After ’50 Shades of Grey’ Regains Popularity on Netflix, Evangelist Shane Pruitt Warns Christian Women About ‘Consuming This Trash’

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June 28, 2024

Shane Pruitt 50 Shades of Grey — Screengrab via Facebook @Shane Pruitt

Shane Pruitt is warning Christians that the call to pursue purity in the films and media they consume isn’t just for men but also for women.

Pruitt is an author and the Southern Baptist Convention’s (SBC) Director of Next Gen Evangelism for the North American Mission Board (NAMB).

Pruitt’s message comes after the 2015 film “Fifty Shades of Grey” made an appearance in Netflix’s Top 10 most watched movies this week.

“Fifty Shades of Grey” (first released in 2015) has resurfaced, and is currently back in the Top 10 on Netflix,” Pruitt posted on social media. “My sisters, who claim to follow Jesus, if you’re praying for your husbands and sons to have clean eyes and pure hearts, but you’re also consuming this trash…You need to know that’s a very mixed and hypocritical message.”

“Purity in what you watch is not only for men,” he added. “It’s for you too.”

The nearly 10-year-old film stars Dakota Johnson and Jamie Dorman and is based on an erotic novel of the same title. “Fifty Shades of Grey” grossed more than $569 million worldwide and set a box office record for the highest-grossing R-rated film Universal Pictures has ever released overseas.

The film comes with a strong R rating due to graphic sex scenes that include graphic nudity, bondage, discipline, sadism, and masochism (BDSM).

In 2015, Kevin DeYoung, senior pastor of Christ Covenant Church in Matthews, North Carolina, said, “There is nothing gray about whether a follower of Christ should see 50 Shades of Grey. This is a black and white issue. Don’t go. Don’t watch it. Don’t read it. Don’t rent it.”

DeYoung went on to say that “sex is a wonderful gift from God, but like all God’s gifts it can be opened in the wrong context and repackaged in ugly wrapping.”

“Violence against women is not acceptable just because she’s open to the suggestion,” he said, “and sex is not open to all permutations, even in an adult relationship.”

‘The God Delusion’ Author Now Says He’s a ‘Cultural Christian’?—Justin Brierley Explains the Decline of the New Atheism

By

Jessica Mouser

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June 28, 2024

Remember when a group of prominent atheists were telling the world that God was a delusion and that religion was harmful to society? In the mid-2000s, a movement developed called the “New Atheism,” represented by figures such as Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, Christopher Hitchens, and Daniel Dennett, who were known as the “Four Horsemen.”

“New Atheism was really a phenomenon…around the mid-2000s, kind of very much on the coattails of 9/11 [that conveyed] the sense that religion might be bad for us,” said broadcaster and author Justin Brierley in a recent interview on “The Stetzer ChurchLeaders Podcast.”

Brierley hosted the “Unbelievable?” podcast for many years and had a unique opportunity to observe and engage with the New Atheism. In his recent book, “The Surprising Rebirth of Belief in God: Why New Atheism Grew Old and Secular Thinkers Are Considering Christianity Again,” he explains why he believes the movement failed and describes a new openness he sees in people when it comes to faith.

The New Atheism After Its Heyday

Dawkins, Harris, Hitchens, and Dennett “were public intellectuals who had a big platform,” said Brierley, “and they wrote these best-selling, anti-God books [that] became very popular. There were lots of speaking tours. It was quite a kind of publishing phenomenon, a media phenomenon.”

The New Atheists were not afraid to “ridicule religion.” In fact, said Brierley, “that was an important part of the movement. It wasn’t afraid of being very brash, confident, derogatory.”

Why then did the movement fail? “I think there’s a few different reasons,” Brierley said. “Firstly, there was a kind of an internal meltdown.”

“Basically,” he explained, “once the New Atheists had agreed that God didn’t exist and religion was bad for you, they really couldn’t agree on much else thereafter because suddenly they began to have all kinds of fallouts over where their movement should head.”

Some people in the movement wanted to prioritize social justice concerns as they saw them, while others, such as Dawkins, “felt this was just political correctness and we just needed science and free thinking.”

James Robison Says He Would Do ‘Anything To Help Heal Cindy’ While Claiming He Was Unaware of Robert Morris’ Alleged Abuse

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Jesse T. Jackson

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June 28, 2024

Evangelist James Robison appeared in a video message alongside his wife Betty last Saturday (June 22) to claim that he was unaware of Robert Morris’ alleged sexual abuse of Cindy Clemishire when she was a minor in the 1980s.

Robison is the founder of the James Robison Evangelistic Association (JREA), which is now known as Life Outreach International.

In the video, Robison said that the way Morris’ alleged abuse was handled was “wrong,” that “abuse of a child should not be tolerated,” and that he “would do anything to help heal Cindy and her family.”

Following the news of Morris’ resignation from Gateway Church on June 18, Robison’s organization released a statement saying that Morris didn’t join JREA until the late 1980s when he did so in the role of “morning supervisor in the call center.” This role included only “overseeing the daily administrative tasks of the call center” and did not “include public speaking.”

However, newspaper clippings appear to contradict these claims. According to the Longview Morning Journal, Morris was “invited to join with the James Robison Evangelical Association as an associate evangelist” in December 1981.

Other clippings dating from 1982 to 1989, obtained by The Roys Report, say that Morris was part of JREA; one even described him as a “staff evangelist with the James Robison Evangelical Association.”

“Last week, reports surfaced that Pastor Robert Morris of Gateway Church had engaged in sexual assault of a child,” Robison said during his video message. “Since then people have been asking questions about my relationship with Robert.”

Robison explained that he’d “like to set the record straight because some people are claiming that I was present when Robert met with the victim’s family in 1987 and that I knew the girl’s age when these events took place.”

“This is false. It is not so—it is, in fact, a lie,” Robison stated.

