Tuesday, June 5, 2012

THE CHRISTIAN POST: Tuesday June 5, 2012 Sivan 15, 5772

marriage
(Photo: Preserve Marriage Washington)

Christians Look to Win Gay Marriage Battle in Wash.

By Lillian Kwon

With same-sex marriage scheduled to be officially recognized in Washington State on Thursday, churches are banding together to overturn the law and win a battle that they believe they can't afford to lose.

Mars Hill OC Church Pressured to Move From Rock Concert Hall

By Alex Murashko

Pastors from Seattle-based Mars Hill Church are struggling to understand why conducting worship services by way of rotating into the weekly schedule of an active rock concert venue in Orange County on Sundays is a problem with city officials.

US

A video screen shows Republican presidential candidate and former Massachussetts Governor Mitt Romney (L) and U.S. President Barack Obama in Columbia, South Carolina January 21, 2012.

Romney Closes Gap With Obama

By Napp Nazworth

Despite efforts by the Obama campaign to portray Mitt Romney as a vulture capitalist, Romney's favorability rating has increased 14 percentage points since February, according to a CNN/ORC poll released Monday.

An online quiz started a year ago that examines how consistently Christians are living out the teachings of Jesus Christ has found an increase in the number of believers who are "Christians in name only."

Christian leaders and their ministries are some of the most popular Twitter users – not in terms of followers, but in how many times their messages are forwarded to others. Tweets from influential voices like Joyce Meyer, Joel Osteen, and T.D. Jakes do better even with less followers than celebrities like Justin Bieber.

In his new sermon series that warns against drinking the "Culture's Cool-Aid," Pastor Ed Young of Fellowship Church in Texas told his congregation over the weekend that it is important to consider why the Bible describes homosexuality as sin and why same-sex marriage misrepresents God's relationship with creation.

Church & Ministries

Reformation

So. Baptists Divided Over Calvinism; Debate 'Salvation' Document

By Lillian Kwon

Hundreds of Southern Baptists have signed a statement that rejects Calvinist views on the doctrine of salvation and outlines the "traditional Southern Baptist Understanding of God's Plan of Salvation."

A congregant of the Crystal Cathedral has filed a claim in bankruptcy court, seeking $5.6 million from the California megachurch founder Robert H. Schuller and $30 billion from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange, alleging the sale of the church campus violated his religious and civil rights.

The founder of a group promoting Christian support for Israel wants to take seminary students from U.S. colleges who desire to enter fulltime ministry to the next level by offering a two-week accredited, study tour held in the Holy Land.

"Are you drinking culture's Cool-Aid?" asks Pastor Ed Young of Fellowship Church in Grapevine, Texas. In his new "Cool-Aid" sermon series kicking off this weekend, Young urges people to stop giving in to social norms on issues like homosexuality and same-sex marriage and instead turn to the truth of God.

A California church led by a gay pastor has sponsored a billboard erected in North Carolina, apologizing to the gay community about that state's recent constitutional ban on gay marriage and civil unions.

Kuwaiti Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Mocking Islam on Twitter

A man in Kuwait has been sentenced to 10 years in ...

Idaho Official Denies State Banned 'Five Wives' Drink Because of Mormons

An Idaho government official denies that the ...

Manny Pacquiao Is a 'Bible-Quoting Maniac,' Says Rick Warren

Pastor Rick Warren was recently invited by world ...

Professor Retells Road to Emmaus Story Through Modern-Day Lens

The Road to Emmaus story is a historical account ...

Hannah Luce Begins to Walk Weeks After Surviving Plane Crash

Hannah Luce, daughter of Teen Mania founder Ron ...

President Calls for Three Days of Mourning After Nigeria Plane Crash

A plane crash that occurred Sunday in Nigeria's ...

Va. County School Board Temporarily Removes Decalogue Display

A Virginia County's School Board has voted unanimously to temporarily remove a display of the Ten Commandments from a public high school, replacing it with a copy of a page from a history textbook.

God Bless America Motorcycle Ride Raises $32,000 for Vets

About 2,000 people riding 1,700 motorcycles came ...

More Blogs

'What Would Jesus Do' With Illegal Immigrants?

You may have heard of people wearing bracelets ...

Lessons from a Diamond Jubilee Queen

Traditions can be invaluable where it preserves ...

To the Christian Struggling With Sin, Keep Struggling

The Bible says, very implicitly, that Christ ...

The 17 Most Misused Verses in the Bible

Last weekend, I read a helpful book by Eric ...

Entertainment

Tim Tebow speaks

Tim Tebow's Virginity Mocked in Comedian's Rolling Stones Parody

By Jeff Schapiro

A new parody song created by radio personality and comedian Artie Lange pokes fun at Tim Tebow's virginity through the melody of the Rolling Stones hit, "She's A Rainbow."

