Today's veganism (and vegetarianism) is yesterday's ascetism: to "not taste!" It is part of the corrupt world and its doctrines and commandments of mere men, going against Scripture. In essence it is today's new paganism, that has a low view of man and a high view of the earth and animals.  God commanded that rams, heifers, pigeon, goats doves and lambs for example, to be sacrifice to God. Moreover, Yahweh would not command us to eat meat if it was unsuitable for human consumption. 

Col 2:20  If you have died with Christ to the elementary principles of the world, why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to decrees, such as, 21  "Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!" 22  (which all refer to things destined to perish with the using)—in accordance with the commandments and teachings of men? 23  These are matters which have, to be sure, the appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and self-abasement and severe treatment of the body, but are of no value against fleshly indulgence. 

Yahweh gives Man animals for food:

Gen 9:2  "And the fear of you and the terror of you shall be on every beast of the earth and on every bird of the sky; with everything that creeps on the ground, and all the fish of the sea, into your hand they are given. 

Gen 9:3  "Every moving thing that is alive shall be food for you; I give all to you, as I gave the green plant. 4  "Only you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood. 

Abraham fed the Lord and His angels curds, milk, and meat:

Gen 18:7  Abraham also ran to the herd, and took a tender and choice calf, and gave it to the servant; and he hurried to prepare it. 8  And he took curds and milk and the calf which he had prepared, and placed it before them; and he was standing by them under the tree as they ate. 

Passover lamb:

Exo 12:8  'And they shall eat the flesh that same night, roasted with fire, and they shall eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. 

Exo 16:8  And Moses said, "This will happen when the LORD gives you meat to eat in the evening, and bread to the full in the morning; for the LORD hears your grumblings which you grumble against Him. And what are we? Your grumblings are not against us but against the LORD." 

Exo 16:11  And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 

Exo 16:12  "I have heard the grumblings of the sons of Israel; speak to them, saying, 'At twilight you shall eat meat, and in the morning you shall be filled with bread; and you shall know that I am the LORD your God.'" 

Exo 16:13  So it came about at evening that the quails came up and covered the camp, and in the morning there was a layer of dew around the camp. 

Deu 12:6  "And there you shall bring your burnt offerings, your sacrifices, your tithes, the contribution of your hand, your votive offerings, your freewill offerings, and the first-born of your herd and of your flock. 

Deu 12:14  but in the place which the LORD chooses in one of your tribes, there you shall offer your burnt offerings, and there you shall do all that I command you. 

Deu 12:15  "However, you may slaughter and eat meat within any of your gates, whatever you desire, according to the blessing of the LORD your God which He has given you; the unclean and the clean may eat of it, as of the gazelle and the deer. 

Deu 12:16  "Only you shall not eat the blood; you are to pour it out on the ground like water. 

He repeats this in verses 20- 23.

Lev 11:2  "Speak to the sons of Israel, saying, 'These are the creatures which you may eat from all the animals that are on the earth. 3  'Whatever divides a hoof, thus making split hoofs, and chews the cud, among the animals, that you may eat. 

Lev 11:9  'These you may eat, whatever is in the water: all that have fins and scales, those in the water, in the seas or in the rivers, you may eat. 

Lev 11:45  'For I am the LORD, who brought you up from the land of Egypt, to be your God; thus you shall be holy for I am holy.'" 

Lev 11:46  This is the law regarding the animal, and the bird, and every living thing that moves in the waters, and everything that swarms on the earth, 

Lev 11:47  to make a distinction between the unclean and the clean, and between the edible creature and the creature which is not to be eaten. 

Jesus feeds the multitudes bread and fish:

Mat 14:19  And ordering the multitudes to recline on the grass, He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up toward heaven, He blessed the food, and breaking the loaves He gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave to the multitudes, 

Jesus feeds the disciples after the resurrection:

Joh 21:13  Jesus came and *took the bread, and *gave them, and the fish likewise. 

The change in food commandments (see Acts 21:25 that holds to the prohibition of not eating strangled meat or meat with its blood):

Act 10:11  and he beheld the sky opened up, and a certain object like a great sheet coming down, lowered by four corners to the ground, 

Act 10:12  and there were in it all kinds of four-footed animals and crawling creatures of the earth and birds of the air. 

Act 10:13  And a voice came to him, "Arise, Peter, kill and eat!" 

Act 10:14  But Peter said, "By no means, Lord, for I have never eaten anything unholy and unclean." 

Act 10:15  And again a voice came to him a second time, "What God has cleansed, no longer consider unholy." 

Act 10:16  And this happened three times; and immediately the object was taken up into the sky. 

The freedom to eat anything with thankfulness to God:

1Co 10:25  Eat anything that is sold in the meat market, without asking questions for conscience' sake; 

1Co 10:26  FOR THE EARTH IS THE LORD'S, AND ALL IT CONTAINS. 

