May 28, 2024:
Pope Francis apologizes for using a homophobic slur during a meeting with bishops Pope Francis has apologized for using an anti-gay slur during a meeting with bishops. The 87-year-old pontiff reportedly made the homophobic remark in a closed-door meeting last week as he told Italian bishops that gay men shouldn’t be allowed to train for the priesthood. “The Pope never intended to offend or express himself in homophobic terms, and he extends his apologies to those who felt offended by the use of a term, as reported by others,” the Vatican said in a Tuesday statement. (CNN 5/28/24) READ MORE>>>>> Ukrainian War and the Churches What is the Ukrainian War’s impact upon the church? Today the Institute on Religion & Democracy hosted Ukrainian Pastors Igor Bandura and Mark Sergeyev to speak at a luncheon held at our offices in Washington. Bandura, a Ukrainian Baptist pastor, and Sergeyev, a Ukrainian chaplain, are visiting Washington on behalf of Defenders of Faith and Religious Freedom in the Ukraine. The organization exists to defend the right to peacefully practice Christianity in one’s chosen house of worship and to advocate for the defense of religious freedom from Russian aggression in Ukraine. Video of the event is was live-streamed on IRD’s Facebook page (Juicy Ecumenism 5/28/24) READ MORE>>>>> |
May 27, 2024:
Prayer in the Desert Times
When the Prophet Elijah flees from Jezebel after a bit of a triumph in his ministry, he winds up in a cave at Horeb where he encounters God. God is not in a wind, or earthquake, or fire, but in the “sheer silence” as the NRSV translates it, or as other translations put it, a “still, small, voice” (1 Kings 19:11-12). My experience is silence is overly blessed yet seldom sought. It is silence that illuminates the distracting voices of the present so we can listen for the true voice of the one whom we seek. I was reminded recently after meeting with my spiritual director of a formative time of prayer in which I learned the beauty of silence, of contemplation, and of the gift of prayer. In fact, in being reminded of this experience, I realized that my habits of prayer, my comfort in leading corporate prayer, and my sense of the Holy Spirit’s presence and God’s providence were all rooted in this formative time. After Elijah encounters God in the sheer silence, God tells Elijah to go find Elisha, who will become his successor. In the sheer silence, Elijah is reminded there’s still more to God’s calling on his life. One way to imagine God’s calling is as a hymn whose verses keep being written. Using this metaphor, the verses are being written until our last breath, or until Jesus returns. The refrain gives assurance that the hymn of life is still being sung. God is always doing something new, God is still writing the verses of our callings. Silence, like the refrain of a hymn, re-centers us, reminds us, and connects us, so we can go onto the next verse and season God has for us. (Reformed Journal 5/27/24) READ MORE>>>>>
When the Prophet Elijah flees from Jezebel after a bit of a triumph in his ministry, he winds up in a cave at Horeb where he encounters God. God is not in a wind, or earthquake, or fire, but in the “sheer silence” as the NRSV translates it, or as other translations put it, a “still, small, voice” (1 Kings 19:11-12). My experience is silence is overly blessed yet seldom sought. It is silence that illuminates the distracting voices of the present so we can listen for the true voice of the one whom we seek. I was reminded recently after meeting with my spiritual director of a formative time of prayer in which I learned the beauty of silence, of contemplation, and of the gift of prayer. In fact, in being reminded of this experience, I realized that my habits of prayer, my comfort in leading corporate prayer, and my sense of the Holy Spirit’s presence and God’s providence were all rooted in this formative time. After Elijah encounters God in the sheer silence, God tells Elijah to go find Elisha, who will become his successor. In the sheer silence, Elijah is reminded there’s still more to God’s calling on his life. One way to imagine God’s calling is as a hymn whose verses keep being written. Using this metaphor, the verses are being written until our last breath, or until Jesus returns. The refrain gives assurance that the hymn of life is still being sung. God is always doing something new, God is still writing the verses of our callings. Silence, like the refrain of a hymn, re-centers us, reminds us, and connects us, so we can go onto the next verse and season God has for us. (Reformed Journal 5/27/24) READ MORE>>>>>
May 26, 2024:
California evangelical seminary ponders changes that would make it more welcoming to LGBTQ students
Fuller Theological Seminary, an evangelical school in Pasadena, California, is deliberating whether to become more open to LGBTQ+ students who previously faced possible expulsion if found to be in a same-sex union. That’s according to a draft of proposed revisions to the seminary’s sexual standards that was obtained by The Associated Press. If the board votes to approve these revisions, Fuller could become the first evangelical seminary in the country to adopt standards acknowledging the diversity of thought among Christians pertaining to human sexuality, according to retired professor John Hawthorne, an expert on Christian colleges. Such a decision would carry Fuller into uncharted territory, Hawthorne said. “It’s a bold step for a school that fought off lawsuits on this very issue a few years ago.” (AP 5/27/24) READ MORE>>>>>
