A Plea for Civility

What ever happened to civility within hours of Sen. McCain passing insults things flying around online. What happened to us for the line of fire with your host activist and author, international speaker and theologian Dr. Michael Brown your voice of moral cultural and spiritual revolution Michael Brown is the director of the coalition of conscience and president of fire school of ministry get into the line of fire valves like always 866-34-TRUTH that's 866-34-TRUTH your again is Dr. Michael Brown. We always been this nasty. Have we always been this uncivil. Have we always had so little respect for the dead or for the families that are grieving or just a lack of decency. In general I would always been this bad. Hey friends, welcome to the Monday broadcast of Lana fire Michael Brown here. Hope you had a great week.

I wanted to be constructive. I want to be helpful. I want to function as always, is your voice of moral sanity and spiritual clarity in the midst of a society in chaos in the church. All too often in compromise.

I was shopping at Walmart last night, I sent out a tweet an urgent tweet very important question is am I the only one that always gets that took the shopping cart with a defective wheel turns out know I'm not the overlords couldn't resist that.

But anyway, while checking out a gentleman came walking by seductive brown.

Love you show love listen to radio show and of course we hear that all the time, not just through email and text but running into folks that tell us what which means I take this time really seriously I take this time really really seriously and I always pray it's my heart. Prayer that the time we have together will be meaningful impactful in your life.

I know that some of your more casual listeners, but there million other things you could be listening to right now or watching so I take this time seriously and I believe our discussion today is going to be more light then heat more helpful, not stirring up gossip and strife, but ultimately helpful.

Now I have a question for you.

I posted this on Twitter in pole form and I and I asked this. What's your take on the extreme civility, incivility in America to that which he was extreme civility what your take on the extreme incivility in America today was here long before Trump is it mainly because of Trump or has he made a bad situation worse. I just want to get your take. I just want your opinion, your feedback. What prompted me to address this is not the fact that Dan Knight people are bashing each other and slashing each other and attacking each other online in the foulest, ugliest, crudest ways to me this is a symptom of human nature that is fallen, that is flawed. That is sinful and it's just become more manifest through social media. In other words, a lot of people will write something that they wouldn't say or they will write something that they wouldn't say face-to-face or they would write something where they can hide behind anonymity or at least the distance of the Internet and your funny on a lot of junk, a lot of stuff that people might not have communicated. They are communicating. Did you ever get a letter like that from someone and and you thought you were friends and everything was good for years and then they send you something.

It's a slow hard for me to say this, so I decided to write you hikes. That's how you felt all this time I had no idea it will now we get a better idea now the gloves are off. So to say and I know if you go through history. There's been incivility just just go back to the early presidential campaigns in America, wicked Adams, Jefferson, different ones fighting against each other and you'll see some stuff you think Joe yikes. Even with a really nasty ads now want to know that it gets that bad but people get savaged you know it's it you want to run for political office, the higher up you get the more you can get savaged that much we know that much. We understand but it seems to me that there's been some level of further degeneration. It seems to me that things have gotten uglier. Now I have my own viewpoint on it as well, but I want to be practical and constructive in terms of what we can do to make things better just never call 866-34-TRUTH and my simple question the anger, the hostility, the attacks going back and forth. Have they been here for a while and they're just magnified now with social media and 24-hour newsfeeds with constant constant constant bombardment. It stirred often it is it something that's really the result of the trump right presidency and he's been such a volatile divisive figure for good or for bad or for both is that it or or is it that we had a bad situation and the trump presidency and the nature of who he is, was that brought with what that's brought to the surface has made things even worse. Let me show you what happened around social media so Facebook we have about 560,000 followers and and folks are very active. There we appreciated.

We love it. We love all the interaction so I hadn't posted this might my team and posted the breaking news of the passing of Sen. McCain at the age of 81 striking that he died of the exact same brain cancer that took the life of Ted Kennedy checking nine years earlier today so she he passes away and I went over to Facebook and and I normally don't read the comments simply because there's not time to read all the comments that we get on social media. If I'm asking for feedback. I do my best to look at is much as possible. We have lots of poster team will post breaking news or a meme of Scripture are a great saying from a Christian leader or something like that so all all interact is much as I can, but most the time I cannot I'm writing preparing to other things.

