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KINDERGARTENER GRANTED PHD IN BIOLOGY AFTER CORRECTLY DISTINGUISHING BOY FROM GIRL

The Babylon Bee

 

Kindergartener Granted PhD In Biology After Correctly Distinguishing Boy From Girl

U.S.

March 24th, 2022 - BabylonBee.com

 

GAFFNEY, SC—Multiple five-year old witnesses confirm that their teacher, Miss Whifflestrom, dropped the class gerbil in awe after hearing brilliant young kindergartener Timothy correctly describe boys as having a penis and girls, a vagina. Within hours, young Timothy had been granted a PhD in Biology.

 

“We hereby grant the intellectual phenom, young Timothy Swanson this honored PhD in Biology for his work in clearly differentiating the subtle variations between Homosapien boys and girls,” said the chairman of the American Council of Biology PhDs, while handing a certificate to the young boy who only hours ago was sticking crayon shavings up his nose.

 

“Timothy is wrong. Gender is far more complicated than the binary reproductive differences associated with nearly every living creature on the planet,” said four-star admiral and U.S. Assistant Secretary for Health, Dr. Rachel Levine, while sticking crayon shavings up her nose. “All of the sciences prove its fluidity. Don’t ask for proof right now, I’m very busy crushing the aspirations of half of the American population rather than deal with my own disorder. Busy busy busy.”

 

News of the kindergartener’s ability to define both a boy and a girl eventually reached our nation’s leadership, who immediately shortlisted him for nomination to the United States Supreme Court.

 

At publishing time, a shocked Miss Whifflestrom reportedly sat on the class lizard after hearing the brilliant revelation from little Suzy, who said people should be judged by the content of their character, not the color of their skin. 

IDENTITY EDUCATION HARMS CHILDREN

                    National Review

How Replacing Biological Sex with Gender Identity Harms Children

By KERI D. INGRAHAM

March 22, 2022 6:30 AM

‘Gender identity” was once just a fringe concept of postmodern philosophy. Today, it’s regularly causing real-world harm to children and teenagers (particularly girls) across the country in sports, schools, and even youth camps.

One glaring example is what recently happened to fifth-grade girls from Weaver Elementary School in Los Alamitos, Calif. Without any warning to parents, two biological males were placed as counselors at Camp Pali in San Bernardino. The counselors spent three nights in the same cabins with the girls (these males instructed the girls to use they/them pronouns). When questioned about the controversial move, Emmi Teige, assistant director of Camp Pali, confirmed it. “Per California law, we place staff in cabins they identify with” was her justification.

One might think this shocking incident in California is an outlier. Yet in reality, it’s only the latest example of the new reality in K–12 public education. Gender identity is taking precedence over student well-being and safety across the nation. For example, in Loudoun County, Va., a 15-year-old skirt-wearing male student who was allowed to select the school bathroom of his choosing sexually assaulted a female student. Transferred to another school, the boy sexually assaulted another girl. Adding insult to injury, not long after the incident, the National School Board Association labeled parents such as the father of one of these girls, who spoke out against transgender and other radical policies at school board meetings, “domestic terrorists.”

The blatant promotion of transgenderism has infiltrated schools without parental consent and at the expense of academic learning. Gender-identity school policies and practices are becoming widespread. And curricula, books, videos, and activities promoting the transgender ideology are used with students as young as five. It’s common, moreover, for these materials used with students to contain sexually explicit content.

One example of transgenderism indoctrination is the common use in lower-elementary-school classrooms of the Gender Unicorn and Genderbread Person. These resources employ an endearing character (unicorn or gingerbread man) to guide young children through self-selecting their gender identity, their gender expression, the gender they’re physically attracted to, and the gender they’re emotionally attracted to. Each option — even their “sex assigned at birth” — includes the following categories: women/men, feminine/masculine, and “other.”

Parents are intentionally left in the dark by school personnel about the sexual content taught. Often, parents find out about the inappropriate content only from their children, who are confused and distressed about what they have been taught at school.

For example, the Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) forbids teachers from communicating with parents concerning the claimed or coerced gender identity of their child starting in kindergarten unless the minor (as young as five years old) gives consent. In a total disregard for parental authority, school personnel are bound to secrecy concerning the acknowledged (and often dramatically celebrated) claimed gender identity of these boys and girls.

Furthermore, OSPI asserts that “a student’s age and grade level ‘should never be used to justify delaying or denying a student’s gender transition.’” The school culture has children questioning and discussing with one another what gender identity they plan to select. Consequently, one Washington State teacher shared that, of her students this year, six have changed their gender identity, and four others have “changed their appearance to resemble the opposite gender but have not announced it.” The intentional secrecy that schools employ to circumvent parental awareness and authority is increasingly alarming.

This preoccupation with gender-identity indoctrination is, moreover, at odds with the reality of biological sex and has several harmful long-term effects on children.

First, the crowding out of academic learning, which is already deficient, by inappropriate sexual classroom content is educational malpractice. It breeds confusion and insecurities, causing lifelong negative consequences, such as mental-health issues. In fact, a recent study indicates that the harm to children from being exposed to sexually explicit material and pornographic content can include poor “mental health, life satisfaction, sexual behavior and attitudes, and pornography-viewing patterns in adulthood.”

