Does the Conservative Baptist Network Represent a "Capitulation to Culture" and "The Functional Embrace of Worldly Ideologies and Practices"?

Conservative Baptist Fellowship's List of Complaints Against the SBC 

In a word, yes, it does. 

For those who aren't familiar with the denominational politics within the nation's largest Evangelical denomination, and how it has been corrupted by the influence of secular, Trump-style politics, the Conservative Baptist Network (CBN) is made up of a group of pastors and churches within the Southern Baptist Convention who claim that the denomination is, once again, going "progressive" and that it needs to have conservative values restored, and they are the ones ordained by God to do this.  They have, as you can see from their list of complaints, some neblulous, vague examples of how that's happening, none of which have anything to do with the leadership in the denomination but then, in Trumpworld, nothing connects to reality or facts, either.  These are the apparent issues:

• The SBC appears to be heading toward a measure of "wokeness" because it didn't adopt an almost word-for-word resolution on Critical Race Theory from an ultra right political source filled with inaccurate, misleading falsehoods and instead, adopted one that reflects a more accurate perspective of what CRT really is.  The convention resolution that was adopted still, by the way, did not acknowledge CRT as legitimate. 
• They cite the presence of programs and instruction in their seminaries, most notably Dr. Walter Strickland, who heads the "Kingdom Diversity Initiative" as a vice-president at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, as evidence of "wokeness" and CRT being taught at the seminaries.  Yes, Dr. Strickland is an African-American, and was on the resolutions committee that adoped the resolution which did not acknowledge CRT's legitimacy. 
• They claim that the denomination has become more accepting of women in pastoral and preaching roles.  They cite the ordination of two women on the staff of Saddleback Valley Community Church in California, which is, by membership, the largest church in the Southern Baptist Convention, and the ministry of Beth Moore, a popular author and teacher of women's ministries.  
• They cite the ongoing investigation into the clergy sex abuse scandal recently exposed by The Houston Chronicle, as evidence of the "confusion" and misdirection of the SBC's leadership.  But they fail to acknowledge that one of the founding steering council members was serving as President of the Executive Committee when it launched two unauthorized investigations into the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, attempting to shut down their response and undermine their attempt to minister to the victims by creating awareness in the convention of what had occurred.  

Tilting at Windmills

So far, in spite of a social media barrage of accusations, CBN supporters have turned up no evidence to prove that anything they're complaining about is actually happening in the SBC, or that it is connected in any way to the current denominational leadership.  Many of their steering committee members have been involved in multiple SBC trusteeships, committee memberships and officer positions for several decades, so if they are accusing the SBC leadership of causing "all of this confusion", which includes "declining numbers of baptisms and church membership" and the sexual abuse scandal, it seems more than a little counterproductive to have some of these same people they claim are responsible as founding directors of their own organization. 

Since they can't really come up with a factual list of examples, they've couched their complaints in nebulous, vague terms aimed at convincing Baptists who don't keep up with their denomination's politics that the "liberals" are in charge.  One of the better phrases, not because it actually describes what it going on but because it is both duplicitous and hypocritical at the same time, is to accuse "current SBC leadership" (which includes at least half of the CBN's current sterring committee) of "The functional embrace of worldly ideals and practices."  

Who's Embracing What? 

The two real issues at the bottom of CBN's organization and effort are both based on personal loyalty to an individual rather than on any real problems that are occurring in the SBC.  The first individual is Paige Patterson, the former President of Southeastern and Southwestern Seminaries, and perpetual SBC officer and committee member who was one of the "architects" of the original "conservative resurgence" movement in the SBC.  The other is former President Donald Trump.  

It wasn't an accident that the CBN was organized in Patterson's personal library in his home.  He was "retired" from service as President of Southwestern Seminary after mis-handling several cases of reported sexual assault, both at Southwestern and prior to that, during his term as president of Southeastern.  He had long ago worn through the good will that came with being one of the two men who started and helped sustain the ten-year effort to put like minded conservatives on the committees and boards of the SBC's entities and seminaries and "save the denomination from liberalism."  

CBN is made up of Patterson loyalists who, after all of the shenanigans that were revealed came out, realized that their chances of advancing themselves on the coat-tails of his influence were jeopardized by his absence from convention politics.  Almost every member of CBN's steering committee who are either currently or have been recent members of an SBC trustee board, committee or the executive board owe their presence there to Patterson's influence.  And that's about half the steering committee, some of whom have served on those boards and committees literally for decades.  

