Author Archives: Marsha West

About Marsha West

Marsha West is the owner and managing editor of Christian Research Network, Apprising Ministries (the late Ken Silva’s blog) and On Solid Rock Resources. She is also co-founder of Berean Research. For two decades Marsha was the owner and managing editor of Email Brigade website as well as the EMB News Report, a bi-weekly email report for conservative people of faith. For many years Marsha was a regular contributor to several blogs including CRN, RenewAmerica, News With Views and Web Commantary as well as popular websites she no longer endorses: American Family Association, Worldview Weekend, Stand Up For The Truth, The Christian Post and Christian Headlines. Although Marsha still blogs, her primary focus is CRN. Marsha also writes Research Papers (White Papers) on various topics that are published on CRN, Berean Research and On Solid Rock Resources. Visit Marsha’s other sites: On Solid Rock Resources https://www.onsolidrockresources.com/ Apprising Ministries http://apprising.org Marsha’s RenewAmerica Column http://renewamerica.com/columns/mwest Marsha’s Facebook Page http://facebook.com/marsha.west.77

Growing in Discernment

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Devotion/Teaching ∙

How do you measure maturity? It is not a function of how old you are—society is dominated by multiple generations of immature adults who refuse to act their age. Maturity is tested by time, but it’s not a question of how long a person has lived. Rather, it’s determined by how wisely he or she lives.

The same is true in the spiritual realm. It doesn’t matter how long a person has sat under the teaching of God’s Word if his life is still dominated by fickle emotionalism, foolish worldliness, and shallow spirituality. Exposure to the Word alone won’t make us mature Christians—we must be faithful and disciplined to put it to work in our lives.  View article →

The Rise of Woker-Than-Thou Evangelicalism

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ , , , ,

“Those of us who don’t believe that kind of “wokeness” reflects biblical integrity have been scolded, shamed, and called racists by key leaders from both organizations.”

(Phil Johnson – Pyromaniacs)  Unless you have been living in seclusion somewhere, you will have noticed that a radical putsch is currently underway to get evangelicals on board with doctrines borrowed from Black Liberation Theology, Critical Race Theory, Intersectional Feminism, and other ideologies that are currently stylish in the left-leaning secular academy. … Continue reading →

More Black Babies in New York City are Killed in Abortions Than Born Alive

Posted by ∙ ∙ In News ∙ , , ,

“The magnitude of the death toll is nothing short of staggering.”

(Dan Undrusko – Life News) Can you imagine the response of Planned Parenthood or New York’s reliably pro-abortion-to the-max Gov. Andrew Cuomo to this proposal made yesterday by Wall Street Journal columnist Jason L. Riley?

Let’s Talk About the Black Abortion Rate

How about no, absolutely no, positively no, and “you must be a racist for asking it”? Continue reading →

Reciprocity Is the Method to Trump’s Madness

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ , ,

“During the lifetime of NAFTA, Mexico has encouraged millions of its citizens to enter the U.S. illegally. Mexico’s selfish immigration policy is designed to avoid internal reform, to earn some $30 billion in annual expatriate remittances, and to influence U.S. politics.”

(Victor Davis Hanson – National Review)  Critics of Donald Trump claim that there’s no rhyme or reason to his foreign policy. But if there is a consistency, it might be called reciprocity.

Trump tries to force other countries to treat the U.S. as the U.S. treats them. In “don’t tread on me” style, he also warns enemies that any aggressive act will be replied to in kind. Continue reading →

Fifteen Ways to Know you are Growing in Holiness

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ ,

“We should be constantly fighting against sin, and going to war with particular sins in our lives. These fifteen examples will prove helpful in our ability to notice growth when going to war against our flesh.”

(Jordan Standridge – The Cripplegate) Over the past few weeks I have been reading Edward Welch’s new book A small book about a big problem. Although I wouldn’t have described myself as someone who struggled with anger this book has revealed how much and how often I do fall short in this area. Continue reading →

Are You Living Worthy of the Gospel?

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ ,

“God expects us to live in ways appropriate for citizens of this heavenly nation. We need to live in such a way that we enhance the reputation of the gospel and the Christ of the gospel.”

