It is time to stand up, speak up, sit down, and shut up!

It is time to stand up, speak up, sit down, and shut up!

By Lee Hemen

August 16, 2022

When I was younger, I was taught in a speech class to stand up, speak up, sit down, and shut up. It was a simple way to relate that we should know what we were going to speak on before we stood in front of the class to do so. Also, it showed that speech is important, and that freedom should not be taken lightly.

I find it extremely interesting that for decades the left screamed that rascally Republicans would use their power to make America into a police state, and yet we see the exact opposite happening. It is the Socialist left that has used the FBI as a secret police force against anyone who is against the left and its ideologies. From parents to protestors, we find average Americans marked as “enemies” of the state.

Now we find that the left is not ashamed to empower another branch of government under their control to be used as a means to strike fear and abuse the American people, the IRS. Doubling its size and arming them to instill fear into the American citizen is the desire of Democrats.

I remember as a child how my parents feared the IRS because they could come into your home, for any reason they deemed necessary, and confiscate anything they desired, including your furniture, clothes, child’s toys, and the food in your cupboards. We knew of several families who lost their homes and had to fight the IRS in court to try and get them returned only to be financially ruined. Later, after winning, they never got back anywhere near what the IRS took from them. Republicans and freedom loving conservative took the fear of the IRS from the average citizen and now Democrats have armed them again as their shock troops. This should cause great concern for any freedom loving American because the IRS can audit you for any reason and you have to prove beyond their doubt that you have nothing to hide.

Democrats turned a blind eye to the far-left riots of ANTIFA, mobs, crime ridden cities they have had control of for decades and encouraged lockdowns where your family could not even go to a park, restricted your child’s education and reprogrammed them to hate you, America, and love perversion. Now they are going after churches and Christians by vilifying their faith.

No freedom loving American of any political persuasion can sit back and think this is a good thing that is occurring. Freedom of speech is a basic right of the individual to say anything they desire even if you personally do not agree to it or like it. The free exchange of ideas is the only way that the truth can expose a lie. We have seen climate religious fanatics silence anyone who disagrees even when the actual science proves them wrong. We have watched as parents, Christians, and others are silenced by the mob because they do not agree in programming children into thinking they are not the sex they are.

It is time to stand up and vote them out. It is time to speak up loudly. It is time to regain the pulpit of free speech before it is taken away and we are living in silent fear. Perhaps it is time to stand up, speak up, sit down, and shut up or lose our freedoms.

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This article is copyrighted © 2022 by Lee Hemen and is the sole property of Lee Hemen and may not be used unless you quote the entire article and have my permission.

The scolding! – Galatians 1:6-10

The scolding! – Galatians 1:6-10
By Pastor Lee Hemen
June 5, 2016

What would you do if a family member or friend was about to join a cult that would cause them and their family a lot of distress? Sometimes there is nothing one can do because most folks are often unwilling to admit they are wrong and especially about what they believe about God or their spirituality. I have learned in the 30 plus years of pastoring that you can often have the answers, know all the counter arguments, and even understand how to witness to someone involved in a heretical situation but it often does little to sway them unless you are willing to go the extra mile and be there each time they need to be confronted or have their questions answered. Sometimes what works best is a direct confrontation, maybe even a personal scolding.

Paul was deeply concerned for what the church at Galatia had fallen into. After accepting the good news of Jesus as Messiah, they had readily forsaken the truth and supplanted it with false doctrine that added to the grace of God through faith alone. He now enters into the subject matter of his letter and opens it with a direct confrontation. Let’s discover how Paul scolded them to get their attention…

READ: Galatians 1:6-10

No one likes to be scolded or told they are wrong, especially concerning their faith yet Paul does just that. Paul felt deeply about where this church was headed and he wanted them to know he was thoroughly dissatisfied with them and in fact…

I. Paul condemns their perverted faith! (Vv. 6-7)

I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel–which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ.