It's difficult to reconcile the inconsistency of a group of self-proclaimed "conservatives" whining about a few issues in the denomination that have nothing to do with conservative theology while supporting someone who essentially drove one of their flagship theological seminaries into a financial and enrollment crisis, and hid evidence of his misdeeds from a trustee board that he had used his influence to stack in his favor and who continued to act in an unethical manner after leaving.  

Southwestern, Baylor Settle with Riley Foundation after Fund Diversion Attempt

But, open support for the former president by SBC leadership is still an issue for CBN, not mentioned specifically, and it, too, characterizes their own "functional embrace of worldly ideologies and practice."  

One of the big issues that made the rounds of social media with many CBN supporters had to do with Dr Russell Moore, the executive director of the SBC's Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, which is the lobbying voice of the SBC in Washington and as such, its most politically connected entity.  It's former executive, Dr. Richard Land, was unapologetically partisan far right, with connections to the Bush administration.  

Dr Moore, whose background includes a hefty dose of Southern Baptist theological education, could not bring himself to ignore the former President's corruption, lack of any ethical influence or moral compass and who built his personal and business reputation on what the Bible calls "debauchery."  And so, he became the target of those on the SBC executive board who wanted to remove him from his position at the ERLC, including the board's president, who was CBN's candidate for the SBC presidency last year.  That's why I see the connection here.  

Don Junior recently told a group of Republicans at a political gathering in Arizona that the reason Christians were losing their influence in political, social and business institutions in America was because they bought into all of that "turn the other cheek" stuff.  He claimed to "sort of" understand where that was coming from, but encouraged his audience to abandon that approach if they intended to, as he put it, "get anywhere in the world."  So it stands to reason that a Christian denomination, one that claims to believe the Bible is inerrant and infallible and "the only authority for faith and practice," and claims to preserve the conservative values of Christianity, would openly reject a political candidate who bragged about adultery and his ability to sexually assault women, operates vice-oriented businesses like casinos and strip clubs, demonizes anyone who doesn't demonstrate personal loyalty and who has rejected repentance and forgiveness, claiming he has done nothing to require it. 

I would have to conclude that support for a political party which condones violent insurrection and ignores the debauchery of political figures simply because they promise to do things for them, and which demonizes certain groups of people which is against the commands of Christ himself, would be functionally embracing worldly ideologies and practices.  So would imitating those practices.

When CBN's candidate for President of the SBC failed to get elected last June, it did not take long for critics to attack the candidate who was elected, Alabama pastor Ed Litton, for plagiarism.  Litton had borrowed and preached, with permission, a sermon series authored by previous SBC president and pastor J.D. Greear, but did not give any specific acknowledgement to Greear in his sermons.  So, the accusations began to fly.  Litton followed the Biblical instruction for his actions, apologizing, acknowledging his error, and asking for forgiveness.  But from CBN's corner, the response was to dig into his church's sermon archive and look for any little hint of another incident.  Some attack blogs, whom CBN says aren't connected to them, invented evidence and made further accusations.  There was nothing resembling the "seventy times seven" instruction in scripture, given by Jesus himself, from any CBN quarter. 

Last month, a Florida pastor, Willy Rice, announced his candidacy for SBC president.  Rice is not aligned with CBN, but is a staunch, conservative and solid Southern Baptist.  Someone, not yet known or named, approached Rice, complaining about a deacon his church had ordained who had been involved in a sexual relationship with an 18 year old student when the deacon had been a 27 year old high school teacher.  The deacon was repentant, the incident occurred long before he joined Rice's church and he had been open about his past.  But the incident forced Rice to reconsider his candidacy and has caused a disturbance and disruption not only in his church, but for the deacon and his family.  

In all fairness, the individual who brought this up hasn't been identified as being connected to CBN. Maybe it was a tactic, maybe not.  But it is something that didn't happen in the SBC prior to the influence of the politics and tactics of FP45 on Evangelical Christians.  It is certainly a new experience in the denominational politics of the SBC.  And it represents a clear embrace of worldly practice.  

The SBC is as Conservative as it has Ever Been

Nothing has changed in the SBC since Paige Patterson and Paul Pressler introduced the "conservative resurgence" by electing presidents with appointive powers.  The denomination's agencies, its mission boards and seminaries, are as conservative as they have ever been.  There's been no widespread teaching or embrace of CRT, far from it.  There are few churches, mostly on the fringe and not really among the actively participating congregations, that have female pastoral leadership not under the authority of a male pastor, or in a position of authority over men.  

