"THE ISSUES FOR 2019" - LOOKING AHEAD"- by John Stonestreet and Roberto Rivera , Breakpoint.org, Jan. 1, 2019; http://www.breakpoint.org/2019/01/breakpoint-the-issues-for-2019/
... Well, 2018 is in the rear-view mirror, but the issues and challenges it brought are still very much with us. Though the last thing you might want to hear about on New Year’s Day is that not much has changed, it’s kind of true. Especially for Christians who are serious about understanding and engaging the culture, here are four issues that merit special attention.
The first is the ongoing and intensifying conflict between LGBT rights and religious freedom, especially here in the U. S.
Even as I write this, U.S. Senator Mike Lee is holding up the re-nomination of Chai Feldblum to head the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Lee’s reason is simple: Feldblum has been crystal clear that, in her mind, there’s not a single scenario where religious freedom should prevail over LGBT rights.
Even if Feldblum’s nomination fails, Jack Phillips still faces new charges of discrimination by the Colorado Civil Rights Commission, and rumor has it that Nancy Pelosi may push forward the Equality Act in the House this year. And that’s just the beginning. In fact, 2019 might be the year Christians ought to get serious about developing that “theology of getting fired.” That is, it’s time for us to decide when losing our jobs and livelihoods for refusing to go along with the new sexual orthodoxy is exactly what Jesus expects of us.
And as challenging as things are at home, the story abroad is orders of magnitude worse. This is the second trend to watch for in 2019.
China has declared war on both its Christian and Muslim populations.
As of this writing, it’s not clear when, if ever, Asia Bibi will be allowed to leave Pakistan, even as Islamist radicals continue to hunt her and her family down.
And thousands of Nigerian Christians have been slaughtered by Muslim herdsmen.
These are just a few examples why 2018, like 2017 and 2016 before it, is the worst year on record for religious persecution around the world.
Another area of culture that bears close watching, and needs a lot of clarity and prayer, has to do with bioethics.
The recent news out of China about a researcher using CRISPR gene-editing to genetically modify embryos prior to implantation has raised alarms, although, as I recently told you, no one should be surprised. Human beings find the temptation to “play god” irresistible.
And we’re currently on a new chapter in the onward march of our “Culture of Death.” I’m talking about physician-assisted suicide, which is now legal in seven states and the District of Columbia. Currently, there’s a campaign to add Maine to that list.
Fourth and finally, and because of all of these other things already mentioned, we’ll face the challenge of needing to clarify where our loyalties ultimately lie, especially when it comes to politics. Of course, on many issues, Christians align much better with one side than with the other. Even so, Christians do not ultimately belong to the right or the left. The beginning of a New Year is a great time to clarify in our minds that ultimately we belong to a “Who” not a “what.”
These are challenging times, and I want you to know that the Colson Center is committed and poised to help you navigate these cultural waters. First, you can expect for BreakPoint, and our one-minute daily commentary The Point, to provide the best analysis of cultural events from a Christian worldview. Second, our improved and expanded podcast offerings will help you dive deeper into the pressing topics with leading Christian thinkers, authors, and doers. This is great to download for your daily commute or exercise routine. Third, our immensely popular short courses will be back in 2019—five of them—with courses on topics like C. S. Lewis, the idols of our age, secularism, and the case for Christ. Stay tuned as we confirm dates and speakers. And of course, we’ll gather in May for our annual Wilberforce Weekend with outstanding speakers like Rick Warren, scientist John Lennox, North Carolina Lt. Governor Dan Forest, Michael Card, Andrew Peterson, Star Parker and more. All these folks will help us answer the question, “Is Christianity Still Good for the World?” Details are at WilberforceWeekend.org.
Look, 2019 will be challenging. But like those who’ve gone before us, we have to face the culture with clarity, courage, and compassion.
