Tuesday, February 10, 2015

Letters: What Did Thomas Jefferson Really Think of Christianity?

Letters: What Did Jefferson Really Think of Christianity?



There is a lot of discussion about the faith of American presidents, and one in particular: Thomas Jefferson. Some wonder where he stood exactly when it comes to Christianity.
Dr. Mark Beliles, who co-authored the book Doubting Thomas? The Religious Life and Legacy of Thomas Jefferson, explores the faith of this founding father.
Reporter/Anchor Mark Martin spoke with Beliles about the book, which among other details, contains letters written by Jefferson that have never been published until now.
For the complete story: Watch Interview

10 Reasons Some Worship Leaders May Be Spiritually Bankrupt

10 Reasons Some Worship Leaders May Be Spiritually Bankrupt




How can you tell if your worship leaders are spiritually bankrupt?
How can you tell if your worship leaders are spiritually bankrupt? (Facebook)

The Pulse, by Joseph Mattera
The past several years there has been no shortage of prominent contemporary Christian leaders denouncing Christ either with their words or their actions. One time I ministered to a young man involved in the gospel music scene, and he confided in me that he almost lost his faith because of what he experienced when he went on tour with a band. (He said other gospel music performers regularly propositioned him!)
That being said, as a pastor and trans-local minister for more than three decades, I have come to the conclusion that many involved in Christian worship seem to have a very superficial relationship with the Lord and His Church. (I thank God we have had a strong process for ministry involvement in our local congregation. Hence, we usually have worship leaders with a solid walk with the Lord.)
Also, I write this in the context as one who was a professional musician who served on the worship team of our local church for more than 25 years.
The following are some of the reasons I believe why many worship performers are spiritually bankrupt:
(Based on my personal observation, not based on hard data)
1. Many are hirelings and not committed members to one church.
I have been shocked and dismayed to see how many large churches just hire out their worship team members, even if they are not committed Christians or committed to their local church. Consequently, when a gifted singer or musician first comes to Christ, they are sucked into a culture of play for pay and go where the dollars are rather than where the Lord is truly leading them.
2. Pastors do not enforce the same standards upon talented singers and musicians.
Many pastors turn the other way when it comes to the immoral or unethical behavior of their most talented musicians and singers. The reason for this is obvious: These performers help draw crowds into their congregation. 
3. Often talented people get ahead without being deeply rooted in Christ.
Many people in this field find they get promoted, idolized and celebrated in their church merely because of their talent. Consequently, they have a superficial lifestyle and rarely see the need to die to self, seek God and allow God to penetrate their soul.
4. Gifted Christian performers are idolized in the church.
We, evangelicals, have created a culture of entertainment that empowers and promotes the most gifted among us. These very gifted singers and performers are admired and celebrated for their abilities in a way that is not different from "The Voice" or "American Idol." With all this adulation in the environment, it is no surprise that many Christian bands and performers are lifted up with pride and never mature in their faith.
5. The focus of worship is more about them than about Jesus.
The church usually puts talented singers and performers front and center during Sunday services. Hence, a service is largely judged by how good the band performed. This is the kind of setting that engenders man worship instead of Jesus worship. Worship leaders and performers often have big egos to match their talent and many subconsciously (and erroneously) think that the service is all about them.
6. They often don't sit under the Word after they perform.
I am amazed with how often I see many worship team members leave the service after they perform. I guess they think that the highlight of the service was their performance and everything else that ensues, including preaching, is a letdown.
7. They perform but do not worship from the heart.
When the pastor and congregation only care about the talent and effect of the worship experience, they perpetuate a culture of performance more than a culture of worship. Consequently, band members and singers will then focus more on performance than on worship. This result is band members programmed to equate worship more with performance than with drawing close to God.
8. They are overly sensitive and do not easily receive correction.
In my opinion, many in the music world are overly sensitive, ego-driven megalomaniacs. (I know, because as a professional guitar player for many years, I was or am guilty of this!) Folks like this are very competitive and have a hard time admitting they are wrong. This does not make it easy for a pastor to bring correction to them since their identity is rooted more in their ability than in their God.
9. They do not study the Word but rely upon performance sessions in church for their walk.
Many years ago I was shocked to realize that many of the worship leaders I got to know had no prayer life and rarely cracked open the Bible for personal study! Often they depended upon worship practice or the Sunday services to try to connect with God. It alarmed me that many worship leaders were not themselves worshippers!
10. They do not have a spiritually mature worship person leading the team.
All of the previous points mentioned could be dealt with if the worship leader held them accountable. Of course, this will only happen if the worship leader is not a diva but a real disciple of Christ. Leaders set the culture of a team, and if he or she is a spiritually immature "performer," then most likely the whole team will be more about performance than worship.
In conclusion, I pray pastors and leaders will have the courage to sit down talented but prideful, worldly worship team members, so that Jesus will once again be the center of our worship.
Joseph Mattera is overseeing bishop of Resurrection Church and Christ Covenant Coalition, in Brooklyn, New York, and author of numerous books including Ruling in the Gates: Preparing the Church to Transform Cities. Follow him on Facebook or visit him online at josephmattera.org.
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Israel Boycott Resembles Nazi's 'Judenfrei'

