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Suzi Q. Smith Ponders the End Times in Her New Poetry Collection

Illustration by Peter Strain Suzi Q. Smith’s new book, Poems for the End of the World, may seem like a macabre manifesto born from the pandemic. But the Denverite wrote many of the verses in 2019, responding to earlier global and personal upheaval: The Amazon rainforest was on fire, her daughter was headed to college, and Smith had recently left her position as executive director of nonprofit Poetry Slam Inc., which shuttered soon after. “I was spending time in gardens and thinking about how…

Missionary parents teach ‘active Christianity’ and sacrifice to kids

By MYRIAH SNYDER, IMB Wesley and Emily Smyth* are raising their four children to understand that the Christian life is supposed to be active, self-giving and about glorifying God and serving others. “The children have an idea of purpose,” Emily said. “We’re not saved to just absorb, be fed and have programs that cater to our needs. Being a Christian means serving the body of Christ and those without Him.” The Smyths have taught their kids this truth by example. Now associate area directors…

Prophetic prayer leaders backing awakening prayer movement

Awakening Prayer Hubs storming the nations with intercessor prayer against coronavirus, racism and more. With the world’s spiritual crisis worsening, Awakening Prayer Hubs, a prayer movement contending for awakening and transforming revival in the nations, is transforming prayer warriors into prayer heroes in their cities. And intercessory prayer generals are supporting the efforts. Mike Bickle, director of the International House of Prayer in Kansas City says: “Awakening Prayer Hubs is a strong expression of bringing prayer to the local level so that intercessors can…

COVID lockdown for Victoria – no church services, no weddings, and strict measures for funerals

A counterfeit form of Christianity is more popular than the real thing, according to respected researcher Dr George Barna. “Moralistic Therapeutic Deism” is a worldview that is defined and driven by current culture, more than by historic religious truths or a comprehensive and coherent doctrine, according to Barna. In other words, it is the sort of Christianity that lots of people want. George Barna was the founder of The Barna Group, a well-regarded market research firm specialising in studying the religious beliefs and behavior…

Billy Graham’s Granddaughter Cissie Lynch Talks About Dangers Of Progressive Christianity

Cissie Graham Lynch discusses the hidden danger of progressive Christianity in her most recent “Fearless” podcast. Noting that some Christians, particularly younger ones, are enamored in a spiritual movement that offers a “feel-good appeal and freedom based on relative truth,” Lynch sought the opinion of someone who had firsthand experience of it. Alisa Childers, a former member of ZOEgirl, was invited to her pastor’s Bible study. She was puzzled when he urged the group to reject Biblical truth. Her most recent book, “Another Gospel?” chronicles…

Homelessness Is Vexing American Cities. Do Christians Have a Solution?

Across the country, American cities are unsuccessfully grappling with how best to address homelessness. This month, Austin criminalized sitting, lying, or camping in public. Sausalito, an upscale community in the Bay Area canceled its annual art festival when its location conflicted with the proposed place to relocate the homeless population that is currently living on the city’s waterfront. Los Angeles is considering moving forward with establishing a government-funded tent encampment. Nationally, here’s how The New York Times summed it up in March of this…

When Americans tried – and failed – to reunite Christianity

Five hundred years ago, Martin Luther, a German monk, initiated a split in Christianity that came to be known as the Protestant Reformation. After the Reformation, deep divisions between Protestants and Catholics contributed to wars, hostility and violence in Europe and America. For centuries, each side denounced the other and sought to convert its followers. Then, in the early 1900s, ambitious Protestants in the U.S. attempted the unthinkable. Building on ideas circulating in Europe, they took charge of an effort to negotiate the reunion…

Evangelicals give Christianity a bad name | Opinion

For a president of the United States, Joe Biden did something highly unusual this week: something I’d bet you never even heard of — till now. On Tuesday evening, around 6 p.m., he skipped out of the White House, hopped on Marine One, helicoptered up to his hometown of Wilmington, Delaware, for what the White House only described as a “local stop,” spent less than an hour, and was back in the White House by 9 p.m. Mystery solved. With no publicity, Biden had…

I Am Sophia: A ‘visionary’ new novel about Christianity’s future

A 2021 Gallup survey found that less than half of Americans now claim membership in a religious congregation for the first time in history. I Am Sophia, a new novel by Episcopalian author J. F. Alexander, imagines a not-so-distant future in which organized religion is gasping its last breath. When a mysterious and charismatic woman insinuates herself into a fringe religious group, its dozen members wonder whether she is a lunatic, a con artist, or a messiah. Sophia quickly upends the routines and expectations…

Why Christians Should be Troubled by the New “God Bless the USA Bible”

A newly-licensed “God Bless the USA Bible”—billed as “the ultimate American Bible”—includes between its covers, in addition to holy Scripture: the U.S. Constitution, the Bill of Rights, the Declaration of Independence, and the Pledge of Allegiance, as well as the handwritten chorus to Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the USA.” Elite Source Pro, along with other producers of custom Bibles, is allowed to license the New International Version (NIV) of the Bible from Zondervan for private use. (Zondervan owns the rights to the NIV, a…

For Cosmopolitan Christians, Secular Approval Is a Common Temptation

A few years ago, I was asked to speak about the gospel’s justice imperative at a local Christian high school. Upon arrival, I was escorted through campus by a young administrator, who thanked me for coming to engage a topic the school’s elders had ignored for too long. With Dietrich Bonhoeffer–like resolve, he and another young teacher confided that they were subversively trying to change the culture at the school. I immediately, and perhaps hastily, commended their efforts. The truth is, too many Christian…

Thom McCombs: Christianity by love or by law?

Christianity has fallen far in America. Even after Christian missionaries blessed The Conquest … Even after Christian preachers hanged witches and defended slavery … Even after Christian leaders blessed our unjust wars against “godless commies” … Christianity in America had further to fall. Rather than setting any high moral tone for America through advancing peace, forgiveness and non-violence (you know, Christian virtues) locally and nationally, American Christianity instead chose power, greed, lust, hatred, violence, misogyny and spite through supporting the presidency of Donald Trump.…

The decline of Christianity in Pakistan

Christians make up 1.27 percent of Pakistan’s population of 207.68 million. In 1998, the official estimate of the figure was 1.59 percent. In 1947, when modern Pakistan was formed, non-Muslims made up 23 percent with 27 million people. While the analysts worry about the country’s exploding population, church leaders should worry about the fleeing faithful. Without going into the rhetoric of discrimination and misuse of blasphemy laws, let us read another story from the May 18 edition of Daily Samaa, an Urdu periodical published…

Why is the left so fearful of Christians?

