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Articles, Education, Prophecy, Teaching

Winning the War on Truth – Part 02

All-out war has been declared against truth. If we are going to win this war – and the stakes couldn’t be higher – then we need to know that there is a war and what we are fighting against. In Part 01, we learned about the enemies of truth, which come in all kinds of shapes, sizes, and colours. This includes words and phrases like spin, disinformation, misinformation, post-truth, double-speak, smoke and mirrors, and gaslighting. To this infamous list we add a few more items in the vocabulary of deception:

  • Mendacity: Another word for untruthfulness and lying, particularly as a regular part of daily living.
  • Half-truth: An interesting and deadly variant of the virus of lies. One could be telling a story that is technically factual but the goal is not to shed light but to obscure it. ‘Tell-all’ biographies can fit this description. They may actually be telling ‘the truth’ but the question needs to be asked: Why are they telling this story at all? Is it for the public good? Does it bring accountability to society’s leaders? Or is their real intention to embarrass, harass, or even destroy a public figure? Or to make millions off someone else’s misery? If the latter, then it really should be labelled as a violation of the ninth commandment – giving false witness. A good rule of thumb: If the words are right but the spirit behind them is wrong, then it is wrong … no matter how accurate the wording may be. Remember, a positive account (factually accurate) plus a negative account (spirit of defamation and destruction) equals a negative. 
  • Right words/Wrong Spirit: A good example of saying the right words but nullifying them by a bad spirit, is the incident in Acts 16. At Philippi, a girl with a spirit of divination followed the apostles Paul and Silas continuously while declaring aloud ‘These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation’ (verse 17). There was no untruth in her statement; however, she kept following and harassing the apostles with this unwanted ‘commendation’ over a period of ‘many days’ (verse 18). This situation became so intolerable to Paul that he cast out the evil spirit in the girl (verse 18), who was wonderfully delivered.

  • The politicisation of knowledge: Used by politicians, media outlets, and administrative experts, this means that ‘truth’ and ‘falsehood’ are declared for political ends. Facts are accepted or rejected according to political expediency. Furthermore, facts and information are fashioned around a political agenda, meaning that if lying serves the ultimate goal, then go ahead and lie. The political left will state that a situation is not true when the political right is involved, then turn around and say the exact same situation is true when it meets their goals.
  • Content Moderation: This means someone comes and edits your written content, often without your permission. Tweets can be ‘moderated’ to neutralise any challenge to the prevailing narrative.
  • Fact Checkers: Social media and others claim to use third-party fact-checkers to guard against fake news. The idea is to check the veracity of a story to promote correctness in reporting. Though it sounds like a good idea, it often happens that fact-checkers are biased, too. Some of them could be political operatives disguised as truth-seekers. Again, fidelity to the narrative proves to be more compelling than the facts themselves.

As we enter into prophetically significant times, expect the war against truth to intensify. It is ultimately a spiritual battle that requires spiritual weaponry to win (Ephesians 6:10-18; 2 Corinthians 10:4-5). The forces of darkness — the devil and his demons – focus on stealing, killing, destroying (John 10:10) and deception (John 8:44). The Lord of hosts excels in light, life, love, edification and truth. The contrast couldn’t be greater.

War in the West: The greatest battlefield of the war against truth is in the western world. Why? Ultimately because the West was based on Judaeo-Christian or Biblical foundations. This includes the Ten Commandments, which teach us the highest standards of ethics, morality, and conduct the world has ever known. While the Commandments cannot give salvation, they show our need for the Saviour (Galatians 3:24). 

While far from perfect, western civilisation was built on truth from a Biblical worldview. On this foundation, the West became the place that spawned modern science, the renaissance, the reformation, and two industrial revolutions. Great technology has helped modernise life. The market economy lifted many out of poverty. In addition, the West gave the world parliamentary democracy, rule of law, the recognition of private property rights, the separation of powers, the balance of powers, and the codification of human rights. Our world has been made a better place because of all these things.

All of this was made possible by a high, respected view of truth and the Ten Commandments, rightly considered the bedrock of the western legal system. On the other hand, cultural Marxists and revolutionaries have worked hard to decouple the West from its Judaeo-Christian foundations. These foundations teach us there is a higher power above all governing authorities, that liberty is God’s gift to humanity, and the primacy of faith, family and freedom. The Marxist idea is to detach dependence on God and His truth and focus it on the state. If that happens, the first thing to go is the truth. 

Historian Niall (pronounced Neil) Ferguson, an academic authority on western civilisation, said that “Loss of faith in the West is more menacing than the rise of China, radical Islam, and carbon climate change.” This is an additional reminder that the greatest foe of all is not those on the outside, but those within.

As we ponder, pray, and act on the challenges of our world, let’s not forget Christ’s immortal words in John 8:32: And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

TO BE CONTINUED

Articles, Education, Prophecy, Teaching

Boris Johnson: Why Did He Fall?

He is a highly gifted leader. Educated at Eton and an expert on the classics at Balliol College, Oxford, he had the vision to be another Winston Churchill. People describe him as witty, entertaining, optimistic, populist and pragmatic. He rose to the highest political office in the land and in December 2019 he had an electoral landslide that gave him a whopping eighty-seat majority. His campaign slogan?‘Get Brexit Done.’ He was able to do what his immediate predecessor could not – he got a Brexit deal passed through the United Kingdom parliament. So far, so good.

