THE SEASONAL FLU OF 2020 THAT CRIPPLED A COUNTRY

I was willing to sit just sit by and watch as my fellow Americans let the Media make marionettes out of them. I was willing to let my fellow Americans isolate themselves out of willful ignorance. But when I heard that neighbors were turning other neighbors in to the police for not following these ridiculous orders set forth by our government, I could no longer stay silent. When I heard fellow Americans were calling the police on businesses that weren’t obeying the mask wearing and social distancing mandates… I could not let them do so without speaking my mind and labeling them for what they are. And so, I produced this article which defends my position concerning this “pandemic.” I believe this virus to be no more  than the Seasonal Flu examined under a microscope. These beliefs of mine are grounded in truth. What I set forth is every argument that has thus far been used against my position, and a rebuttal to each argument and sources for each of my rebuttals. Here is a list of the arguments that I have heard:

1. “I am a Doctor and this virus is a serious pandemic. You are ignorant of how bad it really is. How much schooling have you had on the subject? … That’s what I thought. Leave viral pandemics to the professionals.”
2. “The Coronavirus is far different than the seasonal flu in that the symptoms are far worse.”
3. “People who have the virus can attest to just how severe it really is. They have said that it is much worse than the seasonal flu.”
4. “This virus has taken the lives of both old and young, healthy and unhealthy alike. You cannot compare this to the seasonal flu that only kills those whose immune systems are compromised.”
5. “You cannot compare this to the Seasonal Flu because the deaths per infection rate is far greater. The Seasonal Flu death per infection is .1% while the Coronavirus is 1.5%.”
6. “I see you critiquing all these models and attacking the opposing positions. Do you not know the old saying that, ‘All models are wrong, some are useful?’ Why then do you critique them so? They should simply be taken with a grain of salt.”
7. “If the Virus isn’t as bad as you say it is, then why are all the hospitals being over run with infected people?”
8. The Diamond Princess Cruise Ship Model extrapolated across the U.S.
9. “You cannot compare the Coronavirus to the Seasonal Flu because the Seasonal Flu is measured throughout the whole year.”
10. “This virus may not be deadly to you, but it could be deadly to someone you know, or don’t know for that matter. Hence, you should be considerate, responsible, social distance, and wear masks.”
11. “You have attacked the Media, the Government, Doctors and Scientists, and yet throughout this entire paper, you have constantly used these sources to support your rebuttals. Do you not see the contradiction in this?”

Argument #1

“I am a Doctor and this virus is a serious pandemic. You are ignorant of how bad it really is. How much schooling have you had on the subject? … That’s what I thought. Leave viral pandemics to the professionals.”

Rebuttal to Argument #1

Am I not a man such as yourself? Is truth only restricted for only certain men and not for others? Good Doctor, I do give my respect to the knowledge you have acquired and to your experience. I dare not put my own knowledge against yours… and yet, what is a man to do when the very Doctors and Scientists contradict each other? An example of the Scientific community not agreeing is the Article written by Dr.s Bendavid and Bhattacharya where they criticize the World Health Organization and say that their estimates regarding the death rates are “deeply flawed” (1).  I can quote many Scientists and Doctors who agree with my belief that this Virus is not as bad as the Media purposes. At the same time, there are those who believe that this Virus is equivalent to the Plague, and they will find Scientists and Doctors who agree with them. Now, we have to find out who’s Scientists and Doctors are more authoritative and that’s when the debate gets ridiculous. I will not debate the authority of each individual Doctor and Scientist, so we will just have to agree to disagree because I don’t believe anyone debating this has enough information to have an educated opinion on whose scientist knows more. But what we can agree on is that if the Scientists and Doctors disagree then, this means that truth must be sought out by the individual. It shows that the answers are not that easily found and that your side could be wrong. It shows that you can’t just trust everything that a Doctor or a Scientist says.

For yet another example of the Doctors and Scientists disagreeing with each other, consider the article from the Dailywire about Epidemiologist Neil Ferguson who was the creator if the Imperial College London Corona Virus Model saying that he now admits that he was wrong and has had to revise his model. The Media has often cited his model and “it has been instrumental in government policy decision making.” The reason for his revision is, “what has happened is that estimates of the viruses transmissibility have increased—which implies that many more people have already gotten it than we realize—which in turn implies it is less dangerous.” Additionally, an Epidemiologist from Oxford, Sunetra Gupta, criticized Ferguson’s model. “Professor Gupta lead a team of researchers at Oxford in a modeling study which suggests that the virus has been invisibly spreading for at least a month earlier than suspected, concluding that as many as half of the people in the United Kingdom have already been infected by Covid-19. If her model is accurate, fewer than one in a thousand who’ve been infected with Covid-19 become sick enough to need hospitalization, leaving the vast majority with mild cases or free of symptoms” (2).

You see, when you have two truths that contradict each other, both from good, reliable sources, only one can be correct. So one must find more viable sources and dig deeper for the truth. That is the purpose of this article. Read my words and journey with me on the path of discovery. But I ask only one thing…. Be of an open mind and follow the evidence where it leads.

Argument #2

“The Coronavirus is far different than the seasonal flu in that the symptoms are far more worse.”

Rebuttal to Argument #2

The Media is quite vocal regarding the effects of this virus. The CDC gives full account to the symptoms of the Coronavirus and the Seasonal Flu. The symptoms for the seasonal flu range from a headache, congestion, sore throat, fatigue, body aches, fever, vomiting, shortness of breath, diarrhea, and yes… even death. It can also lead to pneumonia as I can personally attest to when my 2-year-old’s flu grew worse and lead to pneumonia. The symptoms of the Coronavirus are shortness of breath, cough, fatigue, fever, and even death.

            For the seasonal flu, those who are most affected are children, the elderly, and the immune compromised. For the Coronavirus, those most affected are the elderly and the immune compromised.

            Consider the testimonies from those who suffered from the Coronavirus and compare it to the Seasonal Flu:. I can give examples of those who had a fever for a week’s time, others who suffered from a cough and shortness of breath, or people who have been admitted to the ICU and fitted with ventilators, and even some who were crippled by pneumonia. A debate can go on for days. We must therefor agree that when looked with unbiased eyes… looking at the symptoms…with no tests given… you cannot tell the difference between the two.

Argument #3

“People who have the virus can attest to just how severe it really is. They have said that it is much worse than the seasonal flu.”

Rebuttal to Argument #3

I have touched on this argument slightly in my rebuttal to Argument #2. Each side of the debate can give examples of individuals who have suffered from the virus. 80% of people with the virus have mild to moderate symptoms (3). And if you refer to my rebuttal of argument number 2, you will see the similarities between the virus and the flu in that the elderly and those with underlying health conditions are at a higher risk for problems.