Many on the left today want to muzzle conservative Christians in America — and they’re being motivated by a dangerous combination of fear and ideological fanaticism reminiscent of oppressive and regressive authoritarian regimes. I remember being in Moscow back in August of 1991 when President Mikhail Gorbachev was put under house arrest. It was a failed coup attempt orchestrated by hardline communists in the Soviet Union’s government and military leadership. At the time, residents were being told that Mr. Gorbachev was ill. In reality,…

‘Christians and Vaccine’ project: Combating ethical qualms of evangelical communities

The thrust of a new campaign to persuade mostly white born-again and evangelical Christians who have been unwilling to get Covid-19 vaccinations is a variation on the Golden Rule — do it for others if you won’t do it for yourself. And the main driver behind the Christians and the Vaccine project backs up his contention that that is what Jesus would do by both citing the Bible and tapping the expertise of secular public health experts like Dr. Francis Collins, who heads the…

Letter: Not my Christianity

To the editor: I was disturbed at Lisa Monet Zarza’s comment in the April 9 article about Northfield revoking Alibi at Froggy Bottom’s liquor license. She said during a public hearing: “I am a Christian, and I believe our country is under attack.” While her two points could be unrelated, readers might conclude that Zarza was citing her religious faith to justify breaking the law. I say, “That’s not my Christianity.” During Jesus Christ’s mortal life, Roman yoke and oppression was greatly hated by…

Letter: Evangelical refusal of vaccine is not in line with Christianity

The lead editorial in the April 10 edition of the Buffalo News was titled “The evangelical resistance.” After reading that editorial, which discussed the refusal of many evangelical Christians to be vaccinated against the Covid-19 virus, I was reminded of something that Gandhi said about Christians. He said, “I like your Christ, but not your Christianity.” The editorial was an excellent commentary on the sad mind set of many so-called Christians in today’s day and age. When I attended Cardinal O’Hara High School back…

Is the Supreme Court biased in favor of conservative Christianity?

The Supreme Court has yet to issue a ruling in its biggest religion case this term, but a new report makes a victory for the Catholic foster care agency involved feel like a foregone conclusion. The study, conducted by researchers at Washington University in St. Louis and the University of Chicago, shows that advocates of religious rights have logged an 81% success rate before the Supreme Court in the 16 years since Chief Justice John Roberts took the helm. “Plainly, the Roberts court has…

Is magic immoral? It played a role in the development of early Christianity

Americans are fascinated by magic. TV shows like “WandaVision” and “The Witcher,” books like the Harry Potter series, plus comics, movies and games about people with powers that can’t be explained by God, science or technology, have all been wildly popular for years. Modern pop culture is a testament to how enchanted people are by the thought of gaining special control over an uncertain world. “Magic” is often defined in the West as evil or separate from “civilized” religions like Christianity and also from…

Israel at 73 is a fulfillment of Bible Prophecy

Listen to Today’s Program JD: One week after Holocaust Remembrance Day, Independence Day the celebration of the 73rd birthday of the Jewish State of Israel. That’s another very special day to Jewish people isn’t it? WM: Yes of course. It is in fact the opposite end of the pole of Holocaust Day. We are free. We are liberated. We’re able to have an army, a government, a judiciary and that’s the way it should be. A family of nations. One nation earning the respect for what…

Christian nationalism not Christianity, church leader says

Following the deadly insurrection at the Capitol in January, some people of faith feel it is time to take action against the philosophy of Christian nationalism. What You Need To Know An expert says Christian nationalism played a role in the Jan. 6, Capitol riots “Christian nationalism desires a fusion between Christianity and American civic life,” sociologist and author Andrew Whitehead says Some local church leaders are spreading the message of Christians against Christian nationalism Associate Professor of Sociology at Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis,…

Why Christianity put away its dancing shoes – only to find them again centuries later

In the PBS documentary series “The Black Church: This Is Our Story, This Is Our Song,” scholar Henry Louis Gates Jr. shows how African Americans introduced new rhythms, music and dance to Christianity from the days of slavery to the present. African American spirituals and the ring shout, a type of religious dance, provided some enslaved people with hope and perseverance. While the Black Church enlivened Christian worship, there is an even older story of Christian dance that I tell in my 2021 book,…

The Evangelicals’ Trump Obsession Has Tarnished Christianity

The recent death of Christian evangelist Luis Palau, the “Billy Graham of Latin America,” has me thinking about how the Trump era has affected the ability of Christians to share the good news about Jesus’ salvation with a diverse and skeptical world. According to his New York Times obituary, Palau “was especially aware of the common assumption that evangelicals are rabid right-wingers,” so he sought to compensate by holding “festivals” in progressive cities. “In New England, when you say ‘Christian,’ they think ‘those maniacs…

Opinion | Progressive Christians Arise! Hallelujah!

The Rev. William Barber, a leader of the Poor People’s Campaign, told me, “Some folks hijacked Christianity and decided that they were going to put up a lot of money to promote the idea that to be a person of faith was to be anti-choice, anti-gay, pro-gun, pro-tax cut.” Barber calls that “theological malpractice.” Jerushah Duford, a granddaughter of the Rev. Billy Graham, agrees: “We have seen homophobia, hostility toward women’s rights, xenophobia and lack of concern for the poor.” She compares the damage…

Atlanta Shooter’s Church Ties Raise Questions for Pastors

As Christians all across the country are processing this week’s events involving the acts of Robert Aaron Long, our heads are filled with questions. Along with the media and the rest of Americans, we mourn the victims and wonder about this shooter’s motivation, in hopes that understanding what led him to his confusion and violence could help us prevent others from taking harmful action to themselves and others. With the details reported so far, we’re unpacking possible factors around gun culture, perceptions of Asian…

