Friday Church News Notes
Volume 21, Issue 2 - January 10, 2020
The Friday Church News Notes is designed for use in churches and is published by Way of Life Literature. Unless otherwise stated, the Notes are written by David Cloud. Of necessity we quote from a wide variety of sources, though this does not imply an endorsement.
Maya Forstater
UK JUDGE RULES THAT WOMAN “NOT WORTHY OF RESPECT” FOR SAYING MEN CANNOT BE WOMEN (Friday Church News Notes, January 10, 2020, www.wayoflife.org fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143) - The following is excerpted from “Woman ‘not worthy of respect,’” The Christian Post, Dec. 19, 2019: “A woman who was ousted from her job for writing on Twitter that men who identify as transgender are not women has lost her case before an employment tribunal that said her views are ‘not worthy of respect.’ In a highly anticipated ruling, an employment tribunal decided that Maya Forstater, formerly a senior researcher at the London office of the think-tank Centre for Global Development, was not fired without just cause. Forstater was fired from her job earlier this year for tweeting on her personal account that ‘men cannot change into women.’ She was also critical of a decision to place a convicted pedophile and rapist who goes by the name Karen White--a biological male formerly known as Stephen Wood--in a women’s-only prison because he claimed to identify as female and subsequently sexually assaulted female inmates. Judge James Tayler wrote in the 26-page ruling Wednesday, ‘I conclude from ... the totality of the evidence, that [Forstater] is absolutist in her view of sex and it is a core component of her belief that she will refer to a person by the sex she considered appropriate even if it violates their dignity and/or creates an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment. The approach is not worthy of respect in a democratic society.’ Forstater and many others were stunned at the result. That stating basic biological facts were upheld as legitimate grounds to be fired. ... Voicing her support for Forstater, J.K. Rowling, author of the Harry Potter series, tweeted Thursday: ‘Dress however you please. Call yourself whatever you like. Sleep with any consenting adult who’ll have you. Live your best life in peace and security. But force women out of their jobs for stating that sex is real? #IStandWithMaya #ThisIsNotADrill.’ ... Commenting Thursday on his blog at The American Conservative, author Rod Dreher noted that the decision is indicative of political efforts in the U.K. ‘This is exactly what LGBT activists want here in the U.S: people like Maya Forstater--who doesn’t appear to be any kind of conservative, but rather a feminist--to be fired and silence[d]. What is it going to take to wake people up? This is a totalitarian movement. It honest to God is. It has colonized the minds of the liberal establishment,’ he said.”
SPEECH NAZIS TRY TO FORCE ROWLING TO APOLOGIZE (Friday Church News Notes, January 10, 2020, www.wayoflife.org fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143) - The following is excerpted from “GLADD Tried to Force JK Rowling to Apologize for ‘Transphobic’ Comments,” The Daily Wire, Dec. 23, 2019: “Last week, The Daily Wire reported that author J.K. Rowling was smeared as a “transphobe” and threatened with being “cancelled” because she spoke out in support of researcher Maya Forstater, who was fired from her job with the Centre for Global Development for saying that while transgender individuals can change their outward appearance, male-to-female transgenders remain male and can never be, biologically, ‘women.’ ... Forstater’s case is particularly egregious. Not only was she terminated from her position for articulating scientific facts, but when she brought a case against her former employer to a tribunal in the U.K., which found not just that CGD was justified in firing Forstater, but that Forstater’s basic beliefs--that men can never become biological women--was harmful, even if Forstater was simply saying what she believed. ‘Paying due regard to the qualified right to freedom of expression, people cannot expect to be protected if their core belief involves violating others’ dignity,’ the court said. Forstater’s ‘absolutist’ views on the subject of gender were actually violent, the court found, and her opinion ‘violates their dignity and/or creates an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment.’ Rowling met with a torrent of abuse for her statement, with LGBTQ+ activists and their allies across the spectrum, threatening Rowling’s livelihood, and demanding that she apologize and admit that she was in error when she spoke out in support of someone who merely acknowledges biological and genetic reality. ... On Friday, the pro-LGBTQ rights group GLADD put out a statement blasting Rowling and challenging her to meet with transgender activists and cherry-picked scientists in order to expand her worldview. In other words, Rowling should submit to indoctrination and bullying until she agrees that male-to-female transgender individuals are, indeed, women. ... Rowling herself ignored them. Her representatives declined GLAAD’s offer of re-education.”
