“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” — John 1:14
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Daily Archives: December 26, 2020
December 26th The D. L. Moody Year Book
(Mr. Moody’s Burial.)
So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory, O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?—1 Corinthians 15:54, 55.
I TURN my back on death, and journey toward life from this time on, and away into the eternity beyond the grave I see life.[1]
[1] Moody, D. L. (1900). The D. L. Moody Year Book: A Living Daily Message from the Words of D. L. Moody. (E. M. Fitt, Ed.) (p. 231). East Northfield, MA: The Bookstore.
A Walk of Light: Ephesians 5:7-14 | Place for Truth
Paul often calls for turning from a pagan to a Christian “walk”,[1] a metaphor expecting certain companionship and conduct. Yet we should note he emphasizes the indicative (what Christ has done for and in us) before the imperative (what we ought to do for Christ) in Ephesians 5:8 (in the context of Ephesians 5:7-14): … ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light.
Paul commands our Christ-like walk by first confirming who Christians are: “light in the Lord”.
It is as if one wore infrared goggles to see our souls’ heat at night—or that we have a bioluminescence like deep sea creatures within a dark abyss.
Christians should walk in the light because they are light.[2] Paul says we are no longer darkness[3]; now we are “light in the Lord”. Thus, vs. 13 teaches that Christians reflect God’s glory wherever they go, as “Emmanuel” says in John 8:12 … he that followeth me … shall have the light of life.[4]
Because Jesus is the Light of the World (John 8:12) and Christians have His light shining in their hearts (2 Corinthians 4:6), therefore they are also the light of the world (Matthew 5:14).[5] Thus we can sing Psalm 18:28, for Christ … hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light (1 Peter 2:9).
Christians are wired to prefer Christ’s illumination—while worldly cockroaches favor darkness due to “negative phototaxis” programming. Ephesians 5:13 notes this phenomenon as does John 3:21.
Christians are like fireflies. Philippians 2:15 says, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation … [we] shine as lights in the world.
James Hastings writes:“ … in the human heart, when the light of God through Jesus Christ enters it, there is a growth. You cannot conceal that light, it will show itself in fruits of light.”[6]
December 26 Life-Changing Moments With God
Be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord.
Loving Lord, my labor is not in vain in You. As I have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so I walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as I have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving. If I endure to the end I shall be saved. The seeds that fell on the good ground are those people who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience.
By faith I stand.
Jesus must work the works of You, Lord God, who sent Him while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work.
If I sow to my flesh I will of the flesh reap corruption, but if I sow to the Spirit I will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. And let me not grow weary while doing good, for in due season I shall reap if I do not lose heart. Therefore, as I have opportunity, let me do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.
What a privilege to do Your kingdom work! May I serve with love and know Your joy.
1 Corinthians 15:58; Colossians 2:6–7; Matthew 24:13; Luke 8:15; 2 Corinthians 1:24; John 9:4; Galatians 6:8–10[1]
[1] Jeremiah, D. (2007). Life-Changing Moments With God (p. 385). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.
About the Ravi Zacharias situation… — The End Time
By Elizabeth Prata
In 2016 I wrote an essay looking into Ravi Zacharias and his ministry for discernment purposes. I titled it, “On Discerning Ravi Zacharias: It’s time to say what needs to be said“. I phrased it that way because even though the Bible calls us all to be Bereans (Acts 17:11) and search for truth and confirmation, and that doing so is ‘noble’, looking into the doctrine or integrity of a popular and globally known Bible teacher/apologist/evangelist is often called divisive. As if the more famous people like Billy Graham or Beth Moore or Ravi get a pass.
They don’t.
If enough bubbles percolate up and if a discernment person presents some evidence of doctrinal or behavioral issue at variance with the standards the Bible sets, it’s incumbent upon people to whom the gift of discernment has been given to do their diligence.
I’ve done so in non-famous ministries, and one or two extremely local. I’ve done so with celebrity ministries too such as Graham, Moore, Jentezen, IF:Gathering, not because they’re famous, but because their fame was drawing local women, my friends!, into their sphere- to their spiritual detriment.
So 4 years ago I’d accumulated enough disquiet about Ravi for me to go ahead and look into whether my disquiet was legitimate or not. Hence my initial essay. My conclusions were negative, that’s why the title ‘It’s time to say what needs to be said’ indicates my sad reluctance. When a teacher isn’t solid, it needs to be said, no matter who they are.
I wrote a follow-up six months later, focusing on Mr Zacharias’ remarks in advance of preaching at Rick Warren’s Saddleback Church and Ravi’s lauding of Warren. In 2019 I posted an essay containing clip from Too Wretched for Radio with a discussion between Phil Johnson of Grace To You and Todd Friel of Wretched about Ravi, here.
Part of discernment ministry is chronicling a teacher’s growing pile of sins or consistently reminding ladies of their questionable doctrine. Readers clue in at different stages, depending on their no-go points and spiritual maturity.
Along the way, I occasionally received emails from concerned and sometimes anonymous citizens charging Mr Zacharias with sexual misconduct. I ignored those. Not due to a lack of concern, but because I could not confirm or debunk the charges, especially if they are made anonymously. I was not about to spread rumors or disseminate what could be slander. I do not look into things based on anonymous allegations. Whisper campaigns are deadly to reputations. So, while comparing a public Bible teacher’s life and behavior to the Bible is legitimate and warranted, (1 Timothy 4:16; Titus 2:2-9; 1 Timothy 3), publishing unfounded accusations or even publicly looking into them is not.
As the tip of the iceberg regarding these allegations floated higher and higher out of the water, the Ravi Zacharias International Ministries (RZIM) employed an independent investigative team to search for the truth. I give RZIM great credit in doing this, especially since Mr Zacharias had recently died and it certainly would have been easier to sweep the issue under the rug, rationalizing that the man was dead and could not defend himself. But they didn’t.
The investigation has been half completed, but the results were so distressing to RZIM, that they made a statement this week regarding the ghastly interim results. I give them even greater credit for this, which had to have been heartbreaking for the RZIM workers, peers, and friends of the now-departed Mr Zacharias. Facing the truth is hard when it concerns dreadful sin, but love of Jesus and His spotless name must come first. RZIM is credited for adhering to that. Their statement is here. The Ministry said in the introduction to the interim report in part,
“This misconduct is deeply troubling and wholly inconsistent with the man Ravi Zacharias presented both publicly and privately to so many over more than four decades of public ministry. We are heartbroken at learning this but feel it necessary to be transparent and to inform our staff, donors, and supporters at this time, even while the investigation continues. We will speak more comprehensively to all concerned after the completion of the investigation.”
In a separate essay tomorrow looking at discernment as a process, I’ll come back to RZIM’s statement about the gap between public persona and private sinner. The Ministry linked to a statement from the Investigative Company Miller & Martin PLLC, here, which says in part-
“Some of that misconduct is consistent with and corroborative of that which is reported in the news recently, and some of the conduct we have uncovered is more serious.” [underline mine]
I am troubled in the extreme to learn that the allegations of sexual misconduct are not only founded, but that worse has been uncovered. There is not a lot that is worse than adultery and employer sexual misconduct.
I know how upsetting it is to learn that a beloved public teacher, a friend, an elder has fallen below reproach. We’ve had a lot of that in recent times. I don’t have enough fingers on both hands to count the number. We seem to frequently discover that a famous (or not so famous person) alleging to love Jesus has been presenting a false persona at odds with his private conduct. Some are easy to spot early on, (Mark Driscoll, Tullian Tchividjian,) others take longer to be unmasked and had fooled many in the meantime (Francis Chan, Kevin Hite). Either way, it’s a heartbreak.