The Equality Act Through the Eyes of a Christian College President

Last month, the House of Representatives voted to approve the Equality Act. If passed, the bill would amend the Civil Rights Act to add sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity to its list of protected classes. The bill has broad implications on the rules for employment, housing, education, nonprofit groups that receive federal funds, and other areas. Many Christian leaders have opposed the bill but say they support expanding federal protections against discrimination. One example is Shirley Hoogstra, the president of the Council of…

Is COVID-19 God’s Punishment? African Christians Debate as Their Presidents Die

The Tanzanian government confirmed today that President John Magufuli has died. “It is sad news. Our beloved president passed on at 6 p.m. this evening,” said Vice President Samia Suluhu Hassan, who per the East African nation’s constitution will now become its first female president. “We have lost our courageous leader. All flags will be flown at half mast for 14 days.” What officials did not confirm was weeks of speculation by opposition leaders and regional media that the 62-year-old had contracted COVID-19. The…

Bible prophecy: Middle East heading towards war with Israel, Christian conspiracists claim

Pastor Paul Begley addresses ‘end of the world’ claims The Bible’s chapters are chock-full of prophecies describing the final days before the promised Second Coming of the Messiah. Passages in the New Testament speak of wars and rumours of wars, natural cataclysms and the persecution of Christians in the End Days. Scripture in the Book of Revelation speaks of catastrophes that will befall the Earth when the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse are set loose. Related articles But the Bible also speaks of a…

Christian prophets within the 21st century

Spiritual gifts are supernatural abilities anointed by God to believers who receive His grace of salvation. Examples include words of wisdom or knowledge, the gifts of healing or miracles, discernment of spirits, speaking or interpretation of tongues and prophecy. Although the theological debate about whether using spiritual gifts continues, these talents are given by God to His creation. Cary Balzer, professor of biblical studies at John Brown University, certainly believes in the existence of spiritual gifts and urges the personal use of everyone’s gifts.…

‘It looks like the end of the world’: China’s worst sandstorm in a decade chokes Beijing

China’s capital city woke up to yellow skies Monday as the biggest sandstorm the country has seen in a decade swept through it, sparking new health fears. The thick brown dust shrouded Beijing‘s iconic landmarks, including the Forbidden City, and downtown skyscrapers at times disappeared from view, enveloped by clouds of sand. The visibility in the capital was reduced to less than 1,000 meters (3,300 feet), China’s English-language news agency CGTN reported, forcing residents who dared venture outside to wear improvised headgear to protect…

Black Christians discuss how faith informs their stances on abortion

For Cherilyn Holloway, her support of Black Lives Matter has everything to do with her stance on abortion. When Michael Brown was fatally shot by a police officer in Ferguson, Missouri, in 2014, Holloway made a point to discuss the tragedy with her sons. “Here’s a man who was shot in the street, he couldn’t defend himself, the same way a baby can’t defend themselves in the womb,” she said. “Because they both are lives, and both are lives that matter. And the issue…

Clergy Preach Faith in the Covid Vaccine to Doubters

Black churches have formed pandemic-fighting national networks with a single-mindedness that mirrors their embrace of civil rights issues. A Florida task force led by Black churches has linked arms with historically black colleges and universities, offering sanctuaries as vaccination sites. The Black Coalition Against Covid-19 put out guidelines for faith leaders with tips about the pandemic and vaccination. The Rev. Matthew L. Watley of Kingdom Fellowship A.M.E. Church in Silver Spring, Md., which shares vaccine information with congregations nationwide, bluntly confronts the Black community’s…

A look at how Christianity elevated children

Editor’s note: Columns in the Faith section reflect opinions and perspectives of the writer and are not necessarily those of The Republic. Christmas has passed, but Jesus’ birth continues to reverberate through time. What impact has the birth of Jesus had on us, our culture, and our morality? Much of what we take for granted today is the direct or indirect result of the rise of Christianity, including “just war” theory, the equality of men and women before God, the abolition of slavery, the…

After Israel, Will Morocco Normalize with Christians?

President Donald Trump’s Abraham Accords have been singular in focus—build Middle East peace upon Arab states establishing full relations with Israel. And although not officially linked, three of the four nations to normalize with the Jewish state this year received something from the United States in return. The first, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), was cleared to purchase American F-35 fighter jets. (The second, Bahrain, which already hosts a US naval base, is understood to be part of a gradual Gulf alignment with Israel.)…

A Christian Insurrection

Updated 1:36 p.m. Eastern on January 8, 2020. The name of God was everywhere during Wednesday’s insurrection against the American government. The mob carried signs and flag declaring Jesus saves! and God, Guns & Guts Made America, Let’s Keep All Three. Some were participants in the Jericho March, a gathering of Christians to “pray, march, fast, and rally for election integrity.” After calling on God to “save the republic” during rallies at state capitols and in D.C. over the past two months, the marchers…

We Worship with the Magi, Not MAGA

Yesterday, January 6, was the Feast of Epiphany, when Christians celebrate how the light of Christ spreads to all nations. The season of Epiphany—also called Theophany in the East—focuses on Jesus’ revelation of his true identity to all the world. In the West, it centers on the stories of the Magi (who represent the nations or the Gentiles) finding Jesus through their mysterious stargazing. In the weeks ahead, the Epiphany season recalls the baptism of Christ and the wedding at Cana, Jesus’ first miracle.…

Trump Is Banned on Facebook ‘at Least’ Until His Term is Over

SAN FRANCISCO — Facebook on Thursday said it will block President Trump on its platforms at least until the end of his term on Jan. 20, as much of the mainstream online world moved forcefully to limit the president after years of inaction. But Twitter, which had locked Mr. Trump’s account on Wednesday for posts that violated its rules, lifted the suspension, allowing the president to tweet. Late on Thursday, Mr. Trump marked his return to social media by posting a two minute 41…

Trump-inspired Washington chaos unearths Bible prophecy: ‘God is going to strike you down’

Washington: Donald Trump protests ’embarrassing’ says Coulter Chaotic scenes unfolded in Washington DC as it was confirmed Democrat candidates won both Georgia senate elections, giving the party control of Congress. Mr Trump, who had given a speech earlier in the day claiming the election had been stolen, told supporters “I love you” and described those who stormed the Capitol complex as “patriots”. The violence brought a halt to a congressional debate over President-elect Joe Biden’s election win, but Congress has now formally approved the…