Fuller Theological Seminary, an evangelical school in Pasadena, California, is deliberating whether to become more open to LGBTQ+ students who previously faced possible expulsion if found to be in a same-sex union. That’s according to a draft of proposed revisions to the seminary’s sexual standards that was obtained by The Associated Press. If the board votes to approve these revisions, Fuller could become the first evangelical seminary in the country to adopt standards acknowledging the diversity of thought among Christians pertaining to human sexuality, according to retired professor John Hawthorne, an expert on Christian colleges. Such a decision would carry Fuller into uncharted territory, Hawthorne said. “It’s a bold step for a school that fought off lawsuits on this very issue a few years ago.” (AP 5/27/24) READ MORE>>>>>
May 24, 2024:
Please Pray for Beth Moore’s Ongoing Back Pain, Decisions About Next Steps
Author and Bible teacher Beth Moore is requesting prayers for intense pain due to a “years-long” back condition. In a lengthy post on X (formerly Twitter), the 66-year-old Moore indicated she’s “definitely facing surgery” and it’s “just a matter of when.” Moore usually has a high pain threshold, she wrote on Thursday (May 23), but her “multiple skeletal issues” had her crying to husband Keith this week. She indicated she’d be calling her doctor, expecting to “end up with a surgeon I’m sure.” (Church Leaders 5/24/24) READ MORE>>>>>
Author and Bible teacher Beth Moore is requesting prayers for intense pain due to a “years-long” back condition. In a lengthy post on X (formerly Twitter), the 66-year-old Moore indicated she’s “definitely facing surgery” and it’s “just a matter of when.” Moore usually has a high pain threshold, she wrote on Thursday (May 23), but her “multiple skeletal issues” had her crying to husband Keith this week. She indicated she’d be calling her doctor, expecting to “end up with a surgeon I’m sure.” (Church Leaders 5/24/24) READ MORE>>>>>
May 23, 2024:
Politics, faith and mission: A conversation with Samuel Perry
Samuel Perry: There’s a bit of a disconnect between the evangelical voices you see on social media or in the press and the evangelicals we see on national surveys. For example, evangelicals in general are more patriarchal than other Americans. But just like all other Americans, they have gradually become more egalitarian in their gender views over time. If you look at the younger cohorts of evangelicals, they’re also growing more accepting of same-sex marriage. For example, in the 2021 and 2022 General Social Surveys, more than half of evangelicals under age 40 believe homosexual individuals should have a right to marry. Sure, that’s less than everyone else, but it’s still more than half, and it’s grown over time. Evangelicals also are following the broader trend in the American public with declining fertility, which also is a gender story. Evangelical women are pursuing education more than they have in the past (like all women) and getting married later and having fewer children.
(Baptis News Global 5/23/24) READ MORE>>>>>
Samuel Perry: There’s a bit of a disconnect between the evangelical voices you see on social media or in the press and the evangelicals we see on national surveys. For example, evangelicals in general are more patriarchal than other Americans. But just like all other Americans, they have gradually become more egalitarian in their gender views over time. If you look at the younger cohorts of evangelicals, they’re also growing more accepting of same-sex marriage. For example, in the 2021 and 2022 General Social Surveys, more than half of evangelicals under age 40 believe homosexual individuals should have a right to marry. Sure, that’s less than everyone else, but it’s still more than half, and it’s grown over time. Evangelicals also are following the broader trend in the American public with declining fertility, which also is a gender story. Evangelical women are pursuing education more than they have in the past (like all women) and getting married later and having fewer children.
(Baptis News Global 5/23/24) READ MORE>>>>>
May 22, 2024:
Third Leader Faces Sexual Assault Charges at Televangelist Mark Barclay's Michigan Church
A third leader at televangelist Mark Barclay's Michigan church is facing charges of sexual assault, according to Midland County Circuit Court records . Randy Saylor, associate pastor at Living Word International Church in Midland, Michigan, is the second pastor and third person involved with the church to be charged with sex crimes. Saylor, 71, was arraigned Wednesday on charges of second-degree criminal sexual conduct with a person under 13, and second-degree criminal sexual conduct with a relationship. His crimes allegedly happened around March 2018. (Julie Roys 5/22/24) READ MORE>>>>>
A third leader at televangelist Mark Barclay's Michigan church is facing charges of sexual assault, according to Midland County Circuit Court records . Randy Saylor, associate pastor at Living Word International Church in Midland, Michigan, is the second pastor and third person involved with the church to be charged with sex crimes. Saylor, 71, was arraigned Wednesday on charges of second-degree criminal sexual conduct with a person under 13, and second-degree criminal sexual conduct with a relationship. His crimes allegedly happened around March 2018. (Julie Roys 5/22/24) READ MORE>>>>>
Televangelist Benny Hinn has admitted that he 'wasn't wise' in his decisions, which led to misleading many of his followers.
