Charlottesville Riots Reveal Need for 'Sweeping Revival and Spiritual Awakening' - CHRISTINE D. JOHNSON CHARISMA NEWS

A protester holds a sign reading "Racism is not Patriotism" at a march against white nationalism in New York City the day after the attack on counter-protesters in Charlottesville, Virginia. (Reuters/Joe Penney)

Charlottesville Riots Reveal Need for 'Sweeping Revival and Spiritual Awakening'

 8/13/2017 CHRISTINE D. JOHNSON  CHARISMA NEWS

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The Pentecostal Charismatic Churches of North America (PCCNA) is praying for peace and healing after Saturday's attack in Charlottesville, Virginia. The group, which represents thousands of churches, is calling upon the church to build bridges in light of the racial division in the U.S.

Several members, including Rev. Samuel Rodriguez, president of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, have also issued statements.

"When hell exhales, the outcome is hatred. Both unacceptable and diabolical, racism must be confronted by God fearing people," Rev. Rodriguez said.

Church of God in Christ (COGIC) President and Presiding Prelate Bishop Charles Blake, Church of God General Overseer Tim Hill and International Pentecostal Holiness Church Bishop Doug Beacham also spoke on the matter.

"The violence, hatred and white supremacy on display in Charlottesville, Virginia, must be condemned by all people of faith and goodwill," said Bishop Blake, representing the largest African-American Pentecostal Charismatic denomination in the U.S. "The injuries and death suffered by those supporting an end to the commemoration of the Confederacy are deeply saddening. We also regret any harm to their opponents. Our hearts go out to all who were hurt, and we call for an end to the violence."

Dr. Hill called for prayer in his statement.

"First, the prayers of the Church of God around the world go out to those that were injured and lost their lives today in the senseless act of hatred and violence in Charlottesville. While as a nation we support the right of freedom of speech and the right to freely assemble, racial hatred and bigotry should never be tolerated in any form. God created us all in His image and we are His children. Racial supremacy is not ordained by God and should never be condoned by the church or our society."

Church of God of Prophecy General Overseer Bishop Sam N. Clements also spoke out strongly on the violence in Charlottesville.

"The Church of God of Prophecy condemns racially motivated acts of violence in the strongest terms possible," Bishop Clements said. "These ungodly acts and racism itself are antithetical to the message of the Lord Jesus Christ, who called us to extend love to our neighbors and even to those we perceive to be our enemies. He was born into a violent, divided, hopeless society and offered the only viable solution, love that overcomes every cultural barrier. We mourn with the families of the victims of violence and pray for peace and love to overcome hate, prejudice and violence."

Pastor Aaron Campbell, president of the PCCNA Memphis Chapter, said: "I will be calling on the entire Memphis Chapter of the PCCNA churches and organizations in prayer to unite us as one to fight against racism and injustice. As Pastor Samuel stated, we are fighting against diabolical forces that can only be contained by spiritual means."

Bishop Doug Beacham of the International Pentecostal Holiness Churches commented on the divisions in the nation.

"As this Sunday morning dawns across the United States, let us remember that racial hatred and superiority are contrary to the gospel of Jesus Christ," said Bishop Beacham. "As we pray for our nation, let the body of Christ stand for righteousness, rejecting the hatred and nihilism characteristic of the division and polarization seeking to destroy us. As members of the International Pentecostal Holiness Church, let us remember that in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, some of our earliest founders sought to express gospel unity with other races, despite strong cultural and legal barriers."

PCCNA President Jeff Farmer encouraged members to pray: "Father, lay the axe to the root of racism, prejudice and injustice in our cities and nations. Bring down arrogance, pride and hatred, and replace them with humility, love and righteousness. Heal the soul of our nation from the divisions that infect us. Show us how to demonstrate unity ... and live and walk united ... in the power of the Spirit. We are desperate for you to visit us again with a sweeping revival and spiritual awakening. Come, Lord Jesus, come!  And precious Holy Spirit, please bring peace and comfort to Charlottesville and all who were touched by this tragedy. What the devil intended for harm and mayhem, turn into healing and hope. You stand in faith that you will 'turn our mourning into dancing.'" 

To see comments from other Christian leaders on Charlottesville, click here for Charisma News' earlier story.

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Lecrae Shares 'Spiritual Awakening' on ESPN Show - JESSILYN JUSTICE CHARISMA NEWS

Lecrae on ESPN

Lecrae Shares 'Spiritual Awakening' on ESPN Show

5/5/2016 JESSILYN JUSTICE  charisma news

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Lecrae boldly declared his love for Jesus and path to faith on a recent episode of ESPN's First Take.  

