Sunday: Is It The Lord’s Day or Just Another Day for Sports and Recreation?
Posted on May 22, 2018 in Family, Theology by Nathan Cherry
Image Credit: Getty Images
Aah, Sunday. The day that families gather together in church to worship Jesus, spend time in prayer, praise God in song, and generally do what Christians have been doing for the last two millennia.
Sunday is that special day, that set apart day when Christians follow the example set by God by resting. After 6 days of creation God took a day to rest and then told us to do the same. It’s on Sunday that we show the world we are different as we spend time with our church family and then rest.
An important aspect of the training we will provide for our children will be in how we treat the Lord’s Day. Is it just another day to get things done? Is it no different than say…Saturday? How do we show the people around us that Sunday is a day dedicated to the Lord?
When I was younger I would often use a Sunday afternoon to wash and wax my car. I’m a bit of a clean freak when it comes to my vehicle and Sunday was a good day to make the car shine for the week ahead. Unbeknownst to me I was treating Sunday as any other day. My attitude was one in which I saw the Lord’s Day as a day for my purpose, and my pleasure.
But Sunday is a day specifically set apart for God’s glory. It’s a day for spending time with our church family and resting in God’s presence. Our kids should see a clear difference between Sunday and every other day so they understand that Sunday is not ours, it’s God’s. Continue reading…
Christian Man Refuses to Pay Taxes Until the Government Stops Funding Abortion
Posted on May 16, 2018 in Life, Public Policy by Nathan Cherry
Many people have a religious or conscience objection to abortion.
Others have an objection to paying taxes.
Michael Bowman is not opposed to paying taxes, but he is opposed to the government using his tax dollars to fund abortion. So he is not paying taxes util the government makes a change.
Bowman is a 53-year old contract engineer in Columbia City, Oregon. Like many Americans, Bowman is a Christian that opposes abortion. In 1999 Bowman decided to take a bold step in his opposition to government funded abortion by refusing to file his tax return. He has not filed a tax return since then.
In 2012, after more than a decade of not filing a tax return, the Oregon Department of Revenue bean to garnishing money from Bowman’s bank account to pay his unpaid taxes. In response, Bowman simply began cashing his paychecks and leaving only a minimal balance in his account.
Bowman was then indicted for felony tax evasion for, according to reports, “removing his income from the reach of taxing authorities.” Bowman’s attorney argued that his client has remained transparent from day one by cashing his checks at his bank, under his own name, without any attempt to hide his income. And recently a US District Judge agreed with Bowman and his attorney and dismissed the charges against him. Continue reading…
What Happened to Aflie Evans Comes Down to Money
Posted on May 15, 2018 in Life, Money by Nathan Cherry
A collective cry of outrage was heard around the world as once against the socialized single-payer healthcare system of the UK was front and center in the life or death care of a child. Numerous justifications of the neglect and lack of discernible medical care for Alfie have been made.
The simple truth about what happened to Alfie Evans is that it all comes down to one thing: money.
Here’s the easiest way to understand this tragedy. The UK is a country that uses a socialized health care system (also called a single-payer system). This means every citizen is given “free” healthcare. This is the same type of health care system that politicians like Bernie Sanders advocate. The socialized system ensures every citizen has the right to free health care, hospitalization, treatment for illness, and most other basic medical necessities.
This sound good, in theory. It’s not until you realize that politicians and judges have authority and control over the care given to people that it becomes clear that socialized healthcare is a terrible system. Other factors, such as caps on the amount of money medical personnel can make, and government regulations on doctors also contribute to the failure that is a socialized health care system.
Thomas Wheatley recently wrote an article explaining how the single-payer system is responsible for Alfie’s death. He wrote: Continue reading…
Stop Calling for Everyone to Be Fired Just Because They Say Something You Don’t Like
Posted on May 10, 2018 in Public Policy, Religious Freedom by Nathan Cherry
Should we call for the firing of everyone we don’t agree with?
In the moments after former first-lady Barbara Bush died, a professor at Fresno State University took to social media to share how happy she was that “an amazing racist” was dead.
You can imagine how those comments were received. A firestorm started that has culminated in calls for this professor to be fired. There’s even a petition with more than 10,000 signatures seeking her immediate removal. But, what exactly would such action accomplish?
