On March 14, 2025

NOTES ON THE SCOURGE OF POLITENESS IN THE AMERICAN PULPIT: MIGHTY MEN VS. PARLOUR MAIDS – (WITH VIDEO)

PURIM: MARCH 14, 2025. “Skywatchers had a chance to see a ‘Blood Moon’ in the early hours of Friday morning. It was visible across the U.S. for about an hour starting at 2:26 a.m. Eastern, and according to Forbes online, ‘The full “Worm Moon” turned a beautiful reddish color as it drifted through Earth’s massive umbral shadow in space.’

Friday’s lunar eclipse was the first in a series of remarkable Celestial Signs that will be on display in the coming months that could hold Prophetic significance for our world. This series of four heavenly phenomena includes one solar event and three lunar events, two of which could represent a possible message about Israel.

It all kicked off with a total lunar eclipse known as a ‘Blood Moon’ that appeared over the U.S. on March 14, 2025. This first eclipse fell directly on the Jewish holiday of Purim. That’s when the Jewish people celebrate the biblical account of Esther when they were delivered from annihilation at the hands of an enemy named Haman in the Persian empire, which is modern-day Iran.

That first lunar eclipse will be followed by two more Blood Moons, with one coming this fall before Rosh Hashanah [September 22, 2025], and then the third one ALSO falling directly on Purim on March 3, 2026. Bible Prophecy experts say lunar eclipses, known as ‘Blood Moons,’ are tied to events that affect Israel.” – Benjamin Gill, CBN News, Mar. 10, 2025 [updated Mar. 14, 2025]

THEOLOGY

SCRIPTURE. “Now when Cephas (Peter) came to Antioch, I opposed him face to face [about his conduct there], because he stood condemned [by his own actions].” – GALATIANS 2:11, AMP

KEY TERM: “I OPPOSED HIM!” ‘Anthistémi’ [ἀντέστην]: “To stand against or withstand, to resist.” Also: “To take a complete, face to face, public position against someone; to forcefully declare one’s conviction (where they unswervingly stand).” NOTE: The Greek verb ‘anthistémi’ primarily means to set oneself against, to withstand, or to oppose. It conveys this idea: ‘Standing Firm against something or someone – often in a defensive or oppositional manner.’ In the New Testament, it is used both in physical and metaphorical contexts, indicating: ‘Resistance against evil, temptation, or adversaries.’”

QUOTATION. “‘But, my friends, we must resist this evil! We must never be idle while it destroys lives and hope around us. If we don’t stand, who will?’ Everywhere, people will be choosing whether to stand up or bow to the Emperor’s wishes. Most will bow, but if we stand, we can give hope to those who may feel they’re standing alone. ‘We will stand for what is right, and good, and true. We will protect and aid each other and all those Elôm brings into our path. We will remain faithful to Him, even when it may cost us our lives, and we will stand firm against the evil that will soon surround us. We will not back down! Each of us, right here, right now—We are The Resistance!’” – JAYE L. KNIGHT, Resistance, 2014; edited

COMMENTARY. “The Design for which Paul introduces this statement here is evident. It is to show that he regarded himself as on a level with the Chief Apostles, and that he did not acknowledge his inferiority to any of them. Peter was the oldest, and probably the most honored of the Apostles. Yet Paul says that he did not hesitate to resist him in a case where Peter was manifestly wrong, and thus showed that he was an Apostle of the same standing as the others …

‘I withstood him to the face’ – I openly opposed him and reproved him. Paul thus showed that he was equal with Peter in his Apostolical authority and dignity. The instance before us is one of ‘Faithful Public Reproof;’ and every circumstance in it is worthy of special attention, as it furnishes a most important illustration of the manner in which such reproof should be conducted. ‘The first thing to be noted is, that it was done openly, and with candor. It was reproof addressed to the offender himself.’ Paul did not go to others and whisper his suspicions; he did not seek to undermine the influence and authority of another by slander; he did not calumniate him and then justify himself on the ground that what he had said was no more than true: He went to him at once, and he frankly stated his views and reproved him in a case where he was manifestly wrong. This too was a case so public and well known that Paul made his remarks before the Church (Galatians 2:14) because the Church was interested in it, and because the conduct of Peter led the Church into error.

‘Because he was to be blamed’ – The Word used here may either mean because he had incurred blame, or because he deserved blame. ‘The Essential Idea is, that he had done wrong, and that he was by his conduct doing injury to the Cause of Religion.’” – ALBERT BARNES, Notes on the Old and New Testament, 1834; edited

POLITENESS

PARLOUR MAIDS. “A female servant in a private home who serves people at the table and keeps the house clean and answers the door to guests.”

It has increasingly become my deep conviction over the last ten years that from this, the White American Church has constructed a FALSE 11th COMMANDMENT that is pretty much preached and followed universally:

“Thou Shalt be Polite! In every circumstance under Heaven.”

Well now, beloved, if you wish to know why Pastors collectively refuse to confront the Rampant Trumpian Evil in our day, even as it explodes and infects even their own Churches, it may found right here, in the very center of this False Doctrine of what others have called: “Always Being Nice.”

