Bible Rebel keeps a watchdog’s eye on the U.S. Supreme Court and the impact it’s decisions make on our religious liberties so our readers can stay informed.
Oklahoma Religious Charter School Case
From ABC News – In a rare 4-4 deadlocked ruling, the Supreme Court blocked Oklahoma from creating the nation’s first taxpayer-funded religious charter school. The case revolved around whether public funds could be used to support a Catholic virtual school, St. Isidore of Seville. The court upheld the Oklahoma Supreme Court’s ruling, stating that such funding would violate the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.
Catholic Charities Bureau v. Wisconsin LIRC
From Religious Liberty TV – This case examines whether a religious nonprofit can be denied a tax exemption if its activities are deemed not religious enough. The Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled that Catholic Charities Bureau’s work was primarily charitable and secular, rather than religious, and therefore not eligible for exemption. The Supreme Court is set to hear arguments on whether this violates the First Amendment’s Free Exercise Clause.
These are interesting times we live in, especially here in the good old U.S.A.
When I say I’m “America First,” I mean that in a political sense—it’s a patriotic statement, not a faith creed. My ultimate allegiance is to Almighty God, and my only hope and confidence is in the return of my Lord and Redeemer, Jesus Christ, and the promise of everlasting life in God’s universal kingdom.
The reason I can express my support for ideas like “Make America Great Again” and “America First,” and why I can wholeheartedly pray for and advocate for President Trump’s success in his pro-America agenda, is because I know without a doubt that worldly politics and governance are temporary, transient, and fraught with human frailty. The City and Country I look forward to is eternal and perfect—my citizenship is in heaven.
But I scratch my head sometimes lately, wondering at the claims by some that supporting President Trump is akin to being in a “cult” and following an evil despot. We’ve all heard it: “Trump is a Hitlerian dictator, and those who voted for or supported him in any way are brainwashed Gestapo or Brown Shirts.”
If there was ever a God-inspired form of governance, it’s our American Constitutional Republic with its brilliant system of checks and balances. It’s troubling that so many have abandoned belief in that system and in their fellow Americans—all because of “Orange Man Bad.” How shallow and dishonest.
It seems to me that if Trump is a tyrant, then the people who are actually subject to his “tyranny” are those who allow their hatred of him to rule over their hearts and minds.
If Trump is a dictator, then those whose every thought is dictated in a negative way by whatever Trump does or says on a particular day are his subjects.
If Trump is a despot, then it’s the folks who are bent on smearing him, opposing his every action, and trying to destroy him and his family 24/7/365 who are the willing slaves of their obsession with him.
There is no cult more insidious and dangerous than the cult of hatred for one man: Donald J. Trump.
Freedom from this self-imposed Trump Derangement Syndrome slavery can only be found in trusting God, reclaiming common sense, and using the appropriate tools for change—rather than encouraging hate and violence and bending the knee to fear and disinformation.
From Crosswalk – Former President Joe Biden has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer, prompting prayers from leaders across the political spectrum.
Baptize California Movement
From Crosswalk – A pastor in California claims the U.S. is on the verge of a spiritual awakening, with plans for a massive baptism event.
Brazilian Evangelicals and Politics
From Christianity Today – Evangelical supporters of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro continue to back him despite accusations of an assassination plot.
Decline of Christianity in the U.S.
From Pew Research – Pew Research study suggests that the decline of Christianity in the U.S. has slowed and may have stabilized at around 62% of the population.
G3 Ministries Controversy
From Christianity Today – Pastor Josh Buice resigned after his church uncovered divisive online behavior, leading to the cancellation of an upcoming conference.
1 Peter 5:8 – “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” (KJV)
Suspect in Palm Springs fertility clinic bombing identified
From CNN – The person killed in the Saturday bomb explosion outside a fertility clinic in Palm Springs, California, is a 25-year-old from Twentynine Palms, the FBI said Sunday.
“The subject had nihilistic ideations,” Akil Davis, the FBI’s assistant director in charge of the Los Angeles field office, said at a Sunday news conference. “This was a targeted attack against the IVF facility.”
“We are fairly confident that Mr. Bartkus is our primary subject, our primary suspect, a person of interest,” he said, adding that the suspect was not previously known to the FBI. Authorities identified Bartkus’ “nihilistic” beliefs through “some of the posts that he’s made online, some of the comments made in his manifesto that we’re combing through right now,” Davis said.
Israel has launched “extensive” new ground operations in Gaza
From The Times of Israel – The Israel Defense Force announced Sunday that it has begun “broad” ground operations in several areas of the Gaza Strip, as part of the opening phase of a new major offensive. Palestinian officials reported more than 100 people killed over the past 24 hours in Israeli strikes.