CATHOLIC BISHOPS PROCLAIM HOMOSEXUALITY “NORMAL” (Friday Church News Notes, January 10, 2020, www.wayoflife.org fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143) - The Catholic bishops of Germany have proclaimed that homosexuality is “a normal form of sexual predisposition” and it should not be changed. On December 5, the German Bishops’ Conference announced the findings of its Commission for Marriage and Family, which included “bishops, sexologists, moral theologians, dogmatic theologians, and canon lawyers.” The only thing missing was the born again theologians who believe the Bible. The press release said, “There was also agreement that the sexual preference of man expresses itself in puberty and assumes a hetero- or homosexual orientation. Both belong to the normal forms of sexual predisposition, which cannot or should not be changed with the help of a specific socialization. .... [For this reason] any form of discrimination of those persons with a homosexual orientation has to be rejected.” This contradicts the 1992 Catechism of the Catholic Church, which states that homosexual acts are “intrinsically disordered” and “contrary to the natural law” (CCC 2357). The Bible condemns not only homosexual acts, but also homosexual lusts. Romans 1:24-27 describes same-sex “lusts” and “affections” and “burning in lusts” as unclean before God.
MOTHER REFUSES PRESSURE TO ABORT DOWN’S BABY (Friday Church News Notes, January 10, 2020, www.wayoflife.org fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143) - The following is excerpted from “Mother offered full-term abortion because her son had Down’s syndrome,” Right to Life UK, Dec. 24, 2019: “A mother has opened up about the consistent pressure she received from doctors to abort her baby son, even at full-term, just because he has Down’s syndrome. Cheryl Bilsborrow wanted to speak out after figures published last week revealed that the number of babies born with Down’s syndrome has dropped by 30% in NHS hospitals that have introduced new non-invasive prenatal tests. Speaking to The Sun about her experience, the clinical reflexologist said: ‘These tests and the scary, negative way in which the results are currently framed are leading pregnant women to abort their much-wanted babies. My two-year-old son Hector is the most wonderful baby. He’s got beautiful white hair and blue eyes, and he is always smiling and laughing, blowing kisses and coming for hugs. But when I was pregnant I was made to feel like his life would have no value and that I should abort him. Why? Because he has Down’s Syndrome.’ ... Cheryl was 43 years old when she fell pregnant with her fourth child. Because of her age, she was encouraged by doctors to have a screening test for Down’s syndrome. ... Cheryl said that from the start the doctors’ perception of the condition was negative and that she was encouraged to have an abortion every time she had a midwife appointment. ‘There was no offer of counselling, no discussion about how my life might be enhanced by this baby. Abort and get rid seemed to be the only answer.’ ... ‘Even, at 38 weeks, when I went for a scan, the sonographer said: You do know we abort babies full term with Down’s syndrome… The message came loud and clear: babies with Down’s were of no value. Now, having had Hector, I know there was nothing to be frightened of ... It breaks my heart to think that so many babies, like [him], could be robbed of their chance to live happy lives.”
CHILDREN AND SEXTING (Friday Church News Notes, January 10, 2020, www.wayoflife.org fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143) - A study by the parenting app Jiminy published this month found that 15% of 8-year-old girls with smartphones are exposed to sexting, 24% by age 10, 37% by age 13, and 44% by age 16. Nearly 25% of 13-year-old children either requested or were asked to send nude photos of themselves (blog.jiminy.me). The report warned, “Sexting is quickly becoming a normative form of sexual exploration among preteens and teens. As such, parents should expect the real possibility that their children may be approached by others, known or unknown, or approach others in a sexually explicit manner.” Of course, biblical wisdom would teach any parent that no child should have a smartphone, iPad, laptop, or gaming device that has any connection whatsoever with the Internet. “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners” (1 Corinthians 15:33). “The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame” (Proverbs 29:15).
