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Well-Known Worship Leaders Urge NextGen To Remain Biblical

by Christel Berns
written by Christel Berns

It’s undeniable how worship music has grown popular for years. It is evident how the genre reached and caught the attention of mainstream media nowadays. But as Christian music continues to grow, several well-known worship leaders are urging worship leaders to remain Biblically sound with their songs. They also warn against falling into chasing earthly success with it.

The Future Of Worship Music

In an interview with The Christian Post, Hillsong worship leader Brooke Ligertwood shared her sentiments on the future of worship music. She is challenging the next generation of worship songwriters and leaders to remain biblically sound with their songs. She stresses the importance of the song being aligned with what the Scripture says about God.

“What people are putting in their mouths and singing out, it’s going to form what they believe about God. So it has to be true,” the worship leader pointed out.

Sowing On Spiritual Disciplines

Further, Brooke highlights the importance of living life focused on what pleases God. Because if not, the results would be “devastating.” Hence, she encouraged investing in “spiritual disciplines and spiritual practices” in one’s private life. Worship leaders should watch for any distractions by being committed to God alone.

“We need to make sure that we can keep our hearts focused on what’s going to sustain us to finish running the race well,” she said.

Photo Courtesy | Instagram – christomlin

The Style Of Worship Music

Meanwhile, also well-known worship leader, Chris Tomlin, discusses with CP the importance of the “style of music.” He explained how worship music shouldn’t sound like the world. Even with all the new music trends, he advised that we should “keep that same spirit of that humble spirit.”

“Just having people having an encounter with God,” he remarked. “That’s the difference-maker in this. Otherwise just sounds like everybody else’s music.”

Focus On The Word Of God

Also, Bethel Music’s Jenn Johnson accentuates creating music with a “focus on the words of Scripture.” She encouraged to stay “anchored in the Word of God.”

Further, Canadian worship leader, Matt Maher, added not to aim for success as Christian artists. But instead, focus on the mission God gave them.

“Everything that we’re called to do is really about the transformation,” he said. “And culture and the betterment of society and the common good, helping people flourish, discover who they are and who they’re meant to be.”

Reference | The Christian Post

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Pastors Biblical worldview
Articles

ALARMING: Only 37% Of U.S. Pastors Believe A Biblical Worldview, According To Survey

by Christel Berns
written by Christel Berns

Surprisingly, a recent poll revealed that only a few percent of the pastors in the United States hold a biblical worldview, and it’s alarming to some Christians.

George Barna Pollster

In a report shared by Christian Headlines, George Barna conducted a survey about the U.S. pastors’ biblical worldview. And the Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University revealed pretty alarming results. The data showed that only “37 percent of pastors in the U.S. hold a biblical worldview.” This percentage consists of senior pastors, associate pastors, teaching pastors, and youth or children’s pastors.

Photo by Rod Long on Unsplash

Such a report truly shocked many Christians as the results could mean that pastors need “spiritual awakening.” The pollster’s research director wrote, “This is another strong piece of evidence that the culture is influencing the American church more than Christian churches are influencing the culture.” Moreover, it calls for a desperate need to address these concerns “in our pulpits as in the pews.”

Biblical Worldview Questions

Apparently, the George Barna pollster carefully crafted 54 questions from a biblical worldview. They could assess the pastor’s Christian beliefs and theology through these questions. Also, they ordered the questions into eight categories. And the results revealed as follows according to the report:

NEW COVENANT CLARITY

Only 57 percent of the pastors’ perspectives about the “purpose and calling of life” are biblical. While “family and the value of life (47 percent); God, creation, and history (44 percent); personal faith practices (43 percent); sin, salvation and one’s relationship to God (43 percent); human character and human nature (40 percent); lifestyle, personal behavior and relationships (40 percent).”

Pastors Biblical worldview

Photo by Aaron Owens on Unsplash

Disturbing Data

In addition, George stressed that youth pastors’ and children’s pastors’ Biblical worldview stats are disturbing.

“Keep in mind a person’s worldview primarily develops before the age of 13,” the director explained. “Then goes through a period of refinement during their teens and twenties. From a worldview perspective, a church’s most important ministers are the children’s pastor and the youth pastor. Discovering that seven out of every eight of those pastors lack a biblical worldview helps to explain why so few people in the nation’s youngest generations are developing a heart and mind for biblical principles and ways of life, and why our society seems to have run wild over the last decade, in particular.”

But despite the alarming survey results, George shared a brighter perspective about it. He highlights the hope amid the discouraging data.

