Time for what?! Good question, so let me explain. Earlier today I was chatting with a good friend, a fellow culture warrior, and a terrific Christian leader here in Australia. We first discussed the descending darkness in Australia, and the need to persevere.
We then discussed various Christian political leaders who had stood strong, and have not gone with the PC lunacy sweeping our culture. In the past we have handed out awards to such champs, giving them public recognition for their valiant efforts.
And we agreed that we are running low on such leaders to keep giving these awards to. There just is a limited number of principled and values-based politicians who will side with biblical truth over political expediency. So we started talking about recognising non-Christian leaders.
There are a number of these folks who may not be Christians, but more often than not they stand up for biblical values while most Christian leaders refuse to do so. Indeed, the more the church is filled with craven and compromised leadership, the more these non-Christians stand out.
We mentioned some obvious candidates such as Mark Latham. Non-politicians would include Andrew Bolt in Australia and Brendan O’Neill in the UK. Probably 80 per cent of the time they speak truth – and truth that lines up with biblical ethics. They are conservatives, but not Christians, and sometimes they may push things believers would not be happy with.
For example, Geert Wilders, the Dutch politician, is terrific on many things, especially the threat of Islamism to Western civilisation. He is spot on concerning the dangers of multiculturalism and the Islamic threat to freedom and democracy, but he and his political party promote things like homosexuality.
So these folks are a mixed bag, but for the most part they speak more sense and offer more Christian principles than perhaps most religious leaders do. So they deserve a word of praise. They need public recognition, and I think we believers can rightly sing their praises – at least to a certain extent.
And this is where Rahab comes in. For those not in the know, she was a figure mentioned in the Old Testament who was a praiseworthy non-believer. At least she was not an Israelite, and worse yet, she was actually a prostitute. But as we read in Joshua 2 and 6, she did tremendous good to Israel by hiding two of their spies in the pagan city of Jericho.
What is even more remarkable is what we find in the New Testament concerning this woman. In the genealogy found in Matthew’s gospel running from Abraham to Jesus, we actually find her listed in Matt 1:5. Wow, a non-Israelite prostitute (she may have become a proselyte at some point), who is mentioned in this list of forebears to Jesus.
And we get another amazing mention of her in the ‘heroes of faith’ chapter – Hebrews 11. In Heb. 11:31 we read, “By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.” And she gets more accolades in James 2:25:
“In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction?” These are some pretty impressive words of praise for a non-Israelite with great faith, mentioned along with folks like Isaac, Moses and David.
So my friend and I were talking about handing out some “Rahab Awards”! Such a title may not sit well with most potential recipients, so we will have to come up with a new title. But the point remains: there are some great secular champs out there who are saying and doing what so many Christian leaders are refusing to say and do.
They deserve some public recognition and appreciation, even from us believers. And I have often done just this. Many times I salute the bravery and willingness of non-Christians who are standing against stifling PC, the attack on Christian values, and the war on freedom.
And I often mention the passage found in Luke 19:35-40 in which Jesus says that if his own people do not speak out, then “the stones will cry out.” One way or another God’s truth will get out. So I have no problems when non-Christians proclaim truth, especially in the culture wars. I have written often on this:
So let me finish by mentioning one ‘stone’ who I am so very impressed with. As far as I know he is not a biblical Christian – although he would affirm the basic Judeo-Christian worldview – but his courage and resistance to the PC baloney is inspiring indeed. I refer to Canadian psychology professor Jordan Peterson. I had written about him several times last year:
Read those pieces if you are not familiar with him. He is especially famous for taking on the transgender militants and the pronoun police. He refuses to be cowed by the activists, and all the new draconian laws being rushed through, making it an offence to not bow down to the gender bender crusade.
A google of his name will get plenty of hits. Let me just draw from one, and then point to a few (of many) terrific videos you can see with him standing strong against the trans zealots and the PC Big Brothers. In a piece in the UK Spectator a few months back we find this:
His claims about gender — that women consistently differ, cross-culturally, from men on many of the Big Five personality traits identified by psychometric researchers — are, in psychology circles at least, not particularly controversial. These traits are Openness, Neuroticism, Conscientiousness, Extraversion and Agreeableness (each of these are technical definitions that are somewhat more precise and different in meaning to their casual usage as terms).
‘These traits are not social-cultural,’ says Peterson. ‘The evidence is crystal clear. As you make a country more egalitarian, the gender differences get larger. Most particularly, women are higher when it comes to Agreeableness — wanting everyone to get along, not liking conflict, compassionate, polite, self-sacrificing — and Neuroticism — higher in negative emotion and more responsive to grief and threat and punishment and isolation.’
The denial of what he considers these fundamental realities has led him to become an outspoken critic of mainstream academia.
