CHRISTIAN NEWS NETWORK

Christians United for Israel 

When we started CUFI here in the UK, one of our first priorities was to produce a free magazine that could be used as a tool to share the truth about Israel as well as encourage supporters in their stand with Israel. Twenty issues later, our Torch magazine has been circulated far and wide across the British Isles. It is the only Christian Zionism magazine, as far as I know, that is received by every member of Parliament in Westminster. 

All our articles are written exclusively by our small team here at CUFI UK, who love Israel and have a passion for communicating the truth. We felt that there needed to be a pro-Israel magazine that reflected the important heritage of Christian Zionism in Britain and address the unique place that the UK has more widely in its stand with Israel and the Jewish people today. Other articles range from equipping readers with tools to defend Israel in discourse about the conflict, challenging readers with valuable lessons from the Holocaust and Israel’s history, reaffirming the Biblical reasons for standing with Israel, as well as inspiring readers with messages of hope for Israel. 

Whilst most of our copies are mailed directly to supporters or read online, we have received reports of the magazine being picked up in some unlikely places, such as one person who contacted us after reading it in a dentist waiting room, and who received comfort before their appointment. We are also grateful to all those supporters who distribute multiple copies to members of their congregation or among friends at a prayer group, for example. 

Over the past few months, we have seen an increase in costs in producing the magazine, including a significant surge in mailing prices. However, we remain committed to continue printing and distributing the magazine despite this. The truth about Israel needs to be circulated now more than ever. We will not stop. We’re also committed in keeping the magazine free of charge. This is because we view Torch magazine as a tool that is having a valuable impact. If you would like to support CUFI UK in producing resources such as Torch magazine, we would greatly welcome any donation in support. One way is to become a member of CUFI through a monthly donation. This can be of any amount and enables us to cover these rising overheads, whilst also planning ahead. For more information on CUFI membership, please go to www.cufi.org.uk/membership .

Finally, I would like to remind you that all twenty issues are available to read online by going to www.cufi.org.uk/Torch-past-issues. And if you live in the UK and would like to receive a hardcopy of the magazine, please let us know by email.

Thank you for your support.


Des Starritt
CUFI UK Executive Director

https://www.cufi.org.uk/news/miracle-as-israeli-mother-with-young-children-survive-direct-shooting-attack-from-hamas-terrorists/
Miracle as Israeli mother with young children survive direct shooting attack from Hamas terrorists
Aug 2, 2023 | News
Miracle as Israeli mother with young children survive direct shooting attack from Hamas terrorists
This week Israel has seen a number of Palestinian terror attacks against civilians. In this latest attack, it is a miracle that the family were able to walk away.

There is also a strong lesson in this story. The attack happened as a response to Jews visiting the Temple Mount. The US condemned the Jewish visit to the Temple Mount, but will they condemn this attack on Jews by Hamas?

The attack happened on Wednesday while a family of four were driving through the Jordan Valley.

“We were returning from a vacation in the north, and suddenly I spotted a vehicle with a Palestinian license plate that was driving suspiciously,” Rafael Avnery told the Kan public broadcaster. “I stopped 20 meters before we got to them, then their vehicle started to move toward me. The vehicle then crossed over the line, blocking us, and the passenger got out and started shooting with an M-16.”

“My wife shouted ‘It’s an attack, reverse, go!’ and the terrorists’ vehicle drove away toward Nablus,” he said.

“I thought that was it,” he added.

The mother, 31-year-old Israeli woman, was injured on her face from glass as the bullets penetrated the windscreen. The two children aged 6 and 9, and the father who was driving were uninjured in the attack.
Hamas have claimed responsibility for the attack and shockingly said it was a “response to the crimes of the occupation against our people and the holy sites.” That’s right. The terrorists of Hamas targeted a family with young children because of their antisemitic hatred of the Jewish people.

The reference to holy sites likely refers to last week when Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir visited the Temple Mount on the annual Jewish holiday of Tisha B’Av. On Tisha B’Av, Jews worldwide mourn the destruction of the first and second Temples in Jerusalem which were destroyed on the 9th of Av.

More than 2,000 Jews ascended the Temple Mount to mark the occasion, something that is very common to do. However, Jews visiting their holiest site is a problem for some and because an Israeli minister was among them, it caused outrage on the international stage with fierce backlash from the Islamic world.

Jordan’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement, “We warn against the dangerous consequences of allowing the extremists to reach the Mount and allow them to carry out provocations.”

The Saudi Foreign Ministry categorized Ben-Gvir’s walk-through of the site as a “flagrant violation of all international norms and agreements” and a “provocation to all Muslims around the world.”

If Jews visiting a holy site is a provocation to “all Muslims” then the problem is not with Israel. Instead, it points to a hatred of the Jewish people. No one should give in to such hysteria and extremism.

Unfortunately, the Biden administration joined in with the condemnation. A US government statement said it “stands firmly for the preservation of the historic status quo with respect to the holy sites in Jerusalem. Any unilateral action or rhetoric that jeopardizes the status quo is unacceptable.”

The problem with this is that the status quo is discriminatory to non-Muslims. Jews are only allowed limited access to the Temple Mount, the holiest site Judaism. Jews and Christians are not allowed to pray at the Temple Mount.

The Hamas terror group also put out a statement saying that Ben-Gvir’s visit was a “dangerous escalation” and pledged to “defend the identity of the blessed Al-Aqsa mosque and protect its Islamic and Arab character at all costs.”

On Wednesday, we saw the fruits of Hamas’s threats. A family, driving home from their vacation was targeted by Hamas terrorism. Will the Jordanians, the Saudis and the US condemn Hamas just as they condemned Jews for visiting the Temple Mount? It’s unlikely.

Thankfully, the miracle is that despite multiple shots hitting the family vehicle, they walked away relatively unscathed. But this should be a wake up call. Terrorism must always be condemned just as the radical hatred against Israel and the Jewish people should. No Jews should be condemned for visiting their holy sites, as such condemnation only serves the terrorists.


https://mailchi.mp/cufi/weeklyreview-07july23-589569
Watch Episode 21 of the CUFI UK Podcast
Why God delights in Israel & Miracle for Israeli family shot at by Hamas

Alex and Alastair discuss how Indian police thwarted a major terror attack against Jews living in Mumbai. They also discuss the terror attacks that took place in Israel this week, including the bravery of a father protecting his daughter and the miracle of a young family escaping death after being shot at by Hamas terrorists. And we look at Palestinian protests in Gaza against Hamas terrorist rulers. Finally they discuss why the Lord delights in Zion and how God sees the Jewish people as being "married" to the land.

Listen or watch on the following platforms:

Watch on YouTube
Watch on Rumble
Listen on Apple Podcasts
Listen on Spotify
Join CUFI every week as we sit down to discuss current issues affecting Israel. We’ll be presenting the FACTS, sharing opinion and providing an insight and perspective into the very latest stories.

Please remember to Like, Share and Comment. If you enjoy the podcast and would like to support CUFI UK further, please consider making a donation to our work. Thank you!
For more information about some of the items covered in the Podcast see our Weekly Review.
https://mailchi.mp/cufi/weeklyreview-07july23-589569

In this CUFI Weekly Review
Indian police foil terror attack on Jews II Israeli family survive terror shooting || Protests against Hamas in Gaza

Indian police foil imminent terror attack on Jews in Mumbai
Indian intelligence services have thwarted a planned terrorist attack against Israelis at the Chabad house in Mumbai.