Christian Leaders Pray for Peace and Safety Amid Capitol Mob

Evangelical leaders, both supporters and critics of President Donald Trump, spoke out and offered prayers for protection as rioters in Washington, DC, clashed with police, putting the Capitol under lockdown. The swarming of the Capitol coincided with the congressional session to certify President-elect Joe Biden’s electoral college victory, which drew protestors to DC to support the outgoing president and urge Republicans to reject the election results. In the middle of the two-day Jericho March, as participants circled government buildings to pray for a Trump…

We Need to Be Better Losers

Nobody likes to lose. But Americans will need to get better at losing if we want to maintain our system of government in the years ahead. And Christians of all people should model losing well, based in our commitment to Christ’s victory through the cross and what we are told in Scripture about our nature as losers in the eyes of the world. Neither Americans in general nor Christians in particular have demonstrated an ability to be good sports in defeat this week, though.…

Trump news: End of the world fears spike as Bible expert claims Devil ‘stole election’

Washington: Trump supporters march on Capitol Hill to protest Donald Trump supporters stormed the US Capitol in Washington DC on Wednesday in a bid to disrupt Congress from certifying the results of the US election. Scenes of violence unfolded as supporters of the incumbent president clashed with police, with pepper spray being used in the skirmishes. President Trump called on Vice President Trump to nullify the election’s results in a last-ditch attempt to secure another term in office. Mr Pence, however, declined to cave…

African spirituality offers Black believers ‘decolonized’ Christianity

(RNS) — It’s 11:11 on a recent Sunday morning and The Proverbial Experience is just getting underway. “Greetings my loves!” proclaims the Rev. Lyvonne Proverbs Briggs, the founder of this weekly spiritual gathering on Instagram. “Anybody got a hallelujah in your spirit?” As the congregation comes online, Briggs, from her home in New Orleans, greets each person by name as prerecorded gospel music plays. She frames herself in front of a makeshift altar with an assortment of crystals and a sign that reads, “God…

A submerged basilica may hold the secrets to the beginning of Christianity

A basilica submerged under the waters of Iznik Lake in Turkey’s Bursa city is being prepared to be opened to visitors in the near future. TRT World talked to Bursa Uludag University’s Professor Mustafa Sahin about it. Professor Mustafa Sahin, the head of the Archaeology Department at Bursa Uludag University’s Faculty of Arts & Science, first received photographs taken from a helicopter ride over Iznik Lake in Bursa about 6 years ago from the Bursa Metropolitan Municipality. After analysing the photographs, Sahin saw the…

Some Orthodox Christians ignore COVID warnings on Epiphany

Thousands of Orthodox Christian worshippers in Bulgaria ignored warnings by health authorities to abstain from mass gatherings and instead kept to their centuries-old Epiphany traditions The Associated Press January 6, 2021, 6:30 PM • 2 min read Share to FacebookShare to TwitterEmail this article SOFIA, Bulgaria — Thousands of Orthodox Christian worshippers in Bulgaria on Wednesday ignored warnings issued by health authorities to abstain from mass gatherings due to the coronavirus pandemic and kept instead to their centuries-old Epiphany traditions. Young men plunged into…

Jerusalem man arrested for arson at one of Christianity’s holiest sites

A Jerusalem man was arrested on Friday for spilling flammable liquid and setting it alight at the Church of All Nations in Jerusalem, causing minor damage. According to the police report, the act caused minor damage to one pew and the mosaic floor. A guard at the scene detained the suspect until police arrived, who arrested him. Police said that a preliminary investigation shows that the suspect had criminal motives. The perpetrator, a 49-year-old Jewish resident of Jerusalem, was detained by a security guard until police…

Steve Warren: Support for Trump does not speak well of Christians

Fresh out of college in the mid-1970s, I envisioned a more enlightened world in the not-too-distant future, a world in which political divisiveness would be minimal. Why the optimism? For almost three years, 40 hours a week, I sat in front of a computer that symbolized to me a coming wired world in which vast amounts of knowledge would be readily accessible to everyone, knowledge that would bring widespread consensus on issues and challenges facing humanity. I was right about the knowledge thing, but…

Donald Trump prophecy: Bible preacher claims Trump ‘will remain President’

Donald Trump has spectacularly lost the US election last month, with a record number of 81 million votes cast for his rival Joe Biden. But the US President is yet to conceded defeat and Republicans up and down the country cling on to hopes an ace up Mr Trump’s sleeve could turn the election results in his favour. After a month of failed lawsuits and unsubstantiated cries of electoral fraud, Democrat Mr Biden looks to have his victory certified on December 14 by the…

Why Christians Stopped Talking About Jesus’ Second Coming

This Sunday kicked off the beginning of Advent. While the season is generally seen as a time of preparing to celebrate Christ’s birth on Christmas, the focus historically was a time to focus on Jesus’ Second Coming. The doctrine of Jesus’ Second Coming has traditionally been a major focus of Christian theology: it has been a driving force for missions, it was a source of hope for suffering Christians, it helped to frame Christian worship. American evangelicals in particular have been shaped by discussion…

Pandemic, economy worsen situation for Syria’s minority Christians

People gather at the site of an explosion in al-Bab, Syria Nov. 24, 202,0 in this picture obtained from social media. Religious workers say worsening coronavirus pandemic and economic conditions in Syria are further deepening poverty and hardship. (Credit: CNS photo/MMC/Sharif Al Halabi.) AMMAN, Jordan — The worsening coronavirus pandemic and economic conditions in Syria are further deepening poverty and hardship for Christians, who find themselves trapped in a political stalemate, religious freedom advocates say. “The situation is becoming worse, people are calling me…

I prophesied Trump would win. I got it wrong. But I am NOT a false prophet

You are a prophet. You were convinced God told you Trump would win. You got it wrong. What do you do next? Looking around, the most likely outcome is that you could just keep on doing whatever you did before. Stay prophesying. Act like it’s no big deal. That is how – perhaps – many of those Americans who assert they are prophets may be thinking. Because we are getting to the point where proclaiming that President Trump will win a second term is…