In recent years it has become common place to call for the firing of people that make outlandish remarks. Some have even been fired for holding to ideas and beliefs that are not considered politically correct. Brenden Eich was fired from Firefox for believing in traditional marriage. It is widely believed that comedian Tim Allen’s “Last Man Standing” sitcom was ended because of Allen’s conservative political views.
And while these examples show the eagerness of liberals to silence conservative ideas, conservatives are often just as quick to call for the firing or ouster of someone that makes statements deemed inappropriate or wrong. I can’t help wondering if our quick draw of the ouster card undermines our demand for protected free speech. Furthermore, what if our go-to of calling for someone to be fired removes our ability to engage people in open dialogue where honesty is welcome? Continue reading…
All You Need to Know About Alfie Evans in 19 Media Headlines
Posted on May 8, 2018 in Life, Public Policy by Nathan Cherry
The world has been captivated and horrified by the intentional abuse and neglect of little Alfie Evans. Everyone from Pope Francis to the President of Poland have lent their support to the toddler fighting for his life.
To say this story is shocking and tragic is an understatement. To say that this story is critical for everyone to understand would also be an understatement. This case perfectly defines the difference between pro-life and pro-choice, and between free market health care and socialized health care. These differences make Alfie’s story crucial for every person to understand.
What follows is 19 media headlines that begin to tell Alfie’s story. I urge you to read and become aware of how dangerous socialized health care is to parental rights, individual rights, and actual health care.
Alfie Evans Survives for 36 Hours After Hospital Yanks His Life Support. Father: “It’s Totally Unexpected”
Against his parents wishes, the hospital yanked Alfie’s life support. His parents were told he would die within 5 minutes, but 36 hours later he was still alive. The doctors were completely shocked but still refused to treat him or allow him to be taken to another hospital for treatment. Continue reading…
Should Christians Change Theology to Accommodate Transgender People?
Posted on May 2, 2018 in Sexuality, Theology by Nathan Cherry
A new book seeks to explain how being transgender is compatible with Scripture
How do we as Christians, and as the church of Jesus Christ, respond to the transgender movement? How do we engage broken people seeking answers and hoping to find those answers in the Bible? Is it even possible to be an orthodox Christian while also living as a transgender person?
These questions, among others, are not hypothetical in order to address future scenarios. These questions are for now, today.
I appreciate an article by Andrew T. Walker addressing a new book that seeks to affirm the compatibility of transgenderism and biblical Christianity. The book would like to prove that being transgender, like being homosexual, is perfectly compatible with the tenets set forth in Scripture. But, as Walker makes perfectly clear, such a conclusion is not reasonable.
The first point of concern highlighted in the article is over the issue of inclusion in the church. A very simple truth that many in our culture cannot face is that the church is not about inclusion. At no time did Jesus invite every person into the church and affirm their every thought, feeling, and point of view. In fact, to be blunt, while walking the earth, Jesus was as narrow-minded a person as one could be.
What many get wrong about the church today is their idea that the only way to be a true, proper Christian is to be inclusive. After all, inclusivity is all the rage in our culture. The more inclusive you are, the more celebrated you are. Only those who dare to create any walls are scorned and ridiculed. Continue reading…
Manufacturer Willing to Endanger Children to Make a Profit
Posted on May 1, 2018 in Money, Public Policy, Sexuality by Nathan Cherry
There’s a point where freedom, capitalism, and morality collide. This example is chilling.
What are we supposed to think about an industry that earns profit from creating an object that allows men to fulfill their deviant sexual desires?
Currently, statistics indicate more than 2 million children are trapped in the sex-trafficking industry. These kids are stolen from their homes and families, sold to the highest bidder, held in prostitution rings, and abused on a daily basis. It’s a nightmare that continues each day for the victims.
Helping to feed this global epidemic is an industry that uses principles of capitalism to create a product with moral implications.
Having a product that is scalable and sought after is a basic principle of capitalism. If you can sell it, you can make money. Every free-market proponent gladly supports the right of entrepreneurs to start a business that will create a profit. But, there comes a point when freedom and capitalism collide with morality and we must stop and reconsider.
