The spiritual fracture in our culture runs deep, even into the Christian community.
Trump lawyer Jenna Ellis says: "My life is in service and honor to the Lord Jesus Christ and so whatever anybody else says really doesn't bother me."
Christian author and speaker Beth Moore is calling on Christians to reject "Christian nationalism" and "Trumpism," calling both "seductive & dangerous" to the faith.
A fork in the road for the culture...and for the Christian community.
Straight talk.
Be informed, not misled.
About Trump lawyer Jenna Ellis.
CBN News' David Brody published an inspiring article about Trump lawyer Jenna Ellis, who has risen to national prominence among conservatives while becoming a target for the secular progressive left---which includes some who identify as the "Christian left."
Brody's article is in-depth, interesting, and inspiring. I recommend you read the entire article.
An overview shows that Jenna grew up in a devoutly Christian, homeschooling family in Colorado. The Ellis home was a non-denominational evangelical one that led Jenna to accept Jesus Christ as her Savior at an early age. She was baptized when she was 12.
Her homeschooling allowed her to become involved in a civic group that taught about the government and the court system. She says, "I was hooked. I knew I wanted to be a lawyer from the time I was 14."
At 16, her life hit a painful turn. She was sexually abused. She had to go before the court and publicly give all the details.
Although it was very difficult, she says, God worked things out for His good---as He always does. A few years later, while a student at Cedarville University, she won a monetary civil suit out of the sexual assault case but, feeling like it was "dirty money" she gave the money to set up a scholarship endowment to benefit future students wishing a career in law---it's called the "Jenna Lynn Ellis Award."
She went from Cedarville to pursue a degree in journalism at Colorado State University. Then on to law school at the University of Richmond. There she began what would become her career---a focus on the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence.
Her legal career led her through private practice, public policy director with the James Dobson Family Institute, and involvement with well know evangelical lawyers and their defense of Christian rights and beliefs.
Earlier this month, the New York Times, and The Wall Street Journal both published articles questioning the depth of her constitutional law credentials, saying at one point that she is "not the seasoned constitutional law expert she plays on TV."
She is now receiving daily threats, including many death threats---one recently said simply, "You deserve to be raped"---because she represents President Trump in his effort to expose the corruption in the election.
She says all the criticism from those who hate Trump doesn't bother her because she knows they are only trying to diminish her to take down Trump.
Jenna says she knows if she were a Democrat, defending far-left politicians and policies, she would be celebrated for the achievement at only 34 years old.
She says the personal attacks have been hard, but that's what causes her to consistently draw closer to God. She loves the Psalms...
"When King David talks about all the attacks and everything, he always finds solace and comfort in God. He knows that God is the only one that matters at the end of the day."
She believes in President Trump and believes there was, in fact, corruption in the last election.
As for honesty and truth, through all the vitriol aimed at her and the mayhem that ensues from it, Ellis knows one thing for sure when it comes to what matters most:
"My security is 100% in God and who I am in the Lord. That's what gives me the courage to go forward and know that I'm doing the right thing. I'm secure in God. I'm completely dedicated to God."
But a number of self-identified "progressive" or "religious left" Christians strongly oppose every thing she's doing.
Author and public speaker Beth Moore is calling on Christians to "reject" the very thing Jenna is committed to doing.
Sunday, a well known Christian author and public speaker began urging Christians to reject "Christian nationalism" and Trumpism" in the strongest terms possible.
Moore tweeted, "I do not believe these are days for mincing words. I'm 63 1/2 years old & I have never seen anything in these United States of America I found more astonishingly seductive & dangerous to the saints of God than Trumpism. This Christian nationalism is not of God. Move back from it."
I do not believe these are days for mincing words. I’m 63 1/2 years old & I have never seen anything in these United States of America I found more astonishingly seductive & dangerous to the saints of God than Trumpism. This Christian nationalism is not of God. Move back from it.
— Beth Moore (@BethMooreLPM) December 13, 2020
Moore then elaborated in follow-up tweets:
"Fellow leaders, we will be held responsible for remaining passive in this day of seduction to save our own skin while the saints we've been entrusted to serve are being seduced, manipulated, USED and stirred up into a lather of zeal devoid of the Holy Spirit for political gain."
And she said:
"And God help us, we don't turn from Trumpism to Bidenism. We do not worship flesh and blood. We are the church of the living God. We can't sanctify idolatry by labeling a leader our Cyrus. We need no Cyrus. We have a King. His name is Jesus."
Some personal straight talk.
I know Beth Moore is revered by many Christian women who read her books and follow her teachings, but let me be very direct...from a pastor's heart.
Last summer a number of Christian women authors and Bible teachers wrote a letter to Beth Moore expressing growing concern about the fact that she is very outspoken against misogyny and racism, but silent on homosexuality.
The women noted in their letter that Moore's seemingly close relationships with two so-called "progressive" Christian authors, Jen Hatmaker and Jonathan Merritt, who now openly show support for the LGBTQ community, is troubling.
The letter notes that both Hatmaker and Merritt are not only open in their support for the LGBTQ agenda, but Merritt has said he has had "at least one homosexual encounter..."
The letter asked Moore:
"Do you believe homosexuality is inherently sinful? Do you believe that the practice of the homosexual lifestyle is compatible with holy Christian living? Do you believe same-sex attraction is, in and of itself, an inherently sinful, unnatural, and disordered desire that must be mortified? And, "Why have you been so silent on this subject in light of your desire to "teach the Word of God?"
I've been told she didn't respond.
And the women noted that Moore quickly condemned the Covington Catholic School boys earlier last year when the media falsely portrayed the boys as racists and bigots.
Days later the rest of the video was made public, which showed, without doubt, the Catholic kids actually were just standing there waiting for their bus after they had marched for life in DC. It was the old Indian activist who was taunting the boys. One boy's family has since won a significant settlement from CNN who characterized the moment in the same way Moore characterized it.
Beth seems eager to stand against things, she simply appears to have difficulty deciding what she is for and what she is against. James calls that being double-minded.
She also seems confused about why tens of millions of Christians prefer Trump to Biden. And prefer Truth to lies.
I have never met a biblical Christian who "worships" Trump. They prefer him because he stands in support of most traditional Judeo-Christian values and principles, including traditional marriage and the sanctity of life.
It is true Paul taught (Romans 13):
"Let every person be subject to the governing authorities," noting that those authorities "have been instituted by God."
To the early church, that included Nero who persecuted early Christians and martyred both Peter and Paul.
Paul never called for Christians to "rebel" against Nero. Instead, the Christians took every opportunity to be about the work of the Lord. They didn't get to vote on Nero, but they did what they could do---all with a biblical worldview.
From all the early writings---biblical and extra-biblical---the Christians would not have voted for Nero.
The early Christians, although hated, became known as model citizens---the friends of the culture.
However, Acts 5:29 makes it clear that "Nero" isn't the last word. As Christians, we are to strive for peace, but the bottom line is when commanded by the authorities in Jerusalem to cease preaching the gospel---particularly in the name of Jesus, they responded, "We must obey God rather than man."
A vote for Trump represents a stand for life and God's model for marriage and human sexuality.
We are apparently about to learn what a vote for Biden---or even a wasted no-vote can put upon us all.
Beth, in my opinion, needs to thank God for her freedom to teach the Bible and stop demonizing those who stand for freedom---and those who vote for them.
Be Informed. Be Discerning. Be Vigilant. Be Prayerful.