Two Pakistani suspects were arrested by police, aided by Israeli intelligence, after they discovered a plot to carry out the attack in the coming days 
MORE https://www.cufi.org.uk/news/indian-police-foil-imminent-terror-attack-on-jews-in-mumbai/

https://www.faithwire.com/2023/08/03/occultism-and-unbiblical-views-movie-critic-lambastes-haunted-mansion-after-it-bombed-at-box-office-delivers-frank-advice/?
"Occultism and Unbiblical Views"

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Movie Critic Lambastes 'Haunted Mansion' After It 'Bombed' at Box Office, Delivers Frank Advice

Disney was reportedly dealt another blow at the box office last weekend when “Haunted Mansion” underperformed and “bombed,” according to some critics.
Listen to the latest episode of CBN’s Quick Start podcast
The live-action remake of the 2003 classic by the same name brought in $24.2 million opening weekend, coming under the $30 million experts expected, Movieguide reported.

The Christian movie site went on to express its belief occultic content in “Haunted Mansion” played a role in why some families chose to stay away from theaters.

“The movie struggled to draw in a family audience due to its emphasis on occultism and unbiblical views on the supernatural,” Movieguide noted, adding that the SAG-AFTRA strike also likely had an impact.

Despite having significant star power, including Jamie Lee Curtis, Owen Wilson, and Rosario Dawson, among others, actors weren’t permitted to attend the movie’s premiere or promote it.

Movieguide also connected the poor performance of “Haunted Mansion” to ongoing critiques about the company’s decision to include LGBTQ themes in various TV shows and movies, among other topics.

It’s no secret Disney has been in Christians’ and conservatives’ crosshairs, with various releases reportedly struggling at the box office.

One report last month found The Walt Disney Company is hemorrhaging money, with revenue losses nearing $900 million for recent theatrical releases.

The report comes after movies like “Strange World,” “Elemental,” and “Lightyear” featured either same-sex relationships or nonbinary characters.

There’s also “Pauline,” a new Disney+ show reportedly featuring a teenage girl who falls in love with Satan. Read more about that here.

“Haunted Mansion” reportedly cost Disney $150 million before marketing costs; it’s still too early to tell if the movie will pick up steam at the box office. “Elemental,” a movie initially panned as a flop, has rebounded, with domestic and international monies totaling $400 million.

So far, global receipts for “Haunted Mansion” have brought in just under $39 million.

“Disney needs to return to creating family-friendly movies that promote strong Christian and moral values rather than continuing down the losing path it is currently on,” Movieguide concluded.

Read more about some of Disney’s box office struggles here.

***As the number of voices facing big-tech censorship continues to grow, please sign up for Faithwire’s daily newsletter and download the CBN News app, developed by our parent company, to stay up-to-date with the latest news from a distinctly Christian perspective.***
https://www.faithwire.com/2023/08/03/occultism-and-unbiblical-views-movie-critic-lambastes-haunted-mansion-after-it-bombed-at-box-office-delivers-frank-advice/?

https://mailchi.mp/cufi/prayerpoints-9july23?e=1d69632042
Christians United for Israel UK
"The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in people who are trustworthy."
Proverbs 12:22

This week has been another week where lies have been spread about Israel and there has been a need for Christians to defend God’s people with Truth. Unfortunately, the lies being told go further than simple mistakes or misunderstandings. Out of the mouth the heart speaks and the lying lips highlight that hearts have been turned against the things of God. The institutions that proclaim themselves to be defenders of human rights and upholders of international law are now neglecting their own principles and duties in favour of attacking Israel.

The Bible warns against people who call evil good and good evil. This is exactly what we are seeing in our world today. We must all stand up for God’s truth. We must stand up for the things God loves. God loves Israel, and even if the world is against her, we will always stand on Israel’s side just as God is always on their side.

• Pray for us here at Christians United for Israel, that we will have discernment and wisdom when tackling these lies. We want to be “people who are trustworthy” as the Scripture above says. Pray also that our posts will not be restricted online as this is happening currently and we are finding it harder to reach people due to social media restrictions.
• Pray for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). This week they put their lives on the line to defend the Jewish people from the threat of terror, and they did an exemplary job in difficult circumstances, keeping civilians safe on both sides. Sadly, one Israeli soldier was killed in Jenin, and another was killed by a Hamas terrorist who carried out a shooting attack. Pray for the families of these fallen soldiers and pray for the protection of all IDF personnel.
• Pray for the families affected by the horrific terror attack in Tel Aviv this week. Seven Israeli civilians were injured when they were struck by a vehicle and then stabbed by a terrorist. Some of those who were injured are currently in a critical condition. Sadly, a pregnant Israeli woman lost her baby in the attack. Please pray for healing to the victims, both physical and emotional. Thank you for praying with us this week. We pray that next week will be one of peace for Israel.

Thank you for praying with us today.

In this CUFI Weekly Review
UK Parliament votes in favour of anti-BDS Bill || BBC apologises after presenter’s libellous claim || UN chief wrongly condemns Israel over Jenin

BBC apologises after presenter’s libellous claim that ‘Israel is happy to kill children’
Bennett fought back saying, "There is a fundamental difference between what they’re doing, which is explicitly and deliberately targeting civilians and what we’re doing which is targeting terrorists. That’s exactly the opposite. We’re doing the right thing, they’re killing civilians, and the fact that you’re creating this moral equivalent, or even worse, I think is unacceptable.”

Click here to read
https://www.cufi.org.uk/news/bbc-apologises-after-presenters-libellous-claim-that-israel-is-happy-to-kill-children/

Pastor, His Wife Boldly Defy China’s Most Recent Purported Act of Persecution: ‘Thank God For Allowing Us to Have a Part in His Affliction’

By Billy Hallowell

Editor

7 hours ago

China is reportedly persecuting a well-known pastor, fining him and his wife around $55,100 for “organizing religious activities,” according to ChinaAid, a group monitoring human rights abuses.

Listen to the latest episode of CBN’s Quick Start podcast

“On June 28, Chinese officials enforced and doubled the fine for the well-known pastor of Xunsiding Church Yang Xibo (Yang Cibo), and his wife Wang Xiaofei (Wang Cia-o-fey),” a statement from the organization reads. “They owe a total of 400,000 yuan (~$55,100).”

The couple have reportedly attempted to fight the fine over the past two years, but, according to ChinaAid, have seen each appeal rejected.

The government reportedly banned the house church in 2019 and sent police to surround it — an event that went on for 30 days and was followed up by raids. A house church, for context, is a religious body unregistered with China’s official Catholic or Protestant denominations, as Fox News noted.

more https://www.faithwire.com/2023/07/05/pastor-his-wife-boldly-defy-chinas-most-recent-purported-act-of-persecution-thank-god-for-allowing-us-to-have-a-part-in-his-affliction/?

Christians United for Israel

Thank you!
House of commons votes in favour of anti-BDS Bill
We would like to say a big ‘thank you’ to everyone who wrote to their MP encouraging them to support the Bill in parliament that would stop local councils from being allowed to carry out boycotts and divestments against Israel.

We are pleased to share that late last night the House of Commons passed the Second Reading of the anti-BDS Bill, meaning it will now move to ‘Committee stage’, which is a line-by-line consideration of the details of the bill.

Simply put, the Bill is now well on its way to being passed into law. There are a few more steps until that happens, and we encourage you to pray for this situation, but the largest hurdle has been crossed.

The results of the vote for the ‘Economic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) Bill’ were 268 votes in favour and 70 votes against. 

Labour chose to abstain from the vote after an amendment they proposed was rejected. This was a shame as it would have been encouraging to see cross-party support for this Bill. Instead, we saw the Conservatives largely support the Bill along with the DUP and the Reclaim Party, while the SNP, Liberal Democrats and a few others voted against it.

You can see the breakdown of the votes here.

It is encouraging to have small victories like this in our parliament. At Christians United for Israel UK, we want to see Britain’s relationship with Israel grow in strength. This type of action ensures that no local council can make a rogue decision against the will of the government, or the British public, to harm Israel.

