The Easiest Place to Get a Hardened Heart

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The Easiest Place to Get a Hardened Heart

Christian Post Report – Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; but exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
— Hebrews 3:12-13

  • Greg Laurie
    (Photo: rever Hoehne for Harvest Ministries)
    Greg Laurie, senior pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship in Riverside, California and Harvest Orange County in Irvine, California, shares the Gospel with a sold-out crowd of 19,000 for Harvest America at the American Airlines Center and Victory Park in Dallas, Texas, Oct. 5, 2014.

Where is one of the easiest places to get a hardened heart? Any place where God’s people gather. It isn’t in a bar or around a bunch of people who are doing wicked things. No, the easiest place to get a hardened heart is where you hear the Word of God being taught. Knowledge brings responsibility. And the same sun that softens the wax hardens the clay. The same message that transforms one life can cause another to say, “I don’t believe.”

If you go to church or a Bible study week after week, hearing the Word of God but refusing to believe it, you can actually get an irreparably hardened heart. I am not saying that you shouldn’t go to church. But I am saying that you should go to church with the right heart, with an open heart. Otherwise, you could get a hardened heart. You could be judged by the very message that should have set you free.

That’s why preachers’ kids and others who were raised in the church are often some of the most notorious sinners. They’ve taken God’s Word for granted and hardened their hearts against it.

The J. B. Phillips translation of Hebrews 3:12–14 says, “You should therefore be most careful, my brothers, that there should not be in any of you that wickedness of heart which refuses to trust, and deserts the cause of the living God. Help each other to stand firm in the faith every day, while it is still called ‘today’, and beware that none of you becomes deaf and blind to God. For we continue to share in all that Christ has for us so long as we steadily maintain until the end the trust with which we began.”

May God help us to keep tender hearts.

Copyright © 2015 by Harvest Ministries. All rights reserved.

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Bible text from the New King James Version is not to be reproduced in copies or otherwise by any means except as permitted in writing by Thomas Nelson, Inc., Attn: Bible Rights and Permissions, P.O. Box 141000, Nashville, TN 37214-1000

Used with Permission

Source : Christian Post

Christian Mother of 5 Asia Bibi Marks Sixth Year of ‘Brutal’ Incarceration in Pakistan, Faces Death Penalty for Blasphemy Charge of Drinking Water

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Christian Mother of 5 Asia Bibi Marks Sixth Year of ‘Brutal’ Incarceration in Pakistan, Faces Death Penalty for Blasphemy Charge of Drinking Water

Asia Bibi (Photo: Mohsin Raza)

Christian Post Report – Protesters demand release of Asia Bibi, in Lahore, Pakistan, November 21, 2010.

As Christian mother of five Asia Bibi marks her sixth year in prison in Pakistan, placed on death row for blasphemy charges, a U.K. Christian group reports that some attempts are being made to reform sections of the country’s controversial blasphemy laws that punish religious minorities. The group also believes that Britain and the U.S. must rethink the way they provide financial aid to Pakistan if they want to see reforms in the country.

“The proposed changes will ostensibly make it more difficult for blasphemy charges to be laid, focusing on proving that any blasphemy was intentional under a legal concept termed Mens Rea translated as ‘guilty mind,'” Wilson Chowdhry, president of the British Pakistani Christian Association, told The Christian Post on Wednesday.

“However the large number of extra-judicial killings and insouciance from local police to get involved in blasphemy charges or a pattern of local police authorities cowing under pressure from mobs led by local imams, suggest this law change will have little effect.”

Bibi was charged in 2009 after she was accused by a group of Muslim women to have committed an act of blasphemy when she drank from the same water supply as them. She was later sent to prison and sentenced to the death penalty.

  • Asia Bibi

The 50-year-old mother has been suffering from a number of health problems while in prison, including intestinal bleeding, and is having trouble walking, her family has said.

In a separate press release explaining more about her case, Chowdhry called her fate a “travesty of justice.”

