Open Season on Christians after Pro-Gay Rulings

by Paul Strand, CBS News

WASHINGTON - Christians who speak out and stand up for traditional marriage are more likely than ever to be persecuted and even prosecuted for it. That's because of how the majority at the U.S. Supreme Court wrote their June 26 pro-gay marriage rulings.

The high court majority attacked the motives of those who came up with the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) in 1996. DOMA enshrined traditional marriage in federal law and prevented federal benefits from going to same-sex couples.

"The avowed purpose and practical effect of the law here in question are to impose a disadvantage, a separate status, and so a stigma upon all who enter into same-sex marriages," Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote in the United States v. Windsor ruling.

"DOMA writes inequality into the entire United States Code," he added.

According to Ken Klukowski, director of the Center for Religious Liberty, the rationale for this ruling basically undermined the motive of those for traditional marriage only.

"The Court said that the federal Defense of Marriage Act is literally irrational, that it was just the fruit of bigotry and beknighted souls rather than the thoughtful actions of elected, national leaders," he said.

Evangelical Visits to BYU Signal a New Evangelical-Mormon Detente

RNS by Adelle Banks

In the picture to the left, George O. Wood, general superintendent of the Assemblies of God, greets students after speaking during a lecture series on faith, family and society in the Varsity Theatre of Brigham Young University’s Wilkinson Student Center on Sept. 16, 2013. Photo by Mark A. Philbrick/courtesy Brigham Young University

(RNS) Last month, after being sure to get his caffeine fix at Starbucks, Southern Baptist leader Richard Land went where few evangelicals had dared to go before: the campus of Brigham Young University, the intellectual heart of Mormonism.
After lecturing on “family, faith, freedom and America,” Land attended a BYU football game with Mormon leaders and joined them to hear James Taylor sing with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

Days later, George O. Wood, the general superintendent of the Assemblies of God, also visited BYU, followed by the Rev. R. Albert Mohler Jr., president of Southern Baptists’ flagship seminary.

Presbyterian ‘Church’ USA Rejects Popular Worship Song for Hymnal Over Lyrics Citing ‘Wrath of God’

This story is just a continuation of those who pervert and water down the gospel message. 

The wrath of God is poured out on sin.  Why?  God who is holy and perfect is the Creator of mankind.  Man who was created in God's image is separated from God because of sin and disobedience. God's plan for mankind is salvation. His love, mercy and grace are freely given to the sinner by the shed blood of His only Son, Jesus Christ.  The sinner is called to faith and repentance whereby God turns His wrath away from the sinner.  To reject God's perfect plan of salvation is to reject God's favor and will instead receive God's wrath and punishment. 

"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."  Romans 6:23

Christian News Network
Heather Clark

One of the most popular worship songs being sung in churches around the world today has been rejected for the hymnal of the Presbyterian Church USA (PCUSA) due to the song’s lyrics that speak of the wrath of God being assuaged through Christ’s death on the cross.

The hymn at issue is In Christ Alone, penned by Keith Getty and Steward Townend. In the second verse of the song, the lyrics proclaim, “‘Til on that cross as Jesus died/The wrath of God was satisfied/For every sin on Him was laid/Here in the death of Christ I live.”

‘Christian’ Swapping Site Hooks Up Married Couples With Sex Partners for ‘Free Love’

Spouse  swapping?  Seriously! 

There is so much wrong with this, where does one begin?  Not only does the Bible define marriage, it has a LOT to say about it. Marriage was instituted by God, and therefore is a holy institution.  I would suggest to all professed married couples to know what God's word teaches before engaging in destructive sinful behavior.  Lust is the polar opposite of a holy institution and the  Bible is full of scripture that warns us to avoid, abstain from, flee!

What is lust? The dictionary definition of lust is "1) intense or unrestrained sexual craving, or 2) an overwhelming desire or craving." The Bible speaks of lust in several ways. Exodus 20:14, 17 (NLT), "Do not commit adultery. . . Do not covet your neighbor’s house. Do not covet your neighbor’s wife, male or female servant, ox or donkey, or anything else your neighbor owns," or Matthew 5:28, "But I say, anyone who even looks at a woman with lust in his eye has already committed adultery with her in his heart." Job 31:11-12 (NLT) sums up lust quite nicely: "For lust is a shameful sin, a crime that should be punished. It is a devastating fire that destroys to hell. It would wipe out everything I own."   Read more: http://www.gotquestions.org/what-is-lust.html#ixzz2dMdzQmTH
 

Christian News Network

Heather Clark

Controversy is stirring over a professing Christian website that provides a venue for married couples to hook up with other partners to find ‘free love.’

