Christian Heritage News

By Jake MacAulay - Posted at The American View : What if I asked you, “Do you feel patriotic paying taxes to fund the central government’s nationalization of the banks, the insurance industry, the automobile industry, the health care industry, and now local police forces or the use of the American military for unconstitutional and immoral, wasteful wars for empire?” I am assuming that if you are a Patriot–a genuine American of good will– you would answer, “No.” What if I told you government’s only purpose is to secure your rights. That’s correct: our government’s purpose and mandate that God has ordained is so limited that all they are to do is protect the rights He has given you. That’s it! The Declaration of Independence presupposes that all men are created with unalienable rights, and that to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men. When the American government executes its God given purpose of limited powers and maximum protection of our God-given right

By Andrew Kerr - Posted at Gentle Reformation : Missing A Trick? In my lifetime I have definitely noticed a difference in the way Christians talk. I was shocked as a late teenager to hear Christian friends rubbing their hands with hollow excitement at the prospect of going to see Bruce Springsteen – look, I like ‘the Boss’ too (at least the throaty relaxed easy-listening parts): but if they believed this was the ultimate goal in life, I honestly felt it was they who were missing out. What was missing from their conversation in those days was any mention at all of God in all their talk. I’m pleased to report that some of them, at least, have remedied their ways! It used to be reasonably common to hear Christians say “D.V.”. If it balked at the possibility of actually naming the Lord, and if it was a little highbrow assuming a knowledge of Latin, at least there as passing nod to God and His providential rule. Sadly, even then, most only mentioned God when dressed up in Sunday b

By Heather Clark - Posted at Christian News Network : His [Steven Chase] “Playpen” site, which reportedly had 150,000 users worldwide, was part of the “Tor anonymity network” and allowed pedophiles to upload and view tens of thousands of illicit images of children being sexually abused. CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The identification and arrest of a child pornography site creator has resulted in nearly 900 arrests worldwide and over 300 children rescued, the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) has announced. Steven Chase, 58, the operator of the now defunct site “Playpen,” was sentenced to 30 years behind bars earlier this month in a Charlotte courtroom. He will also be supervised following his release for the rest of his life and must forfeit his current home and any other property used in the illegal endeavor. Read more here.

Image Source: Wikipedia By Rick Mingerink - Posted at the  Reformed Free Publishing Association : Last time we defined social constructionism and showed that it falls into the category of postmodernism. Our goal with this series is to understand the layers of social constructionism so that we might be aware of its dangers as Reformed Christians. To peel away the first layer of the social constructionist onion, let’s begin by understanding our place in history. Throughout the history of the world there have been great time periods which are marked by common and stable characteristics. Historians have recognized this and have given names to these great bands of time to help us understand the vast and complex flow of human history. The Iron Age comes to mind, and the Classical Age, the Renaissance, and the Industrial Revolution. These are just to name just a few. This is called the periodization of history. Sometimes we recognize these patches of history by the spirit of prevailin

By Shane Vander Hart - Posted at Truth in American Education : The Electronic Frontier Foundation released a report in April that is a must read for those who are concerned about student privacy. In a nutshell, they found these devices are spying on kids who use them, and their parents are blissfully unaware. From the report ‘s executive summary: Student laptops and educational services are often available for a steeply reduced price, and are sometimes even free. However, they come with real costs and unresolved ethical questions thrroughout EFF’s investigation over the past two years, we have found that educational technology services often collect far more information on kids than is necessary and store this information indefinitely. This privacy-implicating information goes beyond personally identifying information (PII) like name and date of birth, and can include browsing history, search terms, location data, contact lists, and behavioral information. Some programs upl