Discernment people for the most part don’t relish this side of our ministry. We love to employ the gift in ways that lift up, affirm, and encourage. Though Paul was speaking to Timothy as a pastor in this verse, what Paul told Timothy to do can easily be applied to Bible teachers, discernment people, and really, any one of us.
preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, (aka encourage) with great patience and instruction. (2 Timothy 4:2).
It gives no pleasure to report that the name of Jesus has been muddied again, that a ministry that is supposed to help others has become an object of disappointment, scorn, or public condemnation. Of course we’d rather only encourage, and we do at all times possible. But reproving (aka expose) IS part of the process of purification. Holiness is the goal, and allowing impurity by remaining silent is a line that should not be crossed. (1 Timothy 1:20, 1 Corinthians 5:5, 1 Corinthians 11:32). Sometimes the Lord disciplines (2 Timothy 4:14), sometimes the Spirit prompts brethren to do it (1 Corinthians 5:12). Either way, sin must be outed. Otherwise it spreads like gangrene.
All this discernment work is so that the Lord will vindicate His good NAME. It is not so that individuals can boast of their own gold standard. It is not so that individuals can pack slander onto others with little or no basis – but with much vigor and glee. It is solely so that we can employ the good gift the Sprit has given, and in concert with others who are employing their various gifts, persevere in working out our salvation with fear and trembling for the sake of the kingdom.
My heart goes out to people who are devastated by this news of Ravi Zacharias. My heart also goes out to his ministry partners, and especially to his victims. All this should induce in us a vigor to check that these things are so, from your own pastor, to me & other bloggers, to more well known people. Sin is always crouching at the door, but constant vigor means we don’t have to let it in. It should also make us long for the Day when only purity will be the status, in us, in the world. What a day that will be!
December 26, 2020 Evening Verse Of The Day
The Results
And the word of God kept on spreading; and the number of the disciples continued to increase greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were becoming obedient to the faith. (6:7)
As already noted, the organization of the church freed the apostles to devote themselves to prayer and the Word. It also avoided a church split. Luke closes this section, as he has before, by noting the development of the church. The word of God kept on spreading from the church as a direct result of the freeing of the apostles to carry out their primary ministry, and also of the church’s unity. As the Word continued to spread, the number of the disciples continued to increase greatly in Jerusalem. Greatly, like the general reference to multitudes (5:14), shows that there were so many new converts being added that they lost count of the exact number. Astonishingly, a great many of the priests were becoming obedient to the faith. These were, of course, not the chief priests or members of the Sanhedrin, but a very large number of the rank and file priests who ministered in the temple. Perhaps this dramatic impact of the gospel on the priests accounts for the opposition that soon arose against Stephen.
The church today needs organization for the same reasons as the first fellowship. Pastors must be freed to focus on the preaching of the Word and prayer. Better organization can help meet the needs of all members and thus avoid conflict. And a unified, well-taught church will be a powerful witness to the lost world.[1]
Summary Statement (6:7)
7 Luke concludes his first panel of material on the earliest days of the church in Jerusalem with this summary statement, which is very much in line with his thesis paragraph of 2:42–47 and his summary paragraphs of 4:32–35 and 5:12–16 that head their respective units of material. His focus in this first panel has been on the advances of the gospel and the responses of the people. Therefore he concludes by saying that “the word of God spread” and “the number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly.”
Before he leaves this first panel, however, Luke inserts the comment—almost as something of an afterthought—that “a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.” At first glance this statement is perplexing, to say the least, particularly in view of how Luke has depicted the Jewish priests in 4:1–22 and 5:17–40. It seems extremely difficult to believe that many Jewish priests of the various high priestly families would have become Christians. Nevertheless, as J. Jeremias, 198–213, pointed out in great detail, there were perhaps as many as eight thousand “ordinary” priests and ten thousand Levites, who were divided into twenty-four weekly courses and who served at the Jerusalem temple during the span of a year—whose social position was distinctly inferior to that of the high priestly families and whose piety could well have inclined them to an acceptance of the Christian message. In addition, the Qumran covenanters thought of themselves as the true sons of Zadok, as the Zadokite Fragments (Damascus Covenant) from Caves 4 and 6 testify. And many of the common people in Israel undoubtedly respected, even if they could not support, the claim of these Essene covenanters to the priesthood.
Perhaps Luke himself was not aware of the distinctions in Palestine between high priestly families, ordinary priests, and Essene-type priests. What he evidently learned from his sources was that a great number of persons calling themselves priests became believers in Jesus and were numbered with the Christians in the Jerusalem church. He seems to have included that bit of information as something of an appendix to his portrayal of the church’s earliest days in the city. He might also have found it a matter either difficult to believe or difficult to elaborate in view of what he had said earlier about the priests of Jerusalem. If he had known about the ordinary priests of the temple and the Essene-type priests at Qumran, however, the response of the priests that he reports in the final words of this panel might not have seemed so amazing and he might have said more.[2]
Progress Report (6:7)
7 The word of God advanced and the number of the disciples in Jerusalem increased greatly; moreover, a large company of the priests were rendering obedience to the faith.19
7 At this point Luke interrupts his narrative with a brief report of progress. Six such reports appear at intervals throughout Acts and serve to punctuate the history. But here, immediately before the account of Stephen’s activity, there is special relevance in Luke’s emphasis on the church’s increase in numbers and popularity. In particular, the fact that so many priests were joining the community meant that the ties which attached many of the believers to the temple order would be strengthened. It is not suggested that these priests relinquished their priestly office; the logic of such a step would not be generally appreciated at this stage.21 The ordinary priests were socially and in other ways far removed from the wealthy chief-priestly families from which the main opposition to the gospel came. Many of the ordinary priests were no doubt men holy and humble of heart, like Zechariah, father of John the Baptist, men who would readily be persuaded of the truth of the gospel. But it was not good that the new movement should be too closely attached to the old order, and there is “tremendous tension” in the juxtaposition of the reference to these priests and the account of Stephen’s insistence that the temple order was now superseded.23[3]
6:7 / Thus, in a context of prayer and a spirit of good will, the church put its house in order. Unity was maintained. The impression is given that the resolution of this matter brought renewed blessing—the word of God spread; that is, the apostolic preaching of Christ (see disc. on 5:20) was heard by more and more people, and consequently the number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly. The imperfect tense of the verb in each of these statements emphasizes that this was an ongoing process (cf. 2:41; 4:4; 5:14; 6:1). Among those won to the new faith were many priests who had come up to the city to serve their turn in the temple and had, perhaps, heard the gospel as it was preached in the temple. We are told that they were obedient to the faith. This verb is found in Acts only here and may have been chosen deliberately to suggest that they were especially under pressure, perhaps from the Sadducean hierarchy, to renounce the faith (understood in an objective sense as a body of belief; see disc. on 14:22) and yet had remained true. It seems unlikely that these priests held any special position within the church. The reference of this verse may be to the work of the Twelve now that they could give themselves to preaching unimpeded by other cares. One supposes that it was chiefly among people whose language and culture they shared, namely, the Hebrews. The next section may speak of a parallel work of Stephen among the Hellenists. In each case, Jerusalem remained the scene of their labors.[4]
Ver. 7.—Exceedingly for greatly, A. V. Were obedient to the faith. Compare the phrase, “obedience of faith” or “to the faith” (Rom. 1:5; 16:25). The addition of a great multitude of priests was an important incident in the Church’s history, both as they were a higher order of men, and a class very liable to be prejudiced against the faith which would rob them of their importance.[5]
7. Luke describes the effect of the new appointment in terms of an increase in Christian witness. Using a favourite phrase (12:24; 19:20), he says that the word of God increased; its proclamation increased and was effective in winning converts. As a result the number of disciples continued to grow, and in particular there were converts among the priests. This suggests that the work of the apostles among the ‘Hebrews’ was expanding; we then hear of the work among the ‘Hellenists’ in verses 8ff. The priests were presumably those attached to the temple in Jerusalem, of whom there was a great number (estimated at 18,000 priests and Levites; they were on duty for a fortnight each year according to a rota; Luke 1:8). The theory that these were priests belonging to the Qumran community who were disaffected from the temple is improbable. Obedient to the faith means obedient to the call for faith contained in the gospel (cf. 2 Thess. 1:8).[6]
The result (6:7)
As a direct result of the action of the apostles in delegating the social work, in order to concentrate on their pastoral priority, the word of God spread (7a). But of course! The word cannot spread when the ministry of the word is neglected. Conversely, when pastors devote themselves to the word, it spreads. Then, as a further result, the number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and (a remarkable development) a large number of priests became obedient to the faith (7b). The two verbs ‘spread’ and ‘increased’ are in the imperfect tense, indicating that both the spread of the word and the growth of the church were continuous. This verse is the first of six summaries of growth, with which Luke intersperses his narrative. They come at crucial points in his unfolding story: after the apostles’ decision to give their attention to prayer and preaching (6:7); after the dramatic conversion of Saul of Tarsus (9:31); after the equally wonderful conversion of the first Gentile, Cornelius, followed by the overthrow of Herod Agrippa I (12:24); after Paul’s first missionary journey and the Jerusalem Council (16:5); after the second and third missionary journeys (19:20); and at the end of the book after Paul’s arrival in Rome, where he preached ‘boldly and without hindrance’ (28:30–31). In each of these verses we read either that the word was spreading or that the church was growing or both. God was at work; neither humans nor demons could stand in his way.