We believe our campaigning is having a positive impact and we could not do this without you. If you would like to support CUFI UK in raising the Christian banner of support for Israel in the UK, please consider donating.

Thank you once again for your support. Whether you support us financially, by joining our campaigns, or with your prayers, we are truly grateful for all you do in standing up for Israel.

For Zion’s Sake,
Des Starritt

Americans Unveil Views on Exposing Kids to Drag Shows, Trans Ideology and Corporations Embracing LGBTQ Themes
The majority of American voters with an opinion on the matter believe introducing young children to issues like “transgenderism, drag shows, and LGBTQ+ themes” can have a negative impact on their development.
Listen to the latest episode of CBN’s Quick Start podcast

In fact, a Summit.org and McLaughlin and Associates survey found 61% of voters with a view on the subject said such exposure “hurts [kids’] emotional and psychological development,” with just 39% seeing it as beneficial to children.

And the majority of this same voter pool — 63% — also believe there’s a “cultural agenda” afoot among those who choose to expose children to transgender themes, drag shows, and LGBTQ+ issues.

Another 37% see such exposure as rooted in an effort to “help children.“

The results come on the heels of Pride month and amid a heated increase in rhetoric and debate surrounding social issues.

With recent boycotts and controversies surrounding Bud Light and Target for their handling of LGBTQ issues, the contention shows no signs of slowing down.

A separate survey from the Convention of States Action and The Trafalgar Group assessed Americans’ views on some of the recent protests surrounding brands like Target and Bud Light, finding the majority (62%) believe companies should remain neutral on cultural issues.

Just 24% believe companies should continue promoting and weighing in on such issues.

“No month better epitomizes the lengths that companies will go to in order to kiss the ring of the progressive left than Pride month in June,” Mark Meckler, president of the Convention of States, said in a statement. “But, as we saw with Bud Light and Target, Americans are fed up.”

The release of these surveys comes amid another shocking find: Americans have become more socially conservative. According to Gallup, there’s an uptick in the percentage of adults calling themselves “conservative” or “very conservative,” with 38% falling into this category.
READ MORE https://www.faithwire.com/2023/06/28/americans-unveil-views-on-exposing-kids-to-drag-shows-trans-ideology-and-corporations-embracing-lgbtq-themes/?

Disney Hemorrhages $900 Million in Box Office Failures, Film Analysis Reveals

On the heels of news The Walt Disney Company is working on a German series about a teenage girl who has a rendezvous with the devil, it has come to light the House of Mouse is hemorrhaging cash.

READ MORE https://www.faithwire.com/2023/06/26/disney-hemorrhages-900-million-in-box-office-failures-film-analysis-reveals/?

Chinese Communists’ Latest Crackdown Forcing Registration on Religion App Sparks Persecution Fears

People's Liberation Army (PLA) soldiers march past a poster depicting Chinese President Xi Jinping at their quarters during the opening ceremony of the 20th National Congress of China's ruling Communist Party in Beijing, China, Sunday, Oct. 16, 2022. China on Sunday opens a twice-a-decade party conference at which leader Xi Jinping is expected to receive a third five-year term that breaks with recent precedent and establishes himself as arguably the most powerful Chinese politician since Mao Zedong. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)
Following reports the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is attempting to rewrite the Bible in its own image, there’s another troubling allegation about the restrictive government — that officials are testing out a new app demanding citizens pre-register before attending religious services.

Listen to the latest episode of CBN’s Quick Start podcast
https://www.faithwire.com/2023/06/23/chinese-communists-latest-crackdown-forcing-registration-on-religion-app-sparks-persecution-fears/?

June 17, 2023

HUMOR

Bridal Registry

My sister, went to the department store to check out the bridal registry of our niece whose wedding was coming up soon. When my sister returned from the store, she tossed the gift list on a table and declared, "I think she's too young to get married."

"Why do you say that?" I asked.

"Because," she said, "they registered for Nintendo games."

…….Patricia Kaine (docsdailychuckle@associate.com) by way of ‘Christian Voices (christianvoices@att.net)


My wife, a registered nurse, once fussed over every pain or mishap that came my way. Recently, however, I got an indication that the honeymoon is over.

I was about to fix the attic fan, and as I lifted myself from the ladder in the attic, I scratched my forehead on a crossbeam. Crawling along, I picked up splinters in both hands, and I cut one hand replacing the fan belt. On the way down the ladder, I missed the last two rungs and turned my ankle.

When I limped into the kitchen, my wife took one look and said, "Are those your good pants?"

……Christian Herald by way of ‘Christian Voices (christianvoices@att.net)

What Should Christians Know about IBLP and Shiny Happy People: Duggar Family Secrets?
Since the release of Amazon’s Shiny Happy People, folks are talking about Gothard and his IBLP. You’d heard of the Duggars, but did you know about the philosophy which shaped their culture?

MIKE LEAKE
BORROWED LIGHT
JUN 09, 2023
What Should Christians Know about IBLP and Shiny Happy People: Duggar Family Secrets?
In college and seminary, I learned about the philosophical and theological underpinnings of many of the movements of our day. We dove deep into thinkers like David Hume, Immanuel Kant, Jacques Derrida, and many others.

We noted their impact on various worldly philosophies of our day. We also analyzed the impact of activists and sociologists like Margaret Sanger, Karl Marx, Max Weber, and more.

But there was something that we seldom looked at. Our own philosophical and theological foundations. Where’d the idea of umbrellas of authority come from?

What about the idea of not “defrauding” one another through how you dress or act? Where did we get some of our principles of courtship and dating? Where does the idea come from that children are a “quiverfull” of arrows to redeem culture?

It was simply assumed that these principles, or perhaps called basic life principles, stemmed from the Bible. I’d never even heard of a man named Bill Gothard or the Institute in Basic Life Principles (IBLP).

And yet, many of his views were running rampant in the culture and teaching of the conservative college and seminary which I attended.

You’ve likely been hearing the name Bill Gothard more recently. Since the release of Amazon’s Shiny Happy People, folks have been talking about Gothard and his IBLP. You’d heard of the Duggars, but did you know about the philosophy which shaped their culture?

What Is the IBLP?
The Institute in Basic Life Principles (IBLP) was founded in 1961 as a local outreach in Chicago. Its stated purpose is to “teach the wisdom and truth of Scripture as the foundation of every area of life.”


They attempt to fulfill their mission through conferences, retreats, and seminars as well as providing many homeschool families with their “trusted teaching.”

In the 1960s and 1970s, the foundation of the movement was Gothard’s Basic Youth Conflicts seminar. In 1974 these seminars coalesced into the Institute in Basic Youth Conflicts (IBYC). In the late 70’s they began publishing books, most notably a popular story of a missionary entitled The Pineapple Story.

In 1984, with many becoming disenchanted with the public school system, a need arose to provide homeschooling curriculum. The Advanced Training Institute of America (ATIA) was launched with 102 families participating in the seminal program.

The popularity of the institute exploded among homeschool families in the late 80s and early 90s, even reaching globally. In 1989, the name was changed to its current name — Institute in Basic Life Principles.

In 2000, a 2200-acre campus was built in Texas to house the home offices and the International ALERT Academy. ALERT stands for Air Land Resource Emergency Team.

According to their website, it is an intense “post-high-school, Christian discipleship and training program for young men who want to live with purpose and make an impact. We forge men to be spiritually sound, physically fit, and ready to serve.”

The movement continued to expand through the early 2000s, in part because of the popularity of the TLC show 19 Kids and Counting. The show followed the life of the Duggar Family and their eventual 19 children.