Manny Pacquiao, 33-year-old Filipino congressman and pugilist who currently holds a welterweight championship belt, recently spoke about his career goals outside of boxing and how the Bible has helped him find balance.

Chris Brown, 23-year-old Grammy Award-winning singer, recently engaged in a Twitter feud with veteran recording artist Brian McKnight, who defended the new themes in his music by comparing them to the younger singer's domestic violence incident a few years ago.

World

Syria

Syrian President Denies Role in Massacre of Over 100 Civilians

By Anugrah Kumar

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad denied Sunday that his government played a role in the May 25 massacre of 116 civilians, including dozens of children and women, in Homs.

An international composer and pianist from Turkey who identifies as atheist is facing jail time over Twitter comments he made that government authorities have been deemed as insulting to Islam.

Former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak has been sentenced to life in prison as a court handed down a mixed verdict on Saturday, including the acquittal of ex-police commanders. The verdict sparked scenes of protest inside and outside the courtroom, and Mubarak was later treated en route to a prison hospital, complaining he was suffering a "health crisis."

Syrian troops reportedly shelled on Thursday morning the central farming villages of Houla, the site of a horrific massacre that left 108 people dead last weekend and where gruesome stories of violence have been trickling out to the international press.

Miss USA 2012 Winner Olivia Culpo Open to Transgender Contestants (VIDEO)

Olivia Culpo became Miss USA 2012 Sunday night ...

Mark Sanchez Admits Tim Tebow Outworks Him in the Weight Room

Mark Sanchez, the New York Jets' starting ...

Green Lantern is Gay: DC Comics Prompts Backlash by Outing Superhero

Green Lantern has been outed as gay by DC Comics ...

Lecrae Sets Record Straight on Christian Hypocrisy in 'Church Clothes'

Hoping to set the record straight on his intent ...

Christian Author Tells How God Took Her Back From Witchcraft

A feeling of being abandoned by God and a ...

Queen's Jubilee 2012 Concert

Queen Elizabeth II rang in her diamond jubilee ...

Johnny Depp Plays Guitar, Accepts Generation Award

Actor Johnny Depp has proved his musical talent ...

Andy Garcia 'Honored' to Play Religious Freedom Fighter in Upcoming Film

Actor Andy Garcia said it was an honor to play ...

Parenting and Setting Boundaries: The 2 'Rs' Kids Need to Understand

By June Hunt

Parenting is demanding work. Those who raise children are required to wear many hats (CEO and janitor, nutritionist and nurse, counselor and cook, plumber and many others). So, how can parents guide their children into successful adulthood? One of the essential requirements is learning how to establish healthy boundaries.

OPINION

America's Moral Schizophrenia

By Ken Connor

flag

We find ourselves living in a society where our elected officials see nothing strange about using the power of government to impose a morality of nutrition while shying away from using that power to protect the lives of innocent unborn children.

THEOLOGY

Is It Sin for Me Not to Like the Doctrine of Election?

By John Piper

John Piper

It's sin not to like the true doctrine of election. It's sin not to like what God likes. I want to say it like that because many people have conceptions of doctrines—all kinds of doctrines—that are inaccurate.

PASTOR

Five Secrets Pastors Refuse to Tell

By Thom S. Rainer

Thom Rainer

By their very nature, pastors are a confidential lot. But most people don't realize pastors have their own secrets. These spiritual leaders refuse to share their thoughts or pains for fear that their own ministries will be damaged. So they keep the secrets.

OPINIONS

Hugging Homosexuals: An Evangelical Epidemic

By Ken Hutcherson and James Hansen

Va. Tech

Maybe you're suffering with this disorder. From what we've been reading and hearing, a number of Christians are showing these symptoms across the country. Case in point, The Christian Post recently ran a three part series of articles suggesting ways in which the Evangelical community should love homosexual couples who come into the church. What we would like to know, though, is why all the preferential treatment?

OPINIONS

Miss USA and 'The Liar's Workout'

By Jim Denison

Miss USA Alyssa Campanella walks on stage as she is chosen as a finalist in the Miss Universe 2011 pageant in Sao Paulo September 12, 2011.

Miss Rhode Island won last night's "Miss USA" contest. Her support for transgendered contest participants drew loud applause from the crowd and is consistent with the pageant's official position. Miss Ohio is also in the news for citing "Pretty Woman" as a positive depiction of women on screen.

