The Violence of Love

This is one post that probably should have a ‘trigger’ warning.  If you are upset by offensive language, abuse and hate speech, then beware that the following post contains several examples of such!

Yeah, tolerance and love are meant for non-harmful aspects of human identity. Not assholes. Eat glass.

I knew this would happen. And I don’t really want to write about it. But I do so because it allows you to see how things increasingly work in our society. It is a fascinating window into a world that most of us don’t want to be part of, but one which exists and which is increasingly influential on our society.   What am I talking about?

Last week the Scotsman published this article –  on the gender fluid movement, that is the latest part of the increasing confusion in our society on what it is to be human.

I finished with the question – “has Scotland become such an authoritarian culture that it is now no longer possible to have such a debate?”   The reaction to the article is the answer to that question.

When ‘liberal progressives’ adopt a new cause celebre they very quickly become so convinced that their position is the only sensible, compassionate, rational one that they regard it as immoral than anyone would hold a different viewpoint.  Forget the fact that it usually is something they did not hold to before, or that they know very little about, they are so sure of their own absolute morality that they will impose it upon the whole of society – without real discussion.   This is how they work. There are six steps (note that all the examples I mention below here are real…they are  a few of the posts I have received in the past week).

1) Ignore.  – Firstly they ignore any opposition or any alternative point of view. The last thing they want at any initial stage is any form of intelligent discussion. Thats why the recent parliamentary debate was kept so quiet.  The Tyranny of the Progressives – Another Step Backwards However when an article is published in the Scotsman and another letter in the Herald, it’s hard for them to ignore so they move on to step two.

2) Mock and Abuse – I received a huge amount of comments which were abusive. Some too horrible to put here – accusing me of paedophilia and other grotesque forms of sexual perversion.   Apparently the fact that I am a church pastor is sufficient to accuse me of child sexual abuse. According to this ‘knowledge’ I am only speaking of these things to hide my own perversity. Amongst other accusations I received the usual Hitler jibes.  I was accused of being a Nazi who wanted to gas Transgender people.

 is DAR pregnant (a miracle!) or has his Lord smitten him with an unhealthy paunch?

You’re a bigoted transphobic asshole. I recommend you French kiss a light socket to address it.

Sorry folks – Scotland can produce religious nutters to compete with the best that America can produce but Robertson really only represents himself and a few coffin dodgers who hate the gays. The Scotsman is a different issue – a so-called quality paper with a track record of anti LGBT rhetoric

Although I acknowledge these were a minority of the views I received they were still numerous – and I note that none of the more reasonable people challenged or contradicted the hate speech – and even worse, within a few hours people were denying it even happened!

(Another interesting side aspect is that there is apparently some kind of war between some feminists and some trans activists it’s a world I didn’t know existed – but its fierce!)

If this doesn’t work then they move on to step three.

3) Play the Expert card  – You are referred to ‘studies’ which strangely always agree with their pre-determined and pre-judged position.   I was especially intrigued by one impartial expert who kept being referred to and who even joined in the discussion himself.   Except he was hardly impartial! He runs a series of private clinics which make their money out of transgender. Read this fascinating article –  Private Health Clinic Business

The argument then moves on because they ask are there any experts working in the field who don’t hold to their philosophy. There are , but there is no way that they can be publicized. Why? Because like Dr Zucker, a respected psychologist who had worked in this field for many years, if you upset the Trans activists, they will get you fired. Trans Researcher Fired

And if any institution like John Hopkins, dares to take on this philosophy, they had better beware.

When I pointed out in my article that John Hopkins hospital, one of the pioneers of Gender Reassignment Surgery, had stopped doing it, I was called a liar and pointed to the fact that John Hopkins now allow GRS. What they didn’t say was that John Hopkins had stopped for 40 years and only at the end of last year had agreed to resume (although at the time of writing as far as I am aware, they had not). I also told my correspondents that this was not on the basis of new empirical evidence but rather because John Hopkins had been threatened. This was denied despite the following clear evidence.

A person with knowledge of HRC’s leadership decisions told NBC OUT that after repeated warnings, Johns Hopkins is now on the brink of losing its perfect score on that closely-watched benchmark for LGBTQ equality. The source provided the text of a warning sent in June, prior to the release of the report by Dr. Mayer and Dr. McHugh:

“Failure to take significant steps to distance Johns Hopkins Medicine from this line of Dr. McHugh’s personal beliefs and opinions will be considered an activity that undermines LGBTQ equality and patient care for the purposes of the Healthcare Equality Index score for Johns Hopkins Hospital.”

http://www.lgbtqnation.com/2016/10/johns-hopkins-medicine-will-resume-transgender-surgeries-40-years/

http://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/hrc-sets-sights-johns-hopkins-after-controversial-sexuality-gender-report-n641501

One of the strangest messages I received was this.

