Psalm 32

This Sunday's Psalm is number 32, Beati quorum. This is the way that I read it.

In the first two verses the psalmist (David) speaks to the congregation. 

1 Happy are they whose transgressions are forgiven, *

and whose sin is put away!

2 Happy are they to whom the Lord imputes no guilt, *

and in whose spirit there is no guile!

Next, he speaks to the Lord.

3 While I held my tongue, my bones withered away, *

because of my groaning all day long.

4 For your hand was heavy upon me day and night; *

my moisture was dried up as in the heat of summer.

5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you, *

and did not conceal my guilt.

6 I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the Lord." *

Then you forgave me the guilt of my sin.

7 Therefore all the faithful will make their prayers to you in

time of trouble; *

when the great waters overflow, they shall not reach them.

8 You are my hiding-place;

you preserve me from trouble; *

you surround me with shouts of deliverance.

Then the Lord answers him.

9 "I will instruct you and teach you in the way that you

should go; *

I will guide you with my eye.

10 Do not be like horse or mule, which have no understanding; *

who must be fitted with bit and bridle,

or else they will not stay near you."

Finally, we hear the psalmist sing to us,

11 Great are the tribulations of the wicked; *

but mercy embraces those who trust in the Lord.

12 Be glad, you righteous, and rejoice in the Lord; *

shout for joy, all who are true of heart.

"If it continues long enough, denial is deadly"

 Mark Marshall recently posted about the dangers of denial and used the Episcopal organization's history as an example. What he really points out is the problem with the pewsitters who may be in denial of the theological error, and the resulting tolerance of erroneous innovations, heresy, etc.

But first an old joke. It is probably better said than written, but goes something like this. One Sunday, Reginald and Regina Churchgoer go to their usual church and sit down in their usual spots as they had for decades. When it comes time for the service to begin, the procession includes pride flags and rainbow banners. Then the non-binary priest says, “In the name of our manifold-gendered God, the Creator, the Redeemer, and the Sanctifier along with all of your God-selfs, Amen. The Mother of us all be with you . . .” For the scripture lessons, the Koran is read for one and the Bhagavad Gita for another. But there’s more. When the time nears for the consecration, there is an even newer innovation. Drag queen liturgical dancers sprinkle milk on the communion table.

At that point, Reginald grumbles to Regina, “I swear, if they commit one more abomination…”

Of course, part of the joke is that the Churchgoers have watched their church go step by step into apostasy and abomination through the years and did nothing except keep going to that church, sitting down in that same pew, and dropping their offerings in the plate. Though of a conservative mindset and giving an occasional grumble, they never put their foot down or walked out and likely never will. They were used to that church and somehow felt safe continuing to attend there.

The Churchgoers could have been 20th and 21st Century Episcopalians. When Bishop Pike and later Bishop Spong espoused blatant and very public heresies, denying just about every basic tenet of The Faith, rank and file Episcopalians wrote them off — “That’s just one nutty bishop.” They might have preferred Pike and Spong be disciplined but were not that concerned when they were not. Episcopalians are open-minded after all.

Then when bishop after bishop and diocese after diocese made it difficult for orthodox parishes to keep orthodox by taking away their Prayer Books and then running off orthodox priests and ordinands, those in dioceses that were safer (for a time) said, “That is those dioceses. Our diocese is fine, and our bishop is a good man.”

The consecration of partnered gay Gene Robinson as bishop finally shook up the Episcopal Church and led many to leave and form the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA). But many orthodox and somewhat orthodox still stayed. My parish, being the only non-TEC Anglican parish in town, expected unhappy Episcopalians to come our way. But few did. And Ephraim Radner was among those who insisted the orthodox should stay. And many, again, said, “That’s one bishop.” And, after all, perhaps their bishop did not approve of consecrating Gene Robinson.

But before long, it became close to impossible for a relatively orthodox diocese to elect an orthodox bishop and receive the necessary consents from the other bishops. And still some orthodox remain in The Episcopal Church, saying, “That’s not my parish.” And now there is even this Redeemed Zoomer character posting that orthodox Anglicans should return to TEC.

