Same-sex “Marriage” and the Persecution of Christians in Canada
The Canadian Charter of Right and Freedoms declares that Canadians have a fundamental “freedom of conscience and religion” and “freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression.” But constitutional guarantees are at the mercy of lawyers, and Canadian lawyers have emerged as among the most fiercely intolerant of anyone, including their own colleagues, who fail to support same-sex “marriage.”
The Striking Thing About The ‘Yes’ Camp Was Its Intolerance
The implication is that Ireland had hitherto been a bit of a knuckle-dragger, and it was only through saying Yes to gay marriage that it could propel itself into upright, opposable-thumbs modernity. To be against gay marriage is to linger in the doldrums of half-formed humanity; to favour gay marriage is to be decent, civilised, “evolved”.
Madeleine L’Engle’s Foundation Awards Grant To LGBT Group At Wheaton College
OneWheaton is committed to affirming LGBT students but is not officially recognized by the prominent evangelical school, which can expel students caught in homosexual behaviors. The group plans to use the money to fund public discussions and forums about LGBT issues and evangelical culture. “We couldn’t be happier to receive this grant from L’Engle’s Crosswicks Foundation,” said Paul Canaday-Elliott, a OneWheaton board member.
Friendly Fire: When Christian General Prays, All Hell Breaks Loose
Allegedly, Olson violated this AF Instruction by saying, “I’m thankful that I’m a redeemed believer in Christ,” and by stating his belief that God has many times enabled him to accomplish his specific missions and to execute the Air Force mission, despite having never received training for certain tasks and earning poor marks at the Air Force Academy. Olson revealed a copy of his AFA transcript to the audience, calling it “exhibit A” that his success has resulted not from his academic prowess, but from taking opportunities God has put in his path.
Right-to-Die Act Inspired By Brittany Maynard Passes California Senate
In a series of emotional videos (sponsored by the right-to-die group Compassion & Choices), Maynard told the world she felt forced to leave her California home for Oregon, where physician-assisted dying is legal, because she could no longer live like the person she wanted to be. One of her videos, released after her death, called specifically for people to advocate for right-to-die legislation in every state.
He Humbled You and Let You Hunger
Let us not think God has lost his “loving feeling” for his bride. He is the Good Shepherd who leads us into green pastures and beside still waters. Yes, he anoints our heads with oil and restores our souls. However, he is also the divine guide who leads us to and through the Valley of the Shadow of Death. But even then, while he allows harm to threaten us for his glory and our good, he prepares a table for us in the presence of his and our enemies. But let us keep our eyes on the prize.
6 Destructive Trends Happening in Your Church
A theologically lazy and methodologically consumeristic/sensationalistic approach to the sacraments. The rise of the “scoreboard” approach to attendance reporting, some of the extreme examples of spontaneous baptism services, the neglect of the Lord’s Supper or the abuse of it through fancifulness with the elements or lack of clear directives in presenting it—these are all the result of evangelicalism’s theological bankruptcy. We don’t think biblically about these matters, because we’re think- ing largely along the lines of “what works?” and consequently we might make a big splash with our productions but not produce much faith.
Militias Rout ISIS from Christian Area in Syria
The victories came three months after ISIS swept into the area, taking command of 14 villages and kidnapping several hundred Assyrian Christians who lived there. They went unnoticed as ISIS made gains elsewhere, chiefly in taking Palmyra further south in Syria, and capturing Ramadi in central Iraq.
When, if ever, should we actively disobey or disarm Police?
In a Police State, when the Police speak (or beat or tackle or shoot), you don’t challenge them. You simply conform to their will and obey. You don’t think for yourself in that moment. You don’t critically evaluate what one person is doing to another when the one doing it is wearing a badge. And […]
51,000,003 reasons why America owes Nazi Germany an apology.
