Washington Post writer leaves the faith, speaks for millions: 4 responses

This Washington Post article caught my eye: “I’m not passing my parents’ religion on to my kids, but I am teaching their values.”

The author is Jared Bilski, a writer and comedian based in Pennsylvania. He tells of growing up in the Catholic church, attending Catholic school from kindergarten through high school, and serving as an altar boy and a church reader. He says he “even strongly considered going into the priesthood.”

However, Bilski writes, “I lost faith in my faith. There were too many unanswered questions, too many problematic absolutes, too much fearmongering and way too much hypocrisy. For a religion that placed such a premium on loving thy neighbor, it sure had a lot of restrictions on whom you were allowed to love.”

The clergy-abuse scandal was the last straw. When it broke, Bilski says, “I knew I’d never return.”

However, he wants his two children to have “a solid understanding of all religions” and “respect for what others believe.” He explains: “After all, the Golden Rule is something that should be instilled in all children, regardless of their religion or lack thereof.”

As a result, Bilski and his wife intend to “expose our children to everything, spiritually speaking, to honestly answer any questions they may have about God and religion, and to let them choose for themselves.”

Most of all, he wants to pass along to his children the morality he learned from his mother. Bilski concludes: “That type of foundation matters far more than what church you belong to or whether you’re baptized because, in the end, actions will always speak louder than words, even the words of the Bible.”

Jared Bilski speaks for many Americans

I am devoting today’s article to Bilski’s commentary for two reasons. One: He clearly intends to be an evangelist for his position, as does the Post in publishing it (apparently without…

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Click Read More to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Denison Forum.

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Brunei’s death penalty for adultery and gay sex is ‘crime against the innocent’

The penalties were provided for under new sections of Brunei’s Shariah Penal Code. Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah instituted the code in 2014 to bolster the influence of Islam in the oil-rich monarchy of around 430,000 people, two-thirds of whom are Muslim.

Even before 2014, homosexuality was already punishable in Brunei by a jail term of up to ten years. The first stage of the Shariah Penal Code included fines or jail for offences such as pregnancy out of wedlock or failing to pray on Fridays.

 

But under the new laws – which apply to children and foreigners, even if they are not Muslim – those found guilty of gay sex could be stoned to death or whipped.

Adulterers risk death by stoning too, while thieves face amputation of a right hand on their first offence and a left foot on their second.

The law change, which came into force this week has faced fierce criticism from the international community.

Joining in the condemnation, Dr John Sentamu wrote on Twitter: “The criminalisation of sex between two consenting adults is, in my book, repugnant to natural justice!

“Therefore, it is a crime against the innocent!

“What the State of Brunei has just passed as ‘law’ must NEVER be implemented in our Global Village! PLEASE GOD!!”

(Additional reporting from Press Association)

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Ten Reasons the Formerly Churched Left Their Churches

That top 10 list is the shallow version of folks’ ‘why’. Most local churches have lost their way. When 95% of staff time, energy, dollar resources go into the one hour ‘event’ on Sunday, and when even most pastors and church members agree that our faith ‘isn’t about Sunday morning’– you have a serious disconnect.

When fewer than 2% of our youth stay in church after high school/college—you have a serious disconnect.

When you define worship as ‘singing some songs together’— you have a serious disconnect.

When the most important Question of the Day is how do we get more people to come to church— you have a serious disconnect.

When it’s more important to be a ‘good’ church member than it is to be a follower of the Master and making disciples— you have a serious disconnect.

When churches try to defend all their usual practices that are failing week after week and when pastors burnout because they have impossible expectations of themselves and place on them—you have a serious disconnect.

99.99% of the local churches simply try to rearrange chairs on the deck of the Titanic—that’s a waste.

Until local churches are willing to die and fall into the ground (and do what the Master has asked rather than what it takes to do the same old thing— you will only have nice rows on the sky deck.

Until people and church leaders seriously are willing to hear the voice of the Lord, and obey, instead of doing whatever they think it takes to keep the operation…

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Click here to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Thom Rainer.

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Michigan Health Center Accused of Stopping Senior Citizens from Telling Children about Christmas

Michigan Health Center Accused of Stopping Senior Citizens from Telling Children about Christmas



Two residents at a Michigan-based senior living center claim that the center’s employees violated their first amendment rights at a Christmas celebration last year. 


According to the Christian Post, The First Liberty Institute sent a letter to the Kalkaska Memorial Health Center on Thursday, outlining the allegations made by the two residents and calling for the center to take corrective action.


The Christian Post reports that the incident took place when children from the Kalkaska Memorial Health Center Child Development Center and Preschool’s Great Start Readiness Program visited the Kalkaska Senior Living Center on December 6, 2018. Residents at the Senior Living Center read Christmas stories to the children. The letter mention’s that a resident read Tim Burton’s “The Nightmare Before Christmas” without interruption.


