April 24, 2024

Higher Education Protests, SCOTUS and Trump Immunity, Hell Together


April 24, 2024

“It is not great men who change the world, but weak men in the hands of a great God.”

Brother Yun

Higher Education Protests

Protests erupted at elite U.S. universities over the Israel-Hamas conflict, leading to arrests and campus closures. Columbia and NYU faced clashes, with NYU witnessing disorderly scenes and antisemitic incidents. Concerns about student safety arose, prompting Columbia to move classes online. Harvard Yard shut down, and Harvard suspended a pro-Palestinian group. Yale arrested 45 protesters. MIT students protested against alleged complicity in the Gaza conflict. Chants toward Jewish students and faculty included: “Stop killing children,” “Go back to Poland,” and for Hamas to “Burn Tel Aviv to the ground.”

While protest is an undeniably cherished right, its exercise must be guided by righteousness (1 Corinthians 10:23). The antisemitism witnessed within academic circles is indefensible, condemnable, and violates the Golden Rule (Matthew 7:12). "Where the fool and his anger breed chaos, the wise man and his ways cultivate peace" (Proverbs 29:11). As God's image-bearers, we are called not just to be lovers of peace but actively to pursue peace (Matthew 5:9), advocating for the oppressed and voiceless with discernment and restraint (Proverbs 31:8-9), while killing any sinful anger (Ephesians 4:26), and putting to death our earthly inclinations (Colossians 3:5). Pray for our Jewish neighbors across our nation's campuses, for all impacted by the Israel-Hamas conflict, and for the Lord to come quickly (Psalm 34:18, Titus 2:13).

By: Jamie Wilder

SCOTUS to Take On Trump Immunity

The Supreme Court has scheduled a special session to hear arguments on whether former President Donald Trump can face prosecution for actions related to his efforts to overturn the 2020 election. Trump's attempts to dismiss charges against him have been met with resistance from lower courts, which ruled that he cannot claim immunity for alleged actions that interfered with election results. Trump faces multiple criminal cases, including charges regarding the 2020 election and a trial underway in New York over hush money payments. The timing of the Supreme Court's decision is crucial, with implications for the possibility of a trial before the November election. Prosecutors push for a quick resolution while Trump seeks delay.

Justice is the way of Jesus (Isaiah 30:18-19). Not "social" justice, "political" justice, or any other type of justice as man defines it. The believer can be confident that in an eternal timeline, every right will be made wrong (Revelation 21:4, Colossians 3:25), vengeance will be had (Romans 12:19-21), and what was once hidden will be revealed (Luke 8:17). That said, one of the reasons government exists is to exact justice in real-time… to promote what is good and put down what is not (Romans 13:1-7). While the Bible offers clear leadership principles and wisdom for guiding people, it does not draw out or command a clear "form" of government. Our form of government, though inspired by a judeo-Christian ethic, does its best through checks and balances to ensure that righteousness rules and peoples flourish . When there are unrighteous "presidents," judges, or statesmen, the other branches of government exist to keep them in check. A nation finds itself in grave danger when unrighteousness is rampant in all corners of its government (Isaiah 5:20-21).

Trump is indeed in deep legal waters, facing scores of charges and cases that involve millions of dollars, thousands of people, and incredibly impactful outcomes. Whether or not true justice is had throughout this process remains to be seen; we can pray for wisdom and truth to reign and for political bias and untoward agendas to fail. The remnant can trust that we do not need any particular man in the White House (Psalm 146:3) for the Lord to do what he wants to do in our Nation (Isaiah 33:22). May we be found faithful (1 Peter 2:13-17).

 By: Kirby Mankin

“Hell Together”

Tuesday night, David Archuleta appeared on American Idol to perform his latest single, “Hell Together.” The record was inspired by a conversation had with Archuleta’s mom after David shared his evolving sexual preferences and choice to leave the Mormon faith with his family. After his Tuesday night performance, Archuleta explained that navigating the intersections of his faith and “coming out” was too much to balance, resulting in his ultimate departure from the faith. Shortly after his announcement, his family decided to leave the church as well. David won second place on American Idol season seven in 2008.

There is no together in Hell. Every good and perfect gift is from above (James 1:17) and together is a gift. Only loneliness, darkness, suffering, anguish, weeping, and endless despair (Matthew 13:41-42) are together in Hell. Only a thoroughly biblically illiterate and ignorant people applaud anything or anyone associated with it (Romans 1:32). Death itself would be a gift to all whose fate it is to be there where “the worm does not die” (Mark 9:48). Annihilation would be a blessing, so Hell is a place absent of the idea (Revelation 14:11). It is the fool who believes that Hell will be a party, and “at least they will be there with their friends” with “sex, drugs and rock and roll” there in abundance. Sex is a gift from God to create oneness, joy, and pleasure together as a man and woman enjoy covenant commitment (Song of Solomon 5:1). Drugs to numb our pain or heal our diseases are not present (Psalm 103:3). Music, a creation and idea of God and part of His kindness to man (Genesis 4:21) will not distract from the horror found away from the glory of God and the presence of His power (2 Thessalonians 1:9). Hell is not a party; it is the home of those who reject the invitation of the Lord to His (Matthew 22:2-14). 

That America would “idolize” a song romanticizing anyone being there is an illustration of how thoroughly effective the Father of Lies (John 8:44) has been and how horribly ineffective the American church has been in educating, evangelizing, and equipping the nation’s people. 

David Archuleta and his mother who inspired his lyrics, need our compassion and prayer. The fact that the “church” he left as he embraced sin was the church of “Latter Day Saints,” founded by Joseph Smith, makes no difference. It is his rejection of the grace of God and the redemption available by faith in Christ that is the cause of his current condemnation and confusion. God has demonstrated His love for sinners through the provision of His son on the cross (Romans 5:8), but all sinners must acknowledge, confess, and by God’s enabling grace turn from their sin, and receive forgiveness and salvation. 

By: Todd Wagner

Other news you should know

🎶 Speaking of American Idol, friend of the Remnant in the top ten! Watch & Vote this weekend!

🇷🇼 UK passes controversial bill involving asylum-seekers from this African country.

🏀 Wow oh wow at this Caitlin Clark and Nike deal.

🙅🏻 FTC bans noncompete agreements.

🙄 U.N. climate chief says humans have 2 years left "to save the world."

💸 It passed in the Senate.

Share your thoughts at [email protected]