‘eXtremely Radical’ Youth Group - Just a Make-out Den

"Do you know where your children are?" is a popular question used as a public service announcement for parents on American television.  It's a good reminder to parents not only to know where their kids are, but to know what they are involved in, Christian or not!  Question:  Where is the youth pastor, teen counselors or adult supervision while this is going on?

1 Peter 5:8

"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour."

ALBANY — A youth group that advertises itself as “eXtremely Radical” is actually one of the best places in town to make out, according to local teens.

“I go there every time they have meetings,” says Jack Lufkin, 16, who is not a Christian but goes church to church “looking for skirt.” He had struck out at other youth groups in town before stumbling on what he calls a gold mine of romantic opportunities at Living Way Baptist Church. “It’s action central. Those chicks really are radical, as advertised,” he says.

Blasphemy Knows NO Bounds!

Exiting pastor saddles church with odd worship leader...

As a Christian of many years, I have often thought I've seen just about everything under the sun.  When you think that you've seen and heard it all, the truth of the matter is, you haven't!  To my dismay there is no depth to where the devil and his servants won't go to blaspheme the Lord.

From Lark News:  FRESNO — After repeated conflicts with his church board about the direction of Family Life Center, pastor Dave Chandler decided to leave the church. But on his way out he used a little-known clause in the bylaws to singlehandedly hire a new worship leader: Bill MacNerny who specializes in “alien folk music” and “tunes for chickens and other intelligent beings.” MacNerny was last employed as a street performer in Key West, Fla., and has made several albums of himself playing the ukelele and making barnyard sounds.

“We’re in a true bind,” says board member Jeff Garrety. “We couldn’t believe when this bozo showed up to lead worship.”

The quirk in the bylaws gave Chandler sole authority to hire and fire the worship leader and to define contract terms. The contract includes a severability clause of $150,000 if MacNerny is fired before two years. It also specifies that he must lead worship on Sunday mornings and any other time the church meets. Lawyers informed the board that the contract is legitimate and must be respected.

New ‘Preachers of L.A.’ Reality Show to Feature Lavish Lives of Megachurch Prosperity Preachers

In the long line of apostate braggarts, this bunch are actually creating a reality show to exploit their sinful lifestyles, and broadcast for the world to see.

Christian News Network's Heather Clark reports:
"A new reality show set to air this fall on the Oxygen Network will put on display the lives of six Los Angeles area megachurch ministers, many of whom live large as prosperity preachers.

Preachers of L.A. was recently announced by the network, which also released a trailer that provides a sneak peak into the broadcast.

“Known for their fiery sermons, community outreach and passionate followings, pastors have become iconic, beloved, and sometimes polarizing figures in modern culture,” Oxygen stated. “Yet, few people have access to these larger-than-life men away from the pulpit. Until now.”

The network advised that the reality show will provide a look at the “human side” of the men, one of whom admits to having a baby with his girlfriend following his divorce from his wife.

Pat Robertson on Sex Change Operations: ‘I Don’t Think There’s Any Sin Associated With That’

 

Pat Robertson makes the headlines again with controversial statements about sex change. According to Robertson, he doesn't see having a sex change as a sin against God.

Christian News Network
by Heather Clark

"Sunday broadcast of the 700 Club, Pat Robertson shocked a number of viewers in responding to a question about those who decide to have sex change operations.

Robertson’s comments made were during the Q&A segment of the broadcast, as he was fielded the question by co-host Terry Meeuwsen.

Pope Signals Openness to Gay Priests

Is the Pope signaling openness to gay priests? According to the Wall Street journal,

"Fielding questions from reporters during the first news conference of his young papacy, the pontiff broached the delicate question of how he would respond to learning that a cleric in his ranks was gay, though not sexually active. For decades, the Vatican has regarded homosexuality as a “disorder,” and Pope Francis’ predecessor Pope Benedict XVI formally barred men with what the Vatican deemed “deep-seated” homosexuality from entering the priesthood.