By Mark Johnston - Posted at the Place for Truth : As I write, the United Kingdom is still reeling from the latest terrorist atrocity to be unleashed in one of our major cities. It was particularly horrific in that it was deliberately targeted at children and teenagers attending a pop concert. The grief of those affected has been broadcast widely and it is impossible not to be deeply touched by their anguish – anguish repeatedly expressed in gut-wrenching groans. No matter how much the media and its pundits try to make sense of what has happened, words are inadequate to plumb the depths of pain. Tragically, there is nothing new in this. This same week saw another terrorist incident – one that took place 41 years ago in Ireland – back in the headlines. Four decades on and no one charged for the offence and the surviving members of the victims’ families still expressing the raw pain of the loss they have lived with all that time. All this but another symptom of what C.S. Lewis ap

By Bonnie Pritchett - Posted at Baptist Press: Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed legislation Sunday that prohibits Texas government agencies from subpoenaing the sermons of religious leaders. (Facebook) Senate Bill 24, authored by Sen. Joan Huffman, R-Houston, protects clergy from government overreach in civil investigations. No governmental agency can force religious leaders to turn over their sermons or compel clergy to testify about their sermons according to the bill. AUSTIN (BP) -- Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed legislation Sunday (May 21) that prohibits Texas government agencies from subpoenaing the sermons of religious leaders. In a ceremony choreographed to highlight the bill's benefactors Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick signed the bill surrounded by Houston area clergy during the May 21 worship service at Grace Church, Woodlands, Texas. Four of the five Houston pastors whose sermons became the target of a sweeping 2014 subpoena "fishing expedition"

Li Heping (right), a Christian human rights lawyer and Zhao  Wei's boss, aged nearly 20 years during the two years he was imprisoned for his work, primarily due to torture.  (Photo: ChinaAid) (Beijing—May 23, 2017) The youngest legal assistant arrested as part of a nationwide crackdown on human rights recently broke her silence to write an emotional letter to colleagues imprisoned with her, describing the enormous burden of the torture they endured and inviting them to join with her to end China’s abuses. In the letter, Zhao Wei, a 26-year-old legal assistant arrested connection with the human rights crackdown known as the 709 case, describes her struggle to break through the fear and torture that defined her imprisonment in order to take her first steps into speaking out against injustice. She notes the resilient love of her parents, which prompted them to travel the nation to free her, explains her inability to win the fight for China’s freedom on her own, and encourages t

Posted at ThouArtTheMan : Front view of VOM Administration Building, part of the $28M complex. Janna Chan at the ThouArtTheMan blog stated that they would like to hear my story concerning the bizarre behavior of management at Voice of the Martyrs USA and how I was excommunicated for trying to simply do my job well. So here it is, I write it down almost 15 years after my relationship ended with them. I have followed the controversy closely based on my experience. I know who went to the police and who Tom White’s victim is. The father I run into on a pretty regular basis. So here it is in all the details. To be honest I am an introvert who would, in my flesh, prefer to stay out of the limelight. However, my conscience drives me to take a stand where I see evil inside the Church. The story starts in the mid 90’s when my best friend introduces me to the “ministry” by giving me a fundraising mailer that he had received. I trust his judgment and my heartstrings are pulled

Details: Published on Nov 24, 2013 This program is available on DVD here: http://bit.ly/1ci4Nl4 A fascinating analysis examining the core of Christian orthodoxy; where denominations within the true Church ends...and a cult begins. "Once again, The Apologetics Group has developed a scholarly presentation addressing a vital current issue. This new production not only deals with how to identify The Marks of a Cult, but in its own right is a type of "mini-systematic theology" that will greatly benefit any individual or church group. I highly recommend it for a better understanding of cult beliefs and practice, as well as, developing your understanding of historic Christian theology." Dr. Kenneth G. Talbot -- President, Whitefield Theological Seminary In today's religiously diverse and relativistic culture, labeling a group a cult may seem extreme to many people, not to mention rude. Even people who believe in absolute Truth and further believe that Jesus

