Christian News Network reports:
The U.S. Army has ordered the removal of a sandwich board outside of an Arizona recruiting office because it included the phrase “On a mission for God and country.”
The sign, which has been posted outside of the recruiting office since at least last October, was removed on Friday following complaints. A photo of the sandwich board had been proliferated online, drawing ire from atheists and church-state separation advocates.
USA Today reports:
Pope Francis, after a visit to the largest Catholic nation in Asia, says Catholics may have a moral responsibility to limit the number of their children and need not reproduce “like rabbits.”
But the pope also reaffirmed the church’s ban on artificial means of birth control and said Catholics should practice “responsible parenting.”
Stand Up For The Truth reports:
On January 21st, about 30 of contemporary Christian music’s best-known singers from the last four decades will be joining New Age sympathizer and devout Roman Catholic Roma Downey for a special live online concert called “We Will Stand.” The concert is being presented by CCM United and has a motto of “One Message, Many Voices.’” According to an article titled “We Are United: The Story Behind ‘The Greatest Night In Contemporary Christian Music,’” there could be over a million viewers with a potential reach globally of 40 million.
In 2011 Rick Warren, who is the pastor of a megachurch in California and the author of the popular “Purpose-Driven” books chose to enter into a partnership with a man who is steeped in New Age/New Thought spirituality. Warren elicited the aid of Dr. Mehmet Oz to come up with a health and fitness plan for his church. Marsha West has learned that a recent study by the British Medical Journal showed that “Half of Dr. Oz’s health advice is bad.”
Christian News Network reports:
A federal judge in South Dakota has struck down the state’s voter-approved marriage amendment which enshrines marriages as being solely between a man and a woman, opining that the law is unconstitutional because it excludes homosexuals from having the same opportunity.
According to Christian News Network:
Concerns are being raised after Duke University’s student paper announced this week that the Muslim call to prayer will be broadcast from university’s bell tower each Friday.
“Members of the Duke Muslim Students Association will chant a weekly call-to-prayer from the Duke Chapel bell tower beginning Friday, Jan. 16,” Duke Today outlined in a report on Tuesday. “The chant, called the ‘adhan,’ announces the start of the group’s jummah prayer service, which takes place in the chapel basement each Friday at 1 p.m.”
Christianity.com’s Ryan Hoselton penned a refreshing story about a pastor who’s attracted to members of the same-sex yet he chose to wed a woman. Pastor Allan Edwards says he believes that the center of Christianity is the Bible. After completing a thorough study of the scriptures, he concluded that practicing homosexuality is a sin. Thus, he couldn’t simultaneously follow the Bible and his same-sex attraction.
According to Christian Headlines:
An Irish priest has made international headlines for his announcement that he is gay during a Mass service.
Christian Today reports Father Martin Dolan of the Church of St. Nicholas of Myra was urging parishioners to support gay marriage in the upcoming Irish referendum when he said, “I’m gay myself.” The announcement was reportedly met with a standing ovation from the congregation.
Christian News Network reports:
A prominent Southern Baptist leader is speaking out against what he views as Newsweek’s recent “hit piece” against Christians after its December cover story took aim at evangelical Christianity and the inerrancy of the Scriptures.
Albert Mohler, the president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, wrote an article this week expressing disappointment in Newsweek for its decision to run “The Bible: So Misunderstood It’s a Sin” as it cover story to conclude 2014.
CNS News reports:
Planned Parenthood clinics did 327,653 abortions in its fiscal year 2014 (which ran from July 1, 2013 to June 30, 2014), according to Planned Parenthood Federation of America’s newly released annual report.
That works out to an average of 37 abortions per hour or nearly 1 every 90 seconds.
According to One News Now:
In recently passing a non-discrimination policy for LGBT athletes, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) continued its years-long campaign to ensure that homosexuals and transgendered individuals are accommodated as much as possible through its policies. But when it comes to the persecution of Christians, the IOC is silent and apathetic, agreeing to hold events in nations with histories of grossly oppressing and even executing Christians.
According to The Independent:
Pope Francis has declared it his mission to take on climate change in 2015, through a series of speeches, summit appearances and a rare call-to-arms for the world’s Catholics.
According to Bishop Marcelo Sorondo, the chancellor of the Vatican’s Pontifical Academy of Sciences, the Pope wants to have a direct influence on the vital 2015 UN climate conference in Paris, the culmination of decades of negotiations that will help determine the planet’s future.
“The idea is to convene a meeting with leaders of the main religions to make all people aware of the state of our climate and the tragedy of social exclusion,” Sorondo was quoted as saying in the Observer.
According to the Los Angeles Times:
For the first time, a majority of Americans are living in a state that allows gay marriage. After a year of cascading court opinions tossing out many remaining restrictions, the dynamic in 2014 changed from how many states allow same-sex marriage to how many states don’t.
Now, at the end of the year, same-sex marriage is legally approved in 35 states and the District of Columbia, and court reviews are pending in many others.
Christian News Network reports:
The Supreme Court of Rhode Island has unanimously ruled that the religious rights of two firefighters were not violated when they were forced to participate in a “gay pride parade” a decade ago despite their objections.
