5 Classic Musical Works To Accompany Your Final Lenten Preparations For Easter

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Exhibit A: How liberals hijack the Bible to push their agenda on you



If you ask some Christians, Lent is apparently a season for calibrating your heart toward progressive social activism.

For the 40-day Lenten season, a group of broadly liberal and progressive Christian leaders are urging Christians to embrace a contemporary expression of the season by "returning to Jesus." But that return apparently requires adherence to an agenda that more resembles liberal politics than the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Exhibit A: Those leaders recently signed a 1,200-word letter bemoaning a "growing crisis in America."

These claims are designed to manipulate Christians — and they're not even based in truth.

What exactly is that crisis, you ask? You can probably guess. President Donald Trump, basically.

Though it does not name Trump specifically, the letter claims "the political accumulation of wealth, power, and control" is threatening American democracy, offering the Trump administration's policies as evidence of the "brutal abandonment and targeting of the people Jesus commands his followers to serve and protect."

The letter is a prime example of how progressives and liberals contort the Bible to push their agenda. Here is a breakdown:

Who are the 'least of these'?

Democrats — and progressive Christians — love to cite Matthew 25 to defend and promote a social justice agenda.

The letter continues that sordid tradition, asserting that "to better defend the vulnerable," Christians must focus their "political persuasions" on Jesus' teaching in Matthew 25:31-46.

At the conclusion of His famous apocalyptic teaching about sheep and goats, Jesus declares, "Truly I tell you: Whatever you did for the least one of these, you did for me," referring to the hungry, thirsty, stranger, naked, sick, and imprisoned (Matthew 25:40).

Democrats and progressives use this teaching against conservative Christians, suggesting that obedience to Jesus requires supporting progressive policies on immigration, social welfare, and crime. That interpretation not only weaponizes the Bible to steer Christians toward a specific political agenda, but it makes a significant interpretive assumption about Jesus' teaching.

In other words, that argument fails to ask the question: Who are the "least of these"?

It turns out that most biblical scholars do not think Jesus is referring to anyone and everyone.

In fact, the consensus among New Testament scholars, based on evidence within Matthew's Gospel, is that Jesus was referring to disciples specifically (i.e., Christians). Theologian Kevin DeYoung goes even further and suggests, "'The least of these' refers to other believers in need — specifically, itinerant Christian teachers dependent on other Christians for hospitality and support."

Foreign aid, Jan. 6

The letter then attempts to use Jesus' teachings to compel Christians to oppose the Trump administration's campaign to end waste, fraud, and abuse in government spending. It does this by appealing to Christian empathy and emotions, claiming that cuts in foreign aid are "resulting in deaths."

But the letter does not provide any evidence to prove that claim.

Moreover, the letter characterizes President Trump's decision to pardon Jan. 6 defendants as a "blatant act of political corruption," juxtaposing that decision by claiming there are "millions" of Americans who "remain incarcerated by a broken, unjust, and racialized criminal justice system."

Do you notice the rhetorical sleight of hand? Pardoning Jan. 6 defendants is framed as a moral evil, while fighting for the release of Americans found guilty by a jury of their peers is framed as a moral good.

The letter thus attempts to steer Christians to oppose the Jan. 6 pardons and toward progressive criminal justice reform.

Biblical or political action?

Finally, the letter demands Christians use Lent to take action, giving up their time and resources. But to serve which gospel?

You guessed it: the progressive political agenda.

First, the letter claims that defending foreign aid disbursements is a "gospel issue." Second, it demands Christians "oppose massive spending cuts" to Medicaid and other "welfare programs," while declaring that any deficit reduction must only impact the "wealthy." Third, the letter demands Christians oppose "racial discrimination," including "the disproportionate impact of budget cuts on Black and Brown families, and the end of federal anti-discrimination federal policies and protections by executive orders."

These claims, once again, are designed to manipulate Christians — and they're not even based in truth.

As a matter of fact: Jesus did not require Christians to support the funding of "faith-based organizations" for international aid when he announced the good news about the Kingdom of God (i.e., the gospel).

Meanwhile, it's simply not true, as the letter suggests, that the Trump administration plans to make low-income Americans foot the bill for budgetary reductions. On the other hand, it plans to eliminate income taxes for Americans who earn less than $150,000 per year. Moreover, there is no evidence the Trump administration is planning to impose an agenda of racial discrimination, contrary to what the letter suggests.

Truth at Lent

Contrary to what these Christians advocate, the beauty of Lent is found in the work of Christ — not political activism or a progressive social gospel.

The 40-day Lenten season is a time for repentance, self-discipline, deepening one's relationship with God, remembering the work of Christ, and preparing for Easter, the most significant Christian holiday. Lent is a time for Christians to reflect on their sinfulness, their need for a savior, and the beauty of grace and salvation.

Sadly, what most stands out about this letter is not Christ but partisan politics.

Yes, Christians should care for the vulnerable — it's something the church has always done — and influence their communities, being agents of good that bring order and flourishing where there is chaos. But the Christian calling transcends politics, and one is left wondering if these same Christian leaders would sign a Lenten call to action demanding Christians oppose liberal policies.