We have now seen the three tactics which the devil employed in his overall strategy to destroy the church. First, he tried through the Jewish authorities to suppress it by force; secondly through the married couple Ananias and Sapphira to corrupt it by hypocrisy; and thirdly through some squabbling widows to distract its leadership from prayer and preaching, and so expose it to error and evil. If he had succeeded in any of these attempts, the new community of Jesus would have been annihilated in its infancy. But the apostles were sufficiently alert to detect ‘the devil’s schemes’. We need their spiritual discernment today to recognize the activity of both the Holy Spirit and the evil spirit (cf. 5:3). We also need their faith in the strong name of Jesus, by whose authority alone the powers of darkness can be overthrown.[7]
7. As the word of God continued to spread, the number of disciples in Jerusalem continued to increase more and more. And a great number of priests became obedient to the faith.
Throughout his book, Luke records summaries that describe the phenomenal growth of the early church. For instance, at the conclusion of his Pentecost report he states that the Lord daily added people to the three thousand believers (2:41, 47). Literally, the Greek text has the reading, “the word of God continued to increase.” This does not mean that the New Testament Scriptures increased with the addition of certain books, but that the gospel itself became part of the spiritual lives of the people. In other words, the effect of the proclaimed word became increasingly noticeable in the lives of the inhabitants of Jerusalem. As a direct result of the preaching and teaching of the apostles, who could now devote themselves fully to prayer and the ministry of the Word, more and more people believed and joined the church.
Luke adds one more observation to this summary. “And a great number of priests became obedient to the faith.” The Jewish historian Josephus relates that in his day there were four priestly tribes and that each one of them numbered some five thousand members. “These officiate by rotation for a fixed period of days.” On any given day, therefore, there were some five thousand priests in Jerusalem. Obviously, a large number of priests, persuaded by the preaching of the gospel, joined the church. Note that Luke uses the term faith as synonymous with Christ’s gospel (compare 13:8). This term means the objective faith embodied in doctrinal teaching and not the subjective faith of the believer. Indeed, Luke employs various expressions to describe Christianity in this formative period of the church: the Name (5:41), the Way (9:2), and the Faith (6:7).[8]
6:7 “The word of God” This refers to the gospel of Jesus Christ. His life, death, resurrection, and teaching about God form the new way of viewing the Old Covenant (cf. Matt. 5:17–48). Jesus is the word (cf. John 1:1; 14:6). Christianity is a Person!
“kept on spreading” All three VERBS in v. 7 are IMPERFECT TENSE. This is a central theme in Acts. God’s word is spreading by new covenant people trusting in Christ and becoming a part of the new people of God (cf. 6:7; 12:24; 19:20). This may be an allusion to God’s promises to Abraham about the numerical growth of his family, who became the old covenant people of God (cf. 7:17; Gen. 17:4–8; 18:18; 28:3; 35:11).
“a great many of the priests were becoming obedient to the faith” This was one of the causes of the Jewish leadership (i.e. Sadducees) unrest over Christianity. Those who knew the OT well were being convinced that Jesus of Nazareth was truly the promised Messiah. The inner circle of Judaism was cracking! The summary statements of growth may be a key to the structure of the book (cf. 9:31; 12:24; 16:5; 19:20; 28:31).
“the faith” This term may have several distinct connotations: (1) its OT background means “faithfulness” or “trustworthiness”; therefore, it is used of our faithing the faithfulness of God or our trusting in the trustworthiness of God; (2) our accepting or receiving God’s free offer of forgiveness in Christ; (3) faithful, godly living; or (4) the collective sense of the Christian faith or the doctrinal truth about Jesus (cf. Rom. 1:5; Gal. 1:23; and Jude 3 & 20). In several passages, such as 2 Thess. 3:2, it is difficult to know which sense Paul had in mind.[9]
[1] MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (1994). Acts (Vol. 1, pp. 184–185). Chicago: Moody Press.
[2] Longenecker, R. N. (2007). Acts. In T. Longman III & D. E. Garland (Eds.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Luke–Acts (Revised Edition) (Vol. 10, pp. 808–809). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.
[3] Bruce, F. F. (1988). The Book of the Acts (p. 123). Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.
[4] Williams, D. J. (2011). Acts (p. 120). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books.
[5] Spence-Jones, H. D. M. (Ed.). (1909). Acts of the Apostles (Vol. 1, p. 193). London; New York: Funk & Wagnalls Company.
[6] Marshall, I. H. (1980). Acts: an introduction and commentary (Vol. 5, pp. 135–136). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
[7] Stott, J. R. W. (1994). The message of Acts: the Spirit, the church & the world (pp. 123–124). Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
[8] Kistemaker, S. J., & Hendriksen, W. (1953–2001). Exposition of the Acts of the Apostles (Vol. 17, p. 225). Grand Rapids: Baker Book House.
[9] Utley, R. J. (2003). Luke the Historian: The Book of Acts (Vol. Volume 3B, p. 94). Marshall, TX: Bible Lessons International.
Called to Suffer — Veritas et Lux
The “health and wealth” gospel continues to wield a powerful influence on many people around the world. This movement is fraught with theological danger and should be resisted and opposed by thoughtful Christians. Al Mohler addresses this troubling trend:
Prosperity theology is a false gospel. Its message is unbiblical and its promises fail. God never assures his people of material abundance or physical health. Instead, Christians are promised the riches of Christ, the gift of eternal life, and the assurance of glory in the eternal presence of the living God. In the end, the biggest problem with prosperity theology is not that it promises too much, but that it promises too little. The gospel of Jesus Christ offers salvation from sin, not a platform for earthly prosperity. While we should seek to understand what drives so many into this movement, we must never for a moment fail to see its message for what it is – a false and failed gospel.