Second, this indoctrination fuels identity confusion in students, as it conflicts with their biological reality (think of the Gender Unicorn and Genderbread Person).

Third, bathroom self-selection, non-binary cabin counselors, and males in female locker rooms and on sports teams are not only violating the privacy of girls but also placing their safety at risk.

Fourth, promoting or providing access to gender-blocking hormones and body-change surgeries to children and teenagers adds irreversible damage, including sterilization, to the psychological and emotional abuse of children.

Finally, those states and districts that forbid the disclosure of gender-ideology discussions and that conduct a gender-“transition” plan without parent consent nor communication are not only damaging children but also driving a wedge between parents/legal guardians and their children. Schools label parents who do not affirm their child’s claim to be a gender other than their biological sex as unsupportive. School personnel then quickly and persistently claim that these children are in immediate danger by their “unsupportive” parents and at imminent risk of suicide. In California, for example, public schools have guided students through what to say to trigger child-protective services to remove their parents’ rights so that the minor can obtain hormones and body-change surgeries without parental consent and cost.

What can parents do about these gender-identity practices, teachings, and deceitful policies? The first step is to get informed. Talk to your child and their friends, contact teachers, principals, curriculum directors, and district leaders.

The next step is to share what you hear and see with other parents. Inform the school board, state legislators, and others holding power about what is occurring. Let your voice be heard. Vote for school choice and candidates who support parental empowerment.

Parents should also demand educational transparency. Thanks to parents speaking up, bills requiring statewide curriculum transparency in K–12 public schools have been introduced in 19 states. These require public schools — which, after all, are funded by the taxpayers — to make publicly accessible a list of resources used in the classrooms. This move to enhance transparency recognizes that parents have a right to know ahead of time what content will be taught to their children, especially when it’s of a sexual nature. And parents must be given the option to opt their children out.

We need continued vigilance about what is being taught. While curriculum-accountability systems are critically important, they aren’t a foolproof safeguard against teachers using their classrooms (instruction time and beyond) to promote gender ideologies with their impressionable, captive audiences.

In many cases, gender-identity teaching is woven throughout the school day regardless of the subject — sometimes without using any formal teaching resources. For example, in Oregon, schools bypass the requirement to notify parents of gender identity and sexual-content teaching by requiring parental communication and opt-out allowances only for health classes while giving schools free rein to promote the ideas in other classes.

Finally, many may choose to select an alternative learning environment for their students — as parents nationwide are doing. In Washington State, 39,000 children were pulled from public schools in the span of twelve months (between October 2019 and October 2020).

All of this leads to one crucial point: We need universal school choice, provided through public policy, now. Parents need to have the authority over how and what their children are taught. By placing funding with families — not the education system — all parents would be afforded educational options. It’s essential that parents are empowered to protect their children from political agendas and radical practices that are causing long-term harm. It’s an issue of defending parental rights and ensuring authentic accountability by schools entrusted with their children’s education. 

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INTERESTING AUDIO

A young child singing songs with their mother encouraging them in the background. Songs included: "Jesus Loves Me"; "Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer" and "The Farmer in the Dell."

A kid repeatedly yelling "I'm finished!" and playing around with the tape recorder. His mother came in and flushed the toilet. Later:

"Do you want fries with your grilled cheese?"

"NO!"

"Do you have homework tonight?"

Younger Brother: "I have homework, to make a drum."

Mom: "To make a drum?"

Later, the boys were fighting about something. Mom dealt with the problem

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THE IMPORTANCE OF CHRISTIANS KEEPING THE PASSOVER

I keep the Passover privately every year, though I truly wish I had other brothers and sisters with whom I could celebrate. 

I'll cook up some lamb, to remind myself of the Exodus connection to Jesus death, i.e. Jesus being our Passover lamb who delivered us from slavery to sin. I eat it with garlic or something else strong, to remind me of the bitterness of sin and how its something I never want to get complacent about.

I also take communion as this article talks about.

I don't judge anyone for how and when they keep Passover, as Colossians 2 commands me. Nevertheless, I think it quite important that Christians get out of Easter, Christmas and other such pagan holidays and back into celebrating, in the way God leads them to do so, the seven Biblical feasts of the Lord. Taken together, they are an annual reminder of what God did for us, is doing, will do, and our responsibility as His blood-bought saints.

PODCAST BLASTS FROM THE PAST

A while back, the daughter of a friend of my mom had to move back home temporarily and when she was able to move out of her mother's house again, she left a spindle full of DVDs which were passed on to me. I've been listening to them lately and some of them contain podcasts. I have encountered:

- Britpod episode 21

- The CBC Radio 3 Podcast: Ladyhawk session

- The CBC Radio 3 Podcast: episode 40, eps 58-66, 71-75, and 85-88

- stuff from renmenven.org, Vintage Tunecast, including the second-last episode of "Radio City Playhouse", some videos and a promo for their Democracast project

- four editions of the New Music Canada "Track of the Day." 

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The average citizen of the West needs to have access to Russia Today so they can be privy to both sides of the story. 