The typical American guy is a stat hound. In the Internet-fueled era of things like fantasy football and day-trading, we’ve become all about the numbers. We capture, track, and compare everything…well, everything but the things that matter most. (See: Fiat Bread and Football Circuses in Romans 1 America.) We know the passer ratings and touchdown-to-interception […]
When God Interferes With Our Plans
God’s providence is the single greatest hindrance to the floods of sin that would otherwise gush out of our sinful hearts. If it were not for God’s care and preservation, even we Christians would be far more sinful than we dare imagine. If it were not for God’s gracious interference, our best efforts in holiness would not be enough to keep us from drowning in sin and heaping contempt on the name of Christ. God takes far better care of us than we do of ourselves. For this reason, every Christian owes unending thanks to God for preserving us from what we would otherwise do and who we would otherwise become. This is roughly what John Flavel teaches in chapter 6 of his work The Mystery of Providence. Here are a few of the ways in which God interferes with our desire and attempts to sin against him.
Going Against God “Just for Fun”
by Marsha West
I wrote this piece a few years ago to bring to light the sad fact that more and more Christians were becoming involved in occult practices. Well, nothing has changed since I wrote this. In fact, Christianity is infected with the deadly occult virus, thanks largely to so-called Christian leaders, to include pastors, elders, and Bible […]
American Pharoah Chases Down “Eternal Glory”(?)
“American Pharoah won the Belmont to achieve eternal glory as the first horse to win the Triple Crown since 1978.” That was the caption under the featured pic atop the home page of NBC Sports earlier today, and understandably so. I’m not aiming to go off on some sort of “Jesus-juking” move to seriously impugn the use […]
How “Judge Not!” Phony Christianity Has Fundamentally Transformed America
When it comes to “fundamentally transforming America” into a living hell of Corporate State power over (happily) ignorant and dependent masses, who needs Barack Obama when you have…biblically illiterate, apathetic and detached “conservative Christians”? Ever notice how “Christians”, including the most supposedly “conservative” in the camp, aren’t really all that into submitting to the clear truths of […]
Openly gay Willow Creek leader to speak at Matthew Vines’ conference
Kicking off today in Atlanta is the Reformation Project conference designed to train and equip leaders to advocate for homosexual Christians. Among those leading: an openly gay worship leader from Willow Chicago, a satellite campus of the well-known Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington, Ill., pastored by Bill Hybels. The worship leader, Darren Calhoun, […]
Are Christians free to love however they please?
by Ryan Martin
What is Christian love like? Where does it come from? Should we desire that our love be utterly spontaneous? Should we seek to love naturally? Is it inauthentic to love in a way other than that which first comes to us? Should our affections be unaffected?
Chipping Away at Church
The Christian Church in America is under increasing pressure to compromise with and conform to the “values” of this fallen, sinful world. While it is no surprise that the world hates the Christian Church, it is alarming how many who profess to be Christians within the church seem to be active or passive participants in […]
Men in Crisis – Church & Culture Blog
Some quick questions:
Do you prefer porn to real women?
Would you rather be at the office or at home?
Would you rather watch football than play it?
Would you rather imagine being buff through a character on a game or by actually going to the gym and working out?
Many of you thought: porn, office, watch and game.
And that’s not good.
A new book by psychologist Philip Zimbardo argues that technology, online porn, gaming and sedentary jobs are causing terrible damage to the male psyche.
Christianity is Not about Feeling Comfortable
by Bill Muehlenberg
How many times have you met professing believers who tell you they are “comfortable” – or “not comfortable” – with something related to scriptural truth or biblical morality? They seem to have decided that truth and error, right and wrong, are to be decided solely on the basis of how they feel – if they are “comfortable” about it or not.
This is what passes for Christianity today in far too much of the West. The Christian life is now all about feelings – about emoting. If something does not pass your emote-o-meter, you reject it. And if it passes, you embrace it. This is the tragedy of contemporary Christianity.
MAYDAY Video Messages Now Available on YouTube
Each day of MAYDAY! MAYDAY! A Distress Call for Prayer, we shared with you segments of video messages from Anne Graham Lotz and Joel Rosenberg that were given at The Billy Graham Training Center at The Cove in March of this year. We are pleased to announce that the complete video messages are now freely available on YouTube for viewing and sharing. For your convenience, the videos and audios will be available for purchase mid-summer from AnGeL Ministries.