Suspected militants kill four Christians in remote Indonesian village

Police in Indonesia were on Saturday hunting suspected militants accused of killing four people said by rights groups to be Christians, beheading one and burning down their homes. Ten militants linked to a “terrorist” group beheaded one victim and slit the throats of the others on the island of Sulawesi on Friday, national police spokesman Awi Setiyono quoted a witness as saying. Indonesia, the world’s biggest Muslim-majority country, has grappled with intermittent militant attacks recently. “This attack is another serious escalation against the Christian…

African apologetics event asks if Christianity is the faith for Africa

By Jackson Elliott, Contributor Follow | Friday, November 27, 2020 Left to right: Felix Sumba, Kevin Muriithi and Bill Dindi of Apologetics Kenya | Apologetics Kenya The first Annual African Apologetics Conference is engaging with postmodern and traditional African worldviews by asking if Christianity is Africa’s faith. Hosted by Christian group Apologetics Kenya, the Nov. 27 to Nov. 29 event is featuring over 26 lectures, public apologetics debates, panels and workshops online. The speakers include prominent African theologians, church leaders and Christian activists, according to…

Missionary renewal to celebrate 500 years of Christianity in the Philippines

A pastoral letter from the bishops. We ask “our two canonized ‘foreign’ missionary saints, Lorenzo Ruiz and Pedro Calungsod, to intercede for us so that our loving God will always abundantly bless our Church in the Philippines and all her many missionary endeavors!”. Nov 27, 2020 MANILA: The “missionary renewal” of the Philippine Church is what the country’s Bishops’ Conference (CBCP) auger 500 years after the arrival of Christianity, carried by ” thousands of men and women missionaries”. This is the hope contained in…

At one Houston church, prophecy replaces turkey for Thanksgiving

LaCricia Hlavinka hasn’t had a Thanksgiving meal in a quarter-century. Nor does she plan to this year, again opting to spend the holiday with an empty stomach and, maybe, bellowing into a microphone the latest prophecy revealed to her by God. While millions of Americans nestle into couches for their post-dinner naps on Thursday, Hlavinka and other members of Reigning Glory Church will begin a three-day fast. They believe their faithfulness to God will spare them the worst of COVID-19. “It’s the hardest to…

Opinion: Progressives, not Christians, bolster anti-Semitism

The investigative journalists over at the Daily Beast report that Madison Cawthorn, the North Carolina Republican who will soon become the youngest member of Congress in American history, “has admitted he tried to convert Jews and Muslims to Christianity.” So what? As a Jew, I’ve had several Christian friends try to turn me toward Jesus — Lutherans, Catholics and Evangelicals. Though denominations seem to adopt different philosophies on how best to proselytize in a secular world, they have all been exceptionally polite about it.…

The 2020 election and untethered prophets (pt 1)

By Wallace B. Henley, Exclusive Columnist Follow | Wednesday, November 25, 2020 Fake news and false prophecies boiled around the 2020 presidential race like tempests stoking a hurricane. Wallace Henley, former Senior Associate Pastor of 2nd Baptist Church in Houston, Texas. | Photo by Scott Belin From the perspective of Donald Trump and his associates, establishment media pumped hefty currents of disinformation and misinformation into the political cyclone through fake news. Many observers on both sides noted the “failed prophecies” that Trump would be…

Evangelical Christians once were saved. After Trump, they’re lost.

(RNS) — For reasons that have to do with our reading of the Bible, the both of us moved as adults from our middle-class white worlds to poor Black communities: Michael and his family from all-white small towns of Minnesota to the largest African American area of Minneapolis, and Joel from a white suburb of Houston to that city’s poorest neighborhood. We were then and are now both white Christians. Our faith and our faith communities were and are our lives. Little prepared us…

Letter: Calling on Christians to abate ‘devilish’ ways

About a year ago a senior pastor at a local church told me the biblical passages about the poor were directed at the spiritually deprived, versus the undeniable comprehension of the word to define those of meager means. They lied. Perhaps six years ago I was seeking help for those without a roof from a pastor at a local church. They said they had tried “that” with Black people and it doesn’t work. What followed was a condescending conversation so disturbing: that I changed…

Pro-Trump Christian evangelical ‘prophets’ apologise for getting election result wrong

Californian pastor Kris Vallotton apologised to Mr Biden directly on Instagram, stating that “you’re my president” similar to the way Mr Trump and Barack Obama were “his presidents”. “I want to sincerely apologise for missing the prophecy about Donald Trump. It doesn’t make me a false prophet. I prophesied he would become president four days after he declared his candidacy [in 2015]. And I prophesied Trump would not be impeached [and removed from office]. I’m very sorry to everyone who put their trust in…

Iraqi priest doubles down on Christianity’s survival in the Middle East

Iraqi Christians in Baghdad leave Christmas Mass at St. George Chaldean Church Dec. 25, 2019. (Credit: Khalid al Mousily/Reuters via CNS.) ROSARIO, Argentina – Ever since the rise of the Islamic State (ISIS), there’s been rising alarm regarding the future for Christians in the Middle East. A Catholic priest who recently returned to his village in northern Iraq after six years in Rome described what he found as “shocking,” but doubled down on the need for Christians to survive. Father Karam Shamasha left the…

The ‘prophets’ who said that Trump would win blame demons

If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the Lord does not take place or come true, that is a message the Lord has not spoken. That prophet has spoken presumptuously, so do not be alarmed. Deuteronomy 18:22 There will be many Christians disappointed with the likely result of the US presidential election, given the high level of support for President Donald Trump from White Evangelicals (76 per cent) and Catholics (46 per cent), according to the National Exit Poll. But one group…

‘The Earth was dying. Killed by the pursuit of money’ — rereading Ben Elton’s Stark as prophecy

In a year that began during one of the worst bushfire seasons in living memory and then saw a global pandemic take hold, rereading Ben Elton’s Stark offers an eerily prescient window into 2020 as the end of the world. First published in 1989, Elton’s debut novel offered a doubly prophetic vision. First, his depiction of environmental destruction. Second, his vision of high-stakes private space exploration. The world of Elton’s Stark is ruled by a shadowy ultra-rich cabal (akin to the Bilderberg Group), known…