HOW PAU D'ARCO HELPS FIGHT CANDIDA, CANCER, AND INFLAMATION

How Pau D’arco Helps Fight Candida, Cancer, and Inflammation

Pau d’arco is native to South America, where it has been used to treat a wide range of conditions. There are reports of medicinal uses of pau d’arco tea dating back to 1873, and it was used in the Amazon rainforest as a “miraculous” healer for tumors with impressive anti-inflammatory effects. Pau d’arco, also called tabebuia Avellaneda, is a canopy tree from the Bignoniaceous family with extremely hard wood. Its name is the Portuguese word for “bow stick.” This is an appropriate term   because the tree was actually used by native South Americans for making hunting bows.

The bark and wood of the tree are used externally and internally to treat: · arthritis · pain · inflammation of the prostate gland · fever · dysentery · boils · ulcers · various cancers One of the easiest ways to use pau d’arco is by consuming a tea made from the inner bark of pau d’arco or applying the tea water to the skin.     What Is Pau D’arco? Pau d’arco, also called taheebo, is an evergreen tree that has rose-colored flowers. There are nearly 100 species of pau d’arco, but only a few yield high-quality material. It takes extremely skilled gatherers to know what species are the most effective. Two well-researched and used species are lapacho, tabebuia, impetiginosa, and red lapacho tabebuia. The medicinal part of the tree is the bark, specifically the  inner lining of the bark, called the phloem (pronounced floam).    Unfortunately, many companies use the whole bark, containing the dead wood too, and this naturally dilutes the activity of the material. The bark of tabebuia Avellaneda is valued for its powerful and therapeutic phytochemicals. Research on red lapacho tabebuia identified two active chemicals in pau d’arco called naphthoquinones: lapachol and beta-lapachone. These chemicals have the power to kill bacteria, fungi, viruses and parasites. They have also shown anti-inflammatory properties, which are important in treating health conditions such as osteoarthritis.   Benefits 1. Rich in Lapachol and Other Antioxidants Pau d’arco tea contains several compounds, including quinoids, benzenoids and flavonoids. These compounds have displayed biological activity against harmful organisms. Pau d’arco also has a significant amount of lapachol, which comes from the stem of the tree. The U.S. Department of Agriculture indicates that lapachol is known be toxic and resistant to nearly all types of harmful organisms. A 2005 study published in Oncology Reports found that lapachol has great potential as an application in fighting metastasis, which is the spread of a cancer or other disease from one organ of the body to another. Metastasis is the major process responsible for the death in cancer patients, and recent research involving lapachol is promising. Lapachol is also used for its antioxidant and antimicrobial  effects, but some research suggests that high doses of this compound can lead to dangerous side effects, like reproductive toxicity. Pau d’arco also contains another chemical called beta-lapachone, which has also demonstrated toxicity to harmful organisms, similar to lapachol.   2. Reduces Pain Research shows that pau d’arco tea has the power to naturally reduce pain in patients suffering from cancer and other serious health conditions. It has the ability to lessen the pain associated with several kinds of cancer, especially cancer of the prostate, liver or breast. Consuming pau d’arco tea has also been found to help relieve arthritic pain. A 2001 study published in BMC Pharmacology examined the ant nociceptive (pain-reducing) and antiedematogenic (to reduce swelling) effects of pau d’arco inner bark, measured by experimental models in mice that underwent pain stimulated by nerve cells. The  inner bark aqueous extract, administered orally in three different   concentrations, reduced the sensory process that provides the signals that lead to pain.   3. Fights Candida Pau d’arco helps the body fight candida. Candida, also known as candidiasis, is a common yeast infection that has been proven to contribute to many health problems, from a sore throat to serious stomach problems. The body normally produces yeast in the mouth, vagina, rectum and digestive tracts, and in normal amounts it remains harmless. However, if the body’s natural pH balance is upset, candida symptoms can quickly grow out of control.   4. Reduces Inflammation An overactive immune system results in the body being flooded with defense cells and hormones that damage tissues. Dietary and environmental toxins build up in the body, and this turns the immune system on — keeping it highly reactive. This is what leads to inflammation, which is at the root of most diseases. A 2014 study published in the Journal of Toxicological Sciences found that Pau d’arco increased the expression of Nrf2-target genes in the intestine. Nrf2 is a protein that regulates the expression of antioxidant proteins that protect against oxidative damage triggered by injury and inflammation. The results of this study show that the activation of Nrf2 could mediate the beneficial effects of pau d’arco, particularly in the intestine, which can be severely affected by inflammation.   5. Helps Treat Ulcers Ulcers are burns that form in the lining of the upper part of the gastrointestinal tract.  When they occur in the stomach, they’re called gastric ulcers. If they form in the first part of your small intestine, the duodenum, they’re referred to as duodenal ulcers. Peptic ulcer disease begins when a weakness in your stomach or intestinal lining allows acid to create an erosion or sore in the lining. It’s the most common type of stomach disease, according to the American Gastroenterology Association. Ulcers are caused by an increase in stomach acid caused by stress, medications, diet, smoking, alcohol or H. pylori, a type of bad bacteria. The most common ulcer symptom is a burning pain aggravated by stomach acid that comes in contact with the ulcerated area. A 2013 study published in Phytotherapy Research found that pau d’arco extract significantly accelerated the healing of acetic acid induced gastric ulcers in rats by increasing mucus content and cell proliferation. This suggests that pau d’arco could be a treatment for peptic ulcer diseases in humans.

