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CHRISTIAN TIMES MAGAZINE
Issue 48|may 2021 Published in United States of America Copyright © 2021 by Christian Times Magazine (CTM) All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, For permission requests, www.ctimesmag.com 214-256-4293 214-850-1541
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CHRISTIAN TIMES MAGZINE
CONTENTS CHRISTIAN TIMES MAGAZINE ISSUE 48
EDITOR'S NOTE At Christian Times Magazine, our mission is to distinguish ourselves from those who are providing the world with fake news.
05
EXCLUSIVE!
CONFRONTING THE CHRISTIAN LEFT
Pastor Lucas Miles’ Mission to Expose Progressive Christianity and Revive the American Church
10 THE AWAKENING GIANT By Chris Grahn Howard
17
SUPREME COURT TAKES ON MAJOR ABORTION CASE By Mary Gill
19
THE ISRAELI MILITARY SAYS OVER 9 MILES OF GAZA ‘TERROR TUNNEL’ DESTROYED IN AIRSTRIKES By Mary Hill
MAY 2021 | ISSUE
48
P. O. BOX 360722 DALLAS, 75336 TEXAS 214-850-1541 CTM@CTIMESMAG.COM WWW.CTIMESMAG.COM
CHRISTIAN TIMES MAGAZINE | PAGE 05
CONFRONTING
THE CHRISTIAN LEFT Pastor Lucas Miles’ Mission to Expose Progressive Christianity and Revive the American Church Anil: Today, we have a great guest Lucas Miles author of “The Christian Left that is a #1 Amazon Best Seller.” How are you Lucas? Lucas: I am good, and thank you for this opportunity. Anil: What inspired you to write this book " Christian Left"? Lucas: As a pastor, I've seen the reality of what the NY Times called an "ascendant liberal Christianity" that has been on the rise in this country, slowly eroding biblical orthodoxy and replacing it with progressive ideology. Anil: What does the title mean? Lucas: The title, The Christian Left: How Liberal Thought Has Hijacked the Church, for me speaks to the growing constituency of Christians and in many cases 'Christians in name only' who have become largely seduced by a progressive theology, liberal philosophy, and often times Marxist theory. This of course has introduced to the church doctrines that are antithetical to scripture, such as pro-abortion mindsets, support of an LGBTQ agenda, and liberation theology or Critical Race Theory. Anil: Do you read your book reviews? How do you deal with bad or good ones? Lucas: I try to glance at most comments or reviews I might receive. If I see that someone is
Lucas: just being critical, I try not to fixate on it. When possible, my staff filters some messages to help protect my time and energy, but overall, I know that anyone who leads is going to have people take shots at them. I knew what I was signing up for and I stand behind my message and work - after all, the gospel is at stake. Anil: Do you believe Christians are aware of the importance of recent events in our country in relation to where we are in the Bible? Lucas: I think a lot of Christian in America struggle with biblical illiteracy. This makes it challenging to discern certain issues or even to see the danger in the rise of certain doctrines. Anil: Why are Christians so easily swayed to move towards the left? Lucas: There are a variety of reasons that Christians get drawn to the Left. For some, I think their apathy within the evangelical church becomes frustrating and they begin to look for more "hands and feet" methods of helping people. This, of course, isn't a bad thing in and of itself, but without proper discipleship, a strong compassion gift in a person can lead them to adopt distorted beliefs like Critical Race Theory, or even pro-LGBTQ tendencies. Essentially it's a failure to realize that Jesus came in "grace and truth". There's a lot to discuss there, but I unpack this much more in the book.
CHRISTIAN TIMES MAGAZINE | PAGE 06
Anil: What do Christians need to do in this time our First Amendment rights are being attacked? Lucas: More than anything, I think we need to be careful and really discern where the Lord is leading us. While I deeply believe in the first amendment, I think it's important to fight for it in such a way that doesn't destroy my witness. Too often I see Christians make concessions regarding certain behaviors because they are fighting for a good and righteous thing. This is what I would call, right motive and wrong method. By this I'm not suggesting passivity, but rather that we look to models in Jesus, the disciples, and even the early church to see how they combatted evil and how ultimately Christianity went from being persecuted in Rome to transforming a nation with the gospel. Anil: Do you still believe that America is a Christian Nation? Lucas: I think we have Christian foundings...which is really undeniable, but we are quickly becoming a postChristian nation. We perhaps aren't there 100%, but we are approaching that status very rapidly.