The Duggars were proponents of the IBLP, used their curriculum, and spoke at their seminars. When the popularity of the Duggars rose, so also did the teaching of the IBLP.

In 2014, Bill Gothard was accused of sexual harassment. This led to a more open critique of the organization and its teachings. Gothard stepped down in 2014, and the Institute moved offices from Texas to Illinois.

Though its influence has waned from its pinnacle days, the IBLP continues to this day, still influencing many families.

Who Is Bill Gothard?
Bill Gothard was born into a Christian family in 1934. He received degrees from Wheaton College in 1961. In the early 1960s, Gothard became concerned with helping other youth make wise choices in their life.

He came up with what he called “seven biblical, non-optional principles of life.” These are the seven principles:

1. Design: know the specific purpose for why God created you.

2. Authority: inward peace results when people respect and honor the God-given authority in their lives.

3. Responsibility is when you have a clear conscience when you realize you are responsible for every thought, word, action, and motive. You are also responsible for seeking forgiveness when you offend others.


4. Suffering is the idea that we allow hurts from offenders and welcome them for revealing “blind spots” in our lives. You must overcome bitterness with forgiveness.

5. Ownership is the principle that we are stewards and not owners of our possessions.

6. Freedom: true freedom is having the power and the desire to do what is right.

7. Success is the notion that when we follow God, meditate on His ways, memorize Scripture, and make wise decisions, we will successfully fulfill our life purposes.

This was the core of what Gothard taught and was part of the seminars which made him wildly popular in fundamentalist and conservative circles in the 70s and 80s. Many of his seminars were attended by more than 10,000 people.

In the early ’80s, Gothard moved his focus to homeschooling. He was responsible for creating the education program which revolved around these biblical principles, writing 54 “Wisdom booklets,” which taught geography, science, math, history, and other subjects from a fundamentalist Christian perspective.

Though Gothard himself never married, he was influential in shaping conservative families for decades. Gothard taught the importance of family structure and emphasized the man’s role within the home.

In 2011, a website was launched with former students sharing their negative or harmful experiences at the hands of IBLP and even, specifically, Gothard. In 2012, one courageous woman, Lizzie, came forward to share that she had been inappropriately touched by Gothard as a teen.

This opened the door for more than 30 other women to make similar allegations. In 2014, Gothard resigned from his position. He was sued in 2015 and 2016, and those cases were eventually dropped in 2018. He counter-sued his accusers, but the countersuit was dismissed.

What Are the Issues with IBLP?
This is actually a difficult question to answer for a wider audience. If you are a fundamentalist, a conservative, and adhere to patriarchal theology and quiverfull theology, there will be some (or many) things within the teaching of Gothard which you find no issue with.

Others will have varying degrees of difficulty with the movement. I will share the most problematic teachings/actions and then move toward those which are concerns for some but not others.

First, one has to look at the case of Josh Duggar. Certainly, we cannot make a one-to-one causality with IBLP and Duggar’s sexual assault of several underage girls, including his own sisters.

There are many who were raised in this movement that do not download child pornography on their computers. The teaching of Gothard does not cause sexual assault. But does it create a culture where those with this propensity are left unchecked?
READ MORE https://www.christianity.com/wiki/christian-life/what-should-christians-know-about-iblp-and-shiny-happy-people-duggar-family-secrets.html?

CBN News Team Shares Personal Stories About Pat Robertson's Life-Changing Impact

He loved a great scoop and good storytelling – that's how one CBN News reporter described Pat Robertson's affinity for the news. And his passion inspired a generation of journalists and producers to work at CBN.

READ MORE
https://www2.cbn.com/news/us/cbn-news-team-shares-personal-stories-about-pat-robertsons-life-changing-impact?utm_source=cbn&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=news-eu-faithwire&utm_content=20230609-7020424&inid=4b58f7c0-7f5b-eb11-b823-005056af0da1

"For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong."

— 2 Corinthians 12:10 (ESV)

https://www.faithwire.com/2023/06/05/only-two-genders-americans-unveil-stance-and-majority-reject-schools-counseling-on-gender-behind-parents-backs

Only Two Genders?
Americans Unveil Stance and Majority Reject Schools Counseling on Gender Behind Parents' Backs

A new survey has revealed Americans overwhelmingly believe there are only two genders and do not think schools should secretly counsel trans-identifying children without their parents’ knowledge.

A new survey has revealed Americans overwhelmingly believe there are only two genders and do not think schools should secretly counsel trans-identifying children without their parents’ knowledge.

Listen to the latest episode of CBN’s Quick Start podcast


The Rasmussen Reports telephone and online survey, conducted May 24-25, 2023, found 71% of U.S. adults agree “there are two genders, male and female” — and 57% strongly agree with the statement.

Just 23% of Americans disagree with the idea male and female are the only genders.

Among other intriguing results in the survey was the finding just 26% of Americans surveyed believe school staff should be permitted to counsel kids about gender and sexual identity without parental consent. Meanwhile, 60% reject such a notion, with an additional 14% stating they are unsure.

Not surprisingly, Republicans — some of the most vocal opponents of schools introducing such topics to young people — are most likely to oppose (75%) counseling kids on gender and sexual identity.

Sixty-four percent of individuals not affiliated with either major political party agree this shouldn’t unfold without parental consent, with 44% of Democrats saying the same, The Christian Post reported.

The survey results come as the national debate over LGBTQ issues reaches a fever pitch. With boycotts of retailer Target and beer brand Bud Light persisting, there’s no telling where the discussion will go next.

As CBN’s Faithwire has reported, the debate over public schools and transgender issues, particularly, has also been heating up.

In one key legal battle, a veteran middle school teacher in California who has spent more than 20 years in the education system is suing officials over the claim she and other educators were implored to conceal students’ gender identities from parents.

Some states like Iowa and Florida are taking the opposite approach, passing legislation requiring schools to let parents know what’s happening regarding mental health and gender, as The Christian Post noted.

With 2024 quickly approaching, it will be interesting to see how education and these related issues come into play among voters.

The survey, conducted among 1,116 U.S. adults, had a margin of error of +/-3 percentage points. Read more about the survey results here.

***As the number of voices facing big-tech censorship continues to grow, please sign up for Faithwire’s daily newsletter and download the CBN News app, developed by our parent company, to stay up-to-date with the latest news from a distinctly Christian perspective.***

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Idaho High School Senior Reportedly Banned From Walking at Graduation After Saying ‘Guys Are Guys and Girls Are Girls’ During School Address

https://www.christianheadlines.com/blog/15-influential-quotes-from-pastor-tim-keller.html
15 Influential Quotes from Pastor Tim Keller
Kayla Koslosky | ChristianHeadlines.com Editor | Friday, May 19, 2023
15 Influential Quotes from Pastor Tim Keller
ChristianHeadlines.com
15 INFLUENTIAL QUOTES FROM PASTOR TIM KELLER Share Tweet

The late pastor and best-selling author Tim Keller passed away on Friday, May 19, three years after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Keller had a long and influential ministerial career. During his time in the pastorate, he regularly highlighted the love and goodness of God through his sermons, books and social media posts. Keller is the author of nearly three dozen books.