He continued by revealing that Clemishire corrected her original story, in which she named Robison as one of the men who accompanied Morris to visit her father in 1989 and ask for permission for Morris to return to ministry.

Carl and Laura Lentz Talk With Sex Addiction Therapist About Abuse, Infidelity, Recovery

By

Stephanie Martin

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June 28, 2024

Carl Lentz, former pastor of Hillsong New York, continues opening up about personal issues that led to his four-year hiatus from public life. This week, Lentz and his wife, Laura, shared a 90-minute “tell all” conversation with Carl’s sex addiction therapist Alex Katehakis.

Topics from the podcast episode, titled “Meet My Therapist,” included addiction, sexual abuse, infidelity, betrayal, shame, intimacy, and narcissism. Carl Lentz said he wanted to address tough subjects “for real” to try to “help a lot of people.”

Lentz, who was dismissed from Hillsong New York in 2020 after admitting to an extramarital affair, has said he doesn’t identify as a “disgraced” pastor. He recently launched the podcast “Lights On With Carl Lentz” to “lead with vulnerability.”

Carl Lentz: Churches Must Address Marital Sex

While introducing Katehakis, Lentz described how she has helped him recover and heal. Working with the therapist has benefited him and his entire family, Lentz said. “We’ve done a lot of hard, soul-searching work,” he told Katehakis. “It has been the hardest thing I’ve ever done.”

The discussion touched on the role of unresolved childhood trauma in issues such as infidelity and addiction. Lentz, who said he was sexually abused as a child, told his therapist that Christian men “don’t get a lot of sex education” and often end up enacting what they’ve seen through pornography.

Lentz and Katehakis talked about the cycle of sex addiction, shame, and despair—as well as how to raise children with a healthy view of sexuality.

On the topic of keeping secrets such as infidelity, Lentz said, “It’s not a matter of if you’re gonna get caught but when.” The “Catch-22” for pastors, he added, is that a pastor will lose his job if he or his wife tell people about their struggles or seek help.

Churches need to offer guidance for sex within marriage, Lentz said. “The church is great at getting people to not have sex until they’re married, and then they leave them there,” he said. “And we don’t talk about how to have sex after you’re married. So you have a Christian community filled with a lot of couples having terrible sex for a very long time because nobody really speaks into it.”

Confronting and Recovering From Infidelity

Laura Lentz, who discovered that her husband was having an affair with the family’s nanny, talked to Katehakis about recognizing and recovering from infidelity. The therapist said women often “look the other way for the good of the whole…family, and we can gaslight ourselves.”

Christian Leaders React to First Presidential Debate, Weighing In on Abortion, Biden’s Mental State

By

Dale Chamberlain

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June 28, 2024

Trump and Biden Debate — Screengrabs via YouTube / @CNN

The first presidential debate between Donald Trump and Joe Biden took place on Thursday evening, and the clash of two of the least-liked leading candidates in recent memory resulted in a storm of social media posts, editorials, and cable news commentary.

A number of Christian leaders weighed in on how each candidate performed, and many were critical of both President Biden and former President Trump, particularly on the issue of abortion.

The 90-minute debate, which was broadcast on CNN, featured no studio audience and was more strict about cutting each candidate’s microphone when it was not his turn to speak. These measures appear to have been in response to some of the more unruly debates between Trump and Biden in the past.

During the debate, Trump appeared more restrained than in previous debates. However, he did not keep fact checkers any less busy as he set forth numerous misleading or false claims about immigration, abortion, foreign policy, and the economy.

For his part, Biden showed signs of his age, often stumbling over his words, losing his place, and appearing confused.

As has been the case in the past, the debate turned personal at several points. While accusing Biden of weaponizing the Department of Justice to bring federal charges against him, Trump made mention of the conviction of Hunter Biden, the president’s son, on three felony gun charges. At another point during the debate, the two candidates exchanged insults, with Trump touting his golfing prowess and Biden making comments about Trump’s height and weight. Both repeatedly accused the other being the “worst president ever.”

When Trump was asked if he would accept the results of the 2024 election regardless of who wins, he said that he would do so only “if it’s a fair and legal and good election.” Notably, he gave very similar answers to the same question in the run-up to the 2020 election, the result of which he still has not publicly acknowledged as legitimate.

A flash poll conducted by CNN following the debate indicated that 67% of viewers thought Trump had won the debate. The Democratic Party apparently disagreed with a majority of viewers, declaring Biden the winner in a post on its official X (formerly Twitter) account.

Dean Cain, an outspoken Christian best known for portraying Superman in the early 90s television show “Lois and Clark,” responded indignantly, writing, “What the f**k did YOU watch?!?!”

During the debate, Biden seemed to fumble over his explanation of Roe v. Wade, the landmark Supreme Court decision that granted women the right to an abortion. The ruling had been the law of the land for a half century before being overturned in 2022 by a conservative majority Supreme Court—the result of Trump appointees.

Vatican Conference Ponders Who Really Holds the Power of AI

By

Claire Giangrave

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June 28, 2024

Photo credit: BoliviaInteligente / Unsplash

VATICAN CITY (RNS) — Experts on Artificial Intelligence met at the Vatican on Thursday to discuss the implications of this ascendant technology — which Pope Francis hopes to inject with Christian morals and ethics — while calling for international regulation.

“What has happened in the past 70 years is that society is guided by software,” said Fr. Paolo Benanti, a Franciscan and a theologian who advises Pope Francis on questions of AI, during his speech at the Vatican event.

“Whoever has the software, has the power,” added Benanti, who is also a member of the United Nations’ AI Advisory Body.

The conference, titled “Algorithm at the Service of Man: Communicating in the Time of Artificial Intelligence,” is the latest in a number of events organized by the Vatican to address growing concerns over AI and its applications.

