EXCLUSIVE: Tim Ballard, hero portrayed in 'Sound of Freedom,' sits down with LifeSite - LifeSite
The founder of Operation Underground Railroad said he holds onto the scripture where Jesus says, 'Better that a millstone be wrapped about your neck and you cast to the bottom of the sea then that you would hurt these children.'
I like the idea that God created a Lake of Fire where these people will be cast and suffer the torments of a darkness so thick, it can be felt. Like living in a black ink soup falling forever hearing the screams of others there falling also. Never able to sleep, never seeing what touched you on the leg as the screaming never stops. I suppose you would eventually get used to the intense heat of the flames but the mental part would be a torment like nothing else. Maybe I should feel different as a Christian but knowing this will be their justice forever is what I pray for these sick perverts for all the children they have harmed. All those NOT having their names written in the Book of Life will be cast into this Lake of Fire at the end of the 1000 year reign of Jesus. I hope ALL of you are saved and do not have to go through the Great Tribulation. Amen
Personally, I could see hell as a black hole.....But amen TO your closer.
Unfortunately, it's a misquote.
"But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea."
Jesus is talking about people who interfere with anyone, including 'these little ones who believe in me' and causing them to stumble. Stumble how? What happens when you stumble? Your capacity to continue on the path is impeded, even blocked. The context (one of these little ones who BELIEVES in me) implies stumbling in faith, or in their path of life, in their connection to God and Christ.
One of the horrific aspects of peophilia and incest, etc, is that it very often perpetuates itself. So, very often, such violations do cause the person or child to lose their way, to stumble. Fortunately, the power of forgiveness actually liberates. Forgiveness is not tolerance. It is liberating yourself from the evil of others.
And on the topic of stumbling, how do you think God feels? Do you think God's heart is LESS sensitive that yours, or mine? What if one of his innocent children is abused and tortured in such a way that that person completely loses his connection with God and wanders, lost, confused, into drugs, into crime, lost in Satan's grasp?
Finally, that person becomes another abuser, locked into the hell created by those who acted against him? Does God relish in the suffering that lost child has made for himself, and others?
No one who loves his or her child would relish in their suffering. God weeps for each and every lost child. Relentlessly. Personally, I believe Jesus would have been unable to get the complete victory if for one split second, he was more concerned about retribution or even justice than he was concerned about liberating each and every soul, because he loves them so much.
Grace is not justice. Grace is love. If it were a matter of justice, we'd all be in hell.
I'm not attempting to belittle or dismiss the valour and courage of the subject of this post. I just think that there is more to it and more to the scripture than simply a warning from Jesus about hurting the children.
You've basically got it. I have another comment here with my own thoughts on the context of the verses.
Watching the Sound of Freedom now, and I guess we’re halfway through (yes, I’m that guy using his phone in the movie theater, lol). But damn is it painful to watch all of this. I know, and have known for a long time what goes on behind the scenes for years now because I’ve been paying attention but it’s one thing to know and another to see it painted out for you in such sickening detail. I’m hoping that we’ll see some action here, of the John Wick/Terminal List variety, though I know that this isn’t that kind of movie. I just need that catharsis.
I hope that the millions of Americans out there watching this on the day we celebrate freedom feel this intense pain and anger that I’m feeling watching this movie.
So I finished it, though I was greatly saddened that the one man who rightfully bit the dust, Scorpion... well the scene wasn’t very well coreographed. It doesn’t have to play out like some Jason Bourne or Mission Impossible fight sequence, but I would have very much preferred it if the violence was short, quick, but very visceral. The whole blurry and indistinct sequence was not a satisfying pay off, at least something to let the audience take pleasure in seeing evil get put figuratively six feet under. Tim Ballard was so much taller than the Rebel Boss, and from what I’ve been told 14 pounds of pressure is all that is needed to break a neck, so instead of having a very bad fight sequence they could have just had Tim put him in a rear naked choke and put that height to use- grasp, squeeze, strain, and then pull.
Overall a very good movie, one that greatly put a damper on my mood for the 4th, but then I think about how many kids on our own streets will go missing today alone? How about all over the world?
All in all, this needs to be shown in every theater nation wide. It needs to be blasted to the heavens. The people who aren’t awake need to wake up and they need to get angry. The people in power facilitating this need to see justice, and that justice only has one inevitable conclusion.
God bless, everyone, and have a happy 4th.
Quoted in the movie when he arrests the pedo that supplied with a young boy.