By Dave Benner - Posted at the Tenth Amendment Center : When delegates gathered in Philadelphia 230 years ago this week to consider changes to the structure of the general government, many prominent delegates brought plans to create a much stronger central authority, shifting power away from the states. However the Constitution that actually came out of that convention established a limited general government with power remaining primarily in the states. On May 14, 1787, delegates from the several states convened in Philadelphia, forming a convention with the initial aim of proposing amendments to the Articles of Confederation. Over the course of the next four months, they formulated a model for a new general government which would require the positive ratification of nine states. According to Article VII, it was a compact between states “so ratifying the Same.” James Madison and Edmund Randolph went to the Philadelphia Convention advocating for a “National Legislature” wit

By Rick Mingerink - Posted at the Reformed Free Publishing Association blog: Over the next couple posts, I will be treating the subject of social constructionism. This may seem like a strange topic, hardly worth knowing. Although the term itself isn’t part of most people’s daily speech, its influence can be seen all over. If you bear with me over the next couple posts, you will find social constructionism is something you will want to know more about. I first learned about this subject during my graduate studies at Calvin College. It was new to me, but it helped me understand why the world is consistently moving toward a progressive, non-traditional worldview. Have you ever wondered how two people living in the same country, maybe even on the same street, can have such radically different views on marriage or homosexuality and both passionately claim they are right? Or how there can be such polarization between the left and the right? The differences in worldview and ideolog

By Heather Clark - Posted at Christian News Network : CASPER, Wy. — The abortion and contraception giant Planned Parenthood will close its only Wyoming location in July for financial reasons. “We looked at what services we provided,” Adrienne Mansanares of Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains told the Star Tribune this week. “We also looked at the financial health of the health center.” She explained that most women obtaining services were going to the Fort Collins, Colorado location. The Casper location saw an estimated 500 women a year. It offered contraception, testing for sexually transmitted diseases and abortion referrals. Spokeswoman Whitney Phillips said that Planned Parenthood will now refer women to area community health centers, which accept walk-ins and Medicaid. Read more here.

Posted at CourtsCannotMakeLaws.com : “Sometimes Christians must break the law in order to truly love their neighbor. Weren’t those who smuggled slaves to freedom breaking the law? Weren’t those who hid Jews from their Nazi persecutors breaking the law?” asked Elizabeth Johnston, in her blog The Activist Mommy . LOUISVILLE, Ky — Anti-abortion activists were arrested and charged with criminal trespassing after blocking the doors of the last remaining surgical abortion center in the state on Saturday. The eleven demonstrators were carrying out what has become commonly known in the anti-abortion movement as a “rescue”, wherein the rescuers lock arms in front of the clinic entrances in order to prevent women from entering. The tactic was abandoned in the 90s after passage of the FACE act and successful RICO lawsuits, which imposed harsh penalties including one year in prison and $100,000 fines for first time offenders. EMW Women’s Surgical Center in Louisville, Kentucky has been t

Corrie ten Boom – Righteous Among the Nations Wikipedia By Pastor Matt Trewhella - Posted at LesserMagistrate.com : Recently some Christians were arrested for blocking the door of the abortion clinic (death camp) in Louisville, Kentucky. Some have condemned their action because they have “broken the law.” One slogan I have heard repeatedly to explain why they should not have broken the law is: “We should only disobey the government when they make a law which would cause us to sin personally.” And this is wrong. It is wrong biblically. It is wrong historically. The standard that Christian men have followed down through the ages is: “When the State commands us to do what God forbids or forbids us to do what God commands – we are to obey God rather than man.” This is far different from “We only disobey if we have to sin personally.” If that assertion is true, then Corrie Ten Boom was wrong for hiding Jews from the Nazis in her home. No one told Corrie she had to personally place Je

By Heather Clark - Posted at Christian News Network : Photo Credit: Charity Johnston LOUISVILLE, Ky. — 10 people were arrested on Saturday as they blocked the entrance to Kentucky’s last remaining abortion facility to prevent mothers from murdering their unborn children. The effort corresponded with Mother’s Day weekend. Abortion opponents from across the country gathered outside of EMW Women’s Clinic in Lexington to preach the gospel and stand for life. Some of those present, including a pastor, missionary and several youth, sat in front of the entrance to the facility, a practice commonly known in the 1990’s as a rescue. A statement released by one of the entities associated with the effort, Operation Rescue/Operation Save America, outlines that those involved believed that preventing murder superseded the consequence of arrest. “In the battle to end abortion, the American holocaust, these rescuers have counted the cost and are willing to pay the price to protect the lives of their p