Here are 10 inspiring quotes about faith, Christianity and God’s goodness from Pastor Tim Keller:

"To be loved but not known is comforting but superficial. To be known and not loved is our greatest fear. But to be fully known and truly loved is, well, a lot like being loved by God. It is what we need more than anything. It liberates us from pretense, humbles us out of our self-righteousness, and fortifies us for any difficulty life can throw at us." - The Meaning of Marriage: Facing the Complexities of Commitment with the Wisdom of God
"We modern people think of miracles as the suspension of the natural order, but Jesus meant them to be the restoration of the natural order. The Bible tells us that God did not originally make the world to have disease, hunger, and death in it. Jesus has come to redeem where it is wrong and heal the world where it is broken. His miracles are not just proofs that he has power but also wonderful foretastes of what he is going to do with that power. Jesus' miracles are not just a challenge to our minds, but a promise to our hearts, that the world we all want is coming." - The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism
"The gospel is this: We are more sinful and flawed in ourselves than we ever dared believe, yet at the very same time we are more loved and accepted in Jesus Christ than we ever dared hope." - The Meaning of Marriage: Facing the Complexities of Commitment with the Wisdom of God
"Faith is not primarily a function of how you feel. Faith is living out and believing what truth is despite what you feel."
"Love without truth is sentimentality; it supports and affirms us but keeps us in denial about our flaws. Truth without love is harshness; it gives us information but in such a way that we cannot really hear it. God’s saving love in Christ, however, is marked by both radical truthfulness about who we are and yet also radical, unconditional commitment to us." - The Meaning of Marriage: Facing the Complexities of Commitment with the Wisdom of God
"If we think we are not all that bad, the idea of grace will never change us. Change comes by seeing a need for a Savior and getting one." - The Prodigal God: Recovering the Heart of the Christian Faith
"You may speak a great deal about what a 'blessing' your faith is ... but if you are prayerless—is that really true? If you aren’t joyful, humble, and faithful in private before God, then what you want to appear to be on the outside won’t match what you truly are." - Prayer
"Tolerance isn't about not having beliefs. It's about how your beliefs lead you to treat people who disagree with you."
"The basic premise of religion– that if you live a good life, things will go well for you – is wrong. Jesus was the most morally upright person who ever lived, yet He had a life filled with the experience of poverty, rejection, injustice, and even torture."
"As many have learned and later taught, you don't realize Jesus is all you need until Jesus is all you have." - Counterfeit Gods: The Empty Promises of Money, Sex, and Power, and the Only Hope that Matters
"When people say, 'I know God forgives me, but I can't forgive myself,' they mean that they have failed an idol, whose approval is more important than God's." - Counterfeit Gods: The Empty Promises of Money, Sex, and Power, and the Only Hope that Matters
"A faith without some doubts is like a human body without any antibodies in it. People who blithely go through life too busy or indifferent to ask hard questions about why they believe as they do will find themselves defenseless against either the experience of tragedy or the probing questions of a smart skeptic. A person's faith can collapse almost overnight if she has failed over the years to listen patiently to her own doubts, which should only be discarded after long reflection. Believers should acknowledge and wrestle with doubts — not only their own but their friends' and neighbors'. It is no longer sufficient to hold beliefs just because you inherited them. Only if you struggle long and hard with objections to your faith will you be able to provide the grounds for your beliefs to skeptics, including yourself, that are plausible rather than ridiculous or offensive."
"The Christian Gospel is that I am so flawed that Jesus had to die for me, yet I am so loved and valued that Jesus was glad to die for me. This leads to deep humility and deep confidence at the same time. It undermines both swaggering and sniveling. I cannot feel superior to anyone, and yet I have nothing to prove to anyone. I do not think more of myself nor less of myself. Instead, I think of myself less." - The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism
"If a person has grasped the meaning of God's grace in his heart, he will do justice. If he doesn't live justly, then he may say with his lips that he is grateful for God's grace, but in his heart, he is far from him. If he doesn't care about the poor, it reveals that at best he doesn't understand the grace he has experienced, and at worst he has not really encountered the saving mercy of God. Grace should make you just." - Generous Justice: How God's Grace Makes Us Just
"God does not love us because we are serviceable; He loves us simply because He loves us. This is the only kind of love we can ever be secure in, of course, since it is the only kind of love we cannot possibly lose. This is grace." - Galatians for You
Photo courtesy: Frank Licorice/Creative Commons, image cropped and resized.

https://www.faithwire.com/2023/04/24/ex-satanist-ex-witch-react-as-satancon-arrives-the-enemy-is-waging-all-out-war-right-in-our-faces/?
Ex-Satanist, Ex-Witch React as SatanCon Arrives: ‘The Enemy Is Waging All Out War Right in Our Faces’
By Steve Warren
2 hours ago
Christian leaders are responding to The Satanic Temple’s (TST) announcement about its second public convention – “a weekend of blasphemy” – to be held in Boston, Massachusetts this upcoming weekend.

The event known as “SatanCon 2023” will take place from April 28-30 at the Boston Marriott Copley Place. It’s being advertised by the TST as the “largest Satanic gathering in history.”

Listen to the latest episode of CBN’s Quick Start podcast


The official theme is “Hexennacht in Boston” or “Witches Night,” an ancient German holiday that occurs annually on April 30.

In response, Christians are sounding alarms and planning to fight a spiritual battle to push back against the darkness.

THREE-DAY CHRISTIAN REVIVAL SCHEDULED FOR SAME WEEKEND
In what’s been described as a spiritual “counter-offensive” to SatanCon 2023, revivalist Dr. Jaymz Sideras, co-founder of ReviveBoston, and his wife Pascale have scheduled a three-day revival in Boston the same weekend.

Christian services will be held at 7:00 p.m. nightly on April 28-30 at the Revere Hotel Boston Common, 200 Stuart Street, which is less than a mile from the TST convention.

A street evangelism campaign is also being planned by ReviveBoston to be held Saturday, April 29.

“Now make no mistake friends, this is an all-out war between the kingdom of Satan and the Kingdom of God for the soul of America,” Sideras said in a video trailer for ReviveBoston April 2023 posted to YouTube.

FORMER OCCULTIST PROVIDES INSIGHT INTO SATANIC GROUP
Author and evangelist John Ramirez, a former occultist, gave CBN News some insight into the Satanic group. In his book, Out of the Devil’s Cauldron: A Journey from Darkness to Light, he tells the story of how he was trained to be the third-ranked high priest of a satanic cult in New York City, casting powerful witchcraft spells and controlling entire spiritual regions.

Ramirez told CBN News in a telephone interview recently he’s not surprised at how TST has sought the public spotlight in recent years.

“They’re being aggressive now,” Ramirez said. “They’ve always been vocal, but now they’re being aggressive. It doesn’t surprise me. The Devil’s telling them now ‘Amp up your game. Amp up your hearts. Get aggressive.'”

After several decades of living as an ally of evil, God opened Ramirez’s eyes. He was born-again and gave his life to Jesus Christ, and everything changed. Now he warns people about dabbling with the darkness.

He understands “how the game is played” with the Devil after years of participating in the demonic realm.

“They know they have a time frame to establish something that the Devil has given them,” he told CBN News. “And if they don’t abide by that time frame the Devil has given them, then they have to deal with the consequences spiritually. I know that because I was in that for 25 years, so I know how the game is played.”

Founded in 2013 and based in Salem, Massachusetts, TST says it doesn’t technically follow Satan but describes itself as a “non-theistic religious organization” that advocates for secularism. On its website, under the question “Do You Worship Satan?”, TST answers: “No, nor do we believe in the existence of Satan or the supernatural.”

Ramirez explained that no matter what Satanists may say, their methods and goals are very real. “They make it seem practical,” he said. “That’s what they say, ‘We don’t worship anything. We’re just a religion.'”

But he explained TST’s claim is just an attempt to disarm their critics and recruit new followers.

“You can’t be a religion without a god,” the ex-Satanist said. “Every religion has a deity to worship and to follow orders and to bow down to. You can’t bow down to nothing. You can’t worship nothing. You have to have a god. They say that because they want to recruit people.”

“It’s like me telling you, ‘Hey brother, I’m a Christian, but I don’t serve Jesus.’ Like, how ridiculous would that be?” he said. “‘I’m a Christian, but I don’t follow Jesus’?”