But it isn't problem free.  Two million members of its churches have left in less than a decade, the number of new converts to Christianity that its congregations baptize each year is down by more than 70% of what it was at its peak.   The number of career missionaries has dropped 20% from its peak and a reorganization and restructuring of its North American Mission Board was a major downsize.  Its publishing house, Lifeway, downsized and relocated, and after just a few years, is now once again planning to sell its property, downsize further and is staying afloat on the value of its real estate and investments.  

The last thing it needs is a fight brought into the middle of its problems over a secular politician who couldn't care less about what they do, and is only interested in the votes he can get from them.  And it doesn't need a faction, identifying as "conservative," that is really capitulating to the Trump and conspiracy theory culture and functionally embracing worldly ideologies and practices.  

Republican Objections to Critical Race Theory, Gender Equality Issues, Are Deliberately Misleading

"I Teach the Things Republicans Are Trying to Outlaw: Here's What We Actually Teach"  (link to article)

There are times when I find myself scratching my head over something that Marjorie Taylor Green or Lauren Boebert, or even Ted Cruz, says about Critical Race Theory, what it is and what is being taught about it in the schools.  The big deal for them is that white students, specifically white male students, should not be made to feel discomfort because CRT tells them they are inherently racist.  They play on the fears of the loss of social power by whites, particularly by white men.  They claim that any education on sexual orientation or gender identity is "grooming" the students, putting ideas into their head.  

What's interesting about the Republican claims is that they confirm the accuracy of CRT's claims of inherent racism because that is exactly what they are using to motivate their own support.  If there were no "inherent racism" among whites, then CRT would not be a threat to any political perspective, would it?  As far as "grooming" goes, there's no evidence at all to support the claim that it is happening in sex education courses, or that there is anything in the information that is presented which encourages students to consider homosexuality as an alternative lifestyle or recruits them into any sexual orientation other than their own. 

But there is plenty of evidence to show that the absence of sex education programs in schools directly correlates to high rates of pre-marital sexual activity and even higher rates of sexually transmitted diseases as opposed to an environment where students get accurate information to make good choices.  

Being educated and informed is a deterrent to bad choices.  

The Huge Difference Between Informing and Indoctrinating

Here's what Dr Shaw, who is the author of the article that is linked at the top, said about the way she conducts her classes.  Dr. Shaw is Professor of Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies (WGSS) at Oregon State University, an ordained Baptist minister and has master's and doctoral degrees from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.  

"No teaching is value free or morally neutral.  In [our] studies, we acknowledge and own the political nature of our discipline, and we work intentionally to shape our classroom to reflect our political goals of inclusion, equality and justice.  

I try to create a classroom that is itself inclusive, equitable and just.  I welcome, and care about, every student in my class, including straight white men and I also recognize the ways that experiences of mistreatment, discrimination and oppression affect student's lives and the selves they bring into the classroom.  I pay attention to dynamics of differences and power in my classroom and I help students learn to analyze the strutures of discrimination in their lives and in society. "

There isn't anything in Critical Race Theory, or in any sexism studies, which indicates there is anything imposed or indoctrinated, or makes the white people uncomfortable, feel guilty, implies that they are "inherently racist," or blames anyone or lays the responsibility for racism or sexism on anyone because of their race.  That is a blatant and, in my opinion, intentionally political interpretation of CRT, as well as are the claims that it is not "consistent" with Biblical doctrine and theology or a specific denominational confession of faith.  

Republican Opposition isn't Based on Principle, it's Based on Fear of Losing Power

About Republican opposition to CRT, and gender equality, Dr. Shaw says, "They use scare tactics to enlist voters against the very kinds of education that would most benefit many of the poor and working class whites who are part of the Republican base."  

"What they love is power.  This was clear during the attempt to overturn the 2020 presidential election.  No principles of truth, democracy, law and order, morality or any other lofty ideal underlay the blatant attempted power grab.  The love of power was more compelling than love of country, love of democracy, or love of truth.  And that continues to be so," she stated.  

Republican tactics, including voter suppresson, gerrymandering, politicizing the judicial system, the push of false, phony conspiracy theories, outright lying and blatant fear mongering is a clear indication that they know they can't win at the ballot box on a level playing field.  They are playing to ignorance and prejudice.  The idea they promote, that "the white male is an endangered species" in America is absolutely false and unprovable, and in fact, white males remain as dominant and as over-represented in regard to their actual proportion of the population, in business, government and social instutitions as they ever have been.  

