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Do African Christians oppose homosexual practice because they believe in the Bible or because U.S. conservatives are “manipulating” them? The reasonable answer is obvious. But a new exposé by a Massachusetts liberal advocacy group, and penned by an Episcopal priest, claims that American conservatives are politically exploiting Africans to take over the United Methodist Church and to help create the new Anglican Church in North America.
Here’s Jeff Walton’s report here.
Like fervid Marxist revolutionaries of 70 or 80 years ago, advocates for mainstreaming homosexuality grimly insist that history is on their side and cannot be resisted, even by God. So when they meet defeat in the culture or in the churches, despite the overwhelmingly support of liberal elites, they are frustrated and confused. Conspiracy theories sometimes emerge. Meanwhile, we orthodox Christians are celebrating that the Holy Spirit is creating new alliances of Americans and Africans to renew our churches.
Decades ago, Mainline church elites looked to China for hope, expecting that God would Christianize China and lead the world towards a grand Millennium of justice and peace. Many of them placed hope in China’s then Methodist rulers, Chiang Kai-shek and his formidable wife, who were strong Methodists. Here’s my article. In fact, China was not Christianized under the Chiangs, who were defeated by Mao’s communists and exiled to Taiwan. But God, with a sense of irony, has created over 100 million Christians in China despite communist rule. What surprises is God working on today in the world?
We can pray about God’s plans for Iran, governed by theocratic Shiite Muslim clerics and one of the world’s worst places to be a Christian. Iran’s apocalyptic rulers crave nuclear weapons. The Religious Left wants to accommodate the Iranian mullahs while ignoring gross human rights abuses in Iran. But a new coalition of Southern Baptists and others is speaking out more realistically about how to deal with Iran. Read my article here.
Meanwhile, surprise, surprise, United Methodist bishops want the U.S. quickly to withdraw from Afghanistan and presumably leave it to the vicious Taliban and other radical Islamists and pro-al Qaeda types. Here’s my article. Unrealistic pacifism is not new in our churches. But years ago, some bishops were willing to confront it. Are any willing to speak today? Precious few.
Finally, please read Alan Wisdom’s article about Washington, D.C.’s effort to legalize same-sex “marriage,” while riding roughshod over the Roman Catholic Church and other traditional religious believers. Could religious freedom survive the authoritarian demands of same-sex marriage advocates to squash their adversaries? I believe God has better plans for our country and our churches, but we must be willing to serve Him at this crucial time.
IRD has worked hard this year to rally our churches for biblical Christianity, for accountability, and for an informed public witness. Our far-left adversaries have hit back, of course. But the Lord sustains us by inspiring you and many others to provide for IRD’s ministry. Can you send a gift today to ensure IRD continues its bold affirmation of traditional Christian beliefs? Please donate here.
We at IRD are grateful to you and for so much else during this Thanksgiving season.
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