Big Time Correction
Sean Duffy (Sec. of Transportation) isn’t gay. He’s married (to a woman) and has 9 kids (with said woman).
But I get the point about Josiah/Jehu.
Thanks for reading.Barak
Barak
On your latest Plodcast (Josiah or Jesu) you incorrectly stated that the current Transportation Secretary is homosexual. That is incorrect. I think you meant Rick Grenell, who is not a Cabinet member but a political appointee, a Special Envoy. You owe Mr. Sean Duffy an apology.
Thank you for your time.
Respectfully,Greg
Barak and Greg, yes, I do owe Sec. Duffy a big time apology, which I hereby offer. But my misspeaking was not the result of confusing him with Rick Grenell, but rather with the Treasury secretary, Scott Bessant. Treasury/Transportation . . . you can see how the T’s got me. But nevertheless, I do apologize. And I am going to make the correction at our next Plodcast recording also.
Russ Moore a Few Years Ago
Russell Moore was the only person to ever block me on Twitter.
It was Twitter back in 2015 and we were all aghast at Drumph, discovering Ben Shapiro, and having Twitter convos with the likes of you, Ben Sasse, and Russell Moore.
Except with Moore it was quite one-sided. He was posting about Nikki Haley and Confederate flags and the Christian response. I felt at the time folding on the flag and letting the Libs define what it meant solely on their terms was a mistake. Being a child of the South, I can absolutely guarantee that most of us had a native son’s pride in being Southern and that every good ole boy with a rebel flag tattoo was not a racist anymore than a Canadian with a maple leaf tat. I said so to Moore in 140 characters and . . . was blocked.
He of course did not agree and what I took for over-sensitive Christianity at the time turned out to be out-and-out leftism on his part. The blocking should have given it away. I mean, even you didn’t block me and I ribbed you all the time for supporting Cruz. I still like Rubio, but am solidly on the Trump train now.Fanny
Fanny, thanks for the memories.
The Billy Graham Rule
You’ve been a target of controversy for decades, but you have never been accused of any form of sexual impropriety. I’m curious if you have guidelines you abide by similar to the “Graham rule” that have insulated you, since undoubtedly those on the left would love to throw that accusation at you given how damaging it can be.Kelby
Kelby, actually yes. I have followed the Graham rule for almost fifty years now. Looking back, it is like reflecting on not having taken the jab. No regrets whatever.
Stickergate & SCOTUS
I love that Rory is fighting the sticker gate all the the way to the Supreme Court. Is there somewhere we can contribute to the legals fees for this? It can’t be cheap. Keep up the fight!Kellie
Kellie, thank you very much. We would ask all of you to be praying that SCOTUS takes up the case. As you can imagine, it really is a long shot. We are nevertheless hopeful because the case does have big time First Amendment ramifications. And yes, you are right. It is expensive, and if you are interested in helping out, it would be greatly appreciated, and the link is here.
On your X account, you reposted tweets from your son detailing the egregious constitutional violations by activist Idaho Judge Megan Marshall. This wayward judge has now been recommended for a promotion to Idaho Governor Little. First, we are praying for Rory’s case and for justice to prevail. Second, is there any forum by which we can vocalize our opposition to Judge Marshall being appointed to higher office?Jack
Jack, the only forum I know of would be through a letter or call to the governor’s office.
Panhandlers?
I m very thankful for your ministry and your advice to me in the past. I have a question regarding almsgiving and panhandlers.
I live in a city with a large number of panhandlers, and more than that there have been multiple instances within a short time period of living here in which I have been stopped in a parking lot and asked for gas money. I have a strong aversion to the idea of giving money to someone who is lying to me about the reason for needing the money, and so I often approach these encounters with a skeptical eye. On one occasion I was asked for gas money by a woman who was driving her car around asking people . . . for gas money. Such things make one wonder. Since that occasion, if someone asks for money for food outside a grocery store for example, I will offer to just go buy what they need in order to remove any uncertainty.
However, I also know that the Lord said “Give to the one who asks of you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.” Is it greed or an otherwise unbiblical idea to
1) withhold money from one who seems to be lying in order to get it, or
2) buy food/gas/etc directly for a person in order to avoid the uncertainty of giving them cash.
