Monday, August 31, 2015

Israeli President: It's Our Right to Settle This Land

Israeli President: It's Our Right to Settle This Land

Sunday, August 30, 2015 |  Israel Today Staff
Israeli President Reuven Rivlin last week stated unequivocally that it is the right of Jews and the Jewish state to settle the biblical Land of Israel.
“I love the land of Israel with all my heart. I have never and will never give up on this land. For me, our right to this land is not a matter of political debate,” Rivlin said in a meeting with Jewish settler leaders.
Rivlin suggested that Israel more firmly cling to this right, debatable as its implementation may be, in national discourse and the peace process.
“We must not give anyone the sense that we are in any doubt about our right to our land,” the president said. “For me, the settlement of the land of Israel is an expression of that right, our historical right, our national right.”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and others in the Israeli government have long demanded that recognition of the Jews’ religious and historical connection and claims to this land be a starting point of peace negotiations with the Arabs.
But Rivlin was also adamant that acting on the right to settle the Land of Israel must be accompanied by compassion for and care of the non-Jewish population.
“Our sovereignty in this land means responsibility for all those who live here, and obliges all of us to uphold the strictest of moral codes, which is inherent in each and every one of us,” concluded Rivlin.
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Saturday, August 29, 2015

"A Season of Magnificent Proposal" and "September Countdown to MEGASHIFT!"


"A Season of Magnificent Proposal" and "September Countdown to MEGASHIFT!"
Daryl Crawford-Marshall, Sydney, Australia
The Elijah List

As we are fast approaching Rosh Hashanah in the Hebraic calendar, I firmly believe that many of us should GET READY for some very EXCITING CHANGES and even some MAJOR SHIFTS set to come very soon.

Changes Are Coming

As I prayed into this time ahead, I was first taken into the spirit where I saw the Lord standing at a junction-switch on a railroad track. I could see His hand poised on a lever ready to change the track direction, and on the lever was inscribed the words, "ROSH HASHANAH". He looked over at me as I took it all in, smiled and said:
"BIG CHANGES ARE COMING DARYL, IT'S TIME FOR A MEGASHIFT."

It was no sooner that these words had left His mouth, that I found myself in a different place; an outdoor space where I heard the same words spoken out again. This time, however, as they were spoken I saw actual letters appear and form a single word in translucent blue lettering across the sky, "MEGASHIFT."

As it was spoken, a wind that I knew to be a WIND OF CHANGE was RELEASED into the atmosphere and within the wind I could see angels circling, ready to move. As I looked more intently, I could see three angels specifically who I knew to be CLARITY, WISDOM and AIDIt was now apparent that with these changes would come an increase in HEAVENLY ASSISTANCE to help AID those stepping into these NEW and EXCITING THINGS.

Countdown to September

The scene quickly changed again, and I suddenly found myself in a gymnasium with my eyes fixed on a countdown timer that was counting down to the end of a final quarter. The board said on the bottom in big red neon letters, "COUNTDOWN TO SEPTEMBER" and I heard the words again, "IT'S TIME FOR A MEGASHIFT." (Photo via flickr)

I looked instinctively over to the wall to my right and watched as it quickly changed, transforming into a massive clock which, to my surprise, began to open up in an anti-clockwise direction just like a portal. Suddenly, I couldn't stand in the midst of the encounter, as from within the clock, streamed a MULTITUDE OF ANGELS who swooped in and landed in the gym standing in military formation across the floor.

The Lord looked over from the right-hand side of the gym, smiled and said, "THEY HAVE BEEN WAITING SPECIFICALLY FOR THIS TIME."

Graduation Time

Next, I found myself standing outdoors at what appeared to be the set up for a ceremony that would soon begin. There was a platform directly in front of me, and on that platform, a table covered with many envelopes laid out in perfect symmetry. I immediately knew that these envelopes represented NEW ASSIGNMENTS and DIRECTIONS and that each one had been reserved for SUCH A TIME AS THIS! I also had a sense that these envelopes were actually much larger than they initially appeared and that this was representative of what they contained within them.

I now felt time fast forward and was aware of a massive crowd of people standing behind me. I looked around to observe them and could see that I was actually standing at a graduation ceremony. The people behind me were an audience and beside them, to the left, was a long line of graduates in beautiful blue and gold gowns. I said aloud to the Lord who I could see standing on the platform, "THIS IS A GRADUATION CEREMONY!"

