The second part in our Bible101 series of short, informative videos.
Rick Tryon
Death Row Letters: To The Anti-natalists And Nihilists, Part Two
Dear Anti-natalists and Nihilists,
In my last letter to y’all I only made it as far as addressing the anti-natalists and didn’t get around to those of the nihilist persuasion. So, I’ll dedicate this letter to those of you who believe that life is meaningless and who reject all religious and moral principles – which is the definition of a nihilist.
You may be right in thinking that your life is meaningless, but that doesn’t mean that all life is meaningless. Right?
And if your life is meaningless and without purpose, well, read on.
Now to the bigger, much bigger, problem: To actually believe that the universe is empty of meaning and purpose is to deny the plain evidence directly in front of you every day.
Is there a purpose to the rain that falls? Of course there is. How about the sun that shines or the wind that blows? Of course, and I don’t need to explain or list the reasons and purposes for those things, everyone already knows and understands them.
Is there a reason behind the way our physical bodies are made to function or the way the planets and moons in our solar system move in predictable cycles? Undeniably and absolutely.
So how can you believe that there is no reason or purpose in our existence?
I’m reminded of this verse from the Book of Romans:
“For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse.”
Everything has purpose, even you. If you don’t know, believe in, or understand your purpose, then you haven’t looked hard enough or asked the right questions.
Seek, and you’ll find. Knock, and the door will open.
Until my next letter.
Sincerely,
Your fellow death row occupant
Hegseth’s Jerusalem Cross Tattoo
Pete Hegseth has been the target of a lot of criticism and outright smears recently because he’s Trump’s pick for Secretary of Defense.
One of the smears against Hegseth is that he has a tattoo that is a ‘white supremacist’ or ‘Nazi’ symbol. I call ‘bullshit’.
The Jerusalem Cross is a historic Christian symbol understood as representing the spread of Christianity to the four corners of the world or the Five Wounds of Christ.
The tattoo holds personal and spiritual significance for Hegseth, reflecting his Christian faith and connection to biblical history. It is also tied to his experiences, including his travels to Israel.
Here’s what Hegseth said about the tattoo as reported by the New York Post:
“These symbols are deeply rooted in Christian history and represent my faith and commitment to our nation’s values. The attacks on my character based on these tattoos are unfounded and represent a broader assault on religious expression.”
Interestingly, the program for former President Jimmy Carter’s memorial service had the Jerusalem Cross printed on the front.
So, was Jimmy a Nazi white supremacist too? Or is this just another glaring example of the double standard applied by the media and the left wing in American politics?
Here’s Hegseth, again in his own words, in an interview with Nashville Christian Family in 2023:
“To me, patriotism is not about love of government. It’s about love of our founding ideals that have pursued a more perfect union from the very beginning. It goes back to basics for me as a Christian: love of God and an understanding that my freedoms come from God—not from government—and that this nation was created as an experiment in self-governance and human freedom that every generation must perpetuate. Being patriotic doesn’t just mean waving the flag or cheering for Team USA. It requires teaching, instructing, and celebrating. In the most difficult times, the best thing we can do is go back to basics: faith, family, freedom—shining a light on those values—what this nation was founded on. If not America, then who? then where?”
“Godlessness ends great nations. The one thing we can all do is get on our knees and pray.”
In my opinion, Hegseth is exactly the kind of human being, grounded in faith, that we need more of in Babylon D.C. I hope he’s confirmed as Secretary of Defense, ASAP.
Seek God
What does it mean to ‘seek God’?
Unsatisfactory Answers From Churchianity
It’s been pretty widely reported for some time now that Christian church attendance in America is on the decline while more and more folks are identifying as non-denominational or non-religious.
Here are a few links with some interesting information and insight on this topic:
From Gallup, March 2024: The decline in formal church membership has largely been driven by younger generations of Americans. Slightly more than one-third of U.S. young adults have no religious affiliation. Further, many young adults who do identify with a religion do not belong to a church. But even older adults who have a religious preference are less likely to belong to a church today than in the past.
https://news.gallup.com/poll/358364/religious-americans.aspx
From churchanswers.com:
From Pew Research: The decline of Christianity and the rise of the “nones” may have complex causes and far-reaching consequences for politics, family life and civil society...
https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2022/09/13/modeling-the-future-of-religion-in-america
There’s a lot of speculation and research as to why Americans are becoming more disillusioned with traditional Christianity, but I think the core reason is simple: too many of the answers provided by churchianity to normal people’s questions about God, the Bible, and our purpose are unsatisfactory.