Israel Boycott Resembles Nazi's 'Judenfrei'


LONDON -- The Nazis sought to rid Germany of any trace of the Jews. They called it "Judenfrei" or "Jew-free."

Some warn this same anti-Semitic spirit has returned today in a new form. It's a drive to erase any sign of Israel.

Across Europe, more and more campuses, cities and regions are trying to become "Israel-free zones," free of the taint of what Israel critics would call an "apartheid state."

Boycotting Israel

The Leicester City Council in England voted last year to boycott goods made in Israeli settlements in the West Bank (Judea and Samaria).

It's as if cities like Leicester want to cleanse themselves from Israeli impurity. And that reminds some of a very dark chapter in Europe's history: the Nazi drive to purify Germany of any trace of the Jews.

The city of Leicester declined our request for an on camera interview and issued this statement:

"Leicester City Council condemns anti-Semitism and all forms of racism and discrimination in the strongest possible terms. This is not a boycott of Israel by Leicester. The motion relates specifically to produce originating from illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank."

While Leicester city government doesn't think it is being anti-Semitic, Jeffrey Kaufman, the former head of Leicester's progressive Jewish congregation, disagrees.

"The fact that the city has chosen to pick on Israel exclusively, with the exclusion of anything else, in my view makes it anti-Semitism," he said.

Other cities across Europe have gone further than Leicester. Last summer during the Gaza conflict, the Irish town of Kinvara went completely Israel-free: no Israeli products in stores or restaurants.

It's part of a movement called BDS -- Boycott, Divestment and Sanction -- but only against one nation: Israel.

Beyond BDS

Israeli musicians and actors have their performances disrupted by BDS protestors. An Ahava cosmetics store in London was picketed until it finally closed down. Ahava is an Israeli company. But the BDS movement will boycott any company that has dealings with Israel, including large multinationals like Coca-Cola and Nestle.

The anti-Israel boycott movement says it's not anti-Semitic, but they don't boycott any other nations.

Israel is a democracy. There are plenty of cruel dictatorships around the world they could boycott, but they don't.

"No other country. Just Israel. You won't see this against any other country in the world that they don't agree with," Richard Millet, who tracks the BDS movement through his website, said.

"They won't be calling for a boycott of America, which they don't agree with, or the British government, which they don't agree with, before we get into China, Russia, Syria, or Saudi Arabia," he continued. "You name it. All the other countries, there is no boycott. So you answer why?"

The BDS movement is taking over college campuses in Europe and America. Ronnie Fraser, a college lecturer and founding director of the Academic Friends of Israel, warns that the next generation of leaders is being brainwashed that Israel is the worst nation on earth.

"Britain's students are being fed a diet of 'Israel is a racist state. Israel is a Zionist state. Israel equals the Nazis," he said.

Fraser sued his own union, the University and College Union, for institutional anti-Semitism, saying it attempted an academic boycott of Israel that crossed the line into anti-Semitism.

He accused the BDS movement of "the de-legitimization of Israeli, the destruction of Israel."

Ignoring the Double Standard

According to European Union guidelines, the Israel boycott movement is anti-Semitic.