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Soon, the people who were lined down the left-hand side of the stage, each, in turn, walked onto the platform to receive an envelope. As I looked more intently into the vision, I could see that as each person approached the platform they were required to walk past large translucent containers that lined the walkway. Each one then emptied what was already in their hands and/or arms into these containers before walking to the table where the Lord was standing. I had only noticed this now, but as I looked back at the line I could see that many of the people lining up had arms that were full of things.

As I continued to watch, I saw that the closer each graduate came to the Lord, the more brilliant their gown would become and watched as each one received a gold chain around their neck and new shoes on their feet as they arrived to where the Lord was standing. He then handed each of them an envelope from the table. Immediately I could see why they had needed to be empty-handed prior to this moment; when they took the envelope, in every case, it was much larger than it first appeared. (Photo via flickr)

The envelopes were seemingly small when laying on the table but were enormous when taken on by each individual. So BIG, that it would require a person to EMBRACE it with nearly all the capacity they had. Moreover, I could see too that each graduate required both arms to be free in order to grab hold of it and many struggled, somewhat, to carry it off the platform.

As each one left, however, I watched as they were met by two angels, one at either side, who helped steady the person until they could walk carrying their NEW ASSIGNMENT. My initial thought was that these new assignments would have to be fulfilled with help from Spirit-filled communities.

The whole atmosphere was filled with an INCREDIBLE JOY.

The Lord looked over to me and said:
"THIS IS THE SEASON OF MAGNIFICENT PROPOSAL DARYL. THESE MAGNIFICENT PROPOSALS WILL BRING WITH THEM INCREDIBLE CHANGES FOR ANYONE WHO CHOOSES TO EMBRACE THEM."
I kept saying in my spirit over and over, "IT'S THE SEASON OF MAGNIFICENT PROPOSAL. IT'S THE SEASON OF MAGNIFICENT PROPOSAL."

The Old and the New

Lastly, I saw a time coming for the tying up of any loose ends before the release of these SHIFTS and CHANGES.

I felt the Lord say:
"DON'T BE SURPRISED IF THINGS FROM THE PAST SEEM TO BE POPPING UP ALL AROUND. I AM BRINGING CLOSURE TO MANY THINGS IN ORDER TO CLEAR THE WAY FOR THE NEW."
I knew then that in this COMING TIME we can expect to have the opportunity to bring any needed closure to things from the past in order to make room to EMBRACE the things FOR OUR FUTURE.
IT'S TIME FOR A MEGASHIFT!

Daryl Crawford-Marshall
DCM Ministries


Email: daryl@dcmministries.com
Website: dcmministries.com

Daryl Crawford-Marshall is a prophetic equipper, teacher, and revivalist. He and his wife, Belinda, live on the East Coast of Australia and are the Associate Pastors at Jubilee Church, Sydney. Daryl is a man of encounter who has a passion to train others to recognize the voice of God, engage with Heaven, and move in the supernatural. Regularly ministering at churches, healing meetings, and prophetic schools, he is often invited to teach on subjects such as supernatural encounters, spiritual realities, releasing the miraculous, and building healthy prophetic community. Daryl is an active member of the Australian Prophetic Council, releasing prophetic words over the nation as well as working alongside churches, businesses, and individuals to provide prophetic insight in a consulting capacity.

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The Christians of Israel: A Remarkable Group


The Christians of Israel: A Remarkable Group

 
Professor, Josef Korbel School of International Studies, University of Denver

Posted: Updated: 

In the nightmarish maelstrom that defines the Middle East today, there are few places of refuge for Christians. While Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Sudan and Libya are disintegrating and Egypt is embattled, the Christians are in dire trouble in a region that is increasingly Islamic radical.
Yet, abandoning the Middle East would be painful for most Christians. Jesus of Nazareth was born in Bethlehem, lived in the Galilee and was crucified in Jerusalem. Many Christian holy places from the Via Dolorosa to the Church of the Annunciation are in Jerusalem and others are in Israel or the West Bank.

In Iraq and Syria Christians face enslavement, torture, massacres and crucifixion at the hands of ISIS. ISIS sees them as the dread Crusaders who need to be destroyed or repressed. ISIS marks Christian houses with an N for Nazarene to single out their victims.

Unlike the Jews after 1948, the Christians have no state to go to. Only Lebanon could be a place of refuge but the Christian population has plunged in 100 years from 78% to 34% of the country.

