Radical Madness, Political Correctness, and Utter Blasphemy
[The above article appeared in the Berean Searcher from Berea, Tennessee on January 10, 2021; the article below was published in the Reno Record (Reno, Texas, that is) on the same date.]
Edmund DeMarche, senior news editor for Fox News, reports that "Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, D-Mo., altered the traditional ending of 'amen' by saying 'amen and awoman' as he delivered the opening prayer for the 117th Congress on Sunday—raising eyebrows." The "woke," warped section of society is now trying to assign gender to the word "amen." These are the same people who think a square peg fits a round hole!
The Hebrew word for "amen" in the King James Version is translated "amen," "so be it," and "truth." The Word Study Dictionary of the Old Testament says that amen is an "adverb meaning 'verily' or 'truly'; it is used as a declaration to acknowledge affirmation of a statement."
The Greek word for amen, according to Thayer's Greek Lexicon, "is used as an adverb by which something is asserted or confirmed ... at the close of a sentence it means, 'So it is'; 'So be it'; or 'May it be fulfilled.'" What are Methodist preachers taught?
Facts and truth do not matter to the far-left, who gladly twist and pervert truth to achieve their depraved agendas. What a blasphemous way to end what is called a prayer!
INCLUSIVENESS AND POOR JUDGMENT
The following bits of information are from Bryan Lowry and occurred on January 4, 2021 in The Buzz.
Representative Emmanuel Cleaver, "the founder of the Kansas City chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and former pastor of St. James United Methodist Church, responded Monday with disappointment at the furor" over the close of his prayer, "Amen and A-woman." Following is Cleaver's own commentary on the conclusion of his prayer.
I concluded with a lighthearted pun in recognition of the record number of women who will be representing the American people in Congress during this term as well as in recognition of the first female Chaplain of the House of Representatives whose service commenced this week.
Jesus taught His disciples how to pray, plus He left us with an example of His own prayer (John 17). We also see the prayers of others at various times throughout the Scriptures, yet there is never an example of anyone including or closing with a pun. Why is that? The reason is that prayer is addressed to Almighty God—Who is holy. Since we are created in His image, He no doubt has a sense of humor as well, but prayer is not the appropriate time to exercise it. Is it really necessary to need to point this out to one claiming to be a religious leader?
Jesus used a pun when He told Simon he was Peter (petros) and that He would build His church on a rock (petra). Peter and the other apostles are a part of the foundation that upheld the truth concerning the Deity of Christ (petra) (Eph. 2:20). Abraham and Sarah both laughed when they heard they would have a son at their advanced age; God therefore told them to call the child to be born of them Isaac, meaning "laughter."
So, no one is saying that humor does not have a place in our lives. But there is a time for every purpose under heaven; praying is not the time for the use of humor. We may take Cleaver at his word that he was just making a joke, but he either has poor taste or else lapses of good judgment.
Cleaver said he did it to honor "Rear Adm. Margaret Grun Kibben, the new House chaplain and first woman to hold the role." If anyone in Washington knew what the Bible taught on the subject of the roles of men and women, they would not be honoring a woman for going beyond the spiritual bounds set forth in the Scriptures (1 Tim. 2:11-14). Cleaver also said he was
deeply disappointed that my prayer has been misinterpreted and misconstrued by some to fit a narrative that stokes resentment and greater division among portions of our population.
No one misunderstood or misconstrued what Cleaver said. He admitted that his point was to make a pun, and that is precisely what is wrong with his actions. A prayer is not the time for such frivolity; such belongs in an after-dinner speech. Does he not know the difference?
Cleaver points out that he said many good things in his prayer, such as calling for "an end to tribalism in Congress." Is that a slur on native Americans? (Now that was intended as humor, but in our current climate, someone probably will criticize him for that.)
Cleaver said some were just trying to demean him personally. No, he did that all by himself with his irreverent conclusion. However, he also needs to be taken to task for his lame attempt at inclusiveness. He asked that the prayer he offered be done so
in the name of the monotheistic god, Brahma, and god known by many names by many different faiths. Amen and A-woman.
Who is Brahma? According to Wikipedia: "Early texts suggest that Brahma created himself in a golden egg"; however, "he was slowly overshadowed by Vishnu, Shiva and Shakti," who are principal deities. "According to some, Brahma does not enjoy popular worship in present-age Hinduism and has lesser importance than the other members of the Trimurti, Vishnu and Shiva." In Hinduism there are gods galore. If Brahma is self-existent, how is it that these other "deities" run roughshod over him.
Why would Cleaver say that he is praying in the name of the monotheistic god, Brahma, when Hinduism is polytheistic to the core? If he claims to be a Christian, why does Cleaver not pray in the name of Jesus, as the New Testament teaches? The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are one in agreement, and we do not have multitudes of other deities. Cleaver claims to be misunderstood and picked on. No, he deserves whatever criticism he is receiving. One wonders if he is afraid to pray in the name of Jesus for fear of not being inclusive.