Friday, December 13, 2024

For the Watchmen on the Walls: Prayer and Advocacy Priorities for 2025

Believers in Christ are called on to occupy until Jesus comes, to strengthen the things that remain, to shine their light into the darkness, to stand and courageously defend “the least of these,” to speak the truth in love, to stand against the wicked schemes of the devil, to do justice, to rebuke evildoers, to deliver those being dragged away to death, to be “doers of the Word,” -- you get the idea. Indeed, the biblical responsibilities of Christ’s ambassadors require purposeful, persistent action in every part of private and public life. 

It is hoped that this list of 10 priorities will help motivate and provide some direction for your own intercession and advocacy efforts. We encourage you to use them as stimulants to fervent prayers, conversations, social media, letters to political officials and others, and bringing these critical issues before your pastors as you encourage them to best enlighten, inspire, and protect their flock. 

1) Pastoral Leadership

We desperately need masculinity to make a comeback in our clergy. In fact, a warrior mentality is sorely needed for our shepherds (many, not all) to do a much better job of protecting their flocks from the lies and manipulations of the ravenous wolves who are everywhere in our world. And that includes the wolves using entertainment, Big Tech, and the establishment media. 

American Christians need their leaders to start calling things by their right names. The ministers need to fulfill their duties as prophets (as well as teachers and counselors) by waking up their congregation and then enlightening and equipping them to fight back against the world’s enveloping clouds of false teaching. Evolution. Hedonism. Abortion. Sexual immodesty and impurity. The socialist threats of globalism. The constant attacks on manliness, femininity, marriage, parental responsibilities, and a healthy family life. Government’s strong arm tactics against the freedoms of religion and speech. Wasted time. Materialism. 

Our pastors need to be men of vision and courage -- not timidly compromising the truth or settling for a safe and comfortable and popular job. They should fear God alone -- not the “snowflakes” politically-correct progressives in their congregation, not the government, not the high cost of courageous, Spirit-empowered leadership.

2) Religious freedom, conscience, speech, assembly

A Christian’s ultimate duty is to the Almighty God.  Believers are, first and foremost, citizens of a heavenly Kingdom, a better country, a city to come. They must, therefore, always obey God rather than men when those spheres come into conflict.  But we are to be wise, sacrificial, strategic, and circumspect stewards of all God has given to us and, for an American Christian, that includes the obligations and privileges of our citizenship in the here and now. We are to use our examples of holiness and altruism; we are to use our voices as we speak forth the divine truths of the Word (including its teachings on culture, economics, and law); and we are to use the opportunities offered by political action -- all in the pursuit of as just and free a society as possible. 

Therefore, we stand up for those religious ideals of the American experiment which were introduced to the New Land by our spiritual forefathers. We defend the original intent of their masterwork, the U.S. Constitution which thus requires us to be champions for the freedom of speech against the left’s desire to censor all things it opposes, most especially the historic precepts and virtues of Christianity.

 Christians should also be in firm opposition to Big Tech’s wicked schemes to reign over “the flow of thought.” Google, the establishment press, Wikipedia, Facebook, government agencies, and others have been alarmingly guilty of hiding, distorting, denying, and obliterating altogether those truths that liberate individuals, ennoble and protect civilized culture, and urge men to seek for God. Still other dangers to these freedoms are such things as the criminalization of ideas that disagree with the “thought police;” “bubble zones” that deny pro-life advocates from peaceful, winsome sidewalk counseling (even silent prayers!) outside abortion businesses; the use of State powers to limit (even prohibit altogether) church services and prayer meetings; and denials of an individual’s efforts to raise the American flag, wear a 2nd Amendment T-shirt, or share the gospel of Jesus Christ in a public park. 

Such issues are to be the targets of our fervent prayers and Christ-honoring action.

3) Issues of the Sanctity of Life 

There are two primary battlefronts here. One is the effort to protect moms and preborn boys and girls through legislation and law enforcement.  That is most naturally noble and right to pursue for it is an important application of “rescuing those being dragged to slaughter.” So, whatever actions that might uphold the sanctity of all human life -- and that can realistically be undertaken to that end -- should be given our best efforts. 

Key examples? Stopping government funding of the mega-abortion profiteer that is Planned Parenthood. Reinstating the Mexico City policy. Strengthening and enforcing laws that would protect women from the most egregious crimes against their health and safety. Defending the rights of pro-life advocates and pro-life pregnancy aids centers. Upholding such God-given rights as parental authority. Reversing the easy access to poisonous abortion drugs. Appointing judges who understand and vow to protect the right to life. Elimination of government funding of abortion propaganda -- through the schools, through foreign aid policies, through any channel whatsoever.