Televangelist Benny Hinn admitted to allowing false prophets to attend his crusades and misleading followers Benny Hinn's influence extends worldwide, with a recent impact in Kenya drawing thousands to his meetings His revelation sparked a conversation in the Christian community about trust in pastors and its implications for modern Christianity (Pulse 5/22/24) READ MORE>>>>>
Televangelist Benny Hinn admitted to allowing false prophets to attend his crusades and misleading followers Benny Hinn's influence extends worldwide, with a recent impact in Kenya drawing thousands to his meetings His revelation sparked a conversation in the Christian community about trust in pastors and its implications for modern Christianity (Pulse 5/22/24) READ MORE>>>>>
May 21, 2024:
There’s a link between climate crisis and Christian nationalism, McLaren says
Americans must connect the dots between the earth’s climate crisis and the resurgence of Christian nationalism and white supremacy, according to activist and theologian Brian McLaren. But they must do so without falling into defeatism or complacency, he added. “The fact that the environment influences every dimension of life makes it of special concern,” McLaren explained during a recent episode of the “The State of Belief” podcast moderated by Interfaith Alliance President Paul Raushenbush. “It’s easy for climate to get off of the headlines unless Canadian wildfires bring a cloud of smoke in our direction or unless the headlines are saying we’ve just had the hottest month or the hottest year,” McLaren said. “But once the headline is gone, it is easy to forget about the environment.” (Baptist News Global; 5/21/24) READ MORE>>>>>
Americans must connect the dots between the earth’s climate crisis and the resurgence of Christian nationalism and white supremacy, according to activist and theologian Brian McLaren. But they must do so without falling into defeatism or complacency, he added. “The fact that the environment influences every dimension of life makes it of special concern,” McLaren explained during a recent episode of the “The State of Belief” podcast moderated by Interfaith Alliance President Paul Raushenbush. “It’s easy for climate to get off of the headlines unless Canadian wildfires bring a cloud of smoke in our direction or unless the headlines are saying we’ve just had the hottest month or the hottest year,” McLaren said. “But once the headline is gone, it is easy to forget about the environment.” (Baptist News Global; 5/21/24) READ MORE>>>>>
ABC Chicago adopts resolution calling for Gaza cease-fire
American Baptist Churches of Metro Chicago unanimously adopted a resolution May 18 calling for an end to genocide in Gaza, the end of Israeli occupation of Palestine and an immediate cease-fire and rebuilding of Gaza.
The Chicago group is the first regional body of the American Baptist Churches USA to adopt such a resolution, its news release said.
(Baptist News Global 5/21/24) READ MORE>>>>>
American Baptist Churches of Metro Chicago unanimously adopted a resolution May 18 calling for an end to genocide in Gaza, the end of Israeli occupation of Palestine and an immediate cease-fire and rebuilding of Gaza.
The Chicago group is the first regional body of the American Baptist Churches USA to adopt such a resolution, its news release said.
(Baptist News Global 5/21/24) READ MORE>>>>>
May 24, 2024:
Duggar Exposé Sets Records for Prime Video; Producer Answers Critics
A docuseries about the Bill Gothard religious empire and its influence on reality TV's Duggar family has reportedly become the “biggest debut docuseries ever” for global streaming platform Amazon Prime Video. Last week, Variety reportado que Shiny Happy People , which unpacks the controversial teachings of Gothard's Institute in Basic Life Principles (IBLP), “had the biggest debut of any documentary series” on Amazon's streaming service. “It's been multiples higher than what we anticipated,” said Vernon Sanders, Amazon Studios' head of television. The four-part series reveals how Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar, homeschooling parents of 19 children, epitomized the strict fundamentalist teachings of IBLP, which was founded by Gothard in 1961. With extensive archival footage and interviews, the docuseries tracks the rise and fall of the Duggars' TLC-produced reality TV show 19 Kids & Counting . It also documents the alleged physical, spiritual, and sexual abuse at IBLP programs over decades.
(Julie Roys 5.20.24) READ MORE>>>>>
A docuseries about the Bill Gothard religious empire and its influence on reality TV's Duggar family has reportedly become the “biggest debut docuseries ever” for global streaming platform Amazon Prime Video. Last week, Variety reportado que Shiny Happy People , which unpacks the controversial teachings of Gothard's Institute in Basic Life Principles (IBLP), “had the biggest debut of any documentary series” on Amazon's streaming service. “It's been multiples higher than what we anticipated,” said Vernon Sanders, Amazon Studios' head of television. The four-part series reveals how Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar, homeschooling parents of 19 children, epitomized the strict fundamentalist teachings of IBLP, which was founded by Gothard in 1961. With extensive archival footage and interviews, the docuseries tracks the rise and fall of the Duggars' TLC-produced reality TV show 19 Kids & Counting . It also documents the alleged physical, spiritual, and sexual abuse at IBLP programs over decades.