Ramirez noted TST uses rituals like the group’s “Satanic Abortion Ritual” and other ceremonies to advance their religion in order to get into public schools and even the political system.

“They make it attractive. They talk very smart. They talk very intellectually. That’s just part of their scheme to get people in,” he said. “They are devil worshippers and, of course, they do know how to dress it up in a way for new people. You don’t catch what they’re up to until it’s too late.”

Ramirez told CBN News the church needs to confront these people in love. “Bottom line, God loves them too,” he said.

AN ADVERSARY OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH
The ministry Intercessors for America (IFA) agrees with Ramirez about the Satanic group and called it “an adversary of the Christian faith.”

“This is no neutral, ‘intellectual,’ quirky advocacy group. It is an adversary to the Christian faith and its free exercise in public spaces, to the protection of life, and to the advancement of Bible teaching in the public schools,” a blog post on the IFA’s website reads. “It reflects communist ideals and normalizes rituals, practices, declarations, and beliefs that are a gateway to allowing satanic footholds in people’s lives. There is real satanic power in all these things, and this power will ensnare anyone who participates.”

IFA CEO Dave Kubal recently told Fox News his organization with half a million prayer warriors fasted and prayed against SatanCon in Scottsdale last year, claiming that the event “fizzled” and “their numbers were very small for all practical purposes.”

This year at the Boston event, they are taking the same approach.

‘THE ENEMY IS NO LONGER HIDING’
Former Wiccan witch Jennie Weaver, who’s now a Christian worship artist and Bible teacher, warned in an email to CBN News that public events like Satancon mean “the enemy is no longer hiding.”

“As someone who has come out of witchcraft, and the demonic realm, I can say for sure that the enemy is no longer hiding. What we are seeing is a massive spiritual battle and the enemy is waging an all-out war right in our faces!! I think he’s overplayed this one because now Christians who have been silent on issues before are ‘Enough is enough’ – this is a SHOWDOWN!!!”

“As Christians, we must raise up and take back the land for Christ!” Weaver added. “These people are spitting on the biblical principles that our nation was founded on, and it’s time we take back the land.”

EITHER WAY, ‘THEY ARE DOING THE DEVIL’S WORK’
Andrew Beckwith, president and general counsel of the Massachusetts Family Institute (MFA) recently noted in a blog post on the MFA website, “While TST seems to be distinct from the Church of Satan as one that does not ‘worship Satan’ nor believe in his existence, that doesn’t seem to stop those embracing the name of the Lawless One from being particularly concerned with the law, especially where it intersects with faith.”

Beckwith said TST might be more accurately described as an anti-Christian trolling group than as a pro-Satan activist group.

“But like the Freedom From Religion Foundation and other organizations, TST is hell-bent on eliminating any reference to Christ in public spaces and removing Christian morality from American law. Therefore, whether or not its members truly worship Beelzebub, it’s not a stretch to say that they are doing the devil’s work,” he explained.

Dr. Joel P. Rutkowski, president of the American Voice Institute of Public Policy, asked all Christians to pray for Boston.

Rutkowski tweeted, “#Believers pray for Boston, Massachusetts were SatanCon 2023, is scheduled to take place April 28-30, 2023, and is being touted by the Satanic Temple as the ‘largest satanic gathering in history.’ Also, pray for the salvation of all involved.”

Exiled Iranian Crown Prince makes history by visiting Israel
Apr 21, 2023 | News
Exiled Iranian Crown Prince makes history by visiting Israel
Iran’s Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi, who lives in exile, made history by visiting Israel this week. Pahlavi, the son of the Iranian Shah exiled in 1979, the last non-Islamist ruler of Iran, attended a ceremony at the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial and prayed at the Western Wall.
https://www.cufi.org.uk/news/exiled-iranian-crown-prince-makes-history-by-visiting-israel/
Intelligence Minister Gamliel, who hosted Pahlavi, welcomed his “brave decision” to visit Israel, adding, “The crown prince symbolizes a leadership different from that of the ayatollah regime, and leads values of peace and tolerance, in contrast to the extremists who rule Iran.”

At the “Heroes and Martyrs Remembrance” ceremony on Monday at Yad Vashem, the Crown Prince said that it was his “duty” to attend the event and honor the Holocaust victims.

“It’s a Biblical relationship that our two countries have had over centuries and today when we have the regime that denies the Holocaust has ever occurred it’s my duty to be here representing my fellow compatriots, to honor the victims of the Holocaust and pay my respects to this nation and its people,” he told i24News.

In a tweet about his visit to Yad Vashem, Pahlavi wrote, “Anti-Semitism is evil. It’s not just a Jewish problem. It’s a problem for all humanity. Together with my Iranian compatriots, I condemn the Islamic Republic’s genocidal Jew-hatred and Holocaust denial, and commit to never allow such an unconscionable atrocity to ever happen again.”

https://www.faithwire.com/2023/04/18/influential-pastor-author-and-christian-broadcaster-dr-charles-stanley-passes-away-at-90/?
Influential Pastor, Author, and Christian Broadcaster Dr. Charles Stanley Passes Away at 90
Photo from In Touch Ministries

By Benjamin Gill
Contributor

2 hours ago
Prominent pastor, author, and Christian broadcaster Dr. Charles Stanley has passed away. He died on Tuesday morning, April 18, at 90 years old.

In 65 years of ministry, Dr. Stanley helped to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ around the world through his Bible-teaching ministry.

Listen to the latest episode of CBN’s Quick Start podcast


He had led First Baptist Church Atlanta for 50 years, but he stepped back from that role in 2020. Today, the Atlanta church’s membership includes people from 98 countries of origin, making them among the most ethnically diverse congregations in America.

His son, Andy Stanley, is also well known as the founder of the North Point Community Church in Alpharetta, Georgia where he is the senior pastor.

The elder Stanley was also the founder of In Touch Ministries which he founded in 1977 to spread Bible teaching around the world via radio and television broadcasts. The ministry announced in a post, “In Touch Family, this morning, God called our beloved pastor, Dr. Charles Stanley, home to heaven. Dr. Stanley lived a life of obedience and is now receiving the joy of his soul—seeing his Savior face-to-face. Please join us in praying for the Stanley family.”


CBN Founder and Regent Unversity Chancellor Pat Robertson echoed that tribute, saying, “I join with thousands of friends of Charles Stanley to mourn his passing. He was a great man of God, a wonderful Bible teacher, and his influence reached all around the world. To those of us who know Jesus, we don’t mourn the fact that one of his saints comes home, although at the same time, that doesn’t take the sorrow from our hearts.”

Stanley was recognized for selling more than 10 million copies of his more than 70 books, the latest of which was published in 2023. Over the decades, he gained global influence as a preacher through his broadcasting efforts. According to his ministry, the “In Touch” program is broadcast on more than 4,000 television, radio, and satellite networks and stations worldwide, and his sermons have been translated into 127 heart languages.

Erick Erickson tweeted a sentiment that many Christians can relate to: “So sorry to hear about the death of Charles Stanley. When I was growing up, my grandmother would watch him on TV every Sunday.”


National Religious Broadcasters (NRB), the nation’s leading association of Christian communicators, mourned the news of Stanley’s passing.

“Dr. Stanley leaves behind a lasting legacy as a torch-bearer and trailblazer of Gospel ministry and Christian broadcasting,” said NRB President & CEO Troy A. Miller. “We were blessed to have such a faithful servant of the Lord as a veteran NRB member and a faithful supporter and encourager of the work of NRB. Our condolences and prayers are with Dr. Stanley’s family. Although we mourn his loss in this life, it is a joy to know that he is with his Lord and Savior.”