Pastor and Bible scholar JEFF NOBLE squares off with this Doctrinal Delusion in his mano a mano piece titled, “The Heresy of Nice,” published in his Blog, Journey Guy (May 22, 2023; edited).

“I fear that these days too many Christians have drunk deeply of the FALSE DOCTRINE OF NICENESS. The reasoning goes like this, ‘Jesus was merciful, meek and mild. I should be too.’ As we’ve seen … in multiple other places in the Gospels, ‘Jesus was also a fierce and focused Truth-Teller.’ He didn’t back down, and He spoke truth to His culture, even when it was cloaked in religious robes. Today’s American Church avoids offense at any cost. The Seeker-Sensitive Church Growth Movement of the 1980’s set us up to avoid doing anything that might ‘turn someone off.’ Sermons and ministry methodologies increasingly became … ‘Nice. Attractive.’”

RIGHTEOUS ANGER. The EDITORS of the admittedly Left-leaning Reddit (Radical Christianity) online journal rip to shreds this dangerous nonsense in an essay from 2023 titled: “Being Polite is NOT One of the Ten Commandments, and It Never Will Be!”

OPEN. “Many Christians, particularly in wealthy First-World countries, seem to think that Christianity is about saying ‘Please’ and ‘Thank you,’ being submissive toward authority figures, doing what you’re told, and never causing too much of a fuss.”

SCRIPTURE. “It makes me wonder what Bible they’re reading. The one I have talks about a God-King who flips over tables and hurls insults at wealth-hoarding, self-righteous hypocrites. Jesus even uses tough love with his disciples, referring to Peter as ‘Satan’ when his closest follower is in danger of going astray (Matthew 16:23).”

OLD TESTAMENT. “Read the Old Testament (y’know, that thing Christians pretend doesn’t exist), and you’ll find heroines glorified for killing imperialists (Judith, Jael), God unleashing His Divine Wrath against the Empires of Egypt and Babylon, and gold-worshipping Idolaters being put to the sword. Physical violence often spills out of control, and Christians should take every step to avoid it whenever possible. But suggesting that it is un-Christian to use harsh words against the wicked and oppressive? This is as laughable as it is pathetic.”

NEW TESTAMENT. “Jesus warns not to throw your Pearls before swine (Matthew 7:6) and Paul chastises those who suffer fools gladly (2 Corinthians 11:19). When dealing with those who are willing to learn, one should always use compassion, patience and understanding. But every shepherd knows thatSheep and Goats can’t be treated the same way. Goats are headstrong and will cause nothing but destruction if left unchecked. ‘The very least you can do is publicly scold them for their evil ways, so they are forced to confront their own actions and can serve as an example to others.’”

HYPOCRITES. “When dealing with bigots, reactionaries and defenders of the capitalist status quo [i.e., those who live for the accumulation of wealth and power], the Question of Politeness should be left up to personal discretion. The Wealthy and their enablers are the Enemies of God, and Liberal Politeness is a tool designed to disempower the meek and vulnerable. The lives of the poor are worth more than the social comfort of the rich. You don’t owe Politeness to your Oppressor, and you do them no kindness by tacitly endorsing their demonic lifestyle.”

ZEAL. “‘Righteous Anger always has been recognized as a Christian Virtue, provided that it guided by the pursuit of Justice and Love of the Oppressed.’ As the Abolitionist minister Henry Ward Beecher said, ‘A man who does not know how to be angry does not know how to be good. And a man that does not know how to be shaken to his heart’s core with indignation over things evil is either a fungus or a wicked man.’”

CIVILITY. For those of you who prefer a more nuanced approach to the Plague of Politeness in the Church most of our Pastors, here is a Christianity Today piece by ALEXANDRA HUDSON, a writer, popular speaker, and the founder of Civic Renaissance, a publication and intellectual community dedicated to beauty, goodness and truth. She earned a master’s degree in public policy at the London School of Economics as a Rotary Scholar, and is an adjunct professor at the Indiana University Lilly School of Philanthropy.

The title of her essay, “Jesus Was Civil, Not Polite” (Nov. 3, 2023; edited). It is an excerpt from her book, The Soul of Civility: Timeless Principles to Heal Society and Ourselves (2023). Here are a few of her MAIN IDEAS.

POLITENESS. “Politeness is a ‘Technique.’ It reflects decorum, mores, manners, and etiquette. It is neither good nor bad itself, but it can be used for Good or for Ill depending on a person’s motivation.”

CIVILITY. “By contrast, Civility is a holistic ‘Disposition’—one that our society desperately needs today. Civility is based on the Fundamental Truth that all human beings are created in God’s image and are therefore worthy of basic respect. It sees everyone as inherently valuable and endowed with essential dignity, invoking a general regard for our neighbors and citizens. Civility is rooted in the mutual deference we owe one another as fellow humans and allows us to consider even our enemies as moral equals.”