Through formal and informal channels, the Vatican and Pope Francis have created networks in Silicon Valley and made connections with major players in the fields of technology and communications to promote an ethical approach to AI. In January, Francis made AI the central theme of his message for World Day of Peace, and in June he became the first pontiff to attend a G7 meeting where he spoke about the ethical ramifications of AI.

Speaking to the leaders of the U.S., U.K., Italy, France, Canada, Germany and Japan, the pope said that while AI represents “a true cognitive-industrial revolution,” the final say must “always be left to the human person.”

Francis spoke about machine learning and AI again in his public message for the World Day of Social Communication, where he warned of AI’s ability to “pollute” our understanding of reality through fake news and deep-fake images. The pope mentioned he was also a victim of the highly realistic AI replicas that can be quick to go viral online.

As soon as I saw this viral photo of Pope Francis in a puffer jacket I thought, “AI fake!” (And indeed it is.) https://t.co/S0KdzZhVyF pic.twitter.com/EQqDkSxgFN

— Chico Harlan (@chicoharlan) March 26, 2023

The world is at a crossroads, he said, where unregulated AI risks furthering discrimination, polarization and injustice. “On one hand we face the specter of a new slavery, on the other of delivering freedom; on one hand there is the possibility that a few will condition the thoughts of many, on the other that everyone may take part in elaborating our beliefs,” Francis said.

The pope’s message was the inspiring document for the Vatican conference on Thursday, where experts spoke about the power that influential financial interests will have in shaping the future of AI.

“The great tech producers are infusing our computers with artificial intelligence,” Benanti said about the increasing presence and agency of AI in everyday devices. “This is a challenge that we are not yet prepared for,” he added.

The vice director general of Italy’s Agency for National Cybersecurity, Nunzia Ciardi, also warned at the conference of the influence held by leading AI developers.

“Artificial intelligence is made up of massive economic investments that only large superpowers can afford and through which they ensure a very important geopolitical dominance and access to the large amount of data that AI must process to produce outputs,” Ciardi said.

Calvin University Board Charged With Examining Faculty Dissent

By

Ethan Meyers

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June 28, 2024

(RNS) — The denomination overseeing Calvin University has asked the Grand Rapids, Michigan, school to develop a process for dealing with faculty members who disagree with parts of church doctrine.

The charge, part of the June 18 annual synod of the Christian Reformed Church in North America, was described as an effort to “rebuild trust” between the denomination and its flagship school. In particular the synod was concerned with faculty members who oppose the denomination’s 2022 decision to codify in its confession of faith “homosexual sex” as sinful.

Delegates to this month’s synod also voted to instruct churches that are LGBTQ+-affirming to repent of their stance or disaffiliate with the denomination and placed church officers who are LGBTQ+-affirming on “limited suspension.”

While the synodical report recognized “Calvin’s efforts to be faithful to the Reformed confessions in the context of academic inquiry,” some members of the university faculty raised concerns about the decisions’ implications for academic freedom.

The decisions at the 2024 synod involved major changes to church policy on confessional difficulty, sometimes also called a “gravamen.” A gravamen is an official statement that church members and other officebearers may file to register disagreement with a specific part of church doctrine.

Calvin faculty are not considered church officebearers, but Calvin is one of the denominational institutions instructed to “review and revise, as needed, their gravamina policies.”

A number of Calvin faculty have submitted gravamina related to the denomination’s stance on human sexuality. The exact number is hard to ascertain since these statements of confessional difficulty are confidential. But following the synod’s 2022 decision elevating the view of LGBTQ+ sex as sinful, about a dozen faculty came together as a cohort to file formal disagreements, or gravamina.

As a denominationally affiliated school, Calvin faculty are required to sign a covenant affirming the Heidelberg Catechism. They are also required to pledge to “teach, speak, and write in harmony with the confessions,” according to the faculty handbook.

David Koetje, a professor of biology and vice-chair of the faculty senate, said the administration was “still trying to figure out what this means for Calvin faculty who’ve acted in good faith within Calvin’s longstanding gravamina process.”

James Bratt, a retired history professor, noted that the synod’s request isn’t new. Throughout the 1940s, faculty were required to submit their course outlines to the synod for review. In the 1980s and 1990s, Calvin physics professor Howard Van Til was subject to scrutiny by the denomination related to his scholarship on the Earth’s age and the publication of his controversial book, “The Fourth Day,” which opposed creationism. During the early 2010s, the synod questioned several Calvin religion professors over how they taught creation and evolution.

Some Calvin faculty are nervous about the implications of the synod’s decisions for the future.

“The CRC has provided many, many blessings and gifts in my life,” said Debra Rienstra, professor of English at Calvin. “But what happened last week is a new version of the CRC. I have never seen the complete shutting down of principled dissent like we saw this week.”

There Is Only One House of God

By

Nicholas Batzig

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June 28, 2024

There might not be a passage of Scripture more underappreciated for its rich theological, ecclesiological, and eschatological focus than that which we find in Hebrews 3:1-6.

The writer was wishing to highlight the betterness of Christ to everyone in the Old Testament economy to keep the eyes of those to whom he was writing on Christ. The danger was for them to turn back to the weak and beggarly elements of Judaism, with its focus on external ceremonies and preparatory types. All of these things having passed away, the author firsts compares and contrasts Moses and Christ. Since Moses was the typical redeemer of the Old Covenant, it would make sense for the writing to highlight the relationship between the type (i.e., Moses) and the antitype (i.e., Christ).

There is a world of theological riches that open to us when we carefully consider this text.