1. Paul’s chief concern was to restore those he had introduced to the gospel back to their original faith. It was very surprising to the apostle that they willingly gave up on their faith which he had so recently entrusted to them. He probably had only been a very short time away from them, perhaps three years, and already Jewish sympathizers had come into the new church trying to pervert the gospel of grace! He bluntly tells them, “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ”. The one who had called them was of course Jesus himself. Paul was not referring to himself. His concern was their weakened faith. Sometimes reclamation demands a high price and Paul was willing to risk his friendship with the Galatians in order to restore them. They in fact were “turning to a different gospel–which is really no gospel at all.” They were leaving the one who had saved them and going back to their old habits of trying to please God through following a set of rules in trying to earn their salvation. It was based on nothing, literally “no gospel at all”! It was obvious to Paul that it was outside influences that were subverting their new-found faith in Christ. He was not unaware and he writes them, “Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ.” This is exactly what cults try to do; they love to throw folks into confusion concerning the truth. They try to bend, distort and pervert the gospel. Latter Day Saints rewrote the Bible to suit their perpetrated con on people and declare that there is more than just faith in Jesus, Jehovah’s Witnesses rewrote the Bible and added to salvation by faith alone in Jesus alone, and then there are those who claim they are Christian but add to sola fide, faith alone by saying it is Jesus plus works or certain acts of contrition. They all claim a different gospel, throw folks into confusion, and they pervert the good news of Jesus! Paul scolds the Galatians about turning to a different gospel and condemns their perverted faith!

EXAMPLE: What was once considered perverted just a few years ago is now beginning to be readily accepted; things like homosexuality, transgenderism, sexual relations out of marriage, and the ungodly veneration of animals over human beings. When the shooting of a gorilla is seen as horrendous in order to save a child, something is drastically wrong with society as a whole. More and more public school teachers are having sexual relations with their students. And now we have to excuse anyone’s perverted nature and see it as psychologically healthy. The twisting of societal norms is influencing the Christian church as well. The calling of God is no longer seen as sacred nor is the Bible. Paul warned the Galatians that if they accepted the teaching of salvation plus works it would pervert their faith. He was correct and Paul condemns their perverted faith!

Every time Christians allow the society they live in to influence what the Scriptures clearly teach, they are perverting the grace that God has given through Jesus! There are certain scriptural truths that cannot and should now ever be allowed to be perverted. Paul knew this as well and as for the Galatian church…

II. Paul condemns their weakness! (Vv. 8-10)

But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned! As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned! Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.

1. Paul was having none of their excuses or their willingness to accept a perverted gospel! He bluntly tells them that “even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned!” No pastor, minister, or preacher of the true gospel of Jesus is afraid of anyone questioning their message. Either the message speaks the truth or it does not. Either it will stand the scrutiny of men or it won’t. And claiming Paul or an angelic messenger would not garner Paul’s sympathy for their heresy and he squarely convicts them. In our day and age it does not matter whether it’s Islam or Mormonism neither can claim any other message than that of the one Jesus pronounced. In fact, Paul was so vehement in his condemnation of these false prophets he repeats it and reiterates, “As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned!” This is so contrary to today’s philosophy of anything and anyone should be accepted. Inclusiveness is not spiritually satisfactory because there are cannot be many truths and as Peter would declare quite clearly: “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved!” (Acts 4:12 NIV) so does Paul! Jude would state, “I felt I had to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints. For certain men whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are godless men, who change the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord.” (Jude 1:3-4 NIV) Paul was more than willing to have his own integrity challenged on this issue and tells them, “Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.” This is what anyone who claims Jesus plus something else does; they either want to sooth mankind’s guilty conscience or have themselves puffed up in the eyes of others. Paul condemns their weakness!

EXAMPLE: Never ever put up with someone who claims Christ and then tries to justify their own ungodliness. We have become a community of weak-willed wimps who roll over at the slightest aggression towards our faith. I am not advocating being deliberately obnoxious, but rather we need to stand for what we believe! As Peter reminds, “But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.” (1 Peter 3:15 NIV) Sure we do it with “gentleness and respect” but that does not mean rolling over to the ungodliness of the world! We are to have a clear conscience because “It is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.” (1 Peter 3:17 NIV) Never excuse evil or you become part of it. This is why Paul condemns the Galatian’s weakness!

Conclusion:

Paul condemns their perverted faith! Paul condemns their weakness!
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This article is copyrighted © 2016 by Lee Hemen and is the sole property of Lee Hemen, and may not be used unless you quote the entire article and have my permission.

Gaslighting: Liberalism’s way to control the masses!

