Country Preacher's Almanac

A Preacher & Parent’s Guide to Protecting the Next Generation 99 of the Smithsonian science journal. Why? Because he published an article defending “intelligent design,” a scientific movement that suggests natural processes cannot in and of themselves explain the great complexity we encounter in the universe. (Myers, Understanding the Times, 9) a. Ben Stein, Yale University Juris Doctorate, writer, and political and economic commentator, produced Expelled, No Intelligence Allowed, (Get it!, A movie available through Amazon, Walmart, eBay) an excellent and entertaining video comparing Hitler’s Nazi censoring of scientists who disagreed with the party line and today’s media censoring of scientists who believe in a God who created man and the universe. b. Acts & Facts, a free monthly magazine published by the Institute for Creation Research, has interesting facts about plants, animals, and the universe, written by scientists who believe in creation. See: The Institute for Creation Research (icr.org) Note: at this address you can also find a lengthy list of scientists who believe in creation as witnessed in the Bible. 4. Notice the Starke Difference: a. Is the infinite real? Natural Science is the systematic study of the structure and behavior of the physical and natural world through observation and experiment. b. BIG PROBLEMS for Unbelieving Scientists: 1) To say that something is only so long, one must be able to see beyond the something! 2) To say that something exists or doesn’t exist, one must be able to see every place where it could exist. *Science, by definition, limits itself to the physical and natural world. c. Is there anything that is uncaused? Creation denying Scientists cannot say!

100 Country Preacher’s Almanac d. Is there any credible evidence for evolution across a species? NONE! e. Can science exclude the possibility of an infinite, uncaused God? NO! RESPONSE & CONCLUSION: 1. THE BIG QUESTION: WHY IS THERE SOMETHING RATHER THAN NOTHING? 2. Scientists using the tools of science are limited to the following: • They work using the presupposition that all truth is scientifically (by their definition of science) knowable. • They claim that they are committed to letting the evidence lead where it may. • They build, and constantly revise, the scientific method and the presuppositions on which it is based. • They cannot show evidence that all their presuppositions are true. − Example: to deny the creative act of God • They cannot scientifically deny the possibility of an uncaused cause • They cannot offer any scientifically verifiable evidence for an evolutionary crossing of any species 3. Scientists who believe in creation or intelligent design of the universe: a. Acknowledge about the universe: 1. Every part of the universe is dependent on something else for its existence 2. Since every part of the universe is dependent, then the universe itself must be dependent on something greater and apart from itself. b. Accept that “revealed truth” (truth existing apart from and not limited to matter, energy, space, and time) does not violate any law of science.

A Preacher & Parent’s Guide to Protecting the Next Generation101 c. Many leading scientists have concluded that the truth revealed in Scripture is more reasonable than the claims of God-denying evolutionists. AND, many of these have submitted to the truth of the Bible and the drawing of the Holy Ghost to be born again. WOW! A Bible-believing, born again scientist, Astronaut, and Lunar module pilot, Jim Irwin, left a picture of himself waving back from the moon. He was among the handful of Bible-believing astronauts to ever stand on the moon. Below his picture, he wrote and then signed these words, “Jesus walking on the earth was more important than man walking on the moon.” Signed —to my friends in Sinop, Jim Irwin, Apollo 15. Below is a copy of a copy of many copies that I have given to young people since the day I first held it in my hand in Sinop, where I served as an Army Chaplain. The existing copy is blurred:

102 Country Preacher’s Almanac A FINAL THOUGHT: The God-denying, prejudiced scientists, who deny the possibility of a creative God revealing Himself through Scripture independent of their atheistic, operational presuppositions, are left with many problems: (TOO BIG A SENTENCE? READ IT AGAIN). 1) Why is there something instead of nothing, 2) to say scientifically there is nothing beyond a given point, one must be able to measure beyond that point! Selah!

QUESTION #7 WE CAN’T REALLY KNOW THAT THE BIBLE IS GOD’S WORD, CAN WE? First: Remember Rule #1, Listening, and Questions Underlying Claim: There is no way to really know if the Bible is God’s Word. Best to depend on prayer or experience above Scripture in making major life decisions. Bible is too old and an unreliable guide for our day. KEY VERSES: • 2 Timothy 3:16 “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:” • Matthew 22:29 “Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.” Conclusion: The Scriptures must be a reliable guide if it is to be trusted to keep one from error. ANALYSIS: A BASIC PROBLEM: Numerous pollsters have noted that Millennials are looking more and more to prayer instead of Scripture in making major life decisions. Example: Chaplain (me) with soldiers, “Chaplain, I prayed about it, and it felt right at the moment.”

104 Country Preacher’s Almanac Example: Song “It can’t be wrong, when feels so right. You light up my life.” –Angel of light? Note: More and more youth are looking inward for truth: “gotta get in touch with myself,” “always let your conscience be your guide,” (Jiminy Cricket in Walt Disney) and “self-awareness” for a truth source rather than outward (The Word) for the ultimate source of truth. ANY PROBLEM HERE? “A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself.” (Proverbs 18:2) The Apostle Peter’s Primary Evidence Sources: 2Pet. 1: Note the claims are not based on “cunningly devised fables: made up stories or sophistry (attempts to make the illogical appear logical), 1:16. Rather: 1. Eyewitness accounts: “...but were eyewitnesses...” 2 Peter 1:16-18 *Simon Greenleaf’s Testimony of the Evangelists shows that the testimony of the Gospel writers would stand in any court of law in America. Greenleaf was the professor of law at Harvard University and wrote the rules of evidence still used in American courts of law. (Marks, 115) Example: Although the Gospel writers noted different details at times, they never, in context, 1) contradicted one another and 2) no claim has been successfully disputed. 2. Verifiable Prophetic Evidence: “a more sure word of prophecy,” 2 Peter 1:19-21 A. Contained Revealed Truth. This demanded that the reader consider the possibility of truth being revealed by an outside source beyond the knowledge of man during Bible times. The following Cited resources from Answers in Genesis are clear and easy reading. Please look them up!!! Please! • Scientific facts: —https://answersingenesis.org/is-the-bible- true/5-scientific-accuracy/ (Cited 7/19/2021) • Archeological Facts: — https://answersingenesis.org/ archaeology/ (Cited 7/19/2021)

A Preacher & Parent’s Guide to Protecting the Next Generation105 B. Contained Evidence Consistent with Logic/Reason. Question: Doesn’t the Bible Contradict itself? Luke 1:37, “For with God nothing shall be impossible.” BUT, then in Hebrews 6:18, “That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie...” Answer: Remember the Law of Noncontradiction (LNC)? For God to lie would contradict who He is— TRUTH! The key word here is with. *Every time you find impossible in the Bible about what God can do, you will also find with. You see impossible and with (Hebrews 6:18) tell us that certain things would violate who God is. If He, who is the very essence of truth, lied, then He would no longer be God; for God is truth. *LIKEWISE, God could not make an immovable object and then move it. That is, if one speaks with the same definition of terms and reference the same time. Why? Because immovable (cannot be moved) and move are contradictory. Also, God cannot make a round triangle. Why? Because round contradicts the definition of triangle: a triangle cannot be round. Refresher: the LNC says, “Opposite claims cannot both be true when using the same definition of terms and referring to the same time.” Wait!!!! God could lie, if by lie we meant truth; and God could move an immovable object, if by immovable we meant movable; and He could make a round triangle, if by triangle we meant round. DUH! See the problem man creates for himself? Isaiah 5:20, “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” The following are excellent resources for the above from nationally recognized Christian leaders in their professional fields:

106 Country Preacher’s Almanac Josh McDowell, (former atheist) The New Evidence That Demands a Verdict and More Than a Carpenter McDowell, as an agnostic, sought to show that the evidence destroyed the myth of Jesus and the resurrection. Through his research attempt, he became a Christian and has debated since as an apologist on hundreds of college campuses and written a number of books defending biblical Christianity. Lee Strobel (former atheist and award winning legal editor and investigative reporter for the Chicago Tribune), The Case For Christ Taking a leave from the Tribune to prove, through his investigative reporter skills, to his formerly atheist wife that she had been deceived. Strobel was converted to Christ and has become a famous writer, evangelist and defender of Christianity and the reliability of the Bible. Frank Morrison (pen name for Albert Henry Ross, former skeptic and journalist), Who Moved the Stone Ross (Morrison) grew up a skeptic and only after working on a monograph to destroy the myth of Jesus resurrection was he convinced that the evidence clearly supports the New Testament claims of Jesus’ Resurrection. Gary R. Habermas (Leading Historical Apologist and New Testament Scholar), The Historical Jesus Habermas is recognized as providing the world’s most comprehensive catalog of research on the New Testament claims of Jesus and the resurrection. David Limbaugh (skeptic, attorney, and five-time New York Times bestselling author of Jesus On Trial. After considering the arguments of several leading Christian Apologists, this attorney and legal author was convinced that the claims of and about Jesus as given in the Bible must be true.

A Preacher & Parent’s Guide to Protecting the Next Generation107 Simon Greenleaf (the late, elite Dane Professor of Law at Harvard University) produced the rules of evidence today still used in Courts of Law) The Testimony of the Evangelists. Greenleaf’s book demonstrates that the claims of the Gospel writers would stand in the courts of law even today. A PERSONAL TESTIMONY: While in graduate school at the University of Arkansas, I (George Garner), had the task of studying the speaking careers of two men who were heard, or read through syndication, more than any others in the 19th Century: Charles H. Spurgeon (Baptist Preacher) and Robert G. Ingersoll (atheist). Robert Ingersoll was close friends with another wealthy, highly educated man, Lew Wallace. Both men were convinced that the Bible was responsible for more deaths and suffering through history than anything else. They covenanted together to destroy the myth of the Bible. Wallace put together a research team that travelled the globe, and Ingersoll debated around the world. One of Ingersoll’s favorite arguments against the Bible was the numerous claims about a so-called Hittite civilization. He boldly declared, “We have researched all the great libraries of the world and have found only one book that claims there were any Hittites. Tell me, were they twelve feet tall? Red? Green?” etc. or words to that effect. Ingersoll’s conclusion: Since there was not one writing to corroborate the claims of the Bible, one must reasonably conclude that the Bible is making numerous false claims!!! UNFORTUNATELY, old Bob died in 1896. Around 1904, archeologists began to unearth evidence for one of the great ancient civilizations: the Hittites. While stationed in Turkey in 1986, I visited in Ankara a city-block museum dedicated to the Hittite civilization. On a flight back to America a few months later, I sat next to an archeologist from Texas A&M University [as a Razorback this showed how unbigoted that I am] who shared that they are still looking to the Bible as an important resource for their studies!

108 Country Preacher’s Almanac FORTUNATELY, Lew Wallace one day fell on his knees confessing Christ and went on to write the classic, Ben Hur. WOW!!! The Bible needs NO corroboration! LET GOD’S WORD BE TRUE AND, IF NECESSARY, EVERY MAN A LIAR! (see Romans 3:4) CONCLUSION Science and Academia have been and continue to change their beliefs about reality. BUT, God’s Word never changes and has never been proven wrong, when understood according to its purpose. • Romans 3:4, “God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.” When questioning the reliability of the Bible, always remember its purpose: • John 20:31, “But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.” • 2 Timothy 3:16-17, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect [complete], throughly furnished unto all good works.” Purpose of the Word? NOT: It is not a reliable book to teach calculus or tennis! NOT its purpose! YES: It is a reliable book to (1) know how to be saved, and (2) know how to be the complete person and do what God wants us to be and do. (John 20:31; 2 Timothy 3:16-17)

QUESTION #8 IS JESUS REALLY WHO THE BIBLE SAYS HE IS? First: Remember Rule #1, Listening, and Questions Underlying Claim: Jesus was only a myth and if he did live, he wasn’t like he is presented in the Bible: God. Necessary Questions: 1) Jesus: Was He a Liar, Lunatic, Legend, or Lord? 2) Bible: Is God’s Word, a lie, or mistaken, or true? KEY VERSE: John 20:28 “And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.” ANALYSIS: First, review the chapter on “We Really Can’t Know that The Bible is God’s Word.” When one accepts the Bible as God’s Word, then one must accept that Jesus is God: Second, look at the Bible’s claims about Jesus. A. Scripture proclaims that God is a Trinity (three persons but one being). Genesis 1:26a “And God said Let us...”)

110 Country Preacher’s Almanac B. John 1:1 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (not “a god” as the so- called Jehovah’s Witnesses have added) PERSONAL STORY: While college freshman, I was confronted by a professor who said, “Tell me Mr. Garner, When did God begin? Tell me, Where is God?” When I shared the question with my pastor, he laughed and said, “George, the professor’s question is too limited. You see when and where only have meaning in the dimensions of time and space. God declared in John 1:1 that Jesus (The Word) existed independent of matter, energy, space, and time (MEST). In Fact, Jesus brought these into existence and by Him they continue to consist, Colossians 1:17.” C. The Bible describes numerous attributes of God that are unique to God but seen in Jesus: 1. There is only one Lord and one God: • Isaiah 45;5,14; 46:9 • 1Corinthians 8:5,6, declares that there is only one true God (here described as the Father), but it also declares that Jesus is the one Lord! So, if Jesus is not the one God, then the Father is not the one Lord! A necessary conclusion: One being, three persons. This passage is clearly explained in Appendix 3. BE SURE TO LOOK AT THIS APPENDIX AS AN EXCELLENT RESOURCE TO CONFRONT THOSE WHO REJECT THE TRINITY! • The Apostle Thomas (doubting Thomas, the one that needed physical evidence he could see and touch!) in John 20:28, “And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.” [notice he didn’t refer to him as “a god”] Literally in the Greek “the Lord, mine and the God, mine.” NOTE: a. Thomas accepted Him as the LORD and the GOD. b. If Jesus was not God, then Jesus had a moral and ethical obligation to say so!