Dr. Shaw's piece here also points to another stark difference between Democrats and Republicans, between the "liberal left" and the extremist conservative right, and that is the approach to providing education and information.  Republicans want to ban books, censor information and control the narrative so that people are misinformed and uneducated and not capable of making good choices as a result.  Democrats, politically and philisophically, want to present the whole issue, focusing on each point, and treat all sides of the issue as legitimate and equitable.  So, not in every single case, perhaps, but it would be very easy for Dr. Shaw, and others who teach in this field, to lay this out in a way that takes sides and indoctrinates students.  That, however, would be contradictory to the very principles that undergird their teaching. 

There's some valuable information here.  Take it, use it with your friends who don't get this and who are falling victim to the propaganda.  Take note of Dr Shaw's Christian faith background and the source of her education.  She completely undermines conservative claims on these social issues, and nullifies Evangelical arguments that CRT is not consistent with Biblical doctrine.  

Democrats Picked Up Midterm Election Support This Week

The conduct of the Republicans surrounding the confirmation of Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson may have been something that plays well to the relatively uninformed segment of their base, but it cost them a lot of potential support and it also brought a lot of fence-sitters closer to a commitment to vote Democratic in November. Well, if you believe some of that pesky polling data, anyway.  

If the nomination and confirmation of Justice Jackson is a motivating factor for voters in November, the despiicable, deplorable behavior of the Republicans on the Senate judiciary committee and in the senate chamber itself following the confirmation vote will motivate even more voters to cast ballots for their opposition.  And if you buy all of their claims about how badly Democrats treated Amy Coney Barrett and Brett Kavanaugh, you weren't paying attention. Kavanaugh's behavior warranted the lines of questioning and the investigation into his past behavior.  Barrett fielded some tough questions, but nothing was anywhere near as disrespectful as the manner in which Republicans handled themselves this time around. 

Their responses and their behavior was dripping with rascist condescension.  It was hypocritical, disrespectful not only to the rest of the Senate, but to the American people, because that's our house, that's our government, not theirs, and we require better conduct than that.  We do have the power to enforce our standards and I suggest those Republican senators who behaved so badly should keep that in mind and remind themselves to whom they are accountable.  

Sixty Three Republicans Voted Against Helping Ukraine

What a wonderful way to make a legislative record at a time when atrocities are being uncovered and a destructive war against a fellow democratic republic is being waged by a dictatorial autocrat.  That's a great way to identify where your real sympathies lie, and who you really support.  The fact that these Republicans, who have by their actions turned support for Ukraine into yet another political test of loyalty instead of treating it with the seriousness that it deserves is a question of whether these people even have any human feelings or concerns in them.  

It doesn't appear that circumstances in Ukraine, which are revealing Vladimir Putin's dictatorship for the cruel, inhumane, hateful regime that it is, are going to let up the pressure on Republicans in Congress who are on the record as Putin-lovers and can be legitimately labelled as "enemies of American Democracy and Patriotism" because of it.  

Well, at least we know who is the enemy within, and who the Putin supporters are, if we didn't already know as a result of January 6th.  Thank you for identifying yourselves and giving your opponents a club with which  to beat you in your next election. 

 Thank You Senator Schatz

Senator Shatz Calls Out Hawley Hypocrisy on Defense Department Appointments

Calling out Republican flip flopping and hypocrisy is a full time job.  But it needs to be done.  The GOP is doing a bang up job of undermining its chances to take control of Congress away from Democrats and Missouri Senator Hawley is at the top of the "foot in mouth" brigade.  This deserves all of the attention that it can get and I am glad to see the mainstream media giving it at least some of the attention it deserves.  

Hawley better be careful.  Aside from the real possibility that he could be implicated for his role in the January 6th insurrection, he didn't win his Senate seat in relatively conservative Missouri by a comfortable margin.  Turnout among African American voters who make up a significant minority of the Missouri electorate was down 10% in 2018, when he won over Claire McCaskill by 5 percentage points.  Attacks on an African American Secretary of Defense and the first African American woman Supreme Court Justice look racist. There's a strong and well organized branch of Stacy Abram's get out the vote group operating in Missouri and remember how they got a Democrat elected to the Senate from Alabama?  And I'll leave it at that. 