Yet, on 7 July 2022, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced his resignation as leader of the Conservative Party and Prime Minister. To which we ask: what went wrong? How did he go from landslide to train wreck? Whatever the reasons, do they compare with what’s happening ‘across the pond’ (the Atlantic Ocean) or the instability in Israel with five national elections in less than four years?

Without question, his biggest single achievement was delivering Brexit – the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union. Though the electorate voted to leave the EU in the June 2016 referendum, there was heavy opposition all the way. The Labour Party was for ‘Remain,’ many Conservatives were the same, and ‘the Blob’ – the entrenched UK bureaucracy – opposed it at every turn. 

Boris thrived on the challenge to ‘Get Brexit Done.’ Instead of taking orders from eurocrats in Brussels, the sovereignty of the UK parliament as the chief lawmaker was restored. From that point, he was set up to be a consequential leader like Churchill and Thatcher. 

So what went wrong? Why did he fall?

Boris’s time at the helm coincided with the Covid-19 pandemic. He himself got a bad case of the virus and had to be hospitalised. Things may have even been ‘touch and go.’ He did credit the revered National Health Service (NHS) as having saved his life. Yet, the bouncy, indefatigable politician with dishevelled hair was now quiet, subdued, and seemingly withdrawn. Of course, that alone was not enough to end his leadership, but his handling of Covid was.

The UK had Australian-style lockdowns, with three months locked in, and six months of freedom, followed by another three months of lockdown. There were stiff penalties for breaching the guidelines, which separated families, enforced isolation and caused relational ruptures. Yet, while Britons were confined in their home and couldn’t even visit dying relatives, it was ‘party-time’ at Number Ten Downing Street. This is the prime minister’s residence and a government office. Dubbed ‘Party-Gate,’ while citizens were locked up, government workers were having social gatherings with drinks and chips in abundance. 

This was a flagrant breach of the Johnson government’s own Covid-19 guidelines. When asked about this later, Mr. Johnson initially lied about it before finally telling the truth and paying his fine. Some people, even those who voted for Johnson, have spoken to this author of their deep resentment of the double standard of ‘rules for thee and not for me.’ This, of course, is not just limited to the UK political elite, but it was a bitter pill for many to swallow. 

Then he hired Chris Pincher as Government Deputy Whip – a man who was the subject of serious allegations of sexual misconduct. First Boris denied knowledge of these allegations and then finally confessed that he knew after all. This led to mass resignations of his chief ministers. Boris’s resignation happened shortly thereafter. 

So what do we make of all this?

Though Boris Johnson led the Conservative Party, there were actions of his government that are not conservative at all (an accusation that can also be levelled at some in the Australian Liberal Party and the American Republican Party). During Covid-19 any notion of past economic austerity was forsaken as a massive spending spree ensued. Boris went as green as green could be, committing Britain to ‘Net Zero’ carbon emissions, which caused energy prices to rise. With looming inflation and recession, this was not the time to raise prices and taxes, including green taxes. Yet during this time, the payroll tax (national insurance) was raised 25 points to fund the NHS and green taxes. The Wall Street Journal denounced ‘Johnsonnomics’ as ‘dumb.’

Commentators have said that Johnson’s eighty-seat majority, including electoral constituencies (districts) that voted Conservative for the first time, was a squandered opportunity. Instead of building on the ‘Brexit bounce’ and carving a new and fresh pathway for the UK, while celebrating its history, heritage, and traditions, Boris Johnson the ‘conservative leader’ gave the appearance of governing like a left-of-centre, tax and spend, progressive globalist. 

Conservative voters resent so-called conservative politicians that don’t govern as conservatives. They don’t like being taken advantage of by backslidden or fake conservatives who think they can always count on the conservative vote, since there is nowhere else for the conservative voter to go. That mindset is a recipe for electoral defeat.

Finally, could the character issue have been the final straw for Boris Johnson? Character appears to be a factor in his fall: lying about Partygate and then lying about Pinchergate may very well have done him in. At least when it came to telling the truth. (Just as an aside:  Boris and his then-girlfriend Carrie moved into Number Ten Downing Street while he was still married to his second wife. It was the first time a British prime minister lived in the official residence with a de facto rather than de jure wife. Boris and Carrie also had a child out of wedlock shortly thereafter. While the couple subsequently [and quietly] married, and had a second Downing Street baby, it appears that such a scenario hardly raised an eyebrow in Britain these days. Cohabitation before marriage is considered acceptable, even among young royals. Yet, when it comes to character, is such a standard acceptable for public figures, when lying is not?). 

Boris had many powerful critics and enemies: the BBC; the Church of England; Scotland’s secessionist first minister Nicola Sturgeon; his former chief advisor turned enemy Dominic Cummings (who vowed to bring him down); the bureaucracy; and Remainers who have now morphed into Rejoiners. Yet, in the final analysis, it is not the enemy from without – but the enemy from within that is most deadly.