In the 12 years since Saddam Hussein was overthrown by American military intervention, almost a million Iraqi Christians have fled Iraq or been killed. Barely 500,000 Christians remain behind. In Iraq Christians are less than 4% of the population but 40% of the refugees. In Syria, 30% of its 1.5 million Christians have fled the country.

The Arab Christians are further divided between Eastern and Western Churches in over a dozen denominations. In Lebanon some Christians support Hezbollah while others oppose the radical pro-Iranian Shiite group.

The Christian population, through low birth rate and massive emigration, has dropped from 20% of the Middle East in 1900 to 4% today and will drop to 3% by 2050. The stateless Christians, unlike the Jews after 1948, lack a military, secret police or government. Without a strong state or patron they are often hopeless in the face of repressive states or movements.

The United States and Europe, though heavily Christian, have provided little military protection or financial aid to the embattled Christians. President Obama won't even label ISIS as Islamic fundamentalist.

By contrast, the 160,000 Israeli Christians live as citizens in a democratic First World country with freedom of religion, rule of law and open elections. Christians can move anywhere, even building a number of churches recently in Tel Aviv. The government safeguards the Christian holy places and is lenient on the right of return of Christian refugees. Since 1967 Christian, Islamic and Jewish holy sites are open to pilgrims of all religions. The Christian churches own a significant part of Jerusalem, including the land on which the Knesset sits.

Their greatest problem often comes from the Muslims. Most Arab Muslims are relatively satisfied with Israel but a growing minority, especially in the north, is virulently anti-Christian, using physical attacks, provocative speech and seditious billboards. These radicals call the Christians, "the descendants of apes and pigs." While Bethlehem was once 90% Christian, today it is 65% Muslim.

After 2007 the Hamas takeover of Gaza led to the remainder of the Christians fleeing to the West Bank. While the Christian element in Israel dropped from 8.0% in 1910 to a projected 1.8% in 2025, the Christians plummeted from 11.6% of the West Bank and Gaza in 1910 to a projected 1.0% in 2025.

Today 60% more Christians live in Israel than in the Palestinian territories. A small new Christian party, B'nai Brith, calls on its youth to serve in the Israeli army and hundreds each year do so. Its leader, Reverend Nadaff, declares, "We love this country."

Israeli Christians have several problems. One is lacking the benefits given to Israelis who serve in the army. Another is the provocative defacing and vandalizing of Christian monuments and cemeteries by a group of radical Jews. Christians complain of the high cost of land and housing. Their small size and internal divisions make them a peripheral political force.

Outside of the Gulf States with over a million mainly Asian Christians laborers, Israel is the only place in the Middle East where the Christians are growing in number. They are excelling in education, doing well in business and feeling relatively safe from their radical tormentors.

In today's troubled Middle East, that is a remarkable feat.

Yes, Hillary Clinton Really Compared Pro-Life Candidates to Terrorists

Yes, Hillary Clinton Really Compared Pro-Life Candidates to Terrorists


Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton is going on the attack, comparing Republican presidential candidates to terrorists because of some of their pro-life views.
Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton is going on the attack, comparing Republican presidential candidates to terrorists because of some of their pro-life views. (Reuters)
Challenge your beliefs each week with topics on domestic and international politics, missions, Christian movements, persecution and global outreach with Steve Strang. Listen to the Strang Report at charismapodcastnetwork.com.

Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton is going on the attack, comparing Republican presidential candidates to terrorists because of some of their pro-life views.
The news comes after the release of eight videos by the Center for Medical Progress showing Planned Parenthood executives discussing selling the organs and tissue from aborted fetuses.
The abortion provider denies the accusations and says the footage has been heavily edited. Even so, the videos have prompted congressional investigations, and several states are seeking to block federal funding to the group.
But speaking before a small Ohio audience Thursday about what she calls "women's issues," Clinton called such reactions "extreme."
"Extreme views about women, we expect them from some of the terrorist groups," she said. "We expect that from people who don't want to live in the modern world, but it's a little hard to take coming from Republicans who want to be the president of the United States."
Republicans fired back.
"Hillary Clinton compares pro-life Americans to terrorists, but defends despicable Planned Parenthood treatment of unborn? Her priorities are totally wrong," Jeb Bush tweeted.
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker and Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, also blasted Clinton on Twitter.
"The only thing extreme is taking a position that doesn't protect these lives," Walker said.
"Not one more cent from taxpayers should go to Planned Parenthood," Cruz said.
During a recent interview with Laura Ingraham, Donald Trump panned Planned Parenthood as an "abortion factory."
"Well, you should defund anyway because they are doing the abortions," he said. "It is like an abortion factory, which is terrible... it's like you are selling parts to an automobile or something."
Clinton also blasted former Ohio Gov. John Kasich, telling supporters he banned state funding for some rape crisis centers because they referred women to other health facilities that provide abortions.
Kasich's camp responded, saying, "Ohio and our country deserves better than what Clinton is offering. Hillary Clinton's trail of scandal is decades long, and only continues to worsen."
Some political analysts say Clinton is talking about this issue in an effort to shift attention away from her email scandal which has hurt her in the polls.
According to a new Quinnipiac survey, when asked the first word that comes to mind about Clinton, people said "liar," "dishonest," and "untrustworthy."