Anil: Conservative audiences, in particular, express far less trust in mainstream news media than do their liberal counterparts. Why do conservative Businesses trust MSM and Liberal News networks? Lucas: Often conservatives don't have many choices. Tech, news media, publishing, and more are all highly controlled by liberal brands. This leaves conservatives with few options and often feeling forced to just comply. While the last year has been hard for conservatives, my hope is that it inspires new innovation, brands, and organizations that offer increase choices for conservative consumers and businesses - so far, that seems to be happening. Anil: Would you like to say something about Christian Times Magazine and CTM News Channel? Lucas: I appreciate CTM efforts and the opportunity they've given me to address the dangers of progressive Christianity. Anil: Thank You so much Lucas for your time.
CHRISTIAN TIMES MAGAZINE | PAGE 10
The Awakening Giant BY
CHRIS
GRAHN
HOWARD
If moderates and disaffected Republicans thought
Many attempts to push the American people away
that Joe Biden was a moderate in the mold of Bill
from their culture and deny what truths ...” we hold
Clinton…they have been sadly mistaken. To be
self-evident,” our Judeo-Christian tradition. Over
clear, I have been often disappointed with the
decades the bedrock of this ocean floor has been
manner in which Donald Trump handled being
hacked into, fissures created, the values/ethics
president. However, I have been and still very much
weakened; the enormity of force from the ‘modern”
am a supporter of the Trump policies. The distinct
world has put unimaginable pressure on those
sprint to the extreme left of the Democratic party by
cultural tectonic plates. Thus further exacerbating
the Biden Administration leaves a horrible distaste
the chasm where many divided Americans find
in the mouths of those independents and others who
themselves.
thought that Biden was a more moderate choice.
bedrock/foundation is being denied by the people
The
nature
of
that
very
trying to build their lives on it. What I am beginning to see at the local level is telling. The people are awakening to what is
To paraphrase Ronald Reagan, we are at a time for
happening now and at breakneck speed. The
choosing. We can choose to maintain the status quo,
democrats are running at “damn the torpedoes and
what is left of it, and hope for the best, or we can
full speed ahead,” as my grandfather would say. The
choose to set a bold new course that develops a
people are not happy with these turn of events. At
proud standard for the people to follow. The time
every level of government, I see more starting to
has come to pull the fractured Conservative and
organize in tiny groups. The leaders of these groups
Traditional Republican factions together and find
will begin to gather and become connected. These
the way clear to work for some common goals.
gatherings are how the people start to take back our Republic. The emergence of Trump was/is a
“I believe the Republican Party can hold and should
phenomenon
The
provide the political mechanism through which the
awakening of true conservatism that is bourn from
not
likely
to
be
repeated.
goals of the majority of Americans can be achieved.
that phenomenon will bring about a political revival
For one thing, the biggest single grouping of
to restore our Republic.
conservatives is to be found in that party. It makes more sense to build on that grouping than to break it
The deep is the ocean that is the American
up and start over. Rather than a third party, we can
electorate, a complicated cultural, social system,
have a new first-party made up of people who share
complete
temperature
our principles. I have said before that if a formal
variations, and depths. Contrary to the belief and
change in name proves desirable, then so be it. But
even wishes of the political parties, national media,
tonight, for purpose of discussion, I’m going to refer
and pundits, there is one American electorate, and
to it simply as the New Republican Party.” - Ronald
we all do share some basic principles.
Reagan, 1977
with
tides,
currents,
CHRISTIAN TIMES MAGAZINE | PAGE 11
While many within the GOP leadership and many
have built-in social time so that people can
elected officials know that there has been a seismic
genuinely get to know each other. Above all else,
shift in that electorate, they have not yet understood
this is important.
what
the
people
want.
It
is
incumbent
on
conservatives to take back the House and Senate in
Second, set goals that are immediate, short, and
2022. If not, it may be too late to restore the
long term. One goal should be to have different
Republic. I have written before on the topic of this
members lead meetings. An ancient proverb states, a
country descending into a true democracy. In any
trip around the world begins with one step.
true democracy, any minority opinions or rights will
Changing the world is no different.
be subjugated to the majority. We need to be building a grassroots effort that is educated on how
Third, rotate in experts for training and education
will be in great demand going forward.
in areas you want/need instruction, ie. Consultants, legislators, lobbyists, etc. Training and education
How? We need to do what happened in the early
are two different things. Know that and use that. No
’80s as Ronald Reagan began to move the solid
one can know everything. The good ones are more
ground from the despair and insecurity of the ‘70s.
than willing to help you.
