Wednesday, May 23, 2012

THE CHRISTIAN POST: Wednesday May 23, 2012 Sivan 2, 5772

(Photo: REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun)

Archaeologists Uncover Proof of Pre-Jesus Bethlehem

By Jeff Schapiro

The Israel Antiquities Authority revealed Wednesday what it is calling the earliest archaeological evidence of the city of Bethlehem. Archaeologists have discovered a bulla that has the word "Bethlehem" written on it in ancient Hebrew.

Gallup: 'Pro-Choice' Americans at Record Low

By Napp Nazworth

One-half of all Americans identify as "pro-life" on abortion, according to a new Gallup poll. Forty-one percent consider themselves "pro-choice," a record low since Gallup has asked the question.

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US

Are More Black Voters Embracing Obama's Endorsement of Gay Marriage?

By Paul Stanley

A new Washington Post/ABC News Poll survey finds that the percentage of African-Americans who support gay marriage jumped almost 20 points after President Obama's announcement that he now backs same-sex marriage. One pastor doesn't believe the poll is representative of the nation's black Christians.

Christian Group Wins Religious Recognition at University of North Carolina

By Katherine Weber

A Christian student group has dropped a lawsuit against the University of North Carolina-Greensboro after the university agreed to officially recognize the group as religious, therefore making the group exempt from the university's nondiscrimination policy.

Martin Luther King's Niece Rejects NAACP's Embrace of 'Homosexual Agenda'

By Stoyan Zaimov

Dr. Alveda C. King has rejected the NAACP's affirmation of gay marriage and claims that the fight for such unions is linked to the civil rights movement. King claims the anti-traditional marriage community wants "a world where homosexual marriage and abortion will supposedly set the captives free."

CBO: 'Taxmaggedon' Will Cause Short Term Recession, But Status Quo Unsustainable

By Napp Nazworth

The current tax increases and spending cuts slated to go into effect January 2013 will likely lead to a recession, a new Congressional Budget Office (CBO) report says. On the other hand, preventing those policies from going into effect without replacing them with something comparable would lead to unsustainable amounts of public debt.

Church & Ministries

Pastors Reject Sermon on How to 'Get Rid' of Homosexuals

By Stoyan Zaimov

A video showing a North Carolina pastor calling for gays and lesbians to be placed within an eclectic fence and fed until they die out has gone viral and is drawing criticism from Christian pastors who insist that it stands contradictory to the message of love Jesus preached.

A view of Crystal Cathedral, the glass-walled megachurch in Garden Grove, Calif., is seen this Aug. 10, 2011 photo.

Crystal Cathedral's Memorial Day Service to Feature Navy SEAL, NYPD Vets

By Luiza Oleszczuk

Crystal Cathedral Ministries will celebrate Memorial Day Sunday with a veteran of the Navy SEALs and a representative of the New York Police Department. Bobby Schuller, grandson of the ministry's founder, will deliver the sermon.

Assemblies of God Delays Decision on Wycliffe Partnership

By Michael Gryboski

The Assemblies of God has opted to postpone its decision on whether to continue its partnership with Wycliffe Bible Translators due to controversy over some of Wycliffe's work.

Successor to John Piper Overwhelmingly Approved by Bethlehem Baptist Church

By Alex Murashko

Influential pastor John Piper made his joyful reaction clear via the Web shortly after getting word that his congregation had overwhelmingly agreed with church elders on their choice of Jason Meyer as his successor.

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Atheist Richard Dawkins Supports Bibles in Schools

World-renowned atheist Richard Dawkins says he ...

Successor to John Piper Overwhelmingly Approved by Bethlehem Baptist Church

Influential pastor John Piper made his joyful ...

Gay Marriage and Martin Luther King's Dream

When President Obama spoke at the Martin Luther ...

Christian Mother's Video About Special Needs Son Nears 10M Hits

A young mother's video testimony of her special ...

As a Chaplain, Must I Always Publicly Pray in Jesus' Name?

If you are asked to pray, you can only pray as a ...

Texas Presbyterian Church Splits Over Vote to Leave PCUSA

A Texas congregation has split over a vote taken ...

Iranian Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani Standing Firm in the Face of Persecution

Iranian Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani has remained for ...

Student Tebowed at Graduation, Diploma Withheld by Mother

A teen Tebowing during his graduation ceremony ...

Tenn. Governor Vetoes Bill Challenging Vanderbilt's All-Comers Policy

A bill that would have challenged the ...

Atheist Activists Oppose City Bonds to Finance Church Project

A national atheist activist group says an Indiana church's plans to use tax exempt bond financing to help construct a campus for its ministries is a violation of the state's constitution and the separation of church and state ...

