Commentary, analysis and opinion.

Were many journalists right when they blamed ‘white Christians’ for Charlottesville riots?

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ , ,

Following the riots in the city of Charlottesville, Virginia, where white nationalists clashed with counter protesters, Julia Duin, journalist and former religion editor for Washington Times, reports that there has been a lot of lecturing at evangelical Protestants “who are reminded nonstop that 81 percent of them polled as voting for Trump last year – that they are responsible for what happened this past weekend. Much of this came in the form of opinion pieces ranging from an essay on Fox News’ site by a white Southern Baptist seminary professor to an essay in the Washington Post’s Acts of Faith section – written by a black clergyman – urging white pastors to speak up.”

The key question for Julia Duin is “Did the opinion pieces and all the fire on Twitter bleed over into the mainstream news coverage?” Here’s what she observed:

Alt-right flag

On the face of it, the riots in Charlottesville didn’t have a strong religious component. I mean, other than the fact that Neo-Nazis are not fond of Roman Catholics, historic black churches, Jews, Pentecostal Christians (the most racially mixed churches in America), Southern Baptists and others.

Yes, there were pastors marching in protest against the white nationalists, but so were lots of other people.

Then, everything went very wrong very fast. What I saw next, mainly on Twitter, were people demanding that white clergy nationwide condemn the white nationalist protest in their Sunday sermons. I was fascinated by how some media – who wouldn’t be caught dead implicating certain other groups when one of them does an act of violence – decided that all white Christian clergy have to answer for the violence in Charlottesville.

View article →

Bible Prophecy and the Great American Eclipse

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙

Should we worry about the total eclipse that will occur on August 21st as a sign of God’s impending judgment, as Anne Graham Lotz suggests? “Jewish rabbis have historically viewed solar eclipses as warnings from God to Gentile nations,” wrote Lotz. “Therefore, my perspective on the upcoming phenomenon is not celebratory. While no one can know for sure if judgment is coming on America, it does seem that God is signaling us about something. Time will tell what that something is.” In a piece over at Reading Acts, Phillip J. Long examines what some “prophecy-obsessed Christians” are saying about America’s Eclipse and offers a biblical perspective on what is about to take place. He writes:

One of my favorite movies when I was a kid was Day of the Triffids. In this 1963 British film, the earth experiences an unusual meteor shower. Everyone who watched the meteors were struck blind, and for reasons not sufficiently explained in the film a rare type of plant (a “triffid”) mutated into a shambling stalk of killer asparagus. The star of the film, Howard Keel, was recovering from eye surgery at the time, so he was left to survive in post-apocalyptic England, dodging escaped prisoners and killer vegetables. Not one of the great plot lines in film history, but it made me wary of watching meteor showers when I was eight years old. In fact, a meteor shower cannot really strike you blind.

View article →

Are we ‘Little Gods’? The New Breed?

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ , ,

From Churchwatch Central:

Due to the rise of cults across the Western world, Christianity has not really done the job of contending for the faith and been infected by a lot of unhealthy teaching. One such teaching is the idea that we, as believers, are ‘Little Gods’. This teaching was also popularized by Mormonism.

The rise of the New Order of the Latter Rain (NOLR) cult attempted to mainstream this teaching in Christianity and did so with the construction of the Charismatic movement at the beginning of the 1960s. Back then it was known as ‘Manifest Sons of God’ or ‘Manchild Company’ heresy. It was only a matter of a few decades that Joyce Meyer, Creflo Dollar, Kenneth Copeland and other popular heretics started promoting this repackaged heresy that became known as the ‘Little Gods’ heresy. They are the result of the church refusing to contend for the faith against the Latter Rain heretics.

View article →

 

With Blessing From TD Jakes, Chris Hill Says He’s Ready for Ministry 3 Months After Affair Scandal

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ , , ,

According to Scripture, if someone commits adultery and other grave sins, he or she is permanently disqualified as a spiritual overseer — a person who functions in leadership. Evidently TD Jakes hasn’t read 1 Tim 3:1-5 that clearly states the qualifications of a church leader:

The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church?

