JERUSALEM, August 3, 2020 (Morning Star News) – Dozens of foreign Christians in Turkey have been forced to leave the country or have been banned from returning in what appears to be government targeting of the Protestant Christian community, rights advocates say.

Many, like Carlos Madrigal of Spain, have been serving in leadership roles in Protestant churches in the country for years. Such foreigners have lived in the country for decades, forming families and buying property, according to a researcher at Middle East Concern (MEC).

Madrigal has lived in the country for more than 19 years on a clergy visa as the spiritual leader of the Istanbul Protestant Church Foundation (IPCF), according to a press statement from the group. At the airport in November 2019, he was issued a stamp in his passport that he realized would keep him from returning to Turkey if he left the country, so he decided to cancel his trip and appeal the decision, according to published reports.

Madrigal appeared on Turkish television in June to point out that he could see no clear reason why he was banned from the country, the MEC researcher said.

Noting that the ban against Madrigal was issued in November 2019, the IPCF stated, “It is with great sadness that we must inform you that since 2019, it has been made increasingly difficult for foreign Protestant clergy serving in Turkey to be resident in our…

A large majority of American conservatives say the political climate prevents them from saying what they believe, according to a new Cato survey that also shows liberals are far less likely to feel the need to self-censor.

Cato asked Americans of all ideologies if they believed the “political climate these days prevents me from saying things I believe because others might find them offensive.”

A full 77 percent of Americans who label themselves conservative or “very” conservative agreed with the statement, compared to 64 percent of moderates, 52 percent of liberals and 42 percent of those who consider themselves “very” liberal.

Overall, 62 percent of Americans say they self-censor due to the political climate.

Cato asked the same question in 2017. Since then, conservatives, moderates and liberals all have experienced a 7 percent increase in the percentage who say they self-censor.

Still, “strong liberals stand out … as the only political group who feel they can express themselves,” Cato’s Emily Ekins said in an online analysis.

A total of 58 percent of those who call themselves “very” liberal say they feel comfortable saying what they believe, compared to only 23 percent of conservatives and those who call themselves “very” conservative.

“The strong feeling of having to self-censor is likely somewhat rooted in a media and political culture…

Two representatives of Students for Life of America were arrested Saturday by Washington, D.C. police while writing “black preborn lives matter” in chalk outside a Planned Parenthood, even though the group says it had permission from the city.

SFLA said in a news release it had “applied and received a permit to paint the street outside of the D.C. Planned Parenthood” and even complied “with the D.C. police department’s request to purchase special temporary paint.”

D.C. city officials earlier this year allowed protesters to paint “Defund the Police” on a city street.

SFLA representatives arrived at the area in front of the D.C. Planned Parenthood Saturday morning and were met with several police cars. Police initially warned the group they would be arrested for using temporary paint and then said they would be arrested even if they used chalk.

When Students for Life staff member Warner DePriest and college student Erica Caporaletti began painting “black preborn lives matter” in chalk, they were arrested.

“Mayor Muriel Bowser had opened the streets of the city for ‘free public expression,’” the group said in a statement. “What we didn’t know was that you could only do that and not get arrested if the mayor agreed with what you expressed.”

SFLA says it will sue the city.

“We will no longer be silent, we will no…

John MacArthur’s California church is facing possible fines from the county if the church keeps hosting in-person services.

According to The Christian Post, MacArthur’s Grace Community Church is reopening despite lockdown orders from Gov. Gavin Newsom.

“We will obey God rather than men,” MacArthur said in a video statement Friday. “We’re going to be faithful to the Lord and we’re going to leave the results to Him. Whatever happens is going to be what He allows to happen. But He will be on our side because we will be obedient and faithful to His word.”

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health officials have reportedly told MacArthur he could face “repercussions such as fines and even possible arrest.”

The department’s Environmental Health division “is investigating and will be reaching out to the church leaders to let them know they need to comply with the Health Officer Order,” according to Religion News Service.

MacArthur said he isn’t sure “what the Lord has for us,” but the church will continue meeting for in-person services on Sundays.

“We will meet as the church of Jesus Christ because we’re commanded to do that. We will sing, we will pray, we will fellowship, we will proclaim the Word of God far and wide and even around the world through this livestream opportunity that we have,” he said.

MacArthur said other church…

One week after publicly repenting for failing to preach the whole Gospel, evangelist Todd White said his mission now is to now “wake up” the “dysfunctional” and “sleeping” American Church. 