The first thing that the writer does is to draw our attention to Jesus as “the apostle and high priest of our confession.” Jesus is both the great Prophet, revealing the true God, to his people and the great High Priest, representing believers to God by his atoning sacrifice and continual intercession. He is the Prophet of all the prophets in that he immediately reveals God as God manifest in the flesh. Among all the other prophets, Moses stands unique. In one sense, he is like Jesus in that all the other prophets in the Old Covenant church come under his ministry. Geerhardus Vos explained,

Moses…is placed not merely at the head of the succession of prophets, but placed over them in advance. His authority extends over subsequent ages. The later prophets do not create anything new; they only predict something new. It is true, Moses can be co-ordinated with the prophets: [Deut. 18:18; “a prophet like unto thee”]. Nevertheless the prophets themselves are clearly conscious of the unique position of Moses. They put his work not so much on a line with their own, as with the stupendous eschatological work of Jehovah for his people expected in the latter days [cp. Isa. 10:26; 11:11; 63:11, 12; Jer. 23:5–8; Mic. 7:15].

Additionally, Moses authorized the building of the tabernacle with its priesthood and sacrificial system. Until the formation of the Aaronic priesthood, Moses acted in a priestly way among the people of God. He was also a kingly figure in his role as the lawgiver. Vos again noted,

According to Num. 12:7, Moses was set over all God’s house. It is entirely in keeping with this prospective import of Moses and his work, that his figure acquires typical proportions to an unusual degree. He may be fitly called the redeemer of the Old Testament. Nearly all the terms in use for the redemption of the New Testament can be traced back to his time. There was in his work such a close connection between revealing words and redeeming acts as can be paralleled only from the life of Christ. And the acts of Moses were to a high degree supernatural, miraculous acts. This typical relation of Moses to Christ can easily be traced in each of the three offices we are accustomed to distinguish in the soteric work of Christ. The “prophet” of Deut. 18:15, reaching his culmination in the Messiah, is “like unto” Moses.

Moses fulfilled priestly functions at the inauguration of the Old Berith, before the Aaronic priesthood was instituted [Ex. 24:4–8]. Our Lord refers to this as a typical transaction, when inaugurating the New Diatheke at the institution of the supper [Lk. 22:20]. Moses intercedes for Israel after the commission of the sin of the golden calf, and that by offering his own person vicariously for bearing the punishment of the guilty [Ex. 32:30–33]. A royal figure, of course, Moses could not at that time be called, for Jehovah alone is King of Israel. None the less, through his legislative function Moses typified the royal office of Christ.

He then proceeds to compare Moses and Jesus, in accord with the principle of faithfulness. Both Moses and Christ were faithful to God. They were faithful in the lives and ministries among the people of God. The author is here highlighting the sweet continuity—showing due respect to Moses as a faithful mediator, while setting him in contrast with the antitypical faithful mediator of the new and better covenant.

The contrast comes when the author notes that Moses acted servant in the house of God, whereas Christ acted as the Son over the house. The difference is one of authority. Jesus has divine authority over the church of God since he is himself the eternal divine Son. The writer notes this contrast when he says:

“Jesus has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses—as much more glory as the builder of a house has more honor than the house itself. (For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God)” (Heb. 3:3-4).

Christ is deserving of greater glory because he built the house of God as God incarnate.

Overcoming Fear: A Biblical Perspective

By

Aaron Joseph Hall

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June 28, 2024

Fear is a natural human emotion that everyone experiences at some point in their lives. It can be a healthy response to immediate danger or threat, but it can also be irrational and crippling, causing anxiety and preventing individuals from living their lives to the fullest. The “irrational” fear happens to me more times than I’d like to admit.

In today’s world, fear is increasingly prevalent due to a myriad of reasons ranging from personal insecurities to global crises. The Bible, however, provides guiding principles for overcoming fear and living a life filled with hope and courage. God has a lot to say about fear in the Bible!

This article will delve into key Bible passages that address fear and provide practical analogies and illustrations to better understand and apply these scriptural truths in our modern context. One of the best ways to combat fear is by reading and meditating on Scripture. The verses mentioned are a great starting point!

Fear Not, For God Is With Us

One of the most recurring themes in the Bible is the assurance of God’s presence in our lives. Numerous passages remind us that we need not be afraid when we have the all-knowing, all-powerful Creator of the universe by our side.

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. (Isaiah 41:10)

In this verse, God assures His people that He is their source of strength and help, and they should not fear any situation they face. Just as a parent comforts their scared child while crossing a busy street, we too can find reassurance in God’s presence and care. This is a go-to verse for me. I often pray this verse before preaching or doing something where I’m nervous. Being reminded that God is with me changes everything—including helping me overcome fear!

Trusting God’s Sovereignty

Another powerful antidote to fear is recognizing and trusting in the sovereignty of God. When we comprehend that God is in control, it subdues our anxiety and urges us to place our trust in Him. This is an area I’m still growing in. The Lord has shown me lately how he’s in control and I’m not and I can therefore trust whatever he allows in my life.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. (Proverbs 3:5-6)

Imagine being lost on a hike, unsure of which path to take. Instead of relying solely on your limited knowledge, you decide to trust an experienced guide who knows the terrain. In the same way, trusting in God’s sovereignty means surrendering our fears and allowing Him to lead us through life’s uncertain paths. Life will take us down some dangerous (and fearful) paths, but knowing God is in control and can take care of us changes everything.

The Power of Faith Over Fear

A strong faith in God is an effective weapon against fear. When we believe in God’s promises and have faith in His power and love, anxiety has no room to flourish. Isn’t that awesome?

He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” (Mark 4:40)

In this passage, Jesus questions His disciples’ fear during a storm, urging them to trust in Him. Just as a life jacket helps swimmers stay afloat in turbulent waters, having faith in God equips us with the buoyancy to stay afloat amid life’s storms. Trusting Jesus and having faith that he is who he says he is changes everything because that means he has the power to silence all fear. When Peter’s eyes remained on Jesus, he stayed afloat. As soon as he focused on what was terrifying around him, he sank. Focusing on Jesus gives us the power of faith over fear!