            For arguments sake, allow me to give a few testimonies from individuals who have suffered from the virus. On February 22, Mr. Marc Thibault felt like something was amiss and checked himself into a clinic but because he didn’t have any of the major symptoms like a fever and shortness of breath, they sent him away. A week later, the virus “hit him like a hurricane” and he ended up going to the hospital and got tubes shoved down his throat because his breathing was compromised and he had developed pneumonia in his lungs. He felt as though he was going to die, but then slowly, started to recover. “It almost killed me… it’s alarming when I hear people minimize it as a simple cold. It was no simple cold for me.” He’s 48 years old and suffered from asthma before he got the virus” (3).

            Another case is of a woman in Chicago was diagnosed with the virus. She didn’t have a fever. She had some body aches and lost her sense of taste for a while. She doubted that she even had the virus until she got tested (4).

            Another man was diagnosed with the virus after his small cough started  to spiral out of control. On March 11 he tested positive and was hospitalized. He is 55 years old (5).

            A college student in Illinois said he wasn’t feeling too well and suspected he had the virus, so his parents took him to go get tested, and it came back positive. His symptoms were very mild: “runny nose, headache, cough, difficult breathing but no high fever” (6).

            A Seattle resident, Elizabeth Schneider, said that her symptoms were a “headache, fever, (for the first 3 days consistently and then on and off after 3 days) severe body aches, joint pain, and severe fatigue… She is in her mid-30s (7).

            On a more personal note, one of my co-workers wasn’t feeling too well, so he decided to stay home from work. After hearing his symptoms, I urged him to go get tested. He had a headache, congestion, a cough, shortness of breath, a fever, chills, body aches, and fatigue. When he went to get tested the first time, the Doctors said they wouldn’t test him because he wasn’t high-risk, but then his symptoms became worse. He went back to get tested and they finally agreed. The test came back negative. His symptoms lasted over 2 weeks. He’s 22 years old with pre-existing conditions.

            Many of us are waiting for the antibody tests to become more accessible because many people believe they have already gotten this virus back in November and December because they had identical symptoms to what the Coronavirus survivors and the CDC say.

            In conclusion, we cannot rule out that the virus is worse than the seasonal flu just based on personal experience because, as you can see, some people suffered from worse symptoms and only had the regular flu, while others never knew they had the virus until they were tested. And unless you have the medical record of each individual who suffers from a virus, you cannot tell if they fall into the “underlying health conditions category.”

           

Argument #4

“This virus has taken the lives of both old and young, healthy and unhealthy alike. You cannot compare this to the seasonal flu that only kills those whose immune systems are compromised.”

Rebuttal to Argument #4

        This is an interesting argument. It presupposes that every death recorded is viable and accurate and beyond a shadow of a doubt. All I would need to do is shed some doubt on the validity of these causes of death and the premise loses its authority. Thus, I have two examples I wish to use regarding this topic.

            The first is brought to us by Candace Owens, a Conservative political activist and commentator. On the first of April, Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont announced “the first pediatric fatality in Connecticut linked to Covid-19.” Candace Owens responded to what the Governor stated by saying, “‘Linked to Covid-19’ What the hell does that mean? Did the newborn have pre-existing conditions – yes or no? Did the infant die of Coronavirus – yes or no? STOP with this political double speak. Scaring mothers of newborns with partial information is SCUM BEHAVIOR.  ‘Complicated by’  ‘Linked to’ has anybody else realized that ALL of these death announcements provide partial information? If you are going to start using the death of infants to scare people into doing what you want, you better start providing Full information, [Gov. Lamont].”

            It turns out, the infant’s death had nothing to do with Covid-19. It was a horrible accident at home (8).

            Another example that should cause doubt regarding the validity of these supposed Covid-19 deaths comes from the mouth of Dr. Deborah Birx. She is the Doctor standing beside  President Trump and Dr. Fauci in the press conferences you have been watching. She said, “The federal government is classifying the deaths of patients infected with the Coronavirus as Covid-19 deaths, regardless of any underlying health issues that could have contributed to the loss of someone’s life” (9). Right here you have a confession from the response coordinator for the White House coronavirus task force—the  same people that give you the number of “Covid” deaths. 

            An even stronger rebuttal to this argument comes from an article published by the San Diego Union Tribune on January 17, 2018, regarding the flu epidemic that year, “younger people have not come through unscathed. An 18-year-old man and a 26-year-old woman, both unvaccinated, but with no other health problems, have died in what county officials and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are now calling a flu epidemic” (10). I know not what else I can say except that it is true that people are dying from this virus, but the same goes for the seasonal flu. The main difference between this Virus and every other Seasonal flu is that we are watching this Virus under a microscope. Every death, every infection, every fever, cough, sneeze is being publicized. It is from this media publicity that so much fear has stemmed. Deaths and infections you would have never heard of are now front page news. This also serves as further evidence for my closing rebuttal to argument #5 because this virus was here in November, but no one noticed.

Argument #5

“You cannot compare this to the Seasonal Flu because the deaths per infection rate is far greater. The Seasonal Flu death per infection is 0.1% while the Coronavirus is 1.5%.”

Rebuttal to Argument #5

My rebuttal to this argument is some of the greatest evidence I have for my position on the virus. This argument from my opponent holds no authority because their numbers cannot be trusted. To show you why they cannot be trusted, we must start at the beginning. When and where did the virus start?

            It was on November 17, 2019 in China that the first Covid-19 case was confirmed (11). Hear me when I say this because that was the first confirmed case does not mean that November 17, 2019 was the start date of the Virus. He was not patient zero. My opponents wish to claim that the virus is more dangerous then the seasonal flu because of how insanely fast the virus spreads, and yet, the Chinese government wants us to believe that from November 17 to the first day of 2020, there were only 38 cases. Common sense and logic would say otherwise. (11).

             Another point to be made is that Doctors were not able to accurately test in the beginning. On January 17, 2020, there was a press briefing with the CDC where a reporter, Mike Stable, stated and asked, the “CDC is trying to develop the diagnostic test to determine the virus, but when you all will be screening people, you’ll be looking at symptoms. You wont be able to actually test for the virus, is that correct?”

            Dr. Nancy Messonnier, director of the CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Disease, responded with, “We actually do have a laboratory diagnostics here at CDC that are stood up. The first diagnostic that we’d be relying on is based on sequence. Our colleagues in China…identified this pathogen and put that sequence up where it’s publicly available to all scientists. That is how our colleagues in Japan and Thailand identified cases. They compared the sequences that they found in their patients to the sequence that the Chinese collaborators posted. So we at the CDC also have the ability to do that today, but we are working on a more specific diagnostic” (12).

            As you can see, our tests were not accurate until February (13). This tells us that whatever numbers we had until accurate tests arose cannot be fully trusted. It is by these very numbers that the models distinguishing the deaths per infection, but now you have seen reason to CONSIDER questioning these models.