"I didn't grow up in church or anything like that," the rapper shared. "Around 19 years old, I found myself on a college campus surrounded by Christians who looked like me, they dressed like me, they talked like me. And it was kind of off-putting. I didn't know what to do with that, but they loved me, they mentored me, they embraced me and really opened me up to understand who I was and who I was created to be and that God made me with purpose and reason." 

First Take is a sports talk show featuring Skip Bayless, Stephen A. Smith and Milly Qerim.  

Lecrae's appearance with the trio comes shortly after his interview/performance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.  

The rapper's media appearances promote his new memoir, Unashamed. 

"Unashamed is a memoir of seeing somebody come through my circumstances of fatherlessness, wrestling with identity in who I wanted to be and who I should be, finding myself grounded on this journey that led to spiritual awakening," Lecrae says. 

Watch the video to see the rest. 

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When the Church Ignores Immorality - DR. F. DEAN HACKETT SPIRITLED WOMAN CHARISMA MAGAZINE

The church is becoming a social club embracing political correctness and historical rewrite. (Charisma archives

When the Church Ignores Immorality

 2/3/2016 DR. F. DEAN HACKETT    spiritLed woman  charisma magazine

Why would anyone actually choose to accept deception over truth?

It makes no sense, or does it?

A person's morality will always determine their theology. When people make the choice to follow Christ casually and to loosen their moral standards, they must adjust their theology accordingly.

We are living in such a time. Many professors, pastors and church leaders are teaching and publishing that the infallible Holy Bible "contains God's Words." According to them, many of the facts are inaccurate and many of the principles are cultural ethics of ancient times and cultures.

The creation story is replaced with theistic evolution, opening the way for the devaluing of human life.

Mankind is not a special creation made in the image of a loving heavenly Creator but the product of spontaneous generation.

The principles of divine design, purpose and destiny are removed, and every person has the right of self-determination.

This opens the gateway for women to discard unexpected fetal tissue to protect their future and career from unwanted encumbrance. A woman has the right to determine what happens within her own body. Couples may enjoy "hooking up" and living together without the demands of outmoded marriage ceremonies. A man might be born with the desires and passions of a woman and seek relations with another man. A woman may have desires for another woman. Sexual orientation is no longer a divinely prescribed moral standard.

Should any of this be questioned, sociology, psychology and junk science will ensure enough disinformation is reported to verify these new truths. Pastors and teachers who do not accept the infallibility of the Holy Bible are subject to such distortion and will give way to the "new truth" and avoid the labels of intolerant, homophobic and bigoted.

These "new truths" will not bring about a "Great Society" but create a "Brave New World" filled with greater hatred, bigotry and a moral landslide.

These "new truths," and their accompanying freedoms, become addictions and bring new forms of sickness, creating a broken society that mankind cannot cure. The social epidemic quickly becomes pandemic and will become a moral tsunami of proportions not seen since the Roman Empire. All of this is made possible by a church that has turned their ear from hearing the true Word of God and built upon sand.

The church is becoming a social club embracing political correctness and historical rewrite.

Authentic worship is being replaced with performance and very professional music.

Entertainment is being delivered instead of powerful spiritual awakening.

As the church adopts this "new truth," they also adopt the medical model for dealing with moral issues. "Disease" replaces the old teaching of sin; this to prevent further emotional damage from being inflicted upon the broken.

Twelve-step programs replace "a broken and contrite spirit."

Years of counseling and psychotherapy take the place of repentance and cleansing of the heart through the blood of Jesus. Universal grace replaces redemption and salvation through new birth.

The great danger of deception is one does not know when they are deceived unless someone loves them enough to show them the truth. That is the great responsibility placed upon the church. Jude challenged the apostolic church. "Beloved, while I diligently tried to write to you of the salvation we have in common, I found it necessary to write and appeal to you to contend for the faith which was once delivered to the saints. For there are some men who secretly crept in, who were marked long ago for this condemnation. They are ungodly men, who pervert the grace of our God into immorality and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ" (Jude 3-4).

May God move the heart of spiritual leaders to seek Him earnestly; commit their hearts to love and honor the infallible inerrant Word of God; then boldly teach, preach and publish the uncompromised Holy Word with anointing that will convict and purity the hearts of men and women.

Dr. F. Dean Hackett has served in full-time Christian ministry since October 1971. He has ministered throughout the United States, Canada and Europe, serving as pastor, conference speaker and mentor. He has planted four churches, assisted in planting 15 others, and currently serves as lead pastor of Living Faith Church in Hermiston, Oregon. Dr. Hackett founded Spirit Life Ministries International in 2001 to facilitate ministries in Croatia and Bosnia Herzegovina and to open a training center for workers in those nations. You can find him at F. Dean Hackett - Foundational,Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.

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Joy to the World—Except During an Election Season? - J. LEE GRADY CHARISMA MAGAZINE

Why are American Christians so outraged this Christmas season? (iStock photo )

Joy to the World—Except During an Election Season?