1Co 10:27  If one of the unbelievers invites you, and you wish to go, eat anything that is set before you, without asking questions for conscience' sake. 

1Co 10:28  But if anyone should say to you, "This is meat sacrificed to idols," do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for conscience' sake; 

1Co 10:29  I mean not your own conscience, but the other man's; for why is my freedom judged by another's conscience? 

1Co 10:30  If I partake with thankfulness, why am I slandered concerning that for which I give thanks? 

1Co 10:31  Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 

The caveat is if it's connected to idolatry in order to not cause a true Christian to not stumble (they may have come out of that very pagan religion or want nothing to do with even the appearance of connection to the pagan religions especially in front of others), again, with the prohibition of strangled meat or meat with its blood in it. It's a spiritual connection to pagan temple worship, NOT food preference of veganism.  1Cor. 8 deals with this.

Vegans think they're kind to animals by not killing them, but God has commanded the killing of certain animals TO be sin and burnt offerings to HIM. Man says it's "unholy" to nature; God says it's HOLY to HIM. Veganism denies the Fall of all creation, especially mankind and have elevated creation above the Creator, and has created a self-made religion and righteousness that is ONLY of the flesh and has no value in dealing with the indulgence of the flesh and sin nature. Their self-righteousness (including virtue signaling) is empty, without wisdom, without power to deal with the REAL problems of man, and only continues their condemnation. These are the ones that continue to rebel against God, their parents, and authority, and they are hypocrites. 

Amy Grant Hosts Lesbian Family Couple's Wedding

Rom 1:32  Though they know God's decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them. 

People Magazine:

The Grammy Award winner, 62, is opening up about her decision to host her niece's same-sex wedding and how she's been navigating the varying feedback that's come as a result.

"I never chase any of those rabbits down the rabbit hole," Grant told PEOPLE of social media responses — both good and bad. "I love my family, I love those brides. They're wonderful, our family is better, and you should be able to be who you are with your family, and be loved by them."

"Honestly, from a faith perspective, I do always say, 'Jesus, you just narrowed it down to two things: love God and love each other,'" Grant told the Post. "I mean, hey — that's pretty simple."

End quote.

She judges what God states is unnatural, impure and lustful, dishonorable, shameless, contrary to nature, and doing what ought not to be done, as a mere "rabbit hole", a mere trivial, meaningless stance. 

Throughout all of Scripture, from the patriarchs, to the law, to the prophets, to the Gospels, epistles, and apostles,  God has repeatedly and consistently prohibited sodomy for all people, in all times, in all cultures. It goes against His created order. Grant, who committed adultery "of the heart"  unbiblically divorced her first husband Gary Chapman, and married Vince Gill. She has always wanted to be world famous celebrity while holding on to some piece of religion she calls "Christianity", but she's nothing more than a worldling that speaks like the world, acts like the world, and is in agreement with the world. 

Mat 11:23  And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You will be brought down to Hades. For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. 

Luke 17:29  but on the day when Lot went out from Sodom, fire and sulfur rained from heaven and destroyed them all—30  so will it be on the day when the Son of Man is revealed. 

Deu 29:23  the whole land burned out with brimstone and salt, nothing sown and nothing growing, where no plant can sprout, an overthrow like that of Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim, which the LORD overthrew in his anger and wrath—

Jude 1:7  just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire.

Sodomy is the most selfish form of "love" one can have, which is to say, it's actually hatred toward another and toward God Himself. HE said that sodomites go to Hell unless they repent and get saved. She's saying it's ok to "love whoever you want". She's a lawless, unprincipled pseudo-religious zealot. She dares to sit in judgement of Scripture and its Author. She stands condemned. 

God's Love Is Action And Accomplishes All He Wills, Intends, and Purposes

 The Love of God is action and accomplishment, not theoretical or hypothetical.

Eph 1:4  just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him. In love 
Eph 1:5  He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, 
Eph 1:11  also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, 

Eph. 1-2 shows God's love is demonstrated in ACTION and ACCOMPLISHMENT toward and for the elect and therefore, the elect only (the road to eternal life is narrow and few find it). There is no theoretical or hypothetical love or desire of God toward all people.

Eph. 1-2, Rom. 8:29-39, John 3:16-17,36, 1 John 2:1-2 & 4:9-11, it's very clear that God's love IS action and HAS accomplished His kind intention, will, purpose and counsel toward those whom He chose before time and creation, to save. Therefore not one part of our salvation is up to us. We can't self-activate salvation. It's all of Christ and in Christ and by Christ. From our election, to our predestination, to our salvation, sanctification, and glorification, it's God doing the work. Even as we're called to walk in and practice the Truth and righteousness, He's working in us and our new nature:

Php 2:12  So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; 
Php 2:13  for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.