            Allow me to give you more evidence for why I find myself, and many others for that matter, believing that the mortality rate for the Coronavirus is .01%.

            Two professors of medicine at Stanford, Dr. Bendavid and Dr. Bhattacharya have critiqued the proposed models that so many have followed and instead offer their own. “The epidemic started sometime in November…the first confirmed U.S. case included a person who traveled from Wuhan on January 15^th, but it is likely that the virus entered before that: tens of thousands of people traveled from Wuhan to the U.S. in December. Existing evidence suggests that the virus is highly transmissible and that the number of infections doubles roughly every three days. An epidemic seed on January1st implies that by March 9 about 6 million people in the U.S. would have been infected. As of March 23 according to the CDC, there were 499 Covid-19 deaths in the U.S. If our surmise of 6 million cases is accurate, that’s a mortality rate of .01% assuming a two-week lag between infection and death. This is one-tenth of the flu mortality rate of 0.1%.”

            Another critique of the popular models that so much fear has been based upon comes from Professor of Theoretical Epidemiology Sunatra Gupta and her team from Oxford University on March 24th.  They suggest that “up to 68% of the population may have already been infected with the virus – many without knowing it. Professor Gupta…has suggested that… only through testing for antibodies can real certainty about rates of infections be obtained” (14). As I write this article on April 24^th the antibody tests have already begun. Researchers at Stanford Medicine tested 3,200 people in the Bay Area.

Victor Davis Hanson with the Stanfords Hoover Institute said, “When you add it all up it would be naïve to think that California did not have some exposure.” Hanson went onto say that “the Chinese government has been disingenuous about the timing of their initial outbreak of Covid-19. ‘They originally said it was in early January, then it got backdated to December and then early December and now they are saying as early as November 17’” (15).

            On April 22, 2020 Buzzfeed released an article titled, “Two Antibody Studies Say Coronavirus Infections Are More Common than We Think. Scientists Are Mad.” “In Silicon Valley, the true number of coronavirus infections could be 50 to 85% times higher than the number of reported ones. And in Los Angeles County, there might be 28 to 55 times more people infected then the official count.

            “The numbers, covered in the national press and shared widely across social media, suggested that far more people than previously realized have ‘hidden’ infections. If that many people have already gotten sick, it also changes the calculation about how frequently the virus can lead to death. In the U.S., death rates number driven in part by ‘lack of diagnostic testing.’

            “But the new numbers out of Northern California suggests the virus may kill a much smaller position of the wider pool of diagnosed and undiagnosed cases, in this case around .12% to 0.2%. That would be closer to the death rate for the flu, which is about 0.1%” (16).

            My last piece of evidence in support of my rebuttal was recently released accidently. There was a “hot mic” on the press conference floor before the press conference began.  The following is the dialogue between two individuals (a reporter and photographer) discussing the number of cases in California. “USC and LA County public health came out with a study that found that there are 7,000 cases in CA but they really believe there are anywhere from 210,000 to 442,000 people who were infected” (17).

            In conclusion, you had said the Coronavirus death per infection is 1.5%. That is incorrect for 4 reasons.

1.        The models can’t be trusted because they didn’t consider those who were infected prior to testing.
2.        The number of deaths are incorrect and were manipulated
3.        The antibody tests have revealed that more people had the virus than previously calculated
4.        The press was talking about the numbers of infections being manipulated to bring up the deaths per infections

Conclusion, you cannot deny these findings. If you cannot admit that the death rate per infection is inaccurate, then you are willingly lost.

Argument Number #6

“I see you critiquing all these models and attacking the opposing positions. Do you not know the old saying that, ‘All models are wrong, some are useful?’ Why then do you critique them so? They should simply be taken with a grain of salt.”

Rebuttal to Argument #6

         I have heard this argument many times, and it sounds very nice, but when one looks at what is happening today, the person who poses this argument is a hypocrite. It was those who, beyond a shadow of a doubt, believed the models when first set forth, willfully taking in what the government, media, and scientists were saying without questioning any of the data. It wasn’t until the models were scrutinized that I started to hear “All models are wrong, some are useful.” Very convenient. Well, let me tell you something. Your models were not useful at all. In fact, your models were detrimental.

            In my rebuttal to argument number 4, I showed how the models were incorrect as the scientist responsible for the main model has admitted himself. It was based on those incorrect models that we shut down the economy and stripped the American people of their rights. So, I would suggest that you take your own advice and accept the virus for what it really is.

Argument Number#7

“If the Virus isn’t as bad as you say it is, then why are all the hospitals being over run with infected people?”

Rebuttal to Argument #7

        There has been a lot of controversy regarding this argument. The media, the CDC, and the government has scared the American people into thinking that the hospitals are being over-run. But people started to notice that the hospitals weren’t busy at all. Then the story changed to “the hospitals aren’t over run now, but they will be once the peak hits.” Again, the hospitals were not busy during the supposed “peak weeks.” That’s when the government began claiming during the press conferences saying that the peak wasn’t that bad because of social distancing. 

            So were/are the hospitals being overrun? Because of the lack of evidence, a movement emerged #filmyourhospital where people have gone to their local hospitals and filmed showing how empty the hospitals really are.

            There are multiple articles covering this problem. On April 10, an article published by the New York Times, talks about how Governor Cuomo in March was under the impression that there was going to be a huge outbreak. New York anticipated that they would need up to “140,000 hospital beds and as many as 40,000 intensive care units with ventilators. Governor Cuomo is quoted saying, “One of the forecasters said to me we were looking at a freight train coming across the country” (18). This expected apocalypse never actually came to fruition.

            On April 13, foxnews.com published another article that destroys the assumption that the hospitals are overrun. Here are some excerpts from the article:

            “Empty hospitals, closed medical clinics and unemployed surgeons: While America sees images of an overrun health-care system, the reality nationwide is very different.”

            Shawn Martin, a senior vice president of the American Academy of Family Physicians said, “Our physicians are seeing a reduction of 60-75% of in patient visits.”

            Emergency room physicians have seen hours cut. “Nurses at Kaiser Permanente Hospital in Woodland Hills, California, said the 260-bed hospital has been nearly empty with zero Covid-19 patients and only 9 of 22 ICU beds in use. Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson said Sunday that hospitals there have been caring for 80 Caronavirus patients but some 8000 beds have gone empty. This past Friday, Los Angeles County had nearly 1800 unoccupied hospital beds and over 1,000 available ventilators” (19).

            I literally have to stop listing evidence because I can’t keep up with all of it. Every day more and more reports come out supporting this position and there is not enough room in this article to list it all.