Boris Johnson is a gifted, talented man and if somehow he learns his lessons, then he, like his hero Churchill, could make a political comeback. In the meantime, we all would do well to heed the exhortation of Proverbs 4:23: Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.



Photo Credit: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9e/Boris_Johnson_official_portrait.jpg attribution Ben Shread/Cabinet Office

 

Articles, Education, Faith, Prophecy, Teaching

Crown Chronicles Part 03: Elizabeth II – The Christian Queen

 

Many books, articles, assessments, and tributes have been written about Queen Elizabeth II since 1952. One of the least emphasised aspects of her personhood and reign is the most important of all: Elizabeth II is an overtly Christian Queen.

Of her many titles, she is called the Defender of the Faith and Supreme Governor of the Church of England. While these titles have been bestowed on her predecessors over the centuries – some of them notably undevout – there is anecdotal evidence that the Queen takes her Christian faith most seriously. In this third and final part of The Crown Chronicles in commemoration of the Queen’s platinum jubilee, we offer this assessment of Elizabeth R. – Christian.

The Conspicuous Christian

While only God knows the heart of each person, the Queen’s Christian track record is impressive. She goes to church weekly, even on holidays and makes it a point to pray daily. While at Sandringham, she attends the local church, quietly sits in a pew at the front, and requires no special attention. Her annual televised Christmas message speaks forthrightly about faith in Jesus Christ.

Political commentator Andrew Marr said these words:

There are no reliable recorded incidents of the Queen losing her temper, using bad language, or refusing to carry out a duty expected of her (The Servant Queen, 6).

These comments are in relation to her public persona but there is no evidence that she is different in private. A solid Christian faith makes such impeccable conduct possible.

One of the key functions of the crown in the political arena is to protect democracy through the separation of powers. No branch of government has more power than any other because the crown stands in the centre. Thus it is a symbolic reminder of the sovereignty of God; the Prime Minister, chief of the armed forces, and parliament, all recognise there is a power higher than them to whom they must give account. And yet, the monarch herself acknowledges a greater power than herself: Almighty God.

The Christian Coronation

This recognition was manifested at the coronation ceremony, which, for Elizabeth II, occurred on 2 June 1953 at Westminster Abbey. In every way, the coronation is a Christian anointing service. The Queen held a sceptre representing authority, with the Star of Africa diamond as the centrepiece. This diamond is valued at GBP 400 million. Yet the Moderator of the Church of Scotland did not focus on the value of the sceptre or diamond, but on “The most valuable thing this world affords” – The Bible. Yes, the Word of God is of greater value than the world’s biggest diamond. 

Part of the coronation ceremony was ‘secret’ – where the crowned monarch was hidden under a canopy. She wore a simple white dress devoid of any royal symbols. She sat before God as an ordinary person without any trappings of high status. This demonstrated her complete dependence on God. Under the canopy she was anointed with oil, thus reflecting her need for the equipping and empowerment of the Holy Spirit. 

Another crucial part of this Christian service was the coronation oath. The monarch swears “To maintain the laws of God and the profession of the Gospel.” It was a recognition that Her Majesty’s kingdom is a Christian realm and that she as monarch and the government she leads must maintain it (Gardner, 61-62). 

A Christian Country

Sir Winston Churchill was reported to have said: ‘It is the policy of the Conservative Party to defend the Christian religion in the United Kingdom’ (Gardner, 45). Former Prime Minister David Cameron, who called himself “committed” but only “vaguely practising” Christian, said in 2011: “We are a Christian country and we should not be afraid to say so … the Bible has helped to give Britain a set of values and morals which make Britain what it is today.” Cameron called for “a revival of traditional Christian values to counter Britain’s “moral collapse”.

Christian Character in Public

After the coronation, the Queen amply demonstrated Christian character in the following areas:

Servant Leadership: Even in her nineties she works full-time. In her 2012 Christmas message the Queen said: 

This is the time of year when we remember that God sent his only Son ‘to serve not to be served.’ He restored love and service to the centre of our lives in the person of Jesus Christ. It is my prayer this Christmas Day that his example and teaching will continue to bring people together to give the best of themselves in the service of others (The Servant Queen, 23). 

As Christians, we should all have a servant or ministry mindset, just like the Master Himself (Matthew 20:28).

Consistency: The Queen exhibits old-fashioned values like faith, family, freedom, and respect for others. She employs 1,200 people whom she treats with respect. Unlike tyrannical bosses worldwide, she makes no unreasonable demands whatsoever. Apparently, she never refers to them as ‘servants.’ Their days off are truly off. Because she embodies the virtues of character, charity, devotion and duty, the concern is that when the Queen goes, so will these values. 

Role Model: The Queen understood from the very beginning that she would be a very public figure, watched with intense scrutiny by the nation and the world. Therefore, the expectation was that she would serve as a great role model. While some of her predecessors failed in this area, the longest reigning monarch in British history has not. Her consistency and personal integrity have been obvious for the world to see. The Queen has never been accused of personal or professional scandal in over seventy years, a remarkable achievement in itself.

Prayer: Despite the respect and affection that the nation, Commonwealth, and outside world hold towards Elizabeth II, she has had big challenges from the beginning. A particularly difficult year was 1992, her annus horribilis where two of her children’s marriages collapsed and Windsor Castle was torched by a major fire. She has remarked that it was the power of prayer – that of others and of her own – that sustained her through all these years.