“You cannot fix something unless you know it’s broken,” he pointed out. “God is in the transformation business. Pastors who are willing to allow Him to transform their thinking and behavior can emerge from that process as a powerful example of what can happen when one’s heart, mind and soul are surrendered to God. It certainly seems that if America is going to experience a spiritual revival, that awakening is needed just as desperately in our pulpits as in the pews.”

Let us pray for every Christian and not just pastors to always be aligned with God’s Word. That Holy Spirit would always open their eyes to interpret it in a right and Biblical perspective.

Reference | Christian Headlines

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Articles

2000-Year-Old Bible Scroll Fragments Found During Risky Operation In Dead Sea Cave Of Horror

by Rhoda Gayle
written by Rhoda Gayle

2000-year-old Bible scroll fragments were found during the risky operation in the Dead Sea Cave of Horror.

Dead Sea Cave of Horror

The Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) announced on Tuesday that they have recovered ancient fragments of biblical texts dating back almost 2,000 years. It is the first discovery in about 60 years. The fragments are found from the Dead Sea Cave of Horror and it was a risky operation for the archaeologists and volunteers.

It was a massive national operation. To prevent looters from getting to the artifacts first, IAA had to retrieve the fragments by clinging to ropes.

“The desert team showed exceptional courage, dedication, and devotion to purpose, rappelling down to caves located between heaven and earth. Digging and sifting through them, enduring thick and suffocating dust, and returning with gifts of immeasurable worth for mankind,” IAA director Israel Hasson said in a statement.

2000-Year-Old Bible Scroll

The newly found Dead Sea scrolls contain portions from the Book of 12 Minor Prophets including Zechariah and Nahum. Among the texts found is from Zechariah 8:16-17.

“These are the things you are to do: Speak the truth to one another, render true and perfect justice in your gates. And do not contrive evil against one another, and do not love perjury, because all those are things that I hate—declares the Lord.” 

Ancient Hebrew

The text is written in Greek, the common language used back in that time. However, despite the fact that the scrolls are written in Greek, the name of God was written in ancient Hebrew. Ancient Hebrew is known to be used from the times of the First Temple in Jerusalem.

The team was also able to discover a hoard of coins from the Jewish Bar Kokhba revolt. But one of the most shocking discoveries was the 6,000-year-old skeleton of a partially mummified child. And also a well-preserved 10,500-year-old basket.

“Now, in this national operation, which continues the work of previous projects, new finds and evidence have been discovered. And unearthed that shed even more light on the different periods and cultures of the region,” Hananya Hizmi, Head Staff Officer of the Archaeology Department of the Civil Administration in Judea and Samaria, said in a statement.

Read also: 4-Year-Old Girl’s 3 Simple Words Proves God’s Existence 

Reference: Faith Wire 

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Articles

Mysterious Remains With Symbol Representing Biblical-Era Kingdoms Were Discovered In Jerusalem

by Rhoda Gayle
written by Rhoda Gayle

Mysterious remains of elaborate columns from royal structures engraved with symbols of Biblical-era Kingdoms of Judah and Israel were discovered in Jerusalem.

Mysterious Remains

Archaeologists in Israel discovered capitals, the structure in the topmost part of a column, during an excavation. The mysterious remains were discovered at the Armon Hanatziv promenade in Jerusalem.

Three capitals were discovered engraved with the symbol of the Kingdoms of Judah and Israel. The same symbol can be found in the present-day five shekel coin of the State of Israel. They were said to have come from 960 B.C. to 586 B.C., according to Israel Antiquities Authority.

“These stone artifacts are made of soft limestone, with decorative carvings, and among them are capitals of various sizes in the architectural style known as ‘Proto-Aeolian’ – one of the most significant royal building features of the First Temple period, and one of the visual symbols of the period,” said the Israel Antiquities Authority, in a statement. “The importance of this artistic motif as a symbol representing the Kingdoms of Judah and Israel led the Bank of Israel to choose it as the image that adorns the five shekel coin of the State of Israel.”

Biblical-era

The magnificent structures were likely built during the times of Biblical kings Hezekiah and Josiah. These findings are according to Yaakov Billig, Director of the Israel Antiquities Authority’s excavation.

Along the three capitals found last week were items from lavish window frames. To the official’s surprise, two of the capitals were discovered on top of the other. These artifacts may have belonged to one of the kings of Judah.