Despite what the scriptures teach, Bishop Jakes announced that he feels that disgraced pastor Chris Hill is ready for ministry after just 3 months of “professional counseling.” It is astonishing that Jakes would completely disregarded the Apostle Paul’s instruction that anyone who does not have his household in order (Blair doesn’t) and who has shown a lack of self-control (adultery) is not to be serving in church leadership, especially if it’s in a position that’s connected to the ministry of the gospel.

Pastor Todd Pruitt, co-host of Mortification of Spin, says “there are certain virtues that must characterize the lives of overseers (1 Tim 3; Titus 1) precisely because there are certain moral demands placed upon those who exercise oversight in the household of God.” When a pastor commits adultery his sin opens the door for the mockery of the gospel says Pruitt. “The adulterous pastor does untold damage to the public witness of the church and invoking God’s sovereignty and grace cannot soften or in any way excuse that fact.” (source) Leonardo Blair fails to mention the biblical role of the overseer in his piece over at Christian Post, a site CRN does not endorse. Following is his report:

Three months after resigning as senior pastor of The Potter’s House Church of Denver over an alleged affair with a married parishioner, Pastor Chris Hill says he is ready to come back following counseling and a public show of repentance Sunday. His mentor, Bishop T. D. Jakes of Potter’s House of Dallas, laid hands on him and declared restoration.

View article →

UK Christian festival features Islamic ‘worship’ chants

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙

Syncretism is a “diabolically inspired supermarket of truth and error in the postmodern Church.” Berean Research fills us in on a “Christian” festival coming to the UK:

Imagine learning Quranic chants from an anti-Christ religion, to worship our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ?  That’s exactly what’s going on at a so-called “Christian” festival this month.  Christian worshipers at the annual Greenbelt Christian festival near London can now learn Islamic worship chants to Allah.

It’s a Chrislamic syncretism that will be taught to kids, teens and adults August 25 – 28. The social justice/environmental festival is called Greenbelt 2017: The Common Good. Which explains a lot.  The chanting lessons are taught at the festival by the Ansari Qadiri Rifai Tariqa,  an international non-profit group, which invites Christians to learn how to use basic universal  Sufi chants. Greenbelt Christian leaders say the chants are rhythmic, and have healing properties.  Festival-goers are invited to “come, enter in, learn and participate”.

View article →

IN RETURN FOR $1,144, TRUMP’S PRIMARY RELIGIOUS ADVISER WILL PROVIDE ‘DELIVERANCE’

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ , ,

Anyone who thinks Paula White is a Christian does not understand the Gospel of Jesus Christ nor do they grasp what the Christian faith is all about. We say this because Pastrix Paula holds to the heretical Word of Faith prosperity gospel which saves no one. What President Trump seems not to realize is that his spiritual adviser, close friend and confidant is a wolf in sheep’s clothing, as this piece over at The Intellectualist makes clear:

Tump’s primary spiritual adviser, Paula White, claims that in return for $1,144 she will use her best efforts to ensure spiritual deliverance.

According to the Christian Post [a site CRN does not endorse]:

Ms. White is in many ways, an example of the “prosperity gospel“, a movement that claims God, through Jesus Christ, shows divine favor on some by blessing them with wealth.

It is unclear how Mr. Trump and Ms. White initially met one another, but the President relies on her to organize his meetings with other evangelical leaders according to fellow evangelical Jim Bakker.

In an essay titled, “How Paula White, Donald Trump’s Spiritual Adviser, Harms Christians of Color,” Writer Nicola A. Menzie, a critic of Ms. White’s practices says the following:

View article →

The Changing of the Apostolic Guard: 13 Names to Watch

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ , , ,

Holly Pivec of Spirit of Error penned this piece in 2013. She lists 13 self-professed apostles, prophets and teachers that we should keep an eye on; likewise, she reveals the reasons these people are influential in the NAR cult. Pivec mentions the Grand Poobah of the NAR, C. Peter Wagner who passed away in October 2016. Number 1 on the list is “Super Apostle” Bill Johnson, senior co-pastor of Bethel Church in Redding, CA.