‘The humanities in the universities have become almost incomprehensibly shallow and corrupt in multiple ways,’ he says. ‘They don’t rely on science because they are not scientifically educated. This is true particularly in sociology, where they mask their complete ignorance of science by claiming that science is just another mode of knowing and that it’s only privileged within the structure of the oppressive Eurocentric patriarchy. It’s appalling. We’re not having an intelligent conversation, we are having an ideological conversation.
‘Students, instead of being ennobled or inculcated into the proper culture, the last vestiges of structure are stripped from them by post-modernism and neo-Marxism, which defines everything in terms of relativism and power.’
His battle to defend the fundamental tenets of free speech against language control has meant he has had to pay a price. There are videos on YouTube showing disturbing confrontations between him and radical transgender activists.
‘I’m very upset by the criticism — very, very upset,’ he says. ‘But I know what the consequences of failing to engage in the necessary conflict are — and those consequences are worse. To speak words that others told me to speak is to kowtow to a corrupt ideology and would break the part of me that is useful in the world.’
Peterson studied political science — notably 20th- century European totalitarianism — before taking up psychology. This has left him with a dark view of the path that collectivist thinking can lead you down. He is both astonished and puzzled that the crimes of Stalinism and Maoism have not received anything like the attention that has been given to the Nazi atrocities.
Students coming to his classes are often entirely unaware of the mass exterminations those systems of belief wrought during the 20th century — numerically greater than those perpetrated by the Nazis.
See the whole article here: https://life.spectator.co.uk/2017/09/jordan-peterson-and-the-transgender-wars/
Finally, I offer some short videos here to whet your appetite for more:
Hey Bill, I’m not gonna lie, I’m finding myself agreeing with atheists a lot more nowadays then Christians when it comes to this madness. Even though atheists do support SSM, I’ve notice a lot find the transgender agenda not only insane but also, they admit the idea of a man trapped inside a woman’s body or vice versa would completely go against naturalism.
Good day Mr Muehlenberg
I am a reader of your blog from South Africa.
I will be visiting Melbourne over New Year this year and would appreciate any recomendation you could give on a suitable church to attend. My accommodation will be in Yarraville.
Thank you very much.
Regards
Samantha Longmore
Thanks Samantha. I am at the other end of town, so not as familiar with that area. So I will ask any Melbournians here to offer their recommendations.
One of the women I’m so inspired by in the Word of God she saved her whole family & descendants by protecting the Israelites and boldly asking for protection for her & her family and became part of the lineage of Jesus Christ. Strong, courageous & mighty warrior woman of God.
Inadvertently Teresa May the Prime Minister of Britain has highlighted a woman in Britain, Jaida Fransen, who is more like Boudicca than Rahab.
She might have preferred not to reacted so hastily to Donald Trump’s tweet championing a woman whom I personally would not want to meet down a dark ally. However her courage and zeal in confronting Mohammedans in Britain is something many of us would agree with, though secretly.
I would nominate Camille Paglia for the “Rahab Award” as well…if you haven’t already. She has been going against “type” and speaking hard truths for decades.
Thanks Bonnie. I recently did a piece on Paglia, calling her another “stone” that is speaking out:
Have watched many Jordan videos in the last 18 months or so… He’s a bright light in the secular world, and yes stands up for truth more than much of the church, sadly
Very helpful article, Bill. I remember Andrew Bolt remarking that he felt it was ironic that he was standing up for the Christian right for freedom of expression more than many Christian ministers appeared to be. Andrew also voiced a concern that the church find stronger leaders to help equip it for the persecution he saw coming. Now Mark Latham has put his children into a Christian school, and though he says he is not a Christian, hopes the Christian community will accept him as a fellow- traveller. Thanks for highlighting the views of Jordan Peterson.
Bill I would love to hear your thoughts on Milo Yiannapoulos. Like others you’ve mentioned I don’t agree with him on everything – he’s a flamboyant homosexual, he’s crude and intentionally inflammatory.. but he speaks the truth on many areas in the culture wars (and is one of the most publicly recognized). He shares many conservative views on abortion, free speech, identity politics, Islam, etc. The MSM bash him constantly but I’ve seen many of his speeches that prove their ‘facts’ are anything but.