6. Combats Cancer One of the most well-known effects of taheebo is its ability to fight cancer and relieve pain associated with cancer. A study conducted by the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston found that beta-Lapachone, a major compound in pau d’arco tea, is a potential compound to be added to cancer chemotherapy, particularly for prostate cancer. It has been shown to kill cancer cells in studies conducted on   animals. Another 2002 study concluded that beta-lapachone is one of a few novel anticancer drugs currently under active investigation, and it shows promise for chemotherapy alone and especially in combinations. This powerful compound caused cancer cell death in mice, and the mice did not appear to be adversely affected by the treatment.   7. Provides Antiviral and Antifungal Properties For thousands of years, pau d’arco has been used as an antiviral herb. The range of viruses stunted by pau d’arco tea extends from those that cause the common cold to those that are responsible for the life-threatening AIDS virus. It has been shown in both in vitro and in vivo studies to actively inhibit, kill or stunt the growth of several dangerous viruses, including: · herpes · polio · vesicular stomatitis · avian myeloblastosis · Leukemia The beta-lapachone present in the bark of tabebuia Avellaneda actually inhibits the enzymes in virus cells. This directly affects the synthesis of DNA and RNA. The virus is then no longer able to take control over the reproductive processes of the cell, so it can neither replicate itself nor  infect other cells. Pau d’arco tea has the power to aid in the healing of skin wounds and infections. It’s commonly used to reduce redness and swelling due to skin infections and irritations. This is because of its antifungal and antibacterial properties.   8. Detoxifies the Body Taheebo extract and tea detoxify the body by removing harmful toxic substances. These toxins include heavy metals, pesticides, preservatives and even residue from chemotherapy. Pau d’arco has been shown to work as a detoxifier by having a laxative effect. It’s known to loosen bowels, which aids digestion and regularity. By stimulating the digestive system, pau d’arco tea helps the body rid itself of excess fats and toxins. It’s important to keep foods moving through your body, especially the colon. The colon is the body’s sewage system, but like all healthy and properly functioning sewage systems, it needs to be cleaned, emptied and maintained to function properly. When we eat highly processed, refined or “fake” foods, our     colons become laden with the unhealthy debris from these foods. For this reason, it’s vital to consume detoxifying foods and drinks, like pau d’arco tea, in order to maintain a clean and healthy body. Pau d’arco tea consumption is one of the best ways to detox. Blood vessels, the lymphatic system, cells, tissue and organs are all detoxified. This allows the body’s systems to function properly and efficiently.   9. Rich in Selenium Another powerful element of pau d’arco is selenium. It’s an antioxidant that removes free radicals that damage cells and trigger disease. Selenium is an extremely vital mineral for the human body. Some selenium benefits include its ability to increase immunity, take part in antioxidant activity that defends the body against free radical damage and inflammation, and play a key role in boosting metabolism. A study conducted by the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences at the University of Surrey found that consuming plenty of naturally occurring selenium has positive antiviral effects, is essential for successful male and female fertility and reproduction, plus reduces the risk of cancer, autoimmune and thyroid diseases. Low selenium status is associated with increased risk of mortality, poor immune function and cognitive decline.   How to Use When purchasing pau d’arco products, make sure to read the ingredients carefully. Sometimes it’s hard to know what is in pau d’arco products because they’re labeled as pau d’arco or lapacho — but do not always contain pau d’arco (which belongs to the Tabebuia    species). In some cases, they contain the related species, Tecoma curialis.

Some product labels state that the product contains the inner bark of pau d’arco, which is thought by some people to be more effective, when in fact the product contains only the outer bark. For this reason, purchase pau d’arco from reputable companies that have clear ingredient labels. The most potent part of the tree is the inner bark, and it must be aged after harvesting to maximize its effectiveness. However, many companies try to sell the outer bark or harvest it from immature trees. When it comes to dosage, 500 milligrams taken one to two times daily is commonly recommended and found in commercial capsule forms. For extracts, follow the product directions on the label, which are based on its potency. Consuming high doses of pau d’arco can lead to nausea, diarrhea and dizziness, so it’s important to start with a very small dose and see how your body reacts. If your body is too sensitive to drinking pau d’arco tea or taking supplements, then you can still use the product externally to treat infections. Some pau d’arco tea uses include: · fighting candida or an internal thrush infection by flushing out the area (create a douche with tea) ·  treating skin infections by soaking a cloth in pau d’arco tea and applying it to effected areas How to Make Pau D’arco Tea 1. Put 2 teaspoons of bark into 4 cups of boiling water. 2. Let the bark sit in the boiling water for 20 minutes. 3. Remove heat and let the tea cool for at least 1 hour. 4. Strain the water. Drink tea in small portions throughout the day, or use tea water for external use and vaginal flush.  ½ pound Pau D’Arco   Recommend Preparation Directions Two tablespoons tea to every four cups boiling water, continue to boil for five minutes, then lower heat and simmer gently for fifteen more minutes. Strain and drink as desired hot, cold plain or lightly sweetened, can be kept up to four days at room temperature or eight days refrigerated; Two cups daily for maintenance and eight cups for treating ailments. From the Scriptures for America Dragon Slayer newsletter, 2022, Volume 2.