Trayvon Witness Statements Altered, May Harm Zimmerman's Defense

Four key witnesses in the Trayvon Martin case ...

Jesus Popsicles Spark Controversy

A New York City artist has stirred up controversy by creating "Christian Popsicles," which he claims are made out of "frozen holy wine transformed into the blood of Christ" and miniature crosses with the image of Jesus Christ on them.

Greg Laurie in Israel Retraces Peter's Steps in Denying Jesus

Pastor Greg Laurie delivered a sermon filmed in ...

More Blogs

When Prevention Fails: A Sexual Abuse Response Policy for Churches

Every church ought to have the best possible ...

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Vanderbilt's Graduation

Over the past year or so, Vanderbilt has ...

Apple, Google, Facebook, and Censorship

Author: ADF Senior Counsel Gregory S. ...

A Christian Doctor’s Views On Hypnosis And Meditation: Are They Dangerous?

I’ve counseled many patients who love Jesus but ...

Entertainment

Jeremy Lin's Faith, Family Led to Success, Biographer Says

By Napp Nazworth

Jeremy Lin went from an unknown bench player to national stardom after leading the New York Knicks on a seven game winning streak early this year. The astonishing circumstances leading to that event were built upon Lin's family and faith, according to a new biography by Timothy Dalrymple called Jeremy Lin: The Reason for the Linsanity.

Diablo 3: Christian, Jew, Gay Banned as Player Names From Fast-Selling Game

By Elena Garcia

Diablo 3 is turning heads in the gaming world by selling 3.5 million copies in 24 hours and becoming the fastest-selling PC game ever. It's also raising a few eyebrows among gamers because it bans religious terms like "Christian" and "Jew" as player names but allows others like "Muhammad" and "Scientology."

Michael 'Mayday' McDonald Begins Godly Mission; Tells Christians to 'Wake Up'

By Christine Thomasos

Michael "Mayday" McDonald, the 21-year-old undefeated bantamweight fighter who defeated 31-year-old WEC champion Miguel Torres in a first-round knockout during UFC 145 last month, recently took to his Tumblr account to speak about his mission to follow Jesus Christ.

World

A man stands next to graffiti depicting former President Hosni Mubarak and several presidential candidates, at Tahrir square in Cairo May 22, 2012.

Christians Weigh Presidential Options as Egyptians Head to the Polls

By Luiza Oleszczuk

As Egypt's first democratic presidential elections get underway Wednesday, the choices have narrowed down primarily to Islamists and politicians once linked to former President Hosni Mubarak. If an Islamist president is elected in light of the mostly-Islamist parliament, religious freedom and the safety of the Christian community would be put in jeopardy, experts argue.

The Archbishop of York welcomes the group of women who are delivering the petition signed by 2200 women requesting proper provision.

Church of England Moves Toward Allowing Women Bishops

By Jeff Schapiro

The Church of England took a step toward allowing women to become bishops on Monday when the House of Bishops approved some widely-debated legislation after making only a few amendments.

Chen Guangcheng Lauded as a 'Hero' for Fighting for Women, Unborn Children

By Luiza Oleszczuk

The case of Chen Guangcheng, the blind Chinese dissident who captured the world's attention with his escape from house arrest, is seen as a victory for human rights and many have praised the self-taught lawyer who challenged China's one-child policy, calling him a hero who worked for a noble cause.

More Teens Seeking Gender Identity Treatment in Australia

By Katherine Weber

The number of children receiving hormone treatment for gender identity disorder has increased greatly at one Australian clinic over the past decade, with the number of patient referrals growing eight times since 2003.

Laura Story, Casting Crowns Winners at Billboard 2012 Music Awards

Billboard 2012 Music Awards were handed over to ...

MTV Cans 'Losing It' Reality Show About Virgins Pursuing First-Time Sex

MTV has dropped an apparently ill-conceived idea ...

After 29 Years, Cornerstone Festival Comes to a Close

A summer festival that has helped launched the ...

Don Moen to Celebrate 1M Likes on Facebook With Album Giveaway and Live Chat

Don Moen has expressed a "huge" thank you to all ...

Mark Hall of Casting Crowns to Auction Avengers Desk to Support Charity

An Avengers movie-themed desk has been created by ...

Goodie Mob Releases 'Is That You God,' Referencing Bible in New Song

The Goodie Mob, Atlanta hip-hop group that ...

Whitney Houston's Last Song 'Celebrate' Released (VIDEO)

Whitney Houston's last recorded song "Celebrate" ...

Sarah Macintosh Allows Fans to Vote Song Selection for Next Acoustic CD

Sarah Macintosh recently invited fans to select ...