Complete MAYDAY Video Messages
—The AnGeL Ministries Team
Duty, honor, country and gay pride? Pentagon opens “Pride Month”
by Marsha West
Steam is coming out of my ears. For the first time in 20 years the U.S. Army brass says it will not provide an honor guard from nearby Fort Gordon for Abilene Baptist Church’s annual Independence Day celebration because of a 2011 regulation instituted by the Obama Administration. The regulation declares that the Army cannot participate in any […]
Congress Urged to Pass Law Protecting Religious Schools from Punishment Over Marriage Beliefs
by Marsha West
Christian News Newtork reports:
Administrators from Christian and Catholic schools nationwide have signed on to a letter urging Congress to pass a law that would protect religious schools from punishment over their biblical beliefs on marriage.
Daniel Egeler, the president of the Association of Christian Schools International, Al Mohler, the president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Michael Ferris, the Chancellor of Patrick Henry College and Alan Hodak, the executive director of the Minnesota Association of Christian Schools, were among those who signed the letter to House Speaker John Boehner and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.
“We write to express our deep concern with the potential loss of tax-exempt status for educational institutions should the Supreme Court find constitutional legitimacy for same-sex marriage,” it read.
How to Attrack Goats to Your Church
by Marsha West
Amy Spreeman, co-host of Stand Up For The Truth, reports on Preston Trails Community Church in Frisco, Texas that recently won a design award for its building and its brand: Making goats feel accepted. She writes:
Is church about saints (those who are saved), or sinners goats? Look, we’re all sinners; we need to use our words correctly. Those who have repented and put their trust in Christ alone for their salvation are saints. Another great word we can use here is sheep. The opposite term in the Bible is goats. The real question is, what – and Whom- is church about, and whom is it for?
Let’s not “kid” ourselves; it’s not for goats. It’s for former goats. The Bible teaches us that church is the gathering of those who have been regenerated by the Holy Spirit:
…to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. – Ephesians 4:12-16
The Cult of Celebrity Leadership
Is our culture the victim of pastor superstar worship? Are leadership conferences spoon-feeding the sheep high-ticket idolatry? Buckle up, today’s show is taking on celebrity pastordom. Stand Up For The Truth is a radio and online ministry that covers news of the day, trends in the church and theological issues that Christians deal with and […]
Which Way, Evangelicals? There is Nowhere to Hide
by Marsha West
Dr. Albert Mohler, president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, addresses the same-sex “marriage” debate and comes out swinging: This is a moment of decision, and every evangelical believer, congregation, denomination, and institution will have to answer. There will be no place to hide. Dr. Mohler’s column is a must read for all Christians. The very first […]
The Next Time Your Emotions Take You Hostage, Try This
by Bethany Baird | 6/10/15
The past couple of weeks, my life has been busy, busy, busy. My days have been filled with long hours of manuscript revisions, traveling, speaking, working in my dad’s office, visiting with relatives, and so much more.
During all of this busyness, I’ve also been facing an emotionally confusing issue in a certain area of my life. Due to the combination of tiredness and busyness, I’ve been struggling to keep my thoughts and emotions under control.
I don’t have to be a “victim” to my thoughts and emotions.
Typically, I can focus my mind on Scripture (or prayer) and my thoughts and emotions get in check pretty quickly. Not this time though. For some reason, I’ve been in need of extra work to get a reign on my crazy thoughts.
I’m not the only girl who struggles with this, right?
Despite how weak or strong I’m currently feeling, I know that Bible commands me not to worry but to give thanks in all circumstances.
Philippians 4:6 says it this way, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”
Knowing the truth of that verse and actually applying it and putting it into action has been difficult recently. Do you ever go through seasons of struggle like this?