“Over the past day, IDF troops in the Southern Command, both the standing army and reserves, began a broad ground operation throughout the northern and southern Gaza Strip, as part of the start of Operation Gideon’s Chariots,” the military said in a statement.
Continue to follow Bible Rebel for Watchdog Alerts about world events – because we as people of faith are to be aware and watchful.
Israel Intensifies Gaza Bombardment Amid Trump’s Visit – USA Today
Israeli military strikes killed at least 50 Palestinians in Gaza, escalating the conflict as former U.S. President Donald Trump visits the Middle East. Reports suggest Hamas military leader Mohammad Sinwar may have been killed in an airstrike, though confirmation is pending. Meanwhile, Islamic Jihad fired rockets toward Israel, prompting further military responses.
Israel’s Druze Leaders Call for Protection of Syrian Kin – AOL
Leaders of Israel’s Druze minority are urging the Israeli military to continue defending Druze communities in Syria following deadly clashes with Islamist militants. The Druze, who have strong ties to Israel, argue that protecting their Syrian counterparts is both a moral duty and a strategic necessity for Israel.
Hamas Welcomes U.S.-Israel Rift After Hostage Release – Newsweek
Hamas officials see potential in growing tensions between Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The group recently released the last known American hostage in Gaza, a move seen as a political gesture ahead of Trump’s Middle East trip. Hamas hopes this shift could lead to negotiations to end the war.
Satan has been defeated. The resurrected, ascended, and returning Son of God is victorious.
But while we await the final execution of the serpent, he runs loose for a time, all pissed off, still doing his best to steal, kill, and destroy those created in the image of the Most High God.
Satan knows he’s toast, but he will continue to deceive and seduce people into bending the knee to him. Some of those people are foolishly ignorant and think it’s a game, but some know exactly what they’re doing and, like their master, they hate God.
A quick AI request for news and stats on Satanism and witchcraft in America returned the following results:
Witchcraft and Paganism Growth: The number of Americans identifying as witches has risen dramatically. Estimates suggest 1 to 1.5 million people practice Wicca or paganism, surpassing the 1.4 million members of the Presbyterian Church in the U.S.From Newsweek
Global Witchcraft Beliefs: A massive study found that 40% of people worldwide believe in witchcraft, translating to about 1 billion people across 95 countries. From Science Alert
Decline in Christianity: Younger generations are increasingly turning to alternative spiritual practices, including astrology, tarot, and Wicca, as they move away from traditional Christianity. From Newsweek
Rise of Witchcraft Among Millennials: Millennials are embracing witchcraft and occult practices as a form of spiritual freedom. Social media has played a significant role in popularizing these beliefs. From Newsweek
Academic Studies on Witchcraft: Research from American University highlights that witchcraft beliefs cut across socio-demographic groups, with education and economic security influencing belief levels. From Science Alert
Cultural Shifts: The “witch aesthetic” has gained popularity, with celebrities and activists embracing elements of witchcraft in their personal and public lives. From Newsweek
Jesus taught that the distribution system for aid to the poor and hungry consists of the intentional, voluntary acts of individual believers and private communities of faith (churches, synagogues, etc.) giving their time and resources.
He did not teach that government bureaucracies or political entities are God’s conduit for providing charity. Instead, Jesus taught that you are to give your money and time to the less fortunate—it is your personal responsibility to do so.
God does not intend for the government or politicians to use tax revenue as a proxy or substitute for Christian giving.
The current gimmick of saying, “You’re not very Christian,” that some are using to smear their fellow citizens for supporting or voting for politicians who seek to rein in profligate, bloated welfare spending is dishonest and shameful.
Government programs aren’t Christians—individuals are. Government tax revenues are not for the same purposes as the contents of a church collection plate, so labeling government spending priorities as non-Christian is a non sequitur.
Bible Rebel continues to keep a watchdog’s eye on events in the Middle East. That is not to say that we are watching for any fulfillment of biblical prophecy there, we keep our eyes and ears open to news that affects people of faith from every region around the world.
The Holy Land is of particular interest for three reasons:
It is a geographical crossroads, referred to by some the “Center of the Earth”.
It is also the historical birthplace of the two largest religions of the world; Christianity and Islam, as well as the ‘Father’ of both those religions – Judaism.
It is of major military and strategic importance because of oil production and logistics.
Are the biblical prophecies focusing on geographical locations in the Middle East, especially in and around current-day Israel, relevant to the Church in our times today?
Or will those prophecies only come to pass and be revealed in some future time after the destiny of the Church has been realized? This is a subject Bible Rebel will be exploring in some depth going forward. Stay tuned.