He works in us to will and then to do His good pleasure. This is why it is astounding He would reward us in Heaven, when we are only doing His will as servant:

Luk 17:9  "He does not thank the slave because he did the things which were commanded, does he? 10  "So you too, when you do all the things which are commanded you, say, 'We are unworthy slaves; we have done only that which we ought to have done.'" 

Doctrinal Triage Is Doctrinal Divorce

I came across this passage of Scripture and noticed how Christ said Scripture can't be broken:

John 10:34  Jesus answered them, "Has it not been written in your Law, 'I SAID, YOU ARE GODS'? 35  "If he called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture cannot be broken), 6  do you say of Him, whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, 'You are blaspheming,' because I said, 'I am the Son of God'? 

"broken" = luo, G 3089 = to loose, release, dissolve, annul. Used in:

Joh 7:23  "If a man receives circumcision on the Sabbath that the Law of Moses may not be broken, are you angry with Me because I made an entire man well on the Sabbath? 

It's also used here: 1Co 7:27  Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be released. Are you released from a wife? Do not seek a wife. 

It is in this verse that made me think about divorce in regard to marriage, Christ, and doctrine.

Mat 5:31  "And it was said, 'WHOEVER SENDS HIS WIFE AWAY, LET HIM GIVE HER A CERTIFICATE OF DIVORCE'; 

The word for "divorce" here is apostasion G 0647= forsaking.  

Matt. 19:3-9 uses the same word, different form: Mat 19:3  And some Pharisees came to Him, testing Him, and saying, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any cause at all?" 4  And He answered and said, "Have you not read, that He who created them from the beginning MADE THEM MALE AND FEMALE, 5  and said, 'FOR THIS CAUSE A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER, AND SHALL CLEAVE TO HIS WIFE; AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH'? 6  "Consequently they are no longer two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate." 

Now while the context is marriage, the application, I believe, goes further. God is faithful, full stop. Forever. In all things. To Himself, to His Word, to His covenants, to His elect (both Jew (Rom. 11:25-29). Even in punishment, He is faithful. What He says, He will do. He cannot forsake His Word nor His children (true, not illegitimate ones--see 1John 1-3). In other words, God cannot be divorce from His children (born from God), His bride, His Word, nor Himself.  What HE joins can never be separated. Christians are sealed and indwelled by the Holy Spirit, forever joined to Christ Himself. He is our sustainer (Heb. 1:3; Col. 1:17-18). Scripture is joined to God because it comes directly from Him ("the mind of Christ" 1 Cor. 2:16), and His nature. 

Joh 6:37  "All that the Father gives Me shall come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out. 38  "For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. 39  "And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day. 40  "For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him, may have eternal life; and I Myself will raise him up on the last day." ...Joh 6:44  "No one can come to Me, unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day. 

Rom 8:33  Who will bring a charge against God's elect? God is the one who justifies; 34  who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. 

Eph1:13  In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise

Eph4:30  And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

2Ti 2:13  If we are faithless, He remains faithful; for He cannot deny Himself. 

Heb 13:5  Let your character be free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, "I WILL NEVER DESERT YOU, NOR WILL I EVER FORSAKE YOU," 

That's why the true Christian cannot become an apostate or divorced from God, because we were bought by Him, sealed by Him, justified by Him, and Christ is our propitiation (satisfied the wrath of God, thus fulfilled God's absolute justice). 

1Jn 2:19  They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, in order that it might be shown that they all are not of us. 20  But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you all know. 

Moreover His Word shall be entirely fulfilled thus it cannot be broken:

Mat 5:17  "Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish, but to fulfill. 18  "For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass away from the Law, until all is accomplished. 

1Pe 1:25  BUT THE WORD OF THE LORD ABIDES FOREVER." And this is the word which was preached to you. 

So doctrinal triage is doctrinal divorce. It’s a severing of doctrine by man when in reality all doctrine is married not only to each other, but to God’s very nature. His doctrine is true reality and reveals His mind (1Cor. 2:16).

What God has joined or bound together, no man can separate, though he try . This is true for marriage (physical) and spiritually (Christians to Christ, doctrine to doctrine, doctrine to practice, and doctrine to God).

Just as man and wife are one unit (Matt 19), so is Scripture and it's doctrines (earthly analogies are always limited, mind you). I deal with this more in these posts. But the main verses that show this are:

Jas 2:10  For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all. 

Joh 17:17  "Sanctify them in the truth; Thy word is truth. 

2Ti 3:16  All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 7  that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. 

Act 20:27  "For I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole purpose of God. 

Doctrinal fidelity in all doctrine proves one's fidelity to Christ Jesus:

2Co 11:3 But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.4 For if one comes and preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted, you bear this beautifully.

Joh 8:31 Jesus therefore was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, "If you abide in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine;

Mat 28:19  "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20  teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." 

2Jn 1:9  Anyone who goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God; the one who abides in the teaching, he has both the Father and the Son. 10  If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house, and do not give him a greeting; 11  for the one who gives him a greeting participates in his evil deeds. 