 Is your God peer-reviewed?

I wonder who they think God’s ‘peer’ is?!

The peer review argument is used all the time – usually by people who have never been peer-reviewed themselves. They have no source of authority, other than their own feelings, so they look for an external authority to back up their own prejudices, experiences and feelings, which no-one can argue against. Their God is ‘science’ (except it’s not really science – its more the idea of science) and especially that which is subject to verification by experiment and ‘peer review’. It is a logical positivist view of reality which is self-contradictory, but that does not seem to bother them.  The only evidence allowed is ‘peer-reviewed’ evidence, but such is the politicisation of this issue that no institution would dare to allow evidence against the prevailing view to even be carried out, never mind  peer-reviewed. The threats and hassle are real. The result is that of course all the ‘peer reviewed’ evidence will fit with their philosophy, because anything out with it will not be permitted. I’m afraid that is how academia works in many Western ‘liberal’ establishments.

The position is very binary.   We need experts and should listen to experts – but anyone who disagrees with me is not an expert and therefore should not be listened to.  This tweet was a classic of that genre –

 if you think Dr Zucker is respected then you don’t respect Trans people

If that doesn’t work then the next step is added.

4) Swamp – If you don’t give into the bullying, and see through the post-truth ‘we are the experts’, then they move on to just trying to overwhelm you.   Word goes round the networks and if you are on social media then be prepared for a Twitterstorm.  I have given up reading all the tweets and other nonsense. For only the second time I have resorted to blocking people – the amount of emotive nonsense and abuse is impossible to take.   It does swamp you….the constant accusations, abuse and threats  wear you down.

There is another side to the swamping.  They in effect say – see all these people who agree with us.  And you?  You are on your own.  We hate you.  Christians hate you.  You are an evil isolated scumbag who belongs with the Nazis and Fascists!  You can feel the love!

I think this criticism does have some validity.  There are many in the church who have caved into this, either because they don’t see the danger, or they don’t really care. Religion for them is just another cloak for whatever political philosophy is the flavour of the day.  They are happy to swim with the tide.  But we also need to recognise that there are millions outwith and within the church, (and to be honest at this stage in the UK and the USA I think it is by far the majority) who would agree with the stance we take.  That will change because they use the media and the education system to indoctrinate where they can – and they rely on the majority being silent and impotent, whilst sidelining any who do go against the flow.

And when all else fails the really nasty stuff happens

5) Threaten  –

First they go for the free speech argument. They really don’t believe in it. No-one should be allowed to speak in public who dares to question or disagree with them.  Take the following as examples:

 If you aren;’t Trans its incredible you think your opinion would even be relevant. 

 Free speech is a hugely misunderstood concept. It is only about the right for government not to persecute you for saying something they don’t agree with and that’s it. And even that right isn’t absolute. Usually, people like this who claim their freedom of speech is being infringed actually mean that they aren’t being allowed to spew whatever vile comments they want to whenever they want to with no consequence. That ain’t how it works!

In the name of love, equality and diversity it is being argued that the government sometimes has the right to persecute you for saying something they don’t agree with!

Then if you cite or quote any suspect source or institution (ie. anyone that has not openly bought into their agenda) then not only are you wrong, but you should not be allowed to speak.

There is free speech, yet when the speaker counts on his association with an entity of, Johns Hopkins, to add Veracity to his blasphemy, that is not commendable, and must be stated by present leaders what it really is, and be condemned for its mendacious effects on the Trans community and society. When they show that we will respected, and that they are truly cleaning their act, to be helpful and concerned leaders. Anyone defending a lying mendacious zealot, you are no better than McHugh.

That is an incredible statement. Look at the words. To disagree with this agenda is ‘blasphemy’ and blasphemy should be banned! It won’t be too long before the progressive inquisition will be round!

Another threat is a very direct and personal one. If you don’t agree with their philosophy you are responsible for the suicides, abuse and intolerance that Trans people receive. It’s a form of emotional bullying which takes no account of who you are and actually doesn’t really care. Everything has to fit with their ideology. People are expendable – even other Trans people who don’t buy into the whole ideology (for example the man on the BBC documentary who received death threats because he expressed his regrets). I think that some of the people who will suffer most because of this are those who suffer from Gender Dysphoria and really need help.