I think we are witnessing a time of leadership transition in the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) movement. The first-generation NAR leaders–those who formulated the major teachings of the NAR movement–have begun stepping aside and a new generation of apostles and prophets have risen to take their places.

The first-generation leaders–and particularly apostle C. Peter Wagner and prophet Bill Hamon –developed much of the theological framework for the NAR movement, including teachings about the restored church offices of apostles and prophet and dominionism. But these first-generation leaders are aging–both Wagner and Hamon are in their 80s.  Thus, the torch is being passed to the next generation of NAR leaders.

View article →

The felt-needs gospel is no Gospel at all

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ , ,

From Berean Research:

Have you ever fallen for a feel-good gospel that ministers to your ache for feeling special, or longing for admiration from a god who dances over you and thinks you’re the apple of his eye? What about sermon messages or books that help you look deeply into your past pains, or prayers that ask God for visions of His dream for your future?

Unfortunately, many churches, conferences and Christian program materials are designed to meet the felt needs of the sheep, ultimately focusing on themselves rather than a risen Savior, or using Him as a means to an end. Today we feature our guest blogger Grace Scott, who has researched the dangers of a so-called Felt-Needs Gospel, which is really no gospel at all:

The “Felt Needs” Gospel                                                        Guest post by Grace Scott

We must be aware of men (and women) who are influencing the next generation to have a low view of sin. We as moms, dads, pastors, grandparents, and youth leaders, need to protect them from the subtle but false teaching that pervades much of American Christianity in the form of a “felt needs” Gospel. The premise is that ministering to “felt needs” will predispose seekers to the gospel message. However, having “felt” needs met promotes a low view of God, an erroneous view of sin, and can actually hinder understanding of the Gospel message.

Bill Johnson, Mike Bickle, Brian Houston, Joyce Meyer, and Christine Caine are very well-known and written about as examples of false teachers with a global platform.

View article →

How Trump’s Transgender Military Ban May Help America Preserve Natural Law

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ , , ,

Alex McFarland tackles what great thinkers throughout history have called self evident truth or “natural law.” He points out that, “The framers of the Constitution understood that if we recognize God’s weaving of natural law and objective morality into the fabric of life, we could experience a blessed ‘manifest destiny.'” However, if these things are not recovered, McFarlad warns that “we will continue to head toward inevitable tragedy.” He believes there’s hope for the reason that in decreeing that the US armed services “not capitulate to the transgender lobby, the president actually scored a point for the defense of natural law.”

Here’s Alex McFarland’s piece over at LifeZette:

After centuries of its banning by Rome, the edict of Milan made Christianity legal in A.D. 323. Emperor Constantine not only deemed that Christianity was not a threat to the nation and culture, but two years later, he made it the official state religion.

Countless writers have speculated whether Constantine embraced Christianity out of sincere conversion, or of mere political opportunism.

A case can be made either way, and it’s doubtful we will know definitively in this life. Though he certainly couldn’t have known the ramifications of his decisions, Constantine’s support for Christianity would benefit the entire world and immeasurably change history.

View article →

Kris Vallotton – Conviction is the Holy Spirit Reminding You How Awesome You Are

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ , ,

Kris Vallotton is the number two man at NAR cesspool Bethel Church in Redding CA. Anthony Wade examines Vallotton’s teaching that the conviction of the Holy Spirit is simply when He reminds us how awesome we are.  But is this teaching even remotely biblical? In this piece over at 8:28 Ministries, Wade explains what the Bible actually does teach about the conviction of the Holy Spirit: He writes:

Photo credit Christian Research Service

We have long documented the absurdly heretical teachings emanating from Bethel Church in Redding California. A literal cesspool of false doctrines, Bill Johnson has built an empire on teaching wildly unbiblical doctrine. They are the heart of the NAR, false signs and lying wonders, and experiential Christianity heresies. They operate a heretical school of the supernatural where they claim to teach the gifts of the Holy Spirit even though the Bible says that is solely at the discretion of the Spirit. Besides this usurpation of God, Bethel promotes gold dust, gemstones, angel feathers and glory cloud false manifestations. As Johnson has gotten older we have seen more and more leaders emerge from Bethel fueled by his poor teaching. Jesus Culture comes from Bethel and they teach kids to run through “fire tunnels” and try to perform false healings wherever they go. False Prophet Shawn Bolz comes from Bethel. He specializes in fake words of knowledge that he seems to glean from his smart phone. Then there is the number two man at Bethel, Kris Vallotton. Co-founder of the aforementioned heresy school, Vallotton is also a shameless prosperity pimp and is far more active in his social media than Johnson, providing us with a continual glimpse into the mind of someone who abuses the Bible for a living. This week’s example can be found at the above link and reveals that Vallotton not only shares the heretical beliefs of the word-faith crowd but does so at a breathtakingly arrogant level. Let us reason together so that we can more easily spot wolves with similar tendencies.

View article →

The ‘Prophets’ and ‘Apostles’ Leading the Quiet Revolution in American Religion

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ , ,

This article is for informational and research purposes and is not intended as an endorsement of Christianity Today.

A Christian movement characterized by multi-level marketing, Pentecostal signs and wonders, and post-millennial optimism.

Bob Smietana interviewed authors Brad Christerson and Richard Flory wrote on the rise of  “Network Christianity.” As you will see, the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR), a term coined by the late C. Peter Wagner, has yet another name to add to the ever growing list, “INC.” According to Orrel Steincamp, “The current Latter Rain leaders have so purposefully muddied the waters that only those who are dedicated history buffs can discern the historical essentials behind the current teaching on a Second Pentecost eschatology. ACTUALLY, only insiders know the Latter Rain playbook, and they cover it up and pawn if off as a new revelation with a new name. No! the Latter Rain has been around since the early days of 20th century.” (source)

It was revealed in Smietana’s interview with Christerson and Flory that people involved in this theological cult are convinced that God is behind it all and that He’s appointing people into high level positions such as modern-day apostles and prophets–and even government cabinet members–and that these people will “know what to do when they get there.” Moreover, they’ll be listening to God (presumably His voice), and the Holy Spirit will use them to “supernaturally make America or the world into the kingdom of God.”  They claim that some of these people that are in these high-level positions are part of the Trump administration. “But they are not Pentecostals, and they have nothing to do with these groups. The movement just latches on to them and claims God is using Trump to bring in the kingdom.”

So with this in mind, on to Bob Smietana’s interview:

View article →

Genesis: Paradise Lost Coming to Theaters November 13

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ , ,

Mark November 13, 2017 on your calendars,” urges Ken Ham of Answers in Genesis. “it’s a day you won’t want to miss.” Why? It’s the day the powerful film Genesis: Paradise Lost hits theaters.  Here’s more of the exciting news from Ken Ham, plus a trailer of the movie:

Genesis: Paradise Lost (formerly known as Genesis 3D) is a visually stunning film that animates the first chapter of Genesis, as God creates the world from nothing. Narrated by my friend Voddie Baucham, Genesis comes to life before your eyes as plants spring forth from the earth, planets are formed, the earth responds to God’s command to bring forth the animals—including what we today call dinosaurs (there are lots of dinosaurs in this film!), and Adam and Eve explore the beautiful world God created.

View article →

Trump Says US ‘Losing’ War in Afghanistan, Wants to Fire Top General

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ ,

Newsmax reports:

President Donald Trump is reportedly impatient with military advisers and declared in a recent meeting the United States is “losing” the war in Afghanistan, NBC News reports.

He also suggested firing Gen. John Nicholson as commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan in hopes of reversing course, according to senior administration official who talked to NBC.

In a two-hour meeting on July 19 in the White House situation room, Trump complained about NATO allies, asked whether the United States could get part of Afghanistan’s mineral wealth and compared the advice of his top generals to that of a consult to New York’s 21 Club, which lost profits in the 1980s based on bad advice.

View article →

Daughter of CRI Founder Defends Hank Hanegraaff Amid ‘Fake News’ Charges That He Stole CRI Presidency

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ , ,

The following news story from Christian Post is posted for informational purposes and not intended as an endorsement of CP or the content.

