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For some, it was like the dawning of a new day. For others, it was the end of the world. Both sides, looking at opposite ends of the telescope, are focused on a decision that will greatly alter the culture war, like the Supreme Court of the US (SCOTUS) decision of 1973 which started it in the first place. We’re talking about the potential overturning of the landmark decision called Roe v. Wade, which mandated abortion in all fifty American states, even if a state was predominantly pro-life. Justice Samuel Alito’s draft decision on Dobbs vs. Jackson Women’s Health Organization (Mississippi), which was leaked to the press, has caused ripples nationally and internationally. Consider the following:
If the conservative justices stick with the majority opinion, what will happen if Roe is overturned? What will it mean? Even if they don’t overturn it, abortion is on notice in the United States.
First, SCOTUS is not making abortion ‘illegal’ or even ‘unconstitutional.’ The repudiation of Roe simply means it is none of their business; it is time to let the states decide, once again.
While the states would be free to legislate how much or how little abortion they will allow, it needs to be pointed out that the US Constitution, Fourteenth Amendment, Section 1, is very clear on the matter of life:
Nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.
America’s birth certificate, the Declaration of Independence of 1776, also says:
We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness (emphases mine).
In short, from all appearances, it is the legal duty of local, state, and federal authorities to protect all American lives, liberty, and property. Any other position should be, by rights, declared unconstitutional.
Pro-abortion advocates do not want the states to decide at all. Why? Because the majority of American states lean towards the pro-life position. Women who might contemplate an abortion would refuse to do so if it became illegal. Consider the following trends:
The Bigger Picture
As mentioned, Roe v. Wade, though about babies and abortion, has a greater implication. It is about a return to original interpretation of the US Constitution – ‘it is written’ – rather than the elastic interpretation of the Left, who speak of a ‘living, breathing’ constitution. Attitudes towards ‘life,’ ‘children,’ ‘family,’ and traditional values, will also be bolstered by an overturned Roe.
Roe v. Wade also played a major role in commencing the culture war, pitting cultural Marxists and secular progressives against working class, patriotic, and conservative Americans. The Right is greatly influenced by the Judaeo-Christian teaching. While blue states like California and New York will continue to have their liberal abortion laws post-Roe, their demographics are at stake. Not only are they having less babies, but people are moving out of their states, thus reducing their population.
As revival comes to America and the world, there will be a renaissance of ‘marriage and family,’ and with it, a return to the primacy of the sanctity of life, from birth to old age. Despite incidents to the contrary, we could very well be seeing the dark winter of culture war and mass abortion turn to the spring of pro-life, pro-faith, pro-family, and pro-freedom.
(Photo courtesy of Adobe Stock)
For the longest time we who grew up in the western world took it for granted. But today there is strong evident this same right is under threat. The threat is not external but internal, the result of a half-century culture war.
The political/cultural Left seek to silence their political opponents, rather than debate them publicly; a very undemocratic stance. Why are they doing this? They are afraid their utopian ideas may not be accepted in the town square debate forum nor at the ballot box. So they have used the courts, hate speech laws, media, including social media, and the corporate world to suppress opponents and deliver for them the outcomes that the democratic process will not.
The road from free speech to censorship had a beginning. When Hillary Clinton lost the 2016 US Presidential election, the Left complained about ‘Russian collusion’ and ‘fake news.’ Pressure was put on social media to ‘moderate content’ and ‘fact-check’ information. ‘Inconvenient’ news stories were suppressed. All these actions meant that conservatives voices were being silenced, no matter how reasonable and factual they may be. Thus the era of social media censorship began in earnest, culminating in the 2020 US Presidential election.
Again, when free speech dies, so does democracy. No free speech, no freedom; it is that fundamental.
Elon Musk, the world’s richest man, has shaken the social media world and society at large with his proposed purchase of Twitter. While Musk’s purchase of Twitter is still in process, his proposed reinstatement of free speech is a major move towards cancelling cancel culture, a key facet of ‘wokeism.’
Not long ago Musk, who has two million followers on Twitter, had a poll and asked the question:
Free speech is essential to a functioning democracy.
Do you believe Twitter rigorously adheres to this principle?
YES 29.6%
NO 70.4%
This poll shows that, despite the pretence of even-handedness, social media is perceived to hinder, not facilitate, free speech.
