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Commentary I highly recommend watching one of the latest episodes on EpochTV, “The Legacy of Plymouth,” part three of a series entitled “The American Story.” Host Timothy Barton, President of WallBuilders, and Jonathan Richie, Assistant Director of the American Journey Experience tell the inspiring story of one of the earliest colonies in America, the Plymouth Pilgrims. The episode highlights where some of the earliest seeds of religious liberty, equality, and inalienable rights were first planted in the new world. Motivated by Religious Freedom In the second episode of “The American Journey,” the hosts explain how the members of Jamestown, the first English colony, were more financially than freedom motivated, which may explain their many shortcomings. However, another group of people came to Plymouth in 1620, the Pilgrims. The Pilgrims were very religious people. Back then, the reigning monarchs of England would choose a denomination for their people to adhere to, or else they would be punished. The Pilgrims had different views than the Anglicans did, resulting in religious persecution that set them on their journey to find religious freedom, first in Holland. After several years, they experienced persecution there as well because of the pressure Holland was receiving from the King of England to deliver up the pilgrims who were printing critical views on him. The pilgrims, realizing they were not outside the King of England’s reach, secured two ships to sail to Jamestown. The journey would be wrought with hardship, and also divine providence. One example of this had to do with the pilgrim’s printing press. While in Holland, pilgrim leaders were printing books speaking out against the King and Church of England. Various parts of their machine were confiscated, leaving them with an incomplete printing press. When one of their two ships had problems and could not sail, the pilgrims decided to send part of their group on the Mayflower, along with the printing press. This decision to bring a broken printing press made little sense on paper, however, when a storm at sea broke the main beam on the ship, the printing press ended up saving them due to one of the pieces on it serving as a jack screw that allowed them to secure the beam and make it to shore. The Mayflower Compact Although the original destination was Jamestown, the Mayflower was blown way off course and eventually landed in Massachusetts at a place they called Plymouth. The Pilgrims realized there weren’t any established laws there yet, so they agreed to form a political compact and governing body with the consent of everyone involved. William Brewster, one of the religious leaders, wrote out the charter for the new colony. This became the Mayflower Compact, which is the first organically written document in the New World. Host Barton calls the production of the Compact an “of the people, by the people, for the people” scenario. The pilgrims were motivated to pursue God and live Biblically, and this is found in the very first words in the Mayflower Compact. The Compact reveals their ideas on civil governance, as well as their understanding that humans are made in God’s image and therefore are all equal, which led to them having very good relations with the Native Americans. The First Thanksgiving Shortly after arriving in Plymouth, the pilgrims befriended the Abenaki Chief Samoset, who spoke English, as well as Squanto, who ends up saving the pilgrims during their first winter. During the winter, half of all the pilgrims died and many more got sick. It is documented that at one point, there were only about five to seven men healthy enough to hunt and gather firewood to keep the others alive. Squanto taught them how to fish, hunt, and survive in the new world. By the next year in 1621, the pilgrims had learned how to provide for themselves. his led them to invite their Native American friends, who brought some food as well, and together they feasted, played athletic games, and thanked God that they had survived and learned how to take care of themselves. That first Thanksgiving Day, there were ninety Indian braves and just over fifty sickly religious pilgrims made up of men, women, children, and the elderly. Barton notes that this highlights how good of a relationship the Natives and the Pilgrims had since the Natives could have easily conquered the Pilgrims if they had wanted to. For over fifty years, the peace between the pilgrims and Natives Americans was maintained. When it did eventually break, it was broken by the descendants of Chief Massasoit who did not like the number of Natives converting to Christianity. This certainly goes against the narrative of today that the pilgrims were stealing land and being evil towards the natives. Did the Pilgrims Support Slavery? In the EpochTV episode, Barton and Richie address some of the accusations often directed at the Pilgrims and their legacy. One is that the pilgrims were racist and that America was founded on racism and slavery. This claim is simply inaccurate, as the pilgrims had established laws outlawing slavery, which they labeled as “man-stealing.” They even had Biblical verses to back up the reasoning behind the law, revealing their understanding of equality and human rights. When the first slave ship arrived in Plymouth, they imprisoned the ship captain, freed the slaves, and tried to raise funds to send the slaves back home. Although the Plymouth Pilgrims did not do everything right, their legacy and the American story are what influenced the majority of America. Barton and Richie display a map showing the eventual expansion of the Plymouth Pilgrims, reaching the central and northern parts of the United States. Interestingly, the legacy of Jamestown, which was founded by the more financially-motivated settlers, eventually expanded mostly to the southern states. The Legacy of the Pilgrims Listening to this EpochTV episode, I was impressed by how vital the concept of religious freedom and inalienable rights were to the early colonizers. In our society today, these concepts are often under attack, and many don’t understand their meaning or importance. Those who have educated themselves on the early history of America can feel proud of the foundational principles that led to a land where all people could express their beliefs freely and where their rights could be recognized and protected. Unless we know the facts about our nation’s history, we cannot hope to defend its founding values and pass its legacy on to future generations. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Watch the trailer: Watch the full video: https://www.theepochtimes.com/the-legacy-of-plymouth-the-american-story-episode-3_4692295.html with EPOCHTV subscription. ($1 for 2 months trial available )

Commentary There are many myths in our culture regarding the beliefs of early America and Christianity. I highly recommend the EpochTV series entitled “The American Story” to learn the inspiring and true story of America’s early years, often in contrast to the narratives we hear today. In episode five, “The Development of the American Mind,” host Timothy Barton, president of WallBuilders, and Jonathan Richie, former assistant director of the American Journey Experience, use historical documents and artifacts to tell the story of how biblical teaching shaped ideas on government and liberty which were eventually expressed in the American Revolution. The Great Awakening John Adams, one of the most notable of America’s Founding Fathers and eventually the second president of the United States, wrote tfhat the American Revolution was not simply the war that liberated the colonies from England, but rather, it happened before the war ever took place. “The Revolution was effected before the war commenced. The Revolution was in the minds and hearts of the people. A change in their religious sentiments of their duties and obligations.” Barton and Richie explain how the Great Awakening impacted the hearts and minds of Americans. Through the preaching of influential pastors such as George Whitefield, the seeds of the American Revolution were planted through the shaping of the American mind on topics of liberty and social issues. Benjamin Franklin, one of the least religious Founding Fathers but very close friends with Whitefield, said the religious fervor was incredible to see among the people during the Great Awakening. Franklin wrote that there was a fundamental change in the thoughts and habits of the people due to Whitefield’s ministry. “From being thoughtless or indifferent about religion, it seemed as if all the world were growing religious.” Franklin wrote that one could not walk through town in the evening without hearing families singing Psalms in their homes. Whitefield had many influential thoughts that challenged the colonists. One of his most influential sermons was what has since been labeled the “Father Abraham Sermon.” In this sermon, he told of his dream of arriving in heaven to find that there were no Methodists or Wesleyans, or other groups there, simply those that love and obey God. The application of this sermon was the idea that titles and groups should not divide people, but instead, all should be united together as humans. Without this notion of standing united, the 13 colonies would not have been able to unite against and defeat Great Britain years later in the American Revolution. Thomas Jefferson's design for the Great Seal of the United States of America. One side depicts a biblical scene: the drowning of the Egyptian Pharaoh in the Red Sea with the motto "Rebellion to Tyrants is Obedience to God." On the other side, Liberty and Justice support a coat of arms surrounded by the initials of the 13 colonies. (MPI/Getty Images) Local Pastors But it was not just big-name pastors such as George Whitefield who shaped the minds and hearts of the people. Local pastors from the colonies rose in their communities to teach biblical principles and apply them to relevant social issues of the day. One such pastor was John Wise. Wise was a pastor in the Massachusetts area in the late 1600s and early 1700s. His sermons contributed significantly to laying the foundations for the Declaration of Independence. In addition to being an impressive athlete and strong spiritual leader, Wise was a very politically engaged pastor. When a British governor of the area began enacting tyrannical policies, Wise led the opposition and ended up in prison. He wrote a book of printed sermons, where many concepts of the American Revolution were first put to words. These concepts included “taxation without representation is tyranny” or “God’s preferred form of government is the consent of the governed” and that all are equal