Later, Wilma Wills read a book about Christmas traditions to the children. When she finished reading the book, she asked them if they knew “why we celebrate Christmas. One of the Child Development Center teachers interrupted and said, “We won’t go there, Wilma.”


Joan Wilson read “A Charlie Brown Christmas” to the children. When she arrived at the point of the story where Linus quotes from the Gospel of Luke, Wilson tried to summarize that part of the story. The letter alleges that a teacher…

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Click here to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Christian Headlines.

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Pennsylvania lawmaker criticized for praying publicly to Jesus

I was asked to deliver the invocation some years ago before a session of the Texas House of Representatives. As a Christian minister, I prayed to Jesus in the name of Jesus. Those present thanked me for my invocation, then my host gave me a tour of the Capitol.

That was then; this is now.

Stephanie Borowicz is a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. When she was asked to deliver the invocation at a House session recently, she prayed to Jesus in the name of Jesus. She mentioned our Lord’s name more than twelve times and gave thanks that President Trump has “stood beside Israel, unequivocally.”

Her prayer has been roundly condemned. One critic claimed that during her invocation, “prayer was weaponized.” A Muslim lawmaker who was inducted into the House that day alleged that her prayer “blatantly represented the Islamophobia that exists among some leaders.” She called on the General Assembly to censure Borowicz.

Numerous media outlets are carrying the story and criticizing Borowicz for praying so overtly in the name of Jesus. However, few are reporting that a Muslim cleric followed her Christian prayer by praying in Arabic and quoting the Qur’an.

Can we be good without God?

The uniqueness of Jesus and the necessity of faith in him are prominent themes woven throughout the New Testament. However, in our culture that tolerates everything but perceived intolerance, such doctrines are anathema to many.

One of the most common rebuttals to the biblical proclamation that everyone needs Christ (cf. John 14:6; Acts 4:12) is the claim that we can be “good without God.”

This was a prominent declaration in the Washington Post commentary I discussed yesterday. The writer stated that he will not pass his parents’ Christian faith to his children, but he claims to be “teaching their values.” He believes that he “learned far more about being a…

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Click Read More to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Denison Forum.

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Pope given Celtic football shirt

 

Francis received the Celtic shirt, which was personalised with his name and the number eleven at the General Audience in Rome on Wednesday.

It came with a handwritten note from Kian McInally – a seven-year-old from Glasgow.

The Pope was smiling broadly as the shirt was handed over – he’s known as a keen football fan but isn’t thought to be switching allegiance from his hometown club of San Lorenzo, or the Argentine national team.

Stay up to date with the latest news stories from a Christian perspective. Sign up to our daily newsletter and receive more stories like this straight to your inbox every morning.

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Click Read More to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Premier Christianity News.

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Six of the Most Common Frustrations of Revitalization Leaders – Revitalize & Replant #087

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Frustrations are to be expected in any pastorate. Today we discuss six of the most common frustrations pastors face when revitalizing or replanting.

Some highlights from today’s episode:

  • In almost every church, there is some need for revitalization.
  • “We will do whatever it takes to turn around our church” usually means “we will do whatever it takes as long as we don’t have to change.”
  • If your focus is on what you don’t have in your church, you’ll fail to appreciate what you do have.
  • Strangely, your biggest early supporters in a pastors often turn into your biggest critics later on.

The six common frustrations we discuss are:

  1. Unrealistic expectations
  2. Perceived lack of resources
  3. Lack of peer support
  4. Supporters who become critics
  5. Members who leave
  6. Family challenges

Resources mentioned in this episode include:

Biblical Worship is the foundation for church revitalization. Biblical worship leads us to listen to Jesus and in listening to Him he will reveal His plan is for his church. The North American mission board is pleased to present a revitalization worship summit August 26 and 27 at the North American Mission Board in Alpharetta Georgia. Leading the Summit will be Thom Rainer , Mike Harland the director LifeWay worship, Jared Wilson from Midwestern Baptist seminary Along with guest musical artist Andrew Peterson. This summit will feature main conference sessions and specialized breakouts focused…

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Click here to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Thom Rainer.

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Christian Activist Fined $55,000 for Calling Transgender Woman a Biological Male

Christian Activist Fined $55,000 for Calling Transgender Woman a Biological Male



Christian activist William Whatcott must pay $55,000 to transactivist Morgane Oger, the B.C. Human Rights Tribunal ordered this week.


According to the Vancouver Sun, $35,000 of the fine is compensation for a flyer Whatcott published when Oger ran for office in 2017 and the other $20,000 is punishment for Whatcott’s behavior during a hearing in December.


John Carpay, president of the Justice Center for Constitutional Freedom, the group that defended Whatcott, disagreed with the ruling.


“Society is full of people with diverse views and the Tribunal’s decision undermines the foundational principles of the free society and jeopardizes the health of Canada’s democracy,” he said.