Thank You Madison Cawthorn

No, I'm no supporter of this extremist North Carolina congressman.  So I was quite surprised when he opened his mouth and confessed that his fellow Republicans are coked-up sex addicts. Too bad we didn't get any names.  Was he bragging?  Did he actually go to any of the parties to which he was invited?  No confession was forthcoming, but boy, did he make some of the gray heads in Congress hopping mad.  

Republicans for the most part gave up on family values and conventional, Protestant morality when they supported the debauched, worldly FP 45, who was probably the guest of honor at most of those parties, if not the host of them.  But this is just another reminder, as that November 2022 election approaches, that the GOP has absolutely nothing to offer except conspiracy theories, lies, complaints and contradictions like Cawthorn. 

The Clarence and Ginni Thomas Scandal

I am probably not the first blogger to label what's happening with Justice Thomas as a scandal.  But that's what I'm going to call this from now on.  The fact that the spouse of someone who sits on the highest court in the nation would be part of a conspiracy to overturn an election, subverting the constitition and plotting a coup against the United States government is just unfathomable.  Had this happened during the Watergate scandal, instead of in these politically polarized times, the pressure on him to step off the court would have been so intense, he'd bave been out of his office and had his keys turned in the next day.  

If he had an ounce of integrity, he would step down now.  But we know from his confirmation hearings that he has none. 

Don Junior's Role in the January 6th Insurrection Confirms the Fact That It Was a Coup Attempt

That's hardly news, but his involvement was revealed this week.  They were planning this long before the election, knowing that there was a good chance they were going to lose.  They intended to use their influence and whatever actual power they had to keep Trump in office, regardless of the outcome of the election and that is a serious crime.  This must go to court and be decided by a jury of patriotic Americans and the perpetrators, including as many Trumps as were involved, imprisoned.   

Let's Help the Media

The Signal Press will continue to put this kind of information out each week, touting the multiple accomplishments of the Biden administration and calling out Republican lies, duplicity and parrotting of false narratives.  You are welcome to share on social media, links, whatever you want, and comments are also welcome.  The more we get out this word, the better things will go in November.  

Time to Celebrate

Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson was confirmed today as the first African American woman to serve as a Supreme Court Justice.  It is a historic moment.  For some reason, the scene from the movie Harriet comes to mind, where Harriet Tubman became the first woman to lead a military engagement in American history, conducting a raid with the all-black Massachussetts 54th Regiment on the Combahee River ferry in South Carolina, defeating the Confederates and freeing over 700 slaves.  It took 160 years to get from that moment to this one, where an African American woman is confirmed to the Supreme Court.  

I say that to make this point,  President Joe Biden has been in office just a little over a year, and we have a female, African-American Vice-President, and now a female, African American Supreme Court Justice.  May the effects of her presence on the court grow and may she serve for many decades.  Noting that these are promises kept, here is yet one more reason why the Democratic party majority that stepped up to elect President Biden in 2020 needs to show up in similar numbers at the polls in November, to make sure this trend keeps moving forward.  

This moment deserves its own time to celebrate.  Service in our representative democracy has expanded yet again to include another excluded segment of the population.  Here's to President Joe Biden and Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson.  May this President have multiple opportunities to appoint justices to the Supreme Court.  

"Cancel Culture on the Right": Florida Pastor Forced to Abandon Candidacy for Southern Baptist Presidency

RNS: Pastor Willy Rice Ends Candidacy for SBC Presidency

Julie Roys: Leading SBC Presidential Candidate Under Fire for Ordaining Sex Abuser in His Church

Pastors Urge Willy Rice to Drop Out of SBC Presidential Race

Both of the above references carried the story by Bob Smeitana of RNS that Pastor Willy Rice, of Calvary Church in Clearwater, Florida, who was the first announced candidate for President of the Southern Baptist Convention has had to drop his candidacy. The intensity of politics within the denomination caused a measure of close scrutiny during which it was discovered that one of the church's current deacons had what Pastor Rice called "a sexual relationship that could also be described as abusive."  

The deacon involved was a former teacher and, according to the reports, had a sexual relationship with an 18 year old student when he was 27 years old and teaching in a high school in the Tampa area.  Pastor Rice noted that the relationship occurred long before the individual became a member of Calvary Church, that the individual was very open about his past, not hiding the relationship and was repentant regarding what he had done.  However, because the SBC is involved in an ongoing investigation into allegations of hundreds of instances of sexual abuse by Southern Baptist clergy, the convention passed a resolution last summer saying that anyone who had committed abuse should not be considered for church leadership positions.  