A Preacher & Parent’s Guide to Protecting the Next Generation 111 c. Jesus not only didn’t correct Thomas, He pronounced a blessing on him and on those who do not physically see Him yet believe! (John 20:29) 2. There is only one Savior: • Isaiah 43:11 “I, even I, am the LORD [Heb. Jehovah]; and beside me there is no saviour.” • Titus 3:6 “Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;” Notice in Titus 3:4, “...God our Saviour...” * Other attributes unique to God and seen in Jesus and messianic prophecies fulfilled in Jesus are shown in the Appendix 3. RESPONSE & CONCLUSION: 1. Either Jesus is who the Bible says He is and was or 1) the Bible Makes many false, deceitful claims or 2) Jesus makes many false, deceitful claims. Overwhelming evidence for Jesus stands!!! 2. The Old Testament writers recorded attributes unique to God which are in turn attributed to Jesus by the New Testament writers. 3. Numerous highly qualified researchers, who had been agnostics or atheists concluded: • The Bible is reliable for the purpose for which it was written, and • The Biblical accounts of Jesus are reliable including the accounts of His death, burial, resurrection, and ministry before many witnesses (500+, I Cor. 15:6ff) prior to His ascension: Josh McDowell, Lee Strobe, Frank Morrison, Gary R. Habermas, David Limbaugh, Simon Greenleaf, and many others mentioned in Marks of a Worthy Mentor have tested and confessed this truth. 4. For us—The Bible records the words of Jesus in John 7:17, “If any man will do [literally “willeth to do”] his will,

112 Country Preacher’s Almanac he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.” This promise is revealed through 1) Scripture, and 2) the drawing of Christ through the Holy Ghost (John 12:32; Rev. 22:17). I and each contributing writer of this book have yielded to the drawing of the Holy Ghost and the truth of The Word and have repented of our sins and believed on the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord! AMEN AND AMEN!

QUESTION #9 SEX, MARRIAGE, AND FAMILY: IF IT FEELS RIGHT AND NOBODY GETS HURT, ISN’T IT RIGHT? First: Remember Rule #1, Listening, and Questions Underlying Claim: The claims about sex, marriage, and family as presented in school and on TV are best. It ignores the diseases and emotional consequences of ignoring God’s laws KEY VERSES: • Genesis 2:24 “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.” • Exodus 15:26  “And God said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee . . . .” • Proverbs 9:17-18 “Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant. But he knoweth not that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell.” • Galatians 6:7 “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” • Act 15:29 “That ye abstain from meats offered to idols,

114 Country Preacher’s Almanac and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.” • 1 Corinthians 6:18  “Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.” • 1 Corinthians 7:2 “Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.” ANALYSIS: “IT CAN’T BE WRONG WHEN IT FEELS SO RIGHT!” OR, CAN IT? Proverbs 9:17-18 instructs us that instant gratification can lead to sickness (physical and emotional) and death! Following are Statistics and stories on abortions, STD’s, suicide, ruined lives, etc. A. Abortions: Excerpted Testimony of Sydna Masse after her abortion. Six Impacts of abortion: 1. Confusion: Personality change is often noticed by family, those closest. 2. Anger: Frequent anger toward and blaming of others for the decision to abort 3. Infertility: At times it leads to infertility or problem pregnancies (sometimes medical cause; sometimes psychological) 4. Bonding: Difficulty developing a healthy bond when a child is born later. 5. Guilt: Often affects not only the one having an abortion, but also anyone who encouraged her both physically, emotionally, and spiritually 6. Grief: Although the abortion clinics make light of grief, it is real and can haunt one for years. —https://theologymix.com/uncategorized/6-impacts-abortion-family/ (Cited 7/10/2021)

A Preacher & Parent’s Guide to Protecting the Next Generation 115 B. Sexually transmitted diseases (STD’s), their impact: 1. One in five people (1/5) in the U.S. has an STI (CDC term for STD) 2. Twenty six million (26,000,000) new STD’s in 2018 in the U.S. 3. One half (1/2) of new STI’s come from young people ages 15 to 24) 4. The eight common STIs: chlamydia, gonorrhea, hepatitis B virus (HBV), herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), human papillomavirus (HPV), syphilis, and trichomoniasis. Chlamydia, trichomoniasis, genital herpes, and HPV accounted for 98% of all prevalent STIs and 93% of all new STIs in 2018. — https://www.cdc.gov/std/statistics/prevalence-2020-at-a-glance.htm (Cited 7/10/2021) a. Chlamydia (the “silent” disease many complications including infertility) has recently nearly doubled from 2.4 mil. To 4 mil. In America. b. Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) is the most common 42.5 Million; can cause cancer but usually goes away with time and no body damage. c. Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV- AIDS) is the most dangerous: long-term serious health complications, death. d. Other STD’s that can lead often to life-long serious health conditions and even death: gonorrhea, syphilis, genital herpes, herpes and hepatitis (NOTE: several of these diseases can also be contracted from causes other than sexual contact) — https://www.std-gov.org/stds/hiv_aids.htm (Cited 7/10/2021) C. Suicides Related to Ungodly lifestyle choices: 1. A 2018 review, published in JAMA Pediatrics, compiled data from 35 previous studies. The analysis involved close to 2.4 million heterosexual youth and 113,468 LGBTQ youth, ages 12 to 20, from 10 countries.The results included the following LGBTQ suicide statistics: a. LGBTQ youth were 3.5 times as likely to attempt suicide as their heterosexual peers

116 Country Preacher’s Almanac b. Transgender teens were 5.87 times more likely c. Gay and lesbian youth were 3.71 times more likely d. Bisexual youth were 3.69 times more likely to attempt suicide than teens who identified as heterosexual. —https://www.newportacademy.com/resources/mental-health/lgbt- suicide-statistics/ (Cited 7/10/2021) D. Consequences of Adultery / Fornication: 1. 40 Consequences of Adultery by Dave Boehi. —Copyrighted but well worth looking up: https://www.familylife.com/articles/topics/ marriage/troubled-marriage/infidelity/40-consequences-of-adultery/ 2. The Consequences of Adultery by David and Bathsheba on a family: — www.crosswalk.com/family/marriage/the-consequences-of- adultery.html (Cited 7/15/2021) a. The baby he had with Bathsheba died. (2 Sam. 12:19) NOTE: This is not to suggest that every adulterous affair will result in a baby and that it will die. The principle it gives is that adultery will in one way or another bring sorrow and loss. Examples follow: b. David’s son Amnon raped his half-sister (David’s daughter) Tamar. (2 Samuel 13:14) – David’s example affect Amnon’s moral values? Note: Tamar was the daughter of Talmai, King of Geshur. The Israelites many years earlier disobeyed God in failing to kill or expel the Geshurites from their midst, Joshua 13:13. c. Tamar’s full brother, Absalom, killed Amnon for raping his sister. (2 Samuel 13:32)