“For some time we have been told that there has been a moratorium on the death penalty because of pressure from Western donors. But even before this vanished at the end of last year, it has become clear that her treatment was, in effect, a slow death sentence by neglect and worse, all for allegedly committing a crime that should not exist — blasphemy,” he said.

Christians and other minorities in Pakistan are often targeted by the loosely written blasphemy laws, and there have been on and off attempts in parliament to try and strengthen their definition.

Mission Network News reported earlier this week that international pressure is pushing the country’s legislators into considering changes to the laws, which could potentially prevent other Christians from suffering the same fate as Bibi in the future.

Chowdhry told CP that a second proposed change to the blasphemy laws are punishments for
misuse of the law.

“Outwardly these would seem to be a more positive step; however, Article 153-A of the Penal Code prescribes punishments for promoting ‘enmity, hatred or ill-will between different religious, racial, language or regional groups or castes or communities.’ Ineffective implementation has led to mass mob attacks across the country, often targeting Christian communities.”

The killing and burning-alive of Christian couple Shama and Shahzad Masih in November 2014 by a Muslim mob for allegedly desecrating the Quran stands as a prime example of extremists taking the law into their own hands.

Chowdhry also said that it’s hard to believe the changes to the law will be approved, however, noting that similar changes have been proposed before, but were never ratified.

“The whole of the country came to a standstill after Sunni Muslim leaders called for a strike and effigies of the pope were burned after he openly supported the changes. In a country with so much animosity to change it will be hard approve such law changes and even harder to enforce.”

Back in May, human rights activist and former minority member of parliament Pervez Rafique also told CP in a separate interview that it is hard to see real changes coming soon to the blasphemy laws.

“It’s hard to change or relax the laws,” Rafique explained, “especially the Blasphemy law 295-A-B-C of Pakistan’s penal code.”

He said that while to change or abolish laws the parliament needs only simple majority, amending the constitution or any article of the constitution requires two third majority — and the present government that supports the blasphemy laws still has enough support to continue upholding them.

Chowdhry noted that both the U.K. and U.S. governments spend big in aid programs to help Pakistan, which is an important strategic partner in the fight against terrorism in the region. He suggested, however, that the budgets need to be used to “eradicate the existing schism between Muslim’s and non-Muslims through grassroot programmes” and work with schools.

“The hatred and animosity that exists is the culmination of labeling minorities as anathema, culturally, and reinforcing this through a curriculum that caricatures and demonises minorities. Earlier generations lived in relative peace as they would not have suffered the same brainwashing, and it will take an equally long term commitment toward peace to reverse the hatred,” he added.

The BPCA president concluded that Britain and the U.S. need to move away from realpolitik if they want to affect real change.

“Anything less will only serve to continue the existing malaise which essentially will culminate in our nations being embroiled in a similar societal divide within our own communities.”

Source : Christian Post

The Land of Lady Libertine

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The Land of Lady Libertine

The Land of Lady Libertine

Christian Post Report – Norms surrounding behaviors relating to sexual behavior and reproduction have been shifting in the U.S. in recent years. Where once normatively taboo, certain behaviors and lifestyle choices are now much more likely to be normatively sanctioned. Associated with these normative shifts has been the increased tendency for Americans to label themselves as socially liberal, dethroning the heretofore majority status enjoyed by the label “social conservative.”

Norms are shared expectations of behavior for specific situations. The behaviors associated with norms are often violated in practice, but the existence of the norm means that these violations tend to be manifested privately and not publicly. Historically, examples of normatively proscribed behaviors in the U.S. have included gay and lesbian relations, sex outside of marriage, having a baby out of wedlock and polygamy. As noted, American norms surrounding these behaviors have been shifting.

We at Gallup have reported on these shifts in a series of stories, and various news outlets and commentators have given their opinions on what these shifts may mean as the results have become known. Herewith are five things that seem particularly interesting to review about these shifting attitudes.