So I start looking, so the comments like what the world attacking Sen. McCain speaking evil of him speaking derogatory making derogatory comments about his service in the military and questioning whether it is a war hero and what in the world. So II posted this on Facebook I buy posted on Facebook and appeal, saying Kent can we please stop every got the graphic will will put it up for a post on Facebook and appeal say please a little civility now friends.

This is not the place for negative comments about Sen. McCain delivered a little civility please if you challenge meager amount Facebook page. I call for civility rescue to be boxer please take out your anger somewhere else.

Thanks. You know, we never shied from confrontation controversy are but there's a time and place for everything.

Those comments in parentheses. I added after some people like all yeah honestly, I thought not. Not on my page when asking you not to.

We give you a platform to interact with hundreds of thousands of people every single day and we welcome all types of controversy and literally you can differ with me every single day you will get blocked it. Unless you engage in and posting falsehoods or attacking an ugly ways were taken of people by name and uglies meeting differ with me every day from from here until week we get off-line.

One day, or the radio show stops or whatever or Jesus comes, we will that's fine but a little respect. So even after I posted this eyespot. This comment here. Okay, that we we blocked out the name of we put the graphic out.

We blocked out the name, but here's a guy accusing citizen my Facebook page and we deleted a bunch of comments decided not.to block illicitly get really nasty right, but somebody post this on Facebook and and he accuses the president.

Excuse me here if you, Sen. Can you be in a rush or fold in a circle fold and engaging in war crimes given a break.

Given a break now and after this happened, and look if you want express differences with Sen. McCain it if if there issues going on and you feel, hey, it's appropriate to address this say that okay. I understand that it's just a matter of respect, honor for someone that served if you differed with his politics.

It and it just respect for the grieving family even though they're not reading my Facebook page.

Your Facebook page, just respect for the grieving family so II tweeted this out last night. I tweeted this out and I asked the question have we lost all civility.

I tweeted out a simple question saying what ever became of civility that we just read it to you directly. Here we go, what kind of sick world are we living we announce the passing of Sen. McCain on Facebook and summer pouring out vitriol against me wishing for his punishment how God of mercy. These demented souls. Whatever happened to civility, respect now I will get your calls as well get your input and feedback. One gentleman of had on the show before Randall rouser Prof. in Canada theology professor and he'll often spar with me on twitter.

I try to respond to him as much as possible, just out of respect for being a fellow professor and theologian, but he'll often differ with me.

Spar with me, challenge me, but if I ever bring up trouble he's gonna rip if I ring a truck is gonna rip or if trump is there between the lines is Europe not remember remember was president trump who went after John McCain and demeaned his service demeaned him as a war hero and went after him and Sen. McCain spoke very harshly against the president and an official announce announcement from the McCain family said visualizing the McCain family said they didn't want troposphere and then trump from my understanding, rather than official White House announcement going out honoring inferencing's career, etc. just sent out a respectful tweet mentioning his passing and saying your prayers for the family and I thought, on the one hand that maybe the best thing he can do because he spoke against became thesis of the really nice now. It would it would seem cheap or perhaps you could've said.

Everyone knows the differences that exist between Sen. McCain and me, but I honor him as a great American citizen. I honor him as a military hero.

I honor him as someone who served our country and I respect his memory he couldn't sit something like that.

I think that would be a something honorable, but there are people coming after trump.

I mean celebrities come in after him in the harshest unimaginable terms, and now a statement has been released today from Sen. McCain so he drafted this before his passing and the question is, are there some subtle attacks on trump in that so we'll talk about all this but but hear me this is not a gossip column yet what will read the full text we come back. This is not a gossip column radio show. This is not tabloid sensationalism. I want to talk about how we can have differences and it be respectful, honorable, and follow good biblical principles of communication, whatever the problem is we know it's out there. Let's me once he thinks I write back because the statement from Chris McCain and some other interesting number and it's the line of fire with your host Dr. Michael Brown, the line of fire now by calling 866-34-TRUTH here again is Dr. Michael Brown is so right. This was after my calling for civility and respect. It's at least honor what I'm asking on my Facebook page right and below it was not a big supporter of Sen. McCain. I voted for him, but with some reluctance because I didn't feel he be a strong enough conservative candidate is as president and would not really fight for the things that are most important to me. But, but, of course, but I honored him for his service to our country in many many different ways. In the midst of my differences with them and I regretted the battle that erupted between Sen. became president trump this on who the person is that it unless it's Adolf Hitler or something, in which case you would rejoice in the destruction of evil and and and mourn for the lost life and all the laws that took but this little civility respected atomic this right and that was the vast majority of people posting understood that, but the look at this. This is one of read it to exactly this Russia fold server follow and we we took the guys name out he was Russian fold in Serbia fold PS for Serbian schools at all institutions to be bombed as a Baptist, I can say he deserved Kelly's and now his deeds have come after that.

