Tag Archives: Ed’s Opinion

Does Christianity Today Speak For All Christians? Not Hardly!

I’m sure the opponents of President Trump are enjoying this headline from Christianity Today:

Trump Should Be Removed from Office

The CT started their opinion piece with the following:

“In our founding documents, Billy Graham explains that Christianity Today will help evangelical Christians interpret the news in a manner that reflects their faith. The impeachment of Donald Trump is a significant event in the story of our republic. It requires comment.”

That statement along with the headline let’s you know where they stand.

Let me make this perfectly clear – Ed Boston Ministries does not believe that President Trump should be removed from office, and give our full support to the duly elected POTUS!

We elected a President and not a saint. Would I like President Trump to say some things differently, absolutely. I’m sure you could come up with a few things you would rather I say differently, but you could say that for nearly everyone.

The President has done an amazing job, especially given the fact that his political enemies have promised to try to impeach him before he even was sworn into office, and have obstructed nearly everything his has tried to accomplish. They have failed miserably.

Donld Trump has done more for Evangelical Christians than any President in my lifetime, and that includes my political hero, Ronald Reagan.

And shame on Christianity Today for invoking the name of Billy Graham. Here is what Franklin Graham had to say about his father.

“Christianity Today released an editorial stating that President Trump should be removed from office—and they invoked my father’s name (I suppose to try to bring legitimacy to their statements), so I feel it is important for me to respond. Yes, my father Billy Graham founded Christianity Today; but no, he would not agree with their opinion piece. In fact, he would be very disappointed. I have not previously shared who my father voted for in the past election, but because of this article, I feel it is necessary to share it now. My father knew Donald Trump, he believed in Donald Trump, and he voted for Donald Trump. He believed that Donald J. Trump was the man for this hour in history for our nation.

For Christianity Today to side with the Democrat Party in a totally partisan attack on the President of the United States is unfathomable. Christianity Today failed to acknowledge that not one single Republican voted with the Democrats to impeach the President. I know a number of Republicans in Congress, and many of them are strong Christians. If the President were guilty of what the Democrats claimed, these Republicans would have joined with the Democrats to impeach him. But the Democrats were not even unanimous—two voted against impeachment and one voted present. This impeachment was politically motivated, 100% partisan. Why would Christianity Today choose to take the side of the Democrat left whose only goal is to discredit and smear the name of a sitting president? They want readers to believe the Democrat leadership rather than believe the President of the United States.

Look at all the President has accomplished in a very short time. The economy of our nation is the strongest it has been in 50 years, ISIS & the caliphate have been defeated, and the President has renegotiated trade deals to benefit all Americans. The list of accomplishments is long, but for me as a Christian, the fact that he is the most pro-life president in modern history is extremely important—and Christianity Today wants us to ignore that, to say it doesn’t count? The President has been a staunch defender of religious freedom at home and around the world—and Christianity Today wants us to ignore that? Also the President has appointed conservative judges in record number—and Christianity today wants us to ignore that? Christianity Today feels he should be removed from office because of false accusations that the President emphatically denies.

Christianity Today said it’s time to call a spade a spade. The spade is this—Christianity Today has been used by the left for their political agenda. It’s obvious that Christianity Today has moved to the left and is representing the elitist liberal wing of evangelicalism.”

In the future I will be speaking out on issues that involve our Christian walk here in America. Christians must speak out for our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. It is not acceptable to be the silent majority.

Pastor Ed Boston

Founder

Ed Boston Ministries

Podcast: Pastor Ed’s Thoughts About Drag Queen Story Time at Public Libraries

Here is the link to our latest podcast: “Are You Kidding Me? Drag Queen Story Hour???”

Since the podcast was recorded this story about a church in California that was vandalized after opposing Drag Queen Story Time at their local library.

Here’s Why I Believe Pastor Andy Stanley Is Wrong

A story up at CBN News,  Megachurch Pastor in Hot Water Again: ‘Christians Are Not Required to Obey Any of the Commandments’ from the OT   Pastor Andy Stanley has caused quite a firestorm over some of his views.

