The Anger of the Left Demonstrated Once Again

In last week's blog posting, I shared about how the Left is working diligently to dissuade Christians from being part of the political dialogue in America today.  Not only Christian values but Christians themselves are being assaulted.  This past weekend we witnessed a most blatant attack upon the wife of our Vice President simply because she had returned as a volunteer teacher to a private Christian school.


Tony Perkins wrote a scathing article against the Left and exonerating Karen Pence.  You can read the entire article at: www.patriotpost.us/opinions/60620-karen-pence-the-teacher-and-the-religious-test.  The author begins his article with these powerful, yet insightful words: "It was supposed to be a day celebrating religious freedom in America.  Instead, liberals decided to show everyone just how much our First Freedom is at risk.  For Christians, who've tried to warn people that these last several years were about a lot more than marriage, the attacks on Second Lady Karen Pence certainly seem to prove their point.  Three years after Obergefell, all of the lies about 'love' and 'tolerance' have been eclipsed by the court cases, articles, and editorial demonizing people of faith.  What Americans see now is the truth: the Left is coming for our freedom.  And they have no intention of letting up."


Note: You will remember that the Obergefell decision legalized same-sex marriage within our country.  It was one of those Supreme Court decisions, like Roe v Wade, that has left a dark stain upon our nation's moral structure. 


What did Karen Pence do that incurred the wrath and hate-filled speech from those on the Left?  Her crime was volunteering to teach art at Immanuel Christian School, a private Christian school.  Karen Pence said, "I am excited to be back in the classroom and doing what I love to do.  I have missed teaching art, and it's great to return to the school where I taught art for 12 years."  This all sounds pretty innocent, doesn't it?  Why would anyone get all bent-out-of-shape?  Well, Immanuel Christian School has a policy of only condoning biblical marriage - that of one man to one woman.  Perkins quotes from CNN's Kate Bennett: "'So, lemme get this straight.  The second lady of the United States has chosen to work at a school that openly discriminates against LGBT adults and children?'"  He then quotes from Ben Shapiro, a conservative columnist: "'So, lemme get this straight.  You're a reporter but you've never heard of religious people before? BREAKIN: Pence's wife is working for a Christian school that requires that Christian students pledge to abide by Christian standards of sin that have not changed in 2,000 years.'"


Perkins continues: "There used to be a consensus in this country that religious liberty was for everyone.  When the Religious Freedom Restoration Act came before Congress, only three members voted against it.  Over time, some liberals tried to isolate faith - to churches, Christian schools, or family rooms.  You've heard me say before that the Left's hope is to quarantine religion within the four walls of the church.  Now, it's becoming clear - even that won't satisfy them."  He closes his article by quoting from Matt Walsh, a writer for the Daily Wire: "Suddenly, even Christianity behind closed doors, on private property, in a private school, is a target of outrage and scorn.  It was a lie all along.  They were never planning to stop outside the walls of our homes and our churches and our schools.  That's just what they said to lull us to sleep.  Now the next phase begins." 


As I shared with my congregation this past Sunday, we are going to see an acceleration of these attacks upon Christians in the marketplaces, especially those in the arena of politics and governmental service.  How we need to be prepared to "stand firm against the assaults of the evil one." 


I trust you have been paying attention to what is happening in the Middle East these past few weeks.  Given President Trump's statement that American troops will begin leaving Syria, it seems that Israel has stepped up its air assaults upon the Iranian backed Assad regime.  This past week Israel launched a series of day-time air raids targeting Iranian military depots outside of Damascus.  Israeli forces also discovered several more tunnels along the northern border with Lebanon that Hezbollah had dug for the purpose of invading Israel.  And the situation along the Israeli-Gazan border remains on high alert.  To make this even more complex, Israelis are in the midst of a national election.  Because the coalition Prime Minister Netanyahu had created crumbled, the Knesset (Israel's equivalent to our Congress) was dissolved and new elections were mandated for early in April.  Although, according to latest polling, Prime Minister Netanyahu is leading, there is much concern over a possible criminal indictment against him.  Israel continues to bear a careful watching as we await the trumpet to sound.


The political gridlock continues in Washington.  Even President Trump's State of the Union speech, scheduled for next Tuesday, is threatened to become one of the victims of this gridlock.  The philosophy of "I want it all" has contributed greatly to this gridlock.  Compromise?  No - I want what I want!  Sit down and have a civil conversation and negotiate?  No - I want what I want!  Our political parties have forgotten that governing is about providing for the betterment of America's citizens, not about improving the party.  And, sad to say, I do not believe this philosophy will change any time soon, if ever.  Just another reminder that we are getting closer to the return of the King.