Sweden has historically been viewed as Europe’s most welcoming country for refugees‚ but observers say that changed in 2015 when the EU decided to flood its member nations with hordes of illegal alien Muslim invaders from Africa. The election this past September of a new government steered by the far-right Sweden Democrats has tightened its […]

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“What do we call the test?” Leslie Groves asked Robert Oppenheimer. “Batter my heart‚ three-person’d God‚” he replied. “What?” “Trinity‚” Oppenheimer explained. In Christopher Nolan’s newest film‚ the chief physicist behind the atom bomb associates the Manhattan Project with the God who destroys to remake and restore‚ who destroys to give humanity hope in the wake of sin’s rabid consequences. Oppenheimer is quoting John Donne’s Holy Sonnet 14‚ which reads in part‚ Batter my heart‚ three-person’d God‚ for you As yet but knock‚ breathe‚ shine‚ and seek to mend; That I may rise and stand‚ o’erthrow me‚ and bend Your force to break‚ blow‚ burn‚ and make me new. The Renaissance sonnet is a picture of God’s inescapable sovereignty over man’s fate and the sinner’s inability to turn to God unless the Lord rescues him from the enemy (and death) to which he’s yoked. Oppenheimer and Donne acknowledge what believers have affirmed for millenia: God’s sovereignty is inescapable. But is this assertion biblical? And does what it says about the fated destinies of individuals lead us to a weaker view of missions and evangelism? Let’s explore what God reveals to us in the Scriptures. Politics and Protons God is the Creator‚ Sustainer‚ and Ruler over all things that happen in the universe‚ from big-scale events like nations at war to the smallest and most seemingly insignificant combination of atoms. He controls politics and protons. He rules over every collapsed star that cannot be seen by humans and every molecule of bacteria living so deep under the ocean that we can only speculate about its existence. He’s sovereign over all things. We lean heavily on the complete sovereignty of God to understand biblical passages that speak about the eternal state of individuals. God isn’t merely sovereign over nature here on earth. He sovereignly reigns over people and their eternal destinies as well. Predestination is the biblical doctrine that states God has ordained all that will happen‚ especially regarding the salvation of the elect. It teaches that God is the ultimate arbiter of the recipients of his grace. While God freely offers salvation to all people‚ “not wishing that any should perish‚ but that all should reach repentance” (2 Pet. 3:9)‚ this doctrine explains that no one desires him apart from his intervening work to give them that desire. As Donne observes‚ our reason and resolve are both crippled in sin‚ leaving us married to God’s Enemy unless God acts to unite us to himself. The poet’s appeal to God for rescue underscores that salvation and damnation are equally under the Lord’s jurisdiction. The corollary of predestination is double predestination‚ which takes the clear biblical teaching to its logical end by affirming the reprobate are as much under God’s sovereign rule as the regenerate. The Bible approaches the topic with causality grounded in God’s character. Double predestination takes the clear biblical teaching to its logical end by affirming the reprobate are as much under God’s sovereign rule as the regenerate. The Lord isn’t careless with his designs‚ and all he does is good and wise. All things made by God have a purpose in his creation‚ even when the purpose is to display his righteousness in judgment. “The LORD has made everything for its purpose‚ even the wicked for the day of trouble” (Prov. 16:4). Peter echoes this idea that God creates some people to whom he will not extend his saving hand of grace. He describes Jesus as the “cornerstone” of his people and a rock of offense to others. “They stumble because they disobey the word‚ as they were destined to do” (1 Pet. 2:8). Far Be That from You Romans 9 contains the fullest explanation of God’s sovereignty in both election and reprobation. Paul doesn’t merely tell us in this passage that God is ultimately sovereign over the final destiny of each man; he tells us why. Has the potter no right over the clay‚ to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use? What if God‚ desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power‚ has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction‚ in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy‚ which he has prepared beforehand for glory. (Rom. 9:21–23) This passage lists stark dichotomies. The potter and the clay‚ the honorable and the dishonorable‚ God patiently waiting for wrath and his revelation of the riches of his glory. It highlights how all things have been prepared beforehand—with purpose from a good and wise potter—for God’s glory. Some people were created to be a display of God’s glory as recipients of his grace‚ and some were created to display his glory and holiness through judgment. A common response from people who hear about the doctrine of double predestination for the first time is to cry‚ “That’s unfair!” Others say‚ “God is love‚ so he would never damn people to hell before they were ever given a chance to choose him.” Even Abraham wrestled with how God shows mercy to some and justice to others. Far be it from you to do such a thing‚ to put the righteous to death with the wicked‚ so that the righteous fare as the wicked! Far be that from you! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just? (Gen. 18:25) But Abraham came to see that God never shows injustice to anyone. Each person does exactly what he wants. No one who goes to hell genuinely wants to come to salvation. But while all have chosen to reject God‚ he shows unmerited favor and grace to some sinners while permitting others to continue pursuing their sin without his intervention. God passes over some who have chosen to reject him‚ eventually allowing them the eternal punishment all deserve. Miners Needed Critics of double predestination argue that if God has already chosen the eternal destiny of all people then there’s no point in evangelism. Is that true? If God has already chosen who will go to heaven and who to hell‚ have we wasted billions of dollars and countless lives on worldwide evangelism? If we can’t change God’s sovereign plan for each person‚ why do we bother sharing the gospel at all? This is a fair question‚ but if predestination is biblical‚ it deserves our attention rather than our dismissal. To the untrained eye‚ a rock full of diamonds found in the rubble may look like just another rock. But the miner who examines the rock closely discovers its hidden beauty and implicit value. Similarly‚ one who carefully examines predestination finds in it the encouragement and zeal to persevere that evangelists often need. Instead of discouraging believers from sharing their faith‚ the doctrine of double predestination spurs the Christian to greater faithfulness in evangelism. While the potter and clay analogy may be uncomfortable for some missiologists‚ it wasn’t for Paul. His understanding of double predestination in Romans 9 doesn’t lead him to coldness and passivity. It leads him to a deeper love for his people and a stronger call for missions. Knowing the lack of repentance among his own people‚ Paul had “great sorrow and unceasing anguish in his heart‚” wishing he instead were “accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of [his] brothers” (Rom. 9:2–3). Fueled by this passion for his lost kinsmen‚ he calls on all to believe and find salvation. “For ‘everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved!’” (10:13).  The apostle asks‚ “How are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written‚ ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!’” (v. 15). Paul is convinced that proclaiming the good news is necessary for salvation‚ and thus the work of the evangelist is as well. With Paul‚ we can identify at least three ways the doctrine of double predestination makes for better evangelists. 1. It reorders the goal of evangelism. The doctrine of double predestination corrects the faulty assumption that the goal of evangelism is always conversion or that the highest good to come from sharing the gospel is the salvation of sinners. Something better and more important is at stake—God’s glory. If God is glorified both in showing mercy to sinners and in the just judgment of their sin‚ then every time the gospel is faithfully shared‚ it’s a success. A “fruitful” ministry can’t be determined merely by the number of conversions or baptisms but rather by the faithfulness with which the gospel was made known. Double predestination gives categories for belief and unbelief‚ and it causes the evangelist to trust each outcome to the One who always acts justly. The evangelists’ efforts are never wasted because a faithful presentation of the gospel to a sinner will be either the sweet words of salvation or the just words of judgment God intends. As a result of this reorientation‚ God’s holiness is primary in our presentation of God‚ our sin is the greatest problem humanity faces‚ and salvation is the most beautiful gift offered to the world. When God is made known to sinners accurately‚ this redounds to his glory. 2. It keeps the evangelist humble and dependent on the Lord’s work. Double predestination motivates the Christian to share the gospel. It gives her certainty that the dead hearts of the elect will come alive when they hear the good news. Churches spend boldly on missions and outreach efforts to gather in the promised harvest (John 4:35). They aren’t merely wishing their clever strategies and winsome presentations might convince the lost. Rather‚ there’s bedrock certainty that the Lord has promised his elect from every nation‚ tribe‚ people‚ and language will come (Rev. 7:9). Going to the nations to find the elect has a safe return on investment. Awareness of God’s complete sovereignty in salvation removes any creeping temptation toward pride on the part of the evangelist and causes her to cast herself fully in dependence on the Lord. She rejoices in her insufficiency for the task of conversion and instead relies on the Lord’s strength. The believer is free to take great risks in sharing her faith with her unregenerate coworker‚ or with unreached people across the world‚ because it’s the Lord’s work in salvation‚ not ours. 