Groups formed that educated people on retail politics issues like door knocking, phone banking, and primary messaging. These skills have been lost. Many GOP organizations have no clue what the voter ID is in many wards, precincts, and townships. Meaning, while they may know how many people voted Republican in the last election, they do not know who they are, why they voted, and what motivated them. Knowing these things about voters is how you can win future elections. We need people willing to step up and create working groups to conduct grassroots activities. Tain and educate during off years so that in election years, the team is well prepared. Right now is that time. Right now, get together with people you have met online in your areas, at school board meetings, etc. If you have never done this before, great! Come out anyway, and there are plenty of people who can show you the way. Grassroots 101 – Note, every one of these could be an article in itself. I have summarized them here. First, make it fun. Yes, it is hard, it is contentious, and yes, it will be draining. This effort will be so worth all of that. Have fun. Make sure the meetings
Fourth, “…if you know yourself and you know your enemy. You have not to fear the outcome of a thousand battles. “Sun Tsu – The Art of War Know what and who you are in a battle with. Know what your goals are (see first), and you plan to achieve them. Know your weaknesses – is it money, education, training, or other resources? If you can not answer these questions, you can not win. You should not look at this as some sort of personal battle, tilting windmills or attacking people. “Therefore, a wise prince should think of a method by which his citizens, at all times and in every circumstance, will need the assistance of the state and of himself; and then they will always be loyal to him.” - Machiavelli – The Prince Fifth, Messaging! How you advance the ideas of conservatism matter. In politics, it does not matter what something is; it only matters what it appears to be, so being the first to frame the debate matters. Framing it better matters more. Think of the last topic.
CHRISTIAN TIMES MAGAZINE | PAGE 12
Put yourself in the mind of your opponent. How would they respond? Literally, play this out with your team. Your group will be better able to react to critics. s Finally, You have to have partners willing to do the work. Partners willing to share the burden. I have watched too many good people go down or pushed out of the way for nothing less than they tried to go it alone. Politics is the ultimate team contact sport. The political landscape of both parties is littered with the one-hit wonders, almost ran, and just piles of…gave up. My fellow Conservatives, the time to act, organize and take action is now. Waiting till 2022 will be too late. The democrats are way ahead of you at every level. They know this next cycle is going to be hard on them. They know that historically mid-term elections are likely to go the other way. If it does go their way, there will be no stopping them. They will continue to transform this country until it is unrecognizable. If there is any chance to stop this effort, it is now. Join me in taking these steps to restore our Republic
No# 1 Best Seller
CHRISTIAN TIMES MAGAZINE | PAGE 17
Supreme Court Takes on Major Abortion Case MARY
HILL
On Monday, the Supreme Court agreed to hear a
dissent last year to allow Louisiana to enforce
major abortion case and will hear Mississippi’s
restrictions on doctors that could have closed two of
appeal for a lower court ruling overturning the ban
the state’s three abortion clinics.
on most abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy. The case stems from the 2018 Gestational Age Act The
case
will
give
the
Supreme
Court
an
that was passed in Mississippi, which allowed
opportunity to review landmark rulings on abortion,
abortions
including Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v.
emergencies or in cases involving severe fetal
after
15
weeks
only
in
medical
Casey. With Roe v. Wade, in a ruling mocked by
abnormality.
conservatives and religious followers, in 1973 the high court ruled a woman's right to have an abortion
Later, Federal District Court Judge Carlton Reeves
and reaffirmed it some 20 years later.
struck the law down and said that Mississippi “chose to pass a law it knew was unconstitutional to
The Supreme Court will start hearing arguments in
enforce a decades-long campaign, fueled by interest
the case in October, and it will be the first abortion-
groups, to ask the Supreme Court to overturn Roe v.
related case since Barrett was confirmed. The other
Wade.” The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals
two justices nominated by former President Donald
upheld the ruling by Reeves, who was appointed by
Trump, Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh, voted in
former President Barack Obama.
CHRISTIAN TIMES MAGAZINE | PAGE 19
The Israeli military Says Over 9 Miles of Gaza ‘Terror Tunnel’ Destroyed in Airstrikes BY
The
Israel
Defense
Forces
announced
MARY
HILL
the
In response, Israel launched more than 1,000
destruction of 9.3 miles of a network called the
precision artillery shells and aerial attacks
"terror tunnel" used by Hamas forces as part of
against Hamas and other targets that are often
their efforts to undermine terrorist groups'
constructed near civilian monuments on the
ability to launch attacks against Israel.
densely populated coastal strip.
Hostilities erupted last Monday, when Hamas,
“Our fighter jets neutralized 9.3
Islamic Jihad, and other Islamic terrorist groups
miles of the Hamas ‘Metro’ terror
fired long-range missiles at Jerusalem after
tunnel system overnight. That’s 9.3
weeks of clashes in the holy city between
miles that can no longer be used for
Palestinian protesters and Israeli police. Hamas said its rocket attack was in response to weeks of
terror,” according to a statement
tension over a judicial case to expel several
on the official Twitter account of
Palestinian families in East Jerusalem, and in
the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on
response to the Israeli police response to the Palestinian protests.
Monday.
No# 1 Best Seller