From the story at CBN News:

In the commentary, Stanley is making an attempt to get Christians to think about living under the new covenant that Jesus created through his death and resurrection. He points to what Jesus said in John 13:34: “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”

But then he takes it much further than that saying, “The Ten Commandments are from the old covenant.” He makes the argument that Christians are wrong when they try to defend Ten Commandments monuments “in a public space or on government property,” saying Jesus only gave us one commandment.

Then he appears to reject the laws of the Old Testament which laid the foundation for the new covenant.

Here are Pastor Stanley’s exact words which have sparked a new controversy:

“Participants in the new covenant (that’s Christians) are not required to obey any of the commandments found in the first part of their Bibles. Participants in the new covenant are expected to obey the single command Jesus issued as part of his new covenant: as I have loved you, so you must love one another.”

When you read the entire article with the links to several other stories about Pastor Stanley’s views,  and then get a little more context into who he is trying to reach and the message he is trying to share, I somewhat understand what he is trying to do.

Understand, but very much disagree. 

The two scripture references below are the red-letter words of Jesus himself. His points are this:

  • He did not come to abolish the law
  • He came to fulfill the law
  • We are to love God
  • We are to love our fellow man

Matthew 5:17-19  (NIV)

The Fulfillment of the Law

17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. 19 Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 22: 34-40  (NIV)

The Greatest Commandment

34 Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Now let’s look at the Ten Commandments for a moment. If you don’t know them already, you can find them here at Biblegateway.com or look up Exodus 20.

The first four commandments talk about our love for and relationship with God. The next six commandments talk about how we need to love our fellow man and things that we should and should not do in order to accomplish that.

I would consider myself a New Testament Christian and I believe there are many things in the Old Testament that do not apply in today’s world (which I believe is really what Pastor Stanley is trying to get across).

However, to say things that would indicate that we don’t need to follow the Ten Commandments is a fundamentally flawed way of thinking.

Latest Scandal Should Bring The Resignation of Pope Francis

Editorial by Pastor Ed Boston

Let me begin by saying that I am not Catholic, and there are many things about the Catholic Church I do not know or understand.  I would like to point out that the Ed Boston Podcast has had numerous interviews with people involved with the Catholic Church and EWTN. I have always enjoyed those interviews and greatly respect the people who are “friends of the podcast” from EWTN.

However, many non-Christians, atheists, and others place controversies like I will be talking about below with all believers in Jesus Christ. For that reason, I feel like I should address this topic.

To support my previous statement, a well-known atheist group is placing a full-page ad in the New York Times with the headline reading:  “It’s time to consider quitting the Catholic Church.”

The latest scandal that has besieged the Catholic Church is part of a long list of issues that have happened under Pope Francis since he was elected to his position in 2013.  While most of the list are things he has said and believes, this scandal is mostly about crimes committed before he became Pope. It’s the way he has handled this situation that has been the issue. I will address the current scandal a little later in this editorial.

There are 5 issues listed here and links to each topic. In my opinion, Pope Francis is on the wrong side of each of these issues.

1. “Who Am I to Judge?”

2. Stop being “obsessed” with abortion and gay marriage

3. Everyone can go to heaven including atheists

4. Pope Francis shows support for same-sex unions?

5. Hell does not exist

Now the current scandal as published by the BBC:

A Church-commissioned report in 2004 said more than 4,000 US Roman Catholic priests had faced sexual abuse allegations in the last 50 years, in cases involving more than 10,000 children – mostly boys.

A 2009 report found that sexual and psychological abuse was “endemic” in Catholic-run industrial schools and orphanages in Ireland for most of the 20th Century.

A five-year Australian inquiry in 2017 found that “tens of thousands of children” were sexually abused in Australian institutions over decades, including churches, schools and sports clubs.

What about recent cases?

How has the Church responded?

Pope Francis called for “decisive action” when he was elected in 2013, but critics say he has not done enough to hold to account bishops who allegedly covered up abuse.

Many are calling for the resignation of Pope Francis, but it appears that there is no plan to do so.

