Pick Your Battles, Atheists: The Mother Teresa Stamp

Feb. 19, 2010 - by Chuck Colson
Colson says that most people admire the life and work of Mother Teresa. Her loving service to the destitute people of Calcutta is an inspiration to all.

Which makes it all the more incredible that the Freedom From Religion Foundation is going after her now. The Foundation is arguing against an upcoming stamp planned by the U.S. Postal Service honoring Mother Teresa. And if it is issued, they're promising a boycott.

Foundation spokeswoman Annie Laurie Gaylor complains that "Mother Teresa is principally known as a religious figure'" and should therefore not be honored on a U.S. stamp. She ignores the precedent of other stamps like the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Father Flanagan, and even the Virgin Mary.

Source: Crosswalk

Christian Leaders Issue 'A Call of Christian Conscience'

Nov. 21, 2009 - The Manhattan Declaration, a bold new declaration, signed initially by 125 evangelical, Catholic, and Orthodox leaders, calls for Christians to adhere to three primary convictions, even if this requires civil disobedience.

Charles Colson, who helped draft the declaration, said the statement brings Christian leaders together on the issues of abortion, marriage, and religious freedom in the face of growing pressure.

Source: Crosswalk

The Manhattan Declaration: Defending Life, Marriage, and Freedom - Crosswalk

The Manhattan Declaration - Be a part of Christian history! - Ron's Blog

"If You Build It, They Will Come" Ecclesiology

May 20, 2009 - S. Michael Craven quotes Michael Spencer: “There are three kinds of evangelical churches today: consumer-driven megachurches, dying churches, and new churches whose future is fragile.”

Megachurches (2000 attendance/week) are not necessarily "consumer-driven," but many of them