Current Events and Links
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Influential Pastor Warns of Socialism, Departure from God
July 4, 2010 - Dr. Charles Stanley told his church and television audiences that there is a tide of socialism and anti-Israeli sentiment threatening the nation.
- One of the most disastrous decisions we [our nation] are going to make, and you can mark it down, when we turn our back on Israel, we will not escape the judgment. We will not. And that is exactly the tone we are hearing out of Washington.
- Source: Christian Post
- View the video, "Turning the Tide" - In Touch
- Classic message: Feeding Sheep or Amusing Goats? - Charles Haddon Spurgeon - Crossroads
Gay Is Okay: Polls Show Positive Media Portrayal Worked
Jun. 17, 2010 - Chuck Colson laments that a new survey by the Gallup organization indicates that, for the first time a majority of Americans (53 percent) believe that gay and lesbian relationships are morally acceptable, while only 43 percent think these relationships morally wrong.
- This is a dramatic change from the beginning of the millennium. In 2001, only 40 percent of those surveyed called same-sex relationships "morally acceptable" while 53 percent called them "morally wrong."
Colson warns that this will be a wakeup call for believers. He says the tide has turned against Christians in the culture because we haven't been doing our job in the church.
- Source: Crosswalk
Lawmakers push appeal of Prayer Day
Apr. 21, 2010 -
- A bipartisan group of House lawmakers Wednesday denounced a federal judge's recent ruling that the National Day of Prayer is unconstitutional and said they were calling on President Obama to aggressively appeal the decision.
- Source: Washington Times
Public outraged over Westboro Baptist Church trial and make donations to Albert Snyder
Mar. 31, 2010 - In 2006 the Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kansas, picketed the funeral of Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder, who was killed in Iraq. They brought signs that read "God hates fags" and "God hates the USA." to the funeral. The church pickets many funerals and other events across the country. The serviceman's father sued the church for inflicting emotional distress and won a large settlement. But the verdict was overturned in appeals court, and the father was ordered to pay $16,510.80 to Fred Phelps to pay for his defense expenses. The case will go to the Supreme Court.
- Source: Examiner - Salt Lake City
- God Hates Fags - Westboro Baptist Church
- Unholy Christianity - Ron's Blog
Michigan Christian Militia Group Appears in Federal Court
Mar. 30, 2010 - Police officers have now arrested nine members of the Hutaree Christian militia group. The militia members are accused of plotting to kill law enforcement officers in an act of defiance against the US government.
- Source: Voice of America
- Militia arrests timed to prevent violence, official says - CNN
- Unholy Christianity - Ron's Blog
Sports Fanatics:
How Christians have succumbed to the sports culture—and what might be done about it.
Jan. 30, 2010 - Shirl James Hoffman starts this article with shameful examples of sports fanaticism, pointing out that Americans are consuming sports on an unprecedented scale, and evangelicals are leading the way in adapting their personal and church agendas to this fascination.
- Less than a century ago, major segments of the evangelical community considered sports a cancer on the spiritual life; today their denominational progeny lead the parade to stadiums.
Sports can be used to spread the Gospel. Publicity surrounding recent Super Bowls have highlighted the faith of coaches and players, like Kurt Warner. But sports can bring out the worst in people as well, leading to scandals and corruption.
The narcissistic and materialistic culture of professional sports is the antithesis of Christian virtues such as servanthood, generosity, and self-subordination.
Hoffman calls for wisdom on the part of evangelical church leaders in three key areas:
- Development of a proper “sports theology,”
- Practice of ethical values in our exercise of sports.
- Consideration of how to use sport’s potential for spiritual encouragement and outreach.
- Source: Christianity Today
- Editor's Note: This article is posted under opposite topics - Apostasy and Revival. Like most powerful influences in life, sports can be a good or a bad influence, depending on how it is used.
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