Saddleback Church raising $71 million for its largest expansion yet
by Marsha West
Pastor Rick Warren is asking people to donate their hard earned money to open 10 more Saddleback campuses in Southern California. Even teens are getting into the act as you will see in Orange County Register’s piece. They’re called PEACE centers and they’ll provide assistance locally with food, medical help and counseling, Helping people is what churches do, […]
The Daily Discovery (June 11, 2015)
Responding To Five Arguments About Arsenokoites… – “When it comes to rebuttal against all the various attacks against the Biblical teaching on issues related to gender, sexual morality and marriage, there is no shortage of Christian responses. Folks like Drs. Robert Gagnon, Michael Brown, James White, Albert Mohler, etc. have provided the Christians with no shortage of scholarly and popular level apologetic work against the onslaught that is coming against the Bible from the “Christian” QUILTBAG mafia.”
Gay activist Matthew Vines quietly holds private meetings with Christian leaders – “In reading the New York Times piece, we see some interesting strategies from Vines. First, his meetings with Christian leaders are almost always private, one-on-one affairs. He has talked with small groups of pastors in Phoenix and Nashville and shared his story over coffee or lunch in places like Atlanta; Chicago; Orlando, Fla.; Portland, Ore.; and Greenville, S.C. If he can soften hearts and hard soil with his earnestness, his niceness, and his ability to make worldly reason sound so right, then he has gained a foothold.”
I Sexually Identify As An A-10 Thunderbolt – “I have finally found the strength to admit it. I was 12 years old when I realized that I’m not really a man at heart, but rather a 19 foot, 10.5 inch long gatling gun strapped onto a 24,959 pound airframe. All my life has been a lie but I’m setting that right today. I was designed to kill Soviet tanks. From now on, call me “Warthog.” That’s my real name.
Flaunting Good Works – “When attempting to rouse the apathetic from their inaction and slumber, the vital Christian can find himself or herself in a bit of a quandary – how to set an example of true Christianity and love of God and neighbor in a culture that murders its children while simultaneously not flaunting one’s good works, tooting one’s own horn, calling attention to oneself in a sinful, prideful way?”
#IAmJoshDuggar – “I’ve been looking for an opportunity to get back to the blog and get back into regular posting. We’ve been working behind the scene here at Pillar of Truth to try to get things in order so that we can do what we’d like to do well into the future. So, I took a break and concentrated on other things. I thought I’d come back with a Pillar of Links kind of post that would allow me to catch up. But when the news dropped last week about Joshua Duggar, I knew I needed to get back to the blog and say something that simply needs to be said.”
SERMON:
John MacArthur – Paul’s Transformation [Part 1]
VIDEOS:
How to judge in the Bible
Explain the Book of Acts: God Came!
“If you alter or obscure the Biblical portrait of God in order to attract converts, you don’t get converts to God, you get converts to an illusion. This is not evangelism but deception.” – John Piper
The Heart of Spiritual Disciplines
Many of us struggle to read our Bibles and pray on a daily basis. Therefore, when we do, we rarely question our motivation. It’s easy to assume that Bible reading and prayer are magic bullets — if we read and pray, we will grow.
The Biggest Heresy of All Time (Are You Guilty of It?)
I’ve been called a heretic before. I imagine that most people who teach or write about Scripture and theology have been condemned as a heretic at least once or twice.
Ten Lies of the Devil The World Believes About Bruce Jenner
The devil is resourceful and hard working. There is no temptation he will not use, no stratagem too tiny to try us with. He does, however, have a few areas he specializes in. He is called Satan because he is an expert at making accusations. He delights to accuse us when we are innocent, and when we are guilty. He is also a murderer and has been from the beginning. Those who hate Him, we are told, love death (Proverbs 8:36). He is also not just a liar, but the father of lies (John 8:44). When we hear a lie we ought to smell sulfur. Every lie has his hoof prints on it. Of late the broader culture has been rather frantic in telling and believing lies with respect to Bruce Jenner, and we Christians too often face the temptation to believe them. Here are ten we must never give in to.