under God. Wise’s words were to reappear later in the Declaration of Independence. Although Wise’s ministry was decades before the American Revolution, his sermons no doubt shaped and influenced the Founding Fathers. A collection of his sermons were reprinted by a group called “The Sons of Liberty” in 1776, influencing the minds of the Founding Fathers and other colonists on the eve of the American Revolution. Barton notes that there are thousands of historically printed sermons from this period. Since it was not an easy thing to print back then, if material went to print, it was because there was a demand for it. This indicates the level of influence these sermons had at that time. Pastors Preaching About Relevant Social Issues The EpochTV episode highlights one of the significant attributes of the Church during this time in history, which is that pastors were not afraid to speak from the pulpit about relevant cultural issues. They preached about what was happening in society, what the king was saying or doing, and what the Bible had to say about it. These sermons formed the understanding of political oppression and how Christians should respond. They talked about tyranny, slavery, equality of rights, and how religious freedom was the foundation of civil liberty. Many of these concepts oversaw the abolition movement as well. Simply because these sermons were well known does not mean everyone agreed with them at the time. There were significant disparities in thought on a range of topics. Still, pastors were addressing relevant cultural issues and teaching basic applications from the word of God. Had these pastors not spoken about political and social issues, the mindset on these issues may not have changed, and the American Revolution, the abolition of slavery, and so many other world events may never have happened. It Started in the Pulpit Barton and Richie say that nearly every idea expressed in the American Revolution was first preached from the pulpit. Most were taught over a decade before the American Revolution, when families were taking their children to church, learning biblical application to political issues, and shaping the thinking of the next generation. The EpochTV episode also shows how biblical principles did not just shape religion but also political philosophy, law, and culture. An example is when political philosopher John Locke wrote a rebuttal to an English leader’s defense of the divine right of kings. The leader tried to use the Bible to prove that people had to obey everything the king said because he was God’s king. Locke’s response quoted the Bible thousands of times as he argued for a government formed of the people and by the people. Barton says when it comes to influencing the American mind and thought, the original historical documents show the Bible played that role unquestionably over anything else. Christians and pastors in America today would do well to follow the example of the early colonies by approaching the issues in our nation through a biblical lens. Over time, perhaps we would see the same positive effects and build up our institutions, families, and society. Watch ” The American Story Episode 5” on Epoch Cinema here. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Watch the trailer: Watch the full video: https://www.theepochtimes.com/a-brave-new-world-christopher-columbus-the-american-story-episode-1_4605504.html with EPOCHTV subscription. ($1 for 2 months trial available )

Commentary I highly recommend watching one of the latest series on EpochTV, entitled “The American Story.” Referencing the original historical documents, the series tells the inspiring and true story of America’s early years, often in contrast to the narratives we hear today. In episode four, “Early Colonies and the Great Awakening,” host Timothy Barton, President of WallBuilders, and Jonathan Richie, Assistant Director of the American Journey Experience, use historical documents and artifacts to tell the story of America’s earliest colonies, along with their Biblical values that influenced civil society, justice, and liberty. An Example for the World Following the Plymouth Colonies’ example, large waves of migrants from Europe began coming to the colonies in search of religious freedom. In 1630, about 1,000 men traveled with a man named John Winthrop to America aboard the Arabella. During the voyage, Winthrop writes that if he and the colonizers could follow God’s ways and instill Biblical truths and values into the new world, it could become a beacon of light for others. “We shall be as a city upon a hill, the eyes of all people are upon us.” Although the phrase “city on a hill” is derived from a Bible verse, it is often used as a reference to the example of freedom and human rights displayed by America to the rest of the world. For Winthrop and the other colonizers at the time, religious liberty was key to living how they wanted without interference from the government, and also to instilling principles and values that would aid in a prosperous and thriving society. This idea spread to surrounding colonies. The journey was harrowing, but so was every challenge the Puritans were to meet in the New World. “Landing of the Pilgrims,” circa 1898, by Charles Lucy. New York Public Library’s Digital Library. (Public Domain) The Salem Witch Trials Today, we often hear how “intolerant” the Puritans were. An example that is often referenced is the Salem Witch Trials. In the EpochTV episode, Barton and Richie note that the Puritans were ahead of their times, as not a single Puritan colony had more than 15 capital crimes, whereas in England, there were over 200 capital crimes that a person could be put to death for. The witch trials arguably went on for about 18 months in the colonies. A total of 27 people died during this period, 19 were executed and eight died in prison. Richie says it is worth noting that there were also witch trials going on in Europe at the same time, however the European trials went on for decades. An estimated 500,000 people were put to death in the European witch trials, among those 30,000 in England, 75,000 in France, and 100,000 in Germany. Why did the trials go on for decades in Europe and not in America? Barton credits this to stronger Biblical principles in America that led to improved human rights. For example, Puritans recognized the right of due process, derived from biblical principles that the accused should be able to confront their accuser, bring forth witnesses, etc. The Puritans confronted the Judge who was spearheading the witch trials in the colonies, saying the trials were not being done biblically. It is documented that the judge confessed and repented in front of his church congregation and the church assembly established a day of prayer and fasting to ask for God’s forgiveness. The Puritans even granted restitution to families whose loved ones had been killed. Although the Puritans weren’t perfect and they made mistakes, they certainly handled the witch trials differently than the European witch trials. Barton says it’s easy to look at the witch trials and judge the Pilgrims for being intolerant, but he says it’s always important to judge people according to the context in which they lived. Did The Early Colonizers Steal Land from the Natives? Many of the early colonies were led by pastors and founded for religious reasons. William Penn was one of these pastors. He came from a wealthy family in England and was intrigued by the Quaker’s beliefs. Since the English were required to be Anglican at that time, he eventually led a delegation of Quakers to the new world. When they arrived, Penn discovered Natives were living there already. He recognized that just because the King gave him the land of Pennslyvania on paper, the Native people were the true owners, as they were already living there. Based on his religious principles, Penn met with the natives and purchased the land from them at an agreed-upon price. This practice of buying land from the natives continued and is well documented, with legal deeds of land purchased from the Native Americans during the early period of colonization. Richie notes that this is significant because the Indians did not operate this way toward one another. When a Native tribe wanted more land, they would conquer the nearest tribe and take the land. The colonizers were introducing a new practice of exchanging value instead of fighting for it. Barton says as America enters the Jacksonian era, and as certain American leaders stray away from Biblical understanding, there is a shift in how Native Americans were treated. However, in the early colonization period of American history, the notion that Americans stole the land from the Native Americans is simply not historically accurate. This is why Barton stresses it’s important to go back to the original documents, saying oftentimes they tell a very different story than the narrative of the day. Christian Acceptance and Unity The colonies eventually became home to several notable chaplains, such as John and Charles Wesley and George Whitefield. George Whitefield is known for traveling on horseback throughout the colonies preaching to massive groups of people. His journeys began when he traveled to raise funds for an orphanage. On his initial journey, he found there were divisions among the various denominations. He thought this to be a problem, believing the colonies needed to be united. Whitefield had many thoughts on how the early colonies should operate, such as having their own military and not simply being dependent on England. Several of his suggestions eventually became influential in the American Revolution. Being a missionary and traveling required funds. Whitefield was funded by Selena Countess of Huntington. She was a significant character in England who funded religious figures per her passion to minister and spread Biblical principles and freedom in America. Barton says that throughout history, there are many pieces in the American story where people begin working together and doing their unique parts, laying the foundation of what would come next. Whitfield’s message of Christian acceptance and unity was in contrast to the English church at the time and resulted in a very different legacy. Are Biblical Values Good for Society? The EpochTV episode reveals how America was built on largely religious principles and the desire for religious liberty. This may sound like a good or bad thing, depending on who you ask, but the historical documents show how these beliefs manifested themselves among the early colonizers, and how Biblical values played out in society. Although there were plenty of leaders and scenarios where bad things happened, the historical documents do show that when the early colonies made mistakes, they often corrected their course at a much faster pace than other places around the world, and this would happen largely due to their adherence to Biblical principles. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Watch the trailer: Watch the full video: https://www.theepochtimes.com/early-colonies-the-great-awakening-the-american-story-episode-4_4692296.html with EPOCHTV subscription. ($1 for 2 months trial available )