Jay Rogers By Jay Rogers - Posted at The Forerunner : I was blessed to see Christians in Kentucky earlier today taking their words and backing them up with deeds. Some of my good friends, including Rusty Thomas and Cal Zastrow’s family, were among the rescuers. Some background here is that I lived in a house across the street from an abortion mill for seven years in Melbourne, Florida. The house was originally bought by Operation Rescue National director Keith Tucci. I bought it from Keith when he was planning to move out of Melbourne. The original reason for the purchase was a court ordered “buffer zone” injunction that said Christians couldn’t preach, pray or protest on the sidewalk or even 100 feet away. The house provided some legal proximity. Hundreds of us challenged the injunction by risking arrest. One case challenging the injunction went all the way to the Supreme Court where we lost. Yet we inexplicably won! How was that possible? The injunction still stood and the Supreme C

"Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends" (John 15:13) A historic event is in progress at the EMW Women's Clinic in Louisville, Kentucky. At 136 W. Market Street, a small band of committed Christians with Operation Rescue National/Operation Save America are crossing a line that has not been crossed for close to 20 years. There are no other ministries or organizations sponsoring this event. They are risking arrest to rescue their preborn neighbor. In the battle to end abortion, the American holocaust, these Rescuers have counted the cost and are willing to pay the price to protect the lives of their preborn neighbors. These Rescuers are exercising the Christian doctrine of interposition. Interposition takes place when one stands in the gap between a strong oppressor and a victim in order to rescue the victim from the oppressor's hands. The Bible and history are replete with glorious examples of interposition. It

Posted at The New Geneva Leadership Blog : As a result of technology and the rapid change in social networking and internet communication we have been inundated with distractions. The majority of these distractions are unprofitable. Some even dangerous as in texting while driving or checking Face Book instead of paying attention to where one is either walking or even driving. Most electronic devices, all of which are pandemically common within our day to day living, are a constant interruption with their beeps, buzzes and alarms. These only add to our attention deficit disorder which makes it almost impossible to think clearly or focus on any given project or task. Mankind has become a slave to email, Face Book, Twitter, Linked In and a myriad of other techno-interrupters all designed to make us productively impotent. Time: Friend or Foe? Time waits for no one. It is given as a Divine investment into one’s life in order for that individual to do something of worth with it. It

By Rev. Dr. Paul Michael Raymond - Posted at New Geneva Ambassador School Blog : Every true Child of God desires to change the world, by the advancing of Christ’s Kingdom for His Glory. Only the sincere regenerate sets forth his or her life in consistent self-sacrificial service to the living and reigning Christ. They alone understand the great commission of Christ’s global conquest to establish His reign in the midst of Time and History. While the desire to change the world for Christ is admirable, there are certain problems the ambitious saint faces. Problem 1: The overly ambitious saint wants to see change NOW, which means   that he is very impatient and often doesn’t understand that the Kingdom of God is only advanced to its fullest extent throughout many generations. This is known as the doctrine of gradualism. Kingdom change does not happen in a catastrophic fashion. It does not happen immediately but over time through patience and tribulation. Patience, mingled with faith i

By S. Craig Sanders - Posted at Baptist Press : NEW YORK (BP) -- In an age of partisan conflict, few causes unite people of faith and secularism like the human trafficking crisis that enslaves approximately 45.8 million people around the world. But if you ask someone how they feel about those who are prostituted, homeless and undocumented in their communities, their responses may be different -- even hostile. That's because, says modern-day abolitionist Raleigh Sadler, our presuppositions often blind us to the reality that many of these are victims trapped in forms of slavery, whether it be for sex or domestic servitude. "When we say, 'Look at that bum!' or 'Oh she's just having sex for money!' we're inferring upon them a narrative we've chosen," Sadler says. "We take someone who could be victimized and we label them a perpetrator." In January 2017, Sadler launched Let My People Go, a nonprofit ministry headquartered in New Yo