Pastor Rice said that he was recently "confronted by someone outside of Calvary" who knew about this specific incident from the deacon's past and who questioned why he was in leadership.  This approach is similar to the scrutiny that current SBC President Ed Litton was subjected to over borrowing a series of sermons, with permission, from a friend, fellow pastor and immediate past SBC President J. D. Greear.  Litton's church website was scoured for other examples of "plagiarism" as a means of attacking him and attempting to force him to resign as SBC president in favor of the first vice President, who represented the faction known as Conservative Baptist Network, from which most of the criticism of Litton originated.  It was not stated or confirmed that the individual who spoke with Rice about the deacon in his church was connected to CBN.

The deacon involved in the incident is also a member of Florida Governor Ron Desantis' Faith Advisory Council. 

Are Secular Right Wing Political Tactics Disrupting Church Doctrine and Practice? 

It appears that we have some "cancel culture" going on here.  I was taught in a Baptist church, from an early age, that repentance from sin brought about a spiritual transformation that included things like "sanctification" and "justification," terms that mean that a repentant individual who believes in the divinity of Christ and his sacrifice by crucifixion and turns to God by faith receives God's grace in forgiveness.  Sanctification means the soul is cleansed from sin, and justification means the individual is restored to God's presence.  

Apparently, Calvary Church of Clearwater believed that to be the case, and so did Pastor Rice, up until "someone" pointed out that, against the backdrop of current denominational politics, this doesn't look good.  They ordained the individual as a deacon, the qualifications for which can be found in the New Testament, in I Timothy chapter 3.  But now that their pastor is running for the convention presidency, a position that carries with it the power to appoint powerful committee members, there's been some second guessing and a change of mind.  Had the pastor not announced his candidacy, would this even be an issue?

There's a faction within the denomination, known as the "Conservative Baptist Network," that is aiming at controlling the convention, and the appointive power of the president is the pathway toward that control.  There's some indication in the article from Christian Headlines that the attention of the church, which was drawn to this issue by "someone outside of Calvary," may have come from someone inside CBN.  That's a similar tactic they've used to attack current SBC President Ed Litton, whom they accused of "plagiarism" for borrowing--with permission--a series of sermons from his friend and former SBC President J. D. Greear.  

The Southern Baptist Convention is also dealing with a clergy sex abuse scandal, exposed a few years ago by The Houston Chronicle, that is of similar scope and consequence to that of the Catholic Church's clergy abuse scandal.  That's what prompted the SBC resolution cited by Pastor Rice, encouraging churches to avoid putting former sex abusers in leadership positions.  That has put some conservatives on edge, because several of their leaders have been involved in some cover-ups and in badgering and psychologically berating victims who reported abuse to them when they were in positions of authority in the denomination's educational institutions and mission boards.  

Right Wing Political Implications

As previously mentioned, the deacon involved is a member of Florida Governor Ron Desantis' "Faith Advisory Council."  We'll see how that gets handled by the governor, and whether the media finds out about it.  The Conservative Baptist Network is quite comfortable with conservative politicians like Desantis, and if this doesn't look good for a church, it's not going to look good for him, either, especially if the guy doesn't get invited to leave the advisory council. 

Southern Baptists are considered the largest denomination within what is known as the Evangelical branch of the American Christian community.  Many prominent Southern Baptists have openly endorsed and embraced the former President, excusing or outright dismissing his open debauchery, including his bragging about being able to sexually abuse women, his multiple affairs on his three wives and his operation of sexually oriented businesses, at least two of which he still owns and are active.  

Evangelicals have embraced him as one of their own, in spite of his never having claimed any kind of "repentance" or confessed any kind of Christian faith.  So the words of the Apostle Paul in I Corinthians 5:11 apply to them, "Do not even eat with such a one," much less endorse and support someone like that to be President of the United States.  

A Clear Shift in the Church's Doctrine and Faith Practice That is Politically Motivated

The deacon in Calvary church was doing what he was taught to do as a Christian, and a member of the church.  He expressed remorse, regret and repentance from this incident of sexual immorality from his past.  I haven't seen anything regarding what he did for the victim in this case, but he was not charged with a crime, and he apparently paid a steep price for his very poor choice.  He was open about his past with the church leadership and they accepted his sincerity, believed in his spiritual life and ordained him to serve as a deacon in the church.  