Commentary The ever-increasing cultural hostility towards Christianity and biblical truth have led to a movement of people leaving the Church or rejecting certain tenets of faith. Best-selling author Lucas Miles addresses the topic in his EpochTV series, “Church and State.” In the episode “Enemies Within Christianity: The Deconstruction Movement and Exvangelicals,” Miles discusses what it means to deconstruct one’s faith, and how to guard against this dangerous and tragic ideology. The phenomenon involves once-professing Christians going through a process of deconstructing their faith. This process requires rejecting the belief in absolute truth and twisting what the Bible says to fit one’s own values. Phrases like “speak your truth” are a result of this ideology. Miles, an ordained minister, said that while Satan works in many ways to attack and threaten the gospel from outside the Church, deconstructionism threatens the Church from within. What Is Deconstructionism? The result of deconstructionism can be seen by the self-proclaimed “exvangelicals” in today’s culture. Music artists, authors, and former pastors have joined this trend. Essentially, the movement is comprised of people who believe themselves to be so enlightened that they leave the Christian faith to which they once held. Deconstruction is the idea that the faith Christians once relied upon can’t be trusted anymore. Therefore, it says, Christians must dismantle their faith and recognize the biases and prejudices that have shaped their understanding of scripture rather than seeing scripture for what it really is. Miles extensively discusses deconstruction and deconversion in his book “The Christian Left: How Liberal Thought Has Hijacked the Church.” In the EpochTV episode, which aired Sept. 28, Miles says deconstructionism is a tenet of progressive Christianity, which is the whittling away of Christian truths to arrive at different notions, or what might be called a different religion entirely. Although deconstruction may be the process, Miles notes that deconversion is the result. If a person doubts and distorts the truth of scripture long enough, they will eventually leave the faith altogether. “Freedom of Worship,” 1943, by Norman Rockwell. U.S. National Archives and Records Administration. Norman Rockwell Museum, Stockbridge, Mass. (Public Domain) Is Deconstructionism a New Concept? The ideology of deconstructionism stems from the Enlightenment period. Analyzing tough philosophical topics through rational thought rather than biblical teaching led many on a quest for the historical Jesus, cutting away the supernatural aspects of the New Testament to simply portray Jesus as a historical character. Some in the Church tried to adapt to the Enlightenment and “salvage” Christianity, which they viewed as no longer relevant for their times. Miles says that the gospel doesn’t need rescuing: it’s always relevant. When we chip away at the truths of scripture, we take away its relevance instead. This gave rise to critical theology, in which people applied the same critical look at scripture that Karl Marx was applying to society and the economy. This new line of thinking led to looking at scripture with doubt and concern, asking “did this really happen this way?” Miles notes that this is reminiscent of the serpent in the garden asking Eve, “Did God really say ‘You must not eat from any tree in the Garden’?” Although deconstructionists view themselves as woke or enlightened, their philosophy is nothing new. In fact, it’s been around since the Garden of Eden. Unfortunately, this thinking inevitably leads to an unsound interpretation of scripture. When someone concludes scripture isn’t telling the truth, he or she must pick and choose what parts to accept or reject, and may decide to distort parts of the Bible to fit personal preferences. If this is allowed, why would Christians believe anything in the Bible? Over time, many deconstructionists do indeed begin to doubt the Bible, which leads them to deconversion. Deconversion Is the Destination According to Miles, true Christianity holds that all scripture is inspired by God and is inherently true. Because of the Bible, we have the words needed to understand the world, light our path, and lead our lives. Miles references the worship band Hillsong. The band’s songwriter left the faith because he felt Christians, while being “beautiful and loving people,” could also be “the most judgemental people on the planet.” Miles says he agrees with this observation. Christians are sinners just like everyone else. However, the writer’s inability to deal with the reality of sin in the Church led to his deconversion. Unfortunately, many others have followed suit. Miles also notes that deconversion doesn’t happen overnight. Losing one’s relationship with God and one’s understanding of biblical truth happens when we allow our hearts to get bent, distorted, and blurry. Over time, it reaches the point where we are willing to walk away from the faith we once held. He clarifies that it isn’t just bad behavior that causes someone to fall away from God. It is the intentional act of rejecting one’s faith in God and bowing down to some other entity, whether human reason, the state, or oneself. The EpochTV episode discusses how walking away from the faith and pursuing other ideas starts with a process. Hebrews 3:7-11 warns about hardening our hearts as the Israelites did. Instead of allowing our hearts to become hardened by the trials and the confusing elements of scripture, Miles encourages Christians to lean into their faith and examine these issues by clinging to God and pursuing the truth through Him. Doing this can lead to a better understanding of God’s truth and who He is. Christian Orthodoxy and Why It Matters The term orthodoxy means right teaching or right belief. Miles uses the analogy of a buoy floating in the water. A buoy is attached to an anchor that holds it in place while allowing it to float atop the waves. Orthodoxy is like a buoy that adapts to the waves and the wind of relevant cultural issues, while remaining anchored to biblical truth. Christians can vary on some issues and remain in the framework of orthodox Christianity. However, they cannot detach themselves from the bedrock of the Christian faith, which is the revealed person of Jesus Christ and the word of God. True Christianity does not allow followers to drift into the waters of progressive ideology and deny scripture. “The moment you start disregarding scripture, you have cut yourself away from the bedrock of the truth, and you’re drifting out into very dangerous waters,” says Miles. The solution to this way of thinking is to spend more time in the word of God. Being in God’s word allows his followers to understand and know God intimately. The more we learn and understand who God is and appreciate the beauty of the gospel, the more we love and appreciate Jesus Christ and God the Father. Miles believes that deconversion is simply a method by which people convince themselves that certain things aren’t true, allowing themselves to justify their sins and live as they wish. The real motivation behind the deconstructionist movement is what this EpochTV series has brought to light in all its episodes: the Marxist goal to dismantle the foundation of the Christian faith. True Christians know that this is impossible because the gospel is infallible. However, this doesn’t mean Satan can’t use deconstructionists to try to lure people away from God. Miles says believers should focus on pursuing God and an authentic relationship with him over putting faith leaders on a pedestal. People will make mistakes and fail, but God’s word will always prove timeless and true. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Watch the trailer: Watch the full video: https://www.theepochtimes.com/premiering-at-8-pm-et-enemies-within-christianity-the-deconstruction-movement-and-exvangelicals_4761067.html with EPOCHTV subscription. ($1 for 2 months trial available )

Commentary Christians who are becoming aware of the left’s increasing tensions with the church should check out EpochTV’s latest series, “Church and State” presented by Lucas Miles, an ordained minister and best-selling author. In this episode, he breaks down pro-abortion arguments made by the left that God is pro-choice. Historically, the pro-choice argument has claimed to be based on “science,” saying that babies in the womb aren’t human or that they are simply part of the mother’s body. From a secular standpoint, the left has argued that any religious reason for outlawing abortion is a violation of the separation of church and state, saying that abortion is not a religious issue, but a human rights issue. However, since the overturning of Roe v. Wade, the left has shifted its approach to using Christianity and religion to advocate for abortion, and even attempting to claim that God is pro-choice. Can a Pastor Be Pro-Choice? In the EpochTV episode, Miles quotes an article written by a female pastor who is pro-choice. He notes that being pro-choice is a heretical viewpoint and not one that a pastor—or even a true Christian—can hold. Although he believes there is grace for people’s blindness to various issues, he says people need to understand that, as Christians, they can’t look at social issues and pick and choose which ones we will adhere to the Bible on and which ones we won’t. “The Bible is very clear on these issues and it is very clear on the issue of life. The Bible teaches emphatically and without question that God is a pro-life God. He’s the one who created life; He’s the one who sustains life.” Miles says that playing god over another innocent life and deciding whether it lives or dies is not a position Christians can ever support. Fake Pastors and Lost Christians One of the common tactics employed by the left is to use the voices of pro-choice people and present those people as Christians who represent Christianity accurately. For example, the pastor who wrote the article about being pro-choice is ordained through the United Church of Christ, a far-left denomination known for its anti-Biblical standpoints, placing itself far outside the Christian faith on a host of issues. It is important to be aware of this tactic, because when people see an “ordained minister” they associate that person with the