In this piece over at Christian Post (CP), Cindee Martin Morgan and her husband Rick state that, “no matter what people think of Hanegraaff’s conversion to Orthodoxy, it is wrong to slander him regarding his CRI leadership post that he has held for nearly 30 years…”

In their view, “Dr. Martin should be given the credit and the respect of making preparations for CRI in the aftermath of learning he would not have long to live.”

Now to CP’s story:

Dr. Walter Martin, founder of Christian Research Institute

The daughter and son-in-law of Walter Martin, founder of the Christian Research Institute, claims it is “fake news” that Hank Hanegraaff stole the CRI presidency, a charge now being inferred by Martin’s eldest daughter, Jill Martin Rische.

In a statement posted last week on their ministry page on Facebook, Rick and Cindee Martin Morgan wrote of the ongoing controversy surrounding Hanegraaff who converted to Eastern Orthodoxy a few months ago, rising to his defense.

They responded to a 26-second video titled “Why Walter Martin Did Not Choose Hank Hanegraaff,” which was posted on YouTube by Rische on July 24. It features the late Walter Martin speaking generally about the church being “overridden” with Christians who desire to be teachers but have no qualifications or education when it comes to the Bible. Hanegraaff does not have a formal theological education or any credentials.

View article →

One to Watch: Torben Sondergaard

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ , ,

Holly Pivec of Spirit of Error has sent up a warning flag about a popular European teacher who is up to his earlobes in New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) heresy. Pivec reveals that Torben Sondergaard promotes a core teaching of the NAR — God is restoring the lost offices of church governance, namely the offices of apostle and prophet. Discover what else this wolf teaches:

Many people have asked me what I know about Danish evangelist Torben Sondergaard, the founder of the Last Reformation movement, and whether he’s part of the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR).

In short, he is part of NAR. Although my area of focus has been on American leaders of NAR, I do want to draw people’s attention to this European teacher as someone to watch. Three things are clear about Sondergaard, based on a five-minute video clip from one of his teachings. This Youtube clip is titled “How to Remember the 5 Fold Church Ministry” and is part of a longer teaching by Sondergaard, titled “Reformation of the Church System.”

View article →

Related: Does The Last Reformation Get Back to the Book of Acts? 

Despite Media Spin, Canaanite-Lebanese Study Doesn’t Disprove Bible

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ , ,

Because of Christian outrage, Telegraph changed its misleading headline and revised its hit piece on the Bible.  According to one source: The revised headline no longer says “disprove,” and the article now correctly claims the opposite of what it originally did: “The Bible claims elsewhere that the purge was not successful, an account backed up now by a scientific study.”

Steve Byas of New American has the story:

Predictably, some secular media sources have taken a DNA study, and attempted to argue it somehow disproves or contradicts the biblical account. It doesn’t.

Dr. Marc Haber, a lead author of a recent study that compares some ancient genomes with modern-day people in Lebanon, concluded, “We found that the Canaanites were a mixture of local people who settled in farming villages during the Neolithic period and eastern migrants who arrived in the region about 5,000 years ago. The present-day Lebanese are likely to be direct descendants of the Canaanites, but they have in addition a small proportion of Eurasian ancestry that may have arrived via conquests by distant populations such as the Assyrians, Persians, or Macedonians.”

View article →

Jennifer LeClaire takes authority over demonic ‘timewarps’?

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ , , ,

Churchwatch Central has a must watch video (if you can stomach it) of Charisma Magazine editor Jennifer LeClaire, who’s clearly deluded, praying against the devil:

The most insidious thing about cults is how they imply they have the highest spiritual authority over the lives of others. Self-appointed ‘prophet’ Jennifer LeClaire, is a very good example of someone ‘speaking’ over people, as though she is an authority figure over their lives.

Jennifer LeClaire recently released a video on her Facebook wall that has her praying against the devil and his demons having influence over believers.

In the Christian faith, born-again believers can not be possessed by the devil. However, in the New Apostolic Reformation cult, its leaders reinforce the idea that Satan’s ‘base camp’ is hell and he and his minions have power, authority and spiritual possession over Christians. This is a cultic doctrine used to manipulate believers into putting their trust in their leaders, not Jesus Christ. And these scare-campaigns are not only very effective , they are also very lucrative.