Theodore Fabrizio and Stephen Deninno were assigned by city officials to drive a fire truck in the 2001 parade, but when the men asked if they could be reassigned as they do not agree with the homosexual lifestyle, they were refused. The men then carried out their assignment against their will, but state that they experienced sexual harassment, including sexual propositions and “at least 60 profanity-laced anonymous phone calls,” from parade attendees and their co-workers both during and after the event.
According to Pajamas Media:
Attorney General Eric Holder has issued an edict, through a memorandum [PDF], that cross dressing and transsexualism is now protected under federal civil rights laws which were designed to protect women from sex discrimination. Existing federal law provides no statutory support for treating cross-dressers and transsexuals as the law treats female victims of discrimination.
This means that the Justice Department could now, for example, consider the decision by a school or church to not hire a transvestite as a violation of federal law.
Christian News Net reports:
Voters in Fayetteville, Arkansas have repealed a law passed by city council earlier this year that would allow men who identify as women to use womens’ restrooms and vice versa.
By a vote of 52 to 48 percent, residents rejected Ordinance 119 approved in August by the Fayetteville City Council, which voted 6–2 for the controversial measure. In addition to making provision for “transgendered” persons to use the restroom of their choice, the law also prohibited landlords from turning away homosexual couples who sought to cohabitate on their property, banned employers from rejecting homosexual applicants, and disallowed businesses from refusing services that pertained to homosexuality. Non-compliance would result in criminal penalties.
Christian News Network reports:
The Supreme Court of Pakistan has ordered the arrest of two Muslim clerics for inciting a mob who killed a couple last month after being falsely accused of desecrating the Koran. Five police officials who failed to protect the couple have also been required to face disciplinary action.
As previously reported, Shama Bibi, 28, and Shahzad Masih, 32, were burnt to ashes after they were encircled by the mob who had been informed over mosque loudspeakers that the couple had been found guilty of blasphemy against Islam.
By Marsha West – 2014
Some of the news headlines this past week gave me reason for concern. Here are a few of them:
Satanism…religious liberty…beheadings…gender confusion…ecumenicalism. My tendency is to fret about such things, even though God reminds us in His Word:
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.(Phil 4:6-7)
Likewise, 1 Peter 5:7 commands believers not to be anxious but to lay all our worries on God because He cares for us. So is there any question that His people are to go to Him with the hard things, lay them at His feet, and trust that we can literally “let go and let God”?
Listen to the comforting words our Lord Jesus:
And he said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest? (Luke 12:22-26 Also see Matthew 6:25-34)
And…
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. (Matthew 11:28-30)
Black Clouds
What must the believer do when a black cloud forms over her head and follows her wherever she goes? If you’re a black cloud magnet, keep in mind that when you find yourself in a situation where you’ve been utterly and completely robbed of all joy, chances are the spiritual forces of evil have something to do with this dreary mood. I mean, think about it. Satan’s main aim is to take his victim’s mind off her Heavenly Father and turn her focus on the unholy trinity of Me, Myself and I.
Evil entities can and will camp out in their target’s mind and offer unbiblical advice to those who are willing to listen:
Life’s no picnic, Agnes! Anyone in your situation would worry about this terrible thing that’s happened to you – and don’t feel one bit guilty about worrying! God understands.
You lost your job for Pete’s sake! With Christmas right around the corner, it’s going to be rough on the kids. The thought of seeing those disappointed faces Christmas morning would make anyone feel anxious! God understands.
Your desire for vengeance is reasonable, dude. You deserve to hold on to your anger… resentment…hatred. That’s perfectly normal. Now go and retaliate! God understands.
Because of all the wickedness in the world your children and grandchildren are going to suffer, big time. So of course you’re fearful about the kind of world they’re growing up in – that’s normal. God understands.
You get the picture.
Several years ago I came to the realization that a large number of professing Christians were not using biblical principles when handling society’s slide into moral chaos. In fact they were doing just the opposite. For instance, many were getting angry and upset, worrying and fretting over how the God hating secular humanists’ vice grip on almost every facet of society, including the Church, was growing stronger by the day. So I penned a piece to shed light on what the Bible teaches on fighting the world, the flesh and the devil. Believers face an enemy far more diabolical and cunning than any secular humanist or malevolent ruler that has ever lived. The Bible tells us that since the fall of mankind a battle has been raging in the invisible realm between two opposing forces – good and evil. Without getting too far afield, there was a rebellion in heaven and its leader, Lucifer, and his followers were told to leave. Ever since then Lucifer aka Satan (the devil) and the other turncoat angels (demons) have been at war with God’s holy elect angels. (For more details go here.) Not surprisingly one target of the evil forces is anyone who professes a belief in Christ.