PRAY FOR AMERICA (Friday Church News Notes, January 17, 2020, www.wayoflife.org fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143) - We need to pray for America in these evil, dangerous times. Almighty God, who is in control of all earthly authorities, has specifically instructed His people to pray for their governments. Surely, we can pray such a prayer in perfect faith that He will answer and help us. “Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain” (Psalm 127:1). “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty” (1 Timothy 2:1-2).
LEARNING THE LANGUAGE OF THE HUMAN NERVOUS SYSTEM (Friday Church News Notes, January 10, 2020, www.wayoflife.org fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143) - Scientists are trying to understand the language of the human nervous system to develop a new generation of medical implants. The heart pacemaker and deep brain stimulators for Parkinson’s disease are examples of preliminary efforts. The field of bioelectronics studies the electrical signals and chemical messages that control all of the major organs and tissues in the body in an attempt to interface with them to monitor health and deliver treatments through the stimulation of specific nerves. The problem is the incredible complexity of the neural network. “But neural data is incredibly noisy and complex. The human heart does not exist alone, its function is affected by other factors and messages coming from other organs, such as how fast you’re breathing, what you’ve just eaten and so on. To accurately decode all this information, we need more neural data and better interpretation techniques so we can listen to the right words needed to understand the language of the human body. Scientists have turned to a form of artificial intelligence known as machine learning to help them do this” (“How hacking the human heart could replace pill popping,” BBC, Dec. 17, 2019). Note that the human nervous system is called the “language of the human body,” and it is such a complex language that the most brilliant scientists stand in awe of it and can only understand it in a very rudimentary manner. For those who have not willfully closed their eyes, this is clear and irrefutable evidence for divine creation and against Darwinian evolution.
CONCLUSION: The Friday Church News Notes is designed for use in churches and is published by Way of Life Literature’s Fundamental Baptist Information Service. Unless otherwise stated, the Notes are written by David Cloud. Of necessity we quote from a wide variety of sources, but this obviously does not imply an endorsement. We trust that our readers will not be discouraged. It is God’s will that we know the times (1 Ch. 12:32; Mat. 16:3) and that we be as wise as serpents and harmless as doves. The News Notes remind us that the hour is very late, and we need to be ready for the Lord’s coming. Are you sure that you are born again? Are you living for Christ? “And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof” (Rom. 13:11-14).
SPEECH NAZIS TRY TO FORCE ROWLING TO APOLOGIZE (Friday Church News Notes, January 10, 2020, www.wayoflife.org fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143) - The following is excerpted from “GLADD Tried to Force JK Rowling to Apologize for ‘Transphobic’ Comments,” The Daily Wire, Dec. 23, 2019: “Last week, The Daily Wire reported that author J.K. Rowling was smeared as a “transphobe” and threatened with being “cancelled” because she spoke out in support of researcher Maya Forstater, who was fired from her job with the Centre for Global Development for saying that while transgender individuals can change their outward appearance, male-to-female transgenders remain male and can never be, biologically, ‘women.’ ... Forstater’s case is particularly egregious. Not only was she terminated from her position for articulating scientific facts, but when she brought a case against her former employer to a tribunal in the U.K., which found not just that CGD was justified in firing Forstater, but that Forstater’s basic beliefs--that men can never become biological women--was harmful, even if Forstater was simply saying what she believed. ‘Paying due regard to the qualified right to freedom of expression, people cannot expect to be protected if their core belief involves violating others’ dignity,’ the court said. Forstater’s ‘absolutist’ views on the subject of gender were actually violent, the court found, and her opinion ‘violates their dignity and/or creates an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment.’ Rowling met with a torrent of abuse for her statement, with LGBTQ+ activists and their allies across the spectrum, threatening Rowling’s livelihood, and demanding that she apologize and admit that she was in error when she spoke out in support of someone who merely acknowledges biological and genetic reality. ... On Friday, the pro-LGBTQ rights group GLADD put out a statement blasting Rowling and challenging her to meet with transgender activists and cherry-picked scientists in order to expand her worldview. In other words, Rowling should submit to indoctrination and bullying until she agrees that male-to-female transgender individuals are, indeed, women. ... Rowling herself ignored them. Her representatives declined GLAAD’s offer of re-education.”