That destroys doctrinal triage. His Word = His doctrine. If you treat it lightly as non-essential--any of it--you aren't His disciple. You're a mere man's disciple. You've fallen for the cult of personality and have the spirit of the Pharisees and Scribes who did the same thing (the Scribes, by the way, denied the Resurrection).

Spurgeon rightly said, "Faith which accepts one word of God & rejects another is not faith in God but faith in our own judgment, faith in our own taste." Indeed, this is exactly what the Scribes and Pharisees did (see for example, Matt. 15).

Doctrinal triage of prioritizing is sitting in one's own judgment on what doctrines of Scripture one sees as "essential" or "non-essential" and thus the "non-essentials" (aka "secondary" doctrines) are pushed aside for "unity". This is the height of arrogance to tell the King of kings His teachings are optional when they say it is!

Doctrinal prioritizing does two things: it dulls the double-edged sword down to a butter knife and it fires blanks at the enemies of Christ Jesus and His Word. In other words, it can't save, sanctified, or protect the true Christian, nor can it fight against the arguments set up against Christ or cause spiritual growth. Scripture is a UNIT OF TRUTH. It all stands together or falls together. It cannot be divided into pieces and still stand. It's a body, unit, corpus of Truth. The Truth. The Faith. We are to feed on it's "whole counsel" as Paul taught to the Ephesians. He didn't shrink back for doing that. Today, most teachers or pastors do for the sake of a fake unity. This only creates division and strife. 1Co 1:9  God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. 10  Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree, and there be no divisions among you, but you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment. 

Act 1:14  These all with one mind were continually devoting themselves to prayer, along with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers. 

Act 2:46  And day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, 

Php 1:27  Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ; so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; 

Eph 4:1  I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, entreat you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, 2  with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing forbearance to one another in love, 3  being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4  There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; 5  one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6  one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all. 

Jud 1:3  Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. 

And while we all grow and are at different stages of spiritual growth, we all have a new heart created in and by Christ Jesus so that our NEW DISPOSITION is one of faith, acceptance, and trust in all the Word and its doctrines. We grow in our understanding of its teachings, but we accept them by faith to be true and we are not hostile to them. In essence we do as the Thessalonians did: 1Th 2:13  And for this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received from us the word of God's message, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe. 

Doctrinal Triage or Prioritizing Does Two Things

Doctrinal prioritizing does two things: it dulls the double-edged sword down to a butter knife and it fires blanks at the enemies of Christ Jesus and His Word. In other words, it can't save or protect the true Christian, can't fight against the arguments set up against Christ , nor can it cause spiritual growth.

Heb 4:12  For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 

2Co 10:2  I ask that when I am present I may not be bold with the confidence with which I propose to be courageous against some, who regard us as if we walked according to the flesh.  2Co 10:3  For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh,  2Co 10:4  for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses.  2Co 10:5  We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ,  2Co 10:6  and we are ready to punish all disobedience, whenever your obedience is complete.  2Co 10:7  You are looking at things as they are outwardly. If anyone is confident in himself that he is Christ's, let him consider this again within himself, that just as he is Christ's, so also are we. 

Doctrinal Triage Is Practicing Doubting

 Doctrinal triaging or prioritizing, is man sitting in judgment over the very Word of God, judging certain doctrines in Scripture to be “essential” or “non-essential”. It is actually practicing doubting (at best) and therefore not practicing its commands (Gen. 3:1-4; James 1:4-8; 3:13-18; 4:8-12).

Ignoring or downplaying sound doctrine is ignoring and downplaying the Shepherd’s voice and listening to a stranger's instead (John 10:4-5, 14). It leads one into every wind of doctrine by the trickery of deceitful and unprincipled men (starting with triaging doctrines) (John 10:10-13; Eph. 4). Sound doctrine is knowable.

All biblical doctrines are never a matter of opinion (2 Peter 1:20-21; Rom. 14), but are a matter of absolute Truth and must be believed, even if not totally understood (we grow in our understanding and therefore grow in our obedience through His power).

Ignorance of Truth is never a virtue and is always a vice, since His Word sanctifies us (John 17:17; Heb. 5:11-6:1).

All Scripture includes all its doctrines, from the Trinity, a literal seven day Creation Week, the Flood, soteriology, ecclesiology (leadership, content, practice), holy living, the covenants and Israel, the rapture, the return of Christ, His millennial kingdom reign, the destruction of all unbelievers along with Satan, the Lawless One and his minions, all the way to the destruction of this world and the heavens and the creation of a new heavens and new earth. These are not up for an "in house" debate or "agree to disagree".

1Th 2:13 And for this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received from us the word of God's message, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe.

2Pe 1:20 But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation, 21 for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.

2Ti 3:16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17 that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

Joh 17:17 "Sanctify them in the truth; Thy word is truth.

