Christian singer-songwriter Josh Wilson is challenging Christians in his new single to “dream small.” He sings, “Don’t buy the lie you’ve got to do it all,” and gives examples of everyday love that demonstrates the gospel. He performs the acoustic version of the song in this video.
It’s horrifying.
Pakistani Christians are terrorized, tortured, murdered—even sentenced to death—simply because of their faith. The Pakistani government seems unable or unwilling to protect its Christian citizens.
We’ve just taken urgent action at the U.N. Human Rights Council, filing a crucial legal submission, asking for intervention. We are asking the world’s leaders to take urgent action. Our legal submission stated:
The Islamic Republic of Pakistan continues to violate the human rights of its religious minorities. Instances of mob violence; police torture; false accusations of blasphemy; rape, murder and other forms of violence occur on a regular basis. Authorities in Pakistan have shown a continuous inability or unwillingness to protect its minorities from human rights abuses.
These aren’t isolated incidents. Christians are being specifically targeted.
Recently we reported that a mob hurled bricks at Christians for hanging a Palm Sunday banner in front of their church. A Christian family was gunned down by assailants on motorcycle while riding in a rickshaw over the Easter holiday. ISIS, although weakened in Iraq and Syria, claimed responsibility for the brutal attack.
Churches have been bombed and Christian neighborhoods attacked. But the Pakistani government continues to turn a blind eye.
Christians can’t even count on the local authorities to protect them. Last year, we told you how a gang of policemen savagely beat an eighth-grade Christian boy to death after he had a schoolyard disagreement with a Muslim student.
We are aggressively fighting for persecuted Christians through our office on the ground in Pakistan.
We also continue to advocate for Asia Bibi, a Christian mother of five whom we’ve told you has been sentenced to death under Pakistan’s blasphemy laws for offering a Muslim coworker a glass of water. Pakistan has allowed these easily misinterpreted laws to cause innocent people—particularly Christians like Asia Bibi, and other religious minorities—to suffer and even die. As we stated to the U.N.:
Pakistan’s blasphemy laws are infamous for their scope and brutality. The statute prohibiting derogatory speech against the Prophet Muhammad covers anything, words or gestures, that can be interpreted as blasphemous by a listener.
As a result, the blasphemy laws are easy to misuse, and charges often result because of personal vendettas between the parties. Since Pakistan enacted these laws in the 1980s, over 1,000 cases have been registered and over 40 people are on death row or serving life sentences. Over 50 people have been killed over blasphemy allegations, and hundreds are serving or have served prison terms ranging from three to 10 years.
One of the most egregious and internationally well-known blasphemy cases in recent memory involves Asia Bibi, a Christian mother of five who was charged with and convicted of blasphemy for offering her co-workers water from her cup. According to her co-workers, Asia made the cup ceremonially unclean by drinking from it. Her co-workers asked her to convert to Islam, but Asia refused. That refusal was nearly eight years ago, yet Asia is hopeful as she awaits her appeal to be heard by the Supreme Court of Pakistan. While there have been examples of progress with Asia Bibi’s case in recent months, she remains on death row. Pakistani officials granted her the ability to keep a rosary from Pope Francis. More importantly, chief justice of Pakistan’s Supreme Court, Mian Saqib Nisar, told Asia’s attorney a hearing would be scheduled soon. Though this is a step forward, the Pakistani government has generally remained indifferent to Asia Bibi’s harsh and unjust situation and to others similarly situated within Pakistan’s borders.
While the situation for Asia Bibi seems bleak, we recently reported there has been a glimmer of hope. Her appeal could be heard very soon which makes it even more critical that we act immediately. We’re demanding Asia Bibi be freed.
The submission we filed at the U.N. Human Rights Council asked for pressure to be placed on Pakistan to abide by the international agreements it has ratified to protect religious minorities.