Islamists Murder Man Who Converted to Christianity, Leave His Wife to Die

Islamists Murder Man Who Converted to Christianity, Leave His Wife to Die


Christians protest in Pakistan.
Christians protest in Pakistan. (YouTube)
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An Islamist group murdered a Christian man and attempted to kill his wife after she converted from Islam. 
The young couple, both in their 20s, married last year and have been fleeing her family ever since. But over the summer, her family hunted them down and attempted to brutally murder both. The wife, however, survived.
"The Muslim men first brutally tortured the couple with fists and kicks and then thrice shot (husband)—one bullet hit him in his ankle, the second in the ribs while the third targeted his face," the wife's attorney, Aneeqa Maria Anthony, tells Morning Star News. "(The wife) was shot in the abdomen."
The Vatican Insider reports one of the wife's cousins is now bragging about the slaying, believing he has restored the family's honor. 
Christians have long been targeted in Pakistan, a staunch Muslim nation. Pakistani courts abide by "blasphemy laws," which carry life sentences for those who speak against the Quran. When tried, Christians are often sentenced to death row
The British Broadcasting Corporation reports most Pakistanis support the laws and believe the edicts come straight from the Quran and are not man-made. 
They report more than 147 Christians have been killed through the court system since the laws were enacted in the late 1980s. These numbers do not include "honor killings," where Christians are brutally attacked by Muslim mobs. 
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Friday, August 28, 2015

COMMENTARY: Was Jesus a Christian?

COMMENTARY: Was Jesus a Christian?

Friday, August 28, 2015 |  Brian Hennessy  Israel Today

I once heard a Jewish believer make this sobering statement: “Jews don’t need a Christian Christ. Christians need a Jewish Jesus.” Hmmm, I thought, he has a point.
Many Christians are shocked to learn that Jesus, the one they consider the founder of Christianity, was born a Jew, died a Jew, arose a Jew, is seated in Heaven a Jew and will return as a Jew on steroids – “the lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the root of David” (Rev. 5:5). But their eyes really start to cross when they learn Jesus would have never thought himself a Christian. Or called himself one.
The term "Christian" did not come into existence until decades later when unbelievers in Antioch started calling his followers that name (Acts 11:26). And as many historians believe, it was not a compliment. But a mockery.
But what’s truly rattling the stained-glass windows of Christendom these days is the discovery by more and more believers that Yeshua never started, much less converted to, the religion of Christianity. That he came, not to start a new religion, but to fulfill the types and shadows of the only religion God has ever given His people. Or ever will. Namely, the Mosaic Law. And Yeshua’s arrival signaled that even that divine religion had fulfilled its purpose. “Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Messiah, so that we may be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor” (Gal. 3:24,25).
Christianity did not begin to organize into a religion until almost a hundred years after Yeshua’s ascension. It reached full religious status under Constantine, who after severing the faith from its Jewish roots, made it the chief religion of the Roman Empire. And himself, as pontifex maximus, its chief priest. In the process, the simple gospel message that we could now come boldly into God’s presence through faith in Yeshua was nullified. It was replaced by a glitzy, full-blown, ecclesiastical approach to God through a robed priesthood unsanctioned by Scripture. A religion given theological support by a handful of influential writers, rightly called “the Fathers of the Church.”
These Church scribes, unlike the Jewish writers of the NT who grew up with the Scriptures, had little knowledge of, or interest in, God’s promises to Israel. Converted from pagan backgrounds, they preferred the “wisdom” of the Greek philosophers, especially Plato. And their leavened teachings soon pushed God’s ecclesia off the bedrock of Scripture onto the shifting sand of man’s thoughts.
And that’s where we’ve been ever since – even after the Reformation! In retrospect, have we been any less blind to the gospel than the Jews in thinking Yeshua gave us a new religion called Christianity to practice?
But today is a new day. And God’s Spirit beckons. “Come, let us return to the Lord. For He has torn us, but He will heal us; He has wounded us, but He will bandage us. He will revive us after two days; He will raise us up on the third day that we may live before Him” (Hosea 6:1,2).
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Orthodox Jews More Like Christians Than Other Jews?