            And yet, the next piece of evidence that I present is more personal, and may be deemed not authoritative by some, but I believe some credit should be given. On Facebook, a photo from April 13 has been circulating that says the following, “Looking For An Update! Hospital staff or those close to Hospital staff: What state are you in, and what is the current status in your hospital? Are you overburdened due to Covid-positive patients? Did you ever hit “the peak?” Below the picture are thousands of comments detailing persona accounts. I started to read through them and this is what I found:

• Deborah Gillis: “My husband works at the VA hospital…they are not overwhelmed. Hours    have been cut.”
•  Julie Jablaley Wilborn: “Husband is an ER doctor in the Atlanta area hospital system. Volume is so low they are cutting shifts in the ED and have closed down a section of it.”
• Heather Nicki: “Sacramento CA. Meta nurse at the co op last night. All her colleagues say it can be a bad virus, but that this is way overblown and what they see in typical cold and flu season”
• Eliza Osborne Wagner: My brother is a RN BSN at a Baylor Scott White hospital in Dallas, TX. Not a single active case there.”
• Sarah Elizabeth Gilmore: RN in Texas. I was furloughed due to low census. Citywide we have over 40% of beds empty.”
• Amanda Lewis Janowsky: “Hospital worker in upstate New York, furloughs have just been announced after multiple staff getting called off or sent home last month. We’ve all used our PTO, less than 10 pts in our ICU at any given time and less than 10 patients on our covid/rule out covid floor.

There are many more comments and I am sure there are some who say the opposite but they are hard to find the number of those stating that the hospitals are empty far outnumber the others. In conclusion, it is fake news to say that all the hospitals are over run with Covid patients. There is no evidence to suggest that this virus is worse than the seasonal flu in terms of hospital visits. You may argue that New York is a special case, but again, I really don’t see how any numbers can be trusted by the media, who have been intentionally using the most inflated numbers to keep the story going.

Argument Number #8

The Diamond Princess Cruise Ship Model

“Lets take actual data from possibly the most interesting scientific experiment of the year. The Diamond Princess Cruise Ship that was quarantined off the coast of Japan because it had a single case of Covid-19 on board. 3,700 people were on the ship when it got locked down for 3 weeks. Passengers were quarantined to their rooms. Over 700 people ended up testing positive, 8 people died. So from this not at all modeled, actual real world data, roughly 20% of the population tested positive. Of the patients that tested positive roughly 1% died. Extrapolate that real world data across the US population of 320 million, and you get 64 million cases and 650,000 people die. That's not the 2.4 million that some are predicting, but it’s not the 20,000 equivalent to the seasonal flu either. That is enough to overwhelm the healthcare system and cause collateral death due to lack of beds.”

Rebuttal to Argument Number #8

            This argument looks valid at first look, but is completely fallacious and erroneous. This line of reasoning, when applied to other cases of similarities, is ridiculous. You cannot take this model and extrapolate it across a nation.

            This argument holds no validity because it does not take into account numerous factors.

1.      What were the ages of the passengers?

2.      How many of them were elderly?

3.      How many of the people had underlying health issues?

4.      The air is circulated on the ship

5.      They are quarantined to one specific location

6.      The exposure occurred in a confined space with a higher number of hard surfaces ideal for virus transfer

Let’s give you an example of just how ridiculous this model is by showing you another example. “Imagine a community of 500 people came in contact with Covid-19. Everyone died, therefor the death per infection is 100%.” We see that people do recover from Covid, therefore the model is wrong. Another example, “A community of 500 people came in contact with Covid. 125 people died, therefore the death per infection is 25%.” What I didn’t tell you about this 500 people community is that it was an Elderly Community. If you don’t ask questions, look at the evidence, and critically think for yourself, you will be like the rest of the sheep who believe models like this argument presented with the Diamond Princess Cruise. It is based on these false models that we have made so many of our idiotic decisions to strip us of our rights. Scientists don’t rely on case studies for this very reason. There are other factors that interfere with the results.

Argument Number 9

“You cannot compare the Coronavirus to the Seasonal Flu because the Seasonal Flu is measured throughout the whole year.”

Rebuttal to Argument Number 9

            According to the CDC, the flu season is between Fall and Winter. And the peak is typically between December and February, but can sometimes last as late as May. This information only serves as more evidence between the similarities of that of the flu and this Covid virus. It is called a SEASONAL flu for a reason… not a YEAR LONG flu. And, what a coincidence, this virus is running rampant during flu season and you people don’t want to call it the Seasonal Flu.

Argument Number 10

            “This virus may not be deadly to you, but it could be deadly to someone you know, or don’t know for that matter. Hence, you should be considerate, responsible, social distance, and wear masks.”

Rebuttal to Argument Number 10

            I will try to make my response to this argument as simple as possible. As you have seen through this entire article, the virus is comparable to that of the seasonal flu—in deaths per infection, in symptoms, in who it does and does not affect. But for arguments sake, here I will say that the Coronavirus is worse than the seasonal flu. So, I ask you, does social distancing and wearing masks really work? If no, then we don’t need to wear them. If yes, then those whose health is compromised should social distance and wear masks. We don’t need to crash the economy, ruin lives, or even cause those who are emotionally and mentally compromised to take their own lives…which many people are doing (23).

            An example of what I am speaking about is somewhat personal. A friend of mine has a young son who has testicular cancer. He’s been through Chemo and Radiation and he is very high risk. I saw the father on April 15, 2020 when he came to my work—no mask and no gloves—I  asked him what he thought about all this. He said that all this mask and glove wearing and disinfecting and cleaning, etc. is how they normally live their lives. This virus is really no big deal because every virus is dangerous for his son.

            A lot of people whose health is compromised know that they are in danger. They know what precautions they need to take because whether it’s Corona or the Measels or just the Seasonal Flu, they always have to be careful. If we are truly trying to protect them, then have them quarantined.

Argument Number 11:

“You have attacked the Media, the Government, Doctors and Scientists, and yet throughout this entire paper, you have constantly used these sources to support your rebuttals. Do you not see the contradiction in this?”

Rebuttal to Argument Number 11:

         I completely understand how this looks contradictory. The reason I use the same source as my opponent is because I know my opponent believes whatever these sources say. In order for my opponent to attack my sources, they would have disregarded their own. No doubt you can say the same for me, but please hear me out. Not every single report is, in fact, a lie. Not every Doctor and Scientist is spouting deception. However, in order to weed through and find out who exactly is a viable source, we would have to spend more time debating the authority of the source rather than the topic at hand. That is not the intent of this article. What I do hope is that I have planted the seed of doubt. I will be content knowing that you will at least consider the other side. Maybe this Coronavirus is just the Seasonal Flu?

POLEMICS

I have allowed my accusers to attack my position this entire time thus far my words have simply been a response to attacks made by many. It is now my turn to attack the position of those who have been deceived by the voices of those with power—those whose voices can reach the furthest.