The Pakistani government has the indispensable duty to protect its citizens, despite their religious beliefs. Pakistan is a party to a number of human rights treaties, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. In light of legal obligations under its own constitution10 and international agreements it has ratified, Pakistan is required to protect its religious minorities and their fundamental rights.
We must act now to protect our persecuted and dying Christian brothers and sisters. We will continue aggressively to advocate at the U.N. and through our office on the ground in Pakistan, but we need you. Be the voice of Pakistan’s frightened and dying Christians. {eoa}
For the original article, visit .
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{eoa}
What does the Bible say about the age of accountability? Bill Wiese provides Scriptural insight into this commonly asked question. Wiese says, “I believe it’s clear through the teaching of Jesus that little children will go to heaven.”
Most people in America would be familiar with the long running television game show Jeopardy with host Alex Trebek. The show’s concept is that an answer is stated and the contestants then respond with the question. For instance, the “answer” might be: “This man was the first president of the United States.” The correct response would be, “Who is George Washington?” Each correct response allows the contestants to increase in money and earnings. Each incorrect response causes players to lose the money. The person with the most money wins the game. The game is broken up into three rounds, Jeopardy, Double Jeopardy and Final Jeopardy. Each round increases in money value so that as the game progresses hopefully more and more money is accumulated. The Final Jeopardy round is where the players can risk up to all of their money to try and win the game.
A Prophetic Dream—It’s Time to Stretch and Risk!
In a very prophetic dream I had, I was watching as three players were in Final Jeopardy. I watched as each player made their wager and gave their answers. Each player got the answer correct. The last player who gave their response, however, risked the most money and therefore won the game.
As I awoke, I was aware that the Lord was speaking. He said to me, “In the church and the world we have entered a season of Final Jeopardy. (I am not speaking of some ‘end-time’ theology but rather a season and period in the spirit where clear decisions must be made.) In Final Jeopardy it is the stage of the game where not only is it important to get the right answer, but the risk taken must be sufficient to win. Whoever takes the biggest risk wins. The Lord is challenging us and stretching us to move in faith in these seasons. Even in the face of danger, we are willing to believe Him and His word.
Crisis or Opportunity?
I was aware that the word crisis from the Latin can mean dangerous opportunity. In these times of dangerous opportunities, we must not shrink back. Hebrews 10:37-38 tells us that God has no pleasure in those who draw back.
“For, ‘In yet a little while, He who is to come will come, and will not wait. Now the just shall live by faith; but if anyone draws back, My soul shall have no pleasure in him.”
We cannot allow the danger of the moment to cause us to miss the opportunity before us. The Lord is presenting opportunities to many. However, there is a risk attached to these opportunities. It could even be said to be dangerous. If we allow the danger to override the opportunity before us, we can miss the very purpose for which we were created. This is what happened to the children of Israel as they came to the border of Canaan to cross over. (Num. 14:26-33) After the spies returned because of the walled cities, iron chariots and giants the people refused to go in and possess the land. Even though it was a land “flowing with milk and honey” they allowed the danger to cause them to miss the opportunity. The result was a wandering in the wilderness for another generation.
‘The Decisions Made in This Time Will Determine the Future for a Long Time’
I believe we are in a similar time. We are being presented opportunities of a lifetime that will have generational impact. Should we allow the danger to persuade us that the risk is too big, God may have to wait for another generation to arise and step up to the assignment. We are in Final Jeopardy. I was aware in the dream that the decisions made in this time will determine the future for a long time. The decision of the 10 spies and their influence upon the nation caused a nation to wander for 40 years. We are in a dangerous moment of opportunity. We must make decisions born out of faith and not doubt. We must have “another spirit” like Caleb and Joshua had in this moment. (Num. 14:24) Otherwise, we can miss this time.
In my dream, everyone had the right answers. I believe as a church, we have the right answers. I believe the issue is one of faith that will allow us to believe God and take the necessary risks. The issue was would there be a big enough risk taken to win.
Three strategies to “play to win” in this Final Jeopardy we are in.