If you feel that way then you talk to God about you talk to family about futile posts that for the world to see hours after someone's passing and look remember the way we judge others is the way were going to get charged.

Just a little reminder 866-34-TRUTH will read Sen. McCain's statement in a moment but first let's go to the phones. I will start in Raleigh with Andrea walking to the want to fire hi hello I'm doing well thank you for cover and that I really yelled that heart problem made your heart problem and really amplify now, but the Internet give the people the capability to say whatever they want and not die with her. I will not day what I feel like I wanted because I now I get.

I know it happens that people read out the day when they want to snag you now I'm not there right now younger generation have a crop with all that might tell people yeah because now the Internet beauty. I think it article a lot of the younger generation can only carry out how to write the Internet but at least they had back mayhap that content yeah and so I entered your 222 points I want to jump on one the heart problem which is been amplified by the Internet right so I wouldn't have known what this Baptist guy believed her said if not for the Internet. I would not have known him he would not of known me so multitude of other opinions get expressed from people we never would've heard from, and these days anyone's tweet anyone's YouTube video anyone's social media comment could go viral and suddenly everybody's reading what somebody said we never heard of before. That's one thing a second thing that you mentioned is the communication issue, and obviously when you're sitting face-to-face with someone you can way more how your words are going to affect them. You can see the reaction on their face when you begin to raise the subject. You can interact and go back and forth in a much more real way and the humanity of the person is this much more clearly seen and felt. But we have an increasing number of of folks, especially young people growing up who do most of their communication online, or at least much of their communication online who are socially awkward, but can text you know I God knows how many words a minute, and that creates another problem that you don't have as much of face-to-face interaction be Outlook if you want to mentor someone ideally you want to mentor them face-to-face. When you're raising your kids.

You have a unique environment of face-to-face life together which you can only do that so much through an online extended community so part of the breakdown of civility in our culture can also be taught. I think to our lack of face-to-face quality interaction deftly plays in a thank you for the call. Let's go to Clay in Raleigh. Welcome to the line of fire February film is wonderful where they are Monday or baldric window during all their your bringing out a question about what is going on or what maybe might be wrong and I was talking to the wonderful brother whom you know monitors and to the call and leave just like me who served in the airport just like I did, but I'll be on Twitter. Here's my viewpoint, and it seems to me there. Bitterness among people that are not happy with certain things and you know apparently people are not happy because the trunk still been president, but you know when it is like I was sharing with the man earlier told him I could, you know what the people made a choice and they are tired of all I was about going on needed to start with people being better and I can't say that I used to be better about bettering more because you know being a faithful follower of Jesus Christ.

I know that I'm happy with what's going on on on comfortable with what's going on and I can honestly say that I'm thankful that we are where we you see Clay be adjusted to jump in and by the way Brenda on YouTube asked me to thank you for your service to our country so I one of the do that on Brenda's behalf. Here's what's interesting Clay. You have a lot of people who are sick and tired of the constant attacks on Donald Trump there fed up.

It's unfair. Think enough is enough and it's it's producing there's a backlash. The people are angry because Trump is president and then others are angry because of the anger of those who are angry then you got on the flipside, those who are angry because of what president trump himself provokes in the storm that he brings with him. Remember Gov. Jeb Bush, describing him as a chaos candidate is become a chaos president not mean that everything in his life is in chaos, but that he kinda brings a chaos within and it reveals a whole lot. And thank you Clay for for wing and I appreciated. I have a book I can and I can't say more. Yet any day I'll be able to but quite amazingly and I believe initiated by the Lord who moved on the were having a book come out very very quickly. This would be one of the quickest books we have got out and should be out a few weeks before the midterm elections on Donald Trump.