The EU says anti-Semitism includes, "Denying the Jewish people their right to self-determination, e.g., by claiming that the existence of a State of Israel is a racist endeavor," and by "applying double standards [to Israel]."

A new poll shows Britons now have a more favorable view of Iran than of Israel.

Polling also shows that more than half of British Jews feel they do not have a future in the United Kingdom. One in four have thought about leaving.

Jonathan Sacerdoti with the Campaign Against Anti-Semitism, which conducted some of the polling, said it reveals that British Jews are beginning to feel unwelcome.

"In the past two years, 56 percent agreed they had seen more anti-Semitism in the past two years than ever before," he said. http://antisemitism.uk/

“When you see a Jewish-owned shop, whether it be Israeli or not, it's still a Jewish-owned shop. When you see it targeted for boycotts and violence against the store itself, you can't not think that this is this exactly what happened in Nazi Germany; that they were boycotting Jewish-owned shops," Millet said.

In Germany, Nazi persecution of the Jews began with a boycott in April 1933. While some who are boycotting Israel may truly believe they’re only trying to help Palestinians, but to Jews, the goal of the Israel boycott is a destination similar to Nazi Germany’s.

"People want to see the total destruction of Israel. When people say, from the river to the sea, that's what it means," "Mandy Blumenthal with the Campaign Against Anti-Semitism explained.

There are undoubtedly those in the Boycott, Divestiture (change to Divestment) and Sanction movement who believe they are only trying to help Palestinians. But Jews see that the movement has a destination very similar to that of Nazi Germany.

The boycott movement wants the full right return of the Palestinians; "from the river to the sea," which means Israel would be erased. The Nazis would call it "Judenfrei" or "free of the Jews."


Dale Hurd also reported from Leicester, England.

Watch video: England Anti-Semitism

Franklin Graham Rebukes Obama

Franklin Graham Rebukes Obama


Franklin Graham
Franklin Graham (File)
After U.S. President Barack Obama's controversial remarks comparing radical Islam to the Christian crusades, Franklin Graham took to social media to call out America's leader: 
"Today at the National Prayer Breakfast, the President implied that what ISIS is doing is equivalent to what happened over 1,000 years ago during the Crusades and the Inquisition. Mr. President, many people in history have used the name of Jesus Christ to accomplish evil things for their own desires. But Jesus taught peace, love and forgiveness. He came to give His life for the sins of mankind, not to take life. Muhammad, on the contrary, was a warrior and killed many innocent people. True followers of Christ emulate Christ—true followers of Muhammed emulate Muhammed." 
The post has more than 107,000 likes, 9,000 comments and 51,000 shares. 

Illegal Palestinian Worker Shown Mercy for Saving Jews

Illegal Palestinian Worker Shown Mercy for Saving Jews

Tuesday, February 10, 2015 |  Israel Today Staff
The Tel Aviv District Court has decided to show clemency to a Palestinian worker residing illegally in Israel-proper after he saved the lives of an Israeli Jewish doctor and his son from a stone-throwing Palestinian mob.
“The defendant is a kind of ‘Righteous Among the Nations,’” ruled Judge Shamai Becker, referencing the designation given to non-Jews who helped save Jewish lives during World War II.
Becker sentenced the defendant to 18 days in prison, which he had already served while in custody. “Rather than condemn, we show gratitude to this man because he risked his life and livelihood in his home village in order to save Jews in danger,” the judge continued.
The 38-year-old Palestinian was accused of residing in Israel illegally, of supplying a false identity and possession of counterfeit documents. He confessed to the crime, but was shown mercy both due to his earlier sacrifice and a lack of evidence that he would commit further offenses.
The incident in question, in which the man saved two Jewish lives, occurred just before last summer’s Gaza war. A Jewish doctor and his son found themselves in an Arab village in the so-called “West Bank” and were set upon by an angry mob.
The doctor, who appeared in court as a witness on behalf of the defendant, testified: “It was the first Thursday of the month of Ramadan. I was nervous and tried to pass through the Arab village as quickly as possible. Some local people told me which way to go, but they led me astray and followed us.”
Soon after, the two Israelis were attacked by the mob. The son called the police, but both feared for their lives as they became blocked and stones were hurled at their vehicle.
It was then that the defendant and some of his family members intervened and acted as a human shield between the stone-throwing mob and the endangered Israelis. For 45 minutes the Palestinian man stood guard over the two Jews until an Israeli army unit arrived to extract them.
“He undoubtedly saved our lives,” the doctor assured the court.
But that selfless act came at a cost. Since that day, the Palestinian man has suffered numerous reprisals in his village, where he is unable to find work after being branded a friend of Jews. This, too, was taken into consideration by the court.
PHOTO: Palestinian workers at a checkpoint leading into Israel-proper. The poor, corruption-riddled Palestinian economy leads many to seek jobs in the Jewish state.
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My Rain is Falling by James Donovan