3. It fuels perseverance. This doctrine fuels perseverance in the face of opposition and discouragement. The faithful missionary stays when the lost don’t believe. Gospel seeds still fall even when the ground seems impenetrable. The missionary faces opposition head-on‚ prepared that those “betrothed” to God’s Enemy will attempt to thwart his work. When a people group doesn’t show interest in the missionary’s message‚ he faithfully plows on‚ trusting the Lord of the harvest. When persecution arises‚ the faithful evangelist entrusts himself to the Lord‚ knowing God will punish the wicked and vindicate the righteous. The missionary who fears his faithful labors have been in vain remembers that God’s Word will never return void. The evangelists’ efforts are never wasted because a faithful presentation of the gospel to a sinner will be either the sweet words of salvation or the just words of judgment God intends. The prophet Jeremiah knew discouragement. He was called out by God to proclaim salvation and judgment to God’s people. By many modern missions standards‚ he was a failure. Though he had the very Word of God‚ his message was rejected and maligned. He was kidnapped‚ persecuted‚ and left to die in a pit. Instead of seeing his people turn in repentance to God‚ he saw them enslaved and carried off to a foreign land. Yet he was faithful to proclaim God’s judgment. This “unfruitful” evangelist whose message was rejected fulfilled his mission by making God’s glory known. God’s purposes couldn’t be thwarted by the Babylonians or even by the sin of his own people. Like Jeremiah‚ our perseverance in evangelism mustn’t be fueled by people’s responses but by faithfulness to God. The best‚ most faithful evangelist prizes faithfulness over perceived fruitfulness because she has her eyes set on God’s glory‚ whether it’s displayed in salvation or judgment. Batter Our Hearts My struggle to reconcile God’s goodness with the doctrine of double predestination lasted for years. Perhaps that’s why Donne’s prayer to “batter [his] heart” with the understanding of God’s sovereignty resonates so deeply. I suspect it would have resonated with the apostle Paul as well. He struggled in anguish over the lack of repentance he saw in his kinsmen‚ knowing the rich promises God had made to and through the Jewish people. The doctrine of God’s complete sovereignty battered his heart until he got to a place of submission to it‚ even joy in it. After considering God’s sovereignty in salvation‚ he writes this glorious doxology in Romans 11: Oh‚ the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! “For who has known the mind of the Lord‚ or who has been his counselor?” “Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?” For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen. (vv. 33–36) Paul carefully examined the rock of God’s sovereignty in election and reprobation and found treasured jewels. In better understanding this doctrine‚ perhaps we’ll also find the unexpected—more joy in evangelism and a deeper understanding of the beautiful feet of those bringing the good news. A battering of truth should be the posture of prayer for all of us: “For I‚ except you enthrall me‚ never shall be free.”

“This is the most important election of your life.” Or so they keep telling us. During each election cycle‚ a myriad of op-eds insist the fate of the nation—even the world—hinges on the outcome. Politics has taken on an outsize role in our collective mindset. As religion wanes in the public consciousness‚ people have turned elsewhere to find purpose‚ morality‚ and hope. Politics is a terrible substitute‚ but because many have eliminated God from the equation‚ it can seem the best option available. Once we strip away the sovereign God “who works all things according to the counsel of his will” (Eph. 1:11)‚ how can we be sure the long arc of history will bend toward justice? How can we lift the poor‚ protect our freedoms‚ or uphold the rights of the oppressed? Absent God‚ getting the best people elected to the best seats of power does seem like our only hope. The cultural mindset that removes God and elevates politics dominates both the media and casual interactions. It can infect the thoughts and actions of Christians too. Political obsession is the water we swim in‚ and we’d be fools to think we won’t get wet. In a politically obsessed world‚ Christians must elevate praying politics above playing politics. Paul’s exhortation to young Timothy is as timely as ever: “I urge‚ then‚ first of all‚ that petitions‚ prayers‚ intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people—for kings and all those in authority‚ that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness” (1 Tim. 2:1–2‚ NIV). Prayer for those serving in government accomplishes many goods‚ but one important blessing is the health of our hearts. Prayer for those serving in government accomplishes many goods‚ but one important blessing is the health of our hearts. The act of prayer changes the one praying. It disciplines the mind‚ reorienting us toward truth. Prayer functions as a bulwark against the rising tide of political idolatry in at least these five ways. 1. In a culture of cynicism‚ prayer promotes gratitude. Paul explicitly commands Christians to thank God for their political leaders. Practicing intentional gratitude will soften our hearts and counteract the low opinion many of us have of those in government. Even where we disagree or question the competence‚ character‚ and convictions of our political leaders‚ we can find reasons for gratitude—even if it’s just that the leader is willing to take on an often thankless job. God calls us to love our enemies‚ and practicing gratitude for political leaders with whom we disagree will help shape cruciform hearts. Just as God loved us while we were still sinners‚ we love those we consider wrong or even wicked. (Lest we think a politician is unworthy of our gratitude‚ remember Paul wrote these words during evil Nero’s reign.) 