A Few Lessons From Norway

https://www.jw.org/en/news/region/norway/Jehovahs-Witnesses-to-Appeal-Unconstitutional-Ruling-in-Norway/

This unfortunate if instructive article from the Watchtower Society's website reveals that even the Jehovah's Witnesses still struggle with the nature of antithesis. Obviously the group cannot be reckoned Christian due to their glaring unorthodoxy regarding the Person of Christ. That said, they are in many respects more obedient to simple New Testament imperatives than the bulk of the Confessional and Evangelical world. In many respects the Witnesses put them to shame. For this reason, I will from time to time 'check up' on them and read of not just their struggles but how they deal with them.

The Tragedy and Travesty of the Trumpite Youth

https://www.npr.org/2024/03/19/1239344999/young-voters-conservative-donald-trump-republican-party

My oldest memories of Trump are from the 1980's, The Art of the Deal, and the many scandals surrounding him concerning his marriage and business activities. Trump was off my radar when he re-emerged in the early 2000's as a reality television celebrity - I was no longer watching television by then and high speed internet and streaming were not yet on the scene.

Trueman's Desecration of Christian Sensibility

https://www.firstthings.com/web-exclusives/2024/02/desecration-at-st-patricks-cathedral

Is Trueman still a Protestant? One is baffled by his line of argument. Historically Protestants would have viewed the Roman Catholic temple as a blasphemy and its rites as a desecration of the New Testament. What Trueman is arguing about is sacral categories in terms of society - and who controls the symbols and sacred spaces.

Bannon Abroad

https://www.politico.eu/article/steve-bannon-rome-right-wing-gladiator-school-populist-nationalists/

In some respects this is a 'nothing' story. In the grand scheme of things it's minor and yet it provides a glimpse, a quick snapshot of the kinds of things that are happening - everywhere and in unexpected places. It also reveals some more information about the larger Trumpite movement and the activities of operatives like Steve Bannon.

Niger Turns Against Washington and Yellow Cake 2.0

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-68590531

Niger it seems has grown weary of Washington's presence in West Africa. Having ousted the French in 2023, the situation with both Paris and Washington remains tenuous. Tchiani remains in control and yet he faces hard questions concerning the economy of his country. From Niger's ties to the franc to its close uranium-related trade ties with France, it's hard to imagine that Paris will simply let Niger go. The junta leaders will be looking over the shoulder to say the least.

Christo-Trumpism is not just Fascism - it's Antichrist

I keep seeing hats, shirts, signs, and stickers proclaiming Jesus is my Savior and Trump is my President. It's becoming a basis for fellowship, a call sign for people to strike up conversation in restaurants and in lines.

The Rights Granted by America's Enlightenment Creator

A few weeks ago the Christian and Right-wing media-spheres blew up over comments made by Politico's Heidi Przybyla in which she seemed to suggest that Christian Nationalists are those who believe rights are derived from God as opposed to the state.

Kirk Cameron Rejects the Teachings of Christ

https://www.christianpost.com/news/kirk-cameron-says-christians-shouldnt-tolerate-tyranny.html

It's somewhat astounding when these Dominionist types openly flout and defy the Scriptures as is seen here. It's yet another case of the 'Yeah, but...' response to the Scriptures that seems to typify these circles.

Baptising Feminism and Twisting History

https://breakpoint.org/motherhood-myth-busting/

Stonestreet wants to 'bust' myths about motherhood. How does he do it? With Scripture? No – with the myths of historical revisionism.

Christian Nationalism, Gaza, and the Ghosts of Beziers

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/2/21/us-congressman-andy-ogles-stirs-outrage-with-gaza-comment-kill-them-all

After this story broke in February, I waited weeks to see if there would be any real fallout. In terms of the Church, would he be called out, disciplined, even excommunicated? Nothing happened.