My Rain is Falling 

by James Donovan

Identity Network
 
I am The Great I AM! I am the Lord that calms the storms and departs the seas. I am moving upon planet earth with a mighty move of My Spirit. Like the natural rain comes down and replenishes the earth to grow and bear a harvest of fruit. My rain drops are falling. My mercy is falling like the rain and springing up a well and bringing forth life. I am opening up the heavens and invading the earth with spiritual rain. I am bringing forth refreshing to those who are weary and down trodden.
 
In the natural the dark clouds open up and the rain comes down. In the same way, My glory clouds are releasing My rain. It is a spiritual rain, which is full of My presence and My glory. I am bringing forth newness of life and new growth. I am reviving and bringing newness of life to the dry and wasted areas of your lives; to bring about change and to revive you to the newness of life that I have for you; to enable you to flow in My Presence.
 
I Am Opening Heavens and Pouring Down My Rain
 
My rains bring refreshing and growth and I am moving. I desire you, My people to move by My Spirit in these days, and to flow with My resurrected power and authority. So I am reviving you, My people and calling forth My chosen ones to flow in the river from above; to flow and be led by My Spirit. For My Spirit brings freedom and liberty.
 
I am calling My chosen ones to flow and soak in My presence and harken to My voice, and be led of My Spirit. For I am bringing new growth and spiritual maturity to those who will yield to Me. Press into Me, and receive My rain drops from heaven; which is more of Me. For My rain is falling upon earth bringing a mighty revival to those who shall receive My glory, My giftings, My anointing and walk in My power and authority with signs and wonders following. For I AM A GOD OF MIRACLES!
 
Be glad and rejoice for I am opening the heavens and pouring down My rain; My presence. I am restoring, and rebuilding. I am bringing forth newness of life from those areas previously devastated, to those who will receive My presence, and walk in My presence. For where My Spirit is there is freedom and liberty.
 
Yes, Lord
 
I am raising up a people who in the natural look peculiar. But I am moving through those who say, "Yes Lord, send Your rain. Yes Lord, send your Presence. Bring forth change by Your Spirit, for You are our God!" I am raising up those who rejoice in My rain upon planet earth, and acknowledge that I am bringing forth change and touching lives for My own Glory.
 
My Presence brings forth My love. So receive My love. Come and walk with Me this day. Receive My rain. Receive My presence in your life, not just on Sundays but every day. Let My presence come on you and cover you with My love all the time and in every area of your lives. For I am raising up a people who will walk in My love and give My love away.
 
For, through My presence I AM filling you up with Holy Ghost fire to be My conduits, fulfilling the destiny I have for you. Be releasers of My Greatness in this season.
 