            It all started mid-January when the “first” case hit the United States. Deaths from the virus were already circulating the news in China. Wuhan was cut off and then, on January 30, the WHO declared a global health emergency. From there, President Trump restricted travel from China. On February 29, the first Coronavirus death occurs in the U.S. and travel was banned to and from Iran. On March 13, President Trump declared a national emergency. It is from here it started going down hill. On March 15, the CDC advised no gatherings of 50 or more people (20).

            On March 19, Governor Gavin Newsom began the lockdown of California. All California residence were ordered to stay at home. Bars, restaurants and public gatherings closed. The San Diego Fair postponed. Museums, the Old Globe Theater, and concerts were closed and suspeneded. Parks and Casinos closed. Schools closed. Sports were suspended. Churches closed…all in one day (21).

            We have been ordered to “social distance” by staying 6ft away from each other. Have you gone to your local supermarket and seen the markings on the floor of where to stand? People aren’t allowed in certain stores without a face mask. Gatherings of more than ten have now been restricted. Businesses have closed for good. A man was fined for paddle boarding all by himself out in the ocean. A woman was recently arrested for taking her three children to a public park. Border patrol has been dispatched to keep people from the beaches. American citizens are barred from peaceful protest. Facebook has been censoring Covid-posts that don’t agree with what mainstream media has been saying. Starting May1, it will be mandatory to wear a mask in public. And worst of all, neighbors have been calling the police to turn in those who are not following these rules.

            I speak as an American. I speak as a free man. You, who call yourself an American but do and say nothing. You, who believe that this is an actual pandemic. You have been led astray by the media. The validity of the Media has been trash since Trump became President, their stock decimated. No one listened to them anymore. Heck, we even came up with the term, “FAKE NEWS” to express how we feel about them. And now this Coronavirus has become the tool for the Media. They, the media, have been given new hope—a voice once again. Everyone is clinging to their every word. Why? Why, my fellow Americans have you willingly accepted these models of the virus? The severity of the symptoms? The projections of peak after peak? The overrunning of the Hospitals? Please, do not call yourself a Republican, a Conservative, an Independent, a Libertarian. Do not claim to be an American who adheres to the Constitution if you believe what the Media has been distributing.

            I have shown you that the Virus was already here in California in November. It was running rampant throughout our state in December and January and yet there was NO chaos. Nothing closed… no restrictions… no hospitals were overrun. People merely thought they had the seasonal flu, spoke with their Doctor, and got a Z-pack like every other year. The Media stirred the American people up, and you continued to wait for the peak that would never come. Instead through our antibodies test, we found out the virus was here longer then we thought. SO WHY DID YOU FREAK OUT! Why did you give ear to the very people we have despised for twisting reality and the truth? In 2017-2018, in San Diego alone there were 342 deaths from the Seasonal Flu (22) and as of today, there are 96 deaths form Covid-19. You can’t attribute this to  Social Distancing because it was already here, running rampant, before February.

            And so, I say this to you. You who willingly gave up your freedom. You who wear the mask out of fear. You who believe this virus to be worse than what it is. And especially you who have turned in business owners and neighbors for not going along in the hysteria and wearing masks and social distancing. I say that you are no better than the generations before us who believed that drinking from the same water fountains as black people was dangerous because they carried different diseases than us because the “experts” and society said so. You are no better than the German citizens who turned over their neighbors for breaking the law by hiding the Jews. You are no better than the communists who dare not question their government or its motives. You are not American!

Footnotes

  

   1. https://www.wsj.com/articles/is-the-coronavirus-as-deadly-as-they-say-11585088464

   2. https://conservativedailypost.com/media-blackout-model-predicting-covid-19-deaths-used-by-government-is-vastly-incorrect/

    3. https://www.wsj.com/articles/coronavirus-patient-recounts-coming-one-inch-from-death-11583866316

   

    4. https://abc7chicago.com/coronavirus-chicago-patient-covid-19-woman-with/6033993/

    5. https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/video/ohio-man-opens-up-about-living-with-coronavirus/vi-BB11fDcV

    6. https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/fifth-person-to-test-positive-for-coronavirus-in-illinois-speaks-out-from-hospital-bed/2232080/

    7. https://didyouknowfacts.com/this-women-is-sharing-her-personal-experience-having-covid-19/

    8. https://www.dailywire.com/news/scum-behavior-candace-owens-unloads-on-governor-for-tweeting-newborns-death-was-linked-to-covid-19

    9.  https://www.foxnews.com/politics/birx-says-government-is-classifying-all-deaths-of-patients-with-coronavirus-as-covid-19-deaths-regardless-of-cause?fbclid=IwAR3RUSnldvnwJEM_MO2c5woQLpg4iINK_Tx7JDu_UeN0cFvO3FUKrSE6_Mc

    10. https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/health/sd-no-flu-update-20180117-story.html

    11. https://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/3074991/coronavirus-chinas-first-confirmed-covid-19-case-traced-back

    12. https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2020/t0117-coronavirus-screening.html

    13. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/php/testing.html

    14. https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2020-03-31/what-the-coronavirus-models-are-trying-to-tell-us?fbclid=IwAR3RUSnldvnwJEM_MO2c5woQLpg4iINK_Tx7JDu_UeN0cFvO3FUKrSE6_Mc

    15. https://www.ksbw.com/article/new-study-investigates-californias-possible-herd-immunity-to-covid-19/32073873

    16. https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/stephaniemlee/coronavirus-antibody-test-santa-clara-los-angeles-stanford

    17. https://www.mediaite.com/news/white-house-hot-mic-catches-someone-joking-with-foxs-john-roberts-weve-all-been-vaccinated-around-here/

    18. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/10/nyregion/new-york-coronavirus-hospitals.html

    19. https://www.foxnews.com/health/coronavirus-outside-doctors-medical-practices-lack-of-patients

    20. https://www.nytimes.com/article/coronavirus-timeline.html

    21. https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/story/2020-03-13/heres-whats-closed-canceled-or-postponed-in-san-diego-because-of-the-coronavirus

 22.https://www.sandiegocounty.gov/content/dam/sdc/hhsa/programs/phs/documents/Influenza_SLIDEDECK_2017-18YTD.pdf

  23. https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/calls-us-helpline-jump-891-white-house-warned/story?id=70010113&fbclid=IwAR3ZHTynKdEsBpZIbJf34NK8VOqB94tDcirULOOQGCWW8pRzi0M9VwO_v_E