'33 Miles' Successfully Raises $30,000 for New 'Worship' Project

Contemporary Christian band 33 Miles has ...

Egyptian Court Gives 12 Christians Life Sentences, Frees Muslims in 2011 Case

As Egyptians anxiously head to the polls this week to vote for a new president whom Christians hope will ensure fair treatment under the law, it has been reported that a local court has sentenced 12 Coptic Christians to life and ...

Egypt Election: Persecution Against Christians May Worsen, Says Watchdog

Whether or not Christians will have a voice in ...

Eritreans Protest Persecution of Christians on Anniversary of Church Crackdown

Atheist Richard Dawkins Supports Bibles in Schools

World-renowned atheist Richard Dawkins says he ...

Christians, UN Share Same Goals in Serving World's Poor, Says WEA UN Rep

The World Evangelical Alliance's (WEA) ...

Life Sentences for 'Blasphemy' in Pakistan Overturned

A court acquitted a Christian couple of ...

Sudan Reportedly Shuts Down Christian Aid Groups' Offices Without Explanation

CP Cartoons

Tech & Biz

Michael Hyatt Shares Blog and Social Media Tips in 'Platform' Book

By Katherine T. Phan

Michael Hyatt, chairman of Thomas Nelson publishers and an influential blogger, built his large online audience using blogs, Twitter and Facebook. He is now passing along marketing tips and techniques that he has learned over the past eight years in his latest book Platform: Get Noticed in A Noisy World.

Google CEO Confirms Motorola Mobility Acquisition

By Vincent Funaro

Larry Page, the CEO of Google, took to the company's official blog earlier today to confirm the official acquisition of hardware giant Motorola Mobility.

HTC One S PowerSkin Case Extends Battery Life by Absorbing Shock

By Vincent Funaro

PowerSkin, a new silicon case for the HTC One S, can extend talk time by almost four hours, according to PowerSkin, the company who created the accessory.

iPhone 5 Rumor: 4-Inch Display Confirmed

By Vincent Funaro

Three major publications have all weighed in on the display for the next-generation iPhone, including the Wall Street Journal, Reuters and Bloomberg.

Controversial Nigerian Christian Minister Prophesies President Mugabe's Death?

'Trayvoning' Internet Meme on Trayvon Martin's Death Sparks Public Outrage

Katy Perry Felt 'Fat,' 'Ugly' Throughout Marriage to Rusell Brand

Over 250,000 Evangelicals March for Jesus in Rio to Stand Up for Religious Freedom

American Idol Is Most Watched TV Show in US for 8 Consecutive Seasons

Solving the Equation of Godly Love

Rihanna Headed Down 'Same Route as Whitney Houston,' Says Singer's Former Pastor

Barry Gibb's Tribute, Emotional Video for Robin Gibb

Will Smith Explains Slapping Reporter Who Tried Kissing Him During 'Awkward' Moment

Church 'Evicted' After 7 Years Proof of Kuwait's New Islamist Policy?

How Should the Church Love a Gay Couple? (Part 3 - Final)

By Alex Murashko

Pastor Duke Taber will be the first to let you know that his small congregation in Pine Haven, Wyo., is about as far removed from the gay marriage controversy boiling over in the country as any church could be. Yet Taber wants his church, which has 30 to 50 people tops attending his service on Sunday, to be an example of how Christians worldwide should love homosexuals no matter what.

OPINION

To Pastors: The Problem of Shifting Treasure in Your Heart

By Paul Tripp

After the Sunday morning service he asked if he could make an appointment with me. I thought he had been touched by my sermon and wanted help in applying the truths to the details of his everyday life. What he actually wanted to do was to tell me how bad — "painful" is what he actually said — my sermons were. He also said he was speaking for others who felt the same way. I was hurt, of course, but I went about preparing as I had the week before.

COLUMN

Catacomb Christianity and Cathedral Christianity

By Russell D. Moore

The catacombs are the legacy of a tiny persecuted band of believers. The cathedrals represent a very different turn in church history: a church that not only could grow in size but could, in fact, outgrow and outlast the Empire itself. We need both, somehow.

THEOLOGY

Does Being Totally Depraved Mean We're Always Sinning No Matter What?

By John Piper

When you become a Christian the depravity and the disinclination to do what is right, and to delight in what is holy and pure and good, and to be satisfied in God is not conquered perfectly.

U.S.

Christian Mother's Video About Special Needs Son Nears 10M Hits

By Lillian Kwon

A young mother's video testimony of her special needs son and her decision not to abort him has garnered over 8 million views on GodVine and 1.4 million hits on YouTube.