QAnon Believes the Trump Prophecies Are Almost Here

This article is part of Election 2020: America Votes, FP’s round-the-clock coverage of the U.S. election results as they come in, with short dispatches from correspondents and analysts around the world. The America Votes page is free for all readers. The QAnon conspiracy theory has a lot on the line today, as followers wait and see whether their trust in “the plan” was well placed. For years, the supposedly anonymous Q has promised that even the most chaotic happenings around U.S. President Donald Trump…

Christians: Trump pushed some young Christians away from churches

President Donald Trump has been closely associated with Christians throughout his presidency, earning a majority of votes from Catholics, Protestants, and evangelicals in 2016. But for some Christians, Trump has shaken their relationship to their religion so much so that they have broken ties with family, friends, and even their churches. “You’re either a Christian who’s conservative and supportive of Trump or a Christian that’s really confused and hates the situation you’re in,” Maria Felix told Business Insider. Felix is still looking for a…

Trump Becomes the First President Since Eisenhower to Change Faiths

More than 180,000 people have stopped identifying with the Presbyterian Church (USA) in the past four years, according to official church numbers. Now there’s one more: President Donald Trump. Trump told Religion News Service last week in a written interview mediated by spiritual advisor Paula White-Cain that he doesn’t consider himself to be Presbyterian. He was confirmed in the church and has called himself Presbyterian numerous times over the years. But no more. “I now consider myself to be a non-denominational Christian,” Trump said…

QAnon’s Predictions Haven’t Come True; So How Does the Movement Survive the Failure of Prophecy?

FacebookTweet John F. Kennedy Jr. is dead and has been dead for some time. In July 1999, the small plane he was traveling in crashed off the coast of Martha’s Vineyard, killing him and two others. The bodies of Kennedy and his fellow passengers were found five days later in the Atlantic Ocean. This is the version of events most people know to be true. But, in the world of QAnon, things happened a bit differently: JFK Jr. survived an attempt on his life…

Ancient church found where Jesus said to tell Peter to establish Christianity

One of the earliest churches in Israel has been unearthed at the foot of breathtaking waterfalls in the scenic Banias Nature Reserve in Israel’s north. The rare circa 400 CE Byzantine church was build on top of a Roman-era temple to Pan, the Greek god from whom the park takes its name. The 4th-5th century Christian builders adapted the Roman pagan temple to fit the needs of the relatively new religion, said University of Haifa Prof. Adi Erlich in a brief Hebrew-language video announcing…

Donald Trump is hardly the ‘Republican Jesus’

It’s yet unknown how U.S. President Donald Trump’s attempts to position himself as the Christian candidate of choice will influence Christian voters in the United States — and how Democrats’ attempts to speak to Christians may sway previous Trump voters or those not publicly declaring their intentions. ‘Republican Jesus: How the Right has Rewritten the Gospels’ (University of California Press) “Dems want to shut your churches down, permanently,” Trump tweeted in early October. A few days earlier, his son, Eric Trump, declared that his…

It’s not the end of the world, even if it feels like it

Faith moves us from feelings of despair into trusting God’s goodness. Reading, learning and practicing spiritual strategies helps us find hope and strength to continue working through stressful times. Spiritual tools help us see our stressful world, yet position our conscious minds to know something better is coming. Positive thinking spiritually lifts us from a perspective of hurtful defeat. At this time in history, fear of the unknown, isolation and worry can make us feel overwhelmed. If you use social media, chances are you…

Look at Israel for the prophetic time clock

Karen Stevens If you’re anything like my husband and I, we can’t stand all the lying that is being said on the campaign trail. The debates were so hard to watch because of all the lies. I told my husband if my candidate doesn’t win, I will be upset, but I will not be worried. I know that God is in control of all things, and He will orchestrate what the end will be. God has already written the end, and He gives us…

Amy Coney Barrett’s People of Praise ties highlight charismatic Christianity

What sets charismatic Christians apart from other kinds of Christians is that they often adopt practices described in the New Testament of the Bible, including speaking in tongues, the use of prophecy and faith healing. Charismatic Catholics might also adopt more modern types of praise and worship band music with enthusiastic singing, clapping and outstretched arms. Barrett would be the first Supreme Court justice from a charismatic background, according to John Fea, who teaches history at Messiah College in Mechanicsburg, Pa. And for some…

Eric Trump says his dad ‘literally saved Christianity’ in a ‘full-out war on faith’

Eric Trump said in an interview with the North Dakota radio station WZFG-AM last week that his father, President Donald Trump, “literally saved Christianity.” He claimed Democrats have launched a “full-out war on faith in this country” and said “they want to close churches.” His comments were likely in reference to local and state governments closing churches in the midst of the novel coronavirus pandemic as a way to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. Visit Business Insider’s homepage for more stories. Eric Trump…

Donald Trump prophecy: The unbelievable link President Trump has to the Bible exposed

President Donald Trump is going head-to-head with Democrat rival Joe Biden in the 2020 US election race. Ther incumbent President is fighting to keep his seat in the White House, rallying his supporters behind his stronghanded approach to foreign policy and domestic affairs. And with pressures mounting before the US heads to the polls on November 3, President Trump will rely on the support of Christian evangelists to secure a second term in office. Just last month, evangelist John Hagee told his followers to…

The Terrifying Alliance Between End Times Christian Zionists and Donald Trump

On September 13, evangelical pastor John Hagee stood before San Antonio’s Cornerstone Church — which seats 5,400 people and is televised to millions more — and told congregants how to vote on November 3. “In the forthcoming presidential election let every bible-believing Christian go vote the bible,” he said, to the cheering and applause of a tightly packed crowd of mask-less worshipers (On October 4, news broke that Hagee has been diagnosed with Covid-19). He continued, “Take America back from the god of socialism that now threatens the very…

How to Survive the Upcoming Election, and Other Answers in Prophecy

October 5, 2020 It Is Written’s new online series is slated to begin on October 9. By Cassie Matchim Hernandez, It Is Written, and Adventist Review Are you worried about the upcoming elections in the U.S. or other countries? How can we make sense of what is coming? Who will determine the future? Who really controls the world? These are some of the questions that a new series by It Is Written will answer with the Bible. The series, titled Answers in Prophecy, is…

Who Has the Power to Define Christianity in the US?