This issue is one I have struggled with for a long time, and I generally feel extreme guilt whenever I pass a panhandler without giving money. Any advice you could give would be appreciated.
God bless you and your family.Anonymous
Anonymous, yes, the Lord does say that we should give to the one who asks. But the apostle says that someone who is unwilling to work should not eat ( ). You should make your decision based on your best read of the situation. The practice I try to follow is to refuse panhandlers, to donate to buskers, and to be attentive for mercy needs in the community in which you live.
Boarding Schools
I hope you’re doing well. I am curious as to your thoughts regarding the practice of creating boarding schools for young native American children. What are your thoughts on those practices, and do you think they are portrayed correctly in modern media?Olivia
Olivia, I think boarding schools are a bad idea generally, whether they are schools on the mission field, swanky schools for the children of the elites, or schools for native Americans. So, not a fan. That said, I know that the recent hysteria about dirty deeds at Canadian schools for Indians was way overblown, as in false.
Wes Huff
I just heard about this young theologian , Wes Huff from Canada. I think he is getting his doctorate in ancient biblical documents and is the president of Apologetics Canada. A Calvinist and might be someone you would like to interview and get to know.David
David, yes. Would love to meet him sometime.
Fencing the Table?
The Covid mess has created all kinds of false premises for “doing church online” and what not. Some see themselves as shut ins when they’re not. Some don’t believe they have a legitimate church option. I’ve heard people say they’re doing “church” as a family. On and on.
Now when people come to town in Moscow, and they visit Christ Church, I know you practice an open communion with a fencing statement. I am wondering what the church does when the people are known not to attend church elsewhere show up. That is, they visit, they assent to the creed, they aren’t known to be living in immorality, but they don’t attend church more than once or twice a year. Is that a legitimate basis for refusing them at the table?
Thanks,Devin
Devin, you are right that they are being disobedient with regard to church attendance. But I believe that people in that situation are far more likely to be drawn out of it by experiencing what real community is like. When the prodigal son returned, the father didn’t ground him because he might run away again.
The Godfather
What is your opinion on the “Godfather” movie series?
Some of my thoughts . . .
The general consensus I read is that most people believe 2 was better than 1. But I disagree. First of all, 2 doesn’t have Brando’s iconic role. Also, 2 is much more complicated and difficult to follow than 1.
The director’s cut (“Coda”) of 3 that came out a few years ago is actually pretty good. Just not on the same level as the first two. However, the change in the final scene from the original release to “Coda” was a downgrade. And Robert Duvall is sorely missed.
Michael’s character descends into a devilish realm of cold-heartedness. What makes that story so attractive to us? In an unfallen world, would we still be fascinated with portrayals of wickedness?
What is is about the mafia that Americans are fascinated with?Caleb
Caleb, I am afraid I am not going to be very much of a help to you. I have only seen the first one (I think), and that was over fifty years ago. I don’t have an opinion on your questions, but I hasten to add that if I did have an opinion, it would be more or less worthless.
E-Verify and I-9’s Again
Re: A Very Practical Problem in the Trump Era
Doug, thank you for your reply.
Where I get hung up on using only I-9s instead of E-Verify is an issue you’ve spoken about in the hamartiology sections of your last two Plodcast episodes. In Episode 362, you discuss knetho (“having itching”) and point out that some people want to be lied to, and that this willingness is itself morally culpable. You contrast this with cases where someone is deceived but not morally at fault because they had every reason to trust the deceiver. You referenced Proverbs 17:4: “A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips.” You made a similar point in Episode 363 with kludonidzomai.
In the scenario I described in my last post, an employer deliberately chooses to rely only on I-9s rather than E-Verify because, in this industry, illegal immigrants are essential to filling the labor gap. Since E-Verify cross-references the social security database, it effectively prevents illegal immigrants from being hired. By avoiding E-Verify, the employer creates space to be lied to out of economic necessity.