Countless pastors gleaned from Stanley’s teaching efforts, and many of them were quick to honor him after learning of his passing.

Pastor Greg Laurie of Harvest Christian Fellowship in California tweeted, “Charles Stanley went to Heaven today. He made his mark on this world for the Gospel and his incredible teaching of God’s Word. I like so many others was blessed by hearing his messages on the radio and TV and he was a trusted voice we have all been encouraged by. It was my privilege to meet Dr. Stanley in person in Charlotte, North Carolina at the funeral for Billy Graham. He was warm and gracious. No doubt, he has already heard Jesus say, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of your Lord.’ Charles Stanley will be greatly missed.”


Pastor Jack Graham of Prestonwood Baptist Church in Texas said, “Charles Stanley…a spiritual legacy that will last for generations. I am grateful for the preaching ministry of this man and his commitment to the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus. All the praise goes to Jesus.”


Charles Stanley was preceded in death by his former wife Anna Stanley who had divorced him in 2000. She died in November 2014. They are survived by their son Andy Stanley; daughter Becky Stanley Broderson; six grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and half-sister Susie Cox.

***As the number of voices facing big-tech censorship continues to grow, please sign up for Faithwire’s daily newsletter and download the CBN News app, developed by our parent company, to stay up-to-date with the latest news from a distinctly Christian perspective.***

Franklin Graham Praises Elon Musk's Trans Comments, Slams Culture's 'Lies From the Pit of Hell'
Franklin Graham praised Elon Musk Monday morning for recent comments the business magnate made about parents of children who undergo gender transitions.
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https://www.faithwire.com/2023/04/17/this-madness-needs-to-stop-franklin-graham-praises-elon-musks-trans-comments-slams-cultures-lies-from-the-pit-of-hell/

Washington State is poised to potentially enacting an amended law essentially stripping parents’ rights to stop a child from seeking a gender transition, adding another layer to the ever-complex culture wars.
‘Overstepped the Constitution’: Washington State Set to Ignite Parental Rights War With Bill Targeting Runaway Youth
READ MORE https://www.faithwire.com/2023/04/17/overstepped-the-constitution-washington-state-set-to-ignite-parental-rights-war-with-bill-targeting-runaway-youth/?


Something 'Dark' Is Going on In America: 'Spiritual Battle,' Demonic Themes Confronted in 'Nefarious'
Filmmakers Cary Solomon and Chuck Konzelman have brought some of the most popular and inspirational faith-based movies to the marketplace. The duo directed and penned the script for “Unplanned” and were the writing architects behind the runaway hit “God’s Not Dead.”

READ MORE https://www.faithwire.com/2023/04/17/something-dark-is-going-on-in-america-spiritual-battle-demonic-themes-confronted-in-nefarious/?

https://www.faithwire.com/2023/04/05/casting-out-demons-can-christians-be-possessed-what-does-it-mean-to-be-under-the-influence-of-a-demon-preacher-responds/?

‘Casting Out Demons’: Can Christians Be Possessed? What Does It Mean to Be ‘Under the Influence of a Demon?’ Preacher Responds

Photo: Photo by Adam Wilson on Unsplash
By Billy Hallowell
Editor
April 5, 2023
Deliverance. Exorcism. Possession. Healing. These are all terms under Christondom’s spiritual warfare umbrella that might mean different things to different people, with discussion and theological debate around each concept increasingly percolating.

Listen to the latest episode of CBN’s Quick Start podcast

The rise of deliverance ministry in some quarters is growing, though the broader concepts of demonic oppression and possession have been discussed in secular and Christian sectors for millennia.

Mike Signorelli, pastor of V1 Church in New York City, recently told CBN’s Faithwire about his deliverance efforts, responded to critics’ questions, and explored what it means to achieve spiritual healing.

“The word ‘deliverance’ is not in the Bible; it’s a newer word,” Signorelli said. “You’re not going to find a deliverance ministry in the Bible. What you will find is Jesus casting out demons, you’re going to find His disciples casting out demons, you’re going to find Him commissioning 70 people to go do it.”

While some people’s only frame of reference for evil is Hollywood’s presentation of intense exorcism — a phenomenon many faith leaders note is rare — Signorelli said these spiritual issues might present themselves in starkly different ways.

Possession indicates ownership of sorts, though oppression is more of a spiritual pressure exerted on a person, not necessarily indicative of the types of full spiritual control seen in films like “The Exorcist.”

“In the New Testament, where someone has a demon, the Greek word [is] actually ‘demonized,’ which really means ‘to be under the influence of a demon,'” he said. “And so it helps to understand the difference between oppression and possession.”

Watch Signorelli explain these concepts:

Signorelli said there can be varying degrees of spiritual influence on Christians from the demonic, though he doesn’t believe full ownership of a Christian would be biblically possible.

For the non-believer, though, he said a full possession is plausible since these individuals don’t have the protection of the Holy Spirit.

“When you listen to the words of Jesus, [he] was very binary,” Signorelli said. “It was very black and white … Either you are a son of God or you are son of Satan.”

Of course, simply stating one is a Christian and truly living out that faith claim are two different dynamics entirely.

“I’ve done revival tours all over the world and I always ask people, ‘By what standard are you a Christian, because standing in a garage does not make you a car, just like standing in a church doesn’t make you a Christian.”

Regardless, when a person feels he or she is dealing with true evil, people like Signorelli perform a deliverance, an effort to prayerfully and “forcibly remove demons.”

“The original context of the language that’s used when we talk about casting demons out, it’s not casting them off, it’s casting them out,” Signorelli said. “And the reason why I think that’s important is because, when we accept Christ as our Savior, our spirit is regenerated.”

But while the soul experiences this healing, he said the body does not, noting how believers still die of diseases and experience physical ailments.

Signorelli also noted how Jesus sometimes cast out a spirit of infirmity in the Bible, explaining how people experienced what appeared to be spiritual illnesses impacting their earthly bodies.

“The same Christians that somehow believe that they have the Holy Spirit dwelling on the inside of them but are capable of all this sin for the rest of their life cannot fathom the idea that a demon could be influencing them and need to be cast out of a certain area of their triune being,” he said. “And I think that’s really the big discussion right now — is it possible to be under the influence of a demon in your mind but your spirit’s regenerated?”

Signorelli said he believes such a dynamic is possible and should turn Christians toward “true repentance” and clearing out areas of their lives in which they struggle.

“None of us would admit that we have an infestation of cockroaches in our house because we think that’s a reflection of us,” he said. “But the problem is, if you’re like, ‘No, the cockroaches are around my house; they’re not in my house’ … unfortunately your house never gets clean.”

Signorelli said the deliverance process is a prayerful one that calls people to confess Jesus as their Savior, repent, and draw out the issues with which they struggle.

“I make it very clear [what it means] to actually be a believer and then, after that, we begin to take people through a process of renouncing, because, actually, that’s a word that shows up from Jesus clear on through the New Testament,” he said. “I challenge anybody listening — go do a word study on the word ‘renounce’ — renounce means to hate, it means to detest.”

Signorelli continued, “So, when you renounce something that’s legal language in a kingdom to say, ‘OK, the ways of heaven are completely opposite of the ways of this world, and I hate this sin, I hate this addiction, I hate — I detest it, I renounce it, I refuse to go back.'”

The preacher said he believes this is when people will often experience manifestations of evil during a deliverance, expressing his belief demons “hate” when Christians begin to talk this way.

It’s in that part of the process when he said he and other deliverance ministers will expel demons “out of their flesh, out of their mind, out of their emotions.”

Watch Signorelli break down the deliverance process.