But the second battlefield is of at least equal importance. And that is for Christians to enthusiastically and consistently pray for and actively promote the sanctity of human life in the church and in the general culture. We must be cheerleaders for all kids (born and as-yet-unborn), families, foster parents, adoptive parents, and those pregnant women under stress who lovingly relinquish their newborn children into the best homes possible, for people with disabilities and special needs, for the aged and ill and marginalized.  We need to educate people about the scientific (as well as the theological) case for the humanity of preborn children. We need to tell the truth about what happens in an abortion and the terrible effects on moms, dads, and the society as a whole. (This, of course, includes abortions that are caused by chemical poisons, including the tragically misnamed “birth control” pill.) 

And never forget, that in this area as well as all others, both the Christian’s precepts and practice must always be Christ-centered. We do God’s work in God’s ways, depending on the Holy Spirit’s power and direction, and keeping the good news of Christ’s gospel central to our agenda. God gave His Son as a sacrifice for sinners, that all who would simply trust in that awesome Gift as payment for their sins might find forgiveness, new life, a forever family, and an eternal home in heaven. That message must itself be a priority and permeate our other duties. 

We must speak confidently, joyfully, and frequently of the immediate availability of the pardon Jesus paid for us all -- those who have participated in abortion decisions, thieves and robbers, bullies, liars and cheats, murderers, cowards, drunk drivers, manipulators and tempters, traitors, and all those who knew what should have been done but failed to do it. That list goes on -- a list that includes you and me -- and yet there is not one single sinner in the whole world who is excluded from the merciful invitation of Jesus Christ to be saved. 

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life.” (John 3:16, NASB)

4) Sexual Morality

Once again, we must call things by their right names without fear of being attacked or ridiculed for being out of step with the spirit of the age. We must boldly, wisely, humbly, and with a sincere desire for people’s repentance speak the truth in love of what God’s Word has to say on matters of modesty, promiscuity, marriage, children, parenting, divorce, gender denial and the freakish attempts to manipulate biological realities (“male and female He created them”), and the tragic and dangerous abomination which is homosexual activity. 

The Bible’s teaching also calls Christians to be defenders of biblical standards of both masculinity and femininity, of chivalry and fairness. For instance, Christians should not only stand against sex trafficking and child abuse, but also against drag queens leading children’s story hours at the public library, and against biological men invading women’s sports and such “safe spaces” as bathrooms, showers, and and dorm rooms.

5) Lawlessness

America must get tougher in fighting crime -- a lot tougher! After all, this is a key reason God allowed for earthly government in the first place. Our nation is reeling from lawlessness -- from the blood pollution of abortion, to rape and robberies without number, to sex trafficking and stolen elections, to a brutally broken criminal justice system. There must be change if the nation is to survive.  

Among the most important and immediate targets? We must renew a respect for the law and law enforcement by making the punishment truly fit the crime. Away with the corrupt and counter-productive mess that is our current court system: plea bargaining, easy bail (even for murderers), early parole, erasure of prison time for “good behavior,” the “revolving door” pattern of our jails and prisons, the extremely expensive luxuries awarded to criminals living in “country club” prisons, the refusal to enforce “three strike” rules, progressive and soft-headed judges, etc.  

Build more prisons and keep the grossest criminals there and away from the public. Stiffer penalties are needed for crimes of violence and for crimes that exploit the most vulnerable. And never forget the common sense lesson of the “broken windows” maxim; that is, a society’s disrespect for the rule of law doesn’t begin with bank robbery but rather with the “start-up crimes” of vandalism, trespass, panhandling, shoplifting, looting, “petty” robbery, motor vehicle crimes (including a shameful liberality in dealing with drunk drivers), etc. If our political leaders continue to “sow the wind” by neglecting the enforcement of ALL just laws, the whirlwind our nation will reap will soon be beyond any control whatsoever.

And, it should certainly go without saying, that we need a dramatic improvement of U.S. border security! 

6) Education

Out of dire concern for kids -- and the nation -- Christians should advocate an end to the monopoly held by the fiasco that is the modern government school system. Indeed, the government school system has become a worst case scenario of education failure, crime, bullying, grade inflation, historical revisionism, anti-American passions (and yes, anti-Semitism and anti-Christian attitudes too), socialist propaganda, and a blind dedication to evolution and such other silly, ideologically-motivated “science” as gender realignment and climate change.