A Preacher & Parent’s Guide to Protecting the Next Generation 117 d. Absalom started a civil war to overthrow David and take over the kingdom. Absalom died in the battle. (2 Samuel 18:15) A BETTER AND BIBLICAL RESPONSE TO SEX, MARRIAGE, AND FAMILY A. Genesis 2:24 “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.”  B. Matthew 19:5 “And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?” C. Ephesians 5:22-25 “Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;” D. Transgender, bisexual, questioning, gay, lesbian, or one of many other and ever-increasing sexual identities: “God just made me that way!” Really? Discuss how sin has left the whole planet affected by the corruption described by Paul, Romans 8:21-28. If one is born with a genetic predisposition toward alcoholism, as I believe some are, do we affirm and enable their journey of alcohol or seek to help them stay away from that path? So is true of any possible corrupt disposition or predisposition! E. What is “true love” as given by God? I Corinthians 13. God’s plan for marriage and family? Ephesians 5. F. Pastors and Parents must present in easy-to-understand terms how God’s plan brings the greatest true happiness and avoids the inevitable destructive, natural consequences of rejecting God’s plan: Scripture Plus statistical evidence/ examples on the consequences of sinful behavior and nurtured thoughts.

118 Country Preacher’s Almanac RESPONSE & CONCLUSION: 1. For every command in the Bible that says, “Don’t Do It” God gives a better choice, “Do It!” Fornication, NO; Contentment as a single or heterosexual, monogamous marriage, YES! 1 Corinthians 7:2 “Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.” PLEASE CAREFULLY NOTE THE FOLLOWING: a. Fornication (Greek: porneias) in Scripture (KJB, but erroneously omitted in most other translations) refers primarily to sexual intercourse between/among unmarried people but at times is used in a wider sense including all immoral sex. Example: *The Greek porneias called to the reader’s attention in Bible days of the art and statues of the day that depicted perversions of God’s plan for sex. They didn’t have all the pornographic, pictorial materials that are drowning and confusing kids and adults today!!! b. Adultery (Grk moicheía) refers to unlawful sex between people, at least one of whom is married to someone else. This distinction of words was somehow missed in proofing only of the Garner-Howes Commentary on Gal. 5:19; it is corrected in the newest digital version available at https:// baptisttrainingcenter.org/resources). 2. Exodus 15:26  “And God said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee.” *Today, a clear conscience and healthy body, mind, and spirit are strengthened by following God’s plan for monogamous,

A Preacher & Parent’s Guide to Protecting the Next Generation 119 heterosexual commitment in marriage or single life. Violation of His plan brings a guilty conscience, physical disease, ruined lives and damaged families. *Families are often left to bear the consequences of a son or daughter, brother or sister, or grandchild who chooses to violate God’s laws about sex and marriage. GOD IS NOT MOCKED: WHAT YOU SOW, YOU REAP! SADLY, MANY FAMILIES ALSO REAP! CONCLUSION: SOWING A LIFE IN FAITH ACCORDING TO GOD’S PLAN: • does not guarantee: a good marriage, physical health, or a happy and godly family. • It does guarantee: 1. The Best Long-run Outcome: Romans 8:28, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” 2. For the faithful, a good conscience; for the unfaithful— eventual shipwreck: 1Timothy 1:19 “Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:”



QUESTION #10 AREN’T SOCIALISM AND MARXISM TAUGHT IN THE BIBLE? CHRISTIAN? First: Remember Rule #1, Listening, and Questions By Piro Varfi Underlying Claim: Scripture affirms socialism and Marxism (communism) for our day. Liberation Theology, perversion of Acts 4:32,35; Acts 5:4; Example: 20. Key Verse: Act 5:4 “Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.”  INTRODUCTION TO THE Question #10 (by George Garner): G. K. Chesterton said, “Don’t ever take a fence down until you know the reason it was put up.” - Proverbs 22:28 “Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set.” (Chesterton’s 1929 book, The Thing, in the chapter entitled, “The Drift from Domesticity”) 1. Doesn’t Acts chapter four, concerning the early church in Jerusalem, teach Communism? Acts 4:32 “And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought

122 Country Preacher’s Almanac of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.” Acts 4:35 “And laid them down at the apostles’ feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.” Like Karl Marx, “From each according to his ability; to each according to his need.” This practice is mentioned only here in the whole New Testament. After the immediate crisis, we read of Christians owning businesses and property. BUT, LET’S KEEP READING: Ananias, one of the disciples in Jerusalem, sold a possession and brought what he claimed was the full price of the sale. Peter challenged him: not for withholding back a part, but for lying to God about it. Acts 5:4a “Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? And after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? [Grk. exousia, “executive/rightful authority”]...” NOTE: Peter here affirms the right to own private property. Ananias didn’t have to give any of what he owned to the common pot. It was purely, and scripturally voluntary. 2 Corinthians 9:7 “Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.” 1 Timothy 6:17-18 Also, Paul admonished the rich to remember: 1) God gives us all things to enjoy (don’t feel guilty if God has materially blessed you, but 2) be ready to distribute, not re-distribute! The foundational 10 Commandments established a fundamental right to private ownership: Exodus 20:15 “Thou shalt not steal.” No one has a right to that which rightfully belongs to another. There is a difference! Socialism and communism emphasize the right of governments to take away or redistribute that which God says rightfully belongs to another.

A Preacher & Parent’s Guide to Protecting the Next Generation123 RESPONSE BY ONE WHO HAS BEEN THERE: The following contribution on Socialism/Marxism is by Piro Varfi. Bro. Varfi grew up in communist Albania, and after fleeing that repressive country made his way to America. His knowledge and understanding of the topic are on-target and deserve careful reading. The following article clearly distinguishes Christianity from Socialism and its lead to Marxism/Communism: EXPANDED DEFINITION OF SOCIALISM by Piro Varfi: “Socialism” has previously been defined as a standalone philosophy for governing markets and societies and as an offshoot of classic Marxism-Leninism. Today it encompasses a broader meaning and can best be understood in the context of the struggle for “Social Justice” or “Equity.” All these terms are transitory, as the philosophical bedrock of socialism is always changing. Words, definitions, terms, etc. always change – Think of it as a constant marketing campaign to sell something that cannot sell itself. Constant re- invention of terms and phrases to keep the people confused. However, the product remains the same! As Bible believers we have placed our faith in a document and a Person (Jesus) – both of these are diametrically opposed to socialism. Even though you may think: “I don’t want to be bothered with socialism and the like,” trust me, Socialism is very much bothered with you! You and your Christian beliefs are the living opposition to socialist ideology and worldview! A practical definition of socialism can be: “A system of governance for markets and societies that relies on central planning of life from every aspect. Socialism replaces God with matter and the Savior with the State. There is no redemption for