Christian faith, but in this pastor’s case, she is ordained by a church that stands contrary to the Christian faith and is irrelevant to what the Bible says or what the true church believes. It also states in her article that she has served on Planned Parenthood’s board as a clergy member. She is not the average pastor who happens to believe that God is pro-choice, she is a pro-choice activist who has been serving the murderous industry of abortion for decades. Revising History and Virtue Signaling Revisionist history is another tactic the left attempts to use, claiming that the church has always been in support of abortion because it’s the compassionate and moral stance to take. They paint the conservative right as the bad guys who have been misrepresenting or drowning out the voice of the church. The article by the pro-choice “pastor” concludes by relying heavily on virtue signaling, saying that being pro-choice is not about the life of a child but about love—that compassion and love mean accompanying people in places where they choose to go, whether they choose to kill their baby or to let it live. It’s typical leftist ideology to say that condoning sin is the loving and compassionate thing to do. Free Will One of the most common arguments used by the pro-choice movement in recent months is to claim that because God gave Christians free will, God is pro-choice and therefore Christians must be pro-choice as well. They argue that even if God doesn’t want people to make a certain choice, if God has given free will, then God is pro-choice, and therefore abortion should be legalized. Miles notes that it’s important to understand that not every Christian believes in free will. However, Miles personally does, so he goes on to dissect the argument using free will theology. First, in the EpochTV episode, Miles notes that whether or not something is illegal does not determine whether someone can still choose to do that thing or not. Someone can still choose to murder, lie, commit adultery, and so on. God gave Moses the Ten Commandments, outlawing certain acts and behaviors. That doesn’t mean people can’t break the commandments. However, they are not suggestions, they are commandments from God outlawing those actions. So he is not pro-choice in those Ten Commandments, he is laying out clearly and without a doubt what Christians are supposed to do and how they are supposed to act. Is God pro-choice on the issue of murder because he doesn’t stand in the way of someone’s free will to commit murder, so therefore we should legalize murder? Miles says that God is not pro-choice, He is pro-right choice. A wrong choice should not be legalized and is not condoned by God simply because a person allegedly has free will. Old Testament Passages Taken Out of Context Many people are using Old Testament Mosaic laws, particularly a passage in Numbers 5, claiming that God taught priests how to perform abortions. Miles exposits the texts, explaining that the text is referring to the jealousy ritual, not an abortion. The jealousy ritual specifically addresses when a man suspects his wife of having an affair but he has no proof of it. It’s important to note that it is not for whether he suspects she is pregnant, just that he is concerned she may have been unfaithful. Under Mosaic Law, a woman caught in the act of adultery was stoned. Miles first notes that he believes this passage was a grace built into the Mosaic Law because, in the Christian faith, we know that we all have sinned and fallen short, and the punishment for sin is death. His view is that the passage in Numbers 5 served to prevent unlawful stoning to death under the Mosaic Law, and instead provided a scenario for the husband to bring his wife to the priest and have the priest help him discern whether she had been unfaithful. Ancient customs in modern times certainly can seem bizarre to modern readers, but since Jesus’ death and resurrection, Christians do not live under the Old Covenant. Liberals argue that the ritual concocts some kind of potion that causes the woman to have an abortion, but the text clearly states she drinks water mixed with dirt only. This was a way to bring about Divine judgment, not physical. If she drank it and was not lying, nothing would happen because again, there is nothing harmful about this mixture. However, if she was lying, the text says her womb would shrivel and her body swell, again, caused by God, not by the drink or the priest. Miles dives into the original language, noting that the Hebrew word translated into “womb” is a difficult word to translate. The word has various meanings, such as loins, stomach, and more. Nowhere in the passage does it say anything about her being pregnant, conceiving a child, or any mention of a child in this situation whatsoever. The situation explained in the passage is simply a husband who is concerned about his wife’s faithfulness. However, the NIV (New International Version) uses the word “miscarries” in one translation. Miles says that “every other translation translates the word differently because it’s not what the word says.” He explains that the Hebrew word is not talking about miscarrying because she is pregnant, it is talking about a physical judgment in her body, such as potentially a thigh rotting or a womb shriveling, etc. according to various other translations. Perhaps this could affect her ability to conceive in the future, which as he reminds viewers, is more of a mercy than being stoned. But the ancient language and text do not say that she was pregnant and that this drink would somehow cause her to have an abortion, as the left is claiming. “This passage has nothing to do with abortion. God did not teach the Israelites how to perform an abortion. This passage has nothing to do with even having a child,” says Miles, calling the left’s argument spiritual propaganda that is twisted and pushed on people who have no understanding of the Bible. He says it shows the left is rabid to convince Americans to support abortion. “Basically, the state is using the church as a useful idiot to push this agenda forward.” The Real Motive of the Left Miles concludes the EpochTV episode by saying that the left wants to get rid of any belief that there is foundational truth, and attempt to overthrow the moral foundation of the church. If Christians dig deeper into scripture, they will find that God is a God of life. He advises that if a pastor is buying into any idea that God is pro-choice, then Christians should find a new church. “You need to start looking someplace else to find a church that is committed to teaching the word of God, absolutely, without any sort of apologies without ever bending a knee or bowing a head to the culture of the day.” Miles believes that if Christians do that, they will impact generations to come to know and understand the truth. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Watch the trailer: Watch the full video: https://www.theepochtimes.com/premiering-8pm-et-is-god-pro-choice-church-state_4714533.html with EPOCHTV subscription. ($1 for 2 months trial available )

Commentary For Christians wanting to understand political issues of today from a Biblical perspective, check out the EpochTV series, “Church and State” presented by Lucas Miles. Miles is an ordained minister and best-selling author. In episode three, “Pastor takes CRT to Church,” Miles talks about how Critical Race Theory and the Black Lives Matter movement has influenced the Church and what Christians should do about it. Loving Others Doesn’t Mean Sacrificing the Gospel Miles says that loving Christ means we love everyone because they are made in God’s image, not because of the color of their skin. However, loving people does not mean we throw truth or the gospel out the window. Miles claims that when George Floyd died during the summer of 2020, it threw the Church off guard. “With the world watching, many pastors immediately endorsed the mission of Black Lives Matter, without questioning their larger agenda,” says Miles, citing the black squares posted on Instagram for “blackout Tuesday” and even incorporating BLM propaganda and talking points into their Sunday sermons. Miles says it was only later that Americans began waking up to BLM Inc.’s real mission: to dismantle the nuclear family and the western way of life (these goals are all stated on BLM’s own website). (Shutterstock) What is Critical Race Theory? Many pastors share elements of Critical Race Theory from the pulpit, which Miles believes is a problem because CRT is antithetical to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Miles references the second-century book “Against Heresies” written by Irenaeus of Lyons. The book was a manifesto against the heretical belief of Gnosticism, which emphasized personal spiritual knowledge above the orthodox teaching of religious institutions. The first-century church struggled to defeat Gnosticism because they didn’t understand it. Miles believes we need to understand CRT to protect and defend the gospel against it. Key Elements of CRT Race is a Social Construct CRT teaches that race is a social construct, and American society was formed and structured to oppress people of color and keep them from succeeding. That is simply not true, as the concepts of American rights and freedom are founded on equality, liberty, and inalienable rights that come from God, not from government. It’s important to note that the American founding documents are built on the premise that all people are created in the image of God. It is this concept that bestows all humans with inalienable rights, not their race or skin color. Neo-Marxism Critical Race Theory is another form of Critical Theory, which is a Marxist concept used to advance the communist agenda. Critical Theory is a tactic that criticizes everything in order to cause strife and conflict and ultimately tear down society. This has manifested itself throughout history with the bourgeois vs. the proletariat, the rich vs. poor, men vs. women, Christians vs. secularism, black vs. white, and so on. Of course, there are real conflicts at times throughout history. However, this type of conflict is manufactured: exploiting circumstances that will advance the agenda at best, or orchestrating and lying to create a conflict at worst. Black Liberation Theology is a way CT has manifested itself in the African American community. Miles explains that according to BLT, there are only two sins an oppressed person can commit. The first is not realizing their oppression, which is why Black Liberation Theology attacks any person of color who doesn’t go along with a victim mentality. The second sin is to be nice to your oppressors. This goes against Biblical principles where Christians are commanded to love and pray for