Without taking away from the seriousness of the issue, this is of course not what that verse is about whatsoever. Just read through the later sections of Mark 9 for context is that the disciples told Jesus:
Mark 9:38-41
And then immediately Jesus gives a stern warning about causing those who believe in him to stumble. Clearly the sayings in verse 42 and following are connected directly to the exchange in verses 38-41. The disciples were hyper sensitive about anyone who were not on "their" team in terms of having the inside scoop of direct teaching and discipleship from Jesus. So in the disciples' minds, if others were attempting to practice a faith in Jesus without having all their facts right and all their ducks in a row like the, uh, righteous disciples, then they must be stopped.
This was repulsive behavior to Jesus. The first problem is the disciples were more concerned about their standing as superior disciples than actually helping out a fellow trying his best to live for Jesus. He was casting out demons somewhere in the wilderness, their reaction should have been to offer him some water as a simple act of concern and charity, instead of reprimanding him.
The second problem is more spiritual. The disciples' behavior showed they assumed a strong dividing line about who is "in" and who is "out" in terms of a saving faith. This is the specific point Jesus is addressing with the sayings about causing to stumble and millstones. If someone has but a mustard seed, even weak faith in Jesus, without having all their facts right etc, then they are a child of God the Father. If another Christian comes along and "Causes them to stumble" which clearly means causes them to doubt their faith and thus doubt that God is truly their Father, THAT is the person who is in the greatest danger of divine judgment.
This is by far the most shocking and severe threat of divine judgment Jesus gave in the Gospels, and it was directed towards his own disciples of all people. Jesus was NOT warning his disciples against child abuse. He obviously wants them to check their hearts and get this specific issue straight about judging who are really God's children and who are not, or the consequences would be dire. There is no one God despises more than those who convince God's children they are actually not God's children, and they are not beloved. God is jealous for his people, he will not let someone get off scot free who is doing this to vulnerable "children" in the faith.
I found your comment here to be profound and also heart-wrenching. I understand why so many of our pedes find the entire child-trafficking and child abuse issue so upsetting and enraging, for good reason.
But I personally think that too few understand that the Father's heart is also (very often) broken and shredded by internecine conflicts between believers, between those who claim love for or faith in Jesus, but whose conflicts are based on human doctrinal differences and differences in perspectives regarding 'truth'.
Those who profess to love or believe in God but who are unable to manifest that love or faith in terms of loving others beyond their own interpretations of truth, and who use doctrinal interpretations developed and generated by a human perspective to justify or defend their stance, how much does that grieve the heart of Jesus?
Who brings you more grief? The stranger who acts in a destructive way, or the child of yours who acts in a destructive way? The ones you love are always in a position to cause you greater grief.
In any case, your discussion of the verse and the import of it is, imo, enlightened and illuminating, and very well articulated as well.
The lesson is such a critical one that it warrants a lot more emphasis and highlighting. Warnings from Christ such as these are issued from His heart, and our hearts require a constant circumcision if we are to fulfill the true purpose of our faith, which is to ever draw closer and to ever more closely resemble him.
Regardless of if you agree with or believe in the Bible, this is a universal truth we should all be able to agree with no questions asked.
IIRC he refuses to be paid my OUR (the non profit) & supports his family only by his historical research book sales.
I need to see if I can find those videos again. First time I heard this was when I was in a line to buy stuff & some others in line were asking me who the guy was that I was listening to. Shared his story with a few other shoppers waiting in line & gave them links to start digging into.
anyone curious to see the lefts position on OUR can read this article. https://www.vice.com/en/article/k7a3qw/a-famed-anti-sex-trafficking-group-has-a-problem-with-the-truth
it is unabashed garbage typical of VICE news and the mainstream media who run cover for the traffickers. although there are many fascinating feats of mental gymnastics performed by the author it can be summed up I think by this excerpt.
"Because many anti-trafficking organizations have specifically Christian, often evangelical, ties, and resist the idea that there's such a thing as voluntary sex work, their members and some of the people supposedly being saved may not see things the same way."
i also have add this insane take from Jezebel (know your enemy folks) which can be summed up by this excerpt
"Meanwhile, (OUR's) effectiveness has been widely called into question, with some suggesting that its methods are largely theatrical, don’t get to the wider systemic issues underpinning trafficking, and, in some cases, by insisting that traffickers procure them the youngest possible workers for undercover sting operations, create a demand for them, causing their trafficking. OUR denies these claims."
https://jezebel.com/sound-of-freedom-review-1850596160
Great articles in general to see the way these evil people and their ilk are trying to combat the noble work of anti traffickers. please share and watch this movie. it is not for us. as we are all aware of what is happening, but we need to support and promote it to normies who need to see it.
https://www.angel.com/tickets/sound-of-freedom