I can't give you the title so telling about when you hear it. I think you'll immediately want to say I want I want that I want to get that I want to get 10 copies. I generally believe it when you hear what's what's in the book but one of the things I explained in the book is that president trump with his wrecking ball effect brings a lot of stuff to the surface and you find out what's in a lot of people's hearts for good or for back you find out just how extreme the liberal media can be.

You find out just how radical the Democratic Party can be you find out just how hypocritical many evangelicals could be. Yeah, there's a lot that comes to the surface and have you ever been in the room with somebody got a bad temper and they they act in ways it's just unacceptable and they they in the next thing you lose your temper and it's like they provoke something Jurassic that got something on the book of Proverbs warns about hang out with hotheads less you become like them.

Our maker very public confession. Here, you just happen with one person.

I got a call from someone last week know why I call them to follow up on something some money that I was to be reimbursed for something and let's just say that when it came to what we are being reimbursed. We had gone over and beyond what anyone could expect is moving out of her of a rental house and gone above and beyond with what could be expected to leave things in the very best condition and went above and beyond what needed to be done is tenants even to try to save the landlord money in different things to be conscientious to to do things her own expense. Then I got word that that the owner wanted to withhold this ridiculous amount of money.

The realtor told me and when I heard it. I mean, it's what I act 1/2 and I'm telling very, very rare, but I instantly reacted. I'm got angry. What what she said don't worry. Don't worry he's crazy is that you get everything back. You get reimbursed in full and I saw isn't that amazing at best this not me by God's will.

Used to be me, least of a terrible temper sought me, but I instantly where I actually got upset and that there was something about the situation in dealing with this guy that could provoke you a little bit and it's there's something about president trump will you love or hate them neutral hard to be neutral right, but we love him or hate him, that he brings it everything start stirring it just it's hard to just have the subject. The president trump in the room with a lot of emotions commit was reveal about us we be part of the solution in rather than the problem.

That's were going 866-4250 like to win we will file the line of fire with your host Dr. Michael Brown get into the minor fire now by calling 866-34-TRUTH dear again is Dr. Michael Brown is the two the passing of Sen. McCain and then some people weighing in ugly terms, attacking him and others in attacking president trump I asked the question what kind of sick world reliving we announce the passing of Sen. McCain on Facebook. Some pouring of vitriol against them even wishing for his punishment how God have mercy on these demented souls. Whatever happened to civility and respect. And then I turned that into a poll question what your take the extreme instability in America today was here long before trump is amended because of trump resume to bad situation worse. As always, I'm just looking for your viewpoint, trying to ascertain truth interesting to see the responses on twitter. What's your take, this is Michael Brown. Welcome to the line of fire, 86634878848 before I get into this, on Saturday I went for my first ever tennis match drove up to one student Salem North Carolina drove over Winston-Salem, North Carolina with our grandson, Andrew, one of our two grandsons and we were having fun driving back and forth. Talk about all kinds of different things. Enjoy the tennis match and I had spoken at chapel service where he goes to Christian school. He was in middle school that is in high school now and he brought up to me some months back.

He said all you know another thing that the kid said was that your grandpa has a really nice voice is got a great force to listen to. So we were laughing says absolutely hard to be on radio with a really bad voice, hard to have a radio show where your voice was so bad the stop stop that.

So I know some people don't like listening to because I don't like what I have to say, but hopefully hopefully he's the voice is nice, 866-348-7884 so I tweeted out that comment about what kind of world are we living in and then Prof. Randall rows was been on the air with me often spar with me on twitter and innocent extreme critic of president trump.

He tweeted this in response tentative apologist. That's a screen name rental rouser. I'm surprised that you're surprised that vitriol come straight from Donald Trump who's been attacking McCain for several years. How can you not see the obvious? Two exclamation points, while I responded to him by saying that the the incivility has been there from before the before the days of Donald Trump is a because I've seen it for quite some time now, years before. Trump is on the scene.

I've seen it when others died when children Christian leaders.

I've seen it on the right on the left of the credit for years don't blame everything on trump my friend. Then he had one more reply and is further reply, he emphasized what Donald Trump had said in criticism of Sen. McCain trump Mark McCain's POW status in Vietnam.

He repeatedly attachment rallies was Obama careful while encouraging booze and catcalls.

He refused to fire the staffer said McCain is dying anyway he said nothing.