(Julie Roys 5.20.24) READ MORE>>>>>
May 17, 2024:
BREAKING: Former Voice of the Martyrs Executive Calls for Resignations: ‘It’s Time to Clean House’
A former executive with Voice of the Martyrs (VOM) is calling on VOM President Cole Richards and other VOM leaders to resign, saying Richards has become “a tyrant” and “it’s time to clean house.” Jason Peters, VOM’s former chief of connection, made the bold statements in a video posted on YouTube this morning. This follows The Roys Report’s (TRR) exclusive exposé yesterday in which 10 former employees accused Richards of deception and retaliation against VOM employees. Despite signing a non-disparagement agreement (NDA), Peters was one of the 10 who spoke to TRR. Today, he apologized for his own part in VOM’s deception, which he said the organization has cultivated in public while behind the scenes it’s “gone off the rails.”
(Julie Roys 5/17/24) READ MORE>>>>>
A former executive with Voice of the Martyrs (VOM) is calling on VOM President Cole Richards and other VOM leaders to resign, saying Richards has become “a tyrant” and “it’s time to clean house.” Jason Peters, VOM’s former chief of connection, made the bold statements in a video posted on YouTube this morning. This follows The Roys Report’s (TRR) exclusive exposé yesterday in which 10 former employees accused Richards of deception and retaliation against VOM employees. Despite signing a non-disparagement agreement (NDA), Peters was one of the 10 who spoke to TRR. Today, he apologized for his own part in VOM’s deception, which he said the organization has cultivated in public while behind the scenes it’s “gone off the rails.”
(Julie Roys 5/17/24) READ MORE>>>>>
US Capitol unveils statue honoring Billy Graham: 'One of our dearest treasures'
Faith leaders and politicians on both sides of the aisle gathered to honor the late evangelist Billy Graham as a sculpture paying tribute to the North Carolina native was unveiled at the U.S. Capitol Thursday. Hundreds attended a private ceremony revealing the 7-foot statue, which will be part of the National Statuary Hall Collection and installed in the Crypt one level below the Rotunda, where public tours of the U.S. Capitol begin. The event featured speeches from U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and Graham's son, Rev. Franklin Graham, CEO of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and the Evangelical humanitarian organization Samaritan's Purse. Grammy-winning Christian musician Michael W. Smith performed the son "I Surrender All."
(Christian Post 5/17/24) READ MORE>>>>>
Faith leaders and politicians on both sides of the aisle gathered to honor the late evangelist Billy Graham as a sculpture paying tribute to the North Carolina native was unveiled at the U.S. Capitol Thursday. Hundreds attended a private ceremony revealing the 7-foot statue, which will be part of the National Statuary Hall Collection and installed in the Crypt one level below the Rotunda, where public tours of the U.S. Capitol begin. The event featured speeches from U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and Graham's son, Rev. Franklin Graham, CEO of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and the Evangelical humanitarian organization Samaritan's Purse. Grammy-winning Christian musician Michael W. Smith performed the son "I Surrender All."
(Christian Post 5/17/24) READ MORE>>>>>
Mike Winger Says Benny Hinn Is Not a Christian During Interview With Charisma
Christian YouTuber Mike Winger, an ordained pastor who is not currently shepherding a church, recently spoke with Charisma Media’s John Matarazzo about his four-hour video titled “The Victims of Benny Hinn: 30 years of Spiritual Deception.” Seventeen days after posting his viral video, Winger shared in a separate video that Hinn was attempting to get the previous video, which has over 900,000 views, removed from YouTube. In the four-hour video, Winger argued that Hinn was financially and spiritually abusive throughout his years of ministry. Winger’s interview with Charisma comes after the outlet posted a two-part interview with Hinn. Matarazzo said, “We’re trying to platform voices the best way that we can as we see God moving
(Charisma 5/17/24) READ MORE>>>>>
Christian YouTuber Mike Winger, an ordained pastor who is not currently shepherding a church, recently spoke with Charisma Media’s John Matarazzo about his four-hour video titled “The Victims of Benny Hinn: 30 years of Spiritual Deception.” Seventeen days after posting his viral video, Winger shared in a separate video that Hinn was attempting to get the previous video, which has over 900,000 views, removed from YouTube. In the four-hour video, Winger argued that Hinn was financially and spiritually abusive throughout his years of ministry. Winger’s interview with Charisma comes after the outlet posted a two-part interview with Hinn. Matarazzo said, “We’re trying to platform voices the best way that we can as we see God moving
(Charisma 5/17/24) READ MORE>>>>>
![Picture](/uploads/4/2/3/7/4237252/editor/mchaelkelly1wgolytmdf-fu2qxcrrrng-r_2.jpg)
“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matt. 5:13–16). In this context, what do salt and light have in common? It’s that they are both meant to be used. For flavor. For sight. For enhancements. For making things more clear. When we believe the gospel, we are meant to serve this same role.
--Michael Kelly; Outreach Magazine; Is it Possible to Be Too Focused on Heaven? 5/17/24
--Michael Kelly; Outreach Magazine; Is it Possible to Be Too Focused on Heaven? 5/17/24
May 16, 2024:
French evangelicals welcome new law to combat cults
France has a new law to fight against harmful religious cults. The Law to “Reinforce the Fight Against Sectarian Drifts” (officially promulgated on 10 May) adapts the 2001 law to new scenarios in which groups might seek to manipulate the freedom of citizens psychologically or physically in new contexts such as social media. Two new offences are described. One is “placing or maintaining a person in a state of psychological or physical subjection”. The other is “inciting a person to abandon or refrain from care, or to adopt practices that clearly expose the person concerned to a serious health risk”.