In this case – Jennifer LeClaire wants her followers to put their faith, trust (and their money) in her. In fact she is quite prepared to make up any nonsense to gain that faith, trust (and money) from her supporters.

We draw your attention to the recent Facebook video she put up on… well… ‘demonic timewarps’. Here is the last six minutes of the video:

View article →

‘The Shack’ and a Cat Named Judas

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ , ,

From Berean Research: 

In a piece over at Lighthouse Trails, Warren B. Smith asks a really good question: Why on earth would anyone name a beloved pet Judas? In “The Shack” one of the characters, Missy, has a cat named Judas, which is strange because Judas was among those in Jesus’ inner circle and a trusted friend, yet he betrayed our Lord for 30 pieces of silver. Smith draws an interesting parallel between Judas the betrayer and Shack author William Paul Young.  He writes:

“Jesus said to him, ‘Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?’” Luke 22:48 – Painting by Giotto

The name Judas has been described as the most hated name in all the world. Except for Shack author William Paul Young and maybe a few exceptional others, hardly anybody ever names anyone or anything Judas. It is one of those forbidden names like Jezebel or Lucifer that people would never dream of naming their child, their dog—or their cat. The very name denotes a sense of treachery and betrayal. After all, Judas was the one who openly betrayed Jesus and paved the way for His crucifixion. So what was William Paul Young thinking? Why does The Shack’s most endearing character—Missy—have a cat named Judas?1 And it seems especially odd to have a cat with that name in a family where the mother’s faith is described as “deep”2 and Missy is asking sincere questions about Jesus’ death.

Who cares about Hillsong Pastor Carl Lentz slamming shots with Justin Bieber?

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ , ,

Berean Research looks at the shot slamming clothes stripping incident with the Biebs and the pastor at the Blue Door Bar in Queenstown, NZ:

Fans of celebrities barely bat an eye anymore at the drunken antics of superstars. Instead the public displays of carnality of the rich and famous are celebrated. Smiled at. Wink wink.  Are we seeing this same blasé attitude in the visible Church?

Celebrity Pastor Carl Lentz, who pastors Hillsong NYC and megastar Justin Bieber, a close friend whom Lentz personally shepherds, were photographed partying in a  tavern. The world is now seeing the fallout of the spectacle, in which the two slammed back shots. The pictures show Lentz smiling as Bieber began removing his clothes at Blue Door Bar in Queenstown, New Zealand.

The singer started out his night fully clothed like any other patron, then stripped off his camouflage jacket and white singlet which saw some unstoppable smiles from the two female bartenders serving him. Shots and cocktails were on the menu for the US singer and his mate, Hillsong pastor Carl Lentz. 

We aren’t posting the images. But if you need to see them, an Australian news outlet has them here.

Four Steps Trump Can Take to Hasten Obamacare Implosion

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ , ,

According to Brenden Kirby of LifeZette the Trump administration can take steps to accelerate the demise of Obamacare:

With the wee-hours failure to pass even a modest partial repeal of Obamacare in the Senate, the ball now moves to the executive branch.

President Donald Trump’s administration has considerable power to improve the health care system within the confines of the Affordable Care Act — or make mischief and hasten its demise. The president tweeted in the early-morning hours Friday after the Senate vote that allowing the system to collapse is the best course of action.

“3 Republicans and 48 Democrats let the American people down. As I said from the beginning, let ObamaCare implode, then deal. Watch!” he tweeted.

View article →

The Power of Prayer and Scalise’s Near-Miraculous Recovery

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ , ,

LifeZette’s Leah Jessen has the story of “How a nation of the faithful has helped buoy the spirits and well-being of a stricken lawmaker and his family.”:

Prayer’s healing power has helped House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) on his path to recovery after a lone shooter went on a rampage last month at a Virginia baseball field, striking the Louisiana congressman and several others.