In 2017, Whatcott printed 1,500 flyers with a photo of Oger that described the candidate as a “biological male” and said she was promoting “homosexuality and transvestism.”


“Thankfully Jesus Christ paid the price for your sin,” the flyer said. “You can turn to the merciful Christ and ask for forgiveness and when the (National Democratic Party) come knocking at your door you can tell them, you won’t vote for them because you believe in God’s definition of gender and marriage.”


Oger lost the 2017 election by 400 votes but asked the B.C. Human Rights Tribunal to investigate Whatcott’s actions. He claimed the flyer was an act of religious…

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Click here to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Christian Headlines.

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Why ‘Avengers: Endgame’ broke the internet

Avengers: Endgame won’t be released until April 26, but it broke the internet yesterday.

Six hours after tickets went on sale, the film had already surpassed the number of ticket sales in the first twenty-four hours for the previous record holder, Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Both AMC and Fandango experienced crashes that kept fans from buying tickets. “I have never seen anything like this,” tweeted Fandango’s managing editor.

Why is the latest Avengers film already such a phenomenon?

One answer is that the movie is billed as “Marvel Studios’ grand conclusion to twenty-two films” in the franchise. Fans who have watched the others are obviously compelled to watch the series end.

But the larger story here is that we are a culture in dire need of heroes.

Movie critic Erin Free wrote in 2016, “Whether it’s random terrorist attacks, over-population, rising crime rates, the threat of financial collapse, the mental hangover of the Global Financial Crisis, prejudice, ignorance, infectious killer viruses, or just traffic congestion, our world is on a constant knife edge. And in troubled times, people enjoy escapism, and perhaps secretly wish that there were superheroes around to hose down all the horrors of the world.”

Since Free published his article, twelve more superhero movies have appeared in theaters.

Clearly, our need for heroes is not declining.

Creatures dependent on our Creator

We have always needed heroes or, more specifically, a Hero. From our beginning, humans have been creatures dependent on our Creator.

C. S. Lewis: “God made us: invented us as a man invents an engine. A car is made to run on petrol, and it would not run properly on anything else. Now God designed the human machine to run on Himself. He Himself is the fuel our spirits were designed to burn, or the food our spirits were designed to feed on. There is no other….

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Click Read More to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Denison Forum.

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Our Sacrifice Of Praise Is With Words – Rhapsody of Realities 6 April 2019

Click HERE to Download Rhapsody of Realities April 2019 Free PDF Devotional

Rhapsody of Realities 6 April 2019 By Pastor Chris Oyakhilome – Our Sacrifice Of Praise Is With Words

Click HERE to Read previous Messages

Topic: Our Sacrifice Of Praise Is With Words

By him (Jesus Christ) therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name (Hebrews 13:15).

Just as the priest offered sacrifices of burnt offerings and incense in the Old Testament, today, we offer sacrifices of praise to the Lord with the fruit of our lips, which are the words we speak in praise and thanksgiving to Him. The underlined expression, “giving thanks” is the Greek, “Homologeo”, meaning to make confessions; making confessions to His Name.

Our sacrifices of praise are with words, and they transcend statements like, “Lord, I give you praise.” For it to be a true sacrifice of praise to God, it must be mixed with substance from your spirit. You must have definite reasons for praising Him, and then voice those reasons. Your Praise of Him must have content. In other words, you’re to consciously praise and thank Him in the Name of Jesus, for specific reasons.

The sacrifices of praise are confessions, declarations, psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs that you render to Him for His love, grace and goodness towards you. They also refer to tributes or speeches that acknowledge and celebrate His majesty; confessions of His Word that we make to glorify Him. These confessions are the fruits and calves of our lips—words from our mouths that give glory to God.

Therefore, when making confessions, say beautiful things about the Lord and give testimonies of His wondrous works. Proclaim what He has said about Himself and about you: “…for he hath said…So that we may boldly say…” (Hebrews 13:5-6).

As you make those confessions in Jesus’ Name, He (Jesus), as our Great High Priest, presents them before the Father, who receives your praise and worship as a sacrifice of a sweet-smelling savour. Hallelujah!

PRAYER
Blessed Father, how great and glorious you are! You’re the only true and wise God, who reigns and rules in the affairs of men. To you, O Lord, be all glory, honour, majesty, dominion and praise! Thank you for making my life beautiful and filling me with your glory, righteousness and peace, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

FURTHER STUDY:
Hosea 14:2; Hebrews 13:15 AMPC

1 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:
Luke 11:1-13 & Judges 1-2

2 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:
Matthew 27:45-54 & Leviticus 6

Rhapsody of Realities 6th April 2019 Devotional was written by Pastor Pastor Chris Oyakhilome (D.Sc., D.D.). President of Loveworld Inc. aka Christ Embassy Int’l.

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