(Evangelical Focus 5/16/24) READ MORE>>>>>
France has a new law to fight against harmful religious cults. The Law to “Reinforce the Fight Against Sectarian Drifts” (officially promulgated on 10 May) adapts the 2001 law to new scenarios in which groups might seek to manipulate the freedom of citizens psychologically or physically in new contexts such as social media. Two new offences are described. One is “placing or maintaining a person in a state of psychological or physical subjection”. The other is “inciting a person to abandon or refrain from care, or to adopt practices that clearly expose the person concerned to a serious health risk”.
(Evangelical Focus 5/16/24) READ MORE>>>>>
Politics in the Pews: Evangelical Christian engagement in elections from the Moral Majority to today
The Christian Post's year-long article series "Politics in the Pews: Evangelical Christian engagement in elections from the Moral Majority to today" analyzes issues about election integrity and new ways of getting out the vote, including churches participating in ballot collection. With the 2024 presidential election cycle in full swing, the series paints a picture of how Evangelical involvement in politics has evolved from the Moral Majority movement of the 1980s to more organized yet fractured efforts to mobilize Christian voters today. Our team of reporters looks into issues Evangelicals say matter most to them ahead of the election, as well as the political engagement of politically and ethnically diverse Christian groups. (Christian Post 5/16/24) READ MORE>>>>>
The Christian Post's year-long article series "Politics in the Pews: Evangelical Christian engagement in elections from the Moral Majority to today" analyzes issues about election integrity and new ways of getting out the vote, including churches participating in ballot collection. With the 2024 presidential election cycle in full swing, the series paints a picture of how Evangelical involvement in politics has evolved from the Moral Majority movement of the 1980s to more organized yet fractured efforts to mobilize Christian voters today. Our team of reporters looks into issues Evangelicals say matter most to them ahead of the election, as well as the political engagement of politically and ethnically diverse Christian groups. (Christian Post 5/16/24) READ MORE>>>>>
May 15, 2024:
Appeals court upholds religious schools’ right to choose teachers
A federal court ruled in favor of a Roman Catholic school in North Carolina on Wednesday, affirming the school’s constitutional right to choose teachers that uphold its religious beliefs. The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals determined that even substitute teachers at religious schools serve in roles similar to ministers. The recent ruling stems from Charlotte Catholic High School’s 2014 dismissal of former substitute English and drama teacher Lonnie Billard. The school did not renew Billard’s contract after he announced his plans on Facebook to enter into a same-sex marriage weeks after the state legalized it.
(World 5/15/24) READ MORE>>>>>
A federal court ruled in favor of a Roman Catholic school in North Carolina on Wednesday, affirming the school’s constitutional right to choose teachers that uphold its religious beliefs. The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals determined that even substitute teachers at religious schools serve in roles similar to ministers. The recent ruling stems from Charlotte Catholic High School’s 2014 dismissal of former substitute English and drama teacher Lonnie Billard. The school did not renew Billard’s contract after he announced his plans on Facebook to enter into a same-sex marriage weeks after the state legalized it.
(World 5/15/24) READ MORE>>>>>
May 14, 2024:
Barber exhorts Southwestern graduates to go to the harvest
FORT WORTH—Get to work in the harvest, Southern Baptist Convention President Bart Barber challenged the 301 graduates of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and Texas Baptist College during spring commencement held May 3 on the Fort Worth campus. The spring 2024 graduating class included students representing 27 states of the U.S. and 22 countries. Seventy-seven of the 301 certificates and diplomas awarded were for non-English degrees and certificates. “This class represents the student body at Southwestern, which is now a multinational, multi-ethnic, intercultural, intergenerational community,” said SWBTS President David S. Dockery, noting the names listed in the commencement program that were representative of “every region of the country and multiple nations around the world, and we celebrate God’s goodness in bringing them here.” (Southern Baptist Texas 5/14/24) Read More>>>>>
FORT WORTH—Get to work in the harvest, Southern Baptist Convention President Bart Barber challenged the 301 graduates of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and Texas Baptist College during spring commencement held May 3 on the Fort Worth campus. The spring 2024 graduating class included students representing 27 states of the U.S. and 22 countries. Seventy-seven of the 301 certificates and diplomas awarded were for non-English degrees and certificates. “This class represents the student body at Southwestern, which is now a multinational, multi-ethnic, intercultural, intergenerational community,” said SWBTS President David S. Dockery, noting the names listed in the commencement program that were representative of “every region of the country and multiple nations around the world, and we celebrate God’s goodness in bringing them here.” (Southern Baptist Texas 5/14/24) Read More>>>>>
“As Christians, our hope is much stronger than our fears”
The European Union’s slogan is ‘Unity in Diversity’, but it feels like our unity is shrinking and our diversity is growing. Diversity is not an issue in and of itself but if it leads to division, polarisation and fragmentation, it is. That is true from the local to the European or international level. We need politicians who are able to work together to lessen the divides. For example, will they bring the concerns of farmers and environment scientists together? Will members of the European Parliament (MEPs) work to calm down the rhetoric over migration to sensible levels, look seriously at the impact of rapid population growth in some places and also treat all asylum seekers with compassion and fairness, with adequate systems to safely return those who do not deserve refugee status and to help genuine refugees to flourish across Europe?