In summary, Elizabeth II deserves much credit for her faithful and consistent service to the nation and commonwealth since 1952. Her success can ultimately be placed to her fidelity to the Christian faith. She has set an example for all to follow.

Sources:

The Servant Queen and the King She Serves: A Tribute for Her Majesty’s 90th Birthday (2016), Mark Greene and Catherine Butcher, Bible Society, HOPE, LICC

David E. Gardner, The Trumpet Sounds for Britain: Volume 3, Jesus is Alive! Ministries, Southend on Sea, UK

The BBC at bbc.co.uk

(Photo Credit: Joel Rouse/ Ministry of Defence, OGL 3 <http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3>, via Wikimedia Commons)

Articles, Education, Prophecy, Teaching

Life After Roe: Now What?

Melbourne, a city that has been my home for thirty years, had protests. This is nothing new in the world’s once ‘most liveable city,’ now rated Number Eight. Sometimes Melbourne can host rowdy, even violent protests. Wasn’t it the city that tried to tear down Oral Robert’s gospel tent in 1961? Mobbed British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher at Burke Street Mall in 1988? Returned the compliment to then US President George HW Bush in 1992?

This time, the protestors made their views known about abortion – in the United States. They were protesting the overturning of Roe v. Wade, the 1973 US Supreme Court decision that mandated all fifty American states must provide abortion services, at least in the first trimester. The 24 June 2022 five to four ruling reversed Roe and returned the matter of abortion to the individual states to decide on their own. California and New York will continue to be major abortion states. Other states will restrict.

Not just the Melbourne protestors were indignant over this American court decision. Australian politicians on both sides of parliament lined up to decry the demise of Roe. Former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and the European Union also expressed their strong disapproval. 

Why the intense interest? Because ‘Roe’ is more than just about abortion and concerns more than just the United States. It is another major chapter in the culture war, which it kickstarted in 1973. Some commentators say Roe’s reversal is a blow to the liberal world order, with its autonomous sovereign individual – who does what they want, when they want, with no moral obligation to family, faith, or freedom. That may be finally changing.

A note: This article in no wise a criticism of those who are contemplating an abortion or even had one. Many mothers have been under great pressure to terminate their pregnancies and/or are haunted by the decision for years to come. 

Time for Truth

Since Roe came into being in 1973, there have been all kinds of pro-abortion buzz words and phrases, particularly on the Left but sometimes repeated on the Right. Let’s comment:

Jane Roe (a pseudonym): Her real name was Norma McCorvey. She was used as the centrepiece of the lawsuit against her local Texas district attorney Henry Wade for denying her an abortion – which she never had. McCorvey falsely claimed to have been raped – for which she later apologised. So the pretext of Roe was a lie.

Constitutional Right: We were told that Roe v. Wade granted women in America a ‘constitutional right’ to an abortion. This is hard to sustain since there is no direct or indirect, explicit or implicit mention of abortion anywhere in the US Constitution. This is a major reason for returning the issue to the states. If Roe was ‘constitutional,’ it would have been impossible for the Supreme Court to overturn.

As Australian author Kurt Mahlburg said regarding the reversal of Roe: “A new generation of Americans will now grow up understanding that the disposing of unwanted infants isn’t a constitutional “right” but a well-regulated “wrong.”

Reproductive Rights / Health: While this sounds nice, it is a euphemism for the termination of a pregnancy. There is nothing ‘reproductive’ about it – in fact, abortion is the antithesis of reproduction, full stop

Bodily autonomy: Pro-abortion advocates demand that a woman has autonomous rights over her body. Yet the issue was never just about a woman’s body – it is about someone else’s body – the foetus. Of interest is that pro-abortion protestors invoke ‘bodily autonomy’ when it comes to terminating a pregnancy but are fine with vaccine mandates. 

‘War on Women:’ This label has been used against the pro-life movement as if they are harming women by resisting abortion. How can potential motherhood do such a thing? and what about the approximately fifty-percent of all abortions that involve a female foetus?

‘Too political:” The US Supreme Court has been accused of being ‘too political’ by overruling Roe. This, too, is wrong. The 1973 Court, used the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment of the US Constitution to create a ‘right to privacy’ out of thin air. It never existed. The 2022 court rightly disagreed. The US court was not being political at all; the correct term is ‘constitutional.’

The common denominator with all the above: they have been misleading, even false. Remember: without genuine truth, neither law, liberty, and justice, are possible, in fact, they are undermined.

Regardless of the semantics, the hard and horrible fact is that Roe v. Wade has been the cause of sixty-three million abortions in the United States, since 1973. These are more than just statistics – the represent lives that were never lived outside the womb. The notion of motherhood and family have also been greatly harmed in the process.

The Worst Court Decision – Ever?