1. Realize the season we are in: I was aware in this dream that perhaps we had been faced with similar decisions in times past. However, because it is Final Jeopardy this time, the outcome will be different.
It is very similar to Peter fishing all night and catching nothing. (Luke 5: 4-11) When Jesus however tells him to launch out into the deep and let down his net a great catch was secured. The difference was the season of the spirit he was in. The word of the Lord changed the season. This is what Song of Solomon 2:10-13 declares: “My beloved speaks and says to me: ‘Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away. For now the winter has past; the rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth; the time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land. The fig tree puts forth its green figs, and the vines their blossoms; and they give forth fragrance. Rise up, my love, my beautiful one, and come away.”
The voice of the bridegroom changed the season. Winter was past and the rain was gone. Once the bridegroom spoke, everything shifted. When Jesus spoke the previous season of the night before—the time of barrenness and unfruitfulness—ended. The new season of extravagant fruit through this new catch began. We are in Final Jeopardy. What didn’t work before will work now. This only occurs if we can see past the danger and see into the moment God is granting us.
2. Ask the right kingdom questions: In the game of Jeopardy the correct answers must be phrased in a question. I believe one of the keys to winning in this time is to ask the right questions. So often we are asking the wrong things. Pastors ask how they can see their church grow. The right question is “How can we expand the kingdom influence into our culture?” Business people ask, “How can we make money?” The right question is “How can we serve our community and meet a necessary need?” We must ask the right questions as they related to the purposes of God. Our questions reveal the motive of our hearts, which is very important to the Lord.
3. Exercise Faith, Take Risks, Believe God: Finally, we must be willing to exercise a realm of faith to take a risk and believe God. Real faith always causes us to lay our lives down and trust the Lord. Real faith is willing to declare that even if it doesn’t work, it’s a joy to believe and place my entire hope in Him. This is not to say we do unwise or silly things. We however are willing to believe the word of God and know He cannot fail. We are willing to step out onto the water, because we have heard Him say, “Come” (-29).
We are in Final Jeopardy. May the Lord help us in our weakness to hear Him clearly and move in faith to take the necessary risks. Our future, the church’s future and the future of nations can hang in the balance. Is there a people who will believe God and see past the danger to the potential of this time? Lord help me, I want to be one! {eoa}
Robert Henderson is the apostolic leader of Global Reformers, a worldwide apostolic family of over 100,000 kingdom leaders and seven-mountain influencers. He is also author of the best-selling Operating in the Courts of Heaven series. Learn more about his ministry at .
Earlier this year, Matt Chandler surprised many when he announced that his church, The Village Church, was continuationist and would recognize the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Now Chandler made a special video to commemorate the true significance of Pentecost and Acts 2. Watch it here.
Christian duo For King & Country recently debuted a new single, “Joy.,” and an artistic new music video to go along with it. The song’s bridge cleverly twists the classic children’s song, “I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart.” The song itself delivers a fairly new sound for the best-selling Christian artists, with club music-inspired refrains and breakdowns (similar to Hillsong Young & Free). Check out the video for yourself. What do you think?
The 21st-century church is enjoying an emergence of multicultural fellowships and congregations. However, there are those who suggest that even in the midst of this surge of diverse brotherhood and sisterhood, Christian leaders are not doing enough to bring about true racial reconciliation.
Reflection: I grew up in the ’80s in a small city in south central Virginia. Unfortunately, I am not a stranger to racial tensions. Danville was the last capital of the Confederacy, and the emotional damage of slavery seemed to have persisted across time in our little city.
The divides that were caused by a lack of racial reconciliation was felt nowhere more strongly than in our churches. The most segregated time of the week was that two-hour block of time on Sunday morning.
I now realize that the enemy of our faith masterfully uses God’s anatomical and psychological design to create disease among people. Large-scale dissension and discord is a community disease that reduces the effectiveness of the body of Christ.