“As a family of faith, the Scalise family believes in the power of prayer, and have been able to stay in good spirits during this most difficult time from the outpouring of prayers they have received,” Lauren Fine, the majority whip’s press secretary, told LifeZette in an emailed message. “They are eternally grateful and humbled by the support they have been given from folks across the country.”

View article →

Let’s stop supersizing ‘our dreams’

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ ,

Elizabeth Prata reminds us that God “gives us His Spirit, His love, and grows us in holiness. That’s pretty big.” So why do some Christians desire more? “Must we have huge dreams too?” asks Prata. “Must we encourage each other by saying God has huge plans for our lives?” Well, no  for the reason that “sometimes His plan for our life is not a fantastic rollercoaster of supersized dreams, but difficulty, humiliation, rejection, and heartache.”

What are you supposed to think when someone tells you that God has big things for you? First of all you’re to be a Berean and high-tail it to God’s Word to see if you’re being sold a bill of goods. In the case of  God wanting to supersize your dreams, Elizabeth says that it ain’t necessarily so — and she backs up what she says with Scripture. She writes:

Megan Miller assures us that “God desires to fill our hearts with big dreams.”

In my opinion I believe He desires to fill our heart with holiness and righteousness of His Son.

Certified life coach Holley Gerth assures us that “there’s a God-sized dream knocking on the door of your heart”. Plus, she “shows you how to forget the lies and expectations the world feeds you and instead believe that God loves you and has even bigger plans for your life than you’ve even imagined.”

Before I was saved, I had not just big plans, I had huge plans for my life. After salvation, God showed me how puffed up those dreams were. Thank you, God.

View article →

Mike Bickle: Speaking Falsely on Behalf of God is Not a Big Deal

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ , , ,

Anthony Wade of 8:28 Ministries tackles IHOP guru Mike Bickle’s rambling response when asked what should be done if a modern-day prophecy doesn’t come to pass, even though some “prophets” declare “Thus saith the Lord.” Wade writes:

Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said. If a revelation is made to another sitting there, let the first be silent. For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all be encouraged, and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets. For God is not a God of confusion but of peace. — 1Corinthians 14: 29-33 (ESV)

http://www.charismamag.com/video/33360-mike-bickle-should-prophets-be-punished-if-their-prophetic-words-don-t-come-true

The above link is to a short video clip of false prophet and heretic Mike Bickle answering the question of whether a prophet today should be disciplined in some manner if what they prophesy fails to come to pass. One should expect a ridiculous answer from someone who has prophesied incorrectly in the past and is associated with nearly every false prophet in operation today. The Kansas City prophets, which Bickle is also affiliated with, have stated that a 65% successful prophecy rate makes you a pretty good prophet. How absurd and unbiblical. Beloved, as we have covered before, prophecy is hearing directly from God. In the Old Testament there was no ready access to the Scriptures for people. There were no printing presses. God’s people were also contained to the nation of Israel. These things combined for God to choose people to be His vessels for communicating with His people. Because God is never wrong and does not stutter, the success rate expected for prophets was 100%. God takes it quite seriously when people pretend to speak for Him. If they were found to be false, they were stoned to death.

View article →

Internet Culture, Lone Ranger Christianity, And The Pornification Of Church

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ , ,

Fire Breathing Christian has some questions professing Christians who choose not to attend a local church need to be thinking about…and a few things to consider:

Why settle for the ugliness of a local church body when you can have a much more attractive online version instead?

Why gather with and commit to serving with a local bunch of often incredibly immature, confused, messed up, and biblically illiterate yahoos when you can instead bond with a group of awesome people who share your understanding and your passion in the areas that light you up and make you happy?

Why sit on Sundays in a pathetic little church building alongside pathetic little baby Christians who don’t share your wisdom, your spiritual depth, and your general awesomeness when you can bond instead with your people in Facebook forums and threads on your own schedule?

Why listen to some unenlightened simpleton preacher wannabe pitch some lame-o sermon on some subject you “mastered” long ago when you can instead immerse yourself in online sermons, podcasts, and social media conversations that feed your appetites on your terms at your preferred depth, and (this is important to mention again:) on your schedule?

View article →