Gaslighting: Liberalism’s way to control the masses!
By Lee Hemen
May 17, 2016

Back in 1938, there was a play called “Gas Light” that was later adapted into a movie in 1944. In the story, a husband works diligently to convince his wife and their acquaintances that she is insane by making very small and subtle changes to their environment. When the wife would point out the changes, the husband convinced her that she was wrong about the changes and that she was crazy. Slowly but surely, the wife starts to give in to the self-doubt created by those subtle changes, namely a gas lamp that the husband keeps dimming, hence the term “gaslighting”.

This form of mental manipulation has not gone away and in fact is part and parcel of how liberalism works. Liberals love to slowly change one’s reality and then hit you with the clincher that you are the one who is out of step, stupid, or phobic in some way. This is in fact how liberals have kept certain ethnic groups and others under their spell for decades; they have told them over and over that they cannot survive without their brand of progressive thinking. Those evil others will take away all we have gained for you; which turns out is societal slavery in the form of governmental giveaways. One becomes addicted to the handouts and begins to think they cannot do it on their own. When I was younger we used to call it “blowing smoke”.

From climate change to racial and gender conflicts liberals continue their process of gaslighting the unthinking masses. Logical arguments are seen as Neanderthal and you are encouraged to emote instead. “I feel your pain,” is enough to get the unsuspecting dupes to gush in emotional rapture. But what is occurring is the slow twisting and subtle changes in society and culture as a whole. When all constraint is finally done away with those who have wrested control will use any form to keep the masses in line; from coercion, drugs, or propaganda. Males, who act, well male, are controlled through drugs at an early age and are told over and over they have to conform; society’s norms are pushed further and further into perversion; and religion becomes the enemy. Why do you think marijuana is now seen as sheik, sexual identity is the new norm, and the new political peons are illegals? Those who control the gaslight do not care about the individual only their power to control the lighting and thereby control you.

Recently when a group of millennials were asked what the definition of male and female was, few would or could give a rational answer. Many answered with a form of garbled political correctness that had no basis in reality whatsoever. In fact when one intellectually gaslighted woman was asked how she knew if the person she wanted to date was male or female, she stammered and could not utter a rational answer. She is the product of liberal gaslighting.

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This article is copyrighted by Lee Hemen, 2016, and is his sole intellectual property; if you desire to use it you must quote the entire article.

Just Wondering…

I was just wondering what you thought about slavery. You know what I mean, a wise man once said that  some folks promise freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity—for a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him. We live in a day and age whereby there are those who deceptively call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness. They are enslaved to their lusts, renaming it love, and want others to be enslaved as well. If you disagree with them, then you are the one who is misguided, perverted, or phobic. However, slavery is still enslavement even if you willingly acquiesce your moral self to it. It demands a high price and its wages is death both physically and spiritually. Shackles are still shackles even if you think you are free. Makes one wonder…
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Pastor Lee Hemen has been the outspoken pastor of the same church for 27 years in Vancouver, WA. He writes regularly on spirituality and conservative causes and maintains several web blogs. This article is copyrighted © 2013 by Lee Hemen and is the sole property of Lee Hemen, and may not be used unless you quote the entire article and have my permission.

Just Wondering…

I was just wondering, how do you feel about wrath? Not the wrath you faced when your parents found out you climbed out the window… Um… you know, the kind of wrath where you are completely exposed before the one who is completely holy? It is the kind of wrath where your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry is totally seen by him who created you and you are judged by what you truly are doing with your life. Does it make you wonder at all? If you know his wrath is coming, shouldn’t you live a better life in his son? Perhaps if you put on your new self, which is found in him who died for you, then you would escape wrath! Makes one wonder…
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Pastor Lee Hemen has been the outspoken pastor of the same church for 27 years in Vancouver, WA. He writes regularly on spirituality and conservative causes and maintains several web blogs. This article is copyrighted © 2012 by Lee Hemen and is the sole property of Lee Hemen, and may not be used unless you quote the entire article and have my permission.