Now, because of the pressure placed on his pastor, who was the one seeking the high profile office, and the fact that digging up dirt to smear candidates for the Southern Baptist presidency that don't identify with the CBN is now the M.O. of denominational politics, he is subject to the church's "change of mind" as they retract their unconditional forgiveness and their doctrinal convictions to do damage control.  How can you trust a church, and a pastor, that changes their mind because of circumstances, rather than consistently applying what they claim to be an inerrant, written "word of God."  

If I Restrict Your Freedom, What's Stopping You From Restricting Mine?

"The truth is, no one of us can be free until everybody is free."--Maya Angelou

In spite of the fact that we have a constitutional republic and a representative democracy, as a culture this country has struggled with the idea of equal rights for all.  It hasn't been easy to determine the definition of "all."  Some of that is the hangover left behind from our roots in the European aristocracy, some of it determined by the struggle to survive while settling and developing a vast land full of wild wilderness, some from the inequities of political power and influence created by racial and ethnic rivalries and jealousies because people came here from everywhere and also came into conflict with those already here, some from the manipulation and misinterpretation of religious practice and the presence of religious prejudice as the country was dominated by white Protestants whose churches and denominations developed a unique culture in this country. 

Origins of the Social Agenda Quagmire

We now find ourselves in what I call a social agenda quagmire.  Many Americans seem to think that the way to make this country better is to restrict the rights of those they don't like or with whom they disagree.  And while I will admit I haven't done any real research into the origins of this line of thinking, I blame Rush Limbaugh and the whole genre of right wing media (it's not news and I won't call it that) that has sprung up in his wake for using hatred and people's biases and prejudices to reap a fortune.  

Limbaugh wasn't motivated by trying to improve American government and culture.  His personal life was more an example of self-serving hedonism than it was of any of the conservative "values" he pushed.  He simply observed that there were few media outlets for those who felt bypassed and left out by the "establishment" and launched a network of mostly AM, small town radio stations whose revenue and listenership had been sagging and build enough of a niche to make himself rich.  Over time, wannabees scooped up some of the overflow.  

Limbaugh advocated for a no-compromise, no-negotiation stand on social issues, motivating people by their fears, their bigotry, their hatred and their lack of education.  He dehumanized those he attacked, declaring them unequal and not worthy of the same rights as those who saw things the way he did.  There's enough evidence from his past to believe that he was at least partially motivated by his own racist views, as much as he was by figuring out how to build a money-making media niche.  If Trump saw him as worthy of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, that says a lot about just how much of a fascist bigot he really was.  

As I said, I'm not a sociologist with research on this subject.  But I believe you can trace most of the muddled, confusing tangle of the extreme right's social agenda to this person and this point.  They are about as un-American and un-patriotic as you can get without actually becoming a Russian citizen, and a lot of them wish Putin was their President.  

It's in the Constitution

To have freedom of conscience, characterized by the right to free speech, means that we have to tolerate a lot of disagreeable ideology.  After moving to a mid-sized county seat town in Texas, not ever having lived in the South before, I was shocked to see, right on the courthouse square, just steps away from two churches, a neatly kept office building with a sign over the entrance, identifying the building as the headquarters of the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan.  Their emblems were on both sides of the sign.  

I was even more shocked to see, as I was driving through the square one evening, about two dozen individuals in white robes and hoods, carrying banners and torches, standing on the courthouse steps.  They were rallying about something, and the police were there separating them from a small crowd of counter-protesters across the street.  

It would not be difficult to make a logical, reasonable argument as to why such displays are unAmerican and un-patriotic.  These are people who are so proud of who they are and what they do that they wear hoods and robes so that they cannot be identified.  They achieve their purpose by intimidation and terror, in many cases denying or infringing upon the rights of those they attack.  They do not believe in human equality or the sanctity of life, or peace, or justice, they have no integrity as evidenced by the robes and hoods.  If the only way you can win your point is by intimidation, then you're a loser.  

As bad as all of that is, and it is one of the reasons why Critical Race Theory exists, if they are not permitted to exist and operate in the marketplace of ideas, sooner or later, someone will think about restricting the free speech of other groups a local minority thinks should not be in existence. 

We're Already There

The political pendulum swings back and forth.  I'm curious to see how many court challenges there will be to the restrictions that are being placed on Critical Race Theory.  When it was restricted in Virginia, a friend of mine who teaches there, in Arlington, told me that it will not be difficult to avoid teaching something that was not already in the curriculum.  How can you restrict something that doesn't exist?  But in the muddled mind of conspiracy theorists, it is the greatest danger to American society since Roe v. Wade.  I'd be willing to bet there are already teachers who are introducing it to their classes at this point, to see if anyone picks up on it, or if the unconstitutional restrictions on teaching it get challenged in court. 