In 1857, the US Supreme Court issued the infamous Dred Scott decision. This ruling declared that Americans of African descent, whether slave or free, were not entitled to US citizenship. Even their personhood was also denied. It has been called the ‘worst decision’ of the American Supreme Court in its history. It was unambiguously racist and served as a catalyst for kickstarting the American Civil War (1861-1865). After the war, the abolition of slavery and newly ratified constitutional amendments helped to nullify the Dred Scott decision

There is a strong case to say that Roe v. Wade surpassed the Dred Scott decision in horror. Like the former, Roe denied the personhood and citizenship of the foetus. Like the former, it initiated the first shots in the half a century, on-going, divisive culture war. Yet, with all the indignity of the Dred Scott decision, the slaves still had their lives and within a decade, their liberty as well. Yet with Roe, the foetuses had no such life or liberty – only death in the womb, and America is worse off because of it. African-Americans are disproportionally represented in the abortion statistics.

Finally, the American states get to decide on life and death vis a vis abortion and the political battle continues, as is to be expected in the democratic process. America’s founding documents say that any rights not clearly given to the federal government in the Constitution must be decided by the states. However, these same documents also make it very clear that it is the government’s responsibility to protect the life and liberty of its citizens. 

Are the pre-born citizens? Do they have the right to life and liberty? If you say ‘Yes’ to these two questions, then there is nothing more to decide. If you are not sure, now is a good opportunity to search the Scriptures, study the issue, and, once duly informed, partake in the democratic process. 

Life After Roe? More political struggle but a new democratic, citizen-initiated game board. May we see a revival of faith, family, and freedom in the post-Roe world; in other words, may there be much ‘Life after Roe.’ 

Articles, Education, Prophecy, Teaching

God’s Consultancy: Why Study the Book of Proverbs

 

He was no more than twenty-one years old. Yet the weight of the world was on his shoulders. His father had been a successful, acclaimed king, yet the latter part of his reign was soiled with family scandal and sedition. Now, the new young king wanted to learn from both his father’s successes and failures. How could he navigate through the minefield of leadership and life?

At a high place called Gibeon, not far from Jerusalem, the young king had a dream where God offered to give him whatever he wanted. Usually, the normal worldly options include riches, fame/acclaim, and longevity. Yet he asked for none of these things. This king wanted to know how to do his job correctly. So he asked this one thing of God: please grant me a wise and understanding heart.

God was so impressed with this request that it was granted on-the-spot. As a bonus, God gave the young king those things for which he did not ask: riches and fame. If he continued on walking with God, long-life would be granted, too. Some of what God shared with the young king has become a book of the Bible. It is called Proverbs.

Today, in our every-complicated specialised world, it is common for people to pay consultants 100s and 1000s of dollars for advise. Yet, the best consultant of all is found right in the pages of your Bible. For no earthly consultant can hope to match the time-tested, proven, divine wisdom found in Proverbs. It not only promises the very best in this world, including riches, honour and life (Proverbs 3:16) but gives guaranteed hope for the world to come.

Ultimately, we discover that wisdom is not a corpus of knowledge rightly applied. It is a Person named Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 1:30). When you have Him in your life, you win everything (Revelation 21:7 AV).

Proverbs is so invaluable we recommended reading it daily. Since there are thirty-one chapters in Proverbs, whatever is the date of the month, that’s the chapter of Proverbs you should read. For example, if it is the 5th of the month, read the 5th chapter.

HEBREW NAME

Hebrew: Mishle Shelomoh (Proverbs of Solomon 1:1) and Sepher Hokhmah (Book of Wisdom); the Greek name is Paroimiai Salomontos (Proverbs of Solomon). We get the name ‘Proverbs’ from the Latin: Liber Proverbiorum.

AUTHORS OF THE PROVERBS

Solomon wrote 3,000 proverbs and 1,005 songs (I Kings 4:32) and he is the prime author of Proverbs (1:1; 10:1; 25:1). The men of Hezekiah did some editing (chapters 25-29). Also mentioned are Agur (30) and Lemuel (31). It is possible that these two men were actually pseudonyms of Solomon, meaning he very possibly wrote the entire Book of Proverbs.

PORTRAIT OF CHRIST

Jesus Christ is the life-giving, favour-filled wisdom of God (8:35). To embrace Jesus is the wisest thing one can do; to reject Him is the ultimate of folly.

THEME OF PROVERBS

The promotion and triumph of wisdom and the perverseness and insanity of folly. Proverbs is more than just being wise in this world; it speaks of wisdom that endures for all eternity. Folly is not merely viewed as an unfortunate inconvenience; it is seen as a serious liability and the downpayment to hell itself.

KEY VERSES IN PROVERBS

Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth. 6Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee. 7Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. 8Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her. 9She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee. 10Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of thy life shall be many — Proverbs 4:5-10

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. 11For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased — Proverbs 9:10-11

SUMMARY OF PROVERBS

Someone once said a proverb is short in words but long on experience. Proverbs contains many pithy, insightful, and divinely wise sayings. Follow its timeless counsel and you will avoid a lot of grief. Furthermore, you will attract much blessing. Wisdom, understanding, and knowledge are to be eagerly sought. Folly, scorn, and simplicity are faults to be avoided.