Remember that Twitter made a historic contribution to speech and the exchange of ideas. People from one side of the world could read and communicate with others on the other side, including the rich and famous. ‘Tweeting’ and ‘tweets’ became household words. Donald Trump with eighty-eight million Twitter followers drew even more attention to the social media outlet. It became his direct microphone to the people, even as President, often bypassing the America mainstream media.
Cancel culture set in and the censorship started to bite. Trump himself was permanently banned from Twitter after the events of 6 January 2021. Parag Agrawal, the new CEO who took over from Jack Dorsey in November 2021, said that Twitter’s role was not to be ‘bound by the First Amendment,’ but to serve ‘a healthy public conversation’ of the things ‘we believe.’ This makes it sound more like a monologue than dialogue. Twitter content moderation, fact-checking, and story suppression are seen as synonymous with censorship.
Under Musk’s leadership, Trump will be reinstated to Twitter, if he wants. This seems unlikely since he started his own social media company, Truth Social. GETTR, GAB, RUMBLE, PARLOUR, also offer a ‘free speech’ alternatives to Twitter.
Remember that ‘free speech’ is not just a good idea; it is the law of the land. Let’s look at the First Amendment to the United States Constitution.
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances (emphases mine).
Ben Shapiro, a well-known conservative commentator from The Daily Wire, is urging Musk to fire the thousands of Twitter workers since they have ‘cancel culture blood on their hands.’ Ninety-nine percent of them donate to Democratic Party and present a danger of forming a ‘deep state’ among the employees who could seek to undermine his free speech goals.
For decades the far Left, dominated by cultural Marxists and secular progressives, have exercised cultural dominance in major areas of society: in the media, art, entertainment, music, education, corporate board rooms and school boards. Dr. Steve Turley boldly predicts that the dominance of the Left is coming to an end thanks to Elon Musk and his move to buy Twitter. It is viewed as a most consequential event. Even if the sale does not proceed, Musk has strongly rattled the cages of censorship.
Bertrand Russell once put it: “The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts.”
Musk’s acquisition of Twitter could change all that. People of tradition, family and faith may actually find their voice again.
The position of this ‘quasi-libertarian’ billionaire and ‘free speech absolutist,’ a Democrat who has become a Republic, at the helm of a power social media platform is a cultural earthquake – just like the potential overturning of Roe v. Wade. If Musk succeeds in liberating speech, buckle up for the ride ahead.
(Photo courtesy of Adobe Stock)
Psalm 23: A Psalm of David
1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. 3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. 5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
It is the most beloved prose in the English language. Recited at secular funerals, Psalm 23 is part of the largest book of the Bible.
If we could only have one book of the Bible, instead of sixty-six, that contained the essential message of Scripture, including salvation, which one would it be? The answer is The Psalms.
The longest book of the Bible, with the longest chapter (Psalm 119 – 176 verses), contains the Bible in miniature. History, prophecy, covenants, personal struggles, victorious living, every type of human experience – it’s all there in the Psalms. The New Testament has 116 direct quotes from the Psalms. That’s why Martin Luther called Psalms ‘a little Bible.’
Written in order to be sung, the Book of Psalms has been the ‘hymnbook’ of Israel and the church for centuries. David the king authored around half of them. .Some of the psalms are stand-alone
Another great reformer, John Calvin, said this of the Psalms: ‘An anatomy of all the parts of the soul; for no one will find in himself a single feeling of which the image is not reflected in this mirror.’
HEBREW NAME
Called Sepher Tehillim or the ‘Book of Praises.’ In the Greek it is called psalmos or psalmoi, meaning ‘a song, words with music, or a song accompanied by a stringed instrument. ‘
AUTHORS OF THE PSALMS
Psalms clearly has several authors, since it is a compilation of praises and prayers to God. There are 150 psalms or poems set to music and meant to be sung. Here is what we know about the authorship of Psalms and how many they wrote:
PORTRAIT OF CHRIST
The entire gamut of the gospel is represented in Psalm. Jesus tells His disciples after His resurrection that ‘All things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me’ (Luke 24:44ff – emphasis mine).
The Son of God & King: In Psalm 2, Christ is the Son (v. 7), the king set on the holy hill of Zion (v. 6), who will rule with a rod of iron (v. 9) from David’s throne. Other kingly notations are found in Psalms 21, 45, and 72.
Priestly Messiah: Psalm 40:6, 8; 22; 49; 110.
Suffering of Messiah: Psalm 22 and 69.
Resurrection of Messiah: Psalm 16.