 

AUTHORITY: RESISTANCE OR OBEDIENCE: PART ONE

AUTHORITY: Resistance or Obedience? Door to the Kingdom!

Once a famous Communist leader boasted words to the effect, "No, you Americans won't accept Communism, but we will feed you small doses of Socialism until you wake up and find you have Communism." The record since shows America's freedoms and liberties have been slowly eroded away by decades of creeping Socialism, regulations, and government intrusion while Christian religious leaders point to Romans Chapter 13 and related texts, crying, "OBEY CAESAR," "BE SUBJECT TO THE HIGHER POWERS." To a certain extent the future of America and the free world depends upon Christians properly understanding these scriptures on powers and authorities. Most today are confused by failure to understand that there are TWO distinct governing authorities or higher powers in scripture with TWO distinct purposes requiring TWO distinct responses on the part of Christians. The one is desired and promoted by humanists, the other by (or should be by) Christians. The scripture Christian soldiers need clarification on is the following, Romans 13:1-7: "Let every person be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. Therefore he who resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves. For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same; for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath upon the one who practices evil. Wherefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also for conscience' sake. For because of this you also pay taxes, for rulers are servants of God, devoting themselves to this very thing. Render to all what is due them: tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor. (NASV) I Peter 2:13-16: ''Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority, or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right. For such is the will of God that by doing right you may silence the ignorance of foolish men. Act as free men, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bondslaves of God. (NASV) Titus 3:1: Remind them to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good deed. The preceding scriptures are taken from the New American  Standard Translation and the word “authority" is used whereas the word "power" is used in the King James translation. Both translations are correct as the Greek word is exousia and means-authority, jurisdiction, liberty, power, right, strength. Authority and power belong to the same league. One cannot maintain authority without certain power and often one gains authority because of power. Predominantly the religious leaders of modern 20th century Judeo­ Christianity use these scriptures to promote passive, blind, enslaving obedience to all higher powers or authorities. This type of theology is contrary to the Christian faith of 1776 which gave birth to liberty and  independence and is more in keeping with Communist ideals of slavery and dependence. For example, in Communist countries today there are churches ranging from Baptist to Catholic. The authorities allow them as long as they keep their religion within the four walls of the church building. There they are allowed to play church, wear their robes, sing their hymns, pray their prayers, and light their candles, but they are not allowed, for instance, to pass Bibles out in public or have a Christian school for children. Should those Christians disobey the higher powers and distribute Bibles either above or underground, rest assured the Communist police state mentality, and the pastors of the state-approved churches would point to Romans 13 and say, "Be subject to authority, obey Caesar!" Unfortunately, we need not go to Communist countries for examples to use in light of Romans 13, as so-called free America has plenty. In Nebraska, a pastor was arrested and imprisoned by the state for having a Christian school that was not in compliance with the state's regulations. In Colorado, a pastor was sentenced to 180 days in jail and a $1,000 fine for holding church services in his home. The authorities claimed the home was not in a properly zoned area for such an activity. In Texas a store owner was forced by city authorities to remove a Christian flag from his flagpole, claiming it was a sign. Of course such government intrusion exists in other areas of life both personal and business in the form of regulations, requirements, licensing, permits, etc. The question is, should Christians always be required to obey in light of Romans 13 and related texts? Was the pastor in Nebraska required to close his school; should the one in Colorado stop church services; must the man in Texas remove his Christian flag? The police state mentality in America says "yes" and the state approved tax-exempt churches point to these scriptures and say "yes" - OBEY   CAESAR! OUR CHRISTIAN FOREFATHERS OF 1776 TAUGHT AND UNDERSTOOD THE BIBLE AND AUTHORITY DIFFERENTLY. As we examine the religious convictions and teachings of the pastor’s instrumental in the birth of our nation, we need to remember that Jesus taught us to judge a prophet by his fruit (Matthew 7:16). No one can deny that the fruit of the 1776 brand of Christian teaching was freedom and liberty, nor would many deny that we are losing our freedoms under modern 20th century Judeo-Christian theology. The problems these men wrestled with are summed up in the Declaration of Independence as they tell the world what their government and king had done. Such as- "He has erected a multitude of new offices, and sent hither swarms of officers to harass our people, and eat out their substance. " Obviously there came a point when they refused to OBEY CAESAR and even fought and died so we, today, would not have a Caesar but rather a Republic to protect us from bureaucrats who might try to be a Caesar. Their understanding of the Christian religion is born out in their declarations, sermons, and actions. Note the following words in a proclamation made by the town of Marlborough in 1773. "Death is more eligible than slavery. A free-born people are not required by the religion of Jesus Christ to submit to tyranny, but may make use of such power as God has given them to recover and support their laws and liberties.... [We] implore the ruler above the skies, that he would make bare His arm in defense of His church and people, and let ISRAEL GO." (Emphasis added to denote their understanding that they were in fact the Israel people of the Bible.) Why did these men understand that their Christian faith did not require them to blindly obey Caesar? Because their pastors taught them so, using Romans 13, I Peter 2 and Titus 3! Note the following excerpt from a sermon delivered by Jonathan Mayhew of Boston: "It is blasphemy to call tyrants and oppressors God's ministers... When [magistrates] rob and ruin the public, in­ stead of being guardians of its peace and welfare, they immediately cease to be the ordinance and ministers of God, and no more deserve that glorious character than common pirates and highwaymen."