In an article at Yahoo.com, this was reported:

Pope Francis has no intention of stepping down as he fights accusations that he protected a former archbishop accused of sexual abuse, Italian news agency ANSA reported, citing “close associates” of the pope.

As the founder and leader of the Ed Boston Podcast Network, let me add my name to the list of those who believe that enough is enough and that Pope Francis needs to resign.

This Is An Outrage! Facebook Bans and Delete’s This Christian Band’s Song About Unity.

This video has been banned and removed by Facebook. 
https://youtu.be/e4LIoDk3_l0 
Now, if you want to see the lyric video, it’s posted at the very end of this post. After my comments, there is the press release from  Nashville Publicity giving details of what happened.
The song is titled, What Would Heaven Look Like by Zion’s Joy! This is one part of the lyrics:

People of every color loving one another tell me
What would heaven look like?
Bigotry and hate are absent only love and peace are present tell me
What would heaven feel like?

What Facebook has done here is TOTALLY insane! Did they even listen to or read the lyrics?????? This is an outrage no matter if you are Christian or not. This is difficult to understand and we take it as a personal affront to what we do and stand “unified” with Zion’s Joy! to express our outrage.
We are currently working with representatives of the group to have someone from Zion’s Joy! on our podcast.
We’re going to work hard to get this message out and need your help to expose Facebook for what they have done here.  This song says everything that is the answer to what’s wrong in America. This just shows how far the left will go to keep strife going. They must not want unity!!!
Our friends at TrevorDecker.com are on this too and are upset just as we are. Click here!

Here is the press release from Nashville Publicity and then the lyric video.

Facebook Bans Faith-Based Music Video from Gospel Group Zion’s Joy!

Thursday, July 5, 2018 — In mid-June, Gospel group Zion’s Joy! quietly released a music video for their new single, “What Would Heaven Look Like” – the title track from their upcoming album from Habakkuk Music/InGrooves/Universal.  
On or about July 1st, with over 12,000 views and climbing, Facebook deleted the video without warning or notification. Attempts to reach Facebook to find a resolution were unsuccessful.The video remained off of Facebook’s radar until the group attempted to “boost” (a paid promotion that increases the post’s visibility) the post of the video on the Zion’s Joy! Facebook page. The boosted post was rejected by Facebook “because of political content.” Soon after, the video and post were deleted from Facebook altogether.Not only is the song and music video absent of “political content,” but it’s message of love and unity is deliberately clear…
People of every color loving one another tell me
What would heaven look like?
Bigotry and hate are absent only love and peace are present tell me
What would heaven feel like?

“To say that we were disappointed to see that Facebook had removed our video would be a gross understatement,” says group member Kay Insley. “I have to wonder if the content of the song was truly examined. In a time where the country seems to be more and more divided, we wanted to share a message of hope, love and universal togetherness. It seems in Facebook’s attempts to curtail questionable content they cracked down on a song trying to bring healing to our nation. We are a group made up of different cultures and beliefs from both sides of the aisle and reviewed the video extensively to make sure its content was not divisive. Within the first week of its release, we had people from all over the political spectrum and a broad range of religious beliefs reach out letting us know how much the video had meaningfully impacted them. Do we really live in a time where making a positive statement about people coming together is deemed political?”

Zion’s Joy! was founded by Robert W. Stevenson in 2008 and in the decade that followed they have performed throughout the United States, using their powerful voices and tight, rich harmonies to deliver a unique blend of old and new school gospel and contemporary Christian music. The line-up consists of Kay Insley, Camille McKnight, Lia Matthews, Karen Hall, Shekinah Caldron, Lynesha Sweeney, Patrick Taylor, Jeffery Porter and Ramone Griffith.

“This song has brought healing and hope to thousands that have listened to it,” says group member Karen Hall. “Our hope is that it would inspire people to love each other the way God loves us – unconditionally! We want Facebook to allow us to continue to spread this message.”

Watch the “What Would Heaven Look Like” music video here:
https://youtu.be/e4LIoDk3_l0

For more information, visit the band’s official website at http://www.zionsjoy.com.