OPINION

As a Chaplain, Must I Always Publicly Pray in Jesus' Name?

By Russell D. Moore

If you are asked to pray, you can only pray as a Christian. In so doing, you are actually, ironically enough, protecting the rights of other religions and their chaplains. I frankly don't want a Muslim chaplain forced by the government to pray like a Episcopalian.

ENTERTAINMENT

Mindless Entertainment at the Movies

By Eric Metaxas

Is there anything wrong with a little mindless entertainment? Well, maybe not, but too many of us are engaging in a lot more than just a little of it.

COLUMN

Gay Marriage and Martin Luther King's Dream

By Dan Delzell

When President Obama spoke at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial dedication last year, he urged the nation to continue to press for the goals and hopes of the "black preacher with no official rank or title who somehow gave voice to our deepest dreams" and helped make the nation "more perfect." By announcing his support for same-sex marriage last week, President Obama is sincerely convinced that now he is helping to make the nation even more perfect.

COUNSELING CORNER

Love and Dating: How Most Singles Have Love Backwards

By June Hunt

Last year, one of the world's largest online dating sites released results of a survey they took of 5,200 singles. Said to be the most comprehensive poll of its type ever taken, the survey of 21- to 65-year-olds (and older) reported that 72 percent of singles would live with someone in the future without marrying.

COLUMN

Relentlessly Relational

By Greg Stier

We should long to see everyone in our circle of influence (and outside of it for that matter) receive the forgiveness, life and hope of Jesus.

OPINIONS

Would Jesus Approve of Same-Sex Marriage?

By Jerry Newcombe

It was one thing for President Obama to call for the legalization of same-sex marriage. But it was quite another to say that it's Jesus who causes him to embrace this position. Today people sometimes say that Jesus never condemned homosexuality.

LIVING

8 Things to Keep in Mind in Regards to Conflict at Work/Church

By Perry Noble

Email DOES NOT WORK! It often drags out the conflict way longer that it should be. It can easily be misinterpreted, thus causing new conflicts.

U.S.

Should Tithing Count as 'Charitable Giving?'

By Nicola Menzie

GOP presidential hopeful Mitt Romney was recently criticized for counting money given to his Mormon church and affiliated charities as charitable giving. The issue has sparked the question is it "charitable giving" when the faithful donate or tithe to their churches if it is not directly aiding the poor or doing similar work?

MISSIONS

North American Mission from Judsons to Global Christianity

By Todd M. Johnson

It might be tempting, on this 200th commissioning anniversary of the first ordained American foreign missionaries, to directly attribute the current status of global Christianity to their courageous obedience to the Great Commission. Even limiting the scope of their influence to Burma, the commendable work of these missionaries would produce a very incomplete explanation for the growth of Christianity around the world from 1812 to 2012.

Why Every Christian Is a Disciple

By Dan Delzell

There is plenty of talk these days about which term or terms to use when defining those who belong to Christ. I know it can be tempting to want to define "disciple" differently than you define "Christian."

THEOLOGY

Can People Who Have Never Heard of Jesus Be Saved?

By Lillian Kwon

Pastors confronted with questions and some dissent over the idea that no one can be saved apart from faith in Jesus Christ are reaffirming what they assert is a hard yet clear truth.

OPINION

Ghoulish 'Art:' The Body Worlds Exhibit

By Eric Metaxas

Why should we care about how human corpses are treated? Your answer depends on your worldview.

THEOLOGY

What the Bible Really Still Says About Homosexuality

By Kevin DeYoung

It is simply not true that Paul, or Jesus for that matter, never considered homosexuality an ethical matter. Paul thought the prohibition against homosexuality in the Old Testament was still relevant and the sin was still serious.

COLUMN

The Christian's Ultimate Graduation

By Lane Palmer

I remember watching each of my friends as they crossed the stage to receive their diploma and being smacked with the reality that I had blown chance after chance after chance to share the love of Christ and the gospel of salvation with them.

OPINION

Playing the Stooge: Georgetown and Kathleen Sebelius

By Eric Metaxas

How has the nation's oldest Catholic University responded to the HHS mandate? I almost don't want to tell you.

DANGEROUS CALLING

Ministry: Kingdom of Self or Kingdom of God?

By Paul Tripp

It took God employing pastoral hardship for me to embrace the inescapable reality that everything I did in ministry was done in allegiance to, and in pursuit of, either the kingdom of self or the kingdom of God. This truth is best exegeted for us in Matthew 6:19-34. I'm convinced that this passage is an elaborate unpacking of the thoughts, desires, and actions of the kingdom of self.

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

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