(Evangelical Focus 5/14/24) READ MORE>>>>>
The European Union’s slogan is ‘Unity in Diversity’, but it feels like our unity is shrinking and our diversity is growing. Diversity is not an issue in and of itself but if it leads to division, polarisation and fragmentation, it is. That is true from the local to the European or international level. We need politicians who are able to work together to lessen the divides. For example, will they bring the concerns of farmers and environment scientists together? Will members of the European Parliament (MEPs) work to calm down the rhetoric over migration to sensible levels, look seriously at the impact of rapid population growth in some places and also treat all asylum seekers with compassion and fairness, with adequate systems to safely return those who do not deserve refugee status and to help genuine refugees to flourish across Europe?
(Evangelical Focus 5/14/24) READ MORE>>>>>
May 11, 2024:
John MacArthur is out of touch on combat PTSD
In a recent viral video, John MacArthur, the well-known pastor of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California, told attendees of a Bible conference in California “there’s no such thing as PTSD…” MacArthur added, “What [PTSD] is, is really grief. You are fighting a war. You lost your buddies. You have a certain amount of survivors’ guilt because you made it back. They didn’t. How did you deal with the grief? Grief is a real thing, but grief is part of life. And, if you can’t navigate grief, you can’t live life.” MacArthur, like many other faith-based leaders, has an incorrect and unbalanced view of mental health issues and solutions. His uneducated and ignorant comments demand a direct rebuttal.
(Christian Post 5/11/24) READ MORE>>>>>
In a recent viral video, John MacArthur, the well-known pastor of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California, told attendees of a Bible conference in California “there’s no such thing as PTSD…” MacArthur added, “What [PTSD] is, is really grief. You are fighting a war. You lost your buddies. You have a certain amount of survivors’ guilt because you made it back. They didn’t. How did you deal with the grief? Grief is a real thing, but grief is part of life. And, if you can’t navigate grief, you can’t live life.” MacArthur, like many other faith-based leaders, has an incorrect and unbalanced view of mental health issues and solutions. His uneducated and ignorant comments demand a direct rebuttal.
(Christian Post 5/11/24) READ MORE>>>>>
May 10, 2024:
Right Wing Bonus Tracks: King Barron
- Rudy Giuliani can’t stop spreading lies about the 2020 election and now it has cost him his radio show.
- A school board in Shenandoah County, Virginia, has voted to rename two local schools in honor of Confederate military leaders after having removed those names just a few years ago.
- Televangelist Benny Hinn says that he now regrets promoting false prophecies and the prosperity gospel.
- Laura Loomer is excited to see Barron Trump become “king someday.”
- Finally, James Robinson praised Charlie Kirk for being a “great inspiration to the church and to the nation”: “There is nobody making a better impact, especially on the younger people in our nation, but on the whole nation.”
May 9, 2024:
A GREAT EVANGELICAL DIVORCE? — SPEAKER MIKE JOHNSON’S BREAKUP WITH MARJORIE TAYLOR GREENE COULD BE BAD NEWS FOR TRUMP
When Speaker of the House Mike Johnson pushed through aid to Ukraine this week, it did more than green-light funds to support the Ukrainians. In recent weeks, he changed from hard-core opposition to supporting Ukraine to championing its cause. His actions were, of course, political and personal, but they also signal a genuine conflict within American evangelicalism, one that could have ramifications for the upcoming presidential elections. At the beginning of 2024, mention of a report on Russian persecution of Ukrainian Christians started showing up in some evangelical publications, mostly notably in a February 6 story in Christianity Today. The report, “Faith Under Fire: Navigating Religious Freedom Amidst the War in Ukraine,” was published in November 2023 by Mission Eurasia (an evangelical mission agency founded when the Soviet Union collapsed) outlining church closures; destruction of church buildings; kidnappings; imprisonment and torture of religious leaders; and the murder of priests and pastors.
(Diana Butler Bass/Religion Dispatches 5/23/24) Read More>>>>>
When Speaker of the House Mike Johnson pushed through aid to Ukraine this week, it did more than green-light funds to support the Ukrainians. In recent weeks, he changed from hard-core opposition to supporting Ukraine to championing its cause. His actions were, of course, political and personal, but they also signal a genuine conflict within American evangelicalism, one that could have ramifications for the upcoming presidential elections. At the beginning of 2024, mention of a report on Russian persecution of Ukrainian Christians started showing up in some evangelical publications, mostly notably in a February 6 story in Christianity Today. The report, “Faith Under Fire: Navigating Religious Freedom Amidst the War in Ukraine,” was published in November 2023 by Mission Eurasia (an evangelical mission agency founded when the Soviet Union collapsed) outlining church closures; destruction of church buildings; kidnappings; imprisonment and torture of religious leaders; and the murder of priests and pastors.