James Donovan


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Monday, February 9, 2015

Israel Summit Ends with Praise, Pledge to Prayer

Israel Summit Ends with Praise, Pledge to Prayer

Courtesy

LOVELAND, Colorado -- Participants in the first gathering of FIRM, the Fellowship of Israel-Related Ministries, closed their three-day summit Friday evening with the launching of a new website and an affirmation of founder Wayne Hilsden's call to pledge 1 percent of his day -- 14 minutes daily -- to pray for Israel and the Jewish people and for God's purposes to be fulfilled on earth.
One of the youngest members of FIRM, 22 year-old Michael Mistretta, introduced the closing speaker, 80 year-old Pastor Jack Hayford, founding pastor of Church on the Way in Van Nuys, Calif., who told several hundred people in attendance that the future of Israel is one of the central spiritual battles of our generation.
The leaders placed special emphasis on the younger generation throughout the summit, and on the last day, hundreds of high school students heard an exhortation from Calev Myers, an Israeli human rights attorney and activist dedicated to fighting anti-Semitism around the world and spotlighting injustices against Palestinians by their own people.
Hilsden, co-founding pastor of King of Kings Community, stressed the importance of humility for Christians in approaching the global conflict over Israel.  One of FIRM's central scriptures is from the apostle Paul's letter to Ephesians:  "Remember that at one time, you were separated from the Messiah, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.  But now in the Messiah Jesus -- you who were once far off have been brought near by the blood of the Messiah."  (Ephesians 2:12-13).
Hilsden says the group will expand its outreach through the website and other projects, but that the success of the collective effort to bless Israel and the other peoples of the Middle East in a time of growing persecution is prayer from individual Christians and Messianic believers on every continent.

Military Chaplains the New 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell?'

Military Chaplains the New 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell?' - CBN News


FORT BENNING, Ga. -- "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" was once a term used to refer to homosexuals in the military. Now, however, the term is more often being applied to Christians in uniform.

Military chaplains are feeling the pressure to conform to the new reality, as some label biblical values "hate speech."

Chaplains have been an integral part of the military throughout our nation's history, bringing hope to the living and comfort to the dying.

Now some chaplains are coming under fire from official government policy and must choose between their consciences and their commander's orders.

A Faith at Odds

The repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" worried the chaplains who follow the biblical view of same-sex relationships. Congress then stepped in, passing a bill that guaranteed the rights of all military personnel to exercise their faith.

Ron Crews, head of the Chaplain Alliance for Religious Liberty, said the result of that legislation is that "chaplains can be chaplains."

"They can, in fact, bring their faith to the table in their work," he said.

Crews served as an Army chaplain for 21 years.

"Chaplains, and not only chaplains but all service members, cannot receive recriminations for living out their faith in the military," he said. "We want not only chaplains but all those who serve to be able to exercise the religious liberties that they are putting their lives on the line for."

Despite the law, many Christians, and especially chaplains, often find themselves at odds with military leadership.

"I got an email from a chaplain in Afghanistan who preached a sermon for his unit out of 1 Peter, talking about the last days and the fact that there would be a rise in homosexuality during the last days," Crews said.

"He got called into his commander's office, he got told, 'You cannot preach out of that text,'" Crews said. "He wound up getting a bad OR from that commander in the war zone."

Exploding Controversy

Another example of this tension happened recently at Fort Benning, Georgia, home of the Airborne and Ranger Training Brigade. A chaplain was asked to give a suicide prevention class. But what happened next exploded in controversy.

Capt. Joe Lawhorn serves as chaplain for the 5th Ranger Training Battalion based at Fort Benning. He was asked to lead a class on suicide prevention at the Mountain Ranger Camp.

In addition to covering the Army-wide curriculum, he cited his own experience and shared his personal struggle with depression.

"And so he gave his rangers a handout," Crews said. "On one side was all of the resources available to military personnel. On the other side, though, he said, 'I want to tell you that this is what worked for me.'"

What was on the reverse side were referrals to Christian counseling services.

"During the presentation, according to those who were witnesses, at no time did Chaplain Lawhorn say 'mine is the only way,'" Crews said.

One ranger took a picture with his phone and sent it to the Military Association of Atheists and Freethinkers, and that group made a big issue of it.

Lawhorn's brigade commander later issued Lawhorn a "letter of concern," which the Pentagon insists is administrative in nature.

In our investigation the military has been unable to cite any written rule or regulation the chaplain actually violated. Meanwhile the Ranger who complained received no punishment at all, although he violated Army policy by going outside his chain of command.

A Force Multiplier

Those actions speak volumes about how toxic the climate has become for Christians in the military.

"You are in a very pluralistic environment," Jeff Strueker, a former Ranger chaplain, told CBN News. "You get all faiths and all walks of life."


Strueker became a chaplain half-way through his 24-year military career. He has been involved in every major American conflict since 1987.

"Why do we have chaplains to begin with? George Washington, when he formed the Continental Army, formed two branches--infantry and chaplains and basically said, 'I need war fighters, and then I need men who can minister to the souls of war fighters,'" Strueker explained.