Denial upon denial upon denial. The results were:

Inaction or feeble action against apostasy while it was still feasible to combat it within TEC. When some finally did take action, it was already too late for The Episcopal Church. Many suffered as a result.

Once orthodox dioceses and parishes being overrun.

Resulting danger to souls accompanied by disobedience to the commands of Scripture to reject and evict false teachers from the church. (2 John 10, 11)

The death of a once august denomination.

In short, if it continues long enough, denial is deadly.

While I was never in denial and was never accepting of the innovations, the vast majority of my fellow pewsitters in my former parish were quite content to sit there in silent assent.

I have said before that tolerance leads to acceptance which leads to affirmation and eventually blessing.

Don't deny it.  

You have to wonder...

After reviewing this Sunday's reading from 1 Corinthians 10:1-13, I had to wonder what revisionist preachers and their pewsitters would be thinking about parts of Paul's advice. See if you can pick out what I am talking about.

I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our ancestors were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, and all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual rock that followed them, and the rock was Christ. Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them, and they were struck down in the wilderness.

Now these things occurred as examples for us, so that we might not desire evil as they did. Do not become idolaters as some of them did; as it is written, ‘The people sat down to eat and drink, and they rose up to play.’ We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day. We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did, and were destroyed by serpents. And do not complain as some of them did, and were destroyed by the destroyer. These things happened to them to serve as an example, and they were written down to instruct us, on whom the ends of the ages have come. So if you think you are standing, watch out that you do not fall. No testing has overtaken you that is not common to everyone. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it.

Of course it is the warning to not indulge in sexual immorality that caught my attention. In Paul's day this would involve things like adultery, incest, lust, and homosexual acts. Our culture and many churches have accepted most of these, with the exception of incest, as perfectly fine and in the case of homosexual acts, something to be celebrated.

These days our revisionist friends have not just redefined sexual immorality, they have removed it from the lexicon.

So, when confronted with those strange words of St. Paul, the revisionist preacher can conveniently ignore them or treat them as relics of an unenlightened age. 

Paul would call that putting "Christ to the test".

You have to wonder what people will be thinking when they listen to 1 Corinthians 10:1-13 this Sunday.

A God of the people, by the people, and for the people

It seems that the American increasingly favor a god of their own creation.

From Premier Christian News,

A study by the Cultural Research Center has revealed that 'Christianity' in America is becoming an increasingly vague term, as only 40% of Americans believe God exists and influences human lives.

Even for those who believe, an increasing number say they are hesitant to “develop intimacy” with God, or allow Him to impact their lifestyle choices.

Two-thirds of American adults identify as “Christian” – yet only 16% of those surveyed say that God is the “most important” element of their life.

Of those who believe in God’s existence, 30 million reject the notion that He is actively involved in every aspect of their life, whilst over 80 million admit they do not have an intimate, interactive relationship with Him.

When asked what the God of the Bible provides to them, a majority of believers said He supplies hope (72%), comfort (71%), love (70%), peace (65%), guidance (64%), compassion (60%), joy (60%), and mercy (58%)...

...Barna describes the figures as “shocking”, saying that the survey indicates a widespread version of ‘Christianity’ which has little to do with God – and more to do with nominal cultural markers.

Author and research director, Dr George Barna says: “When you put all of these insights together, we understand we have fashioned the God of the Bible to be a deity reconfigured into our own image in order to fit within our personal comfort zone.

“[Therefore], the trials and tribulations, as well as the multifaceted demise of the nation, come into sharper focus.”

A god of the people, by the people, and for the people huh?

How well is that working out for us?

A god that fits within your comfort zone is not the God of the Bible.  

So how do you keep God as the "most important" element in your life?

Jerusalem, Jerusalem

 

Jerusalem 2022 during our visit

This Sunday's reading is from Luke 13:31-35 in which Jesus foretells his entrance into Jerusalem, 

At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to him, ‘Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you.’ He said to them, ‘Go and tell that fox for me, “Listen, I am casting out demons and performing cures today and tomorrow, and on the third day I finish my work. Yet today, tomorrow, and the next day I must be on my way, because it is impossible for a prophet to be killed away from Jerusalem.” Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! See, your house is left to you. And I tell you, you will not see me until the time comes when you say, “Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.” ’

Jesus knew what awaited him. We were lucky to travel there when the risk to our lives was relatively low.  