Signs of a Calvinist

INTRODUCTION

            Calvinism is making a comeback. More and more individuals have converted to this belief. Allow me to give you my opinion on Calvinism. I personally believe that there are, in fact, passages of Scripture where man has no choice. Where you can interpret predestination (within that given context) to mean that man does not CHOOSE to believe in God. At the same time, there are also passages that would contradict this notion. Yet, since God’s Word CANNOT contradict itself, we must conclude that something is amiss. What I have learned about Calvinism is that, although her followers may, in fact, seem genuine when discussing their beliefs, they often are not telling you the whole truth (much as the Mormons and Jehovah’s Witness do. (Please note, I am not claiming that Calvinism is a Cult). They don’t tell you that Total Depravity does not mean that you are just a sinner, but that you are actually unable (Total Inability) to believe in Christ. They don’t tell you that they think that you cannot CHOOSE to believe in Him. They don’t tell you that they believe Jesus ONLY died for the Elect (Those whom He predestined) and not “the world” as John 3:16 would have you believe. They don’t tell you that they believe that you are unable to Reject God’s gift of Salvation. There are many things that the Calvinist does not tell you, but what they do say is just enough for you to consider yourself like them. They ask you a series of loaded questions that are, at face value, seemingly innocent enough, yet they lead to a non-sequitur conclusion. For example, “Don’t you believe that we are born sinners?” or “Don’t you believe that God is all-powerful?” better yet, “Can something that is dead make any choices?” Each of these questions seems easy enough, but with a Calvinist twist, you will find yourself trapped into espousing what they deem to be doctrinal truth. I have met numerous people who were not Calvinists years ago, but were later “converted” because of these apparent similarities, claiming, “I guess I was a Calvinist the whole time!” Yet, this logic is not sound. Consider, for example, I have two arms and two legs. A monkey has the same. Therefore, I must be a monkey. Yet, we know that despite our similarities, this is not true because we are also different in many ways. So to with Calvinists. We may share the same Biblical foundation, yet our conclusions differ drastically.

            And so, my dear reader, I wish to give you a chance to make a choice. You do have a choice, believe it or not. I want you to be consciously aware when you encounter a Calvinist. Most of the time they will not say they are Calvinist. Instead they will claim, “I’m not a Calvinist, I just believe the Bible” or “I’m a Christian, not a Calvinist” or simply “I don’t like labels.” With all this in mind, I have compiled a list of “indicators” that will help you to recognize the Biblical view of the person to whom you are speaking and the implications of what they are saying/asking.

1.KEYWORDS

·         A Calvinist has a different vocabulary than those who hold opposing views. I have compiled a list of certain keywords that you will notice when in a theological conversation with them. Now, please understand, just because someone uses any of these words, does not mean that they must be a Calvinist. And yet, it is highly probable that they are.

-    Sovereign

-          Soteriology

-          Providence

-          Ordained

-          Propitiation

    

            2.  ENGLISH STANDARD VERSION (ESV)

·         You will notice that the Calvinist will cling to a specific translation of the Bible. Produced through Crossway. Most of the prominent translators were Calvinist. I had this revelation when I began to read through the ESV Bible and noticed that they conveniently inserted the word Sovereign to support their Biblical eisegesis.

3. CLOSE MINDED

·         The typical Calvinist will steer away from Theologians, Philosophers, Apologists, etc who are not Calvinist. You may be familiar with William Lane Craig, Norman Geisler, J.P. Moreland, Dr. Walter Martin,… but since they are not Calvinist, they’re not right.

4. CHARLES SPURGEON

·         I have studied Christian Theology, Philosophy, and Apologetic for years and I was not introduced to Charles Spurgeon until I began my research on Calvinism. The Calvinist’s go-to Theologian is Charles Spurgeon. He is not bad in and of himself, but when used to defend the Calvinist position and/or be-little the non-Calvinist…that is when virtue turns to vice.

 5. THE "PROPHETS" OF CALVINISM

·    The main “prophets” of Calvinism are John Calvin, James White, R.C. Sproul, Charles Spurgeon, John MacArthur, and John Piper. I say “prophets” because  these people hold a special place in the Calvinist’s heart. If you don’t agree with these people, you must simply “not be enlightened enough.”

6. “SECOND CONVERSION/ENLIGHTEN"

·         When you meet a Calvinist, the conversation will eventually move towards why you are not a Calvinist. I cannot tell you how many times I have heard the Calvinist say that I am not a Calvinist because I simply, “have not really studied enough,” or “I haven’t been enlightened.” I have even heard Calvinists call it a “Second Conversion” when a non-Calvinist becomes a Calvinist.

7. IMPLIED PRIDE

·         Along with #6, the Calvinist will make you feel somewhat inferior and in some instances I have seen them make fellow Christians question their own salvation. They really believe that they “dig deep” into the Scriptures and that if you don’t have the right doctrine of how one is Chosen by God, than you may actually not be chosen. This has caused some to question whether or not they are actually chosen/saved.

8. REPLACEMENT THEOLOGY

·         This mainly applies to the Hyper Calvinist. Replacement Theology is the belief that the Chosen People are no longer the Israelites, instead it is the elect who are the Chosen People. The Church has replaced Israel. The Hyper Calvinist will go so far as to say that any time the word Israel is mentioned after Acts 2, it is talking about the Church….seriously…. they believe this.

9. CONVERT PEOPLE

·         The Calvinist has an agenda. Almost every conversation regarding Christianity is focused on the defense of Calvinism, the belittling of all opposing views, and the goal of converting you to Calvinism.

10. QUOTING ROMANS 8-9 AD INFINITUM

·         If you notice how the cornerstone of an individuals argument/belief is formed around Romans 8-9, they are most likely a Calvinist.

11. WORSHIP MUSIC

·         If you stumble into a Church that focuses on hymns because they detest modern worship music under the guise of, “It focuses too much on man, and not enough on God” or “Hymns are more theological and in-depth.” It is most likely a Calvinist Church.  The Calvinist also hates modern worship because it is too repetitive. In a nutshell, if worship sounds like a funeral procession…most likely a Calvinist Church. 

12. SHOTGUNNING

      The Calvinist does not play “fair.” You will notice if the person is a Calvinists if they quote numerous references to support a multitude of points. In the Apologetics/Debate world, this is actually a tactic called Shotgunning. Instead of merely being organized and moving point by point… they want you to try to address every one of their many points, thus handing complete control of the argument to them.

 13. PROOF-TEXTING

         Proof-Texting is a technique that the Calvinist will use to prove most of their points. This is “the method by which a person appeals to a biblical text to prove or justify a theological position without regard for the context of the passage they are citing” (http://www.theopedia.com/proof-texting). In order to get around this, they will “shotgun” (#12) you so you won’t have time to focus on a specific text/passage.