John MacArthur's Latest Episode of Hypocrisy and Schizophrenia

https://www.christianpost.com/voices/john-macarthur-vs-christian-nationalism.html

The California megachurch pastor has long attacked Christian political activism and the idea that Christians are to labour for justice in this world. These endeavours distract the Church from its God-appointed task. Such expressions on the part of MacArthur would be in keeping with his Dispensational Premillennial eschatology that sees no hope for this present age and calls the Church to await the pre-tribulational rapture. According to this scheme, great calamity will follow in the form Anti-Christ and the so-called Great Tribulation.

The Theology of the Zealots is Alive and Well on Planet Earth

https://www.christianpost.com/news/evangelical-leaders-back-israel-call-on-us-govt-support.html

One need not turn to a vile rag like the misnamed Christian Post to learn of this story. The number of articles concerning Evangelical support for Israel can be counted by the dozen. This one caught my eye back in November and at the time I made a few notes. More than five months into this war, nothing has changed. In fact the situation has only grown worse.

Constantinian Ethics at their Worst

https://www.beautifulchristianlife.com/blog/how-do-christians-in-the-military-love-their-enemies-and-do-good-to-them

A follow up to:

https://pilgrimunderground.blogspot.com/2023/07/an-ugly-christian-life.html

The commenter to the previous Rowlands piece innocently asked about Matthew 5 and the command to love enemies. And rightly so as this effectively destroys Rowlands' argument. And this passage is far from alone. Rowlands is advocating for a Christianity that is opposed to New Testament ethics - and yet it's a value system that tickles ears and effectively reigns within the contemporary Evangelical Church.

The ISIS-K Attack on Moscow

 It's fairly obvious that Western media wants to find a way to put an anti-Putin spin on the Moscow theatre attack. There are hints that since American intelligence warned him and he didn't act therefore... it's never said, but we're left to conclude that something nefarious took place. He wanted it to happen or let it happen or he's incompetent. Why won't the Russian people realize this? Such allegations and suggestions when put into an American context are ridiculed but are perfectly acceptable when it comes to other countries, particularly America's enemies.

Manila Throws in with AUKUS Against Beijing

https://www.news.com.au/finance/work/leaders/historic-speech-from-philippines-president-makes-veiled-swipe-at-china/news-story/3b5593d7b992f340701d23510d061883

At the end of February 2024, Ferdinand 'BongBong' Marcos spoke before the Australian Parliament. It was an important speech, especially for the East Asian theatre and though described as 'historic' it was hardly covered in the West.

Paris,Yerevan, and Baku

https://eurasianet.org/armenia-azerbaijan-macron-stirring-things-up-in-the-caucasus

Baku is in a fairly cozy relationship with Washington and thus if the Americans don't want to see Macron make this move, you can be sure the Azeri government will speak out and condemn French overtures.

Tooley Keeps Spinning the GMC

https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/mainline-methodist-left/

Mark Tooley continues to mislead regarding the 'conservative' Global Methodist Church (GMC). Conservative by what standard? In terms of historic Protestant orthodoxy, the new denomination is not conservative but theologically liberal. When compared to the New Testament, the GMC represents a serious departure with its attitudes regarding everything from feminism to the embrace of higher criticism and much more.

New Information Regarding the 2004 Coup in Haiti

https://thegrayzone.com/2024/03/01/secret-cable-cia-haiti-coup/

See also: https://proto-protestantism.blogspot.com/2021/11/a-dominionist-evangelical-distortion-of.html

This piece from The Grayzone is timely as we see the US is poised to insert itself once again into the politics of Haiti. This time the US is attempting to utilize a proxy and has put a great deal of pressure on Kenya to take the lead in peacekeeping. Why? Because the US public does not want to see American soldiers on the ground in Haiti - at least not in significant numbers.

Evangelical Misunderstandings of Modi's Relationship with the US

https://www.christianpost.com/voices/indias-pm-modi-wages-war-against-christians-with-impunity.html

Pardon my cynicism but if Trump were president I don't think this criticism would be levied with quite as much zeal and earnest as we see in this piece from the so-called Christian Post. In some respects the article was refreshing but in others ridiculous.