[italics and colored emphasis mine]
RESOURCES
"BreakPoint podcast" - http://www.breakpoint.org/category/podcast/
"Wilberforce Weekend registration" - http://wilberforceweekend.org/
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"Speak Up and Speak Out in 2019" - Michael Brown: Jan 01, 2019; https://townhall.com/columnists/michaelbrown/2019/01/01/speak-up-and-speak-out-in-2019-n2538304
--------------------------------------------
PRAYER MATTERS:
"To clasp the hands in prayer is the beginning of an uprising against the disorder of the world." - Karl Barth; "Prayer is inviting God into a seemingly impossible situation and trusting/resting in His love and grace to accomplish His perfect will in His perfect time and for His greatest glory. Intercession is the one of the great privileges AND responsibilities for EVERY believer." - Stan
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Praying Through the Open Doors World Watch List for persecuted believers:o -https://www.opendoorsusa.org/take-action/pray/monthly-prayer-calendar/
As we look ahead to 2019, Open Doors is excited to partner with you to come alongside persecuted believers in a number of countries. We ask you to pray with us about this year’s vision focused on strengthening the Church in the Middle East, Nigeria, India, Colombia and Egypt, among others.
January 1 | HOPE FOR THE MIDDLE EAST - Pastor Musa* has now opened a Center of Hope in Safita, Syria, focusing on children. Open Doors continues to partner with churches for more Centers of Hope in Syria, so please join us in praying for these efforts!
*Names changed to protect identities
"THE ISSUES FOR 2019" - LOOKING AHEAD"- by John Stonestreet and Roberto Rivera , Breakpoint.org, Jan. 1, 2019; http://www.breakpoint.org/2019/01/breakpoint-the-issues-for-2019/
The first is the ongoing and intensifying conflict between LGBT rights and religious freedom, especially here in the U. S.
And as challenging as things are at home, the story abroad is orders of magnitude worse. This is the second trend to watch for in 2019.
Another area of culture that bears close watching, and needs a lot of clarity and prayer, has to do with bioethics.
Fourth and finally, and because of all of these other things already mentioned, we’ll face the challenge of needing to clarify where our loyalties ultimately lie, especially when it comes to politics. Of course, on many issues, Christians align much better with one side than with the other. Even so, Christians do not ultimately belong to the right or the left. The beginning of a New Year is a great time to clarify in our minds that ultimately we belong to a “Who” not a “what.”
These are challenging times, and I want you to know that the Colson Center is committed and poised to help you navigate these cultural waters. First, you can expect for BreakPoint, and our one-minute daily commentary The Point, to provide the best analysis of cultural events from a Christian worldview. Second, our improved and expanded podcast offerings will help you dive deeper into the pressing topics with leading Christian thinkers, authors, and doers. This is great to download for your daily commute or exercise routine. Third, our immensely popular short courses will be back in 2019—five of them—with courses on topics like C. S. Lewis, the idols of our age, secularism, and the case for Christ. Stay tuned as we confirm dates and speakers. And of course, we’ll gather in May for our annual Wilberforce Weekend with outstanding speakers like Rick Warren, scientist John Lennox, North Carolina Lt. Governor Dan Forest, Michael Card, Andrew Peterson, Star Parker and more. All these folks will help us answer the question, “Is Christianity Still Good for the World?” Details are at WilberforceWeekend.org.
Look, 2019 will be challenging. But like those who’ve gone before us, we have to face the culture with clarity, courage, and compassion.
[italics and colored emphasis mine]
RESOURCES
... Well, 2018 is in the rear-view mirror, but the issues and challenges it brought are still very much with us. Though the last thing you might want to hear about on New Year’s Day is that not much has changed, it’s kind of true. Especially for Christians who are serious about understanding and engaging the culture, here are four issues that merit special attention.
The first is the ongoing and intensifying conflict between LGBT rights and religious freedom, especially here in the U. S.
Even as I write this, U.S. Senator Mike Lee is holding up the re-nomination of Chai Feldblum to head the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Lee’s reason is simple: Feldblum has been crystal clear that, in her mind, there’s not a single scenario where religious freedom should prevail over LGBT rights.
Even if Feldblum’s nomination fails, Jack Phillips still faces new charges of discrimination by the Colorado Civil Rights Commission, and rumor has it that Nancy Pelosi may push forward the Equality Act in the House this year. And that’s just the beginning. In fact, 2019 might be the year Christians ought to get serious about developing that “theology of getting fired.” That is, it’s time for us to decide when losing our jobs and livelihoods for refusing to go along with the new sexual orthodoxy is exactly what Jesus expects of us.
And as challenging as things are at home, the story abroad is orders of magnitude worse. This is the second trend to watch for in 2019.