CONCLUSION

          Some of you may be wondering, "What is the point of all this?" Please, let me tell you. The Church of America has become divided on so many levels. We are playing into the Devil's hands. The fruits of Calvinism are more unnecessary division. It's ok if someone doesn't hold the same view as you regarding HOW we are chosen. If you truly believe God is all-powerful, all-knowing, all-present, Almighty, then you must admit that you cannot understand Him. We know of the Trinity, but we cannot fully grasp it because we are finite human beings. We know that Jesus was fully God and fully Man but we cannot understand it because we are finite human beings. We know that God Predestines and that man has free-will, but we cannot understand this because, again, we are finite human beings. The minute we claim to understand HOW God works, we be-little Him....we limit Him. My God is so powerful and so beyond my understanding, that He is able to be in control whilst at the same time allowing man to choose his fate. Can't grasp this? Good! It's your first step in embracing your humanity and clinging to the one true God who surpasses all understanding. 

Undefining the Redifined Church

There are numerous words that have been redefined in such a way that is contrary to their original meaning. There are also words that have been given meaning beyond their own capacity. Words that may have only one simple interpretation are compromised and complicated which I shall soon demonstrate. One such word, which I wish to discuss here is the word: church. Before we are to begin, please keep in mind that “Church” (uppercase “C”) means the entire body of believers while “church” (lowercase “c”) means a building or single body of believers.

           In this day and age, the Church is often defined as a building where believers get together to sing worship songs, sit in pews, take offerings, listen to the pastor, and fellowship with friends and family. Now this in and of itself is not necessarily bad, but when compared to the historical identity of the Early Church, we may, in fact, see many differences. It is true that in the past fellow believers congregated at specific places where they would praise the Lord, sometimes take love offerings, eat, and discuss portions of Scripture; and yet, there are at least four main differences between the churches back then and what we have now.

            The first difference we will see is how and where they would congregate. For the Early Church, there were no building specifically constructed and named “church.” Instead, they were more like what we might call “home-churches.” The communities were so tight-knit that fellow believers would even connect their homes to each other by tearing down sections of wall and creating somewhat of a compound of connected homes. These communities were so close. They loved and trusted each other, not because they all got along so well, but because they all worshiped the One True God.

            Unfortunately today, by moving out of these home churches and into dedicated church buildings, the Church has lost the intimacy she once had with other believers, and even, the Lord. In the Old Testament, the Lord resided in the Ark of the Covenant behind the veil. You had to go to the temple and do sacrifices to speak with God. Upon conquering sin, Christ has given us the gift of the Holy Spirit to indwell us, thus tearing the veil in two and making it possible for us to have an intimate relationship with the Lord and other fellow partakers of the Holy Spirit. With this intimacy came: less gossip, fewer heresies, greater comradery, greater zeal, and a more vibrant Holy Spirit. No doubt the last part of that sentence raised a few eyebrows, but please hear me out.

            The Holy Spirit is what drove the early church. It was not silent, nor timid, nor cowardly, nor easily pushed around. The Holy Spirit was (and is) bold, passionate, courageous, and downright fierce. It was for this reason that so many of our brothers and sisters of the faith were hated and martyred. We see Stephen, the first Christian martyr, stoned to death for opposing and vigorously bringing condemnation upon the heads of the Jews. We see Paul thrown into jail and stoned for confronting false philosophies, calling out believers in their mistakes, being driven by the Holy Spirit wherever he went. There was nothing holding back the Holy Spirit, it was a fire in their hearts that could not be held in by time, place, age, or reason. The Holy Spirits transcends all that is natural, and it is not until the natural tries to dictate the actions of the supernatural that compromise and apathy take hold. The Church of those days was so close-knit that you could easily tell who was and was not a believer. Thousands were killed for pronouncing the faith. They didn't cave in to what the world or what their government wanted (silence). They didn't falter. Can you honestly say that the Church of America resembles, in this aspect, the Church of old? Nowadays, going to these buildings has become something akin to a chore. We have fallen into the same legalistic trap that the Jews were reprimanded for. Deny this if you will, but you are only fooling yourself. Just as the Sabbath was made for man and not man for the Sabbath, so the Church was not made a building, but the building was made for the Church. It is when Church is defined by this specific building, that its reality is stripped of its intimacy. And in this day and age, the Church has truly been defined by an address.

            Secondly, today’s Church differs from the Church of old in how worship is conducted. The Early Church refrained from using instruments because they lived in a culture of idol worshiping pagans (the Romans) who put a great amount of importance on the way idol worship was conducted: with a variety of instruments, a variety of songs, and in ways that were often unpleasing to the blossoming Church. Thus, they would sing with just their voices songs from the Psalms. Today, churches uses various instruments and sing various songs that may not have originated from the Scripture. This is not a bad thing. The Early Church’s choice to refrain from instruments was a personal and cultural choice, and could also be viewed as an example of not eating meat because it offends your brother (1 Corinthians 8:13). Still, there were positives to having such a low amount of importance placed on how worship was conducted. Today, worship leaders often place more importance on the presentation rather than on who they are actually worshiping, and they do this under the guise of trying to attract non-believers to come and hear the gospel. They want better equipment, more practice sessions, strict guidelines, and set schedules. I have heard countless stories of Worship Leaders making worship a full time job for the participants. It has become another form of legalism where it must be done THIS way or else it is not worship! This is partly due to the fact that today’s Church is defined as a building. If Church was merely fellowship at someone’s home, or a park, beach, bar, etc. there would be a lot less drama and stress put into worship. Fellow believers have refrained from going to specific “churches” because they disagree with how worship there is conducted. How have we become so shallow? The only reason one should not wish to fellowship with believers is because the Holy Spirit is not present and thriving there!

            Thirdly, tithing today when compared to that of the Early Church is completely different. Let me say this: tithing was not a requirement. You did not have to give money to your local church. This is not to say that giving money was prohibited; on the contrary, if you felt led by the Holy Spirit to give of money, land, clothing, etc. you were welcome to do so. The Church did not, however, pass around a basket or give sermons on tithing. And yet, what we see now is so much importance placed upon tithing. It is no longer a matter of one's heart, but another man-made law that resembles those which Christ criticized the Jews about. There are even some churches that pass around the tithing basket at the beginning and again at the end of the sermon! Tithing and giving offerings are not just meant for a specific church body/building. As a matter of fact, “tithing” could simply be helping any brother or sister in need, whether it be food, transportation, time, money, etc. Tithing/giving is something that should come from the heart. Again, one of the main reasons that tithing has become this way is due to the Church being viewed as a building. In America, you must pay for so many things in order to hold such an establishment, that churches are constantly shoving tithing down the throats of their members so they can pay for their building, supplies, and salary.