For now, here’s the latest from the Middle East.
Israel Strikes Near Syrian Presidential Palace
Israel conducted an airstrike near Syria’s presidential palace in Damascus, targeting the new Islamist-led government under interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa. The strike aimed to signal Israel’s commitment to defending the Druze minority amid escalating sectarian violence in Syria. From Reuters
US attacks Yemen port again; Houthis launch missiles at Israel
The Houthi-affiliated Al Masirah TV media outlet has reported that seven US strikes hit the Ras Isa oil port in al-Salif district in Hodeidah in the last few hours, where a US strike at the same port last month killed at least 80 people and wounded 150 in one of the deadliest attacks on the country by US forces.
Earlier Friday, the Houthis claimed responsibility for launching two missiles towards northern Israel, targeting the Ramat David military airbase and the Tel Aviv area, as the group continues its military pressure in solidarity with Palestinians under Israeli fire. From Al Jazeera
U.S.-Iran Talks Postponed
A fourth round of talks between the United States and Iran, scheduled to take place in Rome, has been postponed. An Iranian official stated that the new date depends on the U.S. approach, citing contradictory behavior and provocative statements from Washington. From Reuters
Netanyahu calls defeating Israel’s enemies the ‘supreme objective,’ not freeing hostages
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday that defeating Israel’s enemies is more important than securing the release of the remaining hostages in Gaza.
While the prime minister acknowledged that freeing the 59 remaining hostages is a “very important goal,” he described Israel’s fight against its enemies as the “supreme objective” of the war.
“We have many objectives, many goals in this war. We want to bring back all of our hostages,” Netanyahu said. “That is a very important goal. In war, there is a supreme objective. And that supreme objective is victory over our enemies. And that is what we will achieve.” From CNN
Atlanta Pastor Apologizes for Remarks on Police Killings
A pastor in Atlanta issued an apology after controversial remarks blaming police killings on disobedience sparked backlash within his congregation and the broader Christian community. From Christianity Today
Aaron Renn’s ‘Three Worlds’ Theory Sparks Debate
Conservative commentator Aaron Renn’s framework for understanding Christianity’s transition from a socially desirable faith to one facing cultural opposition has ignited discussions among evangelicals and critics alike. From Baptist News
Islamic State claims pope’s burial is ‘marketing tool in theological war’ as it gains renewed strength
“The Islamic State has declared Pope Francis’ burial a “marketing tool in a theological war,” asserting that tributes paid to the late pope undermine Islamic beliefs. The terror group is concurrently experiencing a resurgence, raising concerns about its growing strength and influence in the Middle East.” From The Christian Post
Religious ‘nones’ outnumber Catholics and Protestants in Germany
For the first time in modern German history, more Germans identify as religiously unaffiliated than as Roman Catholics or Protestants, according to a new survey. From the Christian Post
Bible Rebel continues to keep a watchdog’s eye on news and events from the world of churchianity. In this article, we take a look at the process of choosing a new Pope, which is based on Roman Catholic ceremony and tradition – not scripture.
Papal Ceremonies and Biblical Doctrine
While the Catholic Church bases its teachings on scripture, many papal ceremonies are rooted in tradition rather than biblical doctrine. The conclave, the papal coronation, and the rituals surrounding the election are not explicitly found in the Bible. Instead, they evolved over centuries as part of the Church’s governance structure.
Critics argue that certain practices—such as the vesting of the Pope in elaborate robes and the use of Latin in official ceremonies—reflect historical customs rather than biblical mandates. However, the Church maintains that these traditions uphold continuity and reverence within Catholicism.
The selection of a new Pope is a momentous event, steeped in history and ritual. While the process is not biblically mandated, it remains a defining aspect of Catholic tradition.
The Conclave Process
The election of a new Pope follows a centuries-old tradition rooted in secrecy and ritual. When a Pope passes away or resigns, the College of Cardinals—a body of senior Catholic officials—gathers in Vatican City to elect his successor in a process known as a conclave.
The conclave typically begins 15 to 20 days after the Pope’s death. Cardinals under the age of 80 are eligible to vote, with the number of electors capped at 120. The process takes place in the Sistine Chapel, where the cardinals swear an oath of secrecy before casting their votes.
Each cardinal writes the name of their chosen candidate on a ballot, which is then placed in a ceremonial urn. The votes are counted, and if no candidate secures a two-thirds majority, the process repeats until a consensus is reached. After each round, the ballots are burned, producing either black smoke (indicating no decision) or white smoke (signaling the election of a new Pope).
Once elected, the new Pope is introduced to the world from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, where he delivers his first blessing.
