- Benjamin Cremer - Tony Cribb - Franco Crosby - Jeff Crosby - David Croteau - Ken Cuccinelli - David Curry - Michael Curry - David Curtis -
==benjamin cremer======
Rev. Ben Cremer is Campus Pastor at Cathedral of the Rockies in Boise, Idaho. Ben was Home-schooled (K-12) in "a deeply conservative environment in rural Idaho - as far right politically and theologically as you can imagine." Today, he pastors a satellite campus of a progressive, affirming United Methodist congregation in a conspicuously red state.
Trump's use of Bible shows he's a fake Christian and a fraud
Hey Bible salesman, you never attend church, you don’t know a single bible verse, and you don’t know any of the words of the Lord’s Prayer either. That’s because you’re a fake Christian and a fraud. “It is a bankrupt Christianity that sees a demagogue co-opting our faith and even our holy scriptures for the sake of his own pursuit of power and praise him for it rather than insist that we refuse to allow our sacred faith and scriptures to become a mouthpiece for an empire,” said Pastor Benjamin Cremer. (Miami Herald 5/16/24)READ MORE>>>>>
Hey Bible salesman, you never attend church, you don’t know a single bible verse, and you don’t know any of the words of the Lord’s Prayer either. That’s because you’re a fake Christian and a fraud. “It is a bankrupt Christianity that sees a demagogue co-opting our faith and even our holy scriptures for the sake of his own pursuit of power and praise him for it rather than insist that we refuse to allow our sacred faith and scriptures to become a mouthpiece for an empire,” said Pastor Benjamin Cremer. (Miami Herald 5/16/24)READ MORE>>>>>
How Not to Prove Progressive Christianity’s ‘Moral Superiority’
Progressive Christians are better than evangelicals: Just ask them! They care for the poor, they care for women’s rights, they care for downtrodden and oppressed LGBT people. They actually care about life more than evangelicals and conservative Catholics, whose only real concern is holding power over people. Funny thing, though: For all their moral superiority, they have serious problems with telling the truth. This isn’t just one accommodationist who does that. I see it again and again. Take the Rev. Benjamin Cremer, an ex-evangelical whose Xwitter feed (as I think we should all call it now) is one long rendition of moral superiority. Example One: Imagine if the pro life movement put all the effort it is putting into abortion bans into dismantling poverty, providing healthcare, living wages, access to reproductive education, and advocating equal rights for women rather than criminalizing them. They’d reduce abortion. (Tom Gilson/The Stream 11/12/23) Read More>>>>> |
==tony cribb======
In 1987, founding pastors Tony & Tami Cribb had a vision placed on their hearts by the Lord to plant Restoration Church in Spartanburg, SC. GraceWay Church was founded & established by Pastor Jan King in 2009. Hope Church was birthed when GraceWay & Restoration Church united in August of 2015. Since then, leadership felt stirred to expand the vision of Hope Church into the upstate of SC through the beginning of multisite campuses in 2017.
Prominent SC evangelical leaders form coalition, back DeSantis in 2024 GOP presidential race
A group of prominent South Carolina faith leaders are rallying support for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in his effort to woo evangelical voters in the 2024 race. Eighteen Christian leaders, including pastors, church leaders and theology experts, will lead a network of 100 members, the Greenville News has learned. The list includes leaders from churches based in the Upstate such as Rev. Tony Cribb at Hope Church, which has branches in Greenville, Spartanburg and Simpsonville. The list also includes educators from Bob Jones University and North Greenville University. Following the publication of this story, a representative from Hope Church reached out to the News and said the endorsement by Rev. Cribb does not reflect the views of the church. The representative said Hope Church is not endorsing a candidate.
(Devyani Chhetri/Greenville News 9/21/23)
READ MORE>>>>>
A group of prominent South Carolina faith leaders are rallying support for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in his effort to woo evangelical voters in the 2024 race. Eighteen Christian leaders, including pastors, church leaders and theology experts, will lead a network of 100 members, the Greenville News has learned. The list includes leaders from churches based in the Upstate such as Rev. Tony Cribb at Hope Church, which has branches in Greenville, Spartanburg and Simpsonville. The list also includes educators from Bob Jones University and North Greenville University. Following the publication of this story, a representative from Hope Church reached out to the News and said the endorsement by Rev. Cribb does not reflect the views of the church. The representative said Hope Church is not endorsing a candidate.
(Devyani Chhetri/Greenville News 9/21/23)
READ MORE>>>>>
==franco crosby======
Sept 26, 2020: Faith On View: A small southern town and her monument
Franco Crosby is the friend who we went out to support that first night of demonstrations. He is an alumnus of Lee University and is starting the Masters in Theology program at Vanderbilt University this fall. He has emerged as a leader in this demonstration and a voice for peace. Under his guidance, the demonstrators no longer yell in response to provocation. They have adopted a stance of non-engagement. They demonstrate peacefully and do not respond to provocations from the pro-monument protesters or motorists. A growing group of demonstrators, dedicated to change, gather virtually every evening to call attention to the issue.