Thanks Michael. I have written on him at various times. This piece especially should provide you with my specific thoughts on him:
In a world of seven billion people why is there just one psychologist willing to stand up for the scientific truth? Have all the others been so coward by the system that they can’t? This, perhaps unsurprisingly, does not reflect well on the state of psychology or on academia in general. We do so desperately need a new enlightenment. When the world thought they could use scientific principles to oppose Christianity people were all on board. Now science has progressed to the point where it is starting to confirm Christian principles and now we find almost no one wants to know. Science has just become “paternalistic” because it opposes our make believe world. There should be outcries all over but there are almost none. Surely this is evidence that we are in the grip of the prophesied great delusion. There is a huge difference between the inevitable scientific ignorance of the past and the deliberate scientific ignorance of this present generation. Truth was so important to past generations that we made things like free speech sacrosanct but now truth is so irrelevant to this generation that they are very happy to shut down free speech and not only that but force their imaginary pronouns, by use of legal force if necessary, onto all people. How is possible that people are not able to wake up to what is happening?
Ted Cruz.
Thanks Mike. Yes Cruz is a champ. But he is a Christian of course. Here we are referring to non-Christians who are worth noting and supporting.
For Samantha Longmore – Suburban Baptist Church in Hoppers Crossing is a biblical and welcoming church, it’s about 15-20min from Yarraville.
Thanks for this article Bill.
No longer are we to be guided by the Word of God and His conscience – or even by commonsense which are placed within heart and mind of every person. Instead it is now a statutory for the depraved, deceiving, delusional, doubting, double-minded, double –dealing, dishonest, denying , dissimulating, duplicitous, deviant , defiant, disdainful, disobedient, disrespectful, distracted, diverted, discriminatory, disruptive, dysfunctional , depressed, disordered, dysphoric, deranged, distorted, deconstructed, dismantling, destructive, detestable, disgraceful, depraved, degraded, decadent, degenerate, debauched, dehumanised, despairing, damned, dominating , despotic, demon and devil possessed and death wishing professors like A.W. Peet to set itself up as the supreme authority to critique all truth and be the conscience of the nation .
It is great when it comes from the horse’s mouth and they tell us that it is they who are rewriting statutory legislation. They make it up as they go along.
Blinded by sparking brain cells, they now describe science in terms of their own experience not the other way around. Quantum physics is described and explained by non binary gender theory. Not the other way around. I would like to see them drive a car, pick mushrooms or fly plane using the same principles.
Dear Bill, May we nominate much maligned President Trump, who:
. recently proclaimed that “Jesus is the reason for the season” – praise God! and
. chose a wonderful godly deputy in Mike Pence,
The first year in office accomplishments of President Trump, who consistently honours God in his public addresses, may be read here: http://www.wnd.com/2017/11/4621979/
President Trump stands strongly for religious liberty and the protection of life.
Especially at this time we must all be diligent in prayer that the Lord will strengthen President Trump, protect him, and grant him His wisdom.
Thanks Bill,
Balfour family
G’day Bill,
Goodonya as always. I turn to you for encouragement nearly daily.
I’ll nominate Mark Steyn, because he’s with us so often, and he has all the right enemies. I have heard him refer to church, and he may go with his wife, so that may ‘disqualify’ him. But he talks so much non-PC sense.
Hey Bill, I’m not gonna lie, I’m finding myself agreeing with atheists a lot more nowadays then Christians when it comes to this madness. Even though atheists do support SSM, I’ve notice a lot find the transgender agenda not only insane but also, they admit the idea of a man trapped inside a woman’s body or vice versa would completely go against naturalism.
Good day Mr Muehlenberg
I am a reader of your blog from South Africa.
I will be visiting Melbourne over New Year this year and would appreciate any recomendation you could give on a suitable church to attend. My accommodation will be in Yarraville.
Thank you very much.
Regards
Samantha Longmore
Thanks Samantha. I am at the other end of town, so not as familiar with that area. So I will ask any Melbournians here to offer their recommendations.
One of the women I’m so inspired by in the Word of God she saved her whole family & descendants by protecting the Israelites and boldly asking for protection for her & her family and became part of the lineage of Jesus Christ. Strong, courageous & mighty warrior woman of God.
Inadvertently Teresa May the Prime Minister of Britain has highlighted a woman in Britain, Jaida Fransen, who is more like Boudicca than Rahab.
She might have preferred not to reacted so hastily to Donald Trump’s tweet championing a woman whom I personally would not want to meet down a dark ally. However her courage and zeal in confronting Mohammedans in Britain is something many of us would agree with, though secretly.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98DkCg0OUmc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJ0HsV0Jcvs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JoRnYSodIrI
Paul Weston is another person who has the courage to call out Mohammedanism
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WB7en-eu0X8
David Skinner UK
I would nominate Camille Paglia for the “Rahab Award” as well…if you haven’t already. She has been going against “type” and speaking hard truths for decades.