In contrast to the “health and wealth” gospel, the Bible calls followers of Christ to suffer. We are called to suffer together (1 Cor. 12:26). We are called to patiently endure suffering (2 Cor. 1:6). We are called upon to suffer for Christ’s sake (Phil. 1:29). In 1 Thessalonians 3:1-5, we learn that God has ordained that we will suffer.
The fact that we are called to suffer is one of the clear themes of Scripture. The Bible says, “For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps” (1 Peter 2:20–21, ESV).
The apostle Paul challenges us to “rejoice in our sufferings …” (Rom. 5:3). This biblical mindset requires us to set our hope upon the risen Savior. It requires us to pay close attention to God’s revealed word. We know that suffering is not an end in itself. We know that God is using suffering for his purposes. And we know that suffering is ultimately for our good and for his glory. Listen to Paul’s God-centered perspective in his letter to the Corinthians:
So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal (2 Cor. 4:16–18, ESV)
We are a people of unshakeable hope. Even in the midst of a global pandemic, we have much to rejoice in. Indeed, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope.
The great Welsh pastor, Martyn Lloyd-Jones reminds us, “Faith produces hope, and the more clearly and consciously we have that hope, the more we shall know the love of God to us, and the more, in turn we shall love God.” Yes, we are called to suffer. Yes, we will experience adversity. But we cast our hope on a sovereign God who controls it all and will one day make all things new!
December—26 The Poor Man’s Evening Portion
A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence.—1 Peter 2:8.
O my Lord! how wonderful it is, that thy coming should have given such offence to thy people? The prophet, indeed, said it should be so, and thereby gave one among the many testimonies to thy character. “He,” saith the prophet, (Isaiah 8:14,) “that shall be for a sanctuary, shall be but a stone of stumbling, and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel.” But what was there, my Lord, in thee, and the gracious purpose for which thou came, that could have furnished occasion for stumbling? Thy birth, indeed, was humble, thy life marked with sorrow, thy death ignominious, and every thing about thee debased. But under all these things, did not the Godhead burst forth in acts which none but God could perform? And is the offence of the cross ceased in the present hour? Alas! what multitudes of sinners now, as much as then, still live to despise salvation by thy blood and righteousness? Precious Jesus! who made me to differ from another? Why was I constrained to look unto thee as the Rock of Ages, the precious stone that Jehovah hath laid in Zion for salvation, while thousands refuse that thou shouldst reign over them? Oh! for grace to praise thee, and to love thee! Now, Lord, do I discover a preciousness in that divine scripture, and thank thee for it as my own; “Blessed is he (thou hast said) whosoever is not offended in me!”[1]
[1] Hawker, R. (1845). The Poor Man’s Evening Portion (A New Edition, pp. 352–353). Philadelphia: Thomas Wardle.
December 26 – The woman rides the beast! — VCY America
December 26
Zechariah 9:1-17
Revelation 17:1-18
Psalm 145:1-21
Proverbs 30:32
Zechariah 9:5 – Ashkelon was finally destroyed in 1270 by the Mamluk sultan Baybars, and is now an archaeological site.
Zechariah 9:7 – Modern Ashkelon and Ashdod are now Jewish cities under the sovereignty of the State of Israel.
Zechariah 9:9 – Notice: a) Rejoicing b) by Jews c) of Jerusalem d) the King e) having salvation f) riding upon the colt of an ass.
This verse is quoted verbatim in Matthew 21:5. Let’s see how it was fulfilled! (Salvation (e) was coming that very week!)
And brought the ass, and the colt (f), and put on them their clothes, and they set him (d) thereon. And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way.. And the multitudes (b) that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna (a) to the son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest. And when he was come into Jerusalem (c), all the city was moved, saying, Who is this?
Matthew 21:7-9
Zechariah 9:10 – His dominion – this goes back to Balaam’s prophecy of one having dominion in Numbers 24:19, and Bildad the Shuhite who knew that “dominion and fear are with him, he maketh peace” (Job 25:2).
Specifically, this is the promise of Psalm 72:8 “He shall havedominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth.” David wished that of his son, Solomon, but Zechariah says that it hasn’t been fulfilled at the start of the post-exilic time period. Jesus the peace has come, and will return for His Kingdom (Mark 1:15, Revelation 19:16).
Zechariah 9:16 – The LORD will save His people! In Romans 11:26, we see all Israel shall be saved. Later on in Zechariah 12:10 we’ll see how it will happen in an incredible prophecy.
Revelation 17:3 – Where today do we find a woman riding a beast?
the founding myth of Europa and the bull has frequently been alluded to in relation to the continent and by the modern European Union, and can thus be considered not only a piece of toponymy, but also as a semi-official symbol or supranational personification of the European region.
https://www.thenewfederalist.eu/Europa-and-the-bull-The-significance-of-the-myth-in-modern-Europe
Revelation 17:6 – From John Walvoord: “Many expositors refer this to Rome. Seven hills formed the nucleus of the ancient city on the left bank of the Tiber. These hills received the names of Palatine, Aventine, Caelian, Esquiline, Viminal, Quirinal, and Capitoline.”
Revelation 17:10 – Also from John Walvoord:
What regal mountain, then, was in power at the time John wrote? There can be no question on that point; it was the Roman empire. Thus, then, we ascertain and identify the sixth in the list, which shows what sort of kings the angel meant. Of the same class with this, and belonging to the same category, there are five others—five which had then already run their course and passed away. But what five imperial mountains like Rome had been and gone, up to that time? Is history so obscure as not to tell us with unmistakable certainty? Preceding Rome the world had but five great names or nationalities answering to imperial Rome, and those scarce a schoolboy ought to miss. They are Greece, Persia, Babylon, Assyria, and Egypt; no more, and no less. And these all were imperial powers like Rome. Here, then, are six of these regal mountains; the seventh is not yet come. When it comes it is to endure but a short time.
Revelation 17:14 – The Lamb shall overcome! He is Lord of Lords and King of Kings! From our friend Patch the Pirate:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RfuSG7k3mJo
Psalm 145:3
Psalm 145:11 – While it’s considered a Christmas song, this song actually talks about the Second Coming of Jesus!
Joy to the world, the Lord is come
Let earth receive her King
Let every heart prepare Him room
And Heaven and nature sing
And Heaven and nature sing
And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing
Proverbs 30:32 – Avoid pride, seek humility!
December 26 The Man in the Glass
I have finished my course.
(2 Timothy 4:7)
When you get what you want in your struggle for self
And the world makes you king for a day,
Just go to the mirror and look at yourself
And see what that man has to say.
For it isn’t your father or mother or wife
Whose judgment upon you must pass,
The fellow whose verdict counts most in your life
Is the one staring back from the glass.
He’s the fellow to please; never mind all the rest,
For he’s with you clear to the end,
And you’ve passed your most dangerous, difficult test
If the man in the glass is your friend.
You may fool the whole world down the pathway of years
And get pats on the back as you pass,
But your final reward will be heartache and tears
If you’ve cheated the man in the glass.
Now there’s something to think about![1]
[1] Gass, B. (1998). A Fresh Word For Today : 365 Insights For Daily Living (p. 360). Alachua, FL: Bridge-Logos Publishers.