 

Endorsing blasphemy: What else would you expect from an old Marxist?

As if I needed any more reasons to disagree with U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders, he added them this week.

From Ben Johnson at The Washington Stand,

Over the weekend, Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), the most popular Democratic presidential hopeful of the last decade, thanked a trans-identifying musician for belting out a blasphemous song that accused God of rape, demeaned the Crucifixion, and insulted the Virgin Mary.

The lead singer of the group Against Me! — a man born Tom Gabel, who now calls himself “Laura Jane Grace” — put the “punk” in punk rocker when he debuted his new single, “Your God (God’s D**k)” at the Bernie Sanders “Fighting Oligarchy” rally in Kenosha, Wisconsin, last Friday, March 7.

“Does your God have a big, fat [organ]? ‘Cause it feels like He’s f****** me!” grunted “Grace” gracelessly. The rest of the sloppy lyrics formed a litany of mishmashed heresy, LGBTQ fetishism, and anti-Christian bile attacking the Bible’s scientifically accurate view of biological sex. The song portrayed God engaging in sodomy and “other kinks,” mocked the Virgin Mary, and besmirched the Crucifixion by conflating Christ being hung on a cross with a slang biological term. (You can read more of the lyrics, if you have the stomach, here.)

Perceptive observers viewed this pro-trans, anti-Christian blasphemy at a socialist rally as a window into the far-Left’s deepest political fantasies which, like their sexual fetishes, they would like to normalize at the national level. 

Disgusting, but quite consistent with the old Marxist dream of a world without religion. 

Why did Bernie thank the singer? Remember when Bernie answered this question,

The following exchange took place between Anderson Cooper of CNN and presidential candidate Bernie Sanders in the March debate in Flint, Michigan:

Cooper: “Senator Sanders, are you intentionally keeping your Jewish faith in the background during your campaign?”

Sanders: “I am very proud to be Jewish, and being Jewish is so much of what I am. Look, my father’s family was wiped out by Hitler in the Holocaust. I know about what crazy and radical and extremist politics mean. I learned that lesson as a tiny, tiny child when my mother would take me shopping and we would see people working in stores who had numbers on their arms because they were in Hitler’s concentration camps. I am very proud of being Jewish, and that is an essential part of who I am as a human being.” (Christianity Today)

 But not essential enough for him to call out this blasphemous performance.

Lent 1

The reading for the first Sunday o f Lent is taken from Luke 4:1-13,

  Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing at all during those days, and when they were over, he was famished. The devil said to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become a loaf of bread.’ Jesus answered him, ‘It is written, “One does not live by bread alone.” ’

 Then the devil led him up and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And the devil said to him, ‘To you I will give their glory and all this authority; for it has been given over to me, and I give it to anyone I please. If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.’ Jesus answered him, ‘It is written,

“Worship the Lord your God,

   and serve only him.” ’

 Then the devil took him to Jerusalem, and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, saying to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, for it is written,

“He will command his angels concerning you,

   to protect you”,

and

“On their hands they will bear you up,

   so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.” ’

Jesus answered him, ‘It is said, “Do not put the Lord your God to the test.” ’ When the devil had finished every test, he departed from him until an opportune time.

As I began my Lenten cycle of fasting and prayer this week, I have already faced the temptation to rely on my own will power and not the power of the Holy Spirit. The first job is to recognize just who the tempter is. 

At least my priest assures me that I don't have to fast on Sundays. 

41 more days until Easter. 

 

 

Meanwhile, en France: Gynecologists must treat men who say they are women

From The Bridgehead which I quote in full, 

A French gynecologist has been suspended from practicing medicine for one month and penalized with an additional five months of probation by the French Medical Council for declining to treat a 26-year-old man who identifies as a woman.

In August 2023, a trans-identifying man and his partner showed up at Dr. Victor Acharian’s office in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques in the Pau region of southwestern France. Acharian, naturally, treats only women, and after several moments, his secretary told the man that Acharian wouldn’t see him. “I told her that I’m not competent, but I can guide you,” Acharian explained. “I can refer you to services that can take better care of you. But after I said that, things went south.”