***As the number of voices facing big-tech censorship continues to grow, please sign up for Faithwire’s daily newsletter and download the CBN News app, developed by our parent company, to stay up-to-date with the latest news from a distinctly Christian perspective.***

Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has met the UK Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, in Downing Street where a new UK-Israel trade deal and the threat from Iran were high priority.
Sunak and Netanyahu discuss ‘significant concern about Iran’ at Downing Street meeting
Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has met the UK Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, in Downing Street where a new UK-Israel trade deal and the threat from Iran were high priority.

Sunak also took the opportunity to express “his solidarity with Israel in the face of terrorist attacks in recent month,” adding, “the UK would always stand with Israel and its ability to defend itself.”

Click here to read https://www.cufi.org.uk/news/sunak-and-netanyahu-discuss-significant-concern-about-iran-at-downing-street-meeting/

https://www.faithwire.com/2023/03/17/rick-warren-shifts-perspective-on-church-leadership-what-changed-my-mind-was-scripture/
Rick Warren Shifts Perspective on Church Leadership: ‘What Changed My Mind Was Scripture’
By Tré Goins-Phillips
Editor

March 17, 2023
Two years after three women were ordained as pastors at Saddleback Church, Southern California preacher Rick Warren is explaining his shift in perspective on female leadership.

Warren, who recently stepped down from his senior pastor role at Saddleback, has faced a lot of criticism for his decision to allow female leadership within the church. In fact, earlier this year, the Southern Baptist Convention voted to oust the Lake Forest congregation — its second-largest member church — because a woman is on the pastoral staff.

Listen to the latest episode of CBN’s Quick Start podcast


The best-selling author briefly explained his change of heart in a column for Premier Christianity.

“Most people think that if you change your mind on the issue of women in church leadership, you must be caving in to culture,” he wrote. “You must be becoming a liberal. You must not believe the Bible anymore.”

Warren, 69, said “none of those things” are true of him. Rather, he explained, it was his study of the Great Commission (Matthew 28:16-20) and the recounting of the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:16-21) that led to his shift in perspective.

He wrote:

There are four verbs in the Great Commission: go, make disciples, baptize, and teach. Men and women are to do all four things. Women are to go, women are to make disciples. Women are to baptize and women are to teach. You can’t say: “Well, the first two are for men and women, but the second two are only for men.” The Great Commission was given to every person; not just men and not just ordained people.

“The Purpose Driven Life” author furthermore explained that, on the Day of Pentecost, as it’s recounted in the New Testament book of Acts, “women were in the Upper Room” and both men and women received the Holy Spirit.

“It was so different from the Old Testament, where only ordained men from the tribe of Levi got to be priests, that Peter explained it as the coming of the prophecy in the book of Joel,” he wrote, referring to Joel 2:28-32, in which it is written, “I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days” (NIV).

He added, “Now everybody gets the Holy Spirit: sons and daughters, young and old, men and women. Nobody gets left out.”

Warren also noted women were the first to tell of Jesus’ coming and His resurrection. God used the Prophet Anna, who spent her days and nights worshipping in the temple, to tell all who were seeking redemption that a Savior was coming (Luke 2:25-38). And upon His resurrection, Jesus chose to first reveal Himself to Mary Magdalene, one of His earliest followers. As the first evangelist, Mary Magdalene was tasked with sharing the Good News with Jesus’ disciples, a group of men (John 20:11-18).

“These are verses everybody else wants to ignore,” Warren wrote, “but they are the verses that changed my mind on the subject of women leaders.”

As for the SBC, messengers voted to boot Saddleback during a February meeting without public discussion. The denominational leadership deemed the church “not in friendly cooperation with the convention,” terminology used to remove a church from SBC membership.

The motion brought forward by the SBC’s executive committee stated Saddleback “has a faith and practice that does not closely identify with the convention’s adopted statement of faith, as demonstrated by the church having a female teaching pastor functioning in the office of pastor,” a reference to Stacie Wood, the wife of lead Pastor Andy Wood and a teaching pastor in her own right.

Saddleback leaders have not indicated whether the church plans to appeal the SBC’s decision during the next annual meeting in New Orleans in June.

“We love and have always valued our relationship with the SBC and its faithful churches,” church elders said in a statement. “We will engage and respond through the proper channels at the appropriate time in hopes to serve other like-minded Bible believing SBC churches. Meanwhile, we remain focused on following God’s leadership to love and serve our church family and the communities around our campuses.”

As for Andy Wood, he told The Associated Press in 2022 that Scripture “teaches that men and women were given spiritual gifts by God” and that “the church should be a place where both men and women can exercise those spiritual gifts.”

“My wife has the spiritual gift of teaching and she is really good,” he explained. “People often tell me she’s better than me when it comes to preaching, and I’m really glad to hear that.”

***As the number of voices facing big-tech censorship continues to grow, please sign up for Faithwire’s daily newsletter and download the CBN News app, developed by our parent company, to stay up-to-date with the latest news from a distinctly Christian perspective.***

https://www.faithwire.com/2023/03/14/i-need-god-actor-russell-brand-delivers-candid-admission-about-the-lord-spirituality/?utm_source=cbn&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=news-eu-faithwire&utm_content=20230314-6391106&inid=4b58f7c0-7f5b-eb11-b823-005056af0da1
I Need God’: Actor Russell Brand Delivers Candid Admission About the Lord, ‘Spirituality’

Comedian Russell Brand (AP Photo/Tim Ireland
By Billy Hallowell
Editor

2 hours ago
Actor Russell Brand recently delivered some intriguing comments about his personal journey of spirituality and his need for God.

Listen to the latest episode of CBN’s Quick Start podcast


“As much as I might enjoy the feeling of privilege and luxury… I remember what reality is,” Brand told Fox News’ Tucker Carlson. “I remember that my wellness is contingent upon spiritual connection, upon certain values and principles, and they … involve sacrifice and self-scrutiny about my own conduct and behavior, which often falls short, and I’m working on improving myself.”

“The Rock of Ages” star also discussed his need for God as he navigates the ups and downs of the world around him.

“Like many desperate people, I need spirituality,” Brand said. “I need God, or I cannot cope in this world. I need to believe in the best in people.”

Watch Brand speak with Carlson:


The “Tucker Carlson Today” conversation also dove into the actor’s take on culture today, as he lamented “atrophying and corrupt systems delivering yet more misery to people,” and the need for people to explore what’s going on in their hearts.

“I think it’s increasingly necessary that we find new ways of framing the conversation and looking into our hearts when we’re speaking,” he said. “Are we being kind? Are we being loving? Are we being the best that we can be? On whose behalf are we speaking? And what is my intention, moment to moment? Am I doing this for self-glorification?”

Brand, who has overcome addiction, said he believes it’s possible for people to change their ways, saying he’s truly living today in concert with his beliefs and values.

“I never felt like I’m in alignment with my beliefs and principles in the way that I do right now,” he said. “I believe in truth and freedom and the ability to express yourself.”

As CBN’s Faithwire has extensively reported, Brand has long discussed God and has seemingly been on a journey of discovery and understanding. In a 2017 episode of his podcast, “Under the Skin,” he asked former atheist Alister McGrath and Christian apologist: “Is there any point in God?”

It seems Brand has now found that point.

This past December, he also celebrated the 20th anniversary of his sobriety, expressing gratitude to those who helped him along the way.

“Because what I have been taught and shown is that it is impossible for a person like me to not drink and use drugs unless I have sufficient ongoing support from people that understand what it’s like to feel that drugs or alcohol, or, you know, certain behaviors are necessary in order to feel OK,” he said at the time.

Brand has also famously spoken out against porn.

***As the number of voices facing big-tech censorship continues to grow, please sign up for Faithwire’s daily newsletter and download the CBN News app, developed by our parent company, to stay up-to-date with the latest news from a distinctly Christian perspective.***