The Silver Lining In A Blue State

The silver lining in the take over of Marxists here in CA, is that it's a tool of sanctification. Life of ease, freedom, and safety has the tendency to become arrogant and rely on man. When these things (ease, freedom, and safety) are at risk but you stay where the Lord has placed you, it causes the true Christian to seek the Lord daily and to see His sovereign hand in everything. When anxiety rears it's ugly head, go back to the living and active Word to renew one's mind over and over, trusting in it, and looking forward to the millennial visible and perfect reign of the risen King, the Lord Jesus Christ.

To live a life in obedience to the Lord in mind and heart, to not fear nor compromise, is a training that is happening now to those of us in Blue states and cities. It's the opportunity for spiritual growth. As things get worse and your states become Blue, you too, will have to face these things. Be assured: your escape is merely temporary since man is fickle and politics is fluid. Your hope may be in that which is very temporal and fleshly.

Jas 1:2  Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, 
Jas 1:3  knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 
Jas 1:4  And let endurance have its perfect result, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. 
Jas 1:5  But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 

Pro 29:25  The fear of man brings a snare, But he who trusts in the LORD will be exalted.

Jeremiah 17:5, “Thus says the Lord, ‘Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind and makes flesh his strength and whose heart turns away from the Lord.’” 

Isa 31:1  Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help and rely on horses, who trust in chariots because they are many and in horsemen because they are very strong, but do not look to the Holy One of Israel or consult the LORD!

Isa 31:2  And yet he is wise and brings disaster; he does not call back his words, but will arise against the house of the evildoers and against the helpers of those who work iniquity.

Isa 31:3  The Egyptians are man, and not God, and their horses are flesh, and not spirit. When the LORD stretches out his hand, the helper will stumble, and he who is helped will fall, and they will all perish together. 

Kanye West: a tragedy of a false conversion

 

I said it before, and I'll say it again. Kanye West is not a Christian.

2Ti 2:19 Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal, "The Lord knows those who are His," and, "Let everyone who names the name of the Lord abstain from wickedness."

What West is involved with is not biblical Christianity. This is a fraud. This is blasphemy. Being enslaved to sin necessarily means that you can't stop sinning and there's no way to break free except by the Person and work of the biblical Lord Jesus Christ and submitting to Him alone. In fact no one DESIRES to break free unless he is first regenerated by God. Adding "Jesus" to your self idolatry is condemned by God and is not true salvation--it's a mockery. It's also sad. Clearly West feels the guilt of his sin. I don't know what he thinks a "cleanse" is or what it will do, but anything outside of biblical Christianity is all entirely vain and hopeless. This is why treating him as if he was saved was so wrong and cruel. He can't get victory over his sin because he's not in Christ. False conversions are a travesty and cause many to redefine biblical Christianity to one of justifiable sin ("we're all human", "who's perfect?" "we're under grace, not the law"). But the standard still remains: God is holy and His children are to be holy. This is no suggestion. This is a command. And this only can happen if one is truly saved by the biblical Christ Jesus and is therefore indwelled by the Holy Spirit, and as he abides in the Word, God causes him to grow into a mature man in Christ.

Rom 6:1 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace might increase? 2 May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it?

Rom 6:16 Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness?
Rom 6:17 But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed,
Rom 6:18 and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.

Modern Evangelical is a failure.

Matt Chandler is set to resume the pulpit at his church soon, after stepping down in August for "inappropriate" texting with a woman who works at the church.

"“The volume of exchanges and the familiarity, which played itself out in kind of coarse and foolish joking, is just not okay for someone who has been put in the position that God has placed me in,” Chandler said." - Roys Report quoting Chandler's statement.

According to Matt Chandler's own church website:

"The elders commissioned an independent law firm to conduct a review of Matt’s messaging history across social media platforms, cell phone, and email. The investigators’ report led the elders to conclude that Matt violated our internal social media use policies, and more importantly that, while the overarching pattern of his life has been “above reproach,” he failed to meet the 1 Timothy standard for elders of being “above reproach” in this instance."

1) Chandler is disqualified from being an elder:

1Ti 3:2 An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,

1Ti 3:7 And he must have a good reputation with those outside the church, so that he may not fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

Titus 1:6  if any man be above reproach, the husband of one wife, having children who believe, not accused of dissipation or rebellion. 7  For the overseer must be above reproach as God's steward, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not addicted to wine, not pugnacious, not fond of sordid gain, of sordid gain, 

2) Lawyers have nothing to do with a biblical church. It is the elders, deacons and the people who are to judge all things going on inside the church. If they cannot evaluate reality and test it against Scripture, they should examine themselves to see if they are in the faith and those leaders are also disqualified.

3) Man's policies are never the standard by which to apprise a ministry. It is Scripture ALONE that is the SOLE standard to judge elders, deacons, and the people in a local church, not a law firm.