By Rev. Dr. Joe Renfro - Posted at The Christian Observer : There is education, and often very much in contemporary American education is being coupled with a victimhood mentality. Various minority groups are crying out particularly from the platforms of academia, our colleges and universities, that they or a group they support are suffering from various forms of what they call adverse discrimination—be it Islamophobia, homophobia, racism, sexism, genderism, xenophobia, ageism, socio-economic discrimination, disability prejudice, or whatever. Protest has become for many an accepted, even applauded form of education. Learning is for these, not the only acquisition of knowledge, but cultivation of attitudes under the semblance of education to promote change they desire. Slavoi Zizek in an article from the Melbourne School of Continental Philosophy wrote an article called, “Somewhere over the Rainbow” where he said: The first thing to note here is that it takes two to fight a cultur

By Heather Clark - Posted at Christian News Network : Rep. Chuck Strohm, R-Jenks, who sponsored the resolution, addressed the House prior to the vote, urging lawmakers “to exercise their authority as appropriate in their respective jurisdictions to stop the murder of innocent unborn children by abortion.” OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. — The Oklahoma House of Representatives has passed a resolution “directing every public official in Oklahoma to exercise their authority to stop [the] murder of unborn children by abortion.” House Resolution 1004 was approved by a voice vote on Monday without any debate or discussion. It notes that every human being is protected by God’s law and the U.S. Constitution, and declares that the U.S. Supreme Court overstepped its bounds by offering its opinion on the matter and usurping the authority of the states. The resolution consequently declares that “every public official in Oklahoma, including but not limited to sheriffs, district attorneys, judges and justices

Posted at Christian in Canada : I recently read a fascinating book entitled “ Tokens of the Divine Displeasure: In the Late Conflagrations of New York and Other Judgments” by James R. Willson, D.D. (available on Google books here ). In this book, the author sets out to prove a thesis I was taught to mock in public school: namely, the idea that the calamities that happen in cities and nations are not the product of mere chance but rather evidences of divine displeasure on God’s part toward regional and national sins. This does not mean that every individual in a region is necessarily guilty of provoking God, however, for often the innocent have to suffer along with the guilty when divine displeasure is manifested. As evidence in support of his thesis, the author argues that the calamities befalling New York in his time relate directly to that state’s particular provocations against God. Below is a summary of the cause-effect relationship drawn. The Initial Provocations – Refusa

By Heather Clark - Posted at Christian News Network: WASHINGTON — The U.S. House of Representatives voted 217 to 213 on Thursday to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA), also known as Obamacare, reducing—but not completely eliminating—funding for the abortion and contraception giant Planned Parenthood for one year in the process. The American Health Care Act (AHCA) will strip Planned Parenthood of $390 million of the more than $450 million it receives in federal funding each year. Speaker Paul Ryan said in January that the funding would be redirected to community health centers, which do not perform abortions. “[W]e think it’s better to send these dollars to those clinics that do a very good job of giving women the services they need—the preventative services—without all the controversy surrounding Planned Parenthood,” he said. The remaining $60 million will continue to be provided through the National Family Planning Program under Title X, reports state. Rea

Posted at The Truth About Moscow : The Moscow-Pullman Daily News used to publish a weekly column by Vera White every Friday. She called herself “the INKster” and used the traditional gossip-columnist format, but only a fool would discount her on this point. She’d make them regret it, which is why everyone read INK. She could dish. Pastor Douglas Wilson of Christ Church in Moscow, Idaho, dubbed Vera White “Virulent White” (sorry, can’t find the link). She returned the favor calling him “the Rev. Holy Man Doug Wilson” — not because she thought him holy. She returned the favor other ways too. For example, in 2004 the Rev. Holy Man retained a proxy to make an offer on prime downtown property where he planned to build a cathedral. Vera learned this and informed the owner who the proxy represented. The deal died on the spot . +1 Vera. Vera White passed away about 15 months ago . So here’s a timely gem from the INKster about the Rev. Holy Man Doug Wilson and southern slavery from Novemb