Young Adults in Church: How To Retain Your Teen Graduates

By

Josh Evans

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June 28, 2024

Many blog posts and books cover the subject of keeping young adults in church after high school graduation. But I want to narrow it down to four practical solutions.

When congregations use these tips, they’re more likely to retain young adults in church after graduation.

4 Ways to Keep Young Adults in Church

1. Biblical Depth

Sam Rainer, who’s studied millennials with Lifeway, finds that students who hear sound sermons weekly, are involved in small-group Bible study, and study the Bible on their own rarely drop out.[1] Yet church leaders think the solution to keeping young adults in church involves cool technology, relevancy, a casual environment, and contemporary music.

I’m not against those things; in fact, they’re all good. But they cannot be the most important thing. Millennials do like these things. Yet according to research by the Barna Group and Lifeway, they value biblical depth much more. Rainer’s challenge to church leaders: Go deeper![2]

2. Mentorship

The second way to keep young adults in church is through a mentorship program. Research proves: Teens who receive mentoring and discipleship from an adult are less likely to leave church after high school. But many churches have gone away from that focus.

The best example of a good mentorship program is between the apostle Paul and young Timothy. The Baker Encyclopedia on the Bible describes their relationship this way: “The apostle Paul, undoubtedly Timothy’s spiritual father, refers to him as ‘my true child in the faith’ (1 Tm 1:2); he perhaps converted Timothy on his first or second missionary journey. The son of a Greek (or gentile) father, Timothy was yet uncircumcised; however, when Paul decided to take Timothy with him on the second journey, he had him circumcised, so as not to hinder their missionary endeavors among the Jews. Timothy, who was ‘well-spoken of by the brethren at Lystra and Iconium’ (Acts 16:2), became Paul’s companion and assistant on his second missionary journey at Lystra.”^{^[3]}

Paul invested in young Timothy. He discipled Timothy, challenged him with practical ministry application, and ministered with him. Paul did life with Timothy and gave leadership away to Timothy. That’s a good mentorship program. If we did this more, I believe more young adults would stay in church.

How to Jumpstart Your Creativity

By

Phil Cooke

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June 28, 2024

This is as good a time as any to take your creativity to the next level. You can jumpstart your creativity. So, to help get you out of the doldrums, here are 10 important steps to give your creative thinking a shot in the arm:

How to Jumpstart Your Creativity

1. Don’t be afraid to daydream. Neurological research indicates daydreaming is good for your overall health. Much like nightdreaming, daydreaming allows ideas and connect randomly in our minds. Goof off more and stop worrying about it.

2. Stop working randomly. Discover your “zone” – the time of day when you’re most creative, and don’t forget that “where” matters too. I take a deep dive into this subject in my book “Ideas on a Deadline: How to Be Creative When the Clock is Ticking.” You can’t live out your intention in the wrong environment. Your energy level matters, so constantly be tweaking all the different aspects of your life to create great work, and become aligned for optimal performance. Best advice? Stop managing your time and start managing your energy.

3. Value intuition and the power of hunches. Our “gut” is often more accurate than we think. Stop analyzing everything and start really looking. See things no one else sees. Intuition must be developed, so start listening to it.

How To Create a Gospel Advancing Network in Your Town

By

Greg Stier

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June 28, 2024

Gospel Advancing Network — Adobe Stock #286913644

As you’re beginning to gain some Gospel Advancing traction in your own youth group, your God-given passion to see the teenagers in your community reached with the gospel may seem bigger than you can possibly accomplish through your own ministry (And it very likely is). So this is a great time to begin to prayerfully reach out to other youth leaders in your community and share your heart for seeing the gospel advance in and through a network of students. Whether you’re already part of an existing youth leader network, or you’re creating one from scratch, the following simple steps will help you share a Gospel Advancing network with other youth leaders in your community.

First Steps for Gospelizing an Existing Network

If you’re already part of an existing youth leader network in your community, here are a few first steps you can take to begin to cast a vision for seeing more and more teens in your community reaching other teens for Christ.

Pray for those in your network, pray that God would lead you to the right people
Be a student of the network. Learn the needs of the other pastors before you start offering solutions.
When the opportunity is right, share with the network how the Gospel Advancing values have impacted your life and ministry.
Wait to be invited. Give them a free digital copy of Gospelize Your Youth Ministry or buy them a physical copy. Then get together to talk about it.

First Steps for Creating a Gospel Advancing Network from Scratch

If there is no existing youth leader network in your area, it’s time to prayerfully consider creating one. In John 17:20-23, Jesus indicates that unity among His followers has a role to play in how the outside world sees and understands His message:

“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one—I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.”

Can You Discover Your Hidden Beliefs?

By

Charles Stone

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June 28, 2024

Kevin Cashman wrote an outstanding book on leadership called Leadership from the Inside Out: Becoming a Leader for Life. In his book he writes about both conscious beliefs and hidden beliefs, which he calls shadow beliefs. He defines a shadow belief as a belief we hold deep inside, outside of our conscious awareness. Those beliefs profoundly affect us and our leadership. He provides keen insight about how to discover those beliefs.

He contends that these hidden beliefs often hinder leaders from being their best. For example, one shadow belief might be a subtle voice inside that constantly says, “You must perform better than everybody else for people to like you.” For me, one shadow belief I discovered was this. “Everybody around me needs to be happy for me to be happy. Therefore, I must try to make everybody happy.” In the past that belief often stifled my joy and peace and hindered my leadership.

Worship Unleashed: Engaging Youth in Praise and Worship

By

Stephanie Martin

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June 27, 2024

What does worship unleashed mean? And how does it apply to teen ministry? Read on for insights about engaging kids in life-changing worship.

Many distractions compete for kids’ attention and time. So worship experiences must resonate with them. Worship unleashed is innovative and exciting. It helps young people connect with God and grow their faith.