China has declared war on both its Christian and Muslim populations.
As of this writing, it’s not clear when, if ever, Asia Bibi will be allowed to leave Pakistan, even as Islamist radicals continue to hunt her and her family down.
And thousands of Nigerian Christians have been slaughtered by Muslim herdsmen.
These are just a few examples why 2018, like 2017 and 2016 before it, is the worst year on record for religious persecution around the world.
Another area of culture that bears close watching, and needs a lot of clarity and prayer, has to do with bioethics.
The recent news out of China about a researcher using CRISPR gene-editing to genetically modify embryos prior to implantation has raised alarms, although, as I recently told you, no one should be surprised. Human beings find the temptation to “play god” irresistible.
And we’re currently on a new chapter in the onward march of our “Culture of Death.” I’m talking about physician-assisted suicide, which is now legal in seven states and the District of Columbia. Currently, there’s a campaign to add Maine to that list.
Fourth and finally, and because of all of these other things already mentioned, we’ll face the challenge of needing to clarify where our loyalties ultimately lie, especially when it comes to politics. Of course, on many issues, Christians align much better with one side than with the other. Even so, Christians do not ultimately belong to the right or the left. The beginning of a New Year is a great time to clarify in our minds that ultimately we belong to a “Who” not a “what.”
These are challenging times, and I want you to know that the Colson Center is committed and poised to help you navigate these cultural waters. First, you can expect for BreakPoint, and our one-minute daily commentary The Point, to provide the best analysis of cultural events from a Christian worldview. Second, our improved and expanded podcast offerings will help you dive deeper into the pressing topics with leading Christian thinkers, authors, and doers. This is great to download for your daily commute or exercise routine. Third, our immensely popular short courses will be back in 2019—five of them—with courses on topics like C. S. Lewis, the idols of our age, secularism, and the case for Christ. Stay tuned as we confirm dates and speakers. And of course, we’ll gather in May for our annual Wilberforce Weekend with outstanding speakers like Rick Warren, scientist John Lennox, North Carolina Lt. Governor Dan Forest, Michael Card, Andrew Peterson, Star Parker and more. All these folks will help us answer the question, “Is Christianity Still Good for the World?” Details are at WilberforceWeekend.org.
Look, 2019 will be challenging. But like those who’ve gone before us, we have to face the culture with clarity, courage, and compassion.
[italics and colored emphasis mine]
RESOURCES
"BreakPoint podcast" - http://www.breakpoint.org/category/podcast/
"Wilberforce Weekend registration" - http://wilberforceweekend.org/
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Speak Up and Speak Out in 2019" - Michael Brown: Jan 01, 2019; https://townhall.com/columnists/michaelbrown/2019/01/01/speak-up-and-speak-out-in-2019-n2538304
| -------------------------------------------- |
PRAYER MATTERS:
"To clasp the hands in prayer is the beginning of an uprising against the disorder of the world." - Karl Barth; "Prayer is inviting God into a seemingly impossible situation and trusting/resting in His love and grace to accomplish His perfect will in His perfect time and for His greatest glory. Intercession is the one of the great privileges AND responsibilities for EVERY believer." - Stan
------------------------------------------------------------------------- Praying Through the Open Doors World Watch List for persecuted believers:o -https://www.opendoorsusa.org/take-action/pray/monthly-prayer-calendar/
As we look ahead to 2019, Open Doors is excited to partner with you to come alongside persecuted believers in a number of countries. We ask you to pray with us about this year’s vision focused on strengthening the Church in the Middle East, Nigeria, India, Colombia and Egypt, among others.
January 1 | HOPE FOR THE MIDDLE EAST - Pastor Musa* has now opened a Center of Hope in Safita, Syria, focusing on children. Open Doors continues to partner with churches for more Centers of Hope in Syria, so please join us in praying for these efforts!
*Names changed to protect identities
|
LGBTQ issues, religious liberty abroad, bioethics, and political loyalty. Very hard issues. When two sides of an issue think things should be a certain way, is it possible for both sides to get their way. LGBTQ for example - can a gay person live as they want and can someone who doesn't approve of that lifestyle live as they want? It's when one or both sides insist that the other side either stay silent or be forced into submission when we see trouble - it need not be so! May the Lord help us.
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