“Last week, I shared, ‘I repent for not preaching the full Gospel,’” White, founder and president of Lifestyle Christianity, said in a sermon delivered Aug. 2. “If any of you think that you know it all about the Gospel, you’re deceived. I don’t care who you are, I don’t care what theologian you are, I don’t care if you’re a doctor of theology, if you’ve got your masters of divinity. If you think you know it all, I’m sorry, you’re wrong.”

“I have stepped into a new awareness of why I’m really here,” he emphasized. “I feel like I just got saved. I feel like I’ve just met Jesus.”

White, a drug addict turned evangelist, said his mission now is to “wake up a sleeping church.” 

“I’m very concerned for a large majority of the body of Christ that says that they’ve met Him and…

Fires were set by rioters in front of a federal courthouse on Friday night in Portland, Oregon, as the city entered its 65th consecutive day of protests.

According to Breitbart, Ian Miles Cheong, the managing editor for Human Events, noted that Bibles were being burned outside of the federal courthouse.

“Left-wing activists bring a stack of Bibles to burn in front of the federal courthouse in Portland,” Cheong wrote in a thread on Twitter.

He added, “I don’t know what burning the Bible has to do with protesting against police brutality. Do not be under the illusion that these protests and riots are anything but an attempt to dismantle all of Western Civilization and upend centuries of tradition and freedom of religion,” he concluded.

I don’t know what burning the Bible has to do with protesting against police brutality.

Do not be under the illusion that these protests and riots are anything but an attempt to dismantle all of Western Civilization and upend centuries of tradition and freedom of religion.

— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) August 1, 2020

Journalist Andy Ngo backed Cheong’s claims writing, “Antifa protesters in downtown Portland have started burning American flags in the street. They are also burning Bibles.”

Antifa protesters in downtown Portland have started burning American flags in the street. They are also burning Bibles.

— Andy Ngô (@MrAndyNgo) August 1, 2020

One post by global…

Orlando’s Jonathan Isaac became the first NBA player to stand for the national anthem Friday, telling reporters in postgame interviews he was compelled to do so because of his Christian faith.

Up until Isaac’s stance, every NBA player had kneeled with teammates in a show of unity for racial justice. The league restarted its season last Thursday.

Isaac, who is black, told reporters he “does believe in Black Lives Matters” but also believes the answer to society’s problems is Christ.

Isaac, who was the Magic’s first-round draft pick in 2017, also didn’t wear a Black Lives Matter t-shirt.

“A lot went into my decision and part of it is … that kneeling or wearing a Black Lives Matter t-shirt don’t go hand in hand with supporting black lives,” Isaac said during post-game comments.

Isaac then transitioned to faith.

“My life has been supported through the Gospel of Jesus Christ [and] that everyone is made in the image of God and that we all fall short of God’s glory. Each and every one of us, each and every day, do things that we shouldn’t do and we say things that we shouldn’t say. … We dislike people that we shouldn’t hate and dislike. Sometimes it gets to a point where we point fingers, about whose evil is worse. And sometimes it comes down to simply whose evil is most visible,” Isaac said.

“So, I felt like I wanted to just take a stand….

(RNS) — Brenda Davies, host of the popular “God is Grey” Youtube channel and podcast, received a cease and desist letter earlier this month from the lawyers of Isaac and Angie Tolpin of Courageous Parenting ministries, in response to mention of the Tolpins in a video discussion about Christian parenting.

In the May 18 video, “We Did It Out of Love,” which has garnered more than 270,000 views on Youtube, Davies interviewed Stelle Jacobson, daughter of Christian author Matt Jacobson, about her father’s promotion of corporal punishment.

Matt Jacobson has co-written several Christian parenting books with his wife, Lisa Jacobson, including “100 Ways to Love Your Son” and “100 Ways to Love Your Daughter.” Jacobson also founded FaithfulMan.com, whose About page calls followers to win “the war on everything good and true regarding biblical marriage and family.” The website’s articles cover topics such as why Christian kids should save kissing for marriage.

In the video, Stelle Jacobson described her father’s corporal punishment as abusive and said the abuse has resulted in her feeling unsafe around men.

“Basically the theory is if it doesn’t hurt enough — if you don’t hurt your child enough, they won’t repent,” she said during the video.

Matt Jacobson did not respond to request for comment.

The video linked Matt Jacobson’s teaching about…