Shame on the UMC and on these Congregations Trying to Leave It

https://www.christianpost.com/news/court-rules-against-42-churches-trying-to-leave-the-umc.html

Ostensibly these congregations wish to leave the apostate United Methodist Church. But then in the process of making their moral stand they violate Scripture and drag the Church into the secular courts.

Sacralism versus Satanism in Iowa

https://www.christianpost.com/news/man-who-toppled-iowa-satanic-display-responds-to-critics.html

Reading the Christian Post is wearisome but often revealing. This story keeps gaining traction and yet no one seems to understand just what is happening here.

The Truth Americans Don't Want to Hear About the 2024 US Presidential Election

https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2023/12/31/i-dont-care-who-wins-the-us-presidential-election

Mitrovica's editorials often catch my eye and he's usually interesting though I often disagree with him. I found this piece to be germane and its cynicism morally justified – even refreshing.

Appropriating Tolkien by Means of Anachronism

https://www.politico.eu/article/inside-giorgia-meloni-hobbit-fantasy-world-lord-of-the-rings-fratelli-italia-brothers-italy-politics/

As one who has been reading Tolkien since elementary school, and even now enjoys discussing his works with my adult children, I am beset by many emotions when I read something like this. I feel as if someone has hijacked something from my childhood or like a memory has been violated.

A Ridiculous Essay About Anti-Trump Evangelicals

https://www.aaronrenn.com/p/the-resistance-will-be-organized

I think I've just about had my fill of Aaron Renn and for that matter the on-line rag known as The American Reformer. After reading several of his pieces, I think I've more or less grasped where he's coming from and I don't see that he has a lot to offer.

This piece was pretty characteristic of what I keep encountering – more Right-wing boilerplate material.

There's a great sinister plot at work – all kinds of dark money funding the anti-Trump Evangelical movement.

Mike Johnson, the Evangelical Speaker of the House

https://www.npr.org/2023/11/15/1211536399/speaker-johnson-christian-nationalism-evangelical

With so much happening in the news, stories like this have almost slipped under the radar. Four months into his tenure as Speaker, some refer to Johnson as a moderate and when compared with some of the Trumpites in Congress he seems rather tame, and yet this misleading.

The Age of Lithium, India, and Argentina

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/eye-on-china-india-inks-first-overseas-lithium-mining-deal-for-five-blocks-in-argentina/articleshow/106874549.cms?from=mdr

Milei is eager to please the Western and international banking establishment and he needs to generate revenue for the coffers of the Argentinean state.

Evangelical Narratives about Trump and Haley

A couple of weeks ago while listening to the BBC, an American Evangelical leader attempted to explain his faction's overwhelming allegiance to Trump. He suggested that all things considered, Trump is the best prospect. All the emphasis was on beating Biden.

South Africa and the American Empire

https://www.news24.com/citypress/news/us-politicians-call-for-review-of-relations-with-sa-for-supposedly-undermining-national-security-20240210

South Africa is the weakest of the BRICS nations and has over the past several years angered Washington. Not only has it joined BRICS, it has tacitly supported Russia, and now has generated a great deal of anger by leading the charge against Israel in the ICJ. It was only a matter of time before the US acted – the goal is to punish South Africa and generate upheaval within its society and political system. The campaign is under way.

Some Perspective on Navalny's Death

Listening to the near breathless and morally outraged coverage of Alexei Navalny's death, several things come to mind.

Theologians of the Beast and Ivory Tower Takes on Empire

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/empires-foreign-and-domestic/id1677193347?i=100063749953

Since the American Reformer keeps popping up on Reformed websites like The Aquila Report, I have (out of curiosity) been listening to some of the podcasts. They have proven as disappointing as the writings.

