This post originally appeared at https://www.vcy.org/top-news/2025/03/17/from-the-director-18/
By Jim Schneider, Executive Director
VCY America
In mid-February, Vice President JD Vance travelled to Germany to address the Munich Security Conference. Upon completion, the Deep State within Europe and around the world was joined in large by the legacy media to show disapproval. The reaction was swift:
Boris Pistorius, Germany’s Defense Minister, proclaimed in his own Munich speech that what V.P. Vance said was unacceptable
CNN: Vance turns on European Allies in Blistering Speech…
Kyiv Independent: JD Vance’s Munich speech met with shock, bewilderment, and almost no applause.
The Bulwark: JD Vance’s Free Speech Hypocrisy in Munich
Politico EU: Vance brings a wrecking ball to diplomatic gathering in Munich
BBC: JD Vance attacks Europe over free speech and migration
New York Times: German Chancellor Rebukes Vance for Supporting Party That Downplays Nazis
Pravda: Europe is outraged
So, what did the Vice President say that was so egregious? He indicated that the threat he most worries about for Europe is “not Russia, it’s not China, it’s not any other external actor. What I worry about is the threat from within. The retreat of Europe from some of its most fundamental values: values shared with the United States of America.”
V.P. Vance went on to share how the government had attacked those in silent prayer outside an abortion clinic or was clamping down on what government saw as “hateful content” on social media pages including police carrying “out raids against citizens suspected of posting anti-feminist comments online as part of ‘combating misogyny’ on the internet.”He also called out the Scottish government as they “began distributing letters to citizens whose houses lay within so-called safe access zones, warning them that even private prayer within their own homes may amount to breaking the law.”
Indeed, the threat from within has the potential to bring down a nation. But governments alone cannot be singled out from this threat from within. The threat from within is also coming from religious circles.
Recently in Massachusetts, the Worcester City Council held a public hearing on becoming a sanctuary city for “trans and gender-diverse people.” After hearing from the people, the Council voted 9-2 to make such a declaration. Among those speaking were individuals from the “religious” community.
The Christian Post reported, “Among those who spoke out in favor of the resolution was Julie Payne-Britton, a pastor at the Hadwen Park Congregational Church, which is affiliated with the progressive United Church of Christ. Payne-Britton, who identifies as a disabled, cisgender lesbian, sported a clerical collar as she told council members that if Jesus were at the meeting, He would be ‘dressed in full drag.’ She said, ‘The Jesus I know would be dressed in full drag and serving face, or handsome as a trans man, or wrapped in the garb of a non-binary person who knows one gender is way too small to capture their gloriousness.’ Payne-Britton claimed, ‘The Jesus I know would be at this mic with a trembling voice and a shaking body and tears that will not be held back crying, ‘make this city safe for my child.’”
Yet another abomination from within the religious community occurred at the Cathedral of Hope church in Dallas. This church in their Facebook post invited the public as follows: “Join us for a transformative celebration of identity, creativity, and spirituality at our special, ‘Celebrating the Art of Drag’ worship services on Sunday, February 16, 2025 at 8:30am & 10am.”
While introducing their special guest, the senior pastor proclaimed to those in attendance, “With God all things are possible.” He repeated, “All things are possible. That means that a preacher can be a drag king. (Applause) It’s not every day that you are part of a denomination who will ordain not only a woman to ministry, but who allow that woman to be a drag king. For God, all things are possible.” (Applause)
In yet another example of the threat from within, “Reverend” Mariann Edgar Budde, who targeted President Trump and politicized her message on Inauguration Day, has also warped and twisted the Scriptures pertaining to abortion. Recently on Face the Nation which airs on CBS while dressed in the clerical collar she stated, “I love the spectrum of life. I think you can be an adherent of the spectrum of life and still respect a woman’s right to choose in reproductive health. And, including when to have an abortion in the early stages of pregnancy. So, I’ll just say that as a Christian. I believe that’s possible and still hold to the full spectrum of life.”
We must understand she is grossly distorting the scriptures! The Bible clearly teaches that God is the author of life. “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.” (Genesis 1:27) We are “fearfully and wonderfully made.” (Psalm 139:14) The Lord said to Jereimah, “Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.” (Jeremiah 1:5)
While countless other examples could be provided regarding the threat from within, we must not be caught off guard. Matthew 7:21 warns, “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.”
There are many wolves in sheep’s clothing. The Apostle Paul could not be any clearer as he warned Timothy of the perilous times that would come in the last days. One such warning he gave addresses this very issue, “Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.” (II Timothy 3:5)
It behooves us as believers in Christ to recognize the threat from within religious circles and from those who seek to undermine the authority of the Scriptures. There is no alternative; we must turn away from them!