When the author of Proverbs speaks of ‘my son,’ the initial impression is that it has to be Rehoboam, son and heir of Solomon, who followed him to the throne of Israel. Writing at a more mature stage of his reign, Solomon is attempting to influence Rehoboam to walk in the same wisdom that he had. Therefore, the first part of Proverbs is directed to ‘sons’ and ‘young men.’ Those who heed its counsel are promised riches, honour, and long-life. Yet there are many pitfalls to avoid. In Chapter 4, for example, it describes the contrast between the dark, nefarious ‘way of the wicked’ and that of the promising, well-lit ‘path of the just.’ These two paths could not be more different. One leads to every increasing darkness, damage, and death; the other to a bright future. Or there is the detailed account in Proverbs 7 about the foolish young man, void of understanding, who gets into serious strife by caving in to the invitation of the adulterous woman. His lack of discretion is fatal. 

The second part of Proverbs addresses issues involving all people, young and old. There are many pithy phrases that make for wisdom in capsule form. 

Finally, the last section is more for leaders. It speaks of self-control, sobriety, having a good name and reputation, warnings against taking bribes, and being careful against wine and strong drink. 

OUTLINE OF PROVERBS

  1. Wisdom for Young Men (1-10)
  2. Wisdom for All People (11-20)
  3. Wisdom for Leaders (21-31)
Articles, Education, Prophecy, Teaching

The Crown Chronicles Part 02: Queen Elizabeth II – Profile in Leadership

She is the most famous woman in the world – yes, more than Oprah – and her face is immediately recognisable. And no wonder: her image has dominated postage stamps, coins, bank notes, and prominent buildings worldwide for over seventy years. 

As we commemorate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, we would do well to remember that she is a remarkable and unrepeatable leader, a rock of stability in an ever changing world. 

In assessing the reign of the Queen, we will approach it from her position, her fine qualities, and her historic link.

Royal Titles

The monarch inherited a wealth of titles and positions upon her accession to the throne on 6 February, 1952, when she was only twenty-five years old. The weight of responsibility, however symbolic, far outweighed the imperial state crown she received at her coronation.

The main title is Queen Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God Queen of this Realm and of Her other Realms and Territories, Head of the  Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith. This tells much – but not all – of the story. Of course she is best known as the Queen of the United Kingdom, which includes Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Yet, she has ‘other realms,’ where she serves as Queen in her own right. These realms include, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Papua New Guinea and elsewhere. As head of state, she is also Commander-in-Chief of the British Armed Forces. Her representatives in the other realms, known as the ‘Governor-General,’ hold the same position. 

Head of the Commonwealth is particularly significant, because the Queen presided over the peaceful dismantling of the British Empire, with most former colonies voluntarily choosing to be part of this multi-national, multi-ethnic global family (the United States and Israel are notable exceptions). It has been said that the Queen’s passion and leadership over the integrity and vitality of the Commonwealth stands as her greatest single achievement. 

Defender of the Faith: This title dates back to at least Henry VIII, when he ‘defended’ the Catholic church against the reformer Martin Luther, only to break away from it a few years later. Like her predecessors, the Queen is the Supreme Governor of the Church of England. 

Qualities ‘Fit for a Queen’

Despite the mystique of monarchy, with all the grand trappings, Elizabeth II is a very normal, down-to-earth individual. One source said she is a ‘country girl’ who happens to be a monarch. She has practical mechanical know-how, can ride a horse at length, and despite an abundance of servants, feeds her own corgis. Equally at home with heads of state, celebrities, everyday people, dogs and horses, the Queen’s visibility and her exceptionally long reign, means her imprint is deep and immeasurable.

While many positive adjectives can be applied to Elizabeth II, a few prominent ones come to mind:

Duty: Even in her nineties, the Queen continues to work full-time. Like a Swiss watch, she can be counted upon to fulfil her duties without hesitation, flinching, or tardiness. Personal feelings about any given matter are irrelevant; what ever is required of her is done and done properly. Not one toe or strand of hair has been out-of-place during all these decades. 

She famously declared before the world on her twenty-first birthday in a radio broadcast from Cape Town:

I declare before you all that my whole life whether it be long or short shall be devoted to your service and the service of our great imperial family to which we all belong. 

Is this not the essence of servant leadership?

Resilience: Like the British people as a whole, the Queen has shown amazing resilience despite the many challenges over her long life. Who can forget that she and her family lived through the Battle for Britain of 1940, which included the bombing of Buckingham Palace. Then there were the events of her seventy year reign: The Suez Crisis of 1956; the ‘troubles’ in Northern Ireland; the dismantling of the empire; the 1982 Falklands War with Prince Andrew in active military service; the pitfalls of the Cold War – where Britain was far closer to the front-lines than its great ally the United States, plus two Gulf Wars. Then there were the family troubles, including separation, divorce, and the fire at Windsor Castle in her annus horribilus of 1992 – the fortieth year of her reign. 

Grace: The Queen is as one who has been immersed in grace. The famous motto: ‘Keep calm and carry on’ describes her regal conduct totally. For example, at the Trooping of the Colours in 1981, a seventeen year fired six shots at close range at the Queen. The skill and grace used to keep the horse on track was widely remarked and admired. 

According to convention, she wisely keeps her opinions private, particularly on politics. Her views are known to the prime minister of the day, but they are duty-bound to keep her confidence.