John Tucker, pastor of the First Church of Newbury, preached an election sermon in May of 1771 using as a text I Peter 2:13-16, one of the very texts used today to justify submission to Christ-less, humanistic authority. It says, "Submit yourself to every ordinance of man." Note the comments concerning that sermon made in the history book, The Chaplains and Clergy of the Revolution, by J.T. Headley: "While acknowledging that government is the work of man, he declares it derives all its powers from God, and hence its enactments must be in accordance with his will, and boldly asserts that, ‘the people as well as their rulers are the proper judges of the civil constitution they are under and of their own rights and principles.' When he comes to apply the text in requiring submission to rulers, he enters into a full consideration of what kind of submission is due. He says the duties of ruled and ruler are reciprocal, and, ‘Universal submission is not due to government in a free state. There are certain boundaries beyond which submission cannot be justly required, and should not be yielded. They have,' he says, 'an undoubted privilege to complain of unconstitutional measures in government, and of unlawful encroachments upon their rights, and may, while they do it with becoming decency, do it with that noble freedom and firmness which a sense of wrong joined with the love of liberty will inspire.' Warming with his subject he goes farther, and declares that they not only have a right to complain, but that resistance may become a duty. He does not, he says, presume to draw the line in the present controversy where resistance should begin, but declares, 'Sirs, it is not necessary if our constitutional rights and privileges should be demanded, we should readily yield to the unrighteous claim. Should we thus meanly resign them up, and take in exchange the chains of slavery for ourselves and children, could we forgive ourselves? Would our unhappy posterity forgive us?' " In 1773 Charles Tucker delivered the annual election sermon, using as a text, Romans 13, which he met the objection that ministers should not meddle in politics. He boldly asserted that it was their duty to interfere where the liberties of the land are assailed stating, "when the civil rights of a country receive a shock, it may justly render the ministers of God deeply thoughtful for the safety of sacred privileges-for religious liberty is so blended with civil that if one falls it is not to be expected that the other will continue." Samuel West of Dartmouth delivered the election sermon in 1776 and used for his text Titus Chapter 3: "Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates." In that message he taught the need for civil government and the Christian obligation to be obedient to it and the equal obligation to resist tyranny which cares neither for the happiness nor right of the subject; for, said he, "tyranny and magistry are so opposed to each other that where one begins the other ends." He also declared that God never gave any man the right to trample on the liberty of his people and, "no number of men can confer a right they do not possess, viz, to take away liberty. " Then still using the same text in Titus that most pastors use for passive submission he made the following points, "any people, when cruelly oppressed, had a right to throw of the yoke, and be free." "Reason and equity require that no one be obliged to pay the tax that he has never consented to. But, if they have the right to take our property from us without our consent, we must be wholly at their mercy for food and raiment, and we know, by sad experience, that their tender mercies are cruel. "It is an indispensable duty, my brethren, which we owe to God and our country, to rouse up and bestir ourselves; and being animated with a noble zeal for the sacred cause of liberty, to defend our lives and fortunes to the shedding of the last drop of blood. The love of our country, the tender affection that we have for our wives and children, and the regard that we ought to have for unborn posterity-yea, everything that is dear and sacred - do now loudly call on us to use our best endeavors to save our country. We must turn our plowshares into swords, and our pruning-hooks into spears, and learn the art of self-defense against our enemies. To be careless and remiss, or to neglect the cause of our country through the base motives of avarice or self-interest, will expose us, not only to the resentments of our fellow-creatures, but to the displeasure of God Almighty.” Is it any wonder that the people of that day, while calling upon the God of the Bible, wrote the following great truth on July 4, 1776, in The Declaration of Independence, "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. " Notice they understood their rights came from God. History shows they fought for those rights. It was their religious conviction they need not obey any authority which would deprive them of those God given rights. Some may condemn their actions and judge them to be in error Biblically.  Often in our courts, when one is being judged, the defense will present case law to support their position. When we go to the Bible, we find the actions of the men and their Bible interpretation supported with Bible case law. BIBLE CASE LAW EXAMPLES REVEAL THE CORRECT INTERPRETATION ON AUTHORITY Blind, passive obedience to those in position of authority is not the rule when various Bible stories are considered. Take, for example, the  Hebrew midwives in Exodus l:15-20:  Then the king of Egypt spoke to the Hebrew midwives, one of whom was named Shiphrah, and the other was named Puah, and he said, 'When you are helping the Hebrew women to give birth and see them upon the birthstool, if it is a son, then you shall put him to death; but if it is a daughter, then she shall live.' But the midwives feared God, and did not do as the king of Egypt had commanded them, but let the boys live. So the king of Egypt called for the midwives, and said to them, 'Why have you done this thing, and let the boys live?' And the midwives said to Pharaoh, 'Because the Hebrew women are not as the Egyptian women; for they are vigorous, and they give birth before the midwife can get to them.' So God was good to the midwives, and the people multiplied, and became very mighty. And it came about because the midwives feared God, that He established households for them. Note in this story that not only were the midwives disobedient to the highest authority in the land (i.e., they DID NOT OBEY CAESAR OR PHARAOH), but they lied and outfoxed the authorities. The midwives knew that it was their God-given right not to have to bear witness against themselves. Who can deny that God's blessings were upon them? The story of Rahab in Joshua 2:1-3 is another similar story. Then Joshua the son of Nun sent two men as spies secretly from Shittim, saying, 'Go, view the land, especially Jericho.' So they went and came into the house of a harlot whose name was Rahab, and lodged there. And it was told the king of Jericho, saying, 'Behold, men from the sons of Israel have come here tonight to search out the land.' And the king of Jericho sent word to Rahab, saying, 'Bring out the men who have come to you, who have entered your house, for they have come to search out all the land.' But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them, and