Worship unleashed begins with a safe atmosphere. Help teens feel comfortable and excited about expressing their faith. Also provide the genuine, meaningful bonds that teens seek.

Need ideas for unleashing vibrant worship experiences for teens? Then keep reading!

Worship Unleashed: Practical Ways to Engage Teens

Here are helpful tips to involve kids in praise and worship. Learn how to add impact to youth worship.

1. Use modern music and media.

Youth worship is about more than just music. But contemporary Christian music attracts today’s teens. Popular worship music for kids blends modern styles with powerful messages.

Make technology your friend. Use videos, multimedia, and livestreaming to boost interest in services. Also create playlists on Spotify or Apple Music. Then share them so youth group members can listen all week.

Create challenges on social media. Ask teens to share favorite worship songs or Scriptures on Instagram or TikTok. That fosters community while encouraging outreach.

2. Craft high-impact messages.

Tailor youth messages to issues that teens face. Relevant topics include identity, purpose, and stress. Use real-life examples and testimonies to make messages relatable.

Instead of just lecturing, promote discussions. Meet in small groups so teens can share thoughts and receive support.

3. Equip youth to lead worship.

Let teenagers plan and lead some services. Create a youth worship team or band. Kids can serve as musicians, singers, and tech support. This gives them ownership and develops leadership skills.

Pro Tip: Rotate leadership roles regularly. That way, different teens have a chance to contribute and shine.

Singing Praises: Music and Worship in Children’s Church

By

Stephanie Martin

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June 27, 2024

Singing praises together is a highlight of children’s ministry. Little ones often have big voices. And they’re excited to raise them up to Jesus!

Music and worship are powerful expressions of faith, no matter our age. By adding songs to Sunday school and children’s church, you teach kids biblical truths. Plus, you help them grow a friendship with God.

Partner with your church’s worship leader to create joyful praise experiences for kids. If you’re on your own or don’t have a musical background? Don’t worry! You can still get kids singing praises to God. Discover practical tips about children’s worship.

The Importance of Singing Praises

Children’s church songs make Bible lessons memorable and fun. Music also helps children memorize Scripture more easily. Singing together builds Christian community. Kids will want to raise their voices to join friends in musical praise.

Consider these factors for using music in your kidmin program.

Select the Right Songs

1. Find age-appropriate praise material.

First, choose songs suitable for each age group. Music should teach in exciting, easy-to-grasp ways. For younger children, simple lyrics and repetitive phrases work best. Rhymes and actions are always a hit. For older kids, add more complex themes and vocab.

Pro Tip: Make sure boys know that singing praises isn’t just for girls!

2. Focus on active songs.

Songs with catchy melodies and rhythms capture children’s interest. Upbeat songs with actions and dance moves also keep kids engaged. Include a mix of fast-paced songs and slower, more reflective songs. That helps students encounter different aspects of worship.

3. Highlight popular children’s worship artists.

Use music from well-known Christian artists. Popular options include Hillsong Kids, Yancy, and Bethel Kids. These musicians create high-quality Bible-based music just for kids.

Practical Tips for Leading Worship

1. Make worship interactive.

Encourage participation by incorporating hand motions, dance moves, and props. This not only makes worship more fun. It also helps children remember the songs and their meanings.

Use visuals, such as lyric videos or projection screens, to help kids follow along with words. This is especially helpful for new readers.

2. Create a worship team.

Involve older kids or preteens in leading worship. This gives them responsibility and buy-in. Plus, it serves as a great example for younger kids.

Train your worship team to lead effectively. Emphasize enthusiasm, clarity, friendliness, and genuine worship.

3. Use consistency and repetition.

Repetition is key for teaching. Repeat songs often so kids can learn and remember them. This also builds a repertoire of familiar songs that kids can sing confidently.

Introduce new songs gradually. Maintain a balance between the excitement of learning something new and the comfort of familiarity.

Pastor Jack Graham, Paula White-Cain Pray for Evangelical ‘Warrior’ Donald Trump Ahead of Debate

By

Stephanie Martin

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June 27, 2024

Ahead of the first 2024 presidential debate tonight (June 27), several high-profile evangelical figures gathered on an “emergency” conference call to pray for Donald Trump. The former president and current Republican frontrunner also spoke during the June 26 call.

Televangelist Paula White-Cain, a former Trump adviser, arranged the prayer meeting through her National Faith Advisory Board. On X (formerly Twitter) Intercessors for America posted audio of the 40-minute call.

Faith leaders who prayed during the teleconference included Jack Graham, pastor of Prestonwood Baptist Church in Dallas, and Jentezen Franklin, pastor of Free Chapel Church in Gainesville, Georgia. Rabbi Pinchas Taylor, executive director of the American Faith Coalition, also spoke.

Jack Graham Prays for Trump to Win ‘In Jesus’ Name’

Graham said because tonight’s presidential debate is on CNN, moderators will be biased against Trump. But the Dallas pastor, a former Southern Baptist Convention president, said God will “give President Trump the words and the wisdom that he needs to respond, and he’s going to confound those who oppose him.”

Graham called Trump “a warrior” for Christians. “He’s standing for us and always has and representing the principles and the precepts of God’s Word that we so strongly believe,” said the pastor. He prayed for Trump to win both the debate and the election “in Jesus’ name” and for God to overcome darkness, evil, and “every strategy of the enemy.”

During his prayer, Franklin prayed for Trump to have “the mind of the learned” and “the tongue of the wise” during tonight’s debate: “Let the spectators hear that man knows what he’s talking about; he can fix our economy; he can help our nation; he will defend our freedom; he will stand for what is right; he loves this nation.” The pastor also asked God to reveal the “wickedness” and “evil intent” of incumbent Joe Biden.