But it doesn’t just stop with all of this. The threats get real. The Scotsman was threatened with being reported to IPSO. I was threatened. But there really is not much they can do to me just now. My job is not under threat. At least not until they get to the stage of making Christianity illegal! And that day may not be too far away. Their fanaticism is scary.

Groups like Transmedia Watch will ensure that any reasonable discussion of transgender and other issues is prevented.   In a classic Orwellian twist they speak of accurate, respectful and clear material (translation: that which agrees with us) and of being against prejudice, bigotry and hate (translation: anyone who disagrees with us).

And then this extends to people being threatened with their jobs. Even in this past week journalists, doctors and teachers have been in touch. One teacher told me that their headmaster will get more money for the school if they show they are Trans friendly – and another said that they would be fired if they dared question a girl with psychological problems who is now saying they are Trans. This teacher does not dispute that Trans is real, but questions whether encouraging children who already have mental health issues along such an attention seeking route (which in the current climate is what it is for many). But they are too scared to say anything. Because this is no longer about what is best for the children. It is about a philosophy being adopted and taught as an absolute value.

I know politicians who know that this gender fluid philosophy is wrong – but they are unlikely to challenge it.  Either because they don’t know enough about it, or they know enough to know the abuse they will get and the fact that it could be the end of their careers.  There are also those who think it’s not that big an issue because it involves only a tiny percentage of the population.  But they don’t realise that the real issue here is not about helping those with Gender Dysphoria (which we should do) but using GD to promote a whole sexual/philosophical revolution, which will do incredible harm.  If any politician wants to know examples – I can give many.  Drop me a line!  (before you do your pre-ordained ‘consultation’).

So the answer to the question ‘will a respectful discussion be allowed’ is an emphatic no. As the quote at the top of this article indicates – “tolerance and love are meant for non-harmful aspects of human identity. Not assholes. Eat glass.”   

How can we respond?

Think –  We need to recognize that what is going on is evil. It is from the pit of hell. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. (Ephesians 6:12).   The non-Christian will not get this. The non-Christian will think that saying something is from the pit of hell or evil is ‘hate speech’. But it is precisely the opposite. We don’t hate those who disagree with us. We are not calling people ‘evil’, our battle is not against people, it is against the powers of this dark world and the spiritual forces of evil. We love people because we see that they are made in the image of God, that identity is not found in gender, sexuality, race etc but rather is found in Christ.   Our greatest longing is not to destroy others, or to hate, or to win arguments…our longing is to see people ‘in Christ’ and to save them from the false philosophies which destroy lives.

Speak Out – There is a time for keeping silent and a time for speaking. I’m not talking about speaking out for ourselves, getting protections and concessions for ourselves.  I’m talking about speaking out for the poor, the disempowered and above all children – who if they are sown the seeds of this perverse teaching, will be reaping its bitter fruits for decades.  To those who think they can bully into silence – have another think!  It ain’t gonna happen.  We fear only God.  And we believe that love will overcome your hatred.

Overcome Evil with Good – At a personal level I have been so aware of evil in recent days. At times it is overwhelming. Great is the darkness that covers the earth. Not just because of this issue – which is such a small part, but so many other things. It is profoundly depressing, dark and dangerous.    But also I have rarely been so aware of the love and power of God; at times overwhelming in His beauty and intensity.   And therein lies the answer.

The Violence of Love

Much of the response I received shows that often those who speak about ‘love’ use hate as their modus operandi.   It’s what could be called the violence of love.  But the Christian has another version of that.  At the weekend I read this:

 What is the might of this city?  Whoso would understand the might of this city, let him understand the force of love.  That is a virtue which none conquers. Love’s flame, no waves of the world, no streams of temptation, extinguish.  Of this it is said, ‘Love is as strong as death’.  For as when death comes, it cannot be resisted; by whatever arts, whatever medicine, you meet it; no one can avoid the violence of death who is born mortal; so against the violence of love the world can do nothing…..for as death is most violent to take away, so love is most violent to save.  Through love many have died to the world, to live to God”  Augustine – On Psalm 48

Pray – We are to take on the full armour of God. We are to stand and not cower down before the forces of evil.  Read all of Ephesians 6 – but I leave you with these words:

Eph. 6:18       And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. 19 Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.

For other info on this subject see:

The Re-imaging of Humanity – 3 – The Transgender Revolution

Scotland’s Babylon – Who is going to Speak for Scotland’s Children?