THEME OF PSALMS
The Psalms cover the entire range human experience and emotion from the heights of praise to the depths of depression (Psalm 42; 88). The Psalms teach on praise, thanksgiving, repentance, trust, distress, history, and prophecy.
The bottom line: Psalms takes a person from where they are at, turns their focus off sin, self, and the world and finally puts it squarely on Almighty God Himself, who is worthy to be praised. It takes their eyes off the problem and puts in on the (divine) solution.
KEY VERSES IN PSALMS
Psalm 149
1 Praise ye the LORD. Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise in the congregation of saints. 2 Let Israel rejoice in him that made him: let the children of Zion be joyful in their King. 3 Let them praise his name in the dance: let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp. 4 For the LORD taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation. 5 Let the saints be joyful in glory: let them sing aloud upon their beds. 6 Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a twoedged sword in their hand; 7 To execute vengeance upon the heathen, and punishments upon the people; 8 To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron; 9 To execute upon them the judgment written: this honour have all his saints. Praise ye the LORD.
Psalm 150
Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.
SUMMARY OF PSALMSPraise,Israel,Christian,
In the Psalms, you can find:
OUTLINE OF PSALMS
Psalms, like the Torah or Pentateuch, can be divided into five books:
Book One — Psalms 1 – 41
Psalms of humanity, mostly all from David
Book Two — Psalms 41 – 72
Psalms of Israel, from ruin to redemption
Book Three — Psalms 73 – 89
Psalms of the Sanctuary
Book Four — Psalms 90 – 106
Psalms of the earth
Book Five — Psalms 107 – 150
The Word of God (especially Psalm 119)
Why not make it a daily habit to read from Psalms and Proverbs? It will change your life!
Thank you for your support in standing with us both in prayer and financially.
Name of Account: Reformation Harvest Fire Ministries Inc.
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If you go to the United Kingdom, take time to visit the Tower of London with an optional excursion to the crown jewels. It’s costly but worth it. You will not forget the exquisite beauty of the diamonds, pearls, and accessories of the monarchy. The Imperial State Crown, worn at the coronation of the monarch, weighs just over one kilogram, and is replete with 2,868 diamonds, 273 pearls, 17 sapphires, 11 emerald, and 5 rubies. The glory and splendour of this crown is beyond description.
Now we have this rare occasion of a monarch, the only one most of us has ever known, representing a nation and family of nations, commemorating the remarkable milestone of seventy years on the throne. It is called the platinum jubilee, the first in British history.
In commemoration of Elizabeth II’s seventy year milestone, we offer a ‘crown chronicles’ series of three articles. The first article is about the crown itself. The second part will be about the monarch and the third will focus the role of the Christian faith in the Queen’s life and reign.
Definition: When we define ‘crown,’ it not just a diamond-crusted hat that sits on the monarch’s head. The Imperial State Crown, like all other visible crowns, is a priceless symbol of the abstract but very real thing we call the monarchy itself. The crown means the monarchy and is more than just one individual. This particular crown/monarchy represents the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, other realms, and the fifty-four nations of The Commonwealth. (NOTE: This article will pivot between the crown in Britain & in Australia. They are virtually identical though the exercising of them differs. For example, Britain does not have a Governor-General, while the other crowned realms do).
An Old/New Crown: America’s founding fathers, who codified their grievances against King George III in the Declaration of Independence of 1776, would not recognise the British crown today. It has truly evolved over the centuries.
At first, the King was a dictator, and absolute monarch. Then came parliamentary government and a power struggle ensued. Some monarchs, like James I (who gave us the King James Bible), insisted in the divine right of kings. Parliament disagreed. An English civil war broke out because of this in the 1640s, resulting in a win for parliament and the execution of James’ son, Charles I. Finally came the formulation we have today:
Geoffrey White defines constitutional monarchy as
“…a state where the people through parliament are sovereign, but where the monarchy represents that sovereignty and who is ceremonial Head of State. The monarch enjoys position by consent of the people, either through Acts of Parliament or a written constitution” (WHITE 1997:46).
The crown is to be scrupulously neutral in political affairs, thus creating an apolitical head-of-state who represents the entire nation, not a partisan faction. The crown is duty-bound to act on the advice of elected ministers, particularly the prime minister. In addition, Walter Bagehot masterfully put it in 1867 that the role of the crown-monarch retained “the right to be consulted, the right to encourage, and the right to warn.”