White-Cain, who called Trump “a dear friend” with “the absolute best presidency in our lifetime,” prayed Scripture over him. She asked God to “fill him with your Spirit according to Acts [4:31] and he will speak with boldness, he will have the mind of Christ according to Philippians 2:5.” White-Cain also proclaimed that God had “anointed” Trump “for this assignment supernaturally.”

Donald Trump: ‘I Defended Your Christian Heritage’

Before pastors prayed for him, Trump warned what would happen to America if Biden is re-elected in November. “America is being destroyed” by the current administration, Trump asserted.

“Pro-life grandmothers are being thrown in jail,” and Christians face prosecution by their own government. “The Left is trying to shame Christians, silence you, demoralize you, and keep you out of politics,” Trump told listeners. “If Joe Biden gets back in, Christianity will not be safe.”

The former president touted his accomplishments while in office, saying, “In the first four years, we defended religious liberty like nobody has ever defended it before.” As an example, the 45^th president said he “stopped the IRS from using the Johnson Amendment,” which bars churches from engaging in political activity. That law remains in place, however.

Some Charges Dropped Against 18-Year-Old Arrested in Connection With Shooting of Pastor Clemmie Livingston Jr.

By

Dale Chamberlain

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June 27, 2024

Several charges have been dropped in the case of an 18-year-old arrested in connection with the shooting of Pastor Clemmie Livingston Jr. of New Zionfield Baptist Church in Memphis, Tennessee.

On Sunday, Feb. 25, Livingston, 71, was critically injured while witnessing a car theft happening outside his church. Shortly after the shooting, Livingston’s wife, Gwendoline, told FOX13 that Livingston heard car alarms and went to investigate. He was shot in the mouth as he was walking out the door.

The assailants drove off in a stolen 2019 Chevrolet Corvette.

While initial reports suggested that Livingston had been attempting to stop the theft, Gwendoline said that he never had the opportunity.

“He never talked to anybody,” Gwendoline said. “He never went to anybody. He didn’t try to stop anything. He didn’t deserve that. He didn’t confront anybody.”

“When the bullet hit, it shattered his entire jaw,” Gwendoline said of Livingston’s injury. “So where that bone is supposed to be straight, it’s like a lot of little pieces of rocks, so that’s unrepairable.”

No one has been charged with shooting Livingston, but R’shunio Greer was charged with theft and aggravated robbery after police reportedly found pictures on Greer’s phone of Greer in the car that was stolen on the day Livingston was shot.

According to FOX13, police discovered the photos after arresting Greer on May 17 in connection with unrelated auto burglary and aggravated assault cases. Police said that Greer admitted to being present on the day of the shooting.

All told, Greer had racked up 14 felony charges and six misdemeanor charges across several cases. Now, 12 of the felony charges, including the aggravated robbery from the day of Livingston’s shooting, have been dismissed due to lack of prosecution or lack of evidence. Four misdemeanors have also been dropped.

A spokeswoman for the district attorney’s office said that witnesses failed to appear for a hearing. The district attorney will investigate why the witnesses were unavailable to testify before deciding what charges can still be pursued.

Remarkably, Livingston not only survived the shooting but returned to the pulpit on Easter Sunday, March 31—just five weeks after being shot.

Police Reveal Shocking Details Following Arrest of SBC Pastor on Child Sexual Abuse Material Charges

By

Dale Chamberlain

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June 27, 2024

Jonathan Elwing — Screengrabs via Manatee County Sheriff's Office

The Manatee County Sheriff’s Office in Florida has revealed shocking details involving charges against former Southern Baptist Pastor Jonathan Elwing, who was arrested last week on child sexual abuse material (CSAM) charges.

Editor’s note: This article contains information about child sex abuse and assault that some readers might find disturbing and/or triggering.

Elwing, 43, was arrested after an investigation revealed that he allegedly purchased CSAM with cryptocurrency. He resigned as pastor of his church, Palm View Baptist Church in Palmetto, Florida, prior to being taken into custody.

Elwing was initially charged with four counts of possession of CSAM. Earlier this week, 14 additional charges were brought against him.

On Thursday (June 27), the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office revealed in a statement that investigators reportedly found images on Elwing’s phone of him sexually abusing a child, resulting in two capital sexual battery charges.

Additionally, Elwing has been charged with six more counts of possession of CSAM and six counts of production of CSAM.

“A forensic search of the former pastor’s cell phone revealed images of him sexually battering a child along with the production and possession of 12 images of child pornography,” the statement said. “This is in addition to the four sexually explicit images of children found in his possession last week.”

“Detectives continue to examine Elwing’s cell phone and expect to find more illegal material on his computer,” the statement continued. “Additional charges are forthcoming.”

Prior to his arrest, Elwing had been involved with Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) denominational politics. Elwing had been a member of the Florida chapter of the Conservative Baptist Network (CBN), a group formed in 2020 to combat what it sees as “liberal drift” in the SBC.

Leaked Email Reveals Robert Morris Told Abuse Survivor Cindy Clemishire That ‘God Will Not Be Mocked by Deceit’

By

Jesse T. Jackson

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June 27, 2024

A leaked email from 2005 confirms that Cindy Clemishire made at least one elder of Gateway Church aware that Pastor Robert Morris had allegedly sexually abused her.

In the email correspondence, Clemishire had requested that Morris cover the cost of the counseling she needed following Morris’ alleged sexual abuse of her. The email was addressed to Morris and the church elder.

Clemishire previously referenced this correspondence in a statement she published last week (June 18). Clemishire first went public with her story on June 14, and she alleges that Morris abused her over a period of several years in the 1980s, starting when she was just 12 years old.

In the leaked 2005 email, Morris told Clemishire that he and his wife cared for her and “sincerely want[ed] God’s best” for her.

Morris further said that God “has poured out” blessings on his life because he was honest and forthright with others about the past sins he committed against her.

“You see the blessings God has poured out on my life and conclude that it is because I have hidden my past,” Morris told her. “God does not work that way. He will not be mocked by deceit.”