How Do I Recognize a Fake Christian? | Crosswalk.com
When I was in middle school, it was considered one of the biggest offenses to be told that you were a “poser.” This would imply that you’re trying to be someone you weren’t in an effort to impress others. For example—if a guy claimed he was a jock and even dressed one, but he had zero athletic skills, then he was a poser. Perhaps he wanted the attention from girls that being a jock could attract. Sadly, “posers” aren’t just found in middle school; there are some who have crept into today’s church, pretending to be a Christian. So what exactly are fake Christians, and how do we know when we see one?
What Is a Fake Christian?
The term “fake Christian” may bring to your mind an image of someone who is a hypocrite. Although there are plenty of hypocritical Christians, we need to break this term down in order to accurately define what it means.
We know that the word fake suggests inauthenticity. Counterfeits.
A Christian is someone who has accepted Jesus Christ as his or her Lord and Savior. This person is considered saved, or “born again,” because they have applied the principle found in Romans 10:9: “If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” The underlying factor that differentiates believers from nonbelievers is the Holy Spirit that abides within us, according to Ephesians 1:13: “And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago.”
With these two definitions in mind, we can define a fake Christian as being one who has not genuinely been born again, and yet they put on the persona as though they have.
Perhaps this person chose to wear the Christian title so they could profit off that reputation (similar to those jock posers back in middle school). All of us have likely, at one time or another, attempted to fit in with a certain crowd. If an unbeliever discovered they could gain a certain kind of acceptance through “fitting in” with a church crowd or Christian industry, they may have preferred to wear a church mask rather than actually accepting Christ into their heart.
But if someone wanted the acceptance, or the benefits, that come from being a Christian, why wouldn’t they—you know, actually become a Christian? One reason is that they may not believe in the message of the cross. 1 Corinthians 1:18 reminds us that “The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God.”
Another reason is that, while they may relish in their false Christian appearance, they are ultimately not willing to dedicate their hearts and lives to God. Being a true Christian would involve sacrificing their ungodly lifestyle—or else they’d continue that lifestyle and live with the guilt. The enemy is a deceiver, and he attempts to make Christianity look like bondage to unbelievers so they will choose to remain “free” to live for him instead.
To summarize, fake Christians are those who have chosen a saved appearance rather than a saved heart. They care more about their status through the eyes of the church, their family, or a Christian industry rather than their status through the eyes of God.
What Is an Authentic Christian?
An authentic Christian, on the other hand, is one who has accepted Christ as his or her Savior. The light of the Holy Spirit abides within this person. Matthew 7:20 provides an indication of how we can identify an authentic Christian: “Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions.”
The speech and actions of these authentic Christians overflow with fruit of the Spirit, because Galatians 5:22-23 tells us, “But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!”
In addition, those whose hearts are abandoned to God have a concern for matters that concern Him and a hatred toward evil. James 1:27 tells us that “Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.”
This doesn’t mean that these authentic Christians do not commit sin; after all, Jesus is the only sinless human who walked the earth (1 Peter 2:22, 2 Corinthians 5:21, 1 John 3:5, Hebrews 4:15). Rather, when true believers commit sin, they are convicted by the Holy Spirit (see John 16:8) and live a life of repentance. They are set free from living in bondage to sin and have been purified by the blood of the Lamb.
Because believers know that we will someday give an account for the way we lived our lives (2 Corinthians 5:10), authentic Christians strive to serve God and obey His Word. They understand that God’s opinion carries more weight than man’s because Galatians 1:10 reminds us, “If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ’s servant.”
What Is the Difference between a Fake Christian and a Wayward Christian?
Thankfully, our salvation is not determined by works but by faith (Galatians 2:21). Otherwise, no one would be worthy enough to stand before God in eternity!
With this in mind, let’s be careful not to assume someone is a “fake Christian” because of their struggle with sin. As humans, we tend to “look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart” (see 1 Samuel 16:7). God is the One who will ultimately determine a person’s eternal fate. James 4:12 reminds us, “There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and to destroy; but who are you who judge your neighbor?”
There are those within the church who have genuinely accepted Christ as their Savior and once committed their lives to Him but have since strayed from following His Word. Perhaps this Christian goes to church weekly, prays occasionally, and even loves God—but their love for Him is not reflected in the way they live, speak, or make daily decisions.
When we spot these Christians, let’s refrain from passing judgment and instead extend godly love toward them, praying that the Holy Spirit will convict them. We can also pray about how we can play a role in leading that person back to the truth. James 5:19 says, “My dear brothers and sisters, if someone among you wanders away from the truth and is brought back, you can be sure that whoever brings the sinner back from wandering will save that person from death and bring about the forgiveness of many sins.”
Does Scripture Address the Idea of Fake Christians?
Scripture makes it clear that there are those who will call themselves Christians on earth, but when they reach eternity, their hearts and true intentions will be revealed.
Matthew 7:21-23 says, “Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’”
We also know that God despises a kind of Christianity in which a person is not committed to a godly lifestyle. “Straddling the fence” should never be an option for the true believer. Revelation 3:15-16 says, “I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth!”
Remember Judas Iscariot? He was once considered an apostle of Jesus, but his true motives were soon revealed. When he betrayed Jesus, it was proven that he was more interested in what he could gain from Jesus rather than how he could serve him. It is believed that Judas had a financial intention behind betraying Jesus (see Matthew 26:14-15).
Sadly, there are still many Judas Iscariots within the church today—people who perform like a Christ-follower and may even be well-versed in “Christianese,” and yet their motives are purely for fleshly gain rather than spiritual gain.
How to Spot a Fake Christian
Let’s ask the following scriptural questions:
Does this person love this world and the things it offers them?
1 John 2:25 says, “Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you.”
Does this person love other believers?
1 John 3:14 says, “If we love our brothers and sisters who are believers, it proves that we have passed from death to life. But a person who has no love is still dead.”
Does this person bear fruits of the spirit, as addressed in Galatians 5:22-23?
Healthy fruits are an indication that a person is attached to the vine (John 15:5).
Does this person live according to the flesh or the spirit (Romans 8:13)?
Do they express works of the flesh as addressed in Galatians 5:19-21 (such as drunkenness, sexual immorality, divisions, etc.)? We are told, in this passage, that “those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” In addition, Jesus says in Mark 7:20-23, “’What comes out of a person is what defiles him. For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.’”
Does this person possess a genuine fear of God?
Proverbs 14:2 says, “He who walks in his uprightness fears the Lord, but he who is devious in his ways despises Him.”
Does this person teach a false gospel?
By false gospel I mean one that is “a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Timothy 6:3-5)?
Does this person’s faith rest “in the wisdom of men” or in “the power of God”? (1 Corinthians 2:5)
Lastly, does this person overflow with the love of God as addressed in 1 Corinthians 13:2? And is this a worldly kind of love that tolerates sin, or is it the godly type of love that extends compassion on everyone but holds righteous anger toward sin?
Again, let’s be slow to judge and refrain from tossing accusations toward someone who claims to be a believer. After all, godly love is the kind that “bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things” (1 Corinthians 13:6-7).
We can, however, use wisdom and discernment to take heed of red flags when we see them. But this does not give us the right to gossip about someone within a congregation. Instead, we can find reassurance in the truth laid out in, Ecclesiastes 12:14, which says, “For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.”