If Chandler violated the church's policies but not Scripture, then it's a false standard.

If Chandler violated Scripture but not the church's policies, it's a false standard. Source: Julie Roys, TVC (proceed with caution--I do not endorse her website or TVC's).

Allowing For Choosing A Gender At Any Age Is Irrational and Immoral

 Allowing for adults to "chose" their gender, while against allowing children to do it, shows the actual problem now in our society even among the "conservatives".

Choosing a gender is delusional and should not be accepted at any time for anyone. It's a disconnect with reality on all levels. To be ok with adults doing this means you're ok with living in their twisted delusions, which I have to say, makes YOU delusional too. It's entirely irrational and unreasonable to give any credibility to such abject insanity. You're foundation has therefore started to crumble and you're the reason why we're on this insanity downgrade. In other words, you yourself, even *if* you claim to be "conservative", means you have no moral authority to speak out on this issue, since your argument actually begins with the presumption that choosing a gender is rational.

 
This is also the same group who thinks "pro-life" includes abortion in certain circumstances.

Gen 1:26  Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." 

Gen 1:27  And God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. 

Gen 1:28  And God blessed them; and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky, and over every living thing that moves on the earth." 

Jenna Ellis, a lawyer, a conservative, and an Evangelical (she posts versus and "Christian" things on Instagram) who worked for Trump and was John MacArthur's lawyer in defense of his church opening back up several weeks into the Covid lockdown, had on a Roman Catholic priest who is also an exorcist, to explain about the occult. WHY?

Roman Catholics are lost and earning Hell, dead toward God and dead in their false gospel of works and Mariolatry. That an Evangelical goes to someone who is a blasphemer himself (the RCC teaches the same things about Mary as it does about Jesus according to their own Catechism (#487) and it's foundation is works-righteousness), shows just how blind she is.

This is why it is very important to judge everything by Scripture and without favoritism or partiality, and to abstain from every form of evil and reject those who claim to be Christians, but go to one of the worst religions in the world for spiritual insight.

The biblical Christian is not desperate, therefore he or she does not go to the children of darkness who are under the rule and reign of Satan (Eph. 2), for any kind of spiritual insight or morality, as well as political "victory". WE ARE NOT DESPERATE. WE DO NOT FEAR.

Anti-depressants Only 15% Effective

Another report yet again shows the inefficacy of psychotropic drugs like Zoloft, Lexapro, and Prozac . From the Post Millennial:

Evidence is increasing that doctors are overprescribing SSRIs, according to the outlet. One recent study cited by Newsweek revealed that only 15 percent of patients derive any more benefit from the drugs than they would a sugar pill. Additionally, withdrawal symptoms for long-term users may be more severe than previously believed and sometimes be worse for the patient than the original disorder....

The consensus is that SSRIs help some people with severe depression, but those patients are the minority of people who take the drugs....

Dr. Joanna Moncrieff, professor of Critical and Social Psychiatry at University College London, the lead author of the serotonin paper told the outlet, "We have a mistaken view of what psychiatric drugs are doing. This idea that they work by targeting the underlying biological mechanisms that produce the symptoms of mental disorders is actually not supported by evidence for any type of mental disorder, whether that's depression or schizophrenia or whatever..."

After the paper was released, the US Food and Drug Administration published an analysis of all the antidepressant clinical trial data in its files. The study concluded that the active ingredients in 10 of the most popularly prescribed antidepressant medications made a meaningful difference in only 15 percent of the patients who took them, usually in those patients suffering from the most severe depression.

According to Newsweek, One reason may be that SSRIs are effective for many people not because of the drug but rather the placebo effect, that the patient creates an expectation of healing that results in improvement. The outlet cited research that the placebo effect is successful in 30 to 40 percent of cases of depression.

End quote.

~The Post Millennial

The Newsweek article cited is here and here are the key quotes:

One of the authors of the new study is Horowitz, now a research scientist at University College London. His July paper, "The serotonin theory of depression: a systematic umbrella review of the evidence," is aimed squarely at debunking the basis upon which pharmaceutical companies marketed drugs like Prozac, Lexapro and Zoloft to consumers for decades: namely, the idea that depression is associated with deficits in the concentrations or activity of the brain chemical serotonin.

The pharmaceutical industry used that idea to market the drugs to consumers for many years, and it remains a kind of shorthand some doctors use to explain to their patients how the drugs work. As a result, according to the study's authors, between 85 and 90 percent of the public believe that low serotonin levels cause depression. After reviewing data from previous studies involving hundreds of thousands of individuals, Horowitz and his colleagues concluded that there is little to no evidence that this is true....

