Here is a brief round-up of some Christian news this past week:
Christ Pratt talks about religion
Hollywood actor Chris Pratt found himself in a bit of controversy this past week, when in an interview with Men’s Health, Pratt said that he was not religious, but added that he had a relationship with God.
“I think there’s a distinction between being religious — adhering to the customs created by man, oftentimes appropriating the awe reserved for who I believe is a very real God — and using it to control people, to take money from people, to abuse children, to steal land, to justify hatred. Whatever it is,” Pratt explained.
When asked if he attended Hillsong, which has found itself in a pile of controversy recently, Pratt said he attended Zoe Church in Los Angeles. READ: ‘I’m Not a Religious Person’: Chris Pratt Addresses Online Backlash Concerning His Faith
Facebook labels Jane’s Revenge a terrorist group?
According to Life Site News, Facebook has labeled Jane’s Revenge a terrorist group and given it, Facebook’s strictest Tier 1 speech limits. Jane’s Revenge is a pro-abortion extremist group that has become active since the Supreme Court overturned Roe vs Wade. It is claiming responsibility for dozens of attacks against pro-life organizations and churches. And is famed for a phrase that accompanies its attacks: ‘If abortion isn’t safe, neither are you’ READ: Facebook labels Jane’s Revenge a terrorist group for attacks on pro-life centers AND Pro-choice group vandalizes UWS church: ‘If abortion isn’t safe, neither are you’
Ex mafia boss shares his faith
Former mob boss, Michael Franzese, 71, preached at Pastor Greg Laurie’s Harvest Christian Fellowship on Sunday, June 26, 2022. Franzese, who was arrested 18 times while working for New York’s Colombo Italian-American Mafia crime family, shared how there is a heaven and hell, but added that believers needed to share the gospel gently. Franzese who had risen to the position of ‘caporegime’ and was overseeing 300 mob soldiers became a Christian in 1994, during a prison stint. READ: Ex-Mob Boss Michael Franzese Gets Born Again, Preaches About Jesus: ‘There Is a Heaven, and There Is a Hell’
Requests for exorcisms going up
In a recent podcast, Mike Signorelli, who pastors New York City’s V1 Church, explored the issue of deliverance. He also noted in the podcast that the Roman Catholic Church is reporting such a significant increase in requests for exorcisms that its system is breaking down because of the demand. Signorelli added he has seen a similar increase as well because of increasing interest in the occult. READ: Requests for Exorcism Reportedly Booming as Culture Dabbles in Occult
Christian player, Josh Manson, helps Colorado Avalanche win the Stanley Cup
The Colorado Avalanche won the NHL’s Stanley Cup on Sunday, June 26, 2022, defeating the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-1. Christian player, Josh Manson, played a role in the victory. Manson who plays defence provided an assist in the Avalanche’s game-winning goal.
Manson became a Christian during college after his mother came down with Stage 4 melanoma. Manson had vowed to follow God, if his mother was healed from cancer, which Manson described as a miracle.
However, Manson forgot about that vow, until he met the woman who would become his wife. On their second date, she told Manson that she would only date if he agreed to go to church. Manson became a Christian after reading, Josh McDowell’s book, More than a Carpenter. READ: Christian Hockey Player Josh Manson Helps Colorado Avalanche Win First Stanley Cup in 21 Years
On a related hockey note:
Canadian military advisory panel calls for rejection of any chaplains who believe in conversion
Christianity Today reports that an advisory committee for the Canadian military is advising that the Canadian army should, in the name of diversity, no longer hire Christian chaplains who believe in conversion.
Christianity Today provides more details:
Cardus, a Christian think tank, wrote a letter to the National Defence minister Anita Anand calling these recommendations “extremely troubling” and “explicitly prejudiced.”
“It is not the government’s business to tell its soldiers what to believe or not to believe, Brian Dijkema, vice president of external affairs at Cardus, said to CT. “That’s just wrong.”
According to Dijkema, the report demonstrates “a very ignorant understanding of what religions actually do when they talk about their faith” and attempts to push out anyone “who believes that their faith is true and that others should be persuaded of it,” he said.
READ: Advisory Panel: No More Canadian Military Chaplains Who Believe in Conversion, Male Leadership
The Christian Taliban?
There has been a backlash after Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-Ill recently referred to believers, and members of a charismatic church as the Christian Taliban.
Kinzinger uttered the comparison after hearing that Rep, Lauren Boebert, R-Colo, had spoken at Cornerstone Christian Center in Basalt, Colorado.
The comparison has resulted in a barrage of criticism and hate directed against Cornerstone.
Charisma News provides more details:
“Congressman Adam Kinzinger has associated Lauren Boebert and Cornerstone Christian Church with terrorists,” says Jim Tarr, pastor of Cornerstone Christian Center in Colorado. “[Kinzinger] said, ‘There is no difference between this and the Taliban. We must oppose the Christian Taliban.’ These irresponsible comments have opened the door to many emails and phone calls that are vile and filled with hatred.”
Woke progressive leftists, atheists and easily triggered haters now apparently take orders and cues from Kinzinger, a self-described progressive Christian who seems unaware that freedom, equality and love for your neighbor are distinctive Christian values.
READ: Pastor Pushes Back Against Congressman for Calling Charismatics ‘The Christian Taliban’
A mother’s prayer
When La’Kisha Brinson received a phone call from their daughter that their 15-year-old son, Torianto, was seriously hurt in a car accident, she and her husband rushed to the scene of the accident near their home in Missouri City, Texas.
When they arrived at the scene, paramedics were desperately trying to revive their son’s lifeless body before taking him to the hospital, suffering from extensive brain damage after being thrown from the vehicle.
After the hospital pronounced Torianto dead, La’Kisha sat beside her son praying for him, when suddenly he grasped her hand.
In a Facebook post, La’Kisha shared more of their journay:
“But God…. But God….. But God….. After almost a year of praying, work, affirmations, work, prayer, affirmations, faith, FAITH, and more Faith. What Satan attempted to steal from my son, God restored back to him..”
OpentheWord.org 