This isn’t to say we are not held accountable to speak up about obvious sin within the church (see 1 Corinthians 5:12). Let’s do this from a place of godly love rather than a “holier-than-thou” attitude like the Pharisee did in the parable found in Luke 18:9-13:
“The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer: ‘I thank you, God, that I am not like other people—cheaters, sinners, adulterers. I’m certainly not like that tax collector!”
After all, the one whom you may deem as fake could be someone whose struggle with sin is merely more obvious than yours. So rather than pointing fingers, let’s invest most of our energy into our own faith journey, determined that we will be known as a passionate follower of Christ.
The godly love we extend toward believers and non-believers alike speaks volumes louder than our Christian title. In fact, the loyalty and devotion we express toward God and others could be the very thing that leads those “fake Christians” to Christ.
Tessa Emily Hall is an award-winning author who wrote her debut novel when she was sixteen. She is now a multi-published author of both fiction and non-fiction inspirational yet authentic books for teens, including her latest release, LOVE YOUR SELFIE (October 2020, Ellie Claire). Tessa’s passion for shedding light on clean entertainment and media for teens led her to a career as a Literary Agent at Cyle Young Literary Elite, YA Acquisitions Editor for Illuminate YA (LPC Imprint), and Founder/Editor of PursueMagazine.net. She is guilty of making way too many lattes and never finishing her to-read list. When her fingers aren’t flying 128 WPM across the keyboard, she can be found speaking to teens, teaching at writing conferences, and acting in Christian films. Her favorite way to procrastinate is to connect with readers is on her mailing list, social media (@tessaemilyhall), and website: www.tessaemilyhall.com.
This article is part of our larger resource library of Christian practices and disciplines important to the Christian faith. From speaking in tongues to tithing & baptism, we want to provide easy to read and understand articles that answer your questions about Christian living.
Top Crosswalk Video of 2020
Amazing Children’s Choir Sings ‘I Can Only Imagine’
“I’m so glad they are using their God-given talent to give praise to His name. Just listen and be reminded of why this song is such a special one in all of our hearts. We are blessed by the King of all kings and His love reigns down on us all.”
Headlines – 12/26/2020
Normalizing with Israel, Arab states look to gain powerful ally in Washington
Trump gives awards to top aides for Arab-Israeli deals
Netanyahu speaks to king of Morocco, invites him to visit Israel
Pompeo says U.S. began work to set up consulate in Western Sahara
After years of acrimony, Turkey’s Erdogan says he’d like better ties with Israel
Iron Dome intercepts 2 rockets over Ashkelon
IDF reportedly strikes Gaza after rockets fired into Israel
El Al plane diverted during air strike on Syria to avoid anti-aircraft fire
3 injured while running for cover during Gaza rocket attack on southern Israel
How Israel and the US combined media and military power to prevent war
Satellite images show airstrike damage to weapons facilities in Syria
Harsh Revenge for Assassination of Gen. Soleimani on Agenda: IRGC General
US Embassy in Baghdad denies rumor of evacuation, with tensions high after largest attack in decade
Survivors of Blackwater massacre in Iraq slam Trump’s pardons for US guards behind killing
Top associate of Russian opposition leader Navalny detained
Japan official, calling Taiwan ‘red line,’ urges Biden to ‘be strong’
RV Broadcast Evacuation Message Before Nashville Christmas Day Explosion: Police
Nashville explosion witness remembers chilling warning from the RV: ‘A bomb is in this vehicle’
Nashville explosion witness says his home was ‘completely demolished’
Massive downtown Nashville explosion: Human remains found in blast area; reward tops $30k
Shots Fired Before Nashville Explosion, FBI Taking Over Investigation
GOP seeks to avoid messy Trump fight over Electoral College
Trump said to be frustrated Pence not doing enough to help overturn the election
Wisconsin Lawmakers Join Lawsuit to Block Certification of Presidential Electors
Cuomo staffer hit in head with cinder block during random NYC attack
NYPD cop shot in the back, saved by bulletproof vest
NYPD union boss says shooter felt emboldened to open fire on cop
5.5 magnitude earthquake hits near Casay, Philippines
5.1 magnitude earthquake hits near Sarangani, Philippines
5.1 magnitude earthquake hits near Komodo, Indonesia
5.0 magnitude earthquake hits near Port-Vila, Vanuatu
More than a dozen earthquakes reported in Puerto Rico on Christmas Eve including one measuring 4.8
Sabancaya volcano in Peru erupts to 24,000ft
Klyuchevskoy volcano on Kamchatka, Russia erupts to 22,000ft
Sangay volcano in Ecuador erupts to 22,000ft
Popocateptl volcano in Mexico erupts to 20,000ft
Fuego volcano in Guatemala erupts to 16,000ft
Reventador volcano in Ecuador erupts to 16,000ft
In Christmas message curbed by COVID, pope calls on nations to share vaccines
Beijing Boasts It Can Save the World: Says Trust China to Supply Coronavirus Vaccines
China’s vaccines are poised to help less wealthy nations, but face trust issues
Boston doctor has severe allergic reaction to Moderna COVID vaccine
Majority of Americans plan to delay COVID vaccine or not get it at all
Israel’s Testing System Crashes, Huge Delays in Analyzing Thousands of Tests
A pandemic Christmas: Services move online, people stay home
L.A. County health officials: Don’t attend indoor church services no matter what judge says
Sen. Rand Paul: Governors Should Never Have Been Allowed to Become ‘Dictators’
‘Squad’ introduces bill for $2,000 stimulus checks backed by Trump
Trump takes meetings on Christmas to urge Congress to pass $2K stimulus checks
British army helps clear backlog of 4,000 virus-stranded truck drivers at border
Businesses Brace for Disruption Despite Post-Brexit Trade Deal
China’s Economy Set to Overtake U.S. Earlier Due to Covid Fallout
Majority of Voters Believe U.S. Debt Will Pave the Way for China to Become Global Financial Leader
Chinese Stocks Have Banner Year, Gaining Nearly $5 Trillion
Source: Tracking the Birth Pangs – News and Links (trackingbibleprophecy.org)
26 Dec 2020 – Rapture Ready News
PREPARE FOR WAR: After Jan. 6th, expect all hell to break loose across America
For the past month or so, I’ve been posting daily Situation Update reports based on deep research and insider sources who help keep me informed. You can listen to all these Situation Update podcasts at this link on Brighteon.com.
Tropical Storm “Chalane” to make landfall over Madagascar, head toward Mozambique
Tropical Storm “Chalane” formed east of Madagascar on December 24, 2020, as the 3rd named storm of the 2020/21 Southwest Indian Ocean Cyclone Season. Chalane is forecast to make landfall over Madagascar on December 27, exit into the Mozambique Channel late December 28 and head toward Mozambique. Authorities in Madagascar, Mozambique, Malawi, and Zimbabwe are on alert and have started coordinating disaster preparedness activities.
Storm Bella to bring severe winds and flooding to parts of UK on Boxing Day
Storm Bella is set to slam parts of the UK with severe gales and flooding rain on Boxing Day through Sunday morning, December 26 to 27. The Met Office has issued several yellow warnings for much of the country, while amber warnings are in place for parts of England and Wales.
Nazi Holocaust Of The Jews Which Lasted From 1938 To 1945 Is A Grizzly Type Picture Of The Coming Time Of Jacob’s Trouble And Great Tribulation
Within mere weeks after Adolf Hitler became Chancellor of Germany in 1933, reeducation camps were established largely for Communists and political dissidents, but over the next 5 years the focus gradually shifted to the Jews. In 1938, the year that plans to exterminate the Jews were formally enacted with Kristallnacht, or the ‘night of broken glass’, a plan was put into place that called for nothing less than the killing of each and every Jew in Europe. This systematic extermination of Jews lasted 7 long years, and as horrific as all this was, it is only a type picture of what is coming for the Jews in the very near future in an event the prophet Jeremiah calls the Time of Jacob’s Trouble.