“At this point, it is still difficult to say who hid the capitals in the way they were discovered, and why he did so, but there is no doubt that this is one of the mysteries at this unique site, to which we will try to offer a solution,” said Yaakov.

Read also: 1,200-Year-Old Huge Cross Discovered In Pakistan Hints Christianity Was There ‘Before Islam Came’ 

Reference: Fox News 

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ArticlesVideo

Powerful Spoken Poetry Invites Christians To “Respond Biblically” To Poor Countries Affected By COVID-19

by Christa
written by Christa

A recent campaign launched with a video raising awareness for Christians on how to “biblically respond” to our neighbors who are greatly affected by COVID-19.

Respond biblically

“In the face of a global pandemic, what does it really mean to love our neighbor?” This is Stewardship’s first question for the followers of Christ. The Christian Charity Organization has seen the desperate cry in many countries impacted by the pandemic. Thus, calling for a united response from God’s people around the world.

Global Church United - Covid-19 Rapid Response

“A second wave from the scientists is what expected. And though some of us here are protected, there are thousands across the world that are neglected.” The video showed an African man delivering a poetic awareness for the Church.

“Communities disconnected, parents rejected, and children unprotected. All because they don’t have masks or sanitizers to be disinfected,” he continued.

“So for this to change, we need to get connected. God’s people, us the Church, have to come together and say ‘challenge accepted’.”

He further noted how the people in some areas struggle to meet their daily needs, and the pandemic has only worsened their situation.

Love your neighbor

“We believe a global issue demands a biblical response. Like love your neighbor as it is because of love Jesus became our Savior. Help those who were in need then those who are chained by illnesses and poverty can be freed.”

He continues to exhort to be a “delightful giver.” “Because it’s time for us to no longer observe but to stand up and serve. It’s time for all of us to give so that others can continue to live.”

“As one people, as one Body, we can unite our forces to make sure every country has the resources to beat this virus.”

Apparently, Stewardship partners with different organizations that have the same goal to develop communities and empower people. Some of these are Tearfund, World Vision, Open Doors, and Trust Bridge Global.

ALSO READ: Watch: Striking Video Campaign Against Human Trafficking Directed By Derek Hough
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ArticlesVideo

Tiktok Video Shares Hope & Faith With Biblical References About Quarantine

by Christa
written by Christa

Quarantine can difficult but this Tiktok video sharing biblical references about quarantine brings hope and faith in this critical time.

Tiktok is a social video-sharing mobile application owned by the Chinese tech company ByteDance. With over a billion users worldwide, Tiktok quickly became the top mobile app across the globe. Users mainly share entertaining videos but there is a rise of faith-based content.

Tiktok video as a platform

Tatum Scott didn’t miss the chance to use the platform to share her faith and bring encouragement. The 17 year old created a Tiktok video with ‘Waymaker’ as the background music.

@tatumscottThis is so amazing!! God is so faithful y’all. ##christian ##faith ##fyp ##wow♬ Way Maker (Live at Bethel) – The McClures and Paul McClure

“I just read something amazing…” she wrote. “The Latin root of the word ‘quarantine’ is ‘forty’ and here is what the Bible says about 40….”

She then narrated situations from the Bible that involve 40: flood lasting 40 days, Moses fled to Egypt for 40 years, Moses stayed in Mt Sinai for 40 days to receive the commandments and Jesus fasted for 40 days.

Selena Gomez Tells Miley Cyrus: ‘I Read Scripture…’ Amid Quarantine

“A group of theologians think the number 40 represents ‘change’. Something will happen after these 40 days of quarantine. Just believe and pray. Remember, whenever the number 40 appears in the Bible, there is a ‘change’,” she continued.

She added, “We are in the year of 2020 and 20 + 20 = 40. Also, 2020 is the year of the United States Census. Jesus Christ, the savior of the world, was born during a census. 2020 is perfect vision. May our sight focus on the Lord and live according to His perfect vision for us knowing He holds us.”

Her creative way of sharing appealed to many as the video reached to more than a million views.

“Rivers are cleaning and vegetation is growing. The air is becoming cleaner because of less pollution. Most importantly, people are turning to Christ. The best is yet to come!”

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Word of God
ArticlesFaith

The Word of God – The Tool of the Christian World Changer

by GOD TV
written by GOD TV

The Word of God – the Bible – is the single most important tool in the bag of the Christian world-changer.

The workman called to participate in the Harvest of the Lord has no better place to start than in the regular study of the word of God. For it is in the word of God that the workman/disciple of Jesus finds encouragement, instruction, training, insight, and help from God.