those who persecute them. Systemic Racism, Equity vs Equality CRT holds the idea of the permanence of racism, calling for a massive upheaval of society, or else racism will always exist. Systemic racism is the belief that racism exists in every aspect of American culture and every institution. CRT also believes in white privilege: that whites are born with an unearned privilege that is unavailable to people of color. CRT calls for equity over equality. Equity is equal outcomes, equality is equal opportunity. Equality believes that all people are equal before God, and American citizens also have equal opportunity under the law. Equity, however, says people must have equal outcomes, through spreading wealth, reparations, etc. CRT also promotes the concept of race superiority, urging society to deny whiteness as an acceptable form of existence and confirm blackness. What is Wrong with CRT? Miles says that although these ideologies sound like they will help people, the reality is that Marxism, socialism, and communism have never worked, and “they will never work because they are based on faulty premises. Deconstructing the Constitution, deconstructing scripture, deconstructing the family is not going to do anything to help those who are truly struggling in society.” He also points out that there are plenty of white people in America who are experiencing poverty, homelessness, etc. as well. Poverty and oppression have nothing to do with the color of one’s skin. There are people of all races, backgrounds, etc. who have experienced setbacks in life. “This has nothing to do with race. Race is only a distraction to try to divide this country, to get us to fight about something in order to demolish this western way of living.” Miles says. What Does the Bible Say About CRT? The EpochTV episode also explains how Marxism and CRT beliefs are anti-gospel. Miles notes that the early church never made an effort to make Romans deny their roman-ness or anything of that sort. Jesus’ message was extremely inclusive, especially given the historical context he lived in. Jesus’ ministry was to include Gentiles into the family of God and make them equal to Jews. Galatians 3:28 says, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” Since the summer of 2020, BLM Inc. has been exposed for what it truly is: an openly Marxist organization attempting to destroy the nuclear family and usher in the trans-agenda seen today. Whether people understand Marxist roots, intentions, or tactics, by aligning themselves with Marxism, they are advancing the agenda. Marxism is anti-religion, anti-freedom, and has anti-biblical views on sexuality, family, society, and human rights. Miles also notes that proponents of CRT have forgotten one essential aspect of the gospel: forgiveness. Where is forgiveness in a belief system that requires holding someone accountable for something someone of the same skin color did? Why doesn’t CRT offer white people in America an opportunity for redemption in society? CRT says white people just have to do the work to become anti-racist, even though there is no clarity on what that work is or a timeline on how long it must be done. The reason for this is that it is perpetual. “This is one of the many ways that CRT creates division. There is no opportunity for reconciliation ever to take place,” says Miles. What If You Have Been Promoting CRT? When George Floyd died, the left was poised and ready to perpetuate the narrative with propaganda campaigns. However, the church seemed unprepared. Many Christians were marching alongside BLM, posting black squares, or repeating BLM taglines. Most people did it because they feared coming across as racists or not empathetic. Yet years later, Miles says he hasn’t seen any pastors repent for promoting an openly anti-Biblical narrative. He thinks it would be appropriate for pastors to recognize and apologize that, while they attempted to come alongside their fellow Americans in support and love, in doing so, they unknowingly formed an allegiance with a Marxist organization. Miles says that if you stood in solidarity with BLM after you realized that the organization was anti-gospel, anti-family, anti-America, and was responsible for bringing down cities and creating division, then it’s time to recant and apologize. “It’s time to say, ‘Guys I’m sorry. I didn’t know. I rushed to a conclusion. I was wrong, although I do stand in support of people of color. If they’re experiencing oppression in any situation, I’m there for them. But this isn’t the way to solve the problem. Marxism is not the solution. An anti-gospel agenda is not the solution and it never will be, and it’s not going to stand in my church.” Keep the Gospel Central According to scripture, there is another form of oppression: the one Jesus came to save us from, which is sin. The Bible says that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Jesus Christ became sin for us, and those who put their faith in God can be free from the oppression caused by sin and death. Vengeance belongs to the Lord, but the cross defines Christianity, which brings grace and forgiveness. Without grace and forgiveness, it’s not Christianity. The church is meant to preach the gospel and never compromise God’s truth or perpetuate a narrative that hates God. Miles concludes the EpochTV episode by urging Christians to stand against integrating CRT and Marxist ideas into the church. “Don’t go along with it. Don’t bow to the woke mob,” he says, reminding his viewers that “truth always wins in the end.” Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Watch the trailer: Watch the full video: https://www.theepochtimes.com/premiering-at-8pm-et-pastor-takes-crt-to-church-church-state_4729335.html with EPOCHTV subscription. ($1 for 2 months trial available )

In an award-winning Epoch Cinema Original documentary, a former journalist for the Communist Party of China, Yifei Wang, tells the true story of her family’s persecution for being part of the religious minority of Falun Gong in China. In 1999, the Chinese Communist Party ordered the eradication of the meditation practice called Falun Gong. Millions of families were torn apart and no one in China was allowed to talk about the subject. Jiang Zemin, leader of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) at the time, said he would defeat Falun Gong. His orders were: “Ruin their reputations. Bankrupt them financially. Destroy them physically.” The regime created a special agency to accomplish this, called the 610 Office, and its offices quickly sprung up around the country. They were to deploy any and all resources to suppress Falun Gong. According to a former Chinese media worker, “all media reported that these people hurt themselves, could cause harm, or be aggressive.” A former regime propaganda official said that newspapers, radio, and TV were all in sync and full of slanderous reports. “They utilized the whole society for the suppression.” The media told people to follow atheism, reject Falun Gong, and keep their faith in communism. “One perspective. One belief. Everyone must follow that.” Up to today, the CCP has carried out more than 50 persecution campaigns. A former Consul and diplomat for the regime explains that the doctrine of communism is “based on killing. Killing to scare people… to make fear to keep its rule.” Yifei and Her Sister Yifei Wang was a journalist for the regime. She stood with the students on Tiananmen square in 1989. “I know what the regime can do. One can’t really imagine it unless one experiences it for themselves.” She says that “if the story of my family goes public, I know it will bring [them] a lot of danger. Maybe they will go after my family members, but I must do it. If I can’t expose what they did to us, then all of our suffering will be for nothing.” In the early 90s, members of the state media and even regime officials used to practice Falun Gong and encouraged others to do so too. Falun Gong is a traditional way of self-improvement from the Buddha school. It teaches five exercises, and to live by the principles of truth, compassion, and tolerance in daily life. The practice spread like wildfire across the country. “We did nothing wrong, but it was too traditional. Too spiritual. And it became too popular. The regime couldn’t tolerate that.” Yifei saw the health of her parents, who had been sick and in and out of hospitals for over 30 years, improve. Having her parents happy and healthy again meant the world to her and her siblings, who began practicing Falun Gong as well. Yifei’s husband was also a journalist. He was able to use his high-ranking connections to keep her out of prison, but he wasn’t able to save her sister, who was arrested simply for appealing to the government to stop the persecution by holding up a banner during a peaceful protest. Her banner said “Falun Gong is good.” Her sister was sent to a labor camp without a trial. After four months of not being allowed to visit her, they got a call in the middle of the night and were told to go to the detention center immediately. A fellow prisoner who had been a witness tells of the torture her sister had endured for refusing to stop meditating, including cruelly force feeding her until blood came out of her nose, tying her arms and legs spread out on a “death bed,” poking her eyes with needles, and beating her face if she fell asleep. When they finally let the family see her, the skin, muscle, and blood on her face were all mushed together and she was naked from the waist down. They told the family that she died of a heart attack. Yifei went on the run for many years in China to avoid being arrested, and eventually fled to the United States. Now she fulfills her father’s wish of sharing the story of her family and seeking justice for the murder of her sister, and the millions of other Chinese victims of the persecution. Yifei’s Brother Yifei’s brother was sentenced to thirteen years in a labor camp for printing flyers containing information about Falun Gong, according to the official court verdict. Her brother’s lawyer was threatened by the government and told if he kept helping the family he would not be allowed to practise law anymore. A former member of the Secret Police said that they would work with national security agencies and even the military for their raids and arrests. Most of the high-profile arrests he made were for printing and distributing flyers. “The regime is most afraid of printing, copying, and distributing materials that will allow more people to know the truth about Falun Gong.” He said all those arrested end up in prison. Yifei’s brother was a smart and successful man, who made all the decisions for his family. His wife recounts that their family was ordinary and peaceful, each day they went to work