The Remnant News
Posts
September 27, 2023

September 27, 2023

Debate Recap, Trump Defrauded, Government Shutdown

September 29, 2023

Together With:

Quote of the day:

"Maintain the truth of the gospel and uphold the doctrines of the grace of God. Be not ashamed of the testimony of our Lord Jesus Christ. The atonement by blood, the regeneration by the Holy Spirit, justification by faith - these truths have been intrusted to us to proclaim to the world. Speak them out, and spare not."

_{- Charles Spurgeon}

Today’s Headlines

Wednesday Debate Recap

During the second Republican primary debate in California, seven candidates took aim at President Biden and each other, addressing issues such as the UAW strike, government shutdown, immigration, and education. Former President Trump's absence loomed large, with candidates criticizing him for not attending. Chris Christie and Ron DeSantis criticized Trump's fiscal record, and candidates clashed on immigration and U.S. support for Ukraine. In a light-hearted segment, candidates were asked who they would vote "off the island," with Christie suggesting Trump should be removed due to his divisive influence. Despite the debate, Trump maintains a commanding lead in polls.

________

The Remnant's Response

Our political "debates" have now devolved into political theater, where points are awarded for zingers rather than substance. When men engage in debates today, there is a tendency to try to make others look bad in order to make themselves look better. However, wiser individuals do better by heeding the old idiom that reminds us, "You don't have to blow someone's candle out to make yours shine brighter." Scripture admonishes believers not to say anything if it won't build up and give grace to those who hear (Ephesians 4:29). But let us not confuse these words with the childhood adage your mother likely told you: "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all." Tragically, this second idiom is much more obeyed than the Scripture quoted before it, and it has led us to become a nation more concerned with being 'politically correct' than prophetically faithful.

"Thou shalt be nice" is not one of the Ten Commandments. In fact, the word "nice" appears only once in the Bible (Jeremiah 12:6), where God warned the prophet Jeremiah that he would do much better by listening to Him than to those who deceptively spoke "nice" words to him. "A man who flatters his neighbor is spreading a net for his steps" (Proverbs 29:5). So, while it is true that our nation was better when debates allowed candidates to share their intentions with the viewers, as opposed to being a stage where 'children' share insults, it is even more true that our nation was better when Christians were obediently committed to being prophets, as opposed to being thought of as merely "proper."

Here is a new proverb for you to memorize and be guided by: "A sinful world will never celebrate faithful prophets (1 Timothy 4:2), and only sinning prophets are thought to be faithful and proper by the world (1 Timothy 4:3).

Pending Shutdown

The Democratic-led Senate is trying to pass a bipartisan funding bill to prevent a government shutdown, while the Republican-controlled House is voting on partisan spending bills unlikely to become law. This increases the risk of a shutdown, affecting federal workers and services. The Senate wants to extend funding until November 17, including aid to Ukraine. House Republicans demand cuts and stricter immigration measures. The disagreement focuses on a small part of the budget. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy faces party pressure, and there's talk of addressing border issues to avoid a shutdown. Credit agencies warn of financial harm. The risk of a shutdown remains high.

________

The Remnant's Response:

As Thomas Jefferson said, "The natural progress of things is for liberty to yield and government to gain ground." Our government has not just "gained ground" but embraced the foolish practice of embracing debt (Proverbs 22:7). See last Friday's RR on the national debt. Shutting down an out-of-control government will be "expensive" but not as expensive as letting it continue to run out of control (Proverbs 29:1). Sooner or later, the "little sleep and slumber" of our political leaders will lead to our poverty coming like an armed man (Proverbs 24:34).

It is hard to lead people accustomed to the deceptive "blessings" of entitlements and hand-outs to the demanding blessing of hard work and austerity. "Laziness casts into a deep sleep" (Proverbs 19:15), and when people are in a deep sleep, it is hard to wake them up, requiring either a "hard" leader or "hard" years, and "hard", honest, effective leaders are often the only thing that keeps people from an eternity of hard years.

God has long warned His people to watch themselves when they live in "great and splendid cities which they did not build, and houses full of all good things which they did not fill, and hewn cisterns which they did not dig, vineyards and olive trees which they did not plant, and they eat and are satisfied”, lest they "forget the LORD" and His way which leads to pleasant and good things (Deuteronomy 6:10-11, 12, 18).

The Blind

Long before Duck Dynasty's Phil Robertson became a reality TV star, he fell in love with Miss Kay and started a family, but his demons threatened to tear their lives apart. Set in the backwoods swamps of 1960s Louisiana, THE BLIND shares never-before-revealed moments in Phil's life as he seeks to conquer the shame of his past, ultimately finding redemption in an unlikely place. This stunning cinematic journey chronicles the love story that launched a dynasty, the turmoil that nearly brought it crashing down, and the hope that rose from the ashes to create a foundation for generations to come.

Judge Rules Trump Defrauded

A New York judge ruled that former President Donald Trump and his company committed fraud for years by greatly inflating the value of assets on financial statements, allowing Trump access to cheaper loans, among other benefits. The judge found Trump lied about the size and worth of properties like Trump Tower and Mar-a-Lago, claiming his home was three times its actual size and said Mar-a-Lago could be developed for housing, which is prohibited.

The judge rescinded some of Trump's business licenses in New York as punishment and also said an independent monitor will continue overseeing Trump's company. This ruling came in a lawsuit by New York's Attorney General Letitia James. James accused Trump of inflating his net worth by billions through lies and deception, which she called "the art of the steal."

The judge fully rejected Trump's defense that disclaimers on the statements exonerated any lies. The judge will hold a trial in October on other claims in the suit before deciding on penalties. James seeks $250 million in fines and a ban on Trump doing business in New York.

________

The Remnant's Response:

While this case makes its way through our court system in search of justice, something sure to be debated by supporters and cynics of Trump no matter the outcome, let us focus on what we know to be true so we don't find ourselves in a worse state than the former President.

"The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor and a snare of death." (Proverbs 21:6)
"Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a man, but afterward, his mouth will be full of gravel." (Proverbs 20:17)
"Differing weights are an abomination to the LORD, And a false scale is not good." (Proverbs 20:23)
"The integrity of the upright guides them, but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them." (Proverbs 11:3)

Don't make the mistake of only thinking about others when you read God's word. The remnant always examines its own heart (Proverbs 20:9) more than casting haughty eyes at others. (Proverbs 16:18) May the truth about Trump's practices come to light, and may the remnant walk in the comfort of God's Truth (Proverbs 13:15).