Orthodox Jews More Like Christians Than Other Jews?

Friday, August 28, 2015 |  David Lazarus  Israel Today
Orthodox Jews are like evangelical Christians. They believe in God, vote, worship, act and raise their children more like evangelicals than like any other Jews. That is the revelation of a new Pew Research study on the attitudes of Orthodox Jews in America. Here are some of the surprising conclusions.
On Israel
The survey finds that almost nine out of every ten Orthodox Jews (84%) believe that Israel was given by God to the Jewish people. That is more than twice the number of other American Jews (35%) who hold this view. Among evangelicals 82% say they believe that the land of Israel was given to the Jewish people by God.
Orthodox Jewish attitudes towards the Israeli/Palestinian peace process are much closer to evangelical Christian views than to other Jews. Most Orthodox Jews do not believe that Israel can coexist peacefully alongside an independent Palestinian state. Orthodox Jews are less than half as likely as other Jews to support a state for the Palestinians.
Like many evangelicals, most Orthodox Jews support building Jewish settlement in the West Bank. Non-Orthodox Jews were much more likely than Orthodox Jews to say that building Jewish settlements in the West Bank hurts Israel’s security (47% vs. 16%).
Modern Orthodox Jews have a very strong attachment to Israel. Almost all of them say that they are very emotionally attached to Israel and that caring about Israel is essential to being Jewish (79%). They are also convinced that the U.S. is not supportive enough of Israel (64%).
On Politics
Similar patterns can be seen in Orthodox Jewish political views. Orthodox Jews and Christian evangelicals support the Republican Party (57% and 66%) compared to a mere 18% of non-Orthodox Jews who back Republicans. In the U.S. non-orthodox Jews lean heavily toward the Democratic Party.
Like evangelicals, Orthodox Jews tend to identify as Republicans because they hold conservative values on social issues such as homosexuality. Orthodox Jews are far more likely than other Jews to say that homosexuality should be discouraged in society (70% compared to 38%).
On Faith
Asked about the importance of faith in their lives, the large majority of Orthodox Jews (83%) and evangelicals (86%) say that religion is very important to them. Only one in every five of other Jews asked (20%) say that faith or religion have meaning for them. Orthodox Jews and evangelical Christians frequently attend religious services (74% and 75%, respectively). Only 12% of non-Orthodox Jews go to synagogue at least once a month. Most modern Jews never go to synagogue at all.
The report shows that 93% of Christian evangelicals and 89% of Orthodox Jews believe in God with absolute certainty. Only 34% of all other Jews share this belief.
What does it mean?
The Orthodox Jewish community is growing far more rapidly than other, non-Orthodox Jewish populations. 98% of all Orthodox Jews will marry a Jewish spouse, while more than half of all other Jews will intermarry. Orthodox Jews will raise on average more than five-times as many children in their lifetime compared to all other Jews.
As the populations of Orthodox Jews continues to grow at a rapid pace, and the numbers of all other Jews shrink, there will eventually come about a shift in the characteristics and practice of Jewish life in areas of faith, social values and political views.
The similarities between the Orthodox Jewish and evangelical communities have been a source of inspiration to many pro-Israel Christian groups who are working together with the Orthodox primarily on issues concerning Israel. A number of evangelical pro-Israel groups are mobilizing support for Israel politically and financially while putting emphasis on the message of the Bible while strengthening moral and godly values in society.
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Chick-fil-A Lands in Another Gay Marriage Firestorm - Jennifer LeClaire

Chick-fil-A Lands in Another Gay Marriage Firestorm




The gay agenda sought to besmirch Chick-fil-A's business after president and chief operating officer, Dan Cathy, made his beliefs about traditional marriage known to the radio listening world. The company was maligned, protested and otherwise attacked.
The gay agenda sought to besmirch Chick-fil-A's business after president and chief operating officer, Dan Cathy, made his beliefs about traditional marriage known to the radio listening world. The company was maligned, protested against and otherwise attacked. (Flickr/Creative Commons)
Jennifer LeClaire is now sharing her reflections and revelations through Walking in the Spirit, a new podcast from Charisma. Listen at charismapodcastnetwork.com.