"So a chaplain who is doing his job well is a force multiplier for a unit," he continued. "That force multiplier means that the unit is more effective in combat. (It) doesn't matter if it's a transportation unit or a hospital unit or if it's an infantry unit. They're more effective in combat with a chaplain."

Strueker believes the vital role of chaplains goes beyond leading church services for the troops.

"Today you need somebody in the unit who can deal with spiritual issues of a soldier. No one else in the unit can do what a chaplain can do," Strueker explained. "Ninety-nine percent of the counseling that I did was with people who weren't Christian. They came to me because I was there -- there while the bullets were flying and they needed somebody to talk to."

No Battlefield Complaints

And that's not all the chaplain does. Strueker said there are many cases in Iraq and Afghanistan where atrocities were avoided just because there was a chaplain there to be a moral linfluence on the men and women on those battlefields.

Strueker said on the front lines, complaints against chaplains are very rare.

"Sharing the Scriptures with somebody who's about take their last breath on a battlefield are the kind of complaints people that are way back in the rear make," Strueker added. "The guys that are on the battlefield don't ever make those kind of complaints to me as a chaplain."

Strueker said the current climate would make it more difficult to do his job.

"I'm commissioned by God to be a minister of the Gospel, and my denomination has endorsed me," he explained. "So I answer not just to the U.S. Army, but to God Himself and to my denomination for what I do."

"And if the point comes where my career is asking me to do something that my denomination or my relationship to God is asking me not to do, I have got to leave the military," he added.

"You serve everbody with grace and dignity," Crews said. "However, when someone comes to you for counsel you've got to be absolutely clear up front, that if you're coming to me, I counsel from a biblical perspective."

Strueker agrees.

"I don't want to see chaplains leave the military," he said. "I hope many more good men and women will become chaplains. But if you can't do it in good conscience, then you owe it to God to leave the military."

Anti-Semitic Incidents Spike Across Britain

Anti-Semitic Incidents Spike Across Britain

Anti-Semitism hit a record high in Great Britain last year, according to a British charity.
The Community Security Trust reports the number of anti-Semitic incidents spiked, including more than 80 violent assaults.
The charity recorded 1,168 incidents across Britain. That's more than double the number of cases in 2013, and the highest yearly total since the group began monitoring anti-Semitism in Britain in 1984.
Some of the anti-Semitic abuse included hate mail, threats, and abuse on social media, graffiti, and the damaging of Jewish property.
The charity believes the spike was a retaliation over the conflict between Israel and Hamas last summer.
A spokesman for the group said fear spiked yet again after one of the Islamic terrorists in last month's Paris attacks specifically targeted a Jewish grocery store.
Four Jewish people were among the 17 victims killed in the Paris rampage.
Afterward, an unprecedented number of British Jews called the Community Security Trust fearing they could be targeted next.

Rabbi: Jewish Prayers Kept David's Tomb From Becoming Church

Rabbi: Jewish Prayers Kept David's Tomb From Becoming Church

Sunday, February 08, 2015 |  Israel Today Staff
King David’s Tomb on Mount Zion was the focus of major controversy last summer when it was reported that, under pressure from the Vatican, Israel was preparing to hand over or sell control of the holy site to the Catholic Church.
The site is also holy to Christians, as the second floor of the compound is home to a more modern representation of the “Upper Room.”
In March an Italian newspaper reported that the Israeli government had in fact reached an agreement whereby the Vatican would take control of the Upper Room, while the building itself, and therefore King David’s Tomb, would remain still be owned by the Jewish state.
The situation was unacceptable to religious Jewish authorities, who noted that the arrangement would in effect transform the building into a church, thereby making it ritualistically impossible for Jews to worship anywhere on the premises.
Rabbi Eldad Shmueli told Arutz 7 that he subsequently made a call for all Jews visiting and praying at the Western Wall to also visit the nearby Tomb of David.
“To our delight the Israeli public has visited en masse, the publication of the agreement with the Vatican has given us a boost [in attendance] - there are many [Torah] lessons, prayers,” said Rabbi Shmueli. “The place is alive and vibrant - everyone should come here and help maintain the spiritual essence of this place.”
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