124 Country Preacher’s Almanac the individual – only constant penance as displayed in constant obedience to the State.” One of the problems with attempting to define Socialism (or cultural Marxism) is that to the adherents of this worldview, the terms and meaning of words can be changed to suit a particular agenda in a particular moment in time. See, for example, how the supporters of socialism often accuse conservatives of committing violence through words (“words are violence”), but insisting on defining their terroristic actions (burning, looting, blackmail, murder) as “speech” that needs to be protected. In order to understand Socialism and Cultural Marxism, we must look at its effects rather than try to define it in terms of ideology. Socialism is a worldview that can be understood by: 1) what it opposes; 2) the means by which it achieves its objectives; and 3) what it exults when its objectives are achieved. Socialism opposes any decentralized system of societal organization • It opposes decentralization of commerce in that it seeks to exercise centralized control of the means of production. This is not done in order to bring about any meaningful change in the market, but to simply squash any meaningful opposition to its agenda • It opposes decentralized culture and academics. Socialism is the rigorous application of uniform social and academic norms across all culture and society even if it means revising the past. This explains why we are seeing such revisionism in academic content, the taking down of historical monuments of the past, and even the re-writing of culture itself as evidenced by neo- marxist recasting of music, movies, and literature. • Ultimately, it opposes the “decentralized” or autonomous individual, in that it seeks to destroy the sense of self and individual thought by casting it as “selfish.” In a socialist world, the individual is afforded every moral flexibility, and

A Preacher & Parent’s Guide to Protecting the Next Generation125 every relativistic latitude in actions and conscience, except for the freedom of original thought and speech. This explains why our public schools and colleges are turned into cesspools of sexual depravity, and all manner of illicit moral behavior can be experimented with, except for original thought. Younger generations are taught to shy away from critical thinking, because the institution does the thinking for them, while they are encouraged to participate in morally reprehensible behavior, which in turn conditions them to not question future institutional demands. Socialism seeks to achieve its goals by means of subversion and violence • Since socialism cannot compete in the marketplace of ideas or commerce, it seeks to exult itself by undermining competing systems. Today we hear a lot that capitalism has failed – this is an obvious lie (especially since the economic engine of capitalism is keeping the world going). BY using political pressure to undermine free market capitalism, socialists are putting undue pressure on the system, then they turn around and point out the failure as being an inherit part of the system. Case and point: a year from the writing of this paragraph, yours truly was able to buy premium gasoline for $1.89/gallon. On the day of the installment of Joe Biden as president, the first EO signed stopped all domestic production of oil and all future projects for drilling or transporting oil in the U.S. - in March 2022, the same gallon of gasoline costs $4.49; when the secretary of commerce was asked about this in a recent TV interview, his reply was: Americans should buy electric cars, so they don’t have to worry about price of gas. • When subversion doesn’t work, socialists turn to violence. This violence and murder are perpetuated by more militant affiliates of new-marxists. In our society, these two main affiliates are Antifa (loosely ideological but practically trained in the methods of jihad by subversive western intelligence (strong claim; can you document it?) and supported by taxpayer money and private funding through public-private partnerships) cite?

126 Country Preacher’s Almanac and BLM (a marxist collection of revolutionaries, loosely affiliated with South African terrorists exploiting real or perceived racial and social fracture lines to create chaos and division). Under the guise of practicing free speech, they burn, loot, murder, and intimidate anyone or any group of people that oppose their ideology. Engaging socialists in the marketplace of ideas becomes ineffective as they win their battles in the actual street using actual violence. • Socialism seeks to exult the State as the triumph of its ideology.This is a cheap ploy to justify the rule of the many by a select oligarchy (define oligarch) that controls all the means of production and distribution of goods. Imagine a bureaucracy so entrenched that there is no way to address grievances and no way to correct wrongs. It is the perpetual and all-encompassing DMV (spell out, first time used terms) experience on steroids. The oligarchs enjoy all the freedom, power, and privilege, while no one else is allowed to climb that ladder. It is the death of freedom, individuality, and culture. You can understand why Biblical Christianity is such a threat to the socialists when you realize that the Bible calls for personal responsibility, and accountability to a personal God – the Judge of the living and dead. It is wrong, in my opinion, to compare Capitalism with Socialism, although when you put side by side Free-Market Capitalism with Centrally planned Socialism, it is easy to see the difference. As Christians, we don’t oppose Socialism because it cuts into our profits or it hinders our portfolio growth – we do so because the ideology of Socialism, and indeed, it’s Theology, is in direct opposition to the teaching of Scripture. Let me highlight 4 areas where it flagrantly contradicts Scripture: 1. Socialist ideology ascribes god-like characteristics to matter. In socialist teaching, matter is eternal, ethereal, mysterious, powerful, and deterministic. Although it has no personality it has and displays the Will, as they claim, evidenced in the deterministic path of evolution. Where you and I as Christians see intelligent design, the socialist sees the self-

A Preacher & Parent’s Guide to Protecting the Next Generation127 deterministic nature of eternal matter. This god-like quality of matter allows he socialist to explain the supernatural without becoming personally accountable. According to the socialist worldview, the State is the ultimate social manifestation of this determinism, and as such is the final authority in matters personal, social, cultural, business, and political. When we consider this, authoritarian regimes like Communist China and North Korea suddenly make sense. 2. Socialists believe in Scientific Materialism – this is a result of their view of matter as eternal. Scientific Materialism is a way of explaining the world in terms of cause and effect, bypassing the need for a personality from outside time-space such as a Creator God. Scientific Materialism is what we are being confronted with on a daily basis, when we are told “the science is settled” and all debate must cease. Once there is a quasi-scientific consensus that agrees with Materialism, any finding detrimental to it is subversive and must be shunned. That is why Google, Facebook, YouTube, Wikipedia are erasing any mention of scientists that point out the obvious flaws of Climate Change Theory, Critical Race Theory, and as of lately, COVID19 mRNA vaccine efficacy and purpose. True Science is always open to debate and never settled as our knowledge as a species increases every year. A rigorous application of the classic scientific method would always point to reasonable, realistic conclusions that reflect reality as described in biblical revelation. 3. Socialist believe that society is greater than the individual and in fact any value the individual possesses is relative to its benefit for society as a whole: “From each according to their ability, to each according to their need” is how most socialist/ communist revolutions begin – so far they all end with hungry people crossing borders or sailing seas to go the West where Free Market Capitalism and individual-centered societies offer hope and prosperity.

128 Country Preacher’s Almanac 4.Socialism seeks to destroy (or deconstruct) the individual, which is exactly the purpose of a radical Marxist Critical Race Theory being taught in corporate boardrooms, classrooms, and military academies throughout the U.S. and the West. CONCLUSION: Socialism seeks to enslave the individual in order to create a perpetual working class that benefits its oligarchs. Jesus, in contrast, offers a different picture of the worth of the individual in His parable of the good shepherd who leaves the 99 sheep to find the 1 that was lost. Jesus also offers a different view of the marketplace in His parable of the talents.