she said, 'Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they were from. ' Rahab was not in submission to her governing authorities. She too lied and she too was rewarded, and it is she that is used as an example in the New Testament Faith Hall of Fame found in Hebrews Chapter 11. Another example is the story of Daniel in Daniel Chapter 6. Because of space we shall only give a few verses: Then these commissioners and satraps came by agreement to the king and spoke to him as follows: 'King Darius, live forever! All the commissioners of the kingdom, the prefects and the satraps, the high officials and the governors have consulted together that the king should establish a statute and enforce an injunction that anyone who makes a petition to any god or man besides you,0 king, for thirty days, shall be cast into the lions' den. Now, 0 king, establish the injunction, and sign the document so that it may not be changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which may not be revoked.' Therefore King Darius signed the document, that is, the injunction. Now when Daniel knew that the    document was signed, he entered his house (now in his roof chamber he had windows open toward Jerusalem); and he continued kneeling on his knees three times a day, praying and giving thanks be/ore his God, as he had been doing previously. In this story you will note that the king's new law was similar to a city council’s ordinance of no praying and no church in improperly zoned areas. Daniel did not obey the law; he was not in submission to the authorities and as a result he was given an overnight jail sentence with some not-so-cool-cats (see Daniel 6:16). Of course for those confused souls who seem to think God has changed and that a point is valid only if it comes from the New Testament, let's observe two New Testament examples of disobedience. In the 19th chapter of the Gospel of John verses 8 and 9 we find Jesus refusing to obey the authorities, in this case Pilate: When Pilate therefore heard this statement, he was the more afraid and he entered the Praetorium again and said to Jesus, 'Where are you from?' But Jesus gave him no answer. This example is equivalent to a police officer or judge demanding to see a man's I.D. or driver's license and being refused  because of no probable cause. Another New Testament example is that of two apostles found in Acts Chapters 4 and 5. And when they had summoned them, they commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered and said to them, 'Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge.' Acts 4:18-19 Acts 5: And when they had brought them, they stood them   before the Council. And the high priest questioned them, saying, We gave you strict orders not to continue teaching in this name, and behold, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us. But Peter and the apostles answered and said, We must obey God rather than men. Acts 5:27-29 In these passages we see the Apostles refusing to obey the authorities, and for it, these men of God were physically beaten. (Acts 5:40) Haven't things changed! Men once would disobey to proclaim  Jesus Christ even if it cost them a physical beating. Today when a  council of men tells Christians they cannot have prayer and Bible in public schools they cower and obey for it may cost them some federal funds. The reason is they often do not understand Bible teaching on authority. PROPER UNDERSTANDING OF THE AUTHORITY OF ROMANS 13 AND RELATED TEXTS. It goes without saying that we have numerous Bible examples of disobedience to higher powers or governing authorities, but it also goes without saying that Romans 13:1 teaches one is to obey governing authorities- "Let every person be in subjection to the governing authorities." I Peter 3:13 teaches this as well. ls there, thus, a contradiction? No! What there is, is two types of governing authorities or higher powers taught in the Bible. Christians are to obey the one described in Romans 13 and with slight study of the text it becomes obvious what that is. Romans 13:1 identifies it as authority which comes from God-There is no authority except from God. Romans 13:2 further identifies the authority as that which is in keeping with the will of God, that is, executing his law­ he who resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God. Verse 3 identifies the authority as an authority that one need not fear if he is doing no wrong—For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior but for evil, and as an authority which praises good behavior. Verse 4 shows the authority is that which punishes evildoers as a minister of God—For it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath upon the one who practices evil. Then verses 6 and 7 teach that for such authority taxes are paid. It goes without saying that said authority or rulers must be financed and ought to be financed by Christian people who—Render to all what is due them; tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor. The authority the scripture speaks of comes from God, does His will, i.e., executes His law, punishes evildoers, and gives no cause to fear to those who do good. IT IS NOT a governing authority that would protect homosexuals, forbid Bibles and Jesus in school, finance and promote the murder of babies in the womb, slaughter our youth in    unconstitutional no-win wars, forbid Christian parents from giving their children a Christian education, forbid travel without a license, forbid preaching without a license, deny the first fruits of our labors, feed those who will not work, require a number to exist (Social Security), etc. For all of this is not in keeping with the law of God. Such a governing authority causes those who do good, such as hold church in their home or have prayer in class, to be in fear and causes those who do evil, such as homosexuals, to be protected. Such an authority is not what the scriptures teach obedience to nor support of. This does not mean another authority or higher power does not nor cannot exist which does all these unlawful humanistic deeds. It  simply means this is not the authority of Romans 13 or I Peter 2:13. A COUNTERFEIT AUTHORITY EXISTS OTHER THAN THAT OF ROMANS CHAPTER 13. Hosea 8:4 says - They have set up kings but not by me. They have appointed princes but, I did not know it. This passage teaches that man can set up higher powers which are not the authorities God intends for His kingdom. Let's illustrate this point with a true story. About one hundred years ago there was a Christian settler and his family moving west into Colorado in a covered wagon. Shortly after having crossed over the  Colorado-Kansas line enroute to his future homestead he was approached by two men on horseback. The one stayed off in the distance while the other rode up to the wagon to tell the settler that it would be necessary to pay a toll tax before crossing through the valley ahead of him. The settler, recognizing a highwayman when he saw one and knowing he had a God-given right to freedom of travel, resisted these two potential-higher-powers by pulling out a rifle and stating that he did not think that tax applied to him. Would any church dare condemn this settler's disobedience as unchristian? No!  It is recognized by God and man that the two horsemen were not the authority meant for the Kingdom.