“I confessed my sins to you and your family 18 years ago and I have continued to share it with those who need to know as per the counsel of your father. I did what he asked me to do,” he added. “I thought I obtained your forgiveness as well as your family’s.”

Morris, who had been serving as Gateway Church’s senior pastor for approximately five years when this correspondence took place, said that if Clemishire wished to make her story public, he also was “willing to do so.”

Morris then suggested that Clemishire consult her father first before doing so because Clemishire’s father had asked Morris not to share publicly about what took place between Morris and Clemishire.

“You should talk to your father also about disclosing the matter beyond those who already know since he has your best interest at heart and his counsel should, at the least, be considered, if not honored,” Morris said.

The email that Robert Morris sent to the one he abused, the one he molested. She was 12. She was a sixth grader!!! pic.twitter.com/X8B5n3jWhi

— Julie Meyer (@JulieAMeyer) June 26, 2024

Clarity is Kindness: Christian Witness in a World of Pride [Part 1]

By

Ed Stetzer

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June 27, 2024

This is part one of a two-part series on how church leaders can faithfully engage LGBT conversations.

June is Pride Month in the United States, which is now nearly over. The topics of sexuality and gender are at the fore of the conversation in this cultural moment. These are incredibly challenging topics for pastors and church leaders who are unsure of how to respond to LGBT-related concerns in a way that is both faithful to Scripture and seeks the dignity of those people for whom these topics of discussion are a very lived and present reality.

Some church leaders prefer to keep quiet and hope this month passes without impacting their churches or upsetting too many people. But that sort of cultural hibernation is not realistic anymore, and it will become increasingly difficult in the years ahead. We can’t hide in the basement and hope this new sexual revolution passes us by.

We can’t hide for two reasons. First, the new sexual revolution isn’t going away. It has forever altered the landscape of our dialogue around sexuality and gender. Second, conversations around sex and gender ethics are not like a tornado that rips through an Oklahoma town—from which you take cover and hope for the best. It involves real people with real struggles and questions, many of whom are young people in your churches. Therefore—if I may be so bold—hiding out and avoiding LGBT conversations is pastoral malpractice.

The New Sexual Revolution

Between the 1960s and 1980s, the “sexual revolution” movement impacted our culture significantly in the way we perceived behavioral codes, sexual liberation, and sexual repression in heterosexual and homosexual relationships.¹ In large part, the sexual revolution catalyzed changes in a variety of cultural norms, including the appropriateness of dress, relationships between genders, the casual nature of sexual encounters, and more—things that are mainstays in American culture today.

Now, nearly 60 years from its onset, we are amid a new sexual revolution. Sexuality has become significantly individualized and commodified. However, this new sexual revolution goes beyond sexual relationships and is a declaration of autonomy, asking society, “Is it anyone’s right to question an individual’s gender and sexual preferences?” We see this throughout our society, not simply on television or in academia. The new sexual revolution has profoundly affected people in our churches as well, especially our young people.

Pastors can’t respond to every issue that comes across our newsfeeds. Another extreme to hiding out exists, and that is deputizing oneself as a cultural commentator on every outrage du jour that trends on social media. That is an exhausting life, and that distracts you from your primary duties of proclaiming the gospel, teaching the Word, and shepherding God’s flock.

However, part of shepherding God’s flock often necessitates speaking to some issues as a matter of discipling our people out of the outrage of the culture wars and into the patient, loving, but ever-engaged life that we see Jesus live in the culture of his time (a Greco-Roman Culture which, by the way, resembled more of what we experience today in American society than the Victorian modesty codes of centuries past²). This pastoral engagement requires wisdom and sensitivity, with a commitment to pointing people to Christ. The LGBT conversation is one issue that demands pastoral discipleship if the church is to dialogue with LGBT persons with faithfulness and gentleness.

So, this is not an issue we can pass on. We need to teach an unapologetic call to a vision of sexuality that is faithful to God’s design for humankind. And we must do this in a culture that has abandoned such views and sees them as out of touch—even dangerous. Please hear me; the answer to this is not an extreme and marginalized purity culture such as the one that has been prominent in evangelical circles of the past. We need to equip our congregations better on what it means to live out our faith in this new sexual revolution and to do so clearly and with grace. We need a better vision for a cruciform theology of desire that includes but transcends the topic of sex alone.

Clarity Is Kindness

As a pastor, you may wonder how often to speak up and speak out. It’s worth noting that my role is a bit different now than when I pastored a local church. I’m here to support a public Christian witness in places where most pastors are not. I’ve defended the traditional Christian view of sexuality in the pages of USA Today, on countless news programs, and my own podcasts and publications. Why? Because sexuality is one of the defining issues of our day. I want to equip people as they are most certainly impacted by this new sexual revolution.

Yet, this is also (and primarily) a local church issue. Recently, I led our staff at Mariners Church in a discussion addressing three areas where society most frequently challenges orthodoxy today. They included 1) biblical authority, 2) gospel exclusivity, and 3) Christian sexuality. The reason I write and speak on issues of sexuality often is because many in our churches struggle with their sexuality or know someone personally who struggles. Pastors and church leaders must discern how best to address these issues in a biblical yet non-combative way.

¹ http://www.glbtqarchive.com/ssh/sexual_revolution_S.pdf
² L.L. Welborn, “Paul, the Fool of Christ.” (New York, NY: T&T Clark, 2005), 6.

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Worship Unleashed: Practical Ways to Engage Teens

1. Use modern music and media.

2. Craft high-impact messages.

3. Equip youth to lead worship.

The Importance of Singing Praises

Select the Right Songs

1. Find age-appropriate praise material.

2. Focus on active songs.

3. Highlight popular children’s worship artists.

Practical Tips for Leading Worship

1. Make worship interactive.

2. Create a worship team.

3. Use consistency and repetition.

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