Thanks Bonnie. I recently did a piece on Paglia, calling her another “stone” that is speaking out:
https://billmuehlenberg.com/2017/06/16/truth-stones-non-christians-getting-right/
Have watched many Jordan videos in the last 18 months or so… He’s a bright light in the secular world, and yes stands up for truth more than much of the church, sadly
Very helpful article, Bill. I remember Andrew Bolt remarking that he felt it was ironic that he was standing up for the Christian right for freedom of expression more than many Christian ministers appeared to be. Andrew also voiced a concern that the church find stronger leaders to help equip it for the persecution he saw coming. Now Mark Latham has put his children into a Christian school, and though he says he is not a Christian, hopes the Christian community will accept him as a fellow- traveller. Thanks for highlighting the views of Jordan Peterson.
Bill I would love to hear your thoughts on Milo Yiannapoulos. Like others you’ve mentioned I don’t agree with him on everything – he’s a flamboyant homosexual, he’s crude and intentionally inflammatory.. but he speaks the truth on many areas in the culture wars (and is one of the most publicly recognized). He shares many conservative views on abortion, free speech, identity politics, Islam, etc. The MSM bash him constantly but I’ve seen many of his speeches that prove their ‘facts’ are anything but.
Thanks Michael. I have written on him at various times. This piece especially should provide you with my specific thoughts on him:
https://billmuehlenberg.com/2017/02/21/i-am-praying-for-milo/
In a world of seven billion people why is there just one psychologist willing to stand up for the scientific truth? Have all the others been so coward by the system that they can’t? This, perhaps unsurprisingly, does not reflect well on the state of psychology or on academia in general. We do so desperately need a new enlightenment. When the world thought they could use scientific principles to oppose Christianity people were all on board. Now science has progressed to the point where it is starting to confirm Christian principles and now we find almost no one wants to know. Science has just become “paternalistic” because it opposes our make believe world. There should be outcries all over but there are almost none. Surely this is evidence that we are in the grip of the prophesied great delusion. There is a huge difference between the inevitable scientific ignorance of the past and the deliberate scientific ignorance of this present generation. Truth was so important to past generations that we made things like free speech sacrosanct but now truth is so irrelevant to this generation that they are very happy to shut down free speech and not only that but force their imaginary pronouns, by use of legal force if necessary, onto all people. How is possible that people are not able to wake up to what is happening?
Ted Cruz.
Thanks Mike. Yes Cruz is a champ. But he is a Christian of course. Here we are referring to non-Christians who are worth noting and supporting.
For Samantha Longmore – Suburban Baptist Church in Hoppers Crossing is a biblical and welcoming church, it’s about 15-20min from Yarraville.
Thanks for this article Bill.
No longer are we to be guided by the Word of God and His conscience – or even by commonsense which are placed within heart and mind of every person. Instead it is now a statutory for the depraved, deceiving, delusional, doubting, double-minded, double –dealing, dishonest, denying , dissimulating, duplicitous, deviant , defiant, disdainful, disobedient, disrespectful, distracted, diverted, discriminatory, disruptive, dysfunctional , depressed, disordered, dysphoric, deranged, distorted, deconstructed, dismantling, destructive, detestable, disgraceful, depraved, degraded, decadent, degenerate, debauched, dehumanised, despairing, damned, dominating , despotic, demon and devil possessed and death wishing professors like A.W. Peet to set itself up as the supreme authority to critique all truth and be the conscience of the nation .
It is great when it comes from the horse’s mouth and they tell us that it is they who are rewriting statutory legislation. They make it up as they go along.
Blinded by sparking brain cells, they now describe science in terms of their own experience not the other way around. Quantum physics is described and explained by non binary gender theory. Not the other way around. I would like to see them drive a car, pick mushrooms or fly plane using the same principles.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8_r32tjNmw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjBK1Gfz05o
Frankly I think King Edward the 1st had the right idea – metaphorically speaking of course and not literally.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XSoG7m1V6aw
David Skinner UK
Another interesting Canadian is Gad Saad.
Dear Bill, May we nominate much maligned President Trump, who:
. recently proclaimed that “Jesus is the reason for the season” – praise God! and
. chose a wonderful godly deputy in Mike Pence,
The first year in office accomplishments of President Trump, who consistently honours God in his public addresses, may be read here: http://www.wnd.com/2017/11/4621979/
President Trump stands strongly for religious liberty and the protection of life.
Especially at this time we must all be diligent in prayer that the Lord will strengthen President Trump, protect him, and grant him His wisdom.
Thanks Bill,
Balfour family
G’day Bill,
Goodonya as always. I turn to you for encouragement nearly daily.
I’ll nominate Mark Steyn, because he’s with us so often, and he has all the right enemies. I have heard him refer to church, and he may go with his wife, so that may ‘disqualify’ him. But he talks so much non-PC sense.
Shalom, peace through Jesus
Andrew