Read more at http://www.christianpost.com/news/5-things-weve-learned-about-americans-and-moral-values-140747/

Source : Christian Post

Expect Conflict

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Expect Conflict

Christian Post Report – 2 Corinthians 4:5-10

  • Dr. Charles F. Stanley
    (Photo: In Touch Ministries)
    Dr. Charles F. Stanley (File).

Contrary to popular but poor theological teaching, salvation does not guarantee an easy life. It is tempting to present Christianity as a safe haven from which to watch the world swirl past—then one could open the door to allow in joy and blessing, but hardship could not squeeze through. That brand of religion might sell well in the world marketplace, but it isn’t real.

The truth is, Christians cannot escape conflict or ridicule. The biblical principles we hold dear often seem like foolishness to nonbelievers. What’s more, defending our faith and sharing the gospel will frequently draw criticism or anger from listeners. But Scripture counsels against keeping quiet and blending in (Matthew 5:14-15). In fact, we are to welcome disagreement as a way to grow our faith.

Consider this: Our belief system is named for a man who so thoroughly challenged the status quo that religious leaders called for His death. Jesus Christ was at the center of controversy during His ministry and very likely all through life. That’s why the biblical record so often shows Him slipping away for time alone with God—He was seeking direction and receiving strength. While Jesus was fully God, He was also fully human. He knew the sting of rejection and the taste of fear, just as we do (Hebrews 4:15).

As believers, we are called to be peacemakers, but that doesn’t mean isolating ourselves from all who oppose the church. Accept conflict as inevitable and reach out anyway. You can have a powerful impact simply by being the person God called you to be—His child.

Used with permission from In Touch Ministries, Inc. © 2015
All Rights Reserved.

Source : Christian Post

Will Russell Wilson Re-Sign With Seattle? ‘God Is Going to Put Me Where He Wants Me,’ Says the Outspoken Christian QB

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Will Russell Wilson Re-Sign With Seattle? ‘God Is Going to Put Me Where He Wants Me,’ Says the Outspoken Christian QB

Russell Wilson (Photo: Laurence Kesterson/Reuters)

Christian Post Report – Outspoken Christian Super Bowl-winning quarterback Russell Wilson said he’s going to let God decide where he’ll be playing the next stage of his NFL career, as his contract with the Seattle Seahawks is set to expire at the end of the 2015-2016 season.

While discussing the possibility of a contract extension in an interview with “The Adam and Joe Show” on Raleigh, North Carolina’s 99.9 The Fan sports talk radio Monday, Wilson stressed that while he would love to stay in Seattle, it’s God who will choose which city he’ll call home come the start of the 2016-2017 season.

“At the end of the day I trust the process,” Wilson said. “I know God’s going to take me and put me where he wants to have me. I hope that’s Seattle. I love it there, it’s a great place.”

Although Wilson wants to continue to play with the team that drafted him out of college in 2012, his recent extension talks with the Seahawks have reportedly come to a bit of a halt. Wilson and his agent, Mark Rodgers, are believed to be seeking a five-year deal in the range of $150 million, which would make Wilson one of the highest paid players in football.

Wilson told The Fan that even though he’s spent all three, soon to be four, seasons of his NFL career with the Seahawks, he’s familiar with the experience of picking up from a community that he has grown to love to leave it for greener pastures.

Wilson, who came to the NFL from the University of Wisconsin, spent his first three collegiate seasons at North Carolina State but transferred to Wisconsin for his senior year after NC State head coach, Tom O’Brien, had issues with Wilson playing minor league baseball during the offseason.

“But I’ve gone through the ups and downs and been moved around before,” Wilson asserted. “I loved NC State and loved playing there, and then having to go somewhere else and start new.”

Being in the final year of his four-year $2.99 million rookie contract, Wilson clearly expects to land a deal worth over $100 million, whether that means agreeing to an extension or signing elsewhere as a free agent. That’s why Wilson decided to take out an insurance policy that will pay him millions should he suffer a career-ending injury in the upcoming season.

Wilson told reporters after a team minicamp last week that he’s prepared to play out the rest of his contract without an extension, but stressed that “God willing,” he hopes they can reach an agreement before the training camp starts in July.