Posted at Pastor Dave Online : One in four women. Those are the startling national statics for cases of intimate partner violence. For many of us within the church those numbers reveal just how desperately our world needs Jesus, but we fail to realize that domestic violence is a serious problem within our walls too. In fact, domestic abuse is not just a problem within the church, sometimes we can make it easier for abusers to hide and justify themselves. There are two major ways that the church can unintentionally provide a safe haven for abusers. The church is often the most ill-equipped and unprepared to intervene in cases of abuse. We can cultivate a safe haven for abusers, then, simply through ignorance. Victims of abuse may often go to their pastors for help but in reality pastors are often unaware of what abuse looks like, how to identify it, and how to help. If abuse does not reveal itself in the form of classic aggression, violent behavior, and bruises on the victim the

By Heather Clark - Posted at Christian News Network: LONDON —The mother of a miracle child who was born with just two percent of his brain, and has since stunned doctors as his brain matter has grown and progressed to being nearly fully functional, is seeking to change the UK’s current law allowing mothers to abort unborn children with disabilities up to birth. “I feel that all disabled children should be given a chance,” Michelle Wall, 45, told the Daily Mail. “We need to treat disabled people with respect and treat them like human beings.” As previously reported , Wall had been advised months into her 2012 pregnancy that her son had spina bifida, chromosome abnormalities and hydrocephalus. As he was not expected to survive, doctors recommended an abortion—again and again. Read more here.

By Tom Strode - Posted at Baptist Press: WASHINGTON (BP) -- The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom made some ground-breaking recommendations in its latest annual report, but the bipartisan watchdog made clear one reality is not new -- the ability to exercise one's faith continues to deteriorate. In its 2017 report issued Wednesday (April 26), the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) set a precedent by calling for Russia to be classified as one of the world's worst violators of religious liberty. The commission also urged the designation of three Muslim terrorist groups -- the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), the Taliban in Afghanistan and al-Shabaab in Somalia -- as "entities of particular concern" (EPCs), a new category for non-state organizations that use violence against people of faith. Meanwhile, USCIRF reported the status of religious liberty globally "is worsening in both the depth and breadth of violation

Christians for Life and Liberty Columbia, SC May 1, 2017   All Five SC Republicans in US House vote to Fund Planned Parenthood,   Not Border Wall in one-week funding extension - April 28, 2017   - Duncan, Gowdy, Rice, Sanford, Wilson ______________________________ ______________________________ FINAL VOTE RESULTS FOR ROLL CALL 236 (Republicans in roman; Democrats in italic; Independents underlined) H J RES 99          YEA-AND-NAY      28-Apr-2017      11:29 AM       QUESTION:   On Passage       BILL TITLE:   Making further continuing appropriations for fiscal year 2017, and for other purposes http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2017/roll236.xml                                 YEAS         NAYS       PRES      NV REPUBLICAN              207           16                        14 DEMOCRATIC             175           14                         4 INDEPENDENT    TOTALS                      382           30                        18 _____________________________

By Heather Clark - Posted at Christian News Network : TAMPA, Fla. — A religious liberties organization has submitted a letter of complaint to a school district in Florida after being contacted by parents who say that their child’s math teacher is promoting homosexual advocacy in the classroom. The teacher denies any wrongdoing. Attorneys with Liberty Counsel wrote to Hillsborough County Superintendent Jeff Eakins on April 19 to express concern about Riverview High School teacher Lora Jane Reidas, who identifies as a lesbian. They advised that they had received reports that three children in Reidas’ classroom had been prohibited from wearing crucifixes because they could be considered to be “gang symbols” and “disrespectful.” It provided a photograph of one of the crucifix pendants. Meanwhile, according to additional photographs provided to the organization by parents, Reidas has decorated her classroom with various homosexual advocacy material, including buttons on her de