PARENTING

Thoughts on Homosexual Comic Book Characters

By Jim Daly

jim daly

There was a time when comic book themes, however fantastical, were still pretty much tame and moral fare. They tended to champion good vs. evil. But now that both comic book lines have committed to plowing this new ground regarding homosexuality, what's a parent of a teenager (both the Marvel and DC series in question have an age-15-and-up rating) who reads the comics to do?

COLUMN

Evangelicals and Catholics Together Getting Born Again

By Dan Delzell

Dan Delzell

It has been nearly 20 years since leading Evangelical and Roman Catholic scholars in the United States signed an ecumenical document to deliver a common witness to the modern world. One affirmation in that document stated: "All who accept Christ as Lord and Savior are brothers and sisters in Christ." This is most certainly true.

SERIES

Inside Church Planting: From Church Plant to Megachurch Plant (Part 5)

By Jeff Schapiro

Mars Hill West Seattle

While some church planters struggle to get their ministries up and running, others have seen their church plants grow from nothing more than a vision to megachurches that are attended by thousands of people every weekend.

OPINIONS

The Seduction of Pornography and the Integrity of Christian Marriage, Part 2

By R. Albert Mohler, Jr.

rings

Marriage is not merely the arena for sexual activity, it is presented in Scripture as the divinely-designed arena for the display of God's glory on earth as a man and a wife come together in a one-flesh relationship within the marriage covenant.

COLUMN

What Makes You Beautiful?

By Lane Palmer

one direction

"What Makes You Beautiful" is much more than an internet splash with over 140 million views and rising like the tide. And I may be mistaken, but it feels like "beautiful" is mainly equated with physical appearance.

PARENTING

Parental Discipline Without Provocation

By Kevin DeYoung

parents

In Ephesians 6:4, God tells fathers (though I think the application is fair for both parents) to raise children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. He also warns against provoking our children to anger. So how do we do one without the other?

MINISTRY

'Joni and Friends' Celebrates Three Decades of Radio Ministry

By Jeff Schapiro

Joni Eareckson Tada is a radio host and the founder of the Joni and Friends International Disability Center.

The month of May marked the 30th anniversary of Joni Eareckson Tada's award-winning radio program, "Joni and Friends Radio," which has inspired listeners around the world and educated them about people with disabilities.

OPINIONS

Dictators and Baby Girls

By Eric Metaxas

newborn

In the newly released film, "The Dictator," the title character is played by shock comedian Sacha Baron Cohen. In one scene, the dictator is informed by his wife that she is pregnant; to which he replies: "Are you having a boy or an abortion?" Yikes!

EDITORIALS

America's Moral Temperature: Is Pornography the Next Battleground?

By Dr. Richard D. Land

Richard Land

A newly released Gallup poll taking America's moral temperature finds strong support for fidelity in marriage and increasing respect for unborn life, but in other key areas – specifically sex outside of marriage and homosexuality – Americans may have lost their biblical compass. And, unless all people of faith unite in opposition, pornography may be next.

DANGEROUS CALLING

The Dark Secret of Pastoral Ministry: Why Pastors Get Tired

By Paul Tripp

Pastor Burnout

He had thought that his deep dedication and unending schedule were the result of the motivation and loyalty of faith, but in midst of his exhaustion and his family's protest, he began to wonder. Could it be that this life of frenetic energy and constant ministry focus was driven by something else?

GLOBAL

A Week in China - Insight Into WEA's Meetings With China's Officials

By Brian C Stiller

Geoff Tunnicliffe

World Evangelical Alliance's (WEA) Secretary General Dr. Geoff Tunnicliffe, and WEA Global Ambassador, Brian Stiller, met with China's director of the State Administration for Religious Affairs (SARA) in May to discuss the place of the Chinese Evangelical Church within the global Christian community.

CHURCH

The Kind of Church God Blesses

By Rick Warren

Rick Warren

London has some of the most beautiful, historic churches in the entire world. Yet they are also some of the most empty. I was struck by this recently when I was in the city to do a Bible study. Churches are dying off so fast that they're being sold off to bars and restaurants. London churches are desperate for the blessing of God.

INTERVIEW

Edward Klein on 'The Amateur,' Obama's Faith

By Paul Stanley

amateur

The Rev. Jeremiah Wright, who for years was the pastor of Barack and Michelle Obama, told author Edward Klein in a three-hour interview for his book, The Amateur, that the first couple are not "church people." Released last week, the book instantly hit The New York Times and USA Today bestseller lists and is drawing both praise and criticism for its portrayal of the president's inexperience prior to and during his first term.

CHURCH

The Church and Homosexuality: Ten Commitments

By Kevin DeYoung

Presbyterians

Of the many complexities involving the church and homosexuality, one of the most difficult is how the former should speak of the latter. So how ought we to speak about homosexuality? Should we be defiant and defensive or gentle and entreating?

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