Horowitz and the paper's other co-authors have been using the attention to call for a fundamental reassessment of how mental illness is treated. "We have a mistaken view of what psychiatric drugs are doing," says Dr. Joanna Moncrieff, professor of Critical and Social Psychiatry at University College London. She is also Horowitz's boss and the lead author of the serotonin paper. "This idea that they work by targeting the underlying biological mechanisms that produce the symptoms of mental disorders is actually not supported by evidence for any type of mental disorder, whether that's depression or schizophrenia or whatever," she told Newsweek....

The crippling sadness that sometimes follows a reduction in SSRI medication is caused by the chemical dependence the drugs can cause in the brain and withdrawal effects.

"It's not helpful to think of depression as a brain disease," she says. "I think that we should be thinking of it as an emotional reaction to life circumstances and life events. And indeed, there is very strong evidence that people who suffer from adverse life events are much more likely to get depressed."

End quote.

Friendships and Being Wronged

 “Let not a single action alienate a friend: bear in mind the general tenor of his conduct towards you. Be as ready to forgive as you desire to be forgiven. Remember there is still much in you which grates upon others. When wronged pray over it before you pass a verdict. Many a person has afterwards bitterly regretted a hasty decision. Take all the circumstances into account and “judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.”

~ Arthur Pink, “The Life of David, Volume 2”

Mystical Experiences vs the Written Word and the Holy Spirit

 “There is real need to labour this point, for not a few highly strung people and those with vivid imaginations have been deceived thereon, supposing that strange dreams, extraordinary visions, abnormal sights and sounds, are the means or manner in which the Holy Spirit is made manifest to the soul. Those who look for any such experience are far more liable to be deluded by Satan than enlightened by the Holy Spirit. The Spirit supplies no new and different revelation today from that which He has already made in the written Word.”

~ Arthur Pink, “The Doctrine of Revelation”

"God vs Government": the pretend heroics of Grace Community Church.

 

                                                  

 

"“Welcome to our peaceful protest.”

In the spring of 2020, government mandates forced churches across North America to close their doors in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. As societal fear and unrest increased, Christians were forced to grapple with how God wanted them to respond to these state-imposed restrictions. After all, didn’t the closure of churches pose a serious threat in a time when people needed spiritual direction more than ever?" - Amazon blurb (preface)

The reality is that GCC  shut down for 4 months in obedience to the government. Now they're profiting off of their reversal as if they were always courageous. Actually, it was biblical churches that obeyed God rather than man and therefore never did shut down their churches and didn't feel the need to thumb their noses at the government by making videos and announcing it. They quietly, like Daniel, continued on with how they'd been practicing sound doctrine.  They treated and continue to treat Scripture and it's doctrine as it is: God's very word,  knowable and essential, and not given to situational obedience. The government has zero jurisdiction over the local church. In any way. It neither defines it nor regulates it. That is solely the jurisdiction of Christ Jesus.  Rather, James tells the elders to go to the sick. Quarantines in the OT was for the lepers and all the regulations of how, when, and for how long is given in detail in Leviticus to the Jews for a specific reason, mainly to show the insidiousness of sin and it's widespread growth in man. Never were the healthy quarantined or isolated. Johnson neglected these important distinctions.

Phil Johnson in May 2020 posted:

This guy, angry that Grace Community Church yielded to the 9th Circuit Court's ruling banning church meetings in California this weekend, Tweets at me: "An unjust law need not be followed."

I'm appalled at how many people who profess to believe Scripture echo that sentiment. Nero was emperor when Paul wrote Romans 13:1-7: "Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. . . ." First Peter 2:13 was written to people suffering unjustly. ("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...")

Peter goes on to say: "Be subject . . . also to the unjust. For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly" (vv. 18-19). Indeed, "to this [unjust suffering] you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps." (v. 21). When someone in authority over us treats us unjustly, the example we are to follow was set for us by Christ, who simply "continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly" (v. 23).

The only exception to this principle is when the one in authority instructs us to sin. Then "we must obey God rather than men" (Acts 5:29).

The answer to that question may vary according to where we live. Quarantining people in the midst of a pandemic is a legitimate prerogative of government. How long the quarantine should last and who should be exempted are questions that don't have clear, fixed answers. The severity and duration of the pandemic determines what's reasonable or not. We may or may not agree with how the quarantine is being implemented (I certainly do not), but we have a clear duty to submit unless we are being asked to sin. 

How long until the government-ordered quarantine is undeniably excessive, or we conclude that it's targeted persecution against our worship and therefore an illegal attempt to make us disobey Hebrews 10:25? That time may come, and when it does, we may have to implement the principle of Acts 5:29. The question of whether we have already passed that point is another subjective issue, but it's clear that among believers—in the church itself—there is not yet consensus on whether the quarantine has gone too far.

Nevertheless, if you hang out on Twitter or Facebook, you may have noticed that there are countless people in the evangelical community who refuse to regard any of the above questions as matters of conscience. They believe the answers are perfectly obvious. They are eager to tell you what you and your church ought to be doing. They are locked and loaded with vituperation for anyone who sees matters differently. Two camps of them have squared off against each other—hordes of angry Karens at opposite extremes, all of whom disagree with the position I've outlined above. Some of them are scolding us for thinking Romans 13 and 1 Peter 2 actually apply in today's circumstances. The others are berating us for wanting to resume public worship ASAP.