Franco Crosby is the friend who we went out to support that first night of demonstrations. He is an alumnus of Lee University and is starting the Masters in Theology program at Vanderbilt University this fall. He has emerged as a leader in this demonstration and a voice for peace. Under his guidance, the demonstrators no longer yell in response to provocation. They have adopted a stance of non-engagement. They demonstrate peacefully and do not respond to provocations from the pro-monument protesters or motorists. A growing group of demonstrators, dedicated to change, gather virtually every evening to call attention to the issue.
==jeff crosby======
The Top 10 Religion Stories of 2023
6. Seeing the Light on Religious Fiction Jeff Crosby, the executive director of the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association, is embracing Christian fiction after years as a skeptic, in large part because of the genre’s progress when it comes to adding more diverse voices and a greater range of topics.
(Emma Winner/Publishers Weekly 12/13/23)
READ MORE>>>>>
6. Seeing the Light on Religious Fiction Jeff Crosby, the executive director of the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association, is embracing Christian fiction after years as a skeptic, in large part because of the genre’s progress when it comes to adding more diverse voices and a greater range of topics.
(Emma Winner/Publishers Weekly 12/13/23)
READ MORE>>>>>
==david croteau======
May 3, 2023: Roys Report: Study Reveals Which Denominations Hold Strongest Beliefs on Tithing
The study released last week by Lifeway Research, a firm affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention, found that 77% of Protestant churchgoers in the U.S. affirm that “tithing is a biblical command that still applies today.” Only 10% rejected this belief and another 13% were unsure. Lutherans’ rejection of tithing “makes a lot of sense historically,” said David Croteau, dean of Columbia Biblical Seminary, commenting on the survey. “Martin Luther himself did not believe that Christians were required to tithe,” he told The Roys Report (TRR). In a time of churches’ tightening budgets, Croteau, author of Tithing After the Cross, said he often hears concerns that giving will decline if a church’s teaching shifts away from tithing. But he contends that’s the wrong mindset.
“Ever since the modern emphasis on tithing began—in the 1870s—it has not helped increase giving among evangelicals,” he said. “Giving now is similar to giving during the Great Depression.”
Croteau said he urges pastors and lay leaders to study New Testament principles of “grace giving,” which he defines as systematic, sacrificial, and generous.
“Law is not a good motivator,” he added. “Love is a much better motivator and will last much longer than law.”
The study released last week by Lifeway Research, a firm affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention, found that 77% of Protestant churchgoers in the U.S. affirm that “tithing is a biblical command that still applies today.” Only 10% rejected this belief and another 13% were unsure. Lutherans’ rejection of tithing “makes a lot of sense historically,” said David Croteau, dean of Columbia Biblical Seminary, commenting on the survey. “Martin Luther himself did not believe that Christians were required to tithe,” he told The Roys Report (TRR). In a time of churches’ tightening budgets, Croteau, author of Tithing After the Cross, said he often hears concerns that giving will decline if a church’s teaching shifts away from tithing. But he contends that’s the wrong mindset.
“Ever since the modern emphasis on tithing began—in the 1870s—it has not helped increase giving among evangelicals,” he said. “Giving now is similar to giving during the Great Depression.”
Croteau said he urges pastors and lay leaders to study New Testament principles of “grace giving,” which he defines as systematic, sacrificial, and generous.
“Law is not a good motivator,” he added. “Love is a much better motivator and will last much longer than law.”
==david curry======
Christian watchdog group pushes back against Pew report suggesting decline of Christians in China
The leader of a Christian nonprofit watchdog group is pushing back against a recent Pew Research report suggesting that the number of Christians in China could have declined in recent years amid a crackdown by the Chinese Communist Party. "A recent Pew Research Report measuring religion in China suggests that Christianity in the country has stagnated and is perhaps even in decline," Global Christian Relief President and CEO David Curry wrote in a Nov. 19 op-ed for Fox News Digital about the Chinese Christian population
(Jon Brown/Christian Post 11/26/23)
Read More>>>>>
The leader of a Christian nonprofit watchdog group is pushing back against a recent Pew Research report suggesting that the number of Christians in China could have declined in recent years amid a crackdown by the Chinese Communist Party. "A recent Pew Research Report measuring religion in China suggests that Christianity in the country has stagnated and is perhaps even in decline," Global Christian Relief President and CEO David Curry wrote in a Nov. 19 op-ed for Fox News Digital about the Chinese Christian population
(Jon Brown/Christian Post 11/26/23)
Read More>>>>>
==michael curry======
The Most Rev. Michael Bruce Curry is Presiding Bishop and Primate of The Episcopal Church. He is the Chief Pastor and serves as President and Chief Executive Officer, and as Chair of the Executive Council of the Episcopal Church. Presiding Bishop Curry was installed as the 27th Presiding Bishop and Primate of The Episcopal Church on November 1, 2015. He was elected to a nine-year term and confirmed at the 78th General Convention of The Episcopal Church in Salt Lake City, UT, on June 27, 2015.