and their child went to school. One day, her husband did not come home. She looked everywhere but could not find him. About 20 days later, a man who had just been released from prison called her and told her that he had seen her husband beaten so badly he was paralyzed. When they went to the prison they were not allowed to see him, and when people heard that his case was related to Falun Gong, no one would help. When her husband was eventually released from prison, he didn’t know what anything was—even simple household objects like a kettle. His wish was to go to America and expose the persecution he and his family had experienced. He called China “a prison, full of prisons” saying he had to expose them (the CCP). “It’s all I can do.” He tells his story of being tortured with an electric baton, and how places on his body are still only bone covered by skin. His wounds became infected and he saw the rotting flesh fall from his body. He said he witnessed other prisoners being tortured to death. One form of torture in the prison camp involved beds—on which people were stretched to death. When they were about to die they would be released on emergency medical grounds only to die at home shortly after. The documentary shows horrifying footage of “stretched” victims. His wife asked her husband to stop sharing his memories and torture experiences with others, saying it broke her heart and filled her with fear every time she heard them. He replied, “Although these are very painful memories, and I don’t like remembering them, I feel I need to expose the evil of the regime. This is something I should do.” His hope is that good people will step forward and demand justice for the Chinese people who are still suffering. Yifei’s brother built a replica of an iron chair that he was tortured on, demonstrating how they would strap him in and damage his shoulder and back muscles, as well as use a plastic bag to suffocate him. When he was close to death, they would open a little part of the bag, let in a tiny bit of air and then do it over again. They also poured water on people’s genitals and electrocuted that part of the body. His replica chair is now being used in exhibits to educate others about what happens to Falun Gong prisoners and to show the endurance and faith of the adherents. What Motivates Regime Officials? Former regime officials and police officers explain how torturing prisoners can earn them rewards and bonuses. A former propaganda official said that “after the Cultural Revolution, your whole being became empty, with no faith in anything. So the only things people have faith in now are material things and money, which are what the regime promotes.” The regime controls people by controlling their livelihoods. Only by staying within the system can you have a decent life, but if you step outside the system, you will be punished. Yifei said that it’s not unusual for the labor camps to be located on a main road or in a big city. “The regime wants us to know they are there. They want us to fear them.” She recounts how the regime had kidnapped her younger sister’s son, who was about eight at the time.“They just kidnap whenever they want to.” In prison, adherents are told to transform, which means to be brainwashed into following the regime. The electric baton is used to do the “transformation.” Courage and Truth Are the Keys to Change “Thirty years the river flows east, thirty years the river flows west. Things will change, but we can’t just wait,” says Yifei. “We must speak out, we must not stop, we must continue to tell the truth.” Yifei and her brother now tell people the facts about the Chinese Communist regime and details about the persecution of the Falun Gong. Their messages are used in partnership with others around the world to put pressure on the Chinese regime to stop the persecution of Falun Gong, and in the long term, end the regime and bring freedom for the Chinese people. A former regime judge says that he knows doing this means taking risks, “but if no one is willing to stand up, our society will just become worse.” Former regime officials say they left China because they were shocked by the persecution they saw. “I realized the regime is destroying humanity,” said a former Army colonel. Yifei quotes an old saying, “‘dripping water chisels through stone.’ No matter how powerful an evil may be, the only way to defeat it is with the courage to defend your values and to never give up.” Of her time in America, she says “I’m surrounded by clean air and blue skies, and I love this freedom. It’s changed how I see the world, and it’s given me hope.” Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Watch the trailer: Watch the full video: https://www.theepochtimes.com/finding-courage-documentary_4572595.html with EPOCHTV subscription. ($1 for 2 months trial available )

Commentary An insightful exposé on some of the more troubling aspects of anti-Christian discrimination. We live in some extremely divided times in Western countries. But while many people may know of how ordinary civilians are being affected by required “sensitivity” courses and vaccine mandates in the United States, others may not be aware of what’s going on in the military and how it is being purged of so-called undesirables by certain nefarious forces at the highest levels of power. In one of the latest Crossroads TV episodes, hosted by Joshua Philipp, we can begin to see what exactly is going on in our armed forces. Philipp first interviews Air Force Reserve Lieutenant Colonel Brandi King. King talks about how in the past, through a series of phone calls and emails, she was constantly warned against trying to submit an order for a religious exemption to getting one of the mandatory vaccines that have been foisted on all military personnel. The warnings ultimately culminated in her commander threatening her career if she continued to try and avoid taking the mandated shots. And just as with many selfless patriotic service members, although she points out that her own retirement has been jeopardized, she adds “but I’m not the only one.” Another military officer, Air Force Major Kim Bitter, who has served 22 years as a flight nurse, also had her career thrown into jeopardy. Similar to King, she was ordered by her superiors to get a vaccine shot. Since she was leery of getting the experimental jab because of an underlying medical condition, she requested to first confer with her own private physician in order to “make sure it was okay.” Bitter was advised by her private doctor that since she had an auto-immune disorder and the vaccines targeted people with compromised immune systems, she should not take any. Even though she had signed medical documents (with her private physician’s letterhead and all), the military denied her medical exemption. She said she then submitted her religious accommodation paperwork almost immediately after the medical request and that was also denied. Her command told her that she only had 72 hours to respond from there, or she’d be out-processed. She said that her moral principles prevented her from caving to the government’s demands. Philipp notes that while military law allows for exemptions to getting the vaccine shots, it has had little intention of recognizing this legally protected right. Being forced out of the military or put on Inactive Ready Reserve (IRR) can be devastating to military personnel and cause them to lose their retirements, pensions, and benefits, such as VA medical care. He also points out that, to date, only two members of the U.S. Marine Corps have been granted vaccine mandate exemptions based on their religious beliefs. Still, even those minute exceptions are currently being called into question by the government. Oddly, a superior number of medical and administrative exemptions have been granted in the past. Some of the personnel that are still on active duty volunteered for clinical trials where they were given placebo vaccines, and even though they are protected by administrative exemptions, their status is nonetheless unvaccinated. This is a glaring double-standard since the Department of Defense (DoD) has been stressing the entire time that everyone must be vaccinated. For some reason, faith isn’t a good enough reason to qualify for an exemption. Philipp also reveals how the military has discriminated against Christians specifically, for many years, via the manipulation of legal lingo. More recently, in 2021, the government announced that it was going to begin purging the military of “racism” and “extremism.” Although details were sketchy at first, some of the talks that the government advised commanders to give to the personnel under them appeared to be increasingly targeted in a discriminating fashion at those who are religious. Attorney Mike Berry, who represents a number of military personnel, testified before the U.S. House Services Committee that he discovered a projection slide found in a DoD training manual, that categorizes both Catholics and Evangelical Christians as “religious extremists” within the armed forces. On the slide, these two were right alongside terrorist groups such as Hamas and Al-Qaeda, as well as the Ku Klux Klan. The episode goes on to reveal how many whistleblowers began to step forward and reveal that the DoD itself may have been pushing for discrimination under the guise of anti-discrimination, as well as forcing anti-American indoctrination on military personnel. Details began to emerge that pointed to Marxist-fueled critical race theory (CRT) as the origin of these discriminatory forces—with all of the common catchphrases we’ve heard before, such as “systemic racism” and “white privilege.” Meanwhile, books that literally discriminate against whites, such as “White Fragility” by Robin DiAngelo, have allegedly become required reading. In the past, these types of hyper-divisive tactics have been utilized under communism. But instead of pitting the social classes of the bourgeoisie and the proletariat against one another, race and gender are used by the new communists as primary divisors. In other words—it’s the same old game with different names. Philipp goes on to delve into how history is linked with much of the chaos transpiring in modern society. This episode is backed up by both factual information and insightful interviews. One of the more scary correlations about all of this is how both the public and private sectors are pushing not only physically invasive mandates on our bodies (i.e. shots) but also psychological mandates on our minds (required CRT training, sensitivity training, etc). ‘Crossroads: Pentagon’s War on Religion’ Starring: Joshua Philipp Running Time: 42 minutes MPAA Rating: Not rated Release Date: February 20, 2022 Watch on Epoch Cinema—visit the link here.