QUESTION #11 IS THERE A FORM OF GOVERNMENT TODAY THAT IS MOST COMPATIBLE WITH THE TEACHINGS OF BIBLICAL CHRISTIANITY? First: Remember Rule #1, Listening, and Questions Key Verses: Exodus 18:21-26; Deut. 1:13-18; Matthew 18:15-20 By James A. Harris The following is contributed by James A. Harris, a pastor and noted lecturer on political systems as they relate to biblical teachings on government: REPRESENTIVE GOVERNMENT PRINCIPLES IN SCRIPTURE For 1,000’s of years man has attempted to build civilizations and cultures that would endure through time. Ancient peoples have built cities, some in excess of 1,000,000 in population. They emerged from history and disappeared into history leaving nothing but ruins of their once great glory. Today, the skeletons of their corpses are covered with vines and snakes.

130 Country Preacher’s Almanac Something very different happened in 1607. A small group of people traveled to the New Word and settled a village called Jamestown. It was named after King James I of England. From 1607 to 1787 (180 yrs) these people searched for a form of government that would fit their understanding of individual freedom given to mankind by God himself. They had come from Europe where kings and dictators had been oppressing populations for centuries. They knew they did not want to repeat the mistakes of those forms of governments. They began their search. The residents of Jamestown experimented with the “common corn house.” The idea that everyone could come to the corn house and get what they wanted or needed. It was a failure worse than Plato had described. Eventually a system of free enterprise rose to the surface and Jamestown, Virginia prospered tremendously. What had they discovered? The purpose of this section of this book is to try and discover what type of government, among men, is closest to the government that would best fit into the Christian worldview. Is there even such a thing in existence? In order to intelligently sift through the options available to us we first must look at the nature of man. What form of government would most accurately associate itself with the way God designed human beings? Are we animals that simply need a strong owner (government) in order to make us productive member of the herd? Our Founders did not look to build a document to 18th century North American culture and needs. They constructed a document that would be compatible with the very heart and soul of mankind. It would be timeless. The reason it would be times is it would be based on biblical values and principles. These men understood their challenge.In other words, principles that would ensure the freedom of Benjamin Franklin would ensure our freedom today in the 21st century.

A Preacher & Parent’s Guide to Protecting the Next Generation131 The delegates to the Convention of 1787 sought to build a form of government that vested all the power of rule in the people themselves, not a king, monarch, oligarchy, queen, or dictator. For 180 years (1607-1787) the colonists searched for an ideal form of government. They read Polybius, Cicero, Montesquieu, and Locke, among others. They were very familiar with People’s Law (Anglo-Saxon Law), brought into the British Isles in 450 AD by two brothers, Hengist and Horsa. They discovered this law was an unwritten code based on the Bible. It was a representative form of government. Among the governments of men, where in the world would you being a search for such a system? How about Scripture? The best place to look for such guiding principles is the Bible. Israel was built on a representative form of government. Look at their structure like a pyramid. The small point at the top was Moses, the leader. Then there were Aaron and Joshua; the Council of 70; elected representatives; then 600 groups of 1000 families; 6,000 groups of 100 families; 12,000 groups of 50 families; and 60,000 groups of 10 families. There were more than 3 million people with the power to govern themselves. The base of the governmental pyramid was the largest portion of the structure, and it was the people themselves. Israel was a self-governing body with the Law of Moses as their Constitution. (Exodus 18:21- 26; Deut. 1:13-18). These representatives were for the purpose of bearing the character of another; acting for another or others; as a council representative of the people. John Adams (US President: 1797-1801) said, “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.” Adams would go on to say, “The Constitution is the greatest single effort of national deliberation that the world has ever seen.” The Founders did not create a new form of government during the 124 days of the convention in Philadelphia. They returned to the original form of government God gave to Israel. It is a document

132 Country Preacher’s Almanac written to perpetuate a Christian form of government. It is unique in all the world. The United States is the oldest constitutional republic in the history of the world. God created man with innate freedom. We are free as individual persons, not as simply groups of people. The form of government that best adheres to this created structure of man is a representative, equal-voice, republic where no one person or party has ultimate control of the lives and destinies of people. That is the way man governs. Man is a tyrant by nature. God prevented that type of take-over of people’s lives by the form of government He gave to the Jews. Our founders duplicated that form of government very well in our Constitution. I realize any form of government can be oppressive and brutal. We are not free to do what we want to do. We are free to do the right thing. Even America has seen the abuse of power and authority. That abuse accentuates the need for a checks and balances form of system such as we have. It seems obvious to me that a constitutional republic, properly maintained, is the best form of government for mankind. We need to be alert to the subversive forces that would undermine our founding documents and oust them as quickly as possible. The more government with which we are oppressed, the less freedom we have. The more freedom we have the less government with which we are oppressed. Stepping into the New Testament we encounter a new entity founded by Jesus Christ himself, the Church. It is composed of spiritually circumcised, scripturally baptized believers who worship God, live in the joy of the Lord, and are abandoned to his will. This definition I find embedded in Paul’s words in Philippians 3:3. The question becomes, “What kind of government did this body have?” According to the history of their activities in the NT they had a congregational form of government. Each member had a vote. No one was the dictator or monarch in the church. A good example is found in Matthew 18:15-20. Jesus leaves directions

A Preacher & Parent’s Guide to Protecting the Next Generation133 concerning offences between brothers. The final level of authority was the church. Membership had the final say on the matter. The United States began with a constitutional republic. The general population elects representatives. A representative form of government is the fairest type of government. Men, however, are sinful and corrupt everything they touch. Even good forms of government are abused and ruined. I am satisfied from a study of history and Scripture that a representative form of government is the closest to the pattern observed in the early church.



QUESTION #12 IT IS THE WOMAN’S RIGHT TO DO WITH HER BODY AS SHE CHOOSES, RIGHT? First: Remember Rule #1, Listening, and Questions Underlying Claim: Abortion, Transgender Rights, Identity Politics are OK. Key Verses: • Genesis 1:27 “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.” • Isaiah 47:8a “Therefore hear now this, thou that art given to pleasures, that dwellest carelessly, that sayest in thine heart, I am, and none else beside me;” • Acts 17:25 “Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;” • 1Corinthians 6:20 “For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” • 1Corinthians 7:23 “Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.”