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I realize that some notable folk interpreted what Jesus was saying when he says, “A new commandment I give you that you love one another, for by this, everyone will know that you are my disciples.” It was this saying was attributed to Prime Minister Disraeli. It was also attributed to Mahatma Gandhi, but I never met either one of them. I heard it at a concert from Jimi Hendrix. And I don’t know if Jimi was actually consciously doing a riff off Jesus, but the Spirit was moving. And he may not have even known it.
Because when Jimi, I think, heard Jesus say, “A new commandment I give you that you love one another”—and then after he says all of that, toward the end of these sayings, he says, “In this world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” And Jimi heard that saying about the power of love. And he said this—like I said, I didn’t hear Gandhi say it, and I didn’t hear the prime minister say it, but I heard Jimi say it. I was a teenager, and I heard Jimi say it. This was before the internet.
Jimi said it this way: “When the power of love overcomes the love of power”—y’all with me now? “When the power of love overcomes the love of power, then the world will know peace.” Oh, oh, then the world, then the world, then the world will know peace. Then there will be justice. Then truth will be told in public squares. Then we will learn how to lay down our swords and shield down by the riverside and study war no more.
“When the power of love”—repeat after me—“When the power of love overcomes the love of power, then the world will know peace.” It is all about love. Oh, turn and tell your neighbor, it’s all about love. Go on, tell them. It’s all about love. All about love. All about love. It’s all about love.
Something dawned on me when I was getting ready for this, and I don’t think it was the medicines that I’m taking, but I hadn’t thought about it before. But it dawned on me that in that last week of Jesus’ earthly life, before the crucifixion, it dawned on me that Jesus was entering Jerusalem, which was a center of the Roman empire occupying Palestine. He was going to the heart of the beast in the Middle East. Did you like that? And he went there, it dawned on me, to confront an empire in love with power, with the power of love.
That’s why he went there. And when he went there, he deliberately provoked the empire that was in love with its power … Jesus entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, right? And he did it timing it with the entrance of Pontius Pilate, the governor of Rome. Pilate was coming in from the west side of the city, having been in his palace at Fortress Antonia. Jesus came in on the eastern side of the city, the Mount of Olives in that area.
--Michael Curry; Anglican Ink; Address to the “All about Love” festival delivered by Presiding Bishop Michael Curry 7.11.23
Because when Jimi, I think, heard Jesus say, “A new commandment I give you that you love one another”—and then after he says all of that, toward the end of these sayings, he says, “In this world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” And Jimi heard that saying about the power of love. And he said this—like I said, I didn’t hear Gandhi say it, and I didn’t hear the prime minister say it, but I heard Jimi say it. I was a teenager, and I heard Jimi say it. This was before the internet.
Jimi said it this way: “When the power of love overcomes the love of power”—y’all with me now? “When the power of love overcomes the love of power, then the world will know peace.” Oh, oh, then the world, then the world, then the world will know peace. Then there will be justice. Then truth will be told in public squares. Then we will learn how to lay down our swords and shield down by the riverside and study war no more.
“When the power of love”—repeat after me—“When the power of love overcomes the love of power, then the world will know peace.” It is all about love. Oh, turn and tell your neighbor, it’s all about love. Go on, tell them. It’s all about love. All about love. All about love. It’s all about love.
Something dawned on me when I was getting ready for this, and I don’t think it was the medicines that I’m taking, but I hadn’t thought about it before. But it dawned on me that in that last week of Jesus’ earthly life, before the crucifixion, it dawned on me that Jesus was entering Jerusalem, which was a center of the Roman empire occupying Palestine. He was going to the heart of the beast in the Middle East. Did you like that? And he went there, it dawned on me, to confront an empire in love with power, with the power of love.
That’s why he went there. And when he went there, he deliberately provoked the empire that was in love with its power … Jesus entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, right? And he did it timing it with the entrance of Pontius Pilate, the governor of Rome. Pilate was coming in from the west side of the city, having been in his palace at Fortress Antonia. Jesus came in on the eastern side of the city, the Mount of Olives in that area.