The Mystery of Election
What did it mean for God to “love” Jacob and “hate” Esau, even before they were born? How can God elect some and still be good?
God Is Moving in China
Yesterday I told you about the growth of Christianity in the Muslim world. Today on BreakPoint: What God is doing in China.
Listen Now | Download
15 Ways to Improve Your Preaching or Teaching
By Chuck Lawless
I’m a professor who doesn’t like course evaluations and a preacher who doesn’t enjoy sermon critiques. So, I’m leery of telling others how to improve their preaching or teaching. Nevertheless, here are 15 ways (some that are perhaps surprising) to improve your communicating the gospel:
- Assume you need to improve. If you genuinely believe you have no room for improvement, ask others until you find someone who’s honest enough to help you (in fact, that person might tell you that you sometimes come across as arrogant).
- Consider the last time you intentionally improved your approach. If your last intentional improvement occurred years ago, or if you can’t remember when it was, you may have become stagnant as a communicator.
- Read the Bible and pray every day. This suggestion is basic, but it matters. Preachers and teachers who read the Scriptures only to prepare a lesson have reduced the Bible to a textbook for others. Those who communicate without praying regularly are operating in their own power.
- Forsake sin in your life. Again, it’s foundational yet imperative. Sin drains our passion for God and robs us of our power for communicating the gospel. Open the Scriptures with a clean heart, though, and it’s pure joy.
- Spend more time with your congregation. Your job is to teach the Word, but it’s more than that: it’s to teach people the Word. In fact, it’s a particular people: your class or your congregation. Know them so well that you can help them apply the Word to their lives.
- Enlist a prayer team. Don’t assume others are praying regularly for you as you preach or teach. Enlist prayer warriors who will intercede specifically for your holiness, your preparation, and your teaching. Know you will be proclaiming the Word under the power of God.
- Study preaching and teaching. Search for online preaching or teaching classes (e.g., my president at Southeastern Seminary, Danny Akin, offers a free course on “Interpreting and Teaching the Bible: http://goo.gl/4M6rtv). Read books about preaching and teaching (e.g., http://goo.gl/s4KAGH). Even veteran preachers and teachers can usually learn from reviewing these materials.
- Listen to other preachers. If you think you preach or teach too long, listen to someone who is more concise. Learn the value of stories and illustrations by considering what you remember from a sermon. Take note of good introductions and conclusions. Absorb from others without trying to become somebody else.
- Invite others to help you prepare. Enlist others to walk with you as you put together your sermon or lesson. Invite them to critique your exegesis and your proposed outline. Preach the sermon to them first. If time won’t allow you to take this approach each week, try it at least once a month.
- Simply and clearly answer the “what,” “so what,” and “now what” questions. What does the biblical text say? Why does that truth matter? As a listener, what am I to do with this teaching? If you as the preacher or teacher can’t answer these questions, neither will your hearers.
- Practice. Read your manuscript or outline again and again. Teach it in your head – or to the wall . . . or your infant . . . or your dog . . . or to the air – multiple times. Know the material so well that you can connect easily with your audience when teaching it.
- Do immediate reflection. As soon as possible after teaching or preaching, jot down some notes. What worked well? What needs to be changed? Make notes while your teaching is hot in your mind.
- Listen to and watch your own sermons or lessons. For the sake of communicating the gospel better, become the audience for your own teaching or preaching. And, if you discover no room for improvement, go back to suggestion #1 above and invite others to listen to your message with you.
- Invite unchurched folks to listen to your sermons or lessons. Ask an unchurched friend or unbeliever to critique your teaching. Find out if he or she understands your points. Determine how often you use Christian jargon. See if your friend sees your teaching as applicable. Give it a try – your friend might even turn to Jesus!
- Take care of yourself physically. Eat properly. Sleep well. Take your days off. Go on your vacation. An exhausted, out of shape preacher or teacher is not a good witness for the transforming power of the gospel.
What other suggestions would you make?
