In this article, I will be using the label “LEFT”. I am not unaware of the limits of labels, I know full well that they not only have their limits, but can and are often abused and misused. But in spite of that, they also serve as a useful purpose when used properly and accurately. I will endeavor to use “LEFT” and “LEFTIST” fairly and accurately, not as a slap to those who hold leftists views, but as a tool of identity and reference of those who hold and promote clearly leftist views that are unrighteous and wrong. My concern is that too many who claim to be on the right (whatever that is these days), or who claim to be conservative, (whatever that is these days), and those who profess to be Christians, are often guilty of thinking like those who are on the "Left".
And before you attempt to educate me about how un-Christian using labels is, please read your Bible again.
Jesus called Herod a “Fox” (Luke 13:32), He called the Scribes and Pharisees "hypocrites".
(Matthew 23:13-29) And He also called them "serpents" and "vipers" (Matthew 23:33).
In Paul’s letter to Titus, he quotes a prophet of the Cretans and he repeats their accusation about their character, acknowledging that they are “liars”. And Paul says that it was a true analysis of them (Titus 1:12-13). I could say more but I think this is sufficient.
Influence and Manipulation
Billions of dollars are spent every year in the advertising industry to not only learn how to best influence the public, but also to then execute those influences in order to sell their products to us or get us to think a certain way about something or someone.
Sometimes these influence tactics are executed with extremely subtle methods, and other times, they are boldly stated or revealed to those they are designed to manipulate.
Yes, I said manipulate. Manipulation is a basic part of human existence, and yet it still stirs offence whenever it is suggested to someone that they have been MANIPULATED.
I would have to guess that pride is somewhere at the foundation of the cause. But how many of us would admit that we are too proud to admit that we are or were influenced to the point of manipulation by someone or something at one time or another? For some reason, many people are reluctant to acknowledge that they are or have been influenced in this manner.
It has been my experience that that reluctance is often the root cause of such influences maintaining their power over the individual. It seems that being able to say that “no one tells me what to do or think, I think for myself”, give people a since of self-pride. And anyone that says otherwise about them, are quickly viewed as offensive, and sometime even enemies.
Why, because they intuitively realize that to admit that they have been influenced, does indeed indicate that they do not fully “think for themselves”, and they foolishly see this as a form of weakness, a form of diminished character?
But the truth is that there is nothing wrong with being influenced in and of itself. Influence is a common human experience. Everyone is influenced in one way or another by someone, or something. We are influenced by our parents and other family members, we are influenced by teachers and our significant others or spouse, we are influenced by our friends, and even our children, we are influenced by what we read in books, and by what we see on TV and hear on the Radio, and by movies. Even our Christian faith is all about influence by God and overcoming the influence of sin and Satan.
So why is it that as soon as those of us who recognize the LEFTs rhetoric, propaganda and disinformation in those we are communicating with, and we point this out to them, they generally become offended and insist that they are not influenced by the LEFT, but they think for themselves?
I find it strange that they are so bold and willing to defend the LEFT and their policies, but they are not so willing to acknowledge that they have been influenced by them. If the LEFT is so wonderful in their view, then why the denial of being influenced by them?
While some form of Pride is clearly involved, I can’t help but wonder if an unwillingness to take responsibility for their convictions and actions on behalf of the LEFT, is also a part of that Pride.
Most all on the LEFT that I have encountered and dialogued with, have been fast on support for their LEFTIST VIEWS, but slow on actually defending them. The vast majority of what I get from them is accusations and repeated accusations, with little or no defense of the accusations. Even after I refute their accusations, I get a repeat of the accusation, rather than a rebuttal of my refutation. This reveals a serious condition.
Dishonesty
I have tried in vain to get those on the left that I have dialogued with, to stay focused on the arguments that I present against the left, and to then just provide a credible refutation of my arguments to prove that I am incorrect, this way I too can grow and learn. But as I said, I have rarely received that from them. Instead, I have been accused of being ignorant, a Political slave, blind, and other expletives, all while receiving no intelligent rebuttals to my arguments and evidences. This to me is blatant dishonesty, and evidence of insincerity. Perhaps a few examples are in order here:
I will exclude the names since it is not my intention to “put the culprits on blast as they say”.