(Diana Butler Bass/Religion Dispatches 5/23/24) Read More>>>>>
Religion Is Being Misused To Divide America | Opinion
As the intensity of this year's election season continues to grow, so, too, has the focus in the news on a movement of Americans invoking the name of God to perpetuate division in our country. Some of these Americans go to church and read the Bible. Many of them don't. But all of them understand the unmistakable power of using faith as a cultural wedge to advance a political agenda that harms millions more Americans than it helps. Followers of this political movement that misuses religion have become known as Christian Nationalists for their association with an ideology that vehemently rejects the pluralistic democracy our country aspires to be. The movement's origins are bound up with white supremacist oppression going back hundreds of years to when slavery was the norm and the Indigenous were systematically persecuted. I hesitate to even call them "Christian," because their actions do not reflect the teachings of Jesus.
(William Barber III; Newsweek 5/5/24) READ MORE>>>>>
As the intensity of this year's election season continues to grow, so, too, has the focus in the news on a movement of Americans invoking the name of God to perpetuate division in our country. Some of these Americans go to church and read the Bible. Many of them don't. But all of them understand the unmistakable power of using faith as a cultural wedge to advance a political agenda that harms millions more Americans than it helps. Followers of this political movement that misuses religion have become known as Christian Nationalists for their association with an ideology that vehemently rejects the pluralistic democracy our country aspires to be. The movement's origins are bound up with white supremacist oppression going back hundreds of years to when slavery was the norm and the Indigenous were systematically persecuted. I hesitate to even call them "Christian," because their actions do not reflect the teachings of Jesus.
(William Barber III; Newsweek 5/5/24) READ MORE>>>>>
May 3, 2024:
77% of World’s Evangelicals from Global South: Dr Bennet Lawrence
Today significant shifts are happening in Christianity, said Dr Bennet Arrren Lawrence, Regional Secretary of Asia Theology Association India. This is in relation to Church history where he explained that going back to the beginning, the first church was established in Jerusalem in the Middle East, later moving to Europe, then to the United States (US). Considering the current shifts in culture, he highlighted the data put out by the World Evangelical Alliance that at present 77% of Evangelicals in the world are living in the Global South. The Global South in broad terms is referred to developing countries in Asia, Africa and South America. As such, Dr Lawrence called upon individuals and leaders in Nagaland to prepare for shouldering the responsibilities of the Church. “We are at a crucial juncture as we see key individuals and leaders moving towards us, we need to shoulder these responsibilities, it is our responsibility to shoulder the Church,” he said. (Morung Express 5/5/24) READ MORE>>>>>
Today significant shifts are happening in Christianity, said Dr Bennet Arrren Lawrence, Regional Secretary of Asia Theology Association India. This is in relation to Church history where he explained that going back to the beginning, the first church was established in Jerusalem in the Middle East, later moving to Europe, then to the United States (US). Considering the current shifts in culture, he highlighted the data put out by the World Evangelical Alliance that at present 77% of Evangelicals in the world are living in the Global South. The Global South in broad terms is referred to developing countries in Asia, Africa and South America. As such, Dr Lawrence called upon individuals and leaders in Nagaland to prepare for shouldering the responsibilities of the Church. “We are at a crucial juncture as we see key individuals and leaders moving towards us, we need to shoulder these responsibilities, it is our responsibility to shoulder the Church,” he said. (Morung Express 5/5/24) READ MORE>>>>>
May 3, 2024:
UMC removes rule that homosexuality is ‘incompatible with Christian teaching
The United Methodist Church General Conference has voted to remove a statement from its central rulebook that declared that homosexuality was "incompatible with Christian teaching." In a vote of 523 to 161 following around 90 minutes of debate on Thursday, the churchwide legislative gathering opted to remove a clause from the Book of Discipline, ¶ 304.3 under "Qualifications for Ordination." "The practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching," read the clause, which had been originally added to the Book of Discipline in 1972. (Christian Post 5/3/24) READ MORE>>>>>
The United Methodist Church General Conference has voted to remove a statement from its central rulebook that declared that homosexuality was "incompatible with Christian teaching." In a vote of 523 to 161 following around 90 minutes of debate on Thursday, the churchwide legislative gathering opted to remove a clause from the Book of Discipline, ¶ 304.3 under "Qualifications for Ordination." "The practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching," read the clause, which had been originally added to the Book of Discipline in 1972. (Christian Post 5/3/24) READ MORE>>>>>
May 2, 2024:
Beth Moore, doctor criticize John MacArthur for claiming mental illness isn’t real
Pastor John MacArthur is facing withering criticism from some doctors, Christian mental health experts and outspoken Evangelical figures like Beth Moore following his comment saying there is no such thing as mental illness.