 

My Take on Jessie Duplantis’ Efforts To Get A $54 Million Jet

To say that I am disgusted by the entire Jesse Duplantis and a $54 million dollar jet issue would be a major understatement.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not against ministers of the Gospel of Jesus Christ being blessed financially, but there is just too much wrong with this situation.

“Now some people believe that preachers shouldn’t have jets. I really believe that preachers ought to go on every available voice, every available outlet, to get this gospel preached to the world,” Duplantis said in a video posted online last week, according to The Christian Post.

Take a look at this news report and pay attention to what Jesse himself has to say. I chose a secular site for the video to show the reaction from that standpoint.


Notice at one point he says the plane is not for him, but for the ministry itself. HOWEVER THEN a little later, he calls it “my plane”.

I suppose my biggest complaint of this whole story is this quote:

“I really believe that if the Lord Jesus Christ was physically on the Earth today, he wouldn’t be riding a donkey,” Duplantis said. “He’d be in an airplane flying all over the world.”

Here is what I believe. Quite possibly, if Jesus was walking on the earth today as he did over 2,000 years ago, he would be riding on a plane. However, I believe that Jesus would be riding a commercial airline and riding coach (not 1st class) along with the common people. I truly believe that he wouldn’t be in a $54 million private jet.

My other big problem with this is the image it makes to non-Christians and to those who are not so strong in their faith. I understand the belief that God is capable of anything and that faith in that belief is important. However, this just leaves a bad taste in the mouths of Christians and non-Christians alike.

Interesting too was Duplantis’ take on the negative publicity. When you watch what he says about this, he sure talks a lot about himself. To me, when it’s about I and not HE, then it’s normally a problem.

I hope that Jesse Duplantis Ministries leads huge numbers of people to the Lord. I just believe that this topic doesn’t pass the “smell test” and it just stinks.

Ed Boston

Ed Boston Podcast Network

Did VP Pence Really Say That?

Below is an article that stated President Donald Trump said several different things that all have to do with Vice-President Mike Pence’s Christian views. You can read the story to get all of what was said, but I want to focus on one part in particular.

Before I get to the meat of my remarks, let me make clear that I have no clue if President Trump actually said all of the things in the article. Maybe he did, maybe he didn’t – I have no clue, thus this article may not need to have been written – but even with that, many other things have been said about “My Man Mike” which brings back the the need of writing this back into legitimacy.

In the article, which used the New Yorker as it’s source, this line is used as the opening:

While I earlier said that I have no idea if Trump said the things listed in the article, I would stake my reputation on this statement. Mike Pence does NOT want all gay people to hang. 

I know Mike Pence, and while he might not remember the few times that I had the pleasure of talking with him, I KNOW from personal experience talking with the former Indiana Governor that he would not and does not believe what is said to start the article below.

There are many negative and untrue reasons why things are written about Mike (yes he is down home enough that he likes to be called Mike). The first and biggest reason nasty and hateful things are written about him is that he is a Christian, he is not ashamed of that fact, and he leads with those two traits always in mind.

I have heard and have had him say to me directly – I’m a Christian, I’m a Conservative, and I’m a Republican; IN THAT ORDER!

It’s time that people that know the truth, which will then set you free, speak out and not let the hammering of Vice-President Pence and many other good Christians go by without defending them.

Trump joked Pence ‘wants to hang’ all gay people, New Yorker reports

President Trump once joked that Vice President Mike Pence “wants to hang” all gay people, The New Yorker reported Monday.

The publication also reports that Trump has mocked Pence for his views opposing abortion and LGBTQ rights.

Trump jabbed at Pence after a legal scholar told the pair that if the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, many states would probably legalize abortion.

“You see?” Trump reportedly said to Pence. “You’ve wasted all this time and energy on it, and it’s not going to end abortion anyway.”

And when the meeting began to focus on gay rights, Trump reportedly pointed to Pence, joking, “Don’t ask that guy — he wants to hang them all!”

