Choose This Day Whom You Will Serve
Ephesians 6:4 says "Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord."
Psalm 103:17 says "But from everlasting to everlasting the LORD’s love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children."
What is Scripture saying here? Let's look at what's going on in the world this week and how it affects the family unit.
Listen here or read below.
Spaniard Evangelicals Push Back After Education Minister Says it Is ‘Mistake’ to Think ‘Children Belong to Their Parents
In Spain, Education Minister Isabel Celáa said in a press conference that “no one should commit the mistake of thinking that children belong to their parents.” In the first public appearance after the conformation of the new government, Social Democrat Celáa announced that the central Spanish government would bring the Region of Murcia (South-east Spain) to the courts after its regional government allowed parents to decide whether their children would attend talks and other special activities which could collide with their moral and ethical views. These classes include sex education and workshops on LGBT issues given by external speakers.
The Spanish Evangelical Alliance (AEE) denounced that “a code of values charged with ideology is being imposed on our children, which presents ideological dogmas as if they were absolute truths, creating a kind of ‘lay religion.’”
Could this happen in America? Is it happening in America? Tomorrow is the Super Bowl. For the first time in history, drag queens will be broadcast into the homes of millions via a commercial during the Super Bowl. The drag performers, Maxwell Heller and Sang-Young Sin, go by the stage names Miz Cracker and Kim Chi. Sin is sometimes nicknamed ‘Shade Chi’ by fans because of [his] tendency to post shady comments on Twitter and Instagram. Heller, according to an “about” page on his website, launched his “drag career in 2011 while participating in marches for marriage equality in Times Square.” He says that drag queens and gay men are better allies to women in an age when "feminism is more important than ever”. Sabra has released a “teaser” to gear viewers for the Super Bowl advertisement. The short, 15-second video shows the two sitting at a table wearing eye black as Sin eats hummus and Heller dons a football helmet. “Ready, Cracker?” Sin asks. “Chick peas! I was born ready,” Heller replies.
He then attempts to put on a helmet over his long blonde wig, remarking, “I hope
this doesn’t give me helmet hair.” According to Adweek, the commercial, produced by Vayner Media, will also feature Teresa Giudice and Caroline Manzo of the reality television show “Real Housewives of New Jersey,” as well as rapper T-Pain. Teasers were likewise
released for the Housewives and T-Pain appearances. “We’re bringing a diverse group of personalities to the table and demonstrating just how incredibly versatile, relevant and relatable hummus is today,” Jason Levine, chief marketing officer for Sabra, told the outlet. “We think we’ve got something for everyone.”
While drag queens are a first for a Super Bowl commercial, the sporting event is no stranger to controversial material. In 2015, Katy Perry, a former contemporary Christian artist (CCM), promoted experimenting with lesbianism during the halftime show, singing “I Kissed a Girl” at the University of Phoenix stadium and the millions watching on television. “I kissed a girl and I liked it, the taste of her cherry chapstick,” she sang out. “I kissed a girl just to try it/I hope my boyfriend don’t mind it/It felt so wrong, it felt so right/Don’t mean I’m in love tonight/I kissed a girl and I liked it.”
In 2004, during a performance of “Rock Your Body,” a song that includes the lyric “Gonna have you naked by the end of this song,” Justin Timberlake ripped off a piece of Janet Jackson’s clothing, revealing her breast.
In 2018 the Halftime show producer told USA Today that “the production team experimented with Timberlake pulling off Jackson’s skirt but the idea was scrapped. Either Jackson or Jackson’s stylist later decided to briefly expose the singer’s breast instead. The producer was unhappy with the incident saying “There wasn’t supposed to be any reveal. There should not even have been anything ever ripped off her body.”
Our culture is mocking our Lord.
China to Roll Out New Religious Regulations
BEIJING (ChinaAid) — The Chinese government will enforce new regulations on religion Saturday. These regulations, consisting of six chapters and 41 articles, will require religious
leaders and organizations to display complete devotion to the Chinese Communist Party.
Article 5 reads, “Religious organizations must spread the principles and policies of the Chinese Communist Party, as well as national laws, regulations, rules to religious personnel and religious citizens, educating religious personnel and religious citizens to support the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party, supporting the socialist system, adhering to and following the path of socialism.”
For decades, China’s government has controlled religious groups through its system of monitored, official religious organizations. There is a five-year plan for reworking religion so that the Communist Party sits at its head. Officials throughout China have asked churches to fly the national flag while destroying religious imagery, such as crosses. In churches run by the state, Christians are commanded to sing patriotic songs and listen to pro-Communist Party sermons.
Democratic Presidential Candidate Joe Biden claims that "Transgender Equality Is Civil Rights Issue of Our Time".
Former vice president Joe Biden, who is currently campaigning for the presidency, posted to Twitter last Saturday that he believes “transgender equality is the civil
rights issue of our time.” He wrote “Let’s be clear: Transgender equality is the civil rights issue of our time. There is no room for compromise when it comes to basic human rights,”
So far his post generated over 37K likes, BUT it also received some push-back from commenters. “Lets be clear: you want men who ‘feel like a woman’ to share the changing room with women and girls. You want to take away women’s sex based rights because it
makes trans males feel better. Lets be really clear: you don’t care about the safety of women.” Another asked, “What about women’s rights to safety and privacy, Joe. “What about the rights of women and girls to compete with each other in sports without an invasion of ‘trans women.’ Trans rights must not impinge on women’s rights.”
Another post “How many times do we have to explain: ‘Some people being regarded socially and legally as something materially distinct [from] what they actually are’ is not a basic human right,” Another said “Let’s be clear: The civil rights issue of our time is the fact that 63 million children have been murdered in the name of convenience since 1973.” “There is no room for compromise when it comes to basic human rights. The most important being the right to live!”
In 2012, when he was campaigning as vice president, he was stopped by a woman who said her son was Miss Trans New England and asked if Biden would assist those who identify as transgender. “It’s the civil rights issue of our time,” he replied. Biden, has publicly, attending numerous pride events and in 2016, he officiated the same-sex ceremony of two male White House staffers. He said “Proud to marry Brian and Joe at my house. Couldn’t be happier, two
longtime White House staffers, two great guys,” he tweeted.
So we have Spain saying it is a ‘mistake’ to think ‘children belong to their parents’. The Chinese government is issuing more control over churches instituting new laws that will reduce whatever freedom Christian churches had. U.S. leaders are supporting the LGBT cause. The Super Bowl is running halftime shows that promote indecency and now is running a commercial that highlights Drag Queens.
What does the future look like for the Biblical concept of a family?
Ephesians 6:1-3
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.”
Genesis 2:24
Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.
Joshua 24:15
And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”
Ephesians 6:4
Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.
Psalm 103:17
But from everlasting to everlasting the LORD’s love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children.
Choose this day whom you will serve.