This reality is clearly seen in the rise of the sex-doll industry. More to the point, the fact that sex-doll manufacturers are creating child-like sex-dolls is cause for concern and consideration. A recent article at the Mirror illustrates this terrifying reality:
“I also found that there is an even darker side to the sex doll industry. As the tour continued, the owner directed me towards an unfinished doll. What caught me off guard, as he attempted to show me how they trimmed the rough edges, was that this doll wasn’t the compact 45kg version of a woman, but something smaller. The doll appeared younger. I tried to compose myself, to have an objective discussion to understand why the owner had chosen to produce such a doll, but tears began to flood my eyes. My mind was processing what it meant that this doll existed in physical space. The harsh truth that some people want to bring their fantasies to reality, that imagination for these people is not enough, and other people are willing to sell it to them.” Continue reading…
A New Industry Will Make Sexual Harassment and Violence Much Worse
Posted on April 25, 2018 in Public Policy, Sexuality by Nathan Cherry
The deafening silence from women as sex-dolls rise in popularity is disturbing.
Surrounded by the #metoo movement, we are forced to take a hard look at the factors that have contributed to our current situation. The easier part of this movement is to blame the attitudes, habits, and characteristics we don’t like in other people. Hence, blaming “toxic masculinity” has become a go-to for many.
While there is a rightful place for a discussion on the aspects of masculinity that need rebuked ans refined, it can’t be the sole focus. In fact, any focus that points the finger exclusively at one gender is already mistaken.
Both men and women have been enthusiastic supporters of the sexual revolution. Sex without commitment (called marriage), abortion on demand, and innumerable sexual partners have all led us to this point. Men saw it as a “coming out” of sorts, as they could be “real men” without needing to hide in the shadows. Women were told, and agreed, that the sexual revolution would finally liberate them from the Puritan morals that served to enslave them.
As the sexual revolution marched forward, men and women became increasingly comfortable with hook-ups, friends with benefits, no-fault divorce, and abortion. It was the paradise we were told awaited if we could just get past those stuffy old morals crammed down our throats at church when we were kids. Continue reading…
Google Offered No Easter Doodle. And?
Posted on April 24, 2018 in Life, Public Policy by Nathan Cherry
What does Easter have to do with Google?
On a day intended to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ, some Christians were upset that Google didn’t post a creative doodle showing their support for Easter. Citing support for various other holidays and notable celebrations, social media lit up with opinions of what Google should have done.
Some in Hollywood shared their opinionthat Google didn’t make an Easter doodle because “they loathe Christians.” If that is true, I’m not sure I want Google depicting one of the holiest days of the year.
While I am certainly no fan of Google, the idea that Google is somehow obligated to create a special Easter doodle is unrealistic. I really don’t want to come to the defense of an organization that, in my opinion, has an active disdain for conservative views (and any view not approved by Google). Unfortunately, it looks like I have to defend them.
First, let’s not forget, Google is a corporation. The main purpose Google exists is to make money. Presumably, everything Google does is for the purpose of creating revenue and gaining a larger market share. This means Google is first and foremost in the business of making money, not celebrating holidays.
With this in mind it is reasonable to conclude that it might make sense to honor Easter and the 2.2 billion people around the world celebrating this holy day. One could even make the case that it makes good business sense to find a way to endear yourself to nearly one-third of the world’s population in some small way on one of the holiest days of the year. Continue reading…
How Identity Politics is Costing You Money
Posted on April 17, 2018 in Money, Public Policy by Nathan Cherry
Identity politics isn’t a vehicle toward freedom; if anything, it’s reduces everyone’s freedoms.
Our culture is increasingly divided. We are living in a time when the most important thing about the person sitting next to you right now is which cause he or she identifies with.
You don’t even know his name, but you will go toe to toe with that guy if he supports a cause you don’t believe in. She supports PETA so you have no interest in anything she has to say. He is a member of the NRA and regular hunter so you know he can’t be trusted.
Our identities are categorized, boxed up, and divided along any number of lines before we even have a chance to introduce ourselves.
Even businesses are identifying with one cause or another. Starbucks supports abortion and opposes gun rights. Target supports LGBT causes. Delta no longer offers NRA members a discount. Chick-Fil-A supports tradition marriage. Some of the most prominent businesses in our country are finding themselves identified with one cause or another.
Megan McArdle, writing at The Washington Post, is wondering why businesses need to have an opinion at all. She writes:
“Why are we so eager to enlist companies in political battles? Ever since the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision struck down key parts of the McCain-Feingold campaign-finance legislation, progressives have been angrily deriding conservatives for supposedly believing that “corporations are people.” But if public corporations are not people, why should they have political opinions?” Continue reading…