(Tim Challies)  The Bible tells us that we are to live lives that are worthy of the gospel. Specifically, in Philippians 1 Paul tells the church, “Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ.” I recently found myself reflecting on that word worthy. How can we actually live in a way that is worthy of the gospel of Christ? Is that even a possibility? Continue reading →

When Abortion Becomes A Sacrament

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ , ,

Gloria Steinem once remarked, “If men could get pregnant, abortion would be a sacrament.” But modern-day feminists have determined that abortion is a sacrament specifically because women can get pregnant…

(Ben Shapiro – Daily Wire)  This week, amid widespread Democratic tumult regarding the selection of a replacement for Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy, alleged comedian Michelle Wolf paid tribute to the most important facet of American life: abortion. On her Netflix show on Sunday, Wolf dressed up in red, white and blue, and shrieked into the camera, “God bless abortions, and God bless America!” She explained: “Women, if you need an abortion, get one! If you want an abortion, get one! … And women, don’t forget: You have the power to give life and men will try to control that. Don’t let them!” Continue reading →

Video: Justin Peters Responds to Slander/Libel By Brannon Howse

Posted by ∙ ∙ In News ∙ ,

“Peters noticed that Howse had made (or updated/re-uploaded) a blatantly untrue video attacking him this Spring. Peters did a response video this morning, with indisputable evidence that Howse knowingly bore false witness against him.”

(Pulpit & Pen)  Although he is often right about important issues, Brannon Howse has a scorched-earth policy towards those who disagree with him on non-essential matters. Angered that Justin Peters would politely disagree with James White’s 2017 Interfaith Dialogue but that Peters stopped short of outright condemning White, Howse set his sights on Peters and some of his other Worldview Weekend broadcasters who took a more measured approach of criticism. … Continue reading →

Hormone therapy poses stroke risk for transgender women

Posted by ∙ ∙ In News ∙ ,

“Clot rates were twice as high for all transgender women. But in the key subset that had begun estrogen therapy, the odds of developing a potentially-dangerous clot were 5.1 times greater after two years compared with non-transgender males.”

(Gene Emery – Reuters)  Hormones given to people to align their sex with their gender pose a significant risk of serious blood clots and stroke among transgender women, one of the largest studies of transgender patients has concluded. Continue reading →

‘Lifeway Women’ Promote Hillsong Prophetess, Christine Caine

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ , , , ,

“Caine considers Joyce Meyer one of her best friends, chief mentor, and “spiritual mother.” Together, they hold to the “little god theology” and Word-Faith heresies, that – like God – you can create destinies and demand temporal blessings simply by decreeing and declaring them into existence.”

(Pulpit & Pen)  Lifeway Christian Resources is the retail and publishing arm of the Southern Baptist Convention, known easily as the world’s largest retailer of heresy in the United States, if not the world. As we have thoroughly documented on this news site, Lifeway sells books by Anti-Trinitarians, Word-Faith and Prosperity teachers, New Age gurus, gay activists, mystics, Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholics. In fact, the vast majority of what the Southern Baptist retailer sells is contrary to the denomination’s statement of faith, the Southern Baptist Faith and Message, and much of their selection contains troubling theology that Southern Baptist pastors have to regularly teach against. Lifeway has a blog and podcast for women, from their Lifeway Women division, called (accurately), “Marked.” Yesterday, they promoted the wildly unorthodox and charismatic Hillsong prophetess, Christine Caine. Continue reading →

Hillsong United, Lyrics, and Evolution

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ , , ,

Joel Houston, lead musician in Hillsong United

Joel Houston, eldest son of Hillsong founder Brian Houston and lead musician in the worship band Hillsong United, recently tweeted that “evolution is undeniable.” (Here) So naturally Ken Ham of Answers in Genesis, a parachurch organization that provides answers to key issues in the Bible such as creation, evolution, science, and the age of the earth, took issue with Houston’s “old earth” view of creation which he announced in a tweet: “I have no ability to believe that there was a flood that covered all the highest mountains of the world only 4,000 years ago and that all of the animal species that exist today are here because they were carried on an ark and then somehow walked or flew all around the world from a mountain in the Middle East after the water dried up.”