“Hopefully that’s the case, God willing. It would be nice, but if not, I’ll be ready to go,” Wilson boldly stated. “The one thing I know is it’s a business, and business is an interesting thing. I just look at it that way. I’ve always understood I would be at this point at some time. It will work out however it’s supposed to work out. We’ll find out what happens.”

Wilson added that he hasn’t been distracted by the ongoing negotiations and he will continue to take his life in stride.

“Does it wear on me? No. I’ve been through so much,” Wilson explained. “I just take one day at a time as I always have, whether I’m fortunate enough to receive a lot of money for a lot of hard work or if I’m still working for it. That’s never going to change for me. I’m just going to do as much as I can to be successful.”

Source : Christian Post

Exclusive Sneak Peek At ‘Bringing Up Bates’ New Episode: Family Meets Spitting Llamas at the Zoo

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Exclusive Sneak Peek At ‘Bringing Up Bates’ New Episode: Family Meets Spitting Llamas at the Zoo

Bringing Up Bates (Photo: screen grab)

Christian Post Report – The Bates family of UP’s television series “Bringing Up Bates” pays a visit to the zoo.

“Bringing Up Bates” returns to UPtv this Thursday with a brand new episode featuring Gil and Kelly Jo Bates joining their 19 children at a local zoo.

In a clip from the new episode exclusively available at christianpost.com, the Bates kids visit the Ponderosa Zoo, an exotic animal rescue zoo in Clinton, Tennessee. Along the way, Whitney, Bradley, Kelly Jo and the rest of the Bates family carry pails around to feel the animals including camels, ostriches, baby goats, a lion, a spitting llama and many more.

“Ponderosa is a great zoo just because it’s hands-on and the kids can get right up close and personal,” Kelly Jo explains in the sneak peek. “It’s really entertaining for the kids.”

Katie Bates, 11, adds: “Definitely the coolest animal there was the spitting llamas, they said they wouldn’t spit on anybody. I talked to it and asked it to spit and it still didn’t obey.”

Also during the clip, younger Bates family members Ellie, Callie and Addallee share their zoo experience.

“The camel almost ate my hand off,” notes Callie, age 4 in the clip.

Thursday’s brand new episode, entitled “Movin’ in with Meema,” will also see Kelly Jo’s mother Meema announce that she wants to live closer to the kids, and Kelly Jo takes her house hunting. The task, however, proves tougher than anyone predicted. Later, Gil and Kelly Jo take Trace and Josie to the orthodontist for braces, and Gil reveals how he can afford braces for so many kids.

The highly-anticipated second season of “Bringing Up Bates” kicked off on UP earlier this month. Fans will see major milestones for the Bates family in the new season, including Michaella and Brandon’s engagement and Erin’s challenging first pregnancy as well as the joyful birth of baby Carson.

Exclusive Sneak Peek At ‘Bringing Up Bates’ New Episode: Family Meets Spitting Llamas at the Zoo

Exclusive Sneak Peek At ‘Bringing Up Bates’ New Episode: Family Meets Spitting Llamas at the Zoo

“Bringing Up Bates” airs on UP Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET. Watch the sneak peek at the June 25 installment here.

follow me on Twitter @emmakoonse

Source : Christian Post

Whitney Houston’s Daughter, Bobbi Kristina, Moved to Hospice; ‘She is in God’s Hands Now’

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Whitney Houston’s Daughter, Bobbi Kristina, Moved to Hospice; ‘She is in God’s Hands Now’

Bobbi Kristina Brown Twitter/ RealbkBrown

Christian Post Report – Bobbi Kristina Brown tweeted this picture on June 15, 2014 to wish her father Bobby Brown a Happy Father’s Day

Bobbi Kristina Brown, the only biological child of the late Whitney Houston, has been moved into hospice care nearly five months after she was found unconscious at her Roswell, Georgia home just outside of Atlanta. In a statement released Wednesday, her family said that “she is in God’s hands now” and thanked the public for their prayers.

On Jan. 31, the 22-year-old actress was placed in a medically-induced coma and then placed on life support after she was found unconscious in a bathtub by her boyfriend, Nick Gordon. Despite having received what her aunt described as “great medical care” at various medical facilities in recent months, Bobbi’s condition has failed to improve and subsequently, she has been moved into hospice care.

“Despite the great medical care at numerous facilities, Bobbi Kristina Brown’s condition has continued to deteriorate,” Bobbi’s aunt Pat Houston said in a statement released on June 24. “As of today, she has been moved into hospice care. We thank everyone for their support and prayers. She is in God’s hands now.”

Details regarding the status of Bobbi’s condition have remained unclear due to conflicting media reports. In April, Brown’s father, Bobby Brown, told a Dallas crowd that his daughter is “awake” although at the time, Houston family sources denied that was true.

It is unclear what exactly occurred in the events leading up to the reality TV star being found face-down in a bathtub although it has been reported that days prior, she was involved in a car accident.

Bobbi was initially transported to North Fulton Hospital in Roswell, Georgia, and days later her family moved her to Emory University Hospital in Atlanta. In March she was moved to another facility and now she is at the hospice.

“I’m just waiting for whatever happens,” Bobbi’s grandmother Cissy previously told Entertainment Tonight. “We go to the hospital every day and pray and I talk to her because she can still hear and I rub her hand. We do what we can do. The rest is…all up to Him.”

Police in Roswell, Georgia, reportedly launched a criminal investigation into Bobbi’s case in recent months amid concerns of “foul play” among Brown’s family members.

In 2012 Bobbi’s mother Whitney was found dead in a hotel bathtub in Beverly Hills.

Email me: [email protected]
Connect with me on Twitter: @MzBenge

Source : Christian Post

Catholic Church in Australia Expresses ‘Grave Concern’ Over Businesses That Support Gay Marriage

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Catholic Church in Australia Expresses ‘Grave Concern’ Over Businesses That Support Gay Marriage

Pope/ Gay Marriage Rally in Australia Left: (Photo: Reuter/ Tony Gentile) Right: (Photo: Reuters/ David Gray)

Christian Post Report – Pope Francis addresses crowd. A gay-rights activist holds a banner during a rally supporting same-sex marriage in Sydney, Australia May 31, 2015.

The Catholic Church in Sydney, Australia has issued letters to businesses that publicly support gay marriage expressing “grave concern” over their stance and accusing them of “overstepping their purpose.”

These businesses recently participated in an open letter posted on the website of the advocacy group Australian Marriage Equality that expresses support for the legalization of gay marriage in the country.

The Catholic Church expressed its concern in a letter to Steve Walsh, chairman of the law firm Maurice Blackburn who signed the open letter to support gay marriage on behalf of his company.

Michael Digges, business manager of the Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney, reminded Walsh in the letter that the church is a “significant user of goods and services from many corporations, both local and international,” and that many of his “employees, customers, partners, suppliers” are also Catholic, according to The Guardian

Digges accused the company of “overstepping their purpose” and questioned if the role of corporations is to help change the Australian government’s Marriage Act to recognize gay marriage.

“I wonder whether you have questioned whether it is the role of a corporation such as yours to be participating in such an important matter that impacts all of Australian society now and into the future,” wrote Digges.

“For corporations to speak on such issues on behalf of shareholders, employees, clients/customers, suppliers and other stakeholders is indeed overstepping their purpose and is to be strongly resisted.”

Maurice Blackburn’s principal Liberty Sanger responded to the letter by telling the ABC that the law firm is not intimidated.

“Now it may well be that their intention was to try and frighten us into not participating in the debate,” said Blackburn. “If that was the objective, well it’s had… obviously had the opposite effect.”

Maurice Blackburn joined more than 180 companies including McDonalds, MTV, Pandora and Levi’s in issuing a statement in support of Australia changing the Marriage Act to recognize gay marriage.

The Australian Marriage Act of 1961 was a law established by the Australian Parliament and only recognizes marriage as between one man and one woman.

Australia’s Prime Minister Tony Abbott said in May that his country will not hold a referendum on legalizing gay marriage despite pressure from other politicians.

“Referendums are held in this country when there is a proposal to change our constitution and I don’t think anyone is suggesting the constitution needs to be changed in this respect,” said Abbott shortly after the referendum in Ireland which legalized gay marriage in the nation.

“It’s up to members of parliament who are eager for change to decide whether they want to bring it forward.”

Australia currently permits gay couples to enter civil unions, but not marriage.

Contact: [email protected]; follow me on Twitter @vinfunaro

Source : Christian Post

New Video From Hillsong United Features Live Performance of ‘Touch the Sky’

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New Video From Hillsong United Features Live Performance of ‘Touch the Sky’

Hillsong United (Photo: Courtesy of MergePR)

Christian Post Report – Hillsong United performs at the top of the Capitol Records tower.

Popular Christian worship band Hillsong United released a video featuring a live performance of their hit single “Touch the Sky” filmed from the top of Capitol Records tower on Tuesday.

The new video premiered on Yahoo revealing Hillsong Church’s famed worship band performing before a beautiful sunset, as seen from the top of Los Angeles’ historic tower. Vocalist Taya Smith leads the song with the lyrics: “What fortune lies beyond the stars, those dazzling heights too vast to climb / I got so high to fall so far, but I found heaven as love swept low.”

“Touch the Sky” comes from the band’s latest album Empires which debuted at No. 5 on the Billboard 200 album chart last month. The highly-anticipated album also ranked No. 2 on the Digital Albums chart, and remains among iTunes’ Top 5 overall album downloads.

The live performance of “Touch the Sky” is the latest video from Hillsong United, which recently released a lyric video for “Here Now (Madness)” earlier this month to thank fans.

“Thank you all for jumping on the journey of #empires,” said the Australia-based band, via Twitter. “We have uploaded the lyric video for Here Now (Madness).”

 Along with Hillsong United’s charts success, Hillsong United received five GMA Dove Awards, including the coveted Artist of the Year and Song of the Year with “Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)”. The group was also named 2014’s artist of the year by Billboard Magazine, and more recently, the band received the 2015 Billboard Award for Top Christian Artist this year.

While Hillsong’s Empires is reaching millions of fans today, band frontman Joel Houston said all the success is in God’s hands in an interview with The Christian Post recently.

“The way we approached this record [is similar to] the idea that you build a boat, and you build the best boat you can, then you set sail, you push it out and ultimately, God is going to breathe on it as He will and make it go however, where ever He wants it to,” explained Houston.

The singer added: “I don’t have any anxiety over whether or not it’s going to be a success, or if people will love it or hate it; our job is to be true to what God asked us to do, which is to write the most honest songs that were true to our understanding of what God is saying to us right now. And ultimately, our prayer is, if it’s true to us, hopefully it speaks to others as well.”

Watch the lyrics video for “Touch the Sky” here.

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Source : Christian Post

Are Christian Reality Shows Doing More Harm Than Good?

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Are Christian Reality Shows Doing More Harm Than Good?

'Preach' (Photo: Karolina Wojtasik)

Christian Post Report – (L to R) Linda Roark, Taketa Williams, Kelly Crews and Belinda Scott star in Lifetime’s all-new docu-series Preach, premiering Friday, June 5, at 10pm ET/PT on Lifetime.

With a growing number of reality-based programs being marketed to Christians on television to meet a strong demand for faith-based programming, some critics are now questioning whether these shows are doing more harm than good.

When Lifetime Network decided to air the recently canceled controversial new show “Preach” centered around four prophetesses, many questioned the wisdom behind it.

“Cameras do NOT belong in the church filming the ‘spiritual’ things that society as a whole does not understand,” wrote critic Tachina Carter in a change.org petition to cancel the show that attracted nearly 15,000 signatures prior to Lifetime axing it. “By airing this show it will cause more harm than good to the Christian community who (sic) already has a difficult time in sharing ‘The Good News’ of Jesus Christ to the masses.”

After just two of the six “Preach” episodes slated to be released were aired, Lifetime Network canceled the show. Sources close to Lifetime told The Christian Post that the petition was not the reason for its cancellation stating, “it wasn’t performing in this current time period.”.

Still, it is hard to ignore the thousands of people who thought the show should be banned. Phil Thornton, executive producer of “R&B Divas” who also helped bring faith-based programs like, “It’s a Mann’s World” , “Mary Mary”, and “The Sheards” to the small screen, believes showcasing four prophetesses on television could be seen as crossing sacred boundaries.

“I wouldn’t even be a part of something like that. I feel like that’s so sacred and so private, I wouldn’t want to exploit it in any way,” Thornton told CP. “I still don’t know how you would tell that story without making a mockery. I don’t think it would be the best idea.”

Each of the four prophetesses featured on the show, however, told The Christian Post they believed God called them to appear on the series. For Dr. Belinda Scott, a Cleveland Heights, Ohio-based prophetess, no sacred boundaries were crossed because she and her “Preach” co-stars were doing the work of Jesus Christ.

“..We are sacred, we are full of the Holy Spirit. We are taking a piece of what I believe is the work of Jesus Christ with us,” Scott told CP. “I feel it is necessary for us to (do) whether people like reality TV or not because I don’t know any Christian in America that doesn’t watch some type of television.”

Despite the failure of “Preach” however, in the last seven years, television networks have been seeing the value in marketing shows to faith-driven consumers which has resulted in wildly successful reality shows featuring conservative stars such as A&E’s “Duck Dynasty”, which has aired for five seasons; Lifetime Network’s “Preachers’ Daughters” which has aired for three seasons; Oxygen Network’s “Preachers Of L.A.”, and TLC’s “19 Kids And Counting” which averages 3.5 million viewers an episode. The show follows the homeschooled Christian family the Duggars who are living for God in a devout way. After 10 seasons, the metrics measurement firm iSpot.tv estimated that the show attracted $25 million in advertising from television this year alone, according to a New York Times report.

While each successful show has been met with its share of backlash, some faith-based reality shows like “Preach” has missed the mark entirely with widespread disapproval from audiences who worried they would portray Christians in a negative light.

After just one season, TLC had to scrap their controversial show about pastor’s wives called, “The Sisterhood” in 2013. Pastor and gospel singer Donnie McClurklin was one of many who spoke out against the program and how it could negatively impact the church.

“Why do we support such things like TLC’s ‘SISTERHOOD’ showing the underbelly of 1st ladies, hurting the church image, giving God a bad name,” McClurkin asked in a tweet to more than 100,000 Twitter followers in 2013. “I really wish ALL of Christiandom [sic] would do the same and boycott it. We have to defend the image of the KINGDOM! SPREAD THIS WORD.”

Still, a 2014 Faith Driven Consumer survey, recently revealed there is still a very strong demand for faith-driven television programming. According to the survey some, 55 percent of faith-driven consumers feel there are not enough options in the marketplace while 62 percent of faith-driven consumers said they would watch at least three additional hours of television or movies if there were more faith friendly options.

It continued: “71 percent of Faith Driven Consumers feel that the current entertainment industry of movies and television doesn’t adequately acknowledge, welcome, and provide for them as Christians, and 92 percent would like to see the marketplace do more; 63 percent say a lot more.”

Wendy Douglas, an executive producer at TLC, previously weighed in on the debate on Christian programming on television in an earlier interview with The Christian Post and she explained that while the network sees the Christian market as a very vibrant one they are still working to better understand it.

“It’s a culture (and) group of people (and) areas that we haven’t seen very much reality programming on, so we wanted to tap into this world and get to know and understand it more,” Douglas told CP. “It’s also a very vibrant space that’s entertaining and inspirational.”

follow me on Twitter @CAThomasos

Source : Christian Post

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