The Crown has a source of power which does not need ministerial advice and that’s the exercise of Reserved Powers. They can be used at the monarch’s absolute discretion but apparently there is no abuse; the various legislative, judicial, executive and crown powers are finely tuned and balanced. We will revisit this topic shortly.
What does it all mean? The Constitution, be it British or Australian, is wrapped around a thousand year old crown, which sits at the apex and centre of all governmental power. This ingenious constitutional formula, which evolved over centuries, has a marvellous combination of balance of power, separation of power, continuity of history, heritage, customs, tradition and national identity, thus ensuring safe, stable governance. The genius of the crowned constitution is this: as it stands at the hub of the wheel of power, it denies absolute power to all other governmental branches. The Crown, in essence, becomes a constitutional umpire.
The 1901 Australian Constitution states that the people of the former British colonies, like Victoria, New South Wales, Tasmania, etc. agreed to united in one indissoluble Federal Commonwealth both under the Crown of the United Kingdom and the Constitution itself. All this was prefaced by the words: “humbly relying on the blessing of Almighty God.”
The Crown is absolutely central in the Australian Constitution, with the word ‘Queen’ mentioned thirty-nine times; ‘Her Majesty’ eleven times; and ‘Crown’ four times. The people decided on this ‘crowned arrangement’ and it is the people who can change it by constitutional referendum.
Queen & Country
According to the Constitution, the ‘crown’ is represented by Elizabeth II, whose legal status is ‘Queen of Australia.’ The same applies to Canada, New Zealand, and in the other nations where she serves as head of state. Note what the Queen cannot do:
The Queen’s sole constitutional function is to appoint the Governor-General by recommendation of the Prime Minister. The G-G, who is a local Australian, New Zealander, Canadian, etc. – not a British civil servant – exercises all the prerogatives of the monarch, even when the Queen is present in the country. By countersigning the Governor-General’s appointment, the selection process is ‘de-politicised;’ the G-G does not owe his/her job to the PM, but to the Queen, ensuring that they act objectively and with principle.
Reserve Powers: Let’s take a moment and revisit the ‘Reserve Powers.’ These have evolved over the centuries and represents the all-important checks and balances needed for a stable government. Though not rules of law or even codified, they are binding. Only the Crown, be it the monarch or governor-general, can exercise them. Like the heavy-duty emergency brakes that stop a runaway vehicle, the reserve powers are only used when the government is no longer entitled to rule or fails to function.
The most famous example of the use of reserve powers was the dissolving of the Whitlam Labor Government of November 1975 by the Governor-General Sir John Kerr. While this move was contentious, everything was resolved in a matter of weeks. There were no riots, assassinations, or any bad long-term effect. America was reeling over two years of the Watergate scandal that brought down a US President and would have dragged on longer but for the pardon given by his successor. The reserve power safety-switch for democracy was successful and swift. The G-G said, in essence, let the people decide. The electorate was the ultimate arbiter of the crisis. Australians voted in a federal election and upheld the G-G’s decision.
While a symbol, the Crown is a very potent one. Former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott put it this way:
“In (apartheid) South Africa and in (republican) Fiji, the establishment of a republic gave freer rein to the enemies of freedom—not because the Queen was herself defending Indian shopkeepers or the residents of black townships, but because the existence of the Crown denied complete power to politicians. The Crown achieves its object simply by existing. The Crown does not need to act—it simply needs to be” (ABBOTT 1995:74).
In summary, the purpose of the Crown is the embodiment of a nation, its people, history, heritage, type of government, culture, civilisation and religion. It sits at the centre and height of the constitutional arrangement, separating all other branches of government while avoiding involvement in the day-to-day running of the state. Its apolitical nature causes it to be leadership beyond politics and representative of all people of the realm. Parliament has the real power but the crown can, in an emergency, intervene in a stalled political system to break the logjam. It is a true national treasure, greater than diamonds and pearls.
ABBOTT Tony. The Minimal Monarchy And Why It Still Makes Sense For Australia. Kent Town SA: Wakefield Press, 1995.
WHITE Geoffrey. Monarchists, Royalists and Republicans: A New Strategy For Constitutional Consensus. Macedon VIC: White Crest Publication, 1997.
Thank you for your support in standing with us both in prayer and financially.
Name of Account: Reformation Harvest Fire Ministries Inc.
Bank: ANZ
BSB Number: 013 289
Account Number: 250384334