McCain's impending death. Even yesterday he owns this now again I absolutely agree the president trump has fanned the flames of incivility in the country with his style of leadership is much as I am grateful, deeply grateful for the good he's doing. I grieve over the unnecessary casualties along the way. The question is what can we do to improve the situation. What can we do, regardless of whether radically left politically radically right with were considered versus moderate or progressive or conservative with were followers of Jesus or not, but in particular those were followers of Jesus, and are therefore held to a biblical ethic. What can we do improve the problem. I've been personally distressed. Sometimes to bring up even other Christian leaders, even in a meeting I had the one you have the White House not with president trump but but with others working the administration with other evangelical leaders. They asked for thoughts input and I immediately said look we want to support the president for the good he's doing for STEMI for things that are important to us, but he takes two steps forward and one step back or three steps back. And if you have such volatile tweets and bash people what he did it with.

It would help and someone in the media so I'm glad this is evangelical leader. I'm glad somebody speaking their mind not like that has a better way to do it. Look at our recent McCain statement. This is issued after his passing, or read that you in a moment, but you never let somebody in your on the roads busy road and some is trying to get in. See you slow down so they can get in and they waived the golf you way back with a smile.

Your grandma that you just take off inanimate knowledge of what was popular or or euros should be friendly and pleasant everybody and some is nasty back and suddenly you could provoke thinking would be nasty back you know it just shows how easy it is for the flesh to get riled and someone else comes in as a peacemaker that hate France, concrete. They were friends within family were we to sit there and everything comes down so the sum that that get the temperature parenting hot tensions rising in the room were called to be peacemakers over to say things that are controversial really go against the grain really do and say things that are unpopular, but can we do it in a way where our manner of communication does not stir up trouble, but the things we say are constructive. Okay, here's the full text of the statement from Sen. McCain. Obviously not from the grave supernaturally friends they should follow what happened.

This is something he wrote to be released after his passing, my fellow Americans who are greatly certain, gratefully served for 60 years, and especially my fellow Arizonans. Thank you for the privilege of serving you and for the rewarding life that service in uniform and in public offices allowed me to leave.

I tried to serve our country honorably.

I've made mistakes but I hope my love for America will be weight favorably against them. I've often observed that I'm the luckiest person on earth. I feel that we even now as I prepare for the end of my life of love, my life, all of it. I've had experiences adventures and friendships in there for 10 satisfying laws and I'm so thankful like most people I have regrets but with untreated day of my life in good or bad times for the best of anyone else's. Oh that satisfaction to the love of my family. No man ever had a more loving wife or children. He was prouder of that I am mine, and I will to America to be connected to Americans causes liberty, equal justice, respect for the dignity of all people brings happiness more sublime than life's fleeting pleasures.

Our identities and sense of worth and not circumscribe the Lords by serving good causes bigger than ourselves fellow Americans that associations meant more to me than any other I lived and died a proud American. We are citizens of the world's greatest Republican nation of ideals, not blood and soil. We are blessed in our blessing to humanity when we uphold and advance those ideals at home and in the world. We have help liberate more people from tyranny and poverty. Never before in history we have acquired great wealth and power in the process. We can our greatness when we confuse our patriotism with tribal rivalries that have some resentment and hatred and violence in all the corners of the globe we weaken it when we hide behind walls rather than tear them down without the power of ideals rather than trust them to be the great force for change. They've always been, where 325 million opinionated for surface individuals. We argue and compete sometimes and vilify children are raucous public debates. We have always have so much more in common with each other than a disagreement. If only remember that and give each other the benefit of the presumption that will love our country will get through these challenging times will come to them stronger than before. We always do. 10 years ago I had the privilege to concede defeat in the election for president. I want to end my farewell to you with a heart full faith and Americans that I felt so powerfully that evening I feel the powerfully still do not despair were present difficulties. But, believe always in the promise and greatness of America because nothing is inevitable here Americans. Their equipment never surrender. We never hide from history make history for well fellow Americans.

God bless you and God bless America. Obviously that's an intense thing to read. Realizing he's gone from this world let every one of us will one day leave this world must be lived to see Jesus return as noble of him to try to encourage Americans and to strengthen Americans as opposed to the focus being on his passing. It's great to hear of his love for country and family. Obviously you hope you had a deep relationship with the Lord really knew the Lord for some reason didn't talk about that more here that subsequent matters most.