Spawn of the CIA and a Son of Suharto

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tx35KRYbf1g

Prabowo is actually the former son-in-law of Suharto, the Indonesian dictator who came to power in the 1960's by means of a genocide – one encouraged and backed by the United States. Not a few in Washington wished Vietnam could have gone the way of Indonesia. The US lost Vietnam though millions would also die in Indochina.

The Lingering Strength of the American Empire

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/nov/30/americas-undying-empire-why-the-decline-of-us-power-has-been-greatly-exaggerated

This piece raised several significant points concerning the resilience and remaining fortitude of the American Empire. Everyone would agree US prestige has dropped in recent years – though no one can agree as to when this process began or even exactly why. It all makes for an interesting discussion and the entire question is (to a degree) in flux due to the pending 2024 electoral contest. Its result will move the needle – more than some will acknowledge and yet less than others fear.

Croatia, the UK, and the Curse of Militarism

https://www.thedefensepost.com/2024/01/23/croatia-military-conscription/

https://yougov.co.uk/politics/articles/48472-john-humphrys-time-for-conscription-to-make-a-comeback

In both Croatia and the UK there is a renewed call for conscription. The statements made by General Sanders of the UK are very troubling as he speaks in terms of mass mobilisation, citizen armies, and preparation for war.

The Seven Churches of Revelation - A Key to Church History?

https://taylormarshall.com/2024/01/1053-6th-age-antichrist-according-17th-century-mystic-holzhauser-podcast.html

Trumpite (and thus non-Traditionalist) Roman Catholic Taylor Marshall published this little promo video the other day. Though others have pointed this out, few Dispensationalists realize that the Seven Epochs of Church History schema (based on the Seven Churches of Asia Minor) finds its origin in Counter-Reformation Roman Catholicism. The same is actually true of the larger Dispensational scheme.

Lausanne Movement Antics in Austria

https://evangelicalfocus.com/europe/25053/austrian-evangelicals-invite-politicians-to-church-our-faith-is-not-an-import

The fact that these Evangelicals in Austria are reaching out to politicians did not particularly surprise me – but it does concern me.

Preying on Fear: The Crime-wave Hype

https://www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnbc-opinion/fbi-report-crime-down-republican-election-fear-rcna121384

https://www.mediamatters.org/fox-news/2022-fox-news-created-crime-crisis-failed-attempt-sway-midterms

The American Right seems keen to promote the notion of a serious crime wave and it's now taken for granted by those within the movement and among those who regularly digest its media. But is it true?

Random Thoughts on the Dead Americans in Jordan

When the story broke over the weekend I immediately thought of Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu and how happy he must be at this news. He wants to widen the war and there are plenty within the US Congress, Pentagon, and even White House that want the same. The Iran Hawks are already squawking – demanding some kind of massive bombing campaign – even if it leads to a massive war. As one commentator pointed out the Middle East is in the cusp of the biggest regional war since 1973. These people couldn't care less. Men like Lindsey Graham are literally just vampires – they live for blood.

DiLorenzo's Latest Attempt at Red Baiting

https://www.lewrockwell.com/lrc-blog/new-york-state-assemblyman-tony-simone-wants-to-bring-back-forced-labor/

This post caught my eye and typifies all that is wrong with the revisionist Bircherite academics associated with the extreme end of the Libertarian Austrian School – and the Neo-Confederate Thomas DiLorenzo (President of the Ludwig von Mises Institute) is among the worst.

Ethiopia's Foray into Somaliland

Ethiopia's Abiy Ahmed has generated a great deal of frustration within Washington. He waged war on Tigray and the ethno-political faction long supported by Washington. He has by some estimations moved Ethiopia closer to China. And as of 1 January 2024, Addis Ababa has now moved into the sphere of BRICS.

Mohler's Vanguard Nation

It's been some time since I listened to Albert Mohler. Those who know my writings know that I'm not in any sense a fan of the seminary president. The other day I caught him speaking about the anniversary of Lenin's birth and that got him talking about Lenin's modifications to the Marxist schema.