H.G. Wells’ Dystopic Vision Comes Alive With The Great Reset Agenda
If Wells’ outlines look similar to those ideas recently made public by the World Economic Forum’s Great Reset, then don’t be surprised…
COVID THEATER: Anthony Fauci Appears To Get Vaccinated On Live Television In His Left Arm But Then Points To His Right Arm As Injection Site Afterward
As all the various celebrities and politicians parade themselves on live television, making such a huge show about getting vaccinated with the “safe and reliable” vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna, the slip-ups in this COVID Theater are beginning to mount. Such is the case of Anthony Fauci, who forget which arm he was injected in, and makes the fatal error on live TV.
Our Upside-Down Post-Election World
To keep track of our brave new American world is easy… Just consider everything said to be bad by the “Animal Farm” media before Nov. 3 as now good. And remember that everything said to be good two months ago is now actually bad…
What global churches did when their governments said they couldn’t have large gatherings
The evidence is anecdotal, but the lesson from the reaction of some of the world’s poorest Christians to hunger and government restrictions on large gatherings amid the coronavirus pandemic is a powerful one for their American counterparts, says Janice Rosser Allen, CEO and president of the global church planting ministry ICM.
December Now Deadliest Month of PandemicDecember is now the deadliest month of the COVID-19 pandemic in the U.S. Since the spring, month by month, the country had held the death toll below the terrible peak of the early pandemic, according to data from the COVID Tracking Project at The Atlantic. April began with 4,332 dead and ended with 59,599 dead—an increase of 55,267. In May, states reported 41,181 deaths—a significant decrease, but still what had been the second-highest monthly toll. Since then, each month brought more than 19,000 deaths, with a smaller peak in August, at 30,239 deaths. In November, deaths rose once again, to 37,058.
Source: 26 Dec 2020
Top Weekly Stories from ChristianNews.net for 12/26/2020
‘Heartbroken’ RZIM Board Reports Investigation Finds Ravi Zacharias Engaged in Sexual Misconduct Dec 24, 2020 01:23 pm
Photo Credit: Screenshot Ben Shapiro Show/YouTube ALPHARETTA, Ga. — The executive committee of the Ravi Zacharias International Ministries board of directors released a public statement on Wednesday outlining that an interim report on an investigation into sexual harassment allegations against the now-late apologist Ravi Zacharias has found “significant,…
Thousands of Pastors Hide Their Tracks Amid China’s Rising Persecution, Attempts to Eradicate Christianity Dec 21, 2020 11:37 am
Photo Credit: Q Gardrian/Pixabay (Christian Post) — Tens of thousands of house church pastors and evangelists across China have gone into hiding as the Communist Party prepares for what seems like a “final assault” on Christianity in an attempt to eradicate it from the country, according to missions group Asia Harvest. In its final newsletter for 2020, Asia…European Court of Human Rights Dismisses Christian Family’s Lawsuit Over Govt. Seizure of Children Dec 22, 2020 08:22 am
After agreeing last year to hear the case, the European Court of Human Rights has now decided to dismiss a legal challenge filed by a Christian family whose children were seized by Norwegian child welfare agents after the school principal contacted authorities to express concern over the manner in which the children were being raised, including that they were…Americans Annoyed as Coronavirus Relief Bill Includes $10M for ‘Gender Programs’ in Pakistan Dec 22, 2020 11:35 am
Photo Credit: Francine Screca/Pixabay WASHINGTON (Fox Business) — The lengthy coronavirus relief bill lawmakers agreed upon over the weekend — and are hoping to approve this week — includes a number of lesser-known provisions that have raised some eyebrows. Among them are a pair of assistance programs in Pakistan, whereby $15 million will be put toward…Guardian Journalist Claims Christian Forgiveness, Redemption Are ‘Code for Conversion Therapy’ Dec 19, 2020 02:17 pm
Photo Credit: Edwin Andrade/Unsplash (The Christian Institute) — A writer for The Guardian newspaper has labeled Christian teaching on forgiveness and redemption as “insidious” and “a dog-whistle for conversion therapy.” Fred McConnell, a woman who lives as a man, referenced the Ashers “gay cake” case among concerns over a local church’s stance on…Pa. Health Dept.: Masks Should Be Worn for ‘Safer Sex,’ Recommends Sexting Instead Dec 22, 2020 05:54 pm
Photo Credit: Gov. Tom Wolf/Flikr/Wikipedia HARRISBURG, Pa. — The Pennsylvania Department of Health released sinful guidelines this fall for residents to have “safer sex” during the coronavirus pandemic, including as they engage in fornication with those outside the household or at large gatherings. “You are your safest sex partner,” the guidelines state, as…‘Beyond Girl or Boy’? Cartoon Network Posts Comic Strip to Teach Youth About Preferred Pronouns Dec 21, 2020 03:34 pm
The Cartoon Network, in conjunction with the National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC), recently released a comic strip on social media to teach youth about obliging the use of others’ preferred pronouns, stating that “there are many gender identities beyond girl or boy.” The post has received pushback from parents who do not believe children should be indoctrinated…Christian Pastor Shot and Killed in India’s Jharkhand State Dec 19, 2020 01:45 pm
India (International Christian Concern) – On Dec. 8, a pastor from India’s Jharkhand state was shot dead by unidentified assailants. Although the motive for the murder has yet to be officially established, the family of the slain pastor claims he was killed for his faith. According to local sources, the slain pastor was identified as Pastor Salim Stephen…Spain Legalizes Euthanasia Dec 23, 2020 09:32 am
Photo Credit: Emin Baycan/Unsplash (Evangelical Focus) — The Spanish Parliament has approved the first euthanasia law in the country. The rule, promoted by the Social Democrat government party, PSOE, received 198 votes in favor, 138 against and 2 abstentions. Spain becomes the fourth country in Europe and the sixth worldwide to legalize euthanasia, after the…Judge Rules Ohio Must Allow ‘Transgender’ Residents to Change Sex on Birth Certificates Dec 23, 2020 07:37 pm
Photo Credit: BAlbert3/Pixabay COLUMBUS, Ohio — A federal judge nominated to the bench by then-President George W. Bush has ruled that the State of Ohio must allow residents who identify as the opposite sex to change their gender on their birth certificates. “he court finds that Plaintiffs have submitted sufficient evidence to demonstrate that they have a…The Abominable ‘America Last’ Porkulus – Michele Malkin
Congressional leaders –House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer — photographed at the Capitol on July 29, 2020. (Photo by ERIN SCOTT/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
This country is not governed by a “Republican Party” and a “Democratic Party.” It is governed by an establishment “uniparty” that betrays our citizens at every turn. Exhibit A: The joint annual ritual of fiscal vulgarity known as the omnibus spending bill.
While Americans are distracted with the holidays, Beltway crapweasels stuff their legislative Christmas trees with multibillion-dollar goodies for every special interest except the American people. I’ve reported with depressing regularity over the past quarter-century on how these pork-laden monstrosities get rammed through Congress, unread, with little scrutiny or outrage. But finally, light bulbs are going off.