Last year there was an accusation against President Donald Trump that went viral that claimed that he said that he had done more for Christians than Jesus did. A young student of mine contacted me and asked me to look into this accusation, and she gave me the Facebook (FB) link to a Christian Bishop that had posted this accusation against Trump. When I looked at the Facebook page I noticed that I knew the Bishop personally, and so it concerned me even more. So I searched for evidence and found out that the accusation was not true, it originated from a Satire site called The Babylon Bee. And was a satire, not a true statement. As confirmed by snopes.com.
What was sad, is that when the Bishop posted the lie, his Christian friends went off on the President and called him names and said bad things about him and his mental state. But when I posted the evidence that it was not true on the page and asked for a retraction from the Bishop and the other Christians, I got nothing but silence. Now it is possible that the Bishop just was to busy to monitor his Facebook page, but he was still accountable for what he posted, just as everyone else who commented unrighteously.
When a dear sister that I taught the Bible to years ago, recently expressed surprise that I was a supporter of Trump and not Biden or the Dems, and then called Trump a racist and sower of discord, and sited Trumps claim that he did more for Christians than Jesus, as proof of his unfitness to be President, I provided the above evidence to her that the claim was not true.
But instead of acknowledging her wrong, she actually continued repeating it and insisting that it was still true. She even said that she actually heard Trump say it on a video. I asked her or anyone to provide it for me, and I would retract my defense on that matter. I then asked if she agreed that if it was not true, that she should apologize for repeating it in the light of our Christian obligation not to lie and to repent when we are wrong? I got no answer. Again, it could just be that she did not regularly monitor her Facebook posts, but she should have.
To her credit, she did later concede that she should be more careful. But most others never acknowledged doing wrong.
It seems that such people are forgetting the standards that God has obligated us as Christians to live by, and what is required of us to be His representatives.
When the Psalmist asked God who would dwell in His tent and live in His holy hill, the answer was:
"One who lives honestly, practices righteousness, and acknowledges the truth in his heart-who does not slander with his tongue, who does not harm his friend or discredit his neighbor" (Psalms 15:1-3) HCSB
Proverbs 12:22 says: "Lying lips are abomination to the Lord: but they that deal truly are his delight." (KJV)
Proverbs 14:5 says: "A faithful witness will not lie: but a false witness will utter lies." (KJV)
Colossians 3:9 says: "lie not one to another." (KJV)
Ephesians 4:25 says: "Since you put away lying, speak the truth, each one to his neighbor" (HCSB)
Insincerity
When I see this kind of reaction or non-reaction from those who are Christians, it greatly concerns me, because it gives the impression of insincerity. I know that such an accusation is offensive to those who it is directed at, but in fairness, it does seem to apply. And if not, it is on the one who is acting inappropriately to explain why they are not being insincere by their refusal to acknowledge a clear wrong they have done. When a person is sincere, they acknowledge wrong when they do it. We are told in James 5 to "Confess your faults one to another" (James 5:16) KJV
But in order to confess it, we must first acknowledge it.
(Hosea 5:15, Jeremiah 3:13,14:20, Psalms 32:5)
And we must be willing to forsake it: In Proverbs 28:13 it says:
“He that covers his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesses and forsakes them shall have mercy.”
Ignorance
Granted, ignorance can clearly be a part of the cause of such a commitment to leftist ideas, but ignorance is hardly an excuse for their behavior. Whether on the left or right, we are all accountable for acknowledging our wrong and our errors. Additionally, our ignorance does not justify our perpetuating lies and false representations. We are still accountable to God.
Habit
What seems to be happening is that many Christians are locked in the habit of watching Leftist dominated News media, and Leftist dramas, and leftist talk shows and leftist sitcoms, etc., often not knowing or caring that they are being influenced by leftist ideas. And the influence of that exposure is so strong and effective that they don’t even realize it. Humans are creatures of habit, and it is easy to fall into habits. Therefore we must be aware enough to choose good habits rather than being drawn into bad ones.
Obsessiveness
Sadly, such viewing habits can and often does morph into an obsession. And such obsessiveness often makes the one affected defensive about their obsession. So that when it is pointed out to them, they are offended and even deny it. Much like alcoholics deny they are alcoholics and drug addicts deny they are hooked on drugs.