Now let's just change the story a bit by having the two horsemen wear badges saying, "My name is Caesar” and being hired and sent out by a city council to give tickets in order to raise revenue to pay for municipal expenses and debt. Then suddenly modern Christianity becomes insanity, and the cry is, "You must obey Caesar, pay Caesar." You see county mounties with 357's on the hip and a badge on the chest, with back-ups on the way and the blessings of county commissioners are a real power and authority, but that doesn't in itself make them the higher power or authority described in Romans 13. Just because someone sets them self up in a position of power and authority or just because someone is set up in that position be it OSHA or a DOG CATCHER-THAT DOESN'T MAKE THEM THE AUTHORITY OF ROMANS 13!!! Such authority or power is real and does exist, just as Peter and James found out when a real whip lashed their backs and just as Daniel found out when thrown into a real lion's den, but it is counterfeit in that it is not the authority of Romans 13. It does not necessarily punish evildoers; it does not necessarily enforce or carry out the laws of God and it does not always allow those who do right to be without fear.  Often this type of authority, along with the assistance of state approved Baal ministers, will try to pawn itself off as the authority  described in Romans 13, but it isn't. It is a counterfeit! This other type of authority is the type that Pilate had when, after Jesus refused to cooperate and answer his question, he said - You do not speak to me? Do you not know that I have authority to release You, and I have authority to crucify You? John 19:10 Yes, his power and authority was real, but where did he get it? THE ORIGIN AND PURPOSE OF THE TWO AUTHORITIES OR HIGHER POWERS OF SCRIPTURE Someone might say that the good authority or power of Romans 13 comes from God and the bad authority such as Pilate's  ability to crucify or to beat men like Peter and John comes from Satan. The truth is, all Power or Authority (exousia in the Greek) comes from the sovereign God of Israel­ Jesus Christ. And Jesus came up and spoke to them saying, ALL authority (exousia) has been given to Me in heaven and ON EARTH. If He has it all then there is only one place anyone can go to get any measure of it, thus Jesus responded to Pilate's statement - You would have no authority over Me unless it had been given you from above. THE PURPOSE of the authority or power of Romans 13 is born out in the text as: (1) To enforce God's law- he who resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God. (2) To assure that good behavior has nothing to fear, and bad behavior does - For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior but for evil. (3) To punish evildoers - an avenger who brings wrath upon the one who practices evil.  THE DUTY OF A CHRISTIAN to such authority is: (1) Obedience - Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. (2) Financial support ­ For because of this you also pay taxes for rulers are servants of God devoting themselves to this very thing. THE RESULTS would be Jesus again acknowledged as king with the government enforcing His laws rather than the laws of man, with people obeying these laws, which in effect is the will of God being done on earth as it is in heaven, which is the very essence of the KINGDOM (Matt. 6:10). Men would again be endowed by their creator with those precious unalienable rights of LIFE, LIBERTY, PROPERTY, PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS, ETC.

 This is the end of part 1. We will continue next month with part 2 of AUTHORITY.. If you would like the complete printed pamphlet, it is available from SFA.  Better yet, order a dozen or so and pass them out. From the Scriptures for America Dragon Slayer newsletter, 2022, Volume 2. To order the complete pamphlet "Authority: Resistance or Obedience", call 307-742-7582 or email preacher@sfaw.org