CATHOLIC BISHOPS PROCLAIM HOMOSEXUALITY “NORMAL” (Friday Church News Notes, January 10, 2020, www.wayoflife.org fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143) - The Catholic bishops of Germany have proclaimed that homosexuality is “a normal form of sexual predisposition” and it should not be changed. On December 5, the German Bishops’ Conference announced the findings of its Commission for Marriage and Family, which included “bishops, sexologists, moral theologians, dogmatic theologians, and canon lawyers.” The only thing missing was the born again theologians who believe the Bible. The press release said, “There was also agreement that the sexual preference of man expresses itself in puberty and assumes a hetero- or homosexual orientation. Both belong to the normal forms of sexual predisposition, which cannot or should not be changed with the help of a specific socialization. .... [For this reason] any form of discrimination of those persons with a homosexual orientation has to be rejected.” This contradicts the 1992 Catechism of the Catholic Church, which states that homosexual acts are “intrinsically disordered” and “contrary to the natural law” (CCC 2357). The Bible condemns not only homosexual acts, but also homosexual lusts. Romans 1:24-27 describes same-sex “lusts” and “affections” and “burning in lusts” as unclean before God.
MOTHER REFUSES PRESSURE TO ABORT DOWN’S BABY (Friday Church News Notes, January 10, 2020, www.wayoflife.org fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143) - The following is excerpted from “Mother offered full-term abortion because her son had Down’s syndrome,” Right to Life UK, Dec. 24, 2019: “A mother has opened up about the consistent pressure she received from doctors to abort her baby son, even at full-term, just because he has Down’s syndrome. Cheryl Bilsborrow wanted to speak out after figures published last week revealed that the number of babies born with Down’s syndrome has dropped by 30% in NHS hospitals that have introduced new non-invasive prenatal tests. Speaking to The Sun about her experience, the clinical reflexologist said: ‘These tests and the scary, negative way in which the results are currently framed are leading pregnant women to abort their much-wanted babies. My two-year-old son Hector is the most wonderful baby. He’s got beautiful white hair and blue eyes, and he is always smiling and laughing, blowing kisses and coming for hugs. But when I was pregnant I was made to feel like his life would have no value and that I should abort him. Why? Because he has Down’s Syndrome.’ ... Cheryl was 43 years old when she fell pregnant with her fourth child. Because of her age, she was encouraged by doctors to have a screening test for Down’s syndrome. ... Cheryl said that from the start the doctors’ perception of the condition was negative and that she was encouraged to have an abortion every time she had a midwife appointment. ‘There was no offer of counselling, no discussion about how my life might be enhanced by this baby. Abort and get rid seemed to be the only answer.’ ... ‘Even, at 38 weeks, when I went for a scan, the sonographer said: You do know we abort babies full term with Down’s syndrome… The message came loud and clear: babies with Down’s were of no value. Now, having had Hector, I know there was nothing to be frightened of ... It breaks my heart to think that so many babies, like [him], could be robbed of their chance to live happy lives.”