“This is such a bad, dangerous take. As a pediatrician, me, and the people I work with are committed to children. This conspiracy theorist language re ADHD treatment making children ‘addicts’ or ‘criminals’ is wrong, & has no data to support it,” Dr. Stephen Patrick, incoming professor and chair of health policy and management at Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health, said in a statement on X. “Beyond that it’s another attack on pediatricians/healthcare providers … and those attacks are taking a tangible toll on pediatricians/nurses/healthcare providers.”
(Christian Post 5/2/24) READ MORE>>>>>
Pastor John MacArthur is facing withering criticism from some doctors, Christian mental health experts and outspoken Evangelical figures like Beth Moore following his comment saying there is no such thing as mental illness.
“This is such a bad, dangerous take. As a pediatrician, me, and the people I work with are committed to children. This conspiracy theorist language re ADHD treatment making children ‘addicts’ or ‘criminals’ is wrong, & has no data to support it,” Dr. Stephen Patrick, incoming professor and chair of health policy and management at Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health, said in a statement on X. “Beyond that it’s another attack on pediatricians/healthcare providers … and those attacks are taking a tangible toll on pediatricians/nurses/healthcare providers.”
(Christian Post 5/2/24) READ MORE>>>>>
May 1, 2024:
Roots Of The Radicalization Of The Protestant Reformation
What is the difference between Catholicism and Protestant Christianity? To summarize it in one phrase, Catholicism is the Thing against which Protestant Christianity rebels. I have a lot of compassion and admiration for our devout Protestant brothers and sisters. However, the reason I am a Catholic is because I hold a firm conviction that the way they formulate their identity is flawed on a foundational level. It seems unfortunate that they let their identity rest on the fact that they are not like us. If there was something fundamentally flawed about the Catholic Church that was addressed in the Reformation, this historical event should have finished in the 16th century. (Formation Matters 5/1/24) READ MORE>>>>>
What is the difference between Catholicism and Protestant Christianity? To summarize it in one phrase, Catholicism is the Thing against which Protestant Christianity rebels. I have a lot of compassion and admiration for our devout Protestant brothers and sisters. However, the reason I am a Catholic is because I hold a firm conviction that the way they formulate their identity is flawed on a foundational level. It seems unfortunate that they let their identity rest on the fact that they are not like us. If there was something fundamentally flawed about the Catholic Church that was addressed in the Reformation, this historical event should have finished in the 16th century. (Formation Matters 5/1/24) READ MORE>>>>>
The Heritage Foundation’s Racist Origins and What That History Tells Us
The Heritage Foundation today is the 800-pound gorilla on the radical right. With an annual budget of over $100 million, and a huge, multistory office complex in Washington, D.C., it is one of the top agenda-setting organizations on the right, if not the dominant one, so it’s not surprising that it took the lead in creating Project 2025. What people need to know is that—unlike some other groups on the right—from its outset the Heritage Foundation blended the toxic cocktail that today’s right is gulping in large doses to achieve its goals: libertarian economics; Christian nationalism; and the weaponization of racism, gender anxiety, and parental fears about sex.
(Washington Spectator) READ MORE>>>>>
The Heritage Foundation today is the 800-pound gorilla on the radical right. With an annual budget of over $100 million, and a huge, multistory office complex in Washington, D.C., it is one of the top agenda-setting organizations on the right, if not the dominant one, so it’s not surprising that it took the lead in creating Project 2025. What people need to know is that—unlike some other groups on the right—from its outset the Heritage Foundation blended the toxic cocktail that today’s right is gulping in large doses to achieve its goals: libertarian economics; Christian nationalism; and the weaponization of racism, gender anxiety, and parental fears about sex.
(Washington Spectator) READ MORE>>>>>
United Methodists Condemning Christian Nationalism Should Address Their Complicity
United Methodists gathered in Charlotte, North Carolina, for their long-delayed General Conference have shown themselves willing to take bold steps on big issues. The delegates have already voted this week to reorganize the denomination to allow for greater regional autonomy and to scrub its governing Book of Discipline of its ban on LGBTQ clergy. Delegates consider legislation at the 2024 United Methodist General Conference in Charlotte, N.C. They have also passed a number of petitions on social issues, including one condemning “extreme and prejudicial (Word & Way 5/1/24) READ MORE>>>>>
United Methodists gathered in Charlotte, North Carolina, for their long-delayed General Conference have shown themselves willing to take bold steps on big issues. The delegates have already voted this week to reorganize the denomination to allow for greater regional autonomy and to scrub its governing Book of Discipline of its ban on LGBTQ clergy. Delegates consider legislation at the 2024 United Methodist General Conference in Charlotte, N.C. They have also passed a number of petitions on social issues, including one condemning “extreme and prejudicial (Word & Way 5/1/24) READ MORE>>>>>