When a part of the realm considers breaking away from the Crown, the Queen shows a graceful respect to the wishes of the people. Contrast her position to that of George III, who fiercely fought to keep the rebellious American colonies under the Crown – which has greatly evolved since 1776.

Living History

Elizabeth II is the great great granddaughter of Queen Victoria and related to many other British monarchs. She has witnessed much history firsthand – who can forget the iconic photo of the then royal family on 8 May 1945 – VE Day – waving from the balcony of Buckingham Palace to a euphoric crowd below? This is a woman who personally knew famous people like Sir Winston Churchill, Charles de Gaulle, US President John F. Kennedy, Nelson Mandela, Billy Graham, and hundreds more. An invitation to one of her royal banquets is highly coveted. And the wealth of experience she has gleaned over the years should make her a ‘first port-o-call’ in seeking tested sound advice.

Though the Queen does not grant interviews and has no plans to write an autobiography, her much chronicled reign should keep historians busy for decades. She is not just a witness to history – she made history.

In our final article, we will examine the single factor above all else that kept her going for over seventy years: the Queen’s personal faith in the King of kings and Lord of lords. Stay tuned.

 PHOTO: Courtesy of The White House from Washington, DC, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

Articles, Bible, Education, Prophecy, Teaching

Winning the War on Truth – Part 01


For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Behold, I have told you before — Jesus Christ in Matthew 24:24-25

Since we are in the last days (Hebrews 9:26; 1 John 2:18), prophetic awareness is a key to surviving and thriving. Study the pastoral epistles of 1 & 2 Timothy and Titus, and you will not only get great leadership tips but also principles of last day living. While there are several key signs we can focus upon, there is one sign that has immediate and practical ramifications. It has to do with the war on truth.

This war is real and it is fierce. Israel, its place in the Bible, today’s world, and end-time prophecy, also hang in the balance.

Why the C?

Warring against truth is nothing new … it has been happening since the days of Eden. Yet, prophetically, what we are seeing today is a frontal assault in overdrive! It is not just that people are lying, more than ever. Or that they do so with a very straight face and without a pang of conscience. It is that there is a strong spirit of deception and delusion that must be proactively resisted.

Let’s consider how the last days’ war against truth came into being:

  1. Relativism: This is facilitated by postmodernism, which is the successor and critic of scientific rational modernism. It believes is ‘radical relativism,’ namely you have ‘your truth,’ I have ‘my truth,’ and no one’s truth is more true than anyone else’s. The proliferation of postmodern relativism is a recipe for philosophical, semantical, and spiritual anarchy.

  1. Low view of truth: Postmodernism is only one of the reasons why many people, including some church goers, have a low view of truth. One popular group of churches in the West make themselves deliberately attractive to postmodern people but it comes at the cost of truth. Go to their website and you will struggle to find a ‘Statement of Faith’ or doctrine. Remember: no truth means no law, liberty, and/or justice.

  1. Delusion: This is what makes the last days particularly dangerous. A spirit of deception and strong delusion will be so potent that the elect have to make a conscious effort to remain ‘in the truth.’ The devil knows his time is short and works overtime to deceive. Fortunately, our weapons are more powerful weapons than his.

‘Post-Truth Vocabulary’

The arsenal against truth is growing. Here is a sample vocabulary lesson on what constitutes the modern version of lies and mendacity:

Spin: Takes the unsavoury issues of life (e.g. abortion), sugar coats and spins them like cotton candy. When signing a grizzly executive order expanding medical research on aborted foetuses, a former US President gave this spin: ‘America deserves the best health care system in the world.’ Spin creates euphemisms, taking sour lemons and makes ‘lemonade.’ Masters of spin – spin doctors – help public officials craft byte-size phrases to get their point across, quickly and persuasively, even if it is not true.

Post Truth: Instead of conveying objective, verifiable facts, post truth seeks to shape public opinion by appealing to narrative, personal belief, feelings and emotion. 

Double-speak: Speaking one way but deliberating meaning something else. Double-speak seeks to obscure, disguise, distort, and divert real meaning by fostering great ambiguity. Political rhetoric can fall under the heading of double-speak.

Smoke and mirrors: An attempt to make you believe something to be true, when it is not. Like a tax-and-spend parliament telling the population that the big spending bill will not add a penny to the national debt or ‘the war to end all wars.’

Gaslighting: This is particularly insidious. It is a form of manipulation, often incessant, to cause a person to doubt their sanity, memory, perception and judgement. The gaslighting person tries to convince the other party that they really did not see what they clearly saw or hear what they clearly heard.

Misinformation: Misleading or incorrect information treated as fact. Less menacing the disinformation but still problematic because it is not truth. We must get our facts right!

Disinformation: A subset of propaganda, false information deliberately and quickly spread with the express purpose to deceive. This is a problematic and evil thing. 

Irrational, unproven, preposterous ideas and policies, void of empirical evidence, are enacted by governments, media and academics. Intimate sexual issues are taught from kindergarteners to university by those who have no Biblical worldview. This practice is backed up by government, big business, and popular culture. 

War on Truth – The Bible Says

Let’s face it, we have never seen such a concerted attack on truth – absolute truth – God’s truth, as we do now. This includes the Bible and what it teaches about Israel. Yet it should not be a surprise to students of the Scriptures. As we have learned, one of the most fundamental signs of the last days is that deception will be manufactured and disseminated on an industrial scale. 