--Michael Curry; Anglican Ink; Address to the “All about Love” festival delivered by Presiding Bishop Michael Curry 7.11.23
Mar 7, 2023: Christian Post: Frank Griswold, former head of Episcopal Church, dies at age 85
Current Presiding Bishop Michael Curry said Griswold was "a remarkable and faithful servant of God" and asked for prayers for "Bishop Griswold, and the souls of all the departed."
Current Presiding Bishop Michael Curry said Griswold was "a remarkable and faithful servant of God" and asked for prayers for "Bishop Griswold, and the souls of all the departed."
==david curtis======
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The late author and astronomer, Carl Sagan, said, "The universe is all that ever was and ever will be." As an astronomer who studied the heavens, he didn't see the glory of God, he didn't see God at all. Julian Huxley, who was an English evolutionary biologist, said, "It is all accident, all a matter of chance. No reason, no end, no purpose at all." These men didn't just view, they studied God's creation, and they never saw Him or His glory. Natural man says that the matter of which the universe is made somehow over billions of years organized itself into all that we see without any outside assistance or intelligence.
What is called, "natural or general revelation" will not bring anybody to God; just like special revelation won't bring anybody to God. The only way man comes to God is if God draws him to Himself:
"No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day. John 6:44 NASB
But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. 1 Corinthians 2:14. The man without the Spirit cannot appreciate God's glory through the heavens, or through special revelation. God must first effectually call a man, then man can see His glory in creation and in the Word. How much do dead men see of the glory of God?:
For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. 1 Corinthians 1:21 NASBThis verse destroys every variety of "natural revelation" and natural theology: "The world through its wisdom did not come to know God." Knowledge of God comes only through His propositional revelation. --David B Curtis; Berean Bible Church; They Knew God? (Romans 1:19-23) 1.3.16
What is called, "natural or general revelation" will not bring anybody to God; just like special revelation won't bring anybody to God. The only way man comes to God is if God draws him to Himself:
"No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day. John 6:44 NASB
But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. 1 Corinthians 2:14. The man without the Spirit cannot appreciate God's glory through the heavens, or through special revelation. God must first effectually call a man, then man can see His glory in creation and in the Word. How much do dead men see of the glory of God?:
For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. 1 Corinthians 1:21 NASBThis verse destroys every variety of "natural revelation" and natural theology: "The world through its wisdom did not come to know God." Knowledge of God comes only through His propositional revelation. --David B Curtis; Berean Bible Church; They Knew God? (Romans 1:19-23) 1.3.16
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Now, being rich has its share of problems, just as being poor has its share. The temptation to the rich is to trust in riches, while the temptation to the poor is to doubt God's provision. But in both cases the Lord is saying, "I have a perspective for you. If you are rich or poor, your focus is to be on Me." For example, in verse 21 He says, "Put your treasure in heaven, because that is where I want your heart." In verse 33 He says, "But seek ye first the kingdom...." In other words, "Put your heart in heaven and don't worry, I will give you what you need." The focus of the rich in the world is to lay up treasures on earth (v. 19). The focus of the poor in the world is to seek after what they will eat, drink, and wear for clothing. If you are rich, pursue a heavenly investment; if you are poor, pursue the kingdom of God. When it comes to money and possessions, our focus is to be on God and not on possessions. We are not to grasp and claw after things, we are to seek God and allow Him to fulfill His promises and provisions to us.
The emphasis of verses 25 through 34 is on the subject of anxiety or worry. Three times in these verses, Christ gives the admonition, "Do not be anxious." We live in a society which is characterized by worry over material things. -David B Curtis; Berean Bible Church; Stop Worrying, Start Trusting! Matthew 6:25-27 03/02/2003
The emphasis of verses 25 through 34 is on the subject of anxiety or worry. Three times in these verses, Christ gives the admonition, "Do not be anxious." We live in a society which is characterized by worry over material things. -David B Curtis; Berean Bible Church; Stop Worrying, Start Trusting! Matthew 6:25-27 03/02/2003
==ken cuccunelli======
Mar 30, 2023: Religious News Service: Can DeSantis break Trump’s hold on the religious right?
A super PAC backing DeSantis has already snagged several notable veterans of Ted Cruz’s 2016 run, as well as former Trump administration official Ken Cuccinelli, a conservative Christian who has visited four early primary states seeking support for DeSantis. The governor has also garnered Nate Hochman, a young writer nurtured in the MAGA-adjacent conservative movement who describes himself as “a culture warrior first and foremost.”
A super PAC backing DeSantis has already snagged several notable veterans of Ted Cruz’s 2016 run, as well as former Trump administration official Ken Cuccinelli, a conservative Christian who has visited four early primary states seeking support for DeSantis. The governor has also garnered Nate Hochman, a young writer nurtured in the MAGA-adjacent conservative movement who describes himself as “a culture warrior first and foremost.”