Spiritual Warfare: In Matthew 12, Jesus encountered a demon-possessed man. This spiritual attack manifested itself in the form of blindness and muteness. Jesus, of course, healed the man, but the solution to his physical ailment was the addressing of the spiritual attack.
As it was with the man’s blindness and muteness, so it is with the emotional ailments that are characterized by unhealthy biases against other people in God’s beloved family.
Faith and Science: Many of our conversations on racial issues in the church focus on explicit biases, which I loosely define here as the overt and easily recognizable prejudices and attitudes toward other groups of people.
However, the deeper story lies in our implicit biases, which are the subconscious feelings, perceptions, attitudes and stereotypes that have developed as a result of our prior experiences. Due to our psychological design, we are unaware of the attack, and this allows the enemy to wreak havoc in this area.
To limit our conversations to explicit biases and to not address implicit biases is to paint over rust.
Paul encourages us to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. There is action required on our part. The renewing process certainly includes the conscious thoughts of which we are aware, but we must also renew our subconscious mind if we are to experience the transformation that Paul describes.
This is more than a clinical issue. Many of the negative projections of our past experiences onto present circumstances is due to demonic influence in the same way that the man’s blindness of muteness was the result of demonic influence.
Note that this type of spiritual attack is not targeted in a single direction. Implicit bias is a two-way street. Whites subconsciously project negatively on blacks, and blacks subconsciously project negatively on whites, in part as a result of demonic influence. The same is true of other social groups such as women and men.
The Path Forward: Seek out uncomfortable engagements. This is a purposeful effort to engage people in groups other than your own in a posture of humility, servitude and learning. Your goal is not to express what you know or how you feel; rather, it’s to listen and understand. It requires us to ask difficult questions and to engage in conversations that create discomfort within us.
If the enemy is promoting a narrative that divides God’s people, then we should courageously engage in conversations about the subject of those narratives with the goal to love, learn and grow.
The strategy of uncomfortable engagements can be operationalized in healthy, fruitful and Christ-honoring ways in our churches and communities.
Scientifically, uncomfortable engagements provide all parties with new experiences and exposures that will work to reprogram the subconscious mind.
When we are courageous enough to see the world through our neighbor’s eyes, we ultimately see ourselves in our neighbor, because the same Holy Spirit resides in all of our Father’s children.
This strategy, if implemented effectively, has the potential to break down stereotypes and to positively shift paradigms, because it connects us to the other person’s humanity in a deeper way.
Let us use our love for Jesus as the motivation to engage one another in uncomfortable ways that will produce healthy growth inside of us and kingdom fruit outside of us. {eoa}
Dr. Adrian Coles is the associate pastor of Revival Church in Raleigh, North Carolina, and a clinical researcher at Duke University. He is passionate about discipleship and identifying the synergy between science and faith to identify practical ways to operationalize biblical guidance. You can follow him on Instagram for inspirational content, and you can explore his medical research on his Duke Scholars page.
Sixteen-year-old Rome Shubert was shot in the head on Friday, and he didn’t even know it.
I’m so greatful [sic] and blessed that god spared me life today. Today I was shot in the back of the head but i am completely okay and stable.
— Romeshubert❄️ (@rome_shubert17) May 18, 2018
Shubert says he heard a loud bang, and his ears started ringing, Fox reports. He jumped under a table for protection and then ran with other students out the back door.
He climbed a seven-foot-wall and ran approximately 100 to 200 feet away from the art room, and that’s when he noticed he had blood on himself.
He was unable to contact his parents until he was in the hospital.
“I belted out and just screamed, ‘Hallelujah and praise Jesus. It was the scariest moment of my life, not hearing from him,” his mom, Sheri Shubert, says.
“I laid my head on his chest and I was just like, ‘Thank you, God. Thank you, God. Thank you, God, for your grace.'”
Watch the video to see Shubert’s full story.
The U.S. government legally threatened these churches. Then help came in the form of the Alliance Defending Freedom. ADF is partnering with churches to help fight on behalf of religious freedom. Watch this short video and find out more at .