12/16/2015 J. LEE GRADY  charisma magazine

On the first Christmas, the shepherds in Bethlehem learned that Jesus' birth was a cause for celebration. The angel said in Luke 2:10: "For I bring you good news of great joy, which will be to all people." It's too bad Christmas cheer is in low supply these days. I don't know if it's due to the mudslinging in this presidential campaign or the warmer-than-usual December, but people in general are angrier, more fearful and more negative than I can ever remember.

Christians should be the happiest people this time of year. But if Facebook posts are any indication of the national mood, folks aren't just mad—they're outraged. And others are so spooked by blood moons, Obama conspiracy theories and Muslim terrorists that they are ready to head for the hills to hide. It's as if the Grinch really did steal Christmas.

Personally I believe we have a lot to rejoice about during this holiday. If you only listen to Fox News or CNN, the world is a gloomy place—with plane crashes, terrorist attacks and bickering politicians. But I don't let today's alarming headlines steal my peace. I don't let angry opinions steal my love. And I don't let grumpy people steal my joy.

Here are 10 positive trends I'm celebrating this Christmas:

1. Muslims are coming to Christ faster than ever. David Garrison, author of the new book A Wind in the House of Islam, says something unprecedented is stirring in the Muslim world. "We are living in the midst of the greatest turning of Muslims to Christ in history," he writes—citing evidence that dozens of powerful Christian movements have started among Muslims since the year 2000.

2. The gospel is transforming China. The British newspaper The Telegraph reported two years ago that Christianity is growing so fast in China that it will most likely be considered a Christian nation by 2030, when its Christian population will exceed that of the United States, Mexico and Brazil. Given China's economic power in the world, this has huge implications for our future.

3. The United States is in a church-planting boom. There has been lots of handwringing about the decline of mainline churches in America. But church growth expert Ed Stetzer says new churches are actually being planted in the United States faster than old ones are dying—and research shows that 60-80 percent of the people who join new churches are from unchurched backgrounds. That means more people are being reached with the gospel today than when dead religious churches talked and sang about evangelism but never did it.

4. Latin America is experiencing a political and spiritual awakening. Recent elections in Venezuela were one more indication that leftist governments are losing power in Latin America. Today two-thirds of Venezuela's parliament members oppose leftist President Nicolas Maduro. Similar movements against socialism and corruption are occurring in Argentina, Brazil and other Latin countries—at a time when evangelical churches are growing at unprecedented rates.

5. Spiritual hunger is rising in our nation. I'm not denying that segments of our culture have grown hostile to Christian faith. But the popularity of faith-based films such as War Room caught Hollywood by surprise this year. Meanwhile popular Bible teachers such as Joyce Meyer, Andy Stanley and T.D. Jakes get as much traction on Twitter and other social media than secular celebrities such as Katy Perry or Lady Gaga. And the amount of Christian content on You Tube, Periscope or other digital media today is staggering.

6. Global violence is actually decreasing. Because we have easy access to news, and we hear about mass shootings or terrorist attacks as soon as they occur, Americans think the world is more dangerous than ever. That's actually not true. If you compare violent deaths from wars, genocide and crime over the centuries, the numbers have never been lower than today—even with 21st-century terrorists on the loose.

7. There are fewer dictators in the world. The number of authoritarian countries has actually dropped from a high of almost 90 in 1976 to about 25 now. Democracy is growing—and it's likely that authoritarian nations in the Middle East (such as Iran) will see drastic political changes in our lifetime.

8. The Bible is still the most popular book ever. The Bible ranks at the top of all favorite book lists among Americans. And according to the Guinness Book of World Records, it is also the best-selling and most widely distributed book in the world. Nearly 4 billion copies of the Bible were printed and sold globally in the last five decades—far exceeding any other book.

9. We can still celebrate Christmas. Don't worry about Starbucks' decision to take a generic holiday message off their coffee cups. Instead of complaining about the war on Christmas, let's be more proactive about telling people why Jesus was born. Nobody is stopping us from doing that.

10. Jesus is still on the throne. The last book of the Bible reminds me that when it's time for Jesus to come back, He will return victorious. All His enemies will bow down and acknowledge His lordship. Jesus is not worried about ISIS, Hillary Clinton, gay marriage, illegal immigrants, Obamacare or the war on Christmas.

Don't let the evening news steal your joy. Christ is born. We have something to celebrate.

J. Lee Grady is the former editor of Charisma. You can follow him on Twitter at leegrady. He is the author of several books including 10 Lies the Church Tells Women, 10 Lies Men Believe, Fearless Daughters of the Bible and The Holy Spirit Is Not for Sale. You can learn more about his ministry, The Mordecai Project, atthemordecaiproject.org.

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