But unlike the innocent party in your example—who had every reason to trust the person deceiving him—this employer does not. The industry norms and hiring patterns make it clear that many applicants will present false documents. In this case, the employer is not merely being deceived but is structuring their hiring process in a way that anticipates deception and allows it to happen.
Do you think this kind of willingness to be lied to is morally culpable in light of your discussion on knetho? Or do you see this as a different category—one where enduring falsehoods for practical reasons is not necessarily sinful?
I see two possible distinctions:
Enduring false doctrine is clearly sinful and a direct application of these texts.
Enduring deception in hiring—by creating conditions where lies are almost inevitable—seems like a necessary reality for operating a profitable business in this industry. That sounds bad when put plainly, but I’m not sure it’s morally wrong.
I’d really appreciate your thoughts on this. Please help me think through it, and feel free to call me out if I’m missing something.
Thanks again,S
S, there is a difference between accepting a lie from someone that you have solid reasons for believing they are lying—his false papers were done up in crayon, for example—and knowing that a statistically significant portion of the population you are dealing with is lying. That is very different, and I don’t believe you have any obligation to assume the role of a cop or private detective. In this instance, I believe that you should obey the law, but you have no obligation to become the enforcer. It is one thing for a Christian to own a chain of motels, knowing statistically that fornication and adultery is going to happen there, as compared to running a B&B, where he would have to deal with Bruno and Pete, giggling at the breakfast table.
As someone who’s been following Apologetics Canada since 2011, I must point out that Andy Steiger is the President of their group; Wes Huff is their director for Central Canada. We’re proud of our boy and the stir he’s created recently. Also, regarding panhandlers, something I did over the Christmas season was purchase a stack of gift cards to a local fast food restaurant and handed those out indiscriminately. Most were very grateful, and some were too strung out to know what was going on, but may the Lord bless the effort and do with the act as best pleases… Read more »
Regarding giving to buskers, around where I live, I’ve heard of a few instances recently showing that one needs to be careful even in this. People here, sometimes young teenage girls, appear to be playing beautiful music on the violin. But if one hangs around and watches, though, they’ll notice the music playing when the violin bow has stopped. The music is actually recorded music playing through an amplifier and the “musician” is actually not playing at all. These people are gypsies. But this seems relatively innocuous compared to what else the gypsies are up to around here. We have… Read more »
The Indian boarding school is the most egregious form of public education there has been in the history of the US. Kidnapping the children of your enemies and taking them to Pennsylvania for nine months of the year, where they are indoctrinated in everything the parent hates, deliberately forbidding them to speak their native language and cutting off contact with their families. Pennsylvania is where the Carlisle Indian School, the flagship of the Indian boarding school was located.
The Gas Station Ploy, along with the My Child Can’t Get to Her Chemo Treatment Ploy, are really common in Los Angeles. Having been in one or two predicaments myself (like locking myself out of an Airb&B in Paris with my wallet/passport on one side of the door and me on the other), I hate to risk saying no to an honest person who really needs my help. What I have learned is that honest people are relieved and grateful for help that solves their problem without putting cash directly in their hands. Dishonest ones fade away (or curse at… Read more »
Funnily enough only yesterday I was in Burger King when someone came up wanting me to buy him a meal. I didn’t do so, but wondered if I should actually have given to someone who asks. I was put off by having in my time seen a situation where a girl of non-European ethnicity was begging outside the post office, only for a Merc to turn up with a couple of blokes of her ethnicity to have a laugh with her and then move on. Almost certainly they are running a scam of ‘destitute’ people. As the state here makes… Read more »
Caleb,
If you would like more insight on the Godfather films, N.D Wilson discusses them at length on the Stories are Soul Food podcast episode 119, specifically why these films appeal to people.
Fencing the table? I’d much rather hear “gating the table.” A gate can open and can shut–and we’d like everyone to properly by Grace come in–but a fence is permanent. FWIW.
Re. The Godfather
I read or heard somewhere that the movie is an extended meditation on the American dream and how disappointing it was for many. The undertaker’s story in the opening sets the pattern. The original is the best movie ever made, 2 is okay and 3 is trash, in my humble opinion. I rank Slumdog Millionaire and The Incredibles as second and third greatest but I haven’t seen anything new in ages.