Check out our Creed of the Nons here.
I’ll have much, much, more to say on this topic in upcoming blog posts so stay tuned.
Are The L.A. Fires ‘The Wrath of God’
No doubt there are going to be those who claim that the current devastating wildfires in Los Angeles are God’s wrath being poured out on a sinful and wicked city and state.
And sadly, this kind of ‘hellfire and brimstone’ nonsense will be preached by so-called ‘Christians’ as it has been countless times when death and tragedy strikes a particular community or geographical area. No wonder people are abandoning traditional and Evangelical Christian churches in droves.
Let’s look at the answer Jesus gave to his questioners in Luke 13:1-5 when they asked him about Pilate slaughtering a group of Galileans:
“There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.
And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.“
Our Lord could not be more clear. Disaster, suffering, and death, natural or man-caused, are not meted out according to the level of sinfulness present in an area. Bad things don’t happen to bad people exclusively, and tragedy is NOT a sign of God’s judgement in this present age.
However, there is a time coming when God’s judgement and restoration will fall on the entire creation. The Apocalypse is real, but it is reserved for a future time, and those who have already accepted and covered themselves in the sacrifice of the Lamb are spared from that great and terrible day.
How Did We Get The Bible?
Wars, Rumors Of Wars, And Earthquakes
‘Israel at war day 457: What happened in Gaza, Syria, Lebanon?’
Some of the latest troubling news from the Jerusalem Post, including the possibility of a return to full-scale war with Hezbollah in the North and and the ongoing conflict with Hamas in the South.
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/2025-01-05/live-updates-836097
Major Earthquake in Tibet
6.8 magnitude earthquake near holy city in Tibet leaves at least 128 dead and many injured.
https://abcnews.go.com/International/68-magnitude-earthquake-strikes-holy-city-tibet/story?id=117405149
Reading current news and events, especially lately, makes me think of passages like these from Matthew:
Matthew 24:6-8 – You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains. (NIV)
Is the current unrest and violence in and around the land of Israel an example of biblical prophecy being fulfilled? Well, yes and no.
Yes, in the sense that we have been living in the ‘end times’ since the resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ over 2000 years ago.
But no, not specifically – because there have been wars and earthquakes and famine and pestilence all over the world, including in the Holy Land, on a regular basis for all of those 2000 years.
I hope to make the topic of biblical prophecy and its relevance, or non relevance, to current events a priority topic for discussion, commentary, and study on the biblerebel.com blog going forward. So stay tuned.
Wanna Be More Like Jesus? Upset Religious People
Death Row Letters: To The Anti-natalists And Nihilists
Dear Anti-natalists and Nihilists,
It may strike you as odd, writing letters to those of you who embrace nihilism and anti-natalism from a person on death row. But as I pointed out in my first letter, we’re all on death row. So not so odd after all, right?
I’ll start by making sure I understand who y’all anti-natalists and nihilists are and what it is that you claim to believe. Definitions.
Anti-natalism, according to the cambridge.org dictionary is defined as “…the belief that it is morally wrong to have children or that people should be encouraged not to have children.”
Allow me to point out the obvious here, I’m glad that my parents didn’t think that way. I understand that there may be some who have reason to believe that life is nothing but a sad and miserable existence, even a tortuous, horrible existence.
But I’m quite certain that the overwhelming majority of folks in the world are pretty happy to be alive. This seems self-evident.
So why not have kids, babies, bambinos, babushkas, little bundles of joy? Is the world and life really that bad for you guys and gals that you don’t want to experience the joy and wonder of parenthood?
Plus, how can you be certain that your little one born into this dark and dreary world won’t be the someone who can make life brighter and better for everyone, or at least for some? No? Well, that’s a level of hopelessness and pessimism I will never understand.
It seems to me that we have a God-given instinct to have and raise children to be noble and awesome beings and to reflect the God of creation, to drive back the darkness, and to fulfill an eternal destiny. How can you, or why would you try to smother that instinct?
Genesis 1:28 states the Creator’s intention and purpose for creation this way:
And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. (KJV)
What a calling!
Whoa, where has the time gone? I only got as far anti-natalism and left y’all nihilists out of this letter, even though I meant to address you as well. We’ll chat a bit in the next letter, I promise.
Sincerely,
Your fellow death row occupant