The prospective patient began to insult the staff, yelling “You’re transphobic!” at Acharian, and stormed out with his partner, who left a Google review stating: “It was my trans partner’s first appointment. He refused to see her, his secretary threw us out coldly. I advise against [visiting]. Never again.”

Acharian responded in an attempt to defend himself:

SIR, I am a gynecologist, and I take care of real women. I have no skills to take care of MEN, even if they have shaved their beards and come to tell my secretary that they [have] become women. My GYNECOLOGICAL examination table is not suitable for examining men. You have specialized and very competent services to take care of men like you. Thank you for informing TRANS people to never come for consultation with me.

The trans-identifying man promptly sent a complaint to Conseil National de l’Ordre des Médecins (CNOM)—the regulatory body that oversees the medical profession in France—and the LGBT activist organization SOS Homophobie released a statement, tagging the French Minister of Equality between Women and Men and the Fight against Discrimination Bérangère Couillard: “We denounce the transphobic and discriminatory remarks of gynaecologist Victor Acharian in Pau. Transphobia is a reality with serious consequences, particularly in access to health. It affects the entire territory.”

The tactic worked. Acharian was summoned to appear before the disciplinary board of the French Medical Council on December 16th, 2024, where he was suspended from practice for the month of March, with an additional five-month probation. He was warned that if he “engaged in transphobia” or similarly denied treatment to a trans-identifying male during that period, he would be further disciplined. Acharian’s insistence that he lacked the expertise to treat such patients was ignored.

Acharian noted that he’d never had a “transgender” patient before and pointed out, with a hint of plaintive defiance, that: “Just because it’s a cavity doesn’t mean it’s a classic vagina.”

Reduxx noted that Acharian had previously responded similarly to a one-star review with the statement: “Dear Sir. I do not know you. You cannot know me, since I am a gynecologist, and I only treat women. As for your political militancy, that does not concern me.”

Acharian, like so many other ordinary citizens targeted by the transgender movement’s attempts to conform society to their ideology and force collective compliance, found out the hard way that trans militancy very much does concern him. Édouard Martial, the lawyer for the spurned trans-identifying man gloated about his suspension: “We are pleased to have confirmation that what happened that day was totally abnormal.” The suspension and probation weren’t enough for SOS Homophobie, which suggested that his actions were “also punishable by criminal sanctions.”

 He/She/it clearly intended to create a scene and get this doctor in trouble. This is similar to the tactics that the LGBTs have used against Christian bakers.

 This patient should have been referred to a psychiatrist. 

The French Medical Council needs a shrink too.

Don't tell it on the mountain

This Sunday's reading from Luke 9:28-43 tells the story of the Transfiguration,

Now about eight days after these sayings Jesus took with him Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray. And while he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly they saw two men, Moses and Elijah, talking to him. They appeared in glory and were speaking of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. Now Peter and his companions were weighed down with sleep; but since they had stayed awake, they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him. Just as they were leaving him, Peter said to Jesus, ‘Master, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah’—not knowing what he said. While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were terrified as they entered the cloud. Then from the cloud came a voice that said, ‘This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!’ When the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent and in those days told no one any of the things they had seen.

They told no one.  

On the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, a great crowd met him. Just then a man from the crowd shouted, ‘Teacher, I beg you to look at my son; he is my only child. Suddenly a spirit seizes him, and all at once he shrieks. It throws him into convulsions until he foams at the mouth; it mauls him and will scarcely leave him. I begged your disciples to cast it out, but they could not.’ Jesus answered, ‘You faithless and perverse generation, how much longer must I be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here.’ While he was coming, the demon dashed him to the ground in convulsions. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the boy, and gave him back to his father. And all were astounded at the greatness of God.

The world was not ready to hear about the appearance of Moses and Elijah or the voice from heaven saying, "This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!" 

People would not listen to him until after the Resurrection proved him to be the Son of God. 

They still don't want to listen, and because of that they certainly won't tell it on the mountain.