Never fear! God has given believers a way to protect themselves. Paul describes how to do it in Ephesians 6. (I’ll share the particulars in a moment.) After doing a thorough study on this subject, it became apparent to me that my brothers and sisters had been unarmed while fighting a vicious enemy – and so had I! I came to realize that those of us in the thick of the battle to “reclaim America” had to lay our worries and woes aside (worry is sin) and do battle God’s way. But before we could face the enemy, like any soldier going into battle, we had to go into it with helmets, breastplates, shields, swords and, most importantly, the Gospel of Christ that changes minds and hearts! So – I wrote a piece to share what I had learned about fighting the good fight and how to win. What I wrote is even more pertinent today than it was umpteen years ago. My hope in reposting it here is that the serious Christian will take Paul’s words literally when he says “put on the whole armor of God!”
Are You Armed for Battle?
I am amazed by how many Christians are unfamiliar with the Armor of God the Apostle Paul spoke about in Ephesians 6:10. “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.” Yes, the devil is real, he’s a schemer, and he’s out to get you! If you don’t believe he’s real, then read the Gospels. Take Mark 9:25 for example. Jesus actually spoke to a demon. “You deaf and mute spirit, I command you, come out of him and do not enter him again.” It would be a little ridiculous for Jesus to talk to demons if they didn’t exist. There are plenty of other examples but my point is that Christians are failing to arm themselves for battle against these spiritual powers of darkness.
So, how can you defend yourself against demonic attacks? You must get dressed! In Ephesians 6:10-19 Paul tells you what you should wear. First, buckle the Belt of Truth around your waist. Truth is a deep knowledge of God’s character and will as applied to our lives. Second, the Breastplate of Righteousness must be firmly in place. This refers to the righteousness of Christ, not your own! The breastplate protects your heart from the attacks of Satan. Third, you must have on the proper shoes if you’re going to resist Satan’s attacks. He is an expert at keeping you off balance! Solid footing is provided by the gospel of peace. (Peace comes when you learn to rest in God’s promises.) With the right shoes on you’ll be prepared to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Your feet must always be ready to move! Fourth, take up the Shield of Faith. Faith is complete trust in Christ. When you have faith in God, Satan will be unable to worm his way into your life because Christ offers adequate protection. Fifth, take the hope of the helmet of salvation – look forward to the day of Christ’s return, when the wicked will be judged and you’ll have peace. In the meantime, the helmet will protect your mind from temptation and from believing false doctrine. Feel confident that the moral depravity taking place throughout the world will “ultimately be resolved by God’s program.” Moreover “live unafraid in a world of fear and terror.” And remember that “God is moving in history, and nothing that happens can upset or delay His plan.” (Source) Sixth, you must wield a very sharp and deadly sword – the Sword of the Spirit. The Word of God is a Christian’s sword. The Bible is “living and active and sharper than any two edged sword” (Hebrews 4:12). When you’re tempted, do as Jesus did and use Scripture as a weapon to fight off the Adversary. Lastly, pray! The Sword of the Spirit and Prayer are offensive weapons. Use them!
There you have it. The Armor of God is a symbolic description of the Lord Himself. You must put on Jesus Christ. Trust completely in His power! It’s a mistake to try to live for Christ in your own strength. You must receive and utilize Christ’s power. He wants His people to live as He did, in complete reliance on God. He will work through us by the power of His Holy Spirit indwelling in us. So, when the devil comes knocking on your door, let Jesus answer it!
Whoever reads this knows what they must do to withstand the attacks of the enemy. Stand firm! Rely on God and His mighty power! What’s unbelievable to me is that a growing number of professing Christians fail to grasp the reality that the One who hung the moon and stars says He will fight for His people. He told Abram, “Do not be afraid … I am your shield, your very great reward.”
Remember brethren, God wins!
I’ll close with a quote from a sermon given by the late Ray C. Stedman entitled Advice When Attacked:
There is a very strong and powerful relationship between putting on the armor of God and praying. These two things belong together; in fact, one grows out of the other. It is not enough to put on the armor of God; you must also pray. It is not enough to pray; you must also have put on the armor of God. It is impossible to divide these two. As we have been attempting to see, putting on the armor of God is not something merely figurative, it is an actual thing you do. It is remembering what Christ is to you, and thinking through the implications of it in terms of your present struggle and experience. Putting on the armor is essentially something that is done in the realm of your thought life. We have been trying to make that clear. It is an adjustment of the attitude of your heart to reality, to things as they really are. It is thinking through the implications of the fact which revelation discloses. This is always the necessary thing to do in trying to face life.
Recommended:
The Old Serpent and the Slacker – An allegory By Marsha West
Spiritual Warfare – On Solid Rock Resources
© Marsha West
According to Christian News Network:
Actor and filmmaker Kirk Cameron recently invited a former evangelical pastor who converted to Roman Catholicism to TBN to make the case for Santa Claus as Cameron promotes his new film “Saving Christmas,” which seeks to convince Christians who choose not to celebrate the holiday.
Cameron shared a segment of the interview on his Facebook page on Tuesday, in which he spoke with historian William Federer, a former evangelical minister who now identifies as Roman Catholic. Sporting the Liberty University logo embroidered on his shirt, Cameron invited Federer to outline the history of Saint Nicholas and other items found in his book “There Really Is a Santa Claus: The History of Saint Nicholas & Christmas Holiday Traditions.”