What I really want to know, though, is how the constitutional rights of others who may have a different religious belief, political opinion or lifestyle than I do interfere with my freedom?  I am, because of the effect my Christian faith has had on my personal convictions, opposed to the practice of abortion.  I think our society, and even more specifically the Christian churches within it, are capable of providing what is necessary to prevent most of those who consider it from having one.  And I believe there is a much better pathway to resolution of the problems that come with an unwanted or unwelcome pregnancy than simply medically terminating it.  

But those are moral convictions informed by my faith.  I fully acknowledge that there are those who do not have religious convictions who are informed by either science or their own opinion who believe in a different starting point for what we call "life."  And they have the right to believe that.  And I realize that the government, via the courts, has to consider all perspectives when making a determination that does not constitute an "establishment of religion."  The belief that life begins at conception is an exclusively religious perspective.  Even though the law takes a position of "religious neutrality," that does not prevent Christians from finding ways to lower the abortion numbers.  

I can't think of any right that has been extended to any American that interferes with my free exercise of my faith or my conscience.  The courts are charged with the responsibility of determining where the boundaries are located.  I am concerned that if these state challenges to CRT, to fair and free elections, and to other free speech and conscience issues are allowed to stand, eventually everyone's rights are going to be open to some kind of challenge or restriction.  Once that line is crossed, and the political pendulum swings, no individual rights will be safe.

This is What Brainwashing Looks Like

GOP Congressional Candidate: "If Christians Repent (from taking the COVID vaccine), God Will Remove Poison From Their Body 

Christianity, or should I correct that and say real Christianity that is correctly interpreted and applied, does not reject the use of vaccinations, medical care, blood transfusions and other medical procedures that save lives and improve health.  Prayers for healing are not nullified by seeking medical attention or getting vaccinated or having surgery.  There is no source of authority for Christian doctrine that teaches that.

The ignorance, and the level of brainwashing that this statement represents should disqualify this particular candidate from being able to run for office.  We already have this kind of dysfunctional thinking in Congress.  That kind of ignorance is dangerous.  A million people in this country have died as a result of COVID, many of them unnecessarily so because they refused to get vaccinated as a result of this kind of brainwashing and ignorance circulating around on social media.  

The fact that the death rate from COVID is substantially higher among far right wing conspiracy theorists who won't get vaccinated than it is among those liberals who get vaccinated and boosted has to be a sign of God's favor on the liberals, at least, it would be according to Janet Porter's logic, huh?  And isn't she sort of shooting her own self in the foot here?  If she's appealing to other nut case conspiracy theorists to vote for her, shouldn't she be giving them advice that will help them survive until they cast their ballot, rather than getting COVID and kicking the bucket before the election?  She's undermining her own chances at winning. 

Those Are "Tongue-in-Cheek" Remarks--This Whole Anti-Vaxxer Conspiracy is Tragic

For Christians who believe in the existence of God, the whole scope of healing through the vast knowledge that has been acquired through medical science is common grace.  It is available to all who seek it out for their health and well-being.  Seeking a solution of medical science does not disqualify or nullify prayers for healing.  In fact, the availability of knowledge provided by medical science is almost always the manner in which God chooses to answer prayers for healing.  Nothing in the Bible teaches us to pray only for a supernatural means of overcoming disease or injury.  

It only takes a few minutes to get the facts, and a few more to get the vaccine.  It is completely worth it.  I've seen, up close, the misery and pain that a family goes through when they lose a loved one to COVID, especially when that loved one didn't get vaccinated.  I've not seen anyone die from getting vaccinated.  I have seen someone too young to die lose their life because of COVID and leave family members behind wondering if things would be different, and if they would have their father and husband back if they could just go back in time. 

A Warning Sign to Voters

Candidates like Janet Folger Porter must be defeated.  We don't need conspiracy theorists in government.  We need people who speak the truth and understand facts.  Rush Limbaugh and those of his ilk have turned the give and take of politics into winner-take-all, no compromise gridlock, which works for a few privileged people, but not for the rest of us.  Promoting conspiracy theories is, in old fashioned language, lying, and that makes Janet Folger Porter a liar.  So if you live in that Ohio congressional district, there's the reason to go vote, and to vote against her by electing her Democratic opponent.