Chick-fil-A took a bold stand against gay marriage in 2012—and the company is still paying the price.
Here's the backstory: The gay agenda sought to besmirch Chick-fil-A's business after president and chief operating officer, Dan Cathy, made his beliefs about traditional marriage known to the radio listening world. The company was maligned, protested against and otherwise attacked.
The Christian world applauded when former Gov. Mike Huckabee declared "Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day." The chicken chain set a world record for sales and the enemy backed down—at least for a season.
Since then we've seen at least one school ban "offensive" Chick-fil-A sandwiches and First Lady Michelle Obama declaring war on the company. One town even canceled a leadership event Chick-fil-A sponsored because of its so-called "homophobia." This all despite the fact that Cathy publicly stated he regretted making the chain a symbol in the same-sex marriage debate.
In the latest turn, Chick-fil-A may be denied the right to open up a store in the Denver International Airport. The Denver City Council is deciding on the chicken chain's fate even now, noting the city "has been at the forefront of honoring gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender employees and their families with non-discrimination clauses and partner benefits." So apparently that means the First Amendment goes out the window.
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The City Council told CNN Money: "When Denver International Airport proposed a concession with a company that had a history of funding opposition to this recognition, it was important that we as a City Council take a pause to ensure that all the policies are in place with all of the entities involved to ensure there will be no discrimination, and that benefits will be provided equally to all employees and their spouses, regardless of their sexual orientation."
Mark Cowart, Senior Pastor of Church For All Nations, Colorado Springs told Charisma News expressing our First Amendment rights in any situation is one of the cornerstone freedoms that America was founded upon. As he sees it, "This situation is not about politics, it is about something much greater—the disregard and disrespect of God's moral law in America and of those who uphold biblical values and principles." 
I agree. It's ridiculous that Denver is compelled to waste time discussing what should be a non-issue. Tim Wildmon, President of the American Family Association, told me, Chick-fil-A is the highest ranking fast food restaurant for customer satisfaction, according to the 2015 American Customer Satisfaction Index Restaurant Report. Why deny travelers a tasty sandwich because of moral values? Selah.
"Based on this fact alone, we can see that customers around the country are pleased with Chick-fil-A's service and way of doing business as a whole," Wildmon says. "Therefore, members of the Denver City Council are acting on their own activist beliefs to keep the chain from serving customers at the Denver International Airport, making it obvious that the problem is with their bias against and intolerance of Christianity and those who choose to uphold it in all areas of their lives."
Sam Rohrer, President of the American Pastors Network, agrees—and asks a pointed question: Where does it end when activists are now blocking businesses from operating in the marketplace because of the Christian views of their leaders? I can answer that. It won't end unless we enact laws that end it—or, even better, preach the gospel with signs following and open the eyes and hearts of those who don't yet know Christ. Laws can only do so much. The real power is in the gospel.
"This is yet another example of the faithful being pushed aside—from doing business, from making decisions based on their faith, and even from being welcomed to certain cities to serve customers," Rohrer told me. "We should applaud those who base business decisions on biblical and constitutional principles rather than punish them."
Dr. Alex McFarland, author, speaker and religion and culture expert, argues that what appears obvious to most: stalling of a business location based on its religious beliefs goes against First Amendment rights. That's really the bottom line here, but it shouldn't be surprising—and we should expect more of this in the days ahead unless God breaks in with power and wakes up the church and the world to His love.
"All Americans have the right to provide a service to our nation's people, no matter what skill set they offer, in addition to their political and religious views," McFarland told me. "Our nation should respect the religious liberties of all American businesses, and not be deterred by a changing cultural environment."
I agree, but what should be is not what's happening. I am believing for a Third Great Awakening in America that will see mass repentance. Everyone won't respond to this outpouring—the religious-minded and lost souls alike will reject it—but many will. Will you believe with me?
Jennifer LeClaire is senior editor of Charisma. She is also director of Awakening House of Prayer in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, co-founder of awakeningtv.com, on the leadership team of the New Breed Revival Network and author of several books, including The Next Great Move of God: An Appeal to Heaven for Spiritual Awakening; Mornings With the Holy Spirit, Listening Daily to the Still, Small Voice of God; The Making of a Prophet and Satan's Deadly Trio: Defeating the Deceptions of Jezebel, Religion and Witchcraft. You can visit her website here. You can also join Jennifer on Facebook or follow her on Twitter. Jennifer's Periscope handle is @propheticbooks.