Just Wondering…

I was just wondering, what do you consider to be immoral? Is it something evil that someone does that grosses you out? Perhaps it is the thoughts we keep, the attitudes we secretly hide, and the dishonesty of our convictions? If you say you believe yet are willing to acquiesce your righteousness so you will be liked by others, perhaps that is immoral? How can you say you love him who is totally moral and yet rub elbows or keep company with those who are perverted in their lifestyle, thoughts, or actions? What does this say about your morality? Is it easily prostituted? Perhaps this is what makes something immoral? Makes one wonder…
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Pastor Lee Hemen has been the outspoken pastor of the same church for 27 years in Vancouver, WA. He writes regularly on spirituality and conservative causes and maintains several web blogs. This article is copyrighted © 2012 by Lee Hemen and is the sole property of Lee Hemen, and may not be used unless you quote the entire article and have my permission.

A Call to Christians to Contact the President

A Call to Christians to Contact the President
by Pastor Lee Hemen – NWBC ERLC
December 17, 2009

As Christians and as Baptists we should be outraged when the Federal Government does something so egregious that we have to sound the alarm and make people aware. We have been doing so for decades concerning abortion and the destruction of the unborn in this nation. But now we are also faced with an Administration that has aligned itself with some of the most vile and perverted lifestyles imaginable.

Many were soothed by President Obama’s low-key declarations that he was “Christian” and saw his willingness to go to Rick Warren’s Saddleback Church as a good sign that he was trying to connect with fellow believers. However, I was immediately skeptical when the President “struck down a rule” on January 23, 2009, “that prohibits U.S. money from funding international family-planning clinics that promote abortion or provide counseling or referrals about abortion services.” (CNNPolitics.com, Jan. 24, 2009) I discovered that throughout the healthcare debate David Axelrod, Obama’s White House Senior Advisor, continually maintained “that President Obama will intervene to make sure a controversial amendment restricting federal funding for abortion coverage is stripped from final health care reform legislation.” (FoxNews.com, Nov. 15, 2009) Sadly, President Obama supports abortion.

Then, I was shocked concerning the President’s actions to mainstream alternative lifestyles. President Obama has repeatedly “renewed his vow to allow gay men and lesbians to serve openly in the military.” (NY Times, Oct. 10, 2009) He has encouraged his own endorsement of this by his appointment of “safe schools czar,” Kevin Jennings.

These Presidential “Czars” are appointed by the President and are only accountable to him. Although you pay their salaries, and for their myriad staffs, they are completely independent and have the power to make and enforce laws. Kevin Jennings is the Assistant Deputy Secretary for Safe and Drug-Free Schools at the U.S. Department of Education. But what you might be unaware of is that he founded the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) in 1995 and ran it until 2008.

GLSEN promotes homosexuality in schools from grades K-12, organizes gay/straight alliance clubs and stages disruptive events such as “The Day of Silence” and “Ally Day.” At an April 30, 2005 GLSEN-sponsored seminar at Brookline High School, in Brookline, Massachusetts there was a booklet made available titled “The Little Black Book: V 2.0 Queer in the 21st Century.” According to TownHall.com columnist Robert Knight, “The pamphlet was packed with pornographic pictures, obscenities and advice to kids on how to engage in perverse and dangerous behaviors using all sorts of bodily functions.” The booklet is only the tip of the iceberg for Jennings and GLSEN.

GLSEN was also behind a conference at Tufts University in 2000 at which extremely explicit homosexual sex lessons were given to kids as young as 12. Kevin Jennings was a keynote speaker.

President Obama’s choices for his own personal “Czars” have left many of us wondering not only about his choices, but his own moral compass. As a pastor and as your NWBC Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission ex post facto Director I want us all to be aware of these issues so that in the future we are discerning in whom we support as Christians and as NW Baptists. However, I also want to motivate us into action as well. Here is what we all can do about this issue: We can email or write President Obama and respectfully ask him to have Keith Jennings to step down. It is the moral and ethical thing to do. Email the President at: http://www.whitehouse.gov/CONTACT/ or write him at: The White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20500. Remember, when emailing or writing be godly, respectful in your message, and be brief.
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Pastor Lee Hemen has been the outspoken pastor of the same church for 25 years in Vancouver, WA. He writes regularly on spirituality and conservative causes and maintains several web blogs. This article is copyrighted © 2009 by Lee Hemen and is the sole property of Lee Hemen, and may not be used unless you quote the entire article and have my permission. You now have my permission…