Chuck Lawless currently serves as Professor of Evangelism and Missions and Dean of Graduate Studies at Southeastern Seminary. You can connect with Dr. Lawless on both Twitter and Facebook.
Blogs
Staring at Dementia, Fighting for Joy – The Gospel Coalition
McKinney and Me | Desiring God
Jasmine Holmes, daughter of Voddie Baucham, reflects on the most famous pool party in the world.
An open letter to worship leaders | Reformation21 Blog
Loving People Through the Healing Power of Touch | The Gospel Coalition
I enjoy these little vignettes on how Christians are serving God in various vocations. I just wish they weren’t quite so brief.
When Marriage Is Miles Away: On Long-Distance Dating | Desiring God
Hopefully a young couple I know might read this.
Culture
Which Way, Evangelicals? There is Nowhere to Hide – AlbertMohler.com
Al Mohler reflects on Tony Campolo’s capitulation. And here’s an Orthodox priest with his perspective on this issue.
Court Upholds Texas Limits on Abortions | NYTimes.com
Some good news to keep you afloat.
Sin Unto Death
Q. What is the “sin unto death” in 1 John 5:16? I have been told it refers to believers who cross the line and God takes them home.
Christ Followers
Q. Our church recently hired a new lead pastor who has truly reinvigorated our congregation. Attendance is up and there is an energy present which has been lacking for many years. My question is this; I have never heard him use the term “Christians” or “believers”. He instead uses the term “Christ followers” to describe the body. For some reason this is very unsettling to my spirit. To me there is a big difference between a follower and a believer. Am I being unfair, or is there a difference? Paul said plainly in Acts, “believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved”. Thank you for your help with this.
The Bilderberg Group
Q. What do you think about the Bilderberg Group that is rearing its head recently? Do you see it tied into any prophecy or last days?
Why Should I Care?
A Bible Study by Jack Kelley
“Can you explain what pre-tribulation, pre-millennial, OSAS, and literal reading is and why I should care? I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God – He is my Lord and Savior – the only way to salvation (John 14:6).”
Featured Blogs
“My Last Day” — the Jesus Anime
9 powerful minutes of animation that begins with a thief behind bars watching the scourging of Jesus, and it ends with the thief dying next to Jesus, and waking to see Him in a beautiful place.
The dying thief: What was so great about his faith?
Our Time is Short
Ready to start your new life with God?
Who do you think that I am?
With that brief question Jesus Christ confronted His followers with the most important issue they would ever face. He had spent much time with them and made some bold claims about His identity and authority. Now the time had come for them either to believe or deny His teachings.
Who do you say Jesus is? Your response to Him will determine not only your values and lifestyle, but your eternal destiny as well.
Consider what the Bible says about Him: Read more
Look to Jesus
Have you ever felt a little lost and wished there was a quick-start guide to your relationship with God? This is it!
30 Day Next Steps
John Beckett, a leading Christian businessman, has written a series to read over 30 days for new believers.
New Believers Guide
The New Believer’s Guide is a series of articles designed to show you how to walk in the new life Christ has given you— a life of faith and freedom.
Jesus Booklet
Jesus is the Savior of the world. Discover who Jesus is today in this series.
About Christianity
Know Jesus Christ and your life will be transformed
Truth2Freedom Blog Disclaimer
This post was originally posted on:
https://truth4freedom.wordpress.com
(Alternative News, Apologetics, Current Events, Commentary, Opinion, Theology, Discernment Blog, Devotionals, Christian Internet Evangelism & Missions Activist).
“A simple layman armed with Scripture is to be believed above a pope or a council without it…” – Martin Luther
This blog is an aggregator of news and information that we believe will provide articles that will keep people informed about current trends, current events, discussions and movements taking place within our church and culture.
A headline link on this blog post doesn’t necessarily mean that there is agreement or approval with all the views and opinions expressed within the headline linked article. Caution is also warranted with regards to the advertisements and links that are embedded within the headline linked article.
Truth2Freedom's Blog 