“Who am I to judge a gay person of goodwill who seeks the Lord?” the pontiff said, speaking in Italian. “You can’t marginalize these people.”

Osteen Desires Unity Among Baptists and Catholics

Joel Osteen can not understand why “denominational names” shall separate Baptists and Catholics.

Recorded in Christian Post:

 When I grew up, at least in my household, there was the Baptists, the Methodists, Catholics and others. And we never crossed over. But this is a day where it seems like the denominational names mean less and less, and I mean that very respectfully, but they’re not separating us.

Christian Media Swings Left

David Neff is editor-in-chief for Christianity Today. The magazine is still considered to bemainstream and representative of evangelicals. It was founded when Ike was president, and it is amazing how many Christians consider CT to be their friend. In reality, it is center-left and fairly contemptuous of the issues conservative Christians hold dear.

Witness Neff's recent Facebook post, in which he cites a Wall St. Journal piece about the Ground Zero mosque. Neff said that "all the negative attention" the mosque project has received has in fact helped amass a war chest for the building of the mosque. Again, Neff was citing the WSJ article, but one wonders why he seems to aim a weird web of blame at Americans who find the mosque both offensive and potentially dangerous.

Of course, the editorial staff at CT has a long history of center-left stances.

Elder Forced to Step Down For Standing Against Spiritual Formation

John from Ohio wrote to Stand Up For The Truth Ministry a few days ago to share that he had to resign his longtime position as elder of his mainline Evangelical church because of the Spiritual Formation/Transformation movement that had not just crept into his church, but had infiltrated every aspect of ministries there, including the youth ministries. His story is heartbreaking and will cut to the quick of anyone who has ever tried to help his or her church understand why this movement is so unbiblical and dangerous.

Full Story: Stand Up For The Truth

Buyer BEWARE!  For those who don't know, Spiritual formation is a replacement for sanctification by God’s ordained means. What is unique about it is that it combines man-made techniques and practices borrowed from Roman Catholicism with some Biblical practices such as prayer. All forms of spiritual formation involve some degree of mysticism. 

Zimmerman verdict shows God is a 'white racist,' Ivy League Professor Says

"God ain't good all of the time. In fact, sometimes, God is not for us," Anthea Butler, of the University of Pennsylvania's Department of Religious Studies, wrote Monday in a blog post on ReligionDispatches.org. "As a black woman in [a] nation that has taken too many pains to remind me that I am not a white man, and am not capable of taking care of my reproductive rights, or my voting rights, I know that this American god ain't my god." Then she dropped the bomb: "As a matter of fact, I think he's a white racist god with a problem." The University of Pennsylvania has declined to comment on Butler's revelation of God's race and personal, uh, foibles.

Vatican Grants Indulgences to Pope's Twitter Followers

According to The Guardian, the Vatican is now granting "indulgences" to followers of Pope Francis' Twitter account. These indulgences, when granted by the church, reduce the time Catholics will need to spend in purgatory after confession and absolution of their sins.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church says indulgences are "obtained through the Church who, by virtue of the power of binding and loosing granted her by Christ Jesus, intervenes in favor of individual Christians and opens for them the treasury of the merits of Christ and the saints to obtain from the Father of mercies the remission of the temporal punishment due for their sins."

Former NY Times Writer Ridiculed for Being a Creationist

After admitting she believes in the biblical view of creation, Yahoo! News writer Virginia Heffernan is enduring harsh criticism from fellow journalists. Heffernan, a former technology and culture writer for The New York Times, explained in an article for Yahoo! News last week why and how she became a creationist, saying she's read a variety of authors on the subject from the Bible to Darwin to Gould and finds that evolutionary psychologists "have become more contradictory than Leviticus."

"I am a creationist," she wrote. There, I said it. At least you, dear readers, won't now storm out of a restaurant like the last person I admitted that to. In New York City saying you're a creationist is like confessing you think Ahmadinejad has a couple of good points. Maybe I'm the only creationist I know."