            Finally, I would like to discuss one of the most corrupted definitions in the Christian Church today: pastor. The title of pastor has been re-defined in so many ways that a true pastor can hardly be recognized any more. Today, a pastor is a particular individual (sex neutral) who has gone to seminary, received his/her pastoral degree, and who speaks in front of a congregation at what is called, by today’s standards, a church. My dear brothers and sisters, this is just not so. What the Devil has gained from this corrupt definition of pastor is a myriad of leaders indoctrinated by liberal and passive seminaries to stunt the fire of the Holy Spirit and preach only that which is accepted by the sheep and the world.

          No doubt many of you believe this claim to be quite bold and perhaps uncalled for.Yet it is a fact that we have homosexual pastors, women pastors, liberal pastors, etc. It is just as much a fact that these “pastors” have gone to a Christian college/seminary. It is a fact that the Church has become more corrupt and more complacent then ever before. If a student doesn't come out of seminary liberal, they will come out passive. If, by some divine miracle, a student comes out unscathed by the wiles of the Devil, he will soon fall prey to those that have been tainted with apathy and the abhorrence of zeal. The student becomes afraid of confrontation, he condemns anger, is soft spoken, and fragile. I have heard countless pastors speak of when they were bold and passionate, of a time when they spoke out with such fervor and courage. Along with these stories, they explain how they were taken aside by an elder (either someone greater in age or someone who actually held the Biblical title) and were reprimanded for being overzealous. You see, instances like these aren't few and far between. Passion and boldness have become demonized. And yet, if you read the Scriptures, that is precisely what the Holy Spirit is… a passion, a fire! Jeremiah explains how uncontainable the Lord is when he calls the Holy Spirit, “A burning fire within my bones that I cannot hold in.”

            Consider: one day, a youth pastor named Peter was at an elder meeting in the church he had been with for a few years. He was rather young, especially in comparison to those around him. One of the issues discussed in the meeting was upcoming topics of Peter’s sermons. Peter offered a couple of topics he wanted to speak on and each topic was shot down. Angered and annoyed, he raised his voice and exclaimed, “Why don’t you guys just tell me what I am allowed to say!?” Silence immediately fell upon those around him. The head pastor broke the silence and proceeded to a different topic as though nothing had happened. Later that night Peter received a phone call from the head pastor's assistant saying that the pastor wanted Peter to join him for a hike the next day. Peter knew the “hike” would, in fact, be a small meeting concerning what had happened, and so, he agreed to go. The next morning he met with the head pastor and they began their hike. While walking, the pastor told Peter that his passion was good, but needed to be somewhat bridled. His passion was misdirected and he should never speak that way towards his elders. Peter was reprimanded and was told there was a time and place for speaking out like that…and during an elder meeting was neither the time nor the place.

                        There are numerous stories similar to this one. Stories of beginner pastors fresh out of seminary who did not adhere to the pacifism and liberalism they were fed while there, only to be placed in a church run by elders that reprimand any form of passion or zeal. This is one of the greatest reasons that the Church of America looks as though she is on the brink of death. Brothers and sisters, if the Holy Spirit has put a fire within you and is pushing you to speak out, do not keep silent! If you feel your spirit stirred within you, you must act (Acts 17:16). This may happen whilst in a meeting, during a sermon, at work, in class, etc. And if you are told to keep silent, be it by an elder, a prophet, a pastor, a teacher, etc… you are still to speak! The problem with the Church of America today is that she has sacrificed her zeal for obedience to the reigning authorities. Pastors have become castrated by either seminary or the elders that have preceded them. The Church is not getting better; thus, we must examine ourselves and make changes.

                        Can you see just how far we have fallen away from the original Early Church? Church has never been a building. Worship was never defined by music. Tithing was never thrust upon Believers. And pastors acted as leaders, preaching on that which was relevant for the times without fear of offending their flock.

     And so, I challenge you dear reader. Examine the Church of America. Examine your “home church.” Is it preoccupied with what kind of worship should be conducted? Does it put so much importance on tithing that you feel judged/condemned by the elders if you are unable to participate in their form of giving? Does your pastor merely teach that which is safe and general (milk)? Or does he talk about that which may be sometimes seen as offensive and perhaps even illegal (501 C 3 Tax Exempt status)? Does he talk about what is going on in the world right now? ISIS? Homosexuality? The Cults? Liberalism? Drunkenness and Pornography? Does he condemn sin? Does he speak out on such relevant topics as Christ Himself did while here on earth?

            What tends to happen with this corrupt definition of Church is that we become more pre-occupied-more attached-to our “home church” and excluded from the rest of our brothers and sisters. We begin to define Truth through what our church believes, rather than studying the Word, praying, and being guided by the Holy Spirit towards a Truth that may not agree with our home church. There is no growth, and the Church of America will simply remain stagnant.

            And so, with all of this said, I ask that you leave your “home church”… not forever, just momentarily. The Church is not a building. Visit some of our other brothers and sisters. Let us stop letting trivial things like personal preferences divide us. Leave the church you call home and discover that it was merely a room in the mansion of our Lord.

            

Don't Care About Who You're Debating

          

       Dr. Walter Martin was debating a Mormon professor in Philosophy from Columbia University with an audience of approximately 11 to 13 million people spanning 43 states and after about an hour and a half discussion, the professor looked across the table at Dr. Martin and said,

       “You know, part of the problem with Christians is that you persist in circular reasoning. When we ask you for authority to believe in God you quote the Bible and then when we ask for authority to prove the Bible is reliable you quote the Bible to support itself. That’s circular reasoning and I don’t see why you just don’t find a better way of defending your position.”

       While Dr. Walter Martin was sitting there as the professor was spinning this out, he said to himself, “Lord, there is a number of ways I could answer this but I will lose the audience. The main thing I want to do is hang on to the audience. I don’t care about this joker because he’s in here to just fight the gospel. I got to get to these people out there, Lord just give me an answer please, I just at this moment don’t know what to say!”

Well, the Lord did gave him an answer and boy was it a good one. He stumped that professor.

          The purpose of this post is not to give the reader a good response to the objection of circular reasoning, but to show you that when debating someone in the midst of an audience, you have to discern whether or not the person you are debating is actually searching, or just attacking the faith. So many Christians, upon realizing that the person is merely attacking the faith, become silent and walk away… quoting Christ when He says to knock the dust off your feet. I think this to be a cop out, a cowards way out. Christ is talking about giving the Gospel, not defending it. So the next time you run into someone, while in the midst of an audience, who wants to just attack the faith, you give them both barrels! Don’t care about the person you are debating, rather focus on the individuals who are standing by actually listening.

        For example, Jehovah’s Witnesses usually travel in pairs. There is an older, more experienced one, and then there is a newcomer. Blow up the older one in front of the newcomer. Show them their elder is wrong, thus planting doubt and opening the door for the truth! We live in a world where love is defined as always being gentle, soft spoken, tolerant, sugar coating, and downright passive! Let’s not allow the world to define our actions… be Christ-like… be passionate.