Jesus’ early life was characterized by his inquiry into and desire to know the word of God more deeply:

So when they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking Him. Now so it was that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers. (Luke 2:45-47 NKJV)

We are meant to understand

And all throughout his ministry, he quoted the word of God, (obviously from memory), to explain what He was doing, and to frame His actions in words in a way that others who knew the word of God would understand.

Paul was also mighty in the Scriptures (the word of God), a “Pharisee of Pharisees,” as he called himself in Philippians:

For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh, though I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. (Phil. 3:3-6 NKJV)

The Word of God sets the foundation

Paul was adamant that those he was mentoring, like Timothy and Titus, be completely absorbed with learning from and teaching regularly from the word of God.

The centrality of the word of God that we see in Paul’s life has also been seen down through the Ages in such men as Athanasius, Augustine, William Tyndale, John Knox, Martin Luther, John Calvin, George Whitefield, Jonathan Edwards, and many other reformers and revivalists down through church history.

It is the word of God which both sets the foundation for and defines the outline of the normal Christian life. And it is by the word of God that the church progresses and grows in understanding and fulfilling her destiny and calling. We see a hint of this from Paul’s writing in 1 Timothy:

…but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. (1 Tim. 3:15 NKJV)  

We see that God has set the church up as the means by which the truth of the word of God is propagated on Earth. And God allows for much creative work and interpretation to be done in response to the truth of the word of God. Notice this in Genesis:

Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” (Gen. 1:28 NKJV)

Creativity, invention, and artistic interpretation

What do you notice? I want to draw your attention to this, that God does not specify at all what this looks like, to “fill the earth.” He is putting on the shoulders of Adam and Eve the burden of creativity, invention, and artistic interpretation of the Word of God. They now know that God created all that they see in six days, and it is a phenomenally creative act of beauty and delight to them. And now he says to them, “Now you go and do the same. You take the raw material of creation and you create and recreate this planet according to your own wishes and desires. You see how I created everything, and now you do the same, likewise.” Because we were born to create!

And since it was the spoken Word of God that brought all things into existence, Adam and Eve will now also speak the interpreted word of God and take the raw material of creation, with the tool of time (they noted that He did things in sequence, over a six-day period; He was the ultimate Time Manager!), and fashion a planet that is redecorated and remade with the patterns of beauty, (the colors, the forms, the sounds, and the overall design ideas), that delights their souls, and causes their Father to laugh along with them with delight and wonder.

Spend time in the word of God. Let it cheer and renew your soul. And speak the things you hear and see in a creative, confident, and collaborative way with your Heavenly Father.

 

Article written by: Mark Becerra

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Celebrate Mother's Day
Articles

Should Christians Celebrate Mother’s Day?

by Joyca Lorriene
written by Joyca Lorriene

In many countries of the world we celebrate Mother’s Day on the second Sunday of May, but does God expect us to do this?

Each year we celebrate Mother’s Day to honor or recognize all the mothers in the world. Today this can take the form of honoring a biological mother, foster mother, stepmother, grandmother, mother-in-law or spiritual mother. How then did it all start?

Where does Mother’s Day originate from?

According to History, Mother’s Day celebration began with the ancient Greeks and Romans, as a celebration of Rhea and Cybele, the mothers of Greek mythology.

However, the early Christian festival is known as ‘Mothering Sunday’.  At first, it was more about returning to one’s ‘mother church’ than about honoring one’s mother. People were given the day off to return to their birthplace and visit their families. On route they’d pick handfuls of wild flowers to decorate their church or to give to their mothers, hence the tradition started.

Today people celebrate Mother’s Day with a letter of appreciation or a card with a kind message, flowers, chocolates and by taking their mothers out for a special meal. For more about the history of Mother’s Day read: Honoring ‘The Woman Who Has Done More For You Than Anyone In The World’

Is Mother’s Day Biblical?

Though there is no account in the Scriptures that identify a specific celebration for mothers, however we do find that God commands us to honor our parents.

Both the Old Testament and the New Testament clearly indicate that we must honor and obey our mother and father if we want to live a long and happy life.

“Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.” (Exodus 21:12)

“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. ‘Honor your father and mother’—which is the first commandment with a promise—‘so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth’.” (Ephesians 6:1-3)

Honoring our parents is the only commandment with a promise. And if celebrating Mother’s Day means acknowledging them, then why not? It’s definitely not a pagan practice, it’s about expressing our gratitude towards the woman who bore us and there is nothing wrong with that.