Humanitarian Border Patrols and Buffers for Fortress Europe

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/9/22/eu-to-start-releasing-money-to-tunisia-under-migration-pact

This is but one in a series of incidents regarding deals with European authorities and African states. Couched in humanitarian terms, the real goal is to curb immigration. The Europeans and Americans both have realized that it's cheaper and better (in terms of optics) to prevent the migrants from actually arriving on European shores. If they can create and pay for a buffer that will block these streams of human beings fleeing war, poverty, overpopulation, and in some cases a collapsing climate, they can feel good about what they're doing – because they don't have to look at it or get their hands dirty as it were.

The Revival of Franco and Francoism

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/dec/15/us-far-right-francisco-franco-spanish-civil-war

This caught my eye because I've heard recent attempts by figures on the Right to argue that Francoism was not fascism. Usually the argument relies on limiting fascism to the Third Reich and anti-Semitic Hitlerism – and maybe taking into account something of Mussolini. Franco is treated as something outside this spectrum and usually much is made of the fact that his regime did not pursue anti-Semitic policies.

Lamenting the Decline of Sacral Marriage

https://issuesetc.org/2024/01/03/0032-the-demise-of-the-augustinian-view-of-marriage-dr-allan-carlson-1-3-24/

Listening to this latest installment of Allan Carlson being interviewed on Issues Etc., I kept thinking about the elephant in the room – the one that was never addressed.

The Missing Element in the Packaging of Vocation

https://www.ligonier.org/learn/articles/is-work-good

Reading this piece from Ligonier, it felt like a sale pitch, like I was being sold a package. And what is the product? It's the Protestant Work Ethic, so critical to the Magisterial Reformation's sacral programme. All of life in this world is made into holy Kingdom work and is an act of transformation.

On the contrary, the so-called 'Dominion Mandate' is no longer fulfilled by us – but by Christ in the New Heavens and New Earth. The work in the garden was Kingdom work – but once the Fall took place and they were exiled to the East of Eden, Adam and Eve no longer dwelt in the Kingdom. Rather, they awaited the seed, the One who was to come, the One who would defeat death – for there is no death in God's Kingdom.

Italy and the BRI

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-67634959

There is an evident reciprocity taking place between Italy's Right-wing coalition government and Brussels. On the one hand, Brussels is moving in the direction of Meloni when it comes to her government's posture toward immigration. Under the guise of the humanitarian concern and anti-smuggling measures, the EU is doing all it can to curb immigration – even to the point of arming and paying North African regimes. We're seeing the same thing in North America with US attempts to curtail immigration in Central America, long before the migrants actually reach the border region.

Evangelical Support for Israel

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-67422238

This is but one of many articles making the rounds over the past couple of months since the latest outbreak of war between Israel and the Palestinians. The story is always essentially the same and yet new actors arise and the rhetoric sometimes changes – as do some of the political dynamics.

Evangelical Feminism in Europe

https://evangelicalfocus.com/=life-tech/24403/spanish-baptist-faculty-of-theology-includes-feminism-in-its-curriculum

Building bridges to society is basically another way of saying – find as much common ground as you can and try to redeem what you can. It sounds noble and well-intentioned but history demonstrates it's a formula for compromise and eventually capitulation.

Welcome to Age of BRICS+

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-66525474

The world is changing, a new order is forming. This has been in the air for sometime but a milestone was passed on 1 January 2024 with the expansion of BRICS.

Costa Redefines the Kingdom

https://www.ironsharpensironradio.com/podcast/december-22-2023-show-with-dr-tony-costa-on-no-king-but-christ/

There were many good points made in this interview. As I'm not a Baptist, I found myself often disagreeing with Tony Costa (and of course the host Chris Arnzen), but despite some tangents and doctrines presented out of focus – it was overall a decent exercise.