FORTHRIGHTNESS. “Yet Civility can be at odds with Politeness, as it sometimes requires that we act in ways that many might consider impolite. Jesus Himself spoke of the perils of Politeness and the dangers of being inordinately focused on a polished outward appearance. He constantly exposed and critiqued the Religious Hypocrites of His day—those who were smug in their self-righteous compliance with ceremonial customs and religious rituals. He knew their meticulousness was merely a cover for their selfishness.”

HYPOCRITES. “Christ demonstrated that the act of Truth Telling isn’t always polite, but it is right and respectful when it speaks the Truth in Love. He did not hesitate when it came to calling out the Duplicity of the Pharisees—who appeared to act well, though their hearts were angry and bitter: ‘Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill, and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy, and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former’” (Matthew 23:23).”

SPEAK! “‘As Christians, we’re called not only to say and do the right things—but also to do so for the right reasons.’ It can be tempting to ‘Be Nice’ and stay Silent in the face of Injustice, but we are called to a Higher Standard. It’s easy to avoid the discomfort of confronting someone who has hurt us or others. But in the end, bypassing Healthy Conflict out of Politeness is disrespectful to everyone involved … ‘We can’t control how others act, but we can align our motivations with the Example Christ set.’”

LAST THOUGHTS

DK’S TAKE. Over the last ten years or so, I have learned that we have been taught in a number of ways, A FALSE JESUS. One who never opposes anyone, never raises His voice, never scolds or disciplines or ever gets angry. Ever. That, beloved, is one of the most Blasphemous Lies that has ever been perpetrated on the American Church.

As illustration, if you have ever read either Luther’s 95 Theses or, for the more political among us, The Declaration of Independence [see attached links], these were not “Polite taps on the shoulder,” as journalist TED KOPPEL once spoke of the unbridled Power of Truth at Duke University’s Commencement in May 1987. He added:

“Truth even whispered is a howling reproach!”

And speaking of the Great Reformer, let’s take this to the next level with two compelling quotations that rocked me back in the day when first wrestling with all these Great Biblical Thoughts so little preached or taught us anymore.

LUTHER I. Though I am not always as enamored of MARTIN LUTHER, as are many others, I most certainly give him his time honored due for taking a stand at the Diet of Worms that would have likely compromised many if not most of us.

Speaking without a script, and fully expecting to be executed by the Church authorities, here are his famous words when asked to recant his 95 Theses brazenly (and yes, angrily) nailed to the Wittenberg Door in 1517.

“If, then, I am not convinced by proof from Holy Scripture, or by cogent reasons, if I am not satisfied by the very text I have cited, and if my judgement is not in this way brought into subjection to God’s word. I neither can nor will retract anything; for it cannot be right for a Christian to speak against his conscience. So help me God. Amen … Here I stand, I can do no other.” – April 17-18, 1521; edited

But there is a lesser known Quotation, disputed by historians but attributed to Luther by most, that I love at least as much if not more than this one. It bears most urgently and intensely upon the Modern American Church in ways that border on the Divinely Ineffable.

LUTHER II. “If I profess with the loudest voice and clearest exposition every proportion of the truth of God except precisely that little point which the World and the Devil are at that moment attacking, I am not confessing Christ, however boldly I may be professing Christ! Where the battle rages, there the loyalty of the soldier is proved, and to be steady on all the battlefield besides, is mere flight and disgrace if he flinches at that point.” – c. 1530 AD; edited

Beloved of God, I stopped being “Polite” several years ago when my efforts at gentleness, quiescence, and whispered moral reason fell on a multitude of deafened ears and blind eyes in the Church. As my defense, I began to speak, rightly or wrongly, to the Anemic Church Leaders more and more like JESUS SPOKE:

And as He approached, He saw the city, and He wept [audibly] over it, exclaiming, ‘Would that you had known personally, even at least in this your day, the things that make for peace (for freedom from all the distresses that are experienced as the result of sin and upon which your peace—your security, safety, prosperity, and happiness—depends)! But now they are hidden from your eyes.

For a time is coming upon you when your enemies will throw up a bank [with pointed stakes] about you and surround you and shut you in on every side. And they will dash you down to the ground, you [Jerusalem] and your children within you; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, [all] because you did not come progressively to recognize and know and understand [from observation and experience] the time of your visitation [that is, when God was visiting you, the time in which God showed Himself gracious toward you and offered you salvation through Christ].’

Then He went into the temple [enclosure] and began to drive out those who were selling, telling them, ‘It is written, My house shall be a house of prayer; but you have made it a cave of robbers!’” – LUKE 19:41-46, AMPC

Therefore, I cannot discuss The Lamb of God with brutes, bullies and blasphemers, but will instead bring to them The Lion of Judah, sometimes at Full Roar, as the Real Jesus did. So do forgive me if I feel just a tad like Luther when I say to you all at this late point in America’s Great Dégringolade: (“Precipitous Decline”):

“I neither can nor will retract anything; for it cannot be right for a Christian to speak against his conscience. So help me God. Amen … Here I stand, I can do no other.”

YOUTUBE: https://youtu.be/klNbFGjfhf8