2. In a culture of obsession‚ prayer orders priorities. For many today‚ politics takes up far too much of our spiritual hard drive. It’s become an obsession. Praying to the King of kings (on behalf of our president‚ senators‚ and other government officials) helps to reorder our hearts. We shouldn’t fear political outcomes‚ for nothing happens outside God’s control. No election can thwart God’s purposed ends; every election’s result is in his capable hands (Rom. 13:1). We needn’t obsess over the merely temporal‚ because our hearts are set on the eternal. The gates of hell will not prevail against the church that Christ builds. Even in difficult political environments‚ followers of the Way wait‚ labor‚ and hope for his coming kingdom‚ just as the persecuted church has modeled for us across centuries and continents. As we participate in politics (e.g.‚ voting‚ working on a campaign‚ running for elected office)‚ we aim to do so with our priorities rightly ordered. 3. In a culture of conflict‚ prayer seeks conversion. Many today see political opponents as literal enemies. Some do actively promote wickedness‚ evil‚ and injustice. Nevertheless‚ as Christians‚ we know who our ultimate Enemy is and how he has blinded and deceived many (2 Cor. 4:4). God opened our eyes despite our manifest unworthiness‚ so we long to see as many as possible rescued from that blindness. If God can rescue a man like Paul‚ a murderous enemy of the church (1 Tim. 1:15)‚ God can rescue a politician. We pray for our leaders to convert not first and foremost to our political side but to Jesus. 4. In a culture of wickedness‚ prayer brings justice. Let’s never forget that God ordains prayer as a necessary means to his desired ends. What we ask according to his will‚ he’ll unfailingly bring about (1 John 5:14–15). God desires leaders to promote justice in the land (1 Tim. 2:2)‚ so we pray with confidence‚ knowing he hears and answers. Will we experience perfect justice before the King of kings establishes his forever kingdom here on earth? No. But that doesn’t mean our prayers won’t make a genuine difference in the world between Christ’s first coming and his return to establish his kingdom. 5. In a culture of victimhood‚ prayer remembers victory. Os Guinness argued that “prominent parts of the Western church today‚ in pursuit of public influence‚ have abandoned Christ’s response to injury and shamelessly promoted a contemporary secular strategy—redress through blaming or playing the victim.” Instead of serving as a powerful prophetic presence in the public sphere‚ we act like defenseless victims doomed to defeat—to our shame‚ Guinness says. God may call his people to suffer at the hands of an ungodly government. But we’re “more than conquerors” even amid persecution (Rom. 8:37). Even in difficult political environments‚ followers of the Way wait‚ labor‚ and hope for his coming kingdom. We know God will hold oppressive governments accountable for their sin. Our future victory is certain‚ and we can play our part in God’s unfolding story with confidence and boldness because we know how the story ends. Our current responsibilities include loving our enemies‚ praying for those who persecute us‚ and remaining joyful‚ hopeful‚ and faithful no matter the current regime. These days‚ it feels like it’s always election season. We’re always talking about what just happened or what’s coming next politically. Amid a politically obsessed culture‚ let’s commit to praying for all those in authority‚ trusting that through our prayers‚ God will change our leaders‚ our country‚ and our hearts.

These morons are gonna extinct court-storming

56 years ago today‚ the Phoenix Suns and the Milwaukee Bucks were awarded franchise licenses by the National Basketball Association‚ creating teams for the two cities and their millions of fans. The Suns are the NBA’s ultimate nearly men‚ having the second-highest franchise win percentage of any team never to win the championship‚ while the […] The post Good News in History‚ January 22 appeared first on Good News Network.

In the tapestry of our world‚ conversations about gender and sexuality are buzzing louder than ever. But let’s face it‚ some myths floating around could use a friendly debunking. This list is all about unpacking ten common misconceptions surrounding gender and sexuality. Buckle up for a journey of understanding as we tackle these myths head-on […] The post 10 Harmful Misconceptions about Gender and Sexuality appeared first on Listverse.