Following is AIG’s analysis of Houston’s tweets: Continue reading →

Trump Supreme Court Nominee Kavanaugh on Abortion: ‘I Would Follow Roe v. Wade Faithfully and Fully’

Posted by ∙ ∙ In News ∙ , ,

Other organizations have expressed support for Kavanaugh, including the religious liberties organization First Liberty, whose president, Kelly Shackelford, told the National Review, “Brett Kavanaugh also volunteered his time almost 20 years ago to work on a religious liberty case at the U.S. Supreme Court with me and Jay Sekulow. He has been committed to the Constitution and religious liberty for a long time.”

(Heather Clark – Christian News)  Trump U.S. Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, who has served on the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals for the past 12 years, once stated during his confirmation hearing that he would “follow Roe v. Wade faithfully and fully” as it is “binding precedent.” Continue reading →

RESCUED: All Twelve Thai Teens And Their Coach Have Been Pulled From Mountain Cave

Posted by ∙ ∙ In News ∙ ,

(Emily Zanotti – Daily Wire)  Authorities in Thailand now say all twelve teenagers — and their soccer coach — have been rescued from a mountain cave, and the last rescuer, a doctor who was treating the children as they came through the flooded passages, has left the operation site.

The daring rescue mission took more than 18 days, but all members of the “Wild Boars” soccer team are believed to be in good condition and responding well to medical treatment. Doctors say they are helping the boys through malnutrition, minor injuries, and the effects of time spent in an area with low oxygen levels. Continue reading →

Abortions in England, Wales Increase to One Almost Every Three Minutes

Posted by ∙ ∙ In News ∙

(The Christian Institute)  Nearly 200,000 unborn babies were aborted in England and Wales in 2017, latest official figures show – that’s one approximately every three minutes.

Over 3,000 abortions were due to the “risk” of disability. Women aged between 20 and 24 accounted for the highest abortion rate.

Pro-life organisations have responded with deep concern at the statistics, with one saying that women need a better outcome than abortion.   View article →

Gay ‘Christian’ Journalist, Jonathan Merritt, Leaves RNS Amidst Contract Dispute

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ , , , ,

“Merritt, who still holds a nebulous and constantly evolving position on homosexual behavior, is one of the many evangelical leaders desiring to normalize Same Sex Attraction (SSA), a condition with which Merritt himself struggles. Interestingly, Merritt is dropping clues that he may be involved in creating a new, competing news network.”

(Pulpit & Pen) Jonathan Merritt, who has had one foot in the closet since at least 2012 when a homosexual man outed Merritt as his one-night-stand lover, is a press ally of the left-wing of evangelicalism that has been slowly but surely taking over the Southern Baptist Convention and other evangelical institutions. The son of a one-time president of the Southern Baptist Convention, James Merritt, has thrust himself to the center of most of the controversies that have plagued the nation’s largest Protestant denomination. … Continue reading →

Lesbian Feminists Clash with Transgenders at London Pride Parade

Posted by ∙ ∙ In News ∙ , ,

According to their website, “Get the L Out is a group of lesbian and feminist individuals and organizations, opposing the increasingly anti-lesbian and misogynistic LGBT movement and the erasure of lesbians.”

(Tyler O’Neil – PJ Media)  We told you it would happen, and it finally has. Conservatives long predicted that feminism and transgenderism were ultimately incompatible, but for a long time it seemed like the LGBT movement might just hold them together. Well, on Saturday that movement burst open, as lesbians led the parade in attacking transgenderism.

“Transactivism Erases Lesbians!” read a banner that temporarily led the Pride in London march in the heart of Britain’s capital. Continue reading →

Professing Christian Foster, Adoption Agency Agrees to Place Children With Homosexuals to Comply With Philadelphia Law

Posted by ∙ ∙ In News ∙ , ,

[Palusky] lists Rob Bell, Rick Warren, Coldplay, The Police, Sting and U2 among his likes on social media. Under his “religious views” section, he provides a link to a message from Rob Bell. Palusky also characterizes his political views as being in the “center.”