When Jesus’ inner circle asked Him the direct question on what will be the sign of His coming and of the end of the age, His very first words were “Take heed that no man deceive you” (Matthew 24:4). This is not just a polite suggestion; it is a divine command. Deception does not merely distract and divert people from the right path – it can hijack and destroy. That’s why it should be recognised, repudiated and avoided.

Under this banner of deception, Christ goes on to say that many shall come in His name, proclaiming themselves to be the Messiah, and shall deceive many. 

If ever there was a good reason to “follow the cloud (of God’s glory), not the crowd,” this is it. TO BE CONTINUED

Articles, Education, Prophecy, Teaching

Roe No More – Part 02: What Does it Mean for the World?

 

For some, it was like the dawning of a new day. For others, it was the end of the world. Both sides, looking at opposite ends of the telescope, are focused on a decision that will greatly alter the culture war, like the Supreme Court of the US (SCOTUS) decision of 1973 which started it in the first place. We’re talking about the potential overturning of the landmark decision called Roe v. Wade, which mandated abortion in all fifty American states, even if a state was predominantly pro-life. Justice Samuel Alito’s draft decision on Dobbs vs. Jackson Women’s Health Organization (Mississippi), which was leaked to the press, has caused ripples nationally and internationally. Consider the following:

  1. The pro-abortion lobby has vehemently protested, including in front of the homes of the justices – which is illegal, because it is ‘obstruction of justice.’
  2. Some have interrupted church services, like at Joel Osteen’s Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas, where protestors stripped off their clothing while shouting their pro-abortion views. 
  3. A California man came to the home of Justice Brett Kavanaugh for the express purpose of assassinating him. 
  4. Even the Parliament of the European Union passed a resolution, by a vote of 364 to 154 ‘reminding’ the United States that they should retain Roe v. Wade. German MEP Christine Anderson did some reminding of her own to the EU parliament: “The USA is no longer a colony ruled from Europe. Didn’t you know that?“

If the conservative justices stick with the majority opinion, what will happen if Roe is overturned? What will it mean? Even if they don’t overturn it, abortion is on notice in the United States. 

First, SCOTUS is not making abortion ‘illegal’ or even ‘unconstitutional.’ The repudiation of Roe simply means it is none of their business; it is time to let the states decide, once again.

While the states would be free to legislate how much or how little abortion they will allow, it needs to be pointed out that the US Constitution, Fourteenth Amendment, Section 1, is very clear on the matter of life: 

Nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.

America’s birth certificate, the Declaration of Independence of 1776, also says:

We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness (emphases mine).

In short, from all appearances, it is the legal duty of local, state, and federal authorities to protect all American lives, liberty, and property. Any other position should be, by rights, declared unconstitutional.

Pro-abortion advocates do not want the states to decide at all. Why? Because the majority of American states lean towards the pro-life position. Women who might contemplate an abortion would refuse to do so if it became illegal. Consider the following trends:

  • The moment Roe is overturned, eighteen states have ‘trigger laws’ that will immediately ban abortion.
  • Another nine states have passed legislation which heavily restricts abortion. At the moment, these bills are held up by the courts, but an overturned Roe would promptly release them for activation.
  • Rates of abortion have been declining for years in the United States, from an annual total of 1.5 million to half that amount. The demise of Roe would result in even further drops.
  • Abortion clinics have been closing en masse across the nation. In 1991 there were over 2,000 clinics but today there are just over 500.
  • There is anecdotal evidence that Generation Z, born after 1996, is the most conservative living generation and will expected to favour life over abortion. They are replacing their pro-abortion ‘baby-boomer’ grandparents’ generation.
  • People who hold a ‘pro-choice’ position do not necessarily favour unrestricted, unfettered abortions at all stages of pregnancy: A third of pro-choice Americans support banning abortion after the pain threshold is reach and 55% want late-term abortions banned completely. ‘Pro-choice’ does not mean what radical activists have been telling us. 

The Bigger Picture

As mentioned, Roe v. Wade, though about babies and abortion, has a greater implication. It is about a return to original interpretation of the US Constitution – ‘it is written’ – rather than the elastic interpretation of the Left, who speak of a ‘living, breathing’ constitution. Attitudes towards ‘life,’ ‘children,’ ‘family,’ and traditional values, will also be bolstered by an overturned Roe.

Roe v. Wade also played a major role in commencing the culture war, pitting cultural Marxists and secular progressives against working class, patriotic, and conservative Americans. The Right is greatly influenced by the Judaeo-Christian teaching. While blue states like California and New York will continue to have their liberal abortion laws post-Roe, their demographics are at stake. Not only are they having less babies, but people are moving out of their states, thus reducing their population.

As revival comes to America and the world, there will be a renaissance of ‘marriage and family,’ and with it, a return to the primacy of the sanctity of life, from birth to old age. Despite incidents to the contrary, we could very well be seeing the dark winter of culture war and mass abortion turn to the spring of pro-life, pro-faith, pro-family, and pro-freedom.

(Photo courtesy of Adobe Stock)