When a Bernie Sanders supporter tried to kill Republican Congressmen on a baseball practice field last week, it brought a growing problem into the glaring public light: American political rhetoric has reached the boiling point.
Though heated political debate and even unabashed mud-slinging is nothing new to American politics, what we are witnessing now is unprecedented and alarming.
In fact, certain members of the media — if not clinical professionals — have coined a new term to describe it: Assassination pornography. That’s defined as “fantasy depictions of assassination.”
I’m certain you can guess who they’re fantasizing about assassinating!
And some of them are not keeping it a secret! Self-described comedienne Kathy Griffin produced a photograph of herself holding a bloody, severed head (ISIS-style) that looked amazingly like that of President Donald Trump. Snoop Dog produced a satirical video in which he shoots a clownish Donald Trump figure at pointblank range.
Even the city of New York (President Trump’s hometown) got in on the act. The infamous New York Public Theater that stages summertime productions in Central Park produced a version of “Julius Caesar” that is set in modern times and features a Donald Trump lookalike (complete with the blue suit, white shirt, and long red tie). Of course, he gets assassinated by his peers. And the audience claps joyously.
To their credit, Bank of America and Delta Airlines pulled their sponsorship of the production. But Time Warner, the parent company of CNN, apparently approves of the message it presents, even in light of the real-life attempted assassinations of Republican Congressmen last week.
These are but three examples of the growing public display of evil that is being touted, even encouraged, by the Left in America today.
But even more alarming to me is the growing onslaught against Christians, and even non-Christians who hold traditional values, by government and individuals in the governments.
Canada recently enacted a piece of legislation called Bill 89. Its net effect is that the Canadian government will be empowered to remove children from the homes of parents who do not agree that their small child may be “transgender.” As if a small child even know what “gender” means, much less can identify his or her own internal gender fluidity! Folks, this is theater of the absurd — to the extreme!
Jack Fonseca of Campaign Life Coalition said: “…we’ve entered an era of totalitarian power by the state, such as never witnessed before in Canada’s history.” And trust me, when a state seizes totalitarian power, it rarely benefits the family, the Christian, or anyone who holds moral, traditional values. It’s always the fringe lunatics who manage to coerce the state into doing their dirty work!
It has gotten so bad that even the leader of the Liberal Democrats in the United Kingdom had to resign his position. Tim Farron said, “To be a political leader… and to live as a committed Christian, to hold faithfully to the Bible’s teaching, has felt impossible for me.”
Liberal Democrat must mean something different in the United Kingdom than it does here! I can’t imagine a liberal Democrat resigning his or her position for any reason whatsoever.
In the past, they wouldn’t do that even when they’ve been caught with their hands in the cookie jar! Imagine one doing it because he or she had a crisis of character or conscience! To be fair, though, this could describe a few Republicans, too.
More subtly, though, is this creeping, sinister idea promoted by the Left that Christians are unfit to serve in high positions of government. The latest champion of that idea is Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont.
In the past, few people listened to Senator Sanders. He was considered the far left fringe. After having the Democratic nomination for president stolen from him, though, his words carry much more weight now.
Recently, President Trump nominated Russell Vought to be the deputy director of the White House Office of Management and Budget. Now, that doesn’t sound like a position that is going to exert much influence over the thought-life of Americans.
But Senator Sanders strenuously and publicly objected to Mr. Vought’s nomination. In fact, he said that Mr. Vought “is really not someone who this country is supposed to be about.”
Russell Vought’s crime? A few years ago, he wrote an article defending the historic Christian beliefs of his alma mater, Wheaton College. Wheaton is a venerable university founded in 1860 to prepare students for service in Christian ministry. Billy Graham is a Wheaton College graduate!
Senator Sanders read a statement from Mr. Vought’s article: “Muslims do not simply have a deficient theology. They do not know God because they have rejected Jesus Christ, His Son, and they stand condemned.”
Sanders called Vought’s faith an example of “racism and bigotry.” He declared that believing Jesus is the only way to God makes Islam a “second-class religion.” And those who believe other religions are “second class” must not be allowed to hold a high position in government.
Well, I’ve got a couple of pieces of news for Senator Sanders. First, applying a religious test to a nominee for government office is absolutely forbidden by the U.S. Constitution (Article VI, Section 3).
Second, everyone who deeply believes the tenets of his or her chosen “religion” will feel that other religions are “second class.”
Islam and Christianity are mutually exclusive doctrines. If one is true, the other is not. Both Christians and Muslims believe in the superiority of their chosen faith. Sanders says if you believe that, you cannot hold high office.
Even atheists prefer their ideas on religious faith to that of others. Atheists see both Christianity and Islam as “second class.” Is Senator Sanders prepared to say that atheists are not allowed to hold high office?
Apparently, Sanders believes that only people who firmly believe nothing are qualified to lead us!
I suppose that is why he feels he should be President.
Jesus warned that the days before His return would be like the days of Noah. (Matthew 24:37) They would be characterized by violence and corruption. (Genesis 6:11)
He also warned that those who name His name would be hated by the world. It’s happening in other parts of the world right now, but in America we are not yet subject to chains and torture.
We are, however, beginning to be marginalized and ostracized. Make no mistake, the day will come when our beliefs will be outlawed and if we stand up for them, we will be prosecuted and punished.
Are you ready for that day?
While there is still time, make certain your relationship with God is clean and vibrant. Make sure your family and friends have the opportunity to come to Christ. And prepare yourself for the day when you must choose between your comfort and speaking aloud the claims of Jesus Christ.
But don’t fear that day. For in it, you will find the strength and power of the Living God to be more than sufficient.
And the reward? Beyond description!
© Copyright 2017, Hal Lindsey – All rights reserved.
Image Description: The Death of Caesar, Jean-Léon Gérôme, 1867. Source: Wikipedia