A pro-Trump sign sits on the side of a road in March 2020 in Charlotte, N.C. (worthavisual / Shutterstock) EDITOR’S NOTE: This article originally appeared at TomDispatch.com. To stay on top of important articles like these, sign up to receive the latest updates from TomDispatch. Thank you for signing up. For more from The Nation, check out our latest issue. Subscribe now for as little as $2 a month! Support Progressive Journalism The Nation is reader supported: Chip in $10 or more to help us…

End of the world: Doomsday preacher says ‘Earth will explode’ in Bible prophecy claim

Pastor Begley said: “Are you serious, guys? End of the world in fiery flames. “The Earth will explode, according to the Bible, but the precursors to that, and you can find that in 2 Peter 3, it tells you in 2 Peter 3, it gives you the description of the Earth melting with fervent heat. Even the air will burn up. “But before we get there, there’s a lot of prophecy that has to take place, including first humanity being scorched with intense heat,…

On abortion, Amy Coney Barrett doesn’t speak for American Christians

Conservative Christians are thrilled about Barrett’s nomination and the prospect it raises for them of overturning Roe v. Wade, but their views don’t align with the reality of what many American Christians believe. Barrett has called abortion “always immoral” and voted against abortion rights as a federal appeals court judge. She has cast doubt on stare decisis — the principle that justices should follow legal precedents set by previous decisions. So far, the public debate about faith and Barrett’s nomination has focused on her…

Kevin Dickerson’s newly released “Jesus, Revelations, the End Times, and Me” is a perspicacious read that opens the mind to the truth of the biblical end times

MEADVILLE, Pa., Sept. 28, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — “Jesus, Revelations, the End Times, and Me”: a spiritual narrative that lets individuals discern the coming end of days as prophesied in the Word of God. “Jesus, Revelations, the End Times, and Me” is the creation of published author Kevin Dickerson, a writer and decorated combat veteran who attends the House of Prayer in Memphis, Tennessee. Dickerson shares, “This book is written for the sole purpose of showing people the signs of the times—the end times. It…

Psalm 83 Prophecy

Recent events point to peace in the Middle East, but one Bible prophecy guarantees the opposite. You can know the specific alliances of the coming war in the Middle East. There has been much celebration at the White House lately because of President Donald Trump’s efforts to bring peace to the Middle East. He facilitated peace deals between the United Arab Emirates and Israel, and Bahrain and Israel. Israel lit up a wall in Jerusalem with images of these nations’ flags, plus America’s and…

Israel peace deal: ‘Jesus will return soon’ claims Bible follower in prophecy analysis

“This is intriguing given the prophecy of Daniel the Prophet who saw a time far in the future when a covenant of many would be confirmed by a future global world leader, (who Christians know as the Antichrist).” This so-called covenant with many is described in the Book of Daniel, Chapter Nine. According to some interpretations of scripture, the covenant describes a temporary peace deal between Israel and its adversaries. The peace will last until Israel clashes with its neighbours over the Third Temple…

Pandemic Prophecy Not on the Rosy Side

K. Lloyd Billingsley • Monday September 21, 2020 2:46 PM PDT • Actress Jennifer Garner (13 Going on 30) recently asked Dr. Anthony Fauci, “When are we going to be able to sit in a theater and watch our favorite performers up on stage again?” Dr. Fauci, a member of the White House Coronavirus Task Force, replied, “I think it’s going to be a combination of a vaccine that has been around for almost a year and good public-health measures,” adding that a vaccine…

Socialism a philosophy rooted in Christianity

What’s this “socialism,” anyway? It started with Christian Utopian Socialists such as the Hutterites, an Anabaptist branch that lived on communes. They felt that living in a communal manner, rather than seeking financial profit from each other, emulated Christ and his disciples. (I’m not saying Jesus was a socialist; but He did say, “You cannot serve both God and Money … Be on guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist of the abundance of his possessions!” Between pure socialism…

White Christians in the US helped build, sustain white supremacist nation, author says

People sing during Mass at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Alexandria, Virginia, in 2011. (CNS/Nancy Phelan Wiechec) White Christians — including Catholics — in the U.S. have actively built and sustained white supremacy since before the nation’s founding, constructing institutions and theologies that uphold racism to this day. That’s the central claim of Robert P. Jones’ new book, White Too Long: The Legacy of White Supremacy in American Christianity, published in July. Jones is the CEO and founder of the Public Religion Research Institute…

End of the world: Preacher warns Blue Moon ‘omen of prophetic revelation’ will soon appear

The supposed end times sign will arrive in the form of a rare Blue Moon on October 31. And although Blue Moons are a perfectly natural phenomenon, this one will arrive just three days before the US Presidential election. The eerie coincidence has left some US evangelists believing it is a prophetic sign from the heavens. In particular, Pastor Paul Begley from West Lafayette in Indiana has stoked end of the world fears, by dubbing the Moon an “omen of prophetic revelation”. Pastor Begley…

Tennessee school district will stop promoting Christianity

By Associated Press | September 16, 2020 at 10:32 AM EDT – Updated September 16 at 9:07 PM NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – A Tennessee school district that was sued last year by two atheist families for promoting Christianity has agreed to stop the practice. In a consent decree filed in federal court in Nashville on Monday, the Smith County School District admitted that Christian prayers were delivered over the school address system, Bibles were distributed to fifth graders, and Bible verses were posted in…

Robert C. Hagan’s newly released “A Mighty Shield: Prophecy Woven with International Intrigue” tells of a biblical prophecy’s fruition that greatly changes the world

MEADVILLE, Pa. (PRWEB) September 17, 2020 “A Mighty Shield: Prophecy Woven with International Intrigue”: a riveting tome filled with the biblical circumstances of Laura and Ben during a crisis of nuclear proportions. “A Mighty Shield: Prophecy Woven with International Intrigue” is the creation of published author Robert C. Hagan, an officer under Admiral Rickover in the Nuclear Navy, a vice president of Quality and Engineering at a Kansas utility, and a member of the Lutheran church. Hagan shares, “Opposing spiritual forces collide as Ezekiel’s…

End of the world: ‘Biblical’ Israel peace deal is one step closer to Armageddon – claim