After all, the Apostle Paul said, “whether you eat or drink do it all for the glory of God.” So whether we celebrate Mother’s Day or not, the most important thing to remember is to do all things for the glory of the one true God.

This Mother’s Day, show your mother some love!

Reference:

Read also: Mother’s Day Weekend: A Living Portrait of Motherhood

 

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offense
Articles

Do You Need Peace in Your Relationships? Important Steps to Let Go of Offense

by Elizabeth Pitman
written by Elizabeth Pitman

Important Steps in Letting Go of Offense

“Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry…” (James 1:19)

The last word…We have all been there. Someone says something hurtful or irritating, and we have that comment on the tip of our tongue in response. The kind of comment that is cutting…The kind that would tear someone down…The kind that would make you “mic drop” and walk away. We have seconds to decide how we are going to react and whether we will release those words or hold them back. The flesh cries out, “Go ahead; say it.” The Spirit says, “Don’t say it. You’ll regret it. Respond in love.” The flesh wars against the Spirit. And, in that second, what will you personally decide?

The harder and better choice is most certainly responding in love, but how tough that is when it’s so easy to take offense! It really takes the strength of God to ignore the flesh and to act in a Christ-like manner. In order to handle unforeseen and hurtful comments from others the way Christ instructs us to, it really takes the Spirit of God and the study of His Word firmly planted in our hearts. Therefore, when temptation comes, we are better equipped and can cling to the Truth in order to react biblically.

The following steps are based on 1 Peter 3:9-13 and can greatly help us toward becoming peacemakers by avoiding arguments and conflicts in our treatment of one another in order to overcome offense:

  • “Never return insult for insult, but on the contrary blessing” (Verse 9).”

When insulted, we are to bless the other person. Imagine saying something complimentary or encouraging after being insulted, instead of retaliating. As hard as it may be, blessing someone can diffuse a situation and stop an argument in its tracks. In fact, the end of this verse says that obedience to God can bring blessing in your own life. So, as you contemplate what decision to make, remind yourself of the rewards of your obedience, but most importantly, remind yourself that Christ commands it.

  • Refuse to talk about the other person.

Verse 10 states, “For let him who wants to enjoy life and see good days keep his tongue from evil and his lips from guile (treachery, deceit).” After someone mistreats us, the most common response is to tell other people about it to get their sympathy and to make the other person look bad. Instead of using our tongues to backbite, gossip, spread lies, or all of the above, let’s use our speech to uplift, build up, and encourage one another. With the help of God, let’s learn to silence our tongues when offended, and, instead, pray about the situation and the person who has wronged us.

  • Search for peace and turn away from wickedness.

Verse 11 is very clear that we are to make an effort to promote unity amongst one another and to avoid conflict. Unbelievers should be able to recognize a difference in us based on our love for others, not by our slander, not by our idle talk; not by our divisiveness. Matthew 5:9 reiterates this by saying, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for the will inherit the kingdom of God.” Pray for peace. Bless your enemies (Romans 12).

  • God’s eyes are on those who seek to do right, and His ears are open to their prayer.

This is definitely incentive enough to keep our heart’s obedient to Christ. God takes notice of our actions. His eyes are watching, and His ears are open to our prayers, particularly when we handle things according to His Word.

  • As we live a life of a peacemaker, our enemies diminish.

“Now who is there to hurt you if you are ‘Zealous followers of that which is good? (Verse 13)'”. Throughout life, we will, at times, encounter opposition. However, if we are always responding in love, instead of bitterness and hatred, the person causing the potential argument, will not have a reason to continue firing off at the mouth if we don’t play into the same game they started. My grandfather was someone who truly was a peacemaker and lived this principle. Out of all my years of knowing him, I did not ever hear him speak unkindly about anyone. This precious man imprinted a legacy for those he left behind.

By taking these verses to heart, let’s encourage each other to respond to offense biblically in order to become peacemakers.

Will there be times you need to confront others?… Most certainly, yes. But, we must make sure to do so with a Christ-like, loving attitude and the Spirit of God leading our words and actions. We must also remember that our response to mistreatment is vital and that retaliation brings regret. Forgiveness brings the opportunity for healing, not only in our relationships with one another but also in our own hearts, as well. If we have hurt someone with our words and caused offense, it is important to ask that person for their forgiveness. Putting on love and humility and realizing that Christ’s opinion is the only one that matters makes all the difference. As we do this, not only do we obey God, but we also show others that we are different from the world. “And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.” (Colossians 3:14)

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