Commentary Just as with food, literature, and visual art, music can be a unifying force that transcends borders and ideologies. Music can also be something that people engage in debates about, not just from the perspectives of music critics, but also the very musicians themselves. This very careful balance between egos, as well as how great musicians interpret music, is covered in a recent Piano Talks production titled “Special Episode: Hermitage Piano Trio,” hosted by celebrated pianist Janara Khassenova. Just as a little background for those who aren’t aware of Hermitage Piano Trio, they were formed by three Russian-American musicians who had already achieved success in their individual careers when they banded together in 2011. They officially formed in New York and include pianist Ilya Kazantsev, cellist Sergey Antonov, and violinist Misha Keylin. As stated on their website: “The Trio is a champion of immense repertoire ranging from the works of the great European tradition to more contemporary American pieces. Hallmarks of the Hermitage Piano Trio is their impeccable musicianship, sumptuous sound, and polished skill, which have led to demand for many repeat performances.” Against the backdrop of the picturesque city of Newport, Rhode Island, along the coastline of the New England region, Khassenova recently sat down with the Hermitage Piano Trio to talk with them. One of the first questions (and a logical one) that Khassenova asks the Trio is how they were affected by the governmental COVID-19 lockdowns. As travel was restricted and “social distancing” enforced, at least for the common people of the world, the musicians mention that recent times have been challenging. After all, the Trio had just been nominated for several Grammy Awards in 2020 when things quickly went into lockdown mode only a month later. They also emphasize that they faced these numerous issues together and mention that there is nothing like sitting shoulder to shoulder with other musicians while you all play your different instruments in order to form the beautiful aural tapestries known as music. In other words—live music can never be duplicated by recordings. Working as a group of accomplished and passionate musicians can also be a challenge in and of itself. As mentioned previously, musicians’ interpretations of music can be vastly different from one another. But as Keylin adroitly points out, to be successful (at least in a group), musicians must learn to play as one. That doesn’t necessarily mean sacrificing anything—it’s more about listening and understanding each other. You can either have three “superstars” who compete with one another or three who work together to help make their combined music come out. One of the things that make this episode so enjoyable is that the interview is mixed with the Trio playing pieces by such famous pianists and conductors as German composer Johannes Brahms, and Russian composer Sergei Rachmaninoff. The backgrounds of each member in the Trio are also touched on and they talk about their various challenges, triumphs, and philosophical outlooks. All of these elements combine to make for a fascinating watch that is not only educational and inspiring but also contains some useful lessons for living a life of exceptional quality. ‘Special Episode: Hermitage Piano Trio | Piano Talks’ Starring: Janara Khassenova, Misha Keylin, Sergey Antonov, Ilya Kazantsev Running Time: 24 minutes Release Date: Jan. 24, 2022 Rated: 4.5 stars out of 5 Watch on Epoch Cinema—visit the link here.

Commentary Thought-provoking insights into the Book of Revelations. It seems like everywhere you look these days, a lot of chaos is unfolding. We’ve all just been put through the wringer that was the year 2020—where we were told to stay at home for only 15 days, and our docile compliance enabled nefarious forces to morph that into an entirely different beast. While Big Pharma is raking in record profits and tyrannical powers are scheming behind the scenes to enslave certain large segments of the population—or eliminate them altogether—we’ve also seen an unprecedented rise in global crime, strife, famine, political division, and economic uncertainty. When you step back and look at where we are today compared to where we were even just five years ago, a lot has changed—and not for the better. Indeed, if someone back then would have described our current worldwide situation, I would have thought they were pitching a science fiction horror screenplay to me, or some sort of near-future dystopian book idea. But some wise folks out there have looked at things from a Biblical standpoint. Although we’ve seen some fantastic fictional films of late that correlate our modern-day tribulations to the end times, such as Timothy A. Chey’s “Interview with the Antichrist,” some great new web series and documentaries also draw similar comparisons. Investigative filmmaker, author, and president of Patterns of Evidence Foundation,Timothy Mahoney, recently produced a new series of short films that not only take a Biblical perspective on current events but also use some of the passages in the Bible that have appeared throughout history. And after watching the series, which comprises six films thus far, I must say that much of what is happening these days makes much more sense to me now. The debut episode, “Are we living in the End Times?” is a great place to start the series, as it establishes a solid foundation for all of the subsequent installments. In it, Mr. Mahoney talks with Dr. Mark Wilson, who is the founder and director of the Asia Minor Research Center in Antalya, Turkey. He and Dr. Wilson talk about many of the topics that are on peoples’ minds these days, as well as delving deeper into the Book of Revelations. One of the things that make this film great is how the two men talk about the Book of Revelations with regard to how it is interpreted by today’s Christians—or misinterpreted for that matter. For instance, Dr. Wilson points out that many Christians are divided on how exactly Revelations is set to play out, as well as the fact that many Believers have a hard time understanding it since they haven’t read the Old Testament (the Jewish Bible). He adds without knowing the backgrounds of people and places (as described in the Old Testament) that are glazed over in the New Testament, it’ll go right over their heads. This film touches on some interesting questions that I’m sure many Christians would like to have addressed these days, such as: · Are we going through the Great Tribulation right now? If not, when is it coming? · Is there going to be one big final tribulation before Jesus returns? · There is the victory of Revelations—but what about the warnings? · Why are those warnings in the Bible and how do we interpret them? · Do we have to watch out for false (and even heretical) teachers? · What do the Seven Churches have to do with all of these things? The five subsequent films touch on many different Biblical topics—such as the Last Days, Christ’s Second Coming, Visions of Glory, and others. One of the things I like about this new series has to be Mahoney’s hilarious sense of humor. He has many anecdotal stories about being raised in a strict religious family and how he’d routinely be scared half to death because of something going on with either his parents or certain circumstances he found himself in, at their church (all delivered in humorous ways of course). Overall, this is a fantastic series that should not only appeal to Believers but also those who are even remotely curious about the Bible and its correlation to the modern world we find ourselves in. 'Are We Living in the End Times?' Director: Timothy Mahoney Starring: Timothy Mahoney, Dr. Mark W. Wilson Running Time: 22 minutes Release Date: 2021 Rated: 4.5 stars out of 5 Note: This film is part of the “Epoch Experience Package” (which includes a total of six videos). Watch on Epoch Cinema—visit the link here.