Those who are hooked on wrong thinking tend to deny they are, while giving no justification for maintaining it. Perhaps they have found comfort in the feeling of being in agreement with popular media, Hollywood, Public education, (higher and lower), and the Democrat “progressives”. And they dread the necessity of reeducating themselves if they acknowledge their error.
Yet we have the witness of the Thomas Sowell’s, the Candace Owens, and even homosexual David Rubin’s, and so many more who have seen the light and crossed over from the dark side of the Left.
News Media
I try to warn people to be careful and responsible viewers of news, because nearly all have ceased from being honest informers, and have become agenda driven, partisan, and narrative creating sources. As a result, it has become necessary for all to become good inspectors and to carefully examine the sources that they tap for their information to determine if it is indeed credible.
With so many false claims and vast misinformation campaigns being perpetrated on the public by politicians, Big Tech, Hollywood, TV and Cable networks, government officials, medical and education institutions, the Church must step up and rise to the occasion and meet that misinformation or disinformation campaign with truth.
Honesty and Humility
Christians must be honest and humble about their worldviews and their politics. What I am often exposed to on social media, are Christians who refuse to be honest or humble about their Leftists views. They either deny they are LEFT, or they deny that their left views are wrong or bad. And as I said, what is worse is that this denial is rarely coupled with intelligent rebuttals of my arguments against their views. For them, it seems that merely denying my arguments and rejecting my evidence is sufficient to justify their convictions. And if I refuse to agree with them, and present rational proof, it is because I am not woke, I am a racist, still on the plantation, or crazy. This is what I am being confronted with more often than I should. And sadly, it is often by Christians.
It makes me wonder just how much “influence” their churches and pastors have on them, if it is so easy for them to be so unreasonable and dishonest. Or could it be that their church and pastors are controlled by leftists thinking themselves, and have too much control over them. Whatever the reason, the influence of the left on Christians is a serious matter. Because it strikes at the heart of what true Christianity is all about.
The Bible and Leftists policies and tactics.
Any Christian worth their profession of living for and being dedicated to Jesus Christ and God’s word would be able to see where the left goes against biblical mandates and doctrine. Please note, I did not say they were not saved or that they were not Christians. I have to make this disclaimer because one common tactic of the left is to misrepresent what we say in order to distract from the real issue, to discredit us or to defame us. And sadly that tactic works all too often.
God’s word, speaks against murder, and the Left is for Abortion.
God’s word speaks against deception and misrepresentation and disinformation, and yet the left thrives on them.
God’s word speaks against homosexuality, and the Left supports and defends it.
God’s word speaks against Atheism, and the Left seems to be dominated by them,
God’s word speaks against Darwinian Evolution, yet the left promotes it.
God’s word speaks against Gender confusion, yet the left promotes and accommodates it.
God’s word speaks against bearing false witness against others, but the left thrives on this.
I could go on but I think you get the point.
Pastors who seek to demonstrate their allegiance to God over their political affiliation, should and must include in their teaching, the necessity of those who say they are Christians to be honest, holy and righteous in their words and actions. This should also be enforced by the church if members are to hold office as ministers and leaders.
If the teaching is efficient, their members should be well prepared and capable of not only defending the truth of God’s word, but incorporating that truth into their political and cultural conversations with those who prefer to live by their emotions.
It is refreshing to encounter Christians who actually get it, and understand the games of the left, but I am seeing far too many who have been deeply influenced by their TVs, Hollywood and education, and who are unwilling to admit it or even acknowledge the possibility. This concerns me.
I have seen White pastors like John Pavlovitz attack the entire White evangelical church as racist, with no effort to be balanced or honest. Apparently, just to show how woke he is, and gain favor with the left, yet also apparently not caring about being honest. Christians should not be following such people.
I pray that true Christians will continue to take a stand against compromise, and not loose faith or hope in the face of growing fascism and the rise of leftists power.
We are instructed by God’s word to stand fast, (1 Corinthians 16:13 Philippians 1:27, 4:1, 1 Thess. 3:8), to live holy (1 Peter 1:15-16). And we must do it no matter how difficult things may get, because in the end God will have the last word, and we are on God’s side.