Sorry, but in the words of Martin Luther, here I stand. I can do no other. I cannot and will not recant anything, for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe. God help us.

~Phil  Johnson May 25, 2020 [bold, original; underline, mine]

But a little over two months later, he and his church became JUST AS DOGMATIC:

Churches are shutting down. Large churches are shutting down until (they say) January. I don't have any way to understand that—other than they don't know what a church is and they don't shepherd their people. But that's sad. And you have a lot of people in Christianity who seem to be significant leaders who aren't giving any strength and courage to the church. They're not standing up and rising up and calling on Christians to be the church in the world.

—John MacArthur (2 August 2020) (italics, mine)

GCC's stance changed 4 months later, going from "we need to submit to the government--Romans 13!!, to stating what biblical churches and Christians had held to and practiced from the moment of the shut down—that the government has no jurisdiction over the Lord's church ever---the very stand Johnson ridiculed as “angry Karens”.

Johnson partially quoted Romans 13, but forgot to include the JURISDICTION of the government God gave (aka, context). It was not over health, family, marriage, working (work is mandated by God); who to isolate and not isolate for health risks, how to run a church. Rather, the government’s jurisdiction given by God is VERY NARROW:

Rom 13:3  For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same; 4  for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath upon the one who practices evil. 

1 Peter 2 explains what the "good" and "evil" is--it's according to Scripture, not Caesar. 1Pe 2:14  or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right. 1 Peter 3:14 says it's in regard to righteousness.  So, tell a church how to function especially when it’s against Scripture IS sin. It’s source of authority is satanic and therefore illegitimate. It goes back to the ancient Serpent in the Garden of Eden, saying “Has God said?”. Yes, He has said. He has spoken.  Any view that is not a biblical view is sin. Doing things from fear rather than faith, is sin (James 4). So, for Johnson to infer that disobedience to the government is allowed only if they command you directly to sin (for example, only IF they say “you shall bow to an idol” or “you shall take the mark of the beast”, or "you must have an abortion"), is a very immature view of Scripture. It’s really a low view of God, Scripture, and His church, His people. (I think a better example is Daniel, who obeyed God in food, drink, and worship regardless of what the government said, yet still showed honor to the king. Note that he did nothing different when things got bad—he continued on as he always had done—pray to Yahweh, obey Scripture, trust in God. He continued to LIVE according to biblical doctrine. )

Months later he changed his tune. It was his experience with ongoing regulations, not a clear understanding of and trust in Scripture, is what changed his mind.  He wasn't a little off and just needed "fine tuning". He did not start with the presupposition of God's Word trumping government mandates and fear. He didn't start with having a high view of the Lord's children. He mocked them. He got angry and impatient with them. Rather his post comes off as everyone has their own  own interpretation of Scripture---the very thing he slammed the Emergent Church (Post-Modernists) for. He said, 

But GCC ended up saying what we said all along: we won't submit to the government shut down of churches because it was wholly unbiblical. But for a quarter of an entire year they cowered before unholy men who dared to dictate to Christians and how they relate to God. And they didn't admit they were wrong, apologized to all those they rebuked for daring to be dogmatic on sound doctrine and practice. No, they rewrote the narrative, painting themselves as fierce, unmovable heroes of the faith when the fact was, they were cowards for months. That's dishonest and it's fleshly.

The problem is that GCC thinks time is what justifies or does not justify disobedience to the Lord when it comes to closing down a church, having no communion, no fellowship, no church discipline. Their view was purely pragmatic, self-preserving, and out of fear of government and illness. For four long months they kept their flock from obeying the Lord as they continued to not obey the Lord as "leaders". It was over-lording the people with their own fear and rebellion. And now they wrote a book on how bold and courageous they were to stand (even taunt, if you look at MacArthur's video statement), against the shut down AS IF they had always stood open. 

 So that’s the problem with the book. For four months, GCC was doing that very thing they accused others of doing: redefining by action what a church is; shepherds not shepherding their people and not giving strength and courage to the church. I’d add they didn’t deal with sin within the church either. Rather they were cowering and in fear of a less-than-lethal virus and the government. They really want to be heroes and make some money and gain some recognition out of it. It's fleshly.

(Tangentially, it was MacArthur who refused to submit to the human institution of WASC, the accreditation institute, when starting TMS. He said he knew they weren’t supposed to start the seminary because WASC said no, but went ahead, “hoping for forgiveness later” (TMS Chapel 8/21/18 Part 1 time mark 4:25). So the hypocrisy goes back quite a ways with them- obey or disobey at whim.) They are no Daniel. Not even close.