136 Country Preacher’s Almanac ANALYSIS: Sexual Rights Are Human Rights (article from The International Women’s Coalition): “For women and girls, the right to control their own bodies and their sexuality without any form of discrimination, coercion, or violence is critical for their empowerment. Without sexual rights, they cannot realize their rights to self-determination and autonomy, nor can they control other aspects of their lives. Indeed it is the attempts to control women’s and girls’ sexuality that result in many of the human rights abuses they face on a daily basis, including gender-based violence, forced marriage, female genital mutilation [I don’t guess they mean transgender genital mutilation], and limitations on their mobility, dress, education, employment, and participation in public life. https://iwhc.org/articles/ sexual-rights-human-rights. (Cited 4/22/2021) I. The Right to Selective Abortion (See also Part I, Chapter 3, Question#2 “What do you mean by that?”) A. International Sexual and Reproductive Rights (article from Amnesty International website): “Every woman and girl [note: no age limit] has sexual and reproductive rights. This means they are entitled to equal access to health services like contraception and safe abortions...” www.amnesty.org/en/what-we-do/discrimination/ womens-rights. (Cited 4/22/2021) B. Political Support: 1. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo signed what was called The Reproductive Health Act in 2019, which allows abortions up to the point of birth. He then ordered the One World Trade Center to be lit in pink at night to celebrate. https://lc.org/newsroom/details/012919-ny-law-is- infanticide (Cited 7/20/2021) 2. In 2019, Concerning a Virginia Bill on infanticide of an infant that has survived an abortion, Virginia Governor, Ralph Northam, commented, “The infant would be

A Preacher & Parent’s Guide to Protecting the Next Generation137 delivered, the infant would be kept comfortable, the infant would be resuscitated if that’s what the mother and the family desired, and then a discussion would ensue between the physicians and the mother.” https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-factcheck-virginia-gov-abortion- idUSKBN27D2HL (Cited 4/22/2021) C. Scientists’ Attempted Support for Abortion and Infanticide: *Whatever Happened to Human Race, cites as far back as 1979, two Nobel Prize Laureates who advocated waiting at least three days after a child is born to declare it alive. They also cite a professor of philosophy and humanities at Oklahoma A. & M. University and two Yale professors of pediatrics at Yale University who held similar positions. (Francis A. Schaeffer, 73-74) D. GOOD NEWS IN THE FIGHT AGAINST ABORTION 1) Scientific Research That Confirms Bible Claims: a. “Behaviorally speaking, there’s little difference between a newborn baby and a32-week-old fetus. A new wave of research suggests that the fetus can feel, dream, even enjoy The Cat in the Hat. The abortion debate may never be the same.” (Fetal Psychology: Your baby can feel, dream and even listen to Mozart in in the womb. By Janet L. Hopson published September 1, 1998 ) https://www.psychologytoday.com/ us/articles/199809/fetal-psychology (Cited 6/18/2021) b. “In fact, babies in utero experience a wide range of sensory input at a much earlier stage of development than once believed. That’s the result of a study from Heidelberg psychotherapist Ludwig Janus, reported February 9 on kath.net, the on-line German-language Catholic newspaper. Dr. Janus’ research showed that the unborn child can already feel emotions, such as anger and joy.” https://www.lifenews.com/2014/02/12/unborn-babies-feel-anger- and-joy-psychotherapists-study-says/ (Cited 6/18/2021) Note:

138 Country Preacher’s Almanac • Both scientific articles above evidence joy in the unborn baby. Luke 1:44, the unborn John the Baptist felt joy! Continuing research has dispelled the myth of the fetus glob! • Young Women for America (YWA), an initiative of Concerned Women for America (CWA), gives current information and encouragement for Christian youth and adolescences to stand up for pro-life. https://concernedwomen. org/special-projects/ywa/ (Cited 5/20/2021) II. The Right to Incest and Prostitution Note: Both must be considered moral if it is right for a woman or girl to do whatever she wishes with her body! A. Incest: In parts of the world today it is considered legal and moral for a father to have sexual relations with his daughter or son so long as each consent: A necessary conclusion since sexual relations are an inherent right of every person. (So they say!) ANY PROBLEM HERE? “One in three-to-four girls, and one in five-to-seven boys, are sexually abused before they turn 18, an overwhelming incidence of which happens within the family.” https://www.theatlantic.com/ national/archive/2013/01/america-has-an-incest-problem/272459/ (cited 10/14/2021) • 1 Corinthians 6:18 “Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.” • 1 Corinthians 7:2 “Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.” • James 1:15 “Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” Personal Counseling Case: While counseling a referral who was facing court martial charges for incest, I, George Garner, heard him say, “Chaplain, you must understand, I am sorry for what I now realize I did to hurt my daughter, but I have never,

A Preacher & Parent’s Guide to Protecting the Next Generation139 never been unfaithful to my wife.” In his mind, incest did not mean marital unfaithfulness! Enough said; see Romans 1:28, “a reprobate mind.” B.Prostitution: Testimony of the personal harm to the prostitute— “After you have lived through that, it is fundamentally impossible to have anything near a happy, healthy and ‘normal’ life. By this I mean, a life where you can, at a very basic level, trust and connect to others, men in particular, and, alongside this, feel OK about your own body, humanity and worth.” https://www.hiddendominion.com/prostitution-is- harmful-legalization/ (Cited 9/15/2021) Note: this testimony is typical of those who have by choice or coercion been prostitutes. Six effects on the man— 1. six times more likely to abuse their partner (prostitute and any other partner), 2. more likely to commit violence in the community 3. produces a feeling of entitlement (right to abuse women) 4. reduces empathy for women 5. makes “one-sided” sex seem normal (Rom. 1:28b “...God gave them over to a reprobate mind,” 6. 8x times more likely to commit rape https://nordicmodelnow.org/facts-about-prostitution (cited 9/15/2021) III. The Right to Transgender Sexual Reassignment Surgery (SRS) and Identity Politics “A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself.” (Proverbs 18:2) NOTE: Like the demand for abortion rights, Incest, and Prostitution, The Transgender Rights Movements is based on the claim that the individual determines his/her or “its” own sexual identity through surgery, hormonal therapy, personal

140 Country Preacher’s Almanac choice assignment. Note just a bit of the ungodly, devastating impact: Refinery29 (R29), American multinational digital media and entertainment website, identifies some twenty-nine (29) categories of sexual orientation (identity). —https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/sexual-orientation-types-of- sexualities/ *The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee LGBT Resource Center has published an extensive list of “Self-Identity” pronouns which students are expected to know and use correctly in conversation with other students: https://uwm.edu/lgbtrc/support/gender-pronouns/ (Cited 7/20/2021) Note: College campuses across America have established Student Courts with authority to adjudicate student complaints of others not addressing them with the correct pronouns. *At the time of this writing (2022), the Democratic controlled 117th House of Representatives has passed HR 5 in which prohibits discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity. See The American College of Pediatricians response down further. Proposed legislation has led to among other things: #1 President Biden directed the military and all government