A refreshingly insightful documentary about the January 6th event. 1h 43m | Documentary | 2022 [PRE-ORDER] the DVD here! Commentary The Jan. 6 event has left many people scratching their heads. Harsh punitive measures were not only used against protestors in the wake of the mass gathering but many extreme measures were used against them on that very day. In The Epoch Times’ new documentary “The Real Story of January 6,” hosted by lead investigative reporter Joshua Philipp, we get to see some of the lesser-known facets of the event. One of Philipp’s first interviews is with Stan Kephart, who has 42 years of experience in law enforcement and is one of the nation’s leading experts on police use of force. Kephart noted that not only were there no supervisors on hand for the cops assigned to the Capitol detail on Jan. 6, but they were improperly firing munitions down into the crowd from elevated positions. Since the crowd was packed very tightly in many of the areas the police were shooting into, the protestors’ heads became the primary targets. These munitions were inexplicably being used on peaceful protesters merely standing in the crowd, not rushing the barricades between the crowd and the police. In other words, the police were firing projectiles capable of taking out people’s eyes (or causing other severe injuries) without any cause or provocation. Kephart also mentions that tasers were being deployed and shot into people’s bodies. But instead of arresting people who had been neutralized, the weapons were being used in a punitive fashion, which is illegal. “It’s not only a failure of training but also a failure of bystandership and supervision,” Kephart states. Explosive devices, such as gas dispersion grenades, were another weapon being thrown into the crowd. Such devices could have permanently blinded bystanders or caused severe hearing problems—for life. Naturally, this caused the crowd of protestors to become angry. Accordingly to Kephart, all of these punitive actions by the cops on hand were not only “wrong,” they were “sadistic.” As a result of these police actions, a couple of gentlemen experienced cardiac events and were transported to medical facilities where they later passed away. One woman named Victoria White was inadvertently shoved into a tunnel under the Capitol by the protestors. Although she had no intention of being there and was trying to extract herself from being wedged into the tunnel, a police officer struck her repeatedly in the head with a “metal baton.” Since she was in a partial state of shock, she thought she’d only been struck several times. However, when she later watched video footage of the assault, she counted many more times that she had been hit heavily in the head. She was also called the B-word and punched in the face with a closed fist by the same cop using the baton on her. White, a mother of four children, suffered severe injuries as a result of the assault. Ashli Babbitt, a small white female who served her country honorably in the U.S. Air Force, was shot and killed by a Capital Police Officer named Michael Byrd. Babbitt was transported to a local hospital but later died from Byrd’s bullet. At first, the media tried to hide the identity of Byrd, but when he was finally ID’d, he was swiftly exonerated of any wrongdoing and even hailed as a hero by many leftists. As Philipp explains, phrases would populate news sites immediately following Jan. 6. Terms such as “insurrection,” “treason,” and “stormed the capital” were relentlessly and unilaterally pushed by the corporate media outlets. All of this frenzied media coverage led Philipp to an interesting question—why was there such a huge media blitz about the Jan. 6 protest? To answer that question, Philipp seeks out top political commentator and leading journalist Julie Kelly, senior writer at the news publication American Greatness. According to Kelly, certain political forces got away with the whole Russia Gate hoax, so they felt emboldened to commit more crimes. This resulted in a joint session of Congress proceeding to install Joe Biden and Kamala Harris into the White House. But the media frenzy about Jan. 6 also served another underlying purpose—to take attention away from both the failed Russia-Trump collusion narrative as well as the allegations of election fraud in the 2020 election. Kelly adds that the Jan. 6 protest also allowed these same nefarious political forces to conveniently vilify two groups, the Oath Keepers and the Proud Boys (both were on hand to provide security for the protestors), and attempt to link them to President Donald J. Trump—a strategy that failed thus far. This also allowed for conservative political dissent to be criminalized and to “finally drive a stake into the heart of the MAGA (Make America Great Again) movement,” as Kelly put it. Since the Jan. 6 protest, hundreds of people have been hunted down on arrested by numerous law enforcement agencies for their involvement in it. Many of these folks, such as Matthew Perna, faced decades in prison. Perna, a kind-hearted individual, cracked under the pressure of facing hard time after having his rights violated, and committed suicide in prison. Geri Perna, Matthew’s aunt, notes that on the other side of the coin, real criminals are running around committing all kinds of crimes, such as blatant daytime robberies and the looting of stores in the nation’s cities, and not being arrested. As Philipp states at the conclusion of this illuminating documentary, “America needs answers on why the main instigators (of January 6th) are not charged,” and that the crimes on all sides need to be treated with equal measure. “The Real Story of January 6” is a well-produced and greatly researched, highly revelatory documentary that sheds some much-needed light on the events on (and after) the Jan. 6 protest, and more importantly, asks some very valid questions. ‘The Real Story of January 6’ [PRE-ORDER] the DVD here! Director: Matthew Thayer Stars: Joshua Philipp, Joseph Hanneman, Stan Kephart Running Time: 1 hour, 43 minutes MPAA Rating: Not rated Release Date: October 1, 2020 Rated: 5 stars out of 5 Ian Kane is a filmmaker and author. To learn more, visit iankanebooks.com or contact him on Instagram @therealiankane.

A Very Timely & Uplifting Series on Inspirational Historical Figures. Commentary “Divine Messengers” is a new series that recounts and celebrates the lives of particularly inspirational figures throughout history, ones who have left lasting imprints in their wake. Each episode features a particularly brave individual who faced many challenges but ultimately stayed true to themselves, as well as their connection with the divine. The first episode is about Johann Sebastian Bach, a famous German Baroque-era composer—known for his many masterworks, including the Brandenburg Concertos, Cello Suites, and the Mass in B Minor. He came from a large, multi-generational musically-inclined family, and many believe him to be the pinnacle of all of their distilled talents. However, what many people don’t know is that he also had a very abrasive personality and would often say what was on his mind, no matter the repercussions. Although his musical talents and gifts earned him the respect of many of the nobility of his day—along with some choice positions within the musical world, his hot temper also gained him a plethora of enemies. Bach was also a very religious man (Lutheran) and most of his over 1,000 compositions were written for usage during worship. His profound faith in God can also be found in much of his secular compositions and scribbled notes. His reliance on the divine for his musical inspirations has given him the moniker of “the Fifth Evangelist.” Bach was an uncompromising artist who refused to sully or limit his ambitious compositions, which he considered to be the harmonies of Heaven. When some of his critics considered his music to be too multifaceted and difficult to grasp, he retorted that while many people may not see what he created, if God does, he’s done his job. Needless to say, Bach has had a profoundly positive and inspirational effect on much of the world, leaving behind an unparalleled musical legacy. (Watch the full video: https://ept.ms/BachsInspiration ) Cultivating One’s Character Featured in the second episode, we learn that Socrates was born in 470 BC to a stoneworker and grew up in Athens. Like other patriotic youths of his age, he enlisted in military service and became a seasoned warrior—fighting in at least three battles of the Peloponnesian War. He continued to serve in the army on and off until about age 50. One of the men he saved in battle later became his follower and mentions how Socrates turned down an award for valor. He would often engage in long, trance-like states of meditation, sessions in which he was said to speak to the divine through his soul. This led to his visiting the Oracle of Delphi, who not only confirmed that Socrates did indeed have a connection with the divine, but that he was the wisest of all men. Instead of becoming arrogant, he saw this prophecy as a sign that he needed to devote his life to finding someone wiser than himself since he modestly didn’t quite believe himself to be that wise. Thereafter, he created a system called Dialectics—or methods of discovering the truth. In Plato’s Republic, Socrates describes this technique as “A form of knowledge that treats the eye of the soul gently, takes it up from the mud and guides it up.” His many positive ideas and teachings on cultivating one’s character brought him many followers. But it also gained him many enemies among powerful elites; those whom his insights revealed to be deceitful, self-absorbed, and/or power-hungry. Throughout the ages, Socrates has had a profound effect on many different nations and cultures. (Watch the full video: https://ept.ms/SocratesSecret ) Prophetic Visions The third episode is about Hildegarde von Bingen (also known as Hildegarde of Bingen), another visionary who was born in the Rhineland of Germany in 1098 to a noble family. She began to experience visions from a very young age, although no one else could see them. Fortunately, her parents concluded that Hildegarde had a divine gift and she was enrolled at a local convent, fleshing out a core of women who were attached to the abbey. When she succeeded Jutta as prioress in 1136, her visions became both more frequent and vivid than ever and she received a message from God to “write what you hear.” Thereafter, she received help from a committee of theologians (who’d confirmed her visions), which assigned her a monk to record her visions in writing. The result is a powerful work titled Scivias, which consists of 26 prophetic visions that deal with such topics as redemption and the relationship between God and humanity. Hildegarde risked becoming labeled a witch by proclaiming her divine visionary gifts to the church. But she did it anyway so that she could selflessly help others heal their bodies and souls. As with Socrates, she was instrumental in exposing corruption among many of the elites of society. ( Watch the full video: https://ept.ms/HildegardFromNunToGenius ) One of the things that is so fascinating about this series so far is that it is very well researched and reveals many elements about these important characters’ lives that aren’t too well known. For example, Bach’s terrible temper, as well as his reliance on God for inspiration. Another great takeaway from “Divine Messengers” is that even though many of these people lived hundreds (or even thousands) of years apart, they share similar characteristics and convictions, such as seeking out the eternal mysteries of life, and being truthful. It’s an incredibly well-produced, uplifting, and inspiring series that I plan to cover more in the future.