The juxtaposition of measly COVID-19 relief for U.S. citizens against the backdrop of lavish aid for illegal immigrants, the military-industrial complex, Big Pharma, overseas social justice warriors, nongovernmental organizations and foreign countries is just too brazen to ignore. Americans will receive $600 COVID-19 relief checks and $300 unemployment payments as part of the consolidated federal government funding package. The $900 billion in COVID-related aid is folded into the massive, 5,600-page legislation encompassing 12 fiscal 2021 spending bills worth $1.4 trillion.
The puny pandemic stimulus for we the people is a pittance compared with these giveaways buried in the abominable “America last” porkulus:
—15.4 million illegal immigrant family members are now eligible for stimulus checks and can also now receive retroactive payments worth up to $1,800.
—The amnesty program for thousands of Liberians who’ve lived and worked here unlawfully since 2014 has been extended for another year.
—Untold numbers of illegal immigrants who claim to live with “unaccompanied minors” smuggled across the border will now enjoy a new shield from deportation.
—While funding support for the detention and removal of illegal immigrants by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency has been slashed by $431 million, open borders nonprofits are rejoicing over new funding for catch-and-release pilot programs that will keep deportable illegal immigrants out of federal custody.
—$500 million to Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama to “address key factors that contribute to the migration of unaccompanied, undocumented minors to the United States.”
—$461 million to Colombia for drug control and “human rights” programs.
—$75 million to the “Caribbean Basin Security Initiative.”
—$33 million “for democracy programs for Venezuela.
—$1.65 billion to Jordan for “foreign military financing” and other assistance.
—$700 million in economic aid to Sudan for “global health” and “transition.”
—$40 million to Syria for economic support, drug control and law enforcement, and emergency medical and rescue response.
—At least $25 million for “democracy” and “gender programs” in Pakistan.
—”Not less than” $135 million for drug control and law enforcement assistance in Burma.
—”Not less than” $85.5 million to Cambodia.
—$130 million to Nepal for “development” and “democracy” programs.
—$1.3 billion to Egypt for “economic support” and “higher education.”
—$453 million to Ukraine.
—$241 million for Tunisia.
—$15 million to refurbish a patrol boat in Sri Lanka.
—$170 million to Vietnam, including $19 million to clean up dioxins.
—$200 to Bangladesh, including $23.5 million to support Burmese refugees and $23.3 million for “democracy programs.”
—$132 million “for assistance for Georgia.”
—”Not less than” $1.5 billion for implementation of Indo-Pacific Strategy and the Asia Reassurance Initiative.
Then there’s Israel, which raked in $500 million in military aid, plus $250 million to invest in “people to people” exchanges among Palestinians, Israelis and Americans, “$5 million for refugee resettlement, $2 million for cooperative COVID-19 health research, $2 million for “sustainability” research, $4 million for the U.S.-Israel Center of Excellence in Energy and Water, $2 million for cooperative energy programs, $2 million for U.S.-Israel “border security” programs and $2 million for “strategic dialogue” among the U.S., Israel, Greece and Cyprus.”
This half-billion-dollar gift to Israel, one of the world’s wealthiest nations with universal health care and highly subsidized higher education, comes on top of the $3.8 billion in foreign aid already allocated to the country this month through the National Defense Authorization Act — which also included $3.3 billion for security assistance, $500 million for missile defense, $47.5 million for “anti-tunnel technology” and $25 million for anti-drone aerial systems thousands of miles away to protect them. Not us.
What about our borders? What about our domestic peace? What about our health? What about our sustainability? What about our schools? What about our small businesses? What about our human rights?
Americans who dare ask these questions are viciously attacked by the uniparty gatekeepers and globalist water-carriers as “xenophobic,” “racist” and “anti-Semitic.” We’ve had enough. A manufactured public health crisis, post-George Floyd anarchotyranny, and the wholesale hijacking of our election system are pushing citizens to the brink of revolt.
In such times, and at all times, any self-respecting sovereign nation must put its people first. If you don’t demand leaders who represent your interests, you deserve the serial abusers you elect, embolden and empower.
(Michelle Malkin’s email address is MichelleMalkinInvestigates@protonmail.com)
Source: The Abominable ‘America Last’ Porkulus – Michele Malkin
The Curious Case of Seth Rich: Why DNC Staffer’s Murder Continues to Stir Up Political Controversy
DNC staffer Seth Rich’s unresolved murder case is still raising questions on both sides of the US political aisle. An American investigative journalist has shed light on the efforts to get to the bottom of the case and the FBI’s potential role in investigating the 27-year-old’s death.
Source: The Curious Case of Seth Rich: Why DNC Staffer’s Murder Continues to Stir Up Political Controversy
Why You Should Beware of Vaccines, Including Those for COVID-19 | Charisma News
It’s been estimated that nearly 75% of U.S. clinical trials in medicine are paid for by private companies who benefit.
For example, “Processed sugar is good for you—the more the better,” paid for by sugar manufacturers. Or “Take this drug to feel better,” never mind the fact that side effects include internal bleeding, seizures and panic attacks. Or “Eat this kids’ cereal,” but ignore the harmful GMOs, food coloring, additives, preservatives and toxins.
America, wake up. Often, you are what you eat.
Drugs often don’t cure the underlying problem, and they are toxic. Granted, there may be a time for certain ones, but they should be the last resort, not the first.
At this point, questions arise about vaccines. Do your own research.
Read what the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says about results, as well as the toxicity levels of vaccines. Some of the ingredients such as aluminum, mercury and formaldehyde are neurotoxins that harm the brain, not to mention other toxic ingredients. Those who say we shouldn’t worry about ingredients because there is also formaldehyde in an apple truly have not done their homework.
Is it wise to inject a virus directly into the bloodstream? Is vaccination truly about helping people or generating income? You be the judge.
For those who desire more information, watch this very short clip (begin by fast forwarding to the two-minute mark).
Shane Idleman is the founder and lead pastor of Westside Christian Fellowship in Southern California. More can be found at ShaneIdleman.com, and free downloads of his books are available at WCFAV.org. Visit him on Facebook and subscribe to his new podcast.
Source: Why You Should Beware of Vaccines, Including Those for COVID-19
Ravi Zacharias and RZIM 2020 Research and Resource Post: Timeline, Links to Articles/Analysis, Nonprofit Reference
On December 23, 2020, RZIM / Ravi Zacharias International Ministries noted on social media that they released an intermediate reportfrom the law firm of Miller & Martin PLLC on the investigation they commissioned into certain issues of reported sexual abuse by its founder, Ravi Zacharias. This report confirms he did engage in sexual abuse, and that more details are forthcoming. This official statement by RZIM is vindication for the women who reported Mr. Zacharias’ abuses: These were credible accusations–not mere allegations or false reports.
In light of this confirmation, I am compiling resources that provide crucial elements of the context to the overall situation for Ravi Zacharias as an individual and for RZIM as the institution he founded. I will post this material in stages when time allows.I hope to finish this by the end of 2020, and will note at the top of this post when…
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About the Ravi Zacharias situation…
By Elizabeth Prata
In 2016 I wrote an essay looking into Ravi Zacharias and his ministry for discernment purposes. I titled it, “On Discerning Ravi Zacharias: It’s time to say what needs to be said“. I phrased it that way because even though the Bible calls us all to be Bereans (Acts 17:11) and search for truth and confirmation, and that doing so is ‘noble’, looking into the doctrine or integrity of a popular and globally known Bible teacher/apologist/evangelist is often called divisive. As if the more famous people like Billy Graham or Beth Moore or Ravi get a pass.
They don’t.
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