Now people are analyzing what he had to say because his family said they didn't want trump at the funeral and when Sen. McCain says here you not despair were present difficulties doesn't mean the Trump Presidents of Vista stuff that's been discussed and on and on this. This is this is going to keep going. Now, long after Sen. McCain's is left us because of the vitriol between Sen. McCain and Pres. Trump who said what.

Who did what a relief for others to figure out all want to say is this number one, we've always had issues as human beings because of sin. Remember, Abel kills Cain, the firstborn child to the race kills his brother doesn't get much worse than that.

So we've always had problems. We have always done evil is not new. In one generation to another gets amplified in certain ways gets brought to the surface in certain ways and with the Nazis did was more evil than what anyone had done before. Not because people were less evil before sister was technology to carry out more atrocities in a more systematic way may have existed before. So we've always had the same problem as part of our nature. Wealth across the doomed that's number one number two, social media, the Internet, these things have amplified the problem amplified the instability amplified the nastiness, especially when hiding behind anonymity, especially when cloaked in Internet pseudonyms and things like that not out.

That being said, there's more more transparency on the Internet that you know who people are, what they say the vulgarity of the ugliness of the profanity of if it extreme nature of it is shocking this number 21 always the same problem number two.

The Internet has amplified it as a previous caller said and number three number three.

I believe that the presidency of Donald Trump has further exacerbated the issues that is my take on right that the presidency, Donald Trump, the nature of who he is. The device of figure that he is the polarizing figure that he is and much of it intentionally. It must be his way of getting attention that that has amplified the problem even further salutes of the Internet has amplified it presidency to help us exacerbate absences like friends was back with your calls and I got a word of encouragement and then we will detract if the line of fire with your host activist, author, international speed and theologian Dr. Michael Brown voice of more cultural and spiritual revolution get into the line of fire now by calling 6643 here again is Dr. Michael Brown got a radical right, let's make a positive difference is that let's make a positive difference if you have light bring light into the darkness.

If you have wisdom bring wisdom into the confusion. If you have maturity bring maturity into the immaturity it if you've got something biblical to say bring it in. In a practical way.

There's no reason for us to be attacking one another. The way we do. I remember after the suicide of a prominent Christian leader Rick Warren's son committing suicide and they're all these charges flying involve his son was gay and spread the father suppressed it.

That's right, you know, we committed suicide for that. While Rick Warren is like why you think guys, his wife. They just lost their son honor the kid and the parents when the world is this this the world we live in today. You know, Paul encouraged us in Colossians to always have our speech.

Season with salt, full of grace here, there plenty things I can point to that I do wrong areas of my life right I need to continue to grow in the Lord be more like Jesus.

And hopefully I can point to some areas where be good role model as well and hopefully you see on the show if you read my articles watch my videos you know that we can address all kinds a hot, controversial subjects, but we do so in a way that's gracious and it's truthful and that's fair. So yeah I'm hated day and night for the stance I take you think the world's gonna treat me or you better than a treated Jesus only told the exact opposite in Scripture as we are, but by very simply, we can make a difference and I fear that constantly people thanking me for being gracious with those I differ with what the differences are there we spell them out.

We lay them out. We don't compromise, but we can do things in a way that so self-righteous so arrogant that almost guarantee will provoke and produce more opposition and will end up with more heat than light you saying about you know me I'm not talking compromise. I'm not talking watering things that I'm not talking obscuring issues and blurring lines to the contrary. Let the differences be seen clearly.

One thing we learned in Genesis 1 as God separate separate separate separate separates with there must be separation. There must be clarity there must be distinction between light and darkness, yes. And if we shy light and dark places people hate us for but a lot of times we get hated because of who we are. A lot of times we get hated because of how we respond as much what we say, but how we say it, and by the way have got a word of encouragement for you from Scripture coming in a moment. As I was reading the word reading second Timothy had jumped in the and I just want to share this with you in a moment, but let's grab a call first will go to Ogden, Utah Bonnie, welcome to the line of fire Geraldo how are you doing very well thank you I had appreciate almost everything you say in your attic, Mark line and not exactly what prompted me to call today a you know we can catch we can be harsh and getting more every day that we do that, that we click on the negative more than we ever get. And I fail if people had to walk in Donald comps you are one day. I think that there would be more compassionate and more toward even went to file on because he constantly attacked know Patty that I've heard that a home. Good thing about it, they might like seven. Thank you dad, but they always start out hockey her and then a way that is best that and I believe you're not going to get any get out of the car and if there continually make and fell back into a corner and attacked and so I identify with yeah and body first thank you so much for your for your kind words just in general life.