To read the rest of the article, go here.

NFL, Taking a Knee, Boycotts, Mike Pence and Ed’s Thoughts On All of Them

So many thoughts in my head about the topics in the title, so let’s just go over them one by one and then I will try to wrap things up at the end.

The NFL – I have been a fan of professional football since I was a young boy. I have been a Colts fan since they were in Baltimore. As a fan of the NFL, I have been very disappointed with their response to the player protests that have been ongoing.

Taking a Knee – I’m all for peaceful protests when done appropriately. However, I don’t believe that disrespecting the American Flag, The National Anthem, members of our Military, and our First Responders is appropriate. I know that the “protesters” and their supporters say that’s not their intentions, but it’s more than obvious that millions believe the protests are disrespectful.

Boycotts – I’m not really much of a fan of boycotts and have only participated in just a handful in my life. That said, I did NOT boycott last year when the “taking a knee” protests began, but I HAVE decided to not watch or support the NFL with my time or money.  I have not watched one minute of football this season, and I don’t see that changing any time soon.

VP Mike Pence – I am a huge fan of the Vice-President. We share our hometown of Columbus, Indiana, and both went to high school in the same city (different schools). I had talked with Mike numerous times both in Washington, DC and here in Indiana.

Now let’s look at what happened in Indianapolis this past Sunday. My response to the events may surprise you.

First of all this was a huge day for the fans in Indianapolis. Peyton Manning had his statue unveiled and Peyton, many of his former teammates, and Vice-President Pence were on hand for the event. I hated not watching, but even with the very special day – I held true to my NFL boycott.

The Colts were playing the San Fransisco 49ers at Lucas Oil Stadium. At least 20 players for the 49ers decided that taking a knee during the National Anthem was what they were going to do as a protest. According to the Indianapolis Star,  “All Colts players stood arm-in-arm during the playing of the Star-Spangled Banner, just as they did last week ahead of the game in Seattle”.

In response to the 49ers players taking a knee, the Vice-President and his wife Karen, decided to leave the game before it even started. Pence sent out the following tweet shortly after leaving.

“I left today’s Colts game because President Trump and I will not dignify any event that disrespects our soldiers, our Flag, or our National Anthem,”

That was followed by a tweet from President Donald Trump:

I asked Pence to leave stadium if any players kneeled, disrespecting our country. I am proud of him and Karen.

And then Pence further explained his reasoning on leaving.

“At a time when so many Americans are inspiring our nation with their courage, resolve, and resilience, now, more than ever, we should rally around our Flag and everything that unites us,” Pence tweeted. “While everyone is entitled to their own opinions, I don’t think it’s too much to ask NFL players to respect the Flag and our National Anthem. I stand with President Trump, I stand with our soldiers, and I will always stand for our Flag and our National Anthem.”

Ed’s Response to those events –  While it angers me as a Veteran of the United States Army and a proud American for the NFL players to take a knee during the National Anthem, and for the NFL to not take a stand against the players for disregarding the NFL policy regarding standing during the anthem, I believe that the Vice-President, but more so White House response, was done in an unbecoming manner.

Had things been that Pence had left on his own convictions, I would have totally been in support of his response. I believe that just as the players have the “right” to protest (as much as I hate it), the VP and his wife were more than justified with their response – even though they probably knew that someone would take a knee before they ever arrived.

However, when you read the tweet from Trump, then things take a different meaning to me altogether. It upsets me that “my man Mike” seems to have been used as a pawn when Trump says he asked the VP to leave if any players knelled.

I’ve read that Mike had scheduled the Colts game visit a while back, and I fully believe that. He is a big Colts fan, and the Manning statue unveiling was a big deal for most Colts fans.

That said, I believe the President used this opportunity to support his stance on the NFL and the protests,  which I totally support – just not in this manner.

In conclusion, I still love and support Vice-President Pence totally. My gripe is that President Trump politicized this event, the same as the players politicize their protest at the expense of those who take offense to the manner of how they protest.

I never feel that stooping to the level of those I disagree with is to Do The Right Thing.