Heretics are “alive and well,” LifeWay Research and Ligonier Ministries found after measuring the “theological awareness” of more than 550 self-identified American evangelicals. The good news: More than 9 in 10 believe that Jesus rose from the dead and that heaven and hell are real. But many either agree with unorthodox teachings on the Trinity, salvation, and other doctrines, or are uncertain about their soundness.
This fall, Iranian Christians marked two milestones—one somber, the other sweet. More than 500 prayer vigils were held worldwide for Saeed Abedini, an Iranian American pastor imprisoned now for two years. He is one of at least 60 Christians jailed on increasingly serious charges. The same week, Elam Ministries released a new translation of the Bible into modern Persian, giving the first copies to family members of martyrs. Hundreds of leaders from 40 countries attended the New Millennium Version’s dedication, said Elam’s David Yeghnazar. “The meeting was a magnificent proclamation of the global church’s commitment to the Bible.”
InterVarsity Christian Fellowship faces a “considerably more costly” task this year but sees a silver lining. After the nation’s largest public school system, California State University, derecognized 23 chapters for requiring student leaders to be professing Christians, InterVarsity has been “developing a new style of campus ministry” that “doesn’t rely on established campus structures.” It also remains encouraged by record participation and conversions on 616 other campuses. Students “raised in an age where churches aren’t teaching creeds” are refusing to drop doctrinal standards in order to maintain campus access, national field director Greg Jao told CT. “Students understand there is an irreducible biblical and theological core to their Christian faith. They’re choosing to stand for it.”
Chuck Smith, founder of the influential Calvary Chapel movement, received a hero’s sendoff when he died in October 2013. But near the first anniversary of his death, Smith’s eldest daughter sued his successor (her brother-in-law) over how the church treated Smith, his widow, and their intellectual property. Janette Manderson, who filed on behalf of mother Kay Smith, 87, claims that Brian Brodersen, now senior pastor at Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa, “schemed” to seize control of Smith’s The Word For Today ministry and his stockpile of sermons. She also accused Brodersen of commandeering Smith’s $1 million life-insurance policy for the church. Her brother, Chuck Smith Jr., publicly disputed the lawsuit as “groundless, deplorable, dishonoring to our father,” and said it would “quickly disintegrate” in court.
The New England Association of Schools and Colleges discussed whether Gordon’s prohibition on “homosexual practice” conflicts with the association’s standards on nondiscrimination. The association, which reaccredited Gordon in 2012, asked for a report in September 2015 “to ensure that the College’s policies and processes are non-discriminatory and … foster an atmosphere that respects and supports people of diverse characteristics and backgrounds.” The school says its 12-15 month “period of discernment” is discussing pastoral response, not changing its policy. In June Eastern Mennonite University decided to delay a decision on its ban on same-sex behavior, pending denominational debate.
Christians lacked consensus on whether Scotland should separate from the United Kingdom. As did Scots overall, with a narrow majority (55 percent) rejecting independence in a historic and heated referendum. Instead, the Evangelical Alliance Scotland was more concerned that Scots “unite and build a new Scotland with Christian values at the heart.” National director Fred Drummond asked Christians to model reconciliation between Scottish nationalists and British unionists. “It is time to show grace and kindness to the other side,” he said. “We must love our neighbor.”
Harvest Bible Chapel founder James MacDonald confessed to his 13,000-member congregation that he and his elder board were wrong for denouncing three former elders as “false messengers” in September 2013. “Our church discipline of a year ago was a failure in many respects,” said MacDonald, in part due to a “complete lack of a biblically required restorative component.” The megachurch has “lifted all discipline” from the elders, who were accused of seeking division and told to stay away from Harvest after they spoke out against a “culture of fear and intimidation” and a lack of financial transparency. “Our discipline condemned them,” said MacDonald, asking forgiveness. “We lost sight of the biblical priority of seeking a redemptive solution to our differences.” He said the groups have reconciled.
Shortly after a series of media interviews as Ebola survivor Nancy Writebol’s pastor, John Munro was removed as a radio Bible teacher and placed on paid leave by his North Carolina megachurch amid separate investigations. Charlotte’s Calvary Church soon cleared him of an employee handbook violation, which Munro described as “an innocent error of judgment.” But Back to the Bible stood by its decision to fire its lead Bible teacher for undisclosed behavior “detrimental to [its] mission of leading people closer to Jesus on a daily basis.” CEO Arnie Cole disputed “harmful” rumors that it was “being unfair” to Munro, assuring supporters that it had “prayerfully followed biblical as well as legal principles.” For now, past host Warren Wiersbe has returned to the 75-year-old program.
After trustees from one of the largest Christian colleges “agonized with the decision,” they agreed that president Phil Schubert could remain at Texas’s Abilene Christian University even though his wife filed for divorce due to “irreconcilable differences.” The board explained to faculty and staff that while it believes in the “covenant of marriage,” it also believes “strongly in the power of grace in a broken world and the call to be peacemakers.” Many Christian schools have strict guidelines that only permit employees to keep their jobs if they divorce for a spouse’s adultery or desertion.
Christian educators publicly stated they would strike over sharp cutbacks (up to 35 percent) in government funding and other “oppressive steps” by Israeli education officials. The Jewish state recognizes the private schools, which serve primarily Arab Christians, but has said its primary responsibility is to public schools. The funding decline may force some of the 50 Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant schools, which serve approximately 30,000 students (including non-Christians), to close; some have been open for 400 years. Administrators said the schools “meet a need that the state has not fulfilled,” and warned the Ministry of Education, “Don’t stop us from carrying on our mission.” Botrus Mansour, head of Nazareth Baptist School, told CT the schools “provide a great education” that “helps to keep the Christian presence and mission in the Holy Land.”
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Wheaton College stops studying evangelicals
After more than 30 years and 30 books, the Institute for the Study of American Evangelicals at Wheaton College will shut down December 31. Founded by historians Mark Noll and Nathan Hatch in 1982, it examined topics such as the impact of foreign missions on North America, the financing of American evangelicalism, and evangelicals’ relationship to mass media. While funding played a role in the decision, spokesperson LaTonya Taylor said, the “history and influence of evangelicalism in American life was [once] understudied,” but today “more scholars and institutions have come to understand [it] as a valid subject of academic study.”
“It’s only hors d’oeuvres for heaven.”
Lecrae to pastor Louie Giglio regarding his success. His Billboard chart–topping blends of hip-hop and Reformed theology led Jimmy Fallon to make him the first Christian rapper to perform on The Tonight Show. Religion News Service.
MINISTERS’ MENTAL HEALTH
1 in 4 Protestant pastors who say they have “personally struggled with mental illness,” such as clinical depression, bipolar disorder, or schizophrenia. About half say they were diagnosed.
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While we pray for peace, we need moral clarity about this war.
As my doubts about his teachings grew, so did a secret fascination with Jesus.
The Grammy-winning artist was found dead at her home in Nashville at age 47.