CHILDREN AND SEXTING (Friday Church News Notes, January 10, 2020, www.wayoflife.org fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143) - A study by the parenting app Jiminy published this month found that 15% of 8-year-old girls with smartphones are exposed to sexting, 24% by age 10, 37% by age 13, and 44% by age 16. Nearly 25% of 13-year-old children either requested or were asked to send nude photos of themselves (blog.jiminy.me). The report warned, “Sexting is quickly becoming a normative form of sexual exploration among preteens and teens. As such, parents should expect the real possibility that their children may be approached by others, known or unknown, or approach others in a sexually explicit manner.” Of course, biblical wisdom would teach any parent that no child should have a smartphone, iPad, laptop, or gaming device that has any connection whatsoever with the Internet. “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners” (1 Corinthians 15:33). “The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame” (Proverbs 29:15).
PRAY FOR AMERICA (Friday Church News Notes, January 17, 2020, www.wayoflife.org fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143) - We need to pray for America in these evil, dangerous times. Almighty God, who is in control of all earthly authorities, has specifically instructed His people to pray for their governments. Surely, we can pray such a prayer in perfect faith that He will answer and help us. “Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain” (Psalm 127:1). “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty” (1 Timothy 2:1-2).
LEARNING THE LANGUAGE OF THE HUMAN NERVOUS SYSTEM (Friday Church News Notes, January 10, 2020, www.wayoflife.org fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143) - Scientists are trying to understand the language of the human nervous system to develop a new generation of medical implants. The heart pacemaker and deep brain stimulators for Parkinson’s disease are examples of preliminary efforts. The field of bioelectronics studies the electrical signals and chemical messages that control all of the major organs and tissues in the body in an attempt to interface with them to monitor health and deliver treatments through the stimulation of specific nerves. The problem is the incredible complexity of the neural network. “But neural data is incredibly noisy and complex. The human heart does not exist alone, its function is affected by other factors and messages coming from other organs, such as how fast you’re breathing, what you’ve just eaten and so on. To accurately decode all this information, we need more neural data and better interpretation techniques so we can listen to the right words needed to understand the language of the human body. Scientists have turned to a form of artificial intelligence known as machine learning to help them do this” (“How hacking the human heart could replace pill popping,” BBC, Dec. 17, 2019). Note that the human nervous system is called the “language of the human body,” and it is such a complex language that the most brilliant scientists stand in awe of it and can only understand it in a very rudimentary manner. For those who have not willfully closed their eyes, this is clear and irrefutable evidence for divine creation and against Darwinian evolution.
CONCLUSION: The Friday Church News Notes is designed for use in churches and is published by Way of Life Literature’s Fundamental Baptist Information Service. Unless otherwise stated, the Notes are written by David Cloud. Of necessity we quote from a wide variety of sources, but this obviously does not imply an endorsement. We trust that our readers will not be discouraged. It is God’s will that we know the times (1 Ch. 12:32; Mat. 16:3) and that we be as wise as serpents and harmless as doves. The News Notes remind us that the hour is very late, and we need to be ready for the Lord’s coming. Are you sure that you are born again? Are you living for Christ? “And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof” (Rom. 13:11-14).
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Distributed by Way of Life Literature., publisher of Bible Study Materials and reports for Fundamental Baptists and other fundamentalist, Bible-believing Christians. Established in 1974, Way of Life Literature is a fundamental Baptist preaching and publishing ministry based in Bethel Baptist Church, London, Ontario, of which Wilbert Unger is the founding Pastor. Brother Cloud lives in South Asia where he has been a church planting missionary since 1979. OUR GOAL IN THIS PARTICULAR ASPECT OF OUR MINISTRY (REPORTS AND FRIDAY NEWS) IS NOT DEVOTIONAL. IS TO PROVIDE INFORMATION TO ASSIST PREACHERS IN THE PROTECTION OF THE CHURCHES IN THIS APOSTATE HOUR.
David Cloud, Way of Life Literature, P.O. Box 610368, Port Huron, MI 48061, 866-295-4143, fbns@wayoflife.org
The Way of Life Literature preaching and publishing ministry is based at Bethel Baptist Church, London, Ontario, of which Wilbert Unger is the founding Pastor. A mail stop is maintained in Port Huron, Michigan.
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