According to Paul Begley, an Indiana-based TV evangelist who hosts The Coming Apocalypse, the covenant with many is a prophetic peace deal between Israel and its adversaries that will lead to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. Pastor Begley believes more Arab nations will join the Abraham Accord in due time, before turning on Israel over access to Jerusalem’s Temple Mount. In his opinion, the construction of a Third Temple on the sacred Temple Mount will be a major point of contention for Israel…

Daily chart – Protestant Christianity is booming in China

TEARING DOWN crosses from church spires may not sound the best way to win a promotion. But in Xi Jinping’s China, it might do the trick. In 2014 Xia Baolong, the Communist Party chief in Zhejiang, a coastal province, oversaw a campaign to remove more than 1,500 crosses from places of worship in the province. Bibles were confiscated; pastors were locked up. It certainly did Mr Xia’s career no harm. A long-time ally of the president, he was promoted first to a plum job…

The 2020 election is a moment of truth for white Christianity

September 15, 2020 (RNS) — In nearly every presidential election cycle, a narrow set of so-called religious issues comes to the fore. In recent decades that set has been abortion, LGBTQ rights and religious liberty. Candidates fall on one side or the other, and predictable controversies erupt. It’s exhausting to see people of faith lumped into a media narrative that largely only follows white Christians. But I believe that tired and oversimplified narrative is changing — and the crises of 2020 are making that…

Constable: Are the End Times here? Well, no, says biblical scholar

A fridge-sized asteroid hurtles toward Earth as we cope with a pandemic, horrific storms, racial atrocities, wildfires, violence and political pandemonium. “We are at the end of time,” warns a flyer left on our front porch. It proclaims the Earth will come to an end in 2020 with chaos, war, famine, natural disasters and a presidential election “like nothing you have ever witnessed before.” Granted, it does seem as if we’re headed in that direction. But Lombard native Tom Meyer, 44, a biblical scholar…

End of the world: Bible expert warns ‘Devil’s back is breaking’ as Second Coming nears

Christian scripture is clear about one thing: the Second Coming of Christ will happen. But there is no widely accepted belief on when this will happen or how the Second Coming will unfold. Conspiracy theorists and doomsday prophets believe the end days will see cataclysmic events wreak havoc across the surface of the planet. “Look, I don’t know where it’s at, but there’s no doubt about it. Something’s shaking things up there.” But what exactly does the Bible have to say about the Second…

End of the world: ‘Fire’s going to fall’ warns TV evangelist in doomsday prophecy alert

He said: “When I tell you that the fire’s going to fall in the last days, I’m not playing.” According to scripture, a number of apocalyptic events will unfold before the end of the world. Pastor Begley believes the world will be ravaged by war, plagues, political unrest and natural cataclysms. In many cases, he claims these events are already unfolding, such as the record-breaking California fires. He also believes asteroids will strike the planet, earthquakes will split the ground open and Christians and…

Christianity hasn’t failed in India. Conversion isn’t its only goal

Representational | St Thomas Church, Palayoor | Wikimedia Commons Text Size: A- A+ Periodically, experts of mainstream media come up with theories on why Christianity is a “failed project” in India. Recently, senior journalist and author Dilip Mandal put forth the argument that Christianity has no future in India and, therefore, there is no reason for the Rashtriya Swayamevak Sangh or the Vishva Hindu Parishad to spread false alarm or panic about the proselytising capacity of Christian missionaries. Mandal also points out that the Christian population in India is either static or dwindling. Mandal…

End of the world: Third Temple of Jerusalem prophecy sparks claim ‘time is very short’

Jerusalem’s Third Temple plays a major role in Bible prophecy and its construction is believed to be a precursor to the end of the world. Although the Jewish temple does not yet exist and there is no guarantee it ever will, some scholars believe it is a matter of time before it is built on Jerusalem’s Temple Mount. And if this happens, many Christian conspiracy theorists believe it will open the doors for the Antichrist to falsely declare himself God. According to the blog Bible…

US Evangelicals: From Prophecy to Policy

Key Points: – In the coming decade, the positions, demands and worldviews of evangelicals and other Christians will continue to shape the US stance on global issues. – Under the Trump administration, white evangelicals have had unprecedented access to the White House. The presidency has made Biblical references part of its political language. – Many evangelicals interpret current events as divine signs fulfilling Biblical prophecies about the end times. When such worldviews are politically elevated, they shape US policies on a range of issues such as the…

This 19th-century argument over federal support for Christianity still resonates

Since taking office, President Trump and his administration have strongly championed religious liberty, but only of a particular kind. At this week’s White House dinner for evangelical leaders, Trump emphasized that the U.S. is a “nation of believers” and promised to protect religious liberty. Trump’s proposed policies reflect the political goals of conservative evangelicals. At a 2018 summit, Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced a new “Religious Liberty Task Force” in the Justice Department to protect “people of faith” from “unjust discrimination” in all areas…

End of the world: Bible expert warns ‘eerie’ OMEN of end times will appear on Halloween

Pastor Begley is the host of the weekly TV series The Coming Apocalypse, where he links Bible scripture to modern-day events. In particular, he expects prophecies regarding the rise of the Antichrist and the construction of Jerusalem’s Third Temple to come to fruition. And on an almost daily basis, he posts videos to his YouTube channel where has amassed more than 338,000 subscribers. In his most recent broadcast, he linked the Blue Moon to the US election, to Israel’s peace deal with the United…

End of the world: Third Temple of Jerusalem prophecy sparks claim ‘time is very short’

According to the blog Bible Prophecy – Signposts of the Times, evidence of this is found on the pages of the New Testament. For instance, 2 Thessalonians warns: “Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. “He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshipped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming…

End of the world: Armageddon prophecy ‘unfolds’ as Bible preacher claims Israel connection

Pastor Begley is a prominent purveyor of doomsday predictions and unfounded conspiracy theories, who hosts the weekly TV show The Coming Apocalypse. During his broadcasts, he links modern-day events to their supposed biblical counterparts. He also hosts a popular YouTube channel where he tells his more than 338,000 subscribers on a near-daily basis to prepare for the coming of Christ. In a recently published video, he said: “If you don’t believe that the current nation of Israel, founded in 1948, is God’s chosen people…