Authors use their skills to investigate the world around them and the people that populate it. That includes their deaths. Many fiction authors have doled out extraordinary demises to their characters‚ but sometimes fact is stranger than fiction. While writing my book Strange Ways to Die in History‚ I found that many authors themselves have […] The post 10 Writers Who Suffered Strange and Unusual Deaths appeared first on Listverse.

FIRST ON THE DAILY SIGNAL—Ph.D. biologist Colin Wright is publicly inviting the Southern Poverty Law Center to debate him on the subject of what the SPLC calls “anti-LGBTQ+ pseudoscience‚” specifically on the transgender issue. The SPLC released a 41‚000-word report claiming that “the controversy over trans health care is manufactured to reinforce both white supremacy and the political goals of the Christian Right.” The report claims to reveal “anti-LGBTQ+ pseudoscience‚” but it does not seriously address the concerns of critics of the transgender movement. The report mentions Wright‚ a Manhattan Institute fellow‚ as part of the movement pushing “pseudoscience.” “It’s almost not really worth responding to‚” Wright tells “The Daily Signal Podcast” of the SPLC report. “It is such a poor‚ poorly put together document‚ riddled with typos.” “Most importantly‚ it justs makes all these accusations that I’m peddling ‘pseudoscience‚’ that type of thing‚” he adds. “It doesn’t engage with any of the actual arguments and the substance of what I’m saying‚ or what anyone else mentioned in the report is saying. There’s not really anything to respond to.” He calls the report “completely ridiculous.” “It’s purely just a smear piece‚” Wright says. “They just want to garner attention and stir outrage.” “But if anyone from the SPLC wants to actually have a conversation with me about anything that I’ve ever said on this topic‚ if you think I’m peddling ‘pseudoscience‚’ expose me in front of a huge audience‚” the biologist says. “Let’s have a one-on-one conversation with the moderator of your choice.” “I’m just here to have a conversation about the biology of sex‚ so let’s have that conversation‚” Wright says. He recalls getting ostracized from academia for daring to question gender ideology. “There’s a concerted movement by activists coming from various humanities disciplines‚ like queer theory‚ that are trying to just muddy the waters about what males and females are‚ and it’s difficult just trying to engage with them‚ because they’re doing a political project‚” Wright says. “I’m doing sort of a scientific truth-finding project here‚ and so that’s what kind of started me down this path.” He warns that “there’s major consequences‚ not just for individuals‚ but for society as a whole‚ when you’re denying fundamental aspects of our biology.” As for claims that Wright is pushing a “Christian Right” ideology‚ the biologist recalls his history of arguing for evolution against some of the very people the SPLC says he is supporting. “I used to argue against creationists and Intelligent Design proponents back in the day as an evolutionary biologist‚ because I think evolution is a very important part of who we are as a species‚” he says. Wright said the idea of giving patients hormones and surgeries “to make your body sex align with your mind sex” is “wildly regressive and anti-scientific and horrific‚ grotesque.” He says he does not object to adults going under the knife for cosmetic surgeries‚ “but the thing that makes the ‘gender-affirming care’ so bad is that this is covered by insurance‚ as though it’s life-saving‚ and it’s clearly not.” As for the SPLC‚ it has become an enforcer of the Left’s ideology. As I wrote in my book “Making Hate Pay: The Corruption of the Southern Poverty Law Center‚” the SPLC has leveraged its track record of suing Ku Klux Klan groups into bankruptcy to develop a “hate map” it uses to smear enemies. The SPLC has put conservative Christian groups‚ immigration-reform groups‚ parental rights groups‚ and other organizations that oppose its leftist agenda on the “hate map” alongside Klan chapters. The SPLC’s education arm‚ which rejected the name “Teaching Tolerance” to become “Learning for Justice” in 2021‚ has long pushed transgender identity lessons‚ even for preschoolers. Listen to the interview with Colin Wright here: Have an opinion about this article? To sound off‚ please email letters@DailySignal.com‚ and we’ll consider publishing your edited remarks in our regular “We Hear You” feature. Remember to include the URL or headline of the article plus your name and town and/or state. The post PhD Biologist Challenges SPLC to Debate After It Accused Him of ‘Peddling Pseudoscience’ Against Transgender Orthodoxy appeared first on The Daily Signal.