Perhaps the lack of such a letter under, say, the Biden administration is the unspoken answer.

As we approach Easter, let us remember the biblical Jesus, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world — not the "Jesus" recast by progressive politics.

Why You Should Use This Lent To Think More About Hell

As much as Jesus unconditionally loves us, He is also a preacher of hell.

Chris Pratt reveals the deal he made with God — and what he's doing for Lent



Big-time actor Chris Pratt, on the media circuit promoting his new Netflix film "The Electric State," recently spoke to the Christian Post about his faith, the evangelical nature of his platform, and the unnerving moment that prompted him to strike a lasting deal with God.

While Hollywood script-readers frequently churn the waters ahead of a big premier with superficial insights into their personal lives that they or their handlers reckon might turn out select demographics and fill theater seats, Pratt's simultaneous Lenten outreach and relatively consistent messaging over the years suggest that there might be something to his recent divulgences to the Post.

Pratt, one of the highest-grossing actors of all time, who was on at least one occasion rolled into Time magazine's top-100 list of influential people, told the Christian Post that his priority is Christ.

"I care enough about Jesus to take a stand, even if it cost me. It could cost me everything, but I don't care. It's worth it to me because this is what I'm called to do; it’s where my heart is," said Pratt, who told Men's Health magazine in 2022, "I'm not a religious person," and claimed that "religion has been oppressive as f**k for a long time."

"I'm a father of four. I want to raise my children with an understanding that their dad was unashamed of his faith in Jesus, and with a profound understanding of the power of prayer, and the grace and the love and the joy that can come from a relationship with Jesus," added the actor.

Pratt noted further that while similar expressions of faith aren't common in the entertainment industry, he has no intention of hiding his own, quoting Matthew 5:14-16: "A city set on a hill cannot be hidden."

While the actor has apparently suffered no break in his faith, Pratt indicated that he has repeatedly strayed from the straight and narrow.

'My heart softened, and my faith hardened.'

"I'd make promises, but I didn't keep them," said Pratt, a father of four who remarried in 2019. "I said, 'God, save me in this moment, and I'll give you my life.' And then He did, and I was unburdened from the weight of my shame, my guilt, and my sin. And then months later, maybe a year later, two years later, I'm off doing the same stuff that got me down the wrong path in the first place. The sinful, broken nature of humans was living in my heart."

After making and breaking his share of promises, Pratt apparently found one that he had to keep for the sake of his own flesh and blood.

Pratt revealed at the March of Dimes Celebration of Babies in 2014 that when his first wife, Anna Faris, gave birth to their son, Jack, in August 2012, the baby boy was nine weeks early, weighing just 3 pounds, 12 ounces, reported Variety.

Pratt and Faris were told that their boy might have special needs and possibly would require surgery to correct his eyes.

"He had all of these issues going on," Pratt told the Post. "I prayed hard to God. I was in a season of transition spiritually at that time and didn't quite fully understand. I made a deal with God again: 'I'm sorry, God, here I am again, asking for your grace again.'"

"He really saved my son," continued Pratt. "And that was the moment [my faith] was cemented. My heart softened, and my faith hardened. That was the moment that I was like, 'Moving forward, I'm going to give my platform to God.'"

Pratt indicated in the time since, he attempted to use his celebrity status and influence both to "affirm the people who are believers in Christ" and to "reach out to the people who have no idea who God is."

'If people don't understand me, I'm going to pray for them.'

This year, Pratt has teamed up with Mark Wahlberg, "The Chosen" actor Jonathan Roumie, Sister Miriam James Heidland, and Fr. Mike Schmitz on the Pray40 challenge, an initiative championed by the Catholic prayer and mediation platform Hallow to encourage people to pray every day during Lent, which began on March 5, Ash Wednesday.

Pratt, whose wife, Katherine Schwarzenegger Pratt, was baptized Catholic but met Pratt at the evangelical Zoe Church in Los Angeles, indicated that he came across the Hallow app's "Bible in a Year" podcast a few years back and "did the whole thing."

"It gave me a deeper, more comprehensive understanding of the Bible," said Pratt. "It totally strengthened my walk with Jesus."

"I thought, if I partner with Hallow, maybe I can amplify what is ultimately a really beautiful thing. This 'Bible in a Year' podcast, the prayers, meditations, it's all soul food," added Pratt.

According to the Hallow site, Pratt will join Wahlberg in sessions focused on fasting. Cardinal Robert Sarah, the Catholic Church's prefect emeritus of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, will apparently lead Saturday sessions that focus on meditation in silence, and Fr. Schmitz will lead Sunday homilies.

Last year, nearly 2 million joined the Pray40 challenge.

Pratt indicated that he is certain "there's going to be blowback" from his open profession of faith and promotion of prayer.

Actress Elliot Page attacked Pratt in 2019 for allegedly belonging to a church where homosexuality was not universally embraced as an acceptable preference. He was also mocked for his Christian faith and not attending a Biden event with other Marvel stars in 2020.

When faced with such criticism, Pratt indicated, "I am just going to rely on God. ... I was called by God to do it, and if people don't understand me, I'm going to pray for them, and then I'm going to go back and hang out with my kids and play tag."

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