(Heather Clark – Christian News)  A well-known professing Christian charity has agreed to work with homosexuals seeking to foster or adopt children after its contract with the City of Philadelphia was suspended for a time due to its policies on child placement. Continue reading →

Imagine There’s No [Christian] Religion

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ , ,

How many Americans are aware that our Canadian neighbor has pretty much shut Christians out of any significant cultural role? Recently, Dr. Peter Jones visited Ontario and it soon became clear to him that something has happened to Western civilization that makes Christianity a dangerous threat in that country. So in Canada, Christianity must be criminalized and eliminated altogether. According to Dr. Jones, Eastern Buddhism’s practice of mindfulness meditation is everywhere in Canadian culture. He informs us that mindfulness even receives the favor of the courts while Christianity is now perceived as unfavorable. In this informative piece, Dr. Jones reveals the dangers of mindfulness meditation. Under the heading Cultural Effects, he includes a quote from a book by Christine Chandler, who practiced mindfulness meditation for nearly thirty years: Continue reading →

New Memos Confirm Russia Probe’s ‘Hyper-Political Bias’

Posted by ∙ ∙ In News ∙ , , , ,

“[Tom] Fitton told Fox News host Pete Hegseth that the memos provide proof of ‘an out-of-control investigation that is really abusive in its targeting of not only President Trump, but people around him.'”

(Kathryn Blackhurs – LifeZette)  A new report revealing top FBI officials’ “hurry the F up pressure” to obtain warrants surveilling former Trump campaign adviser Carter Page shows the Russian collusion investigation “was infected by the hyper-political bias” against President Donald Trump, Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton said Friday on Fox News’ “The Ingraham Angle.” Continue reading →

If Paul Experienced Ministry Pressure–So Does Your Pastor

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ , ,

“While we see a list of hardships, there is one statement that sticks out to me in 2 Corinthians 11:28 where Paul makes a statement about his anxiety regarding the churches. While we can be sure that Paul was promised to suffer for Jesus (Acts 9:16) and after being imprisoned in Rome he was beheaded for his faith…”

(Josh Buice – Delivered By Grace)  It is well documented that the apostle Paul had a hard ministry. He didn’t exactly have an ivory palace gig where he studied the ancient writings of Moses and churned out volumes of commentaries. … Continue reading →

Pope Francis Embraces ‘LGBT’

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ , ,

“That the Vatican would embrace language invented by homosexual activists to promote the homosexual agenda does not bode well for the Papists. Sadly, and to our shame, our evangelical leaders – from Russell Moore at the ERLC to Albert Mohler at SBTS – have already adopted the LGBT language long ago.”

(Pulpit & Pen)  The New York Times recently printed an op-ed from John Gehring, a Roman Catholic commentator and author, wondering aloud if the church would ever fully embrace the LGBT movement. After many years of providing expert commentary on the Vatican and its various policies, Gehring’s professional assessment is that yes, the Vatican will come to a full embrace of queer people. The reason, for Gehring, is that Pope Francis has given subtle clues to his evolution on the topic of sodomy, the most astonishing of which is his embrace of the ‘LGBT’ term. Continue reading →

Episcopal Committee Hears Call to Revise Book of Common Prayer, Replacing Masculine Terms for God, Mankind

Posted by ∙ ∙ In News ∙ , ,

“Rowan Pantalena, who identifies as “non-binary transgender” and a candidate for the Diocese of Connecticut, contended, “I am not your brother or your sister. I am your sibling.” Pantalena asked for language that would expand on the existing text, rather than a complete overhaul.”

(Heather Clark – Christian News)  A committee tasked with hearing desired revisions to the Book of Common Prayer listened to remarks on Wednesday from Episcopalian leaders and others who want to make the historical book’s text more gender-neutral by removing masculine nouns and pronouns for God and mankind. Some Episcopalians disagree, and have presented a resolution asking that no changes be made to the book, but rather that deeper devotion be given to the existing text. Continue reading →