It's true that when you feel constantly attacked you to fight back and let's recognize that whoever is in office, so prison Obama daily getting attacked in the harshest terms of the right knee extreme right and a Pres. Trump getting attacked from the left extreme left and from others as well.

And yet we have a I listen, I am very glad that I'm not the president United States.

First, I'm sure you're all glad also to discuss for a host of reasons that I love the present United States. But like I could not imagine for second what the spiritual attack would be like with the attack in the natural be like the pressure the decisions you have to make it's it's amazing that people make it through others.

You gotta be certain caliber person to make it that far. So trumpet his world and politicians and their will to get where they got an and I Street I understand how emotions can come up. In extreme ways will be mentioning Donald Trump on all sides but let's look at the larger principal bodies talk about which is judging one another with compassion. First, as opposed to hoarseness. First, let's just fairly righteously but you one reason that I'm more willing to give other people the benefit of the doubt or try to understand the more graciously is because God's dealt with me very graciously is always right always think I was right, especially my earliest days of the Lord is judging so many others so narrowly it you know and then euros how much mercy God has on you that Brianna compromise stands. This way we can do things hate James Jacobs the second chapter, mercy crimes over judgment. Something to chew on a thank you Bonnie for the call or we to judgment think so.

I think many of us are in is a believing community in our zeal for truth or hatred of heresy in our desire to expose error. Yeah, I think many of us are to judgment on yes yes I recognize others don't judge at all in my book, playing with all the virus it plainly that that is Pentecostals. Charismatics would not do a good enough job of policing ourselves and flee from his son Heaviside have gotten to hyper policing. Okay. All right. Let me just change subjects and give you word of encouragement from Scripture. Second Timothy second Timothy chapter 2 verses 89 to the particular verse nine second Timothy chapter 2 Paul writes to his young disciple Timothy remember Jesus the Messiah risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel, for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal, but the word of God is not bound. I think it Paul writes letters from prison like Philippians. For example, he writes these letters from prison and these letters are among the most read words of any human being on the planet ever the words of Paul is present to be beheaded by Nero John Bunyan imprisoned for his stance and what happens is works written prison become some of the most translated, most read works penned by any human being. Here's what I was reminded of what we might face increasing Internet censorship. We might face increasing government censorship.

We might face increasing penalties. We might face increasing challenges for speaking the truth in love, for spreading the faith. It is possible that the Internet may censor different believing voices but can't ultimately sense of the word of God, and I don't care how many good means of communication are shut down and and under my best to stand with others to fight against censorship and to fight against these platforms being shut down in my it. My issue with the Facebook or YouTube is not that that they are owned by me or you there private companies who can do is they want. Yet the whole way they built their platform with certain guidelines and certain stipulations and certain agreements so we were we work very very hard as a team for years to increase our platforms, we can reach millions online. There were the very people that you've work with based on certain guidelines that violate those guidelines. That to me is the ethical issue that to me is what needs to be challenged.

But even if every medium shut down can't shut down the word you can't shut down the gospel so I want to speak to each of you this thing watching taking this in in any form speak each of you to encourage you. If God is giving you a message.

If God is put something in your heart that others need to hear. If God himself has done that he can get that message out. He can get that message out regardless of what challenges lie before you, regardless of whether anyone knows your name, regardless of whether you have anyone backing you God is able to get the message out. The biggest thing is to be in an intimate deep relationship with him walking in faith and walking in obedience. If you do that, you'll find blessing and maybe it's not the right time for the message. Maybe you need to be refined.

Maybe the message needs to be refined. Maybe the environment needs to be changed so it is ready for the message. But if you will honor the Lord.

He's given something to. Nobody can stop the church that the denomination that spiritual leader of a political leader of the media. Nobody knows how to get your message out. Even if we are chained the word of God is not, even if we are sensitive God cannot censor got a great interview tomorrow with Richards are robots going to replace the