A Preacher & Parent’s Guide to Protecting the Next Generation141 agencies to not discriminate against anyone based on sexual orientation (this includes providing “sex reassignment surgery and necessary physical and psychological therapy) #2 an attack on schools and communities to provide for transgender rights such as free “self-identity” restroom selection, and in the field of sports, “self-identity” participation in all athletics impacting even the World Olympics, and #3 a host of judicial and political decisions without any basis in law. Encouraging News à Great Resources Starting Point: • The American College of Pediatricians cited a number of statistics in favor of their position against the Congressional HR 5 bill, including the fact that roughly 88 percent of gender dysphoric girls and 98 percent of gender dysphoric boys will, if given time, go on to identify with their biological sex by late adolescence.” —https://townhall.com/tipsheet/ briannaheldt/2018/09/27/new-california-law-allows-children-to-get- transgender-treatments-without-parental-consent-n2522928 (Cited 7/20/2021) • Irreversible Damage: The Transgender Craze Seducing Our Daughters, by Abigail Shrier at AbigailShrier.com or Amazon. com is an in-depth, DOCUMENTED RESOURCE! • Title IX, Male-Bodied Athletes, and the Threat to Women’s Sports, Independent Women’s Forum, Special Report at https:// www.iwf.org/competition-report/ (cited 9/16/2021) RESPONSE & CONCLUSION: More Recent scientific tools, such as sonograms, demonstrate that the unborn baby is essentially the same being as the newborn baby! The same Greek Brephos that describes the unborn John the Baptist in Luke 1:44 describes the following: • Luke 2:12 “And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the

142 Country Preacher’s Almanac babe [Grk brephos] wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.” • Luke 18:15 “And they brought unto him also infants [brephos], that he would touch them: but when his disciples saw it, they rebuked them.” • 2 Timothy 3:15 “And that from a child [brephos] thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” Regarding the so-called Transgender and Self-Identity Rights, the evidence is clear: One may break oneself trying (physical genital mutilation and continuous hormonal therapy), but one cannot successfully break God’s fixed definition, DNA, of the self in the womb: Male or Female, Genesis 1:27. TRUTH! Our Founding Fathers were right in acknowledging that there are certain “unalienable rights.” These rights exist apart from human determination or legislation. These rights may only be discovered or acknowledged, not determined or created or changed by law, medical intervention, or even by one’s conscience!!! GOD DETERMINES OUR RIGHTS and WRONGS!!!

QUESTION #13 I DESERVE WHAT EVERYBODY ELSE HAS, RIGHT? First: Remember Rule #1, Listening, and Questions Underlying Claim: This claim buys into the emerging focus on equity vs. equality, Envy, Redistribution of wealth, Critical Race Theory (CRT) KEY VERSES: • 1 Corinthians 12:21 “And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.” • 1 Corinthians 12:26 “And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one [only one] member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.” NOTE: People may note, “You have beautiful eyes.” They never say, “You have gorgeous toes.” We can weep with those who weep, but we may not all receive the same honor as others; We can resent being a toe and envy the eye or we can and should rejoice with those who do receive honors beyond us in this life! ANALYSIS: • This question begs for the definition of deserve and everybody else. By deserve, do you mean there is something you

144 Country Preacher’s Almanac have done or that you inherited that makes you deserve something? What do you mean by everybody else? Do you mean having what most of the world’s population has? Don’t think so!!! In our emerging culture, it is imperative to know the difference between equity and equality: Equality refers to the biblical truth that we are all endowed with equal worth and thus should have the God-given right to be all that God created each of us to be. This is captured in the Declaration of Independence, “All men or created equal. . . and, they are endowed by their creator with certain inalienable rights...” See Acts 10:34 and Romans 2:10-11. Equity, claims that all have the right to equal results or outcome. This necessarily calls for redistribution of wealth and reparation to those who have been denied equal outcome: take from the fortunate and give to the less fortunate: Social Justice. If you have more than I have, then you must give until we both have the same. This redistribution of wealth and position in life can come about voluntarily or by governmental mandate: a basic principle of Marxism (communism which evolves from Socialism). ALERT! I just received an e-mail from my Alma Mater, The University of Arkansas. It provides an update of happenings on campus. Noted: The Division for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. These offices are on the vast majority of campuses in America! God help us!! RESPONSE & CONCLUSION: The Problem is inherent to the human race: Proverbs 27:20, “Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied.” To this, J.D. Rockefeller, the wealthiest man in the world in 1920, was asked: “How much money does it take to satisfy?” His answer, “Just a little bit more.”

A Preacher & Parent’s Guide to Protecting the Next Generation145 Many kids are brainwashed with an entitlement mentality. They believe “I deserve it all, now!” Advertising enforces this thinking: “Grab (now) for all the gusto you can get,” “You only go around once,” “You deserve the best (now).” Music declares, “It’s now or never; my love can’t wait!” Some have even taken Scripture out of context: Matthew 6:34 “Take therefore no thought for the morrow [literally don’t be anxious]: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.” – A solid principle when understood: just do today what you ought to do. Other verses must also be taken in context, such as Matthew 6:28. They ignore financial principles of stewardship that go all the way back to the Old Testament and are even illustrated through the smallest of creatures Proverbs 30:25 “The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer;” NOTE: the ant, mentioned in Proverbs 30:25, 1. Works now to provide for the winter, 2. Thus has needs met for the future. (Even the ant is smart enough not just to sit down and have faith that God will provide!) Bottom line: As one wise old man said, “Faith does not lean on the shovel and expect God to dig the hole!” Scriptural Mandate: • Proverbs 10:5 “He that gathereth in summer is a wise son: but he that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame.” • 2 Thessalonians 3:10, “For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.” Paul commanded those in the church at Thessalonica who felt entitled (those who could work but would not work). He was not speaking to the disabled who were truly needy! NOWHERE IN SCRIPTURE are we told that anyone deserves it all and now! EQUITY (Often called Social Justice), taken to its logical end does away with any differences among people: not

146 Country Preacher’s Almanac only economic and social, but also sexual, racial, national, and even religious differences! This is chaos!!! To the contrary, we are promised that as Christians we are gifted in this life with certain sufferings (discussed under the question of Injustice and Suffering): Gifted? Philippians 1:29, “For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;” SO, WHAT NOW? BASIC CHRISTIAN PRINCIPLES: A. Remember what real treasure is: Matthew 6:19-21 “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Bottom line: Is money your treasure? If it is, then storms, fires, thieves and even governments can take it all! Your savings, retirement, pension, land, Social Security? ALL can and eventually will be taken from you! At the time of death, is the winner the one with the most toys? B. Paul’s instructions to the rich Christians (yes, God often sees fit to bless Christians with wealth) in 1 Timothy 6:17- 19, “Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute willing to communicate; [not through government or any required re- distribution, but from a charitable heart, and not necessarily all], Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life [trust in the gift of eternal life for hope, not earthly riches].” See Hebrews 6:18.

A Preacher & Parent’s Guide to Protecting the Next Generation147 C. As God financially blesses you: 1) Don’t be high minded (don’t let it make you arrogant if you are rich or feel sorry for yourself if poor. YUK!) 2) Don’t trust your money for real security; don’t make it your treasure; rather, remember your real bank account is in heaven if you are depositing anything there, BETTER BE! 3) Enjoy and don’t feel guilty about the things God has given you. (1Timothy 6:17b) 4) Make sure you use what you have to do good works, such as providing for your family (1 Timothy 5:8), for the commissioned work of the church (Matthew 28:19-20), and in support of the widows, orphans (James 1:27) and the truly needy (Matthew 25:35-36). 5) Do not subsidize those who can work but will not work to provide for their needs. (2 Thessalonians 3:10)