In so doing, there has been an enormity of wasted taxpayer funds that stinks to high heaven...because Johnny still can’t read! Oh yes; revolutionary reform of the “public schools” is way past due but it will never happen unless American citizens a) begin to hold school administrators, the teachers’ unions, and the Democrat Party responsible for the ongoing “dumbing down” of America’s youth, and b) provide such incentives for schools to improve as school choice, vouchers, education tax credits, vocational training options, decreases in funding when certain basic levels of education are not met. (P.S. This all applies to the scandal of our nation’s universities too.)

7) National unity, patriotism, civility

How’s this for a world-shaking, world-improving project? Let Americans begin to teach and honor the ideals of the American experiment. Expect from the outset, of course, that we cannot depend on the media or the schools to do this. Nor will we get help from Hollywood, Big Tech, or the local library. But you and I (and our churches) can include in our worldview a joyful thanksgiving for the historic virtues in the American dream -- justice, freedom, hard work, fair play, civility, altruism, sportsmanship, authentic principles of natural conservation, gratitude, courage, respect for the rule of law, looking out for the innocent and needy, honoring genuine public servants, respect for our elders, respect for the cop on the beat and the soldier on the field, and faith in an Almighty, yet personal God. Christians must be role models in these areas and thus teach and inspire our neighbors and the next generations.

8) Election Integrity

It’s way past time to purge registration roles of illegal voters, fake voters, and dead voters! Let’s return to an election DAY with early voting and absentee voting restricted to exceptional, truly necessary situations. No vote harvesting. Paper ballots. Fair and efficient counting with appropriate quality checks as in trained, vetted, third party evaluators of the vote counts. Let us please look to Florida’s procedures instead of the clowns (if not actually, the crooks who are in charge of the counts in California and Arizona.) Strict punishment for election tampering of any sort. And drastic actions taken against foreign countries who try to influence our elections, as did Russia, China, Great Britain, Ukraine, Iran, and the United Nations tried to do this last election.

9) Globalism

It can no longer be dismissed as a “tin hat” conspiracy theory. There are, quite openly now, a cadre of extremely rich elitists who are working for a trans-national world, a world governed by the enlightened caste to which they few belong. And they want to control everything. Human rights are no longer important; it’s all about the State -- humanity in the collective, not in the individual. Thus we see the United Nations passing laws that they insist on being obeyed by every citizen in every country. We see the International Criminal Court issuing an arrest warrant for Benjamin Netanyahu.  And we see these “beyond-border oligarchs” glean ever more power to themselves as they control greater swathes of information outlets, corporations and financial markets, entertainment, manufacturing, commerce, pharmaceuticals, education, and more. 

Therefore, whatever American Christians can do to persuade their own countrymen to honor America’s past, her borders, her just laws, and her defense, they should, by all legitimate  means, do. Specific changes would include America’s getting out of the United Nations, strictly observing her commitments to her allies, and refusing to play the patsy as we have so badly in recent years with nations like Iran and Communist China.  

America is a generous nation -- a remarkably and rightfully generous nation. But America must be safe and prosperous in order to help others. So, make tariffs and trade policies work for America and her people. Stop China’s spying and land grabbing. Bring creativity and manufacturing back to American workers. And build up America’s military might. Make the Armed Forces strong and able with their sole purpose being on appropriate military aims rather than the racist, “woke” absurdities they have chased under Presidents Obama and Biden.   

10) Cleaning the Deep State Stables

American patriots should be praying that President Trump and his team dig out, clean up, and widely disinfect the American federal government agencies that have become so smelly with the “progressive” ideologies of DEI, sexual perversion, socialism, abortion zealotry, and Trump Derangement Syndrome. Begin with the State Department, the FBI, the DOJ, the IRS, and the Education Department...at least until it is abolished! And then, don’t stop! Keep cleaning house! 

Shrink the whole arrogant, bloated thing with its nepotism, sheer laziness, mountain high piles of waste and fraud, and inefficiency caused by no-talent government employees who feel no compunction to work hard, work smart, or even work in the national interest. For so terribly many government workers realize that quality control has long been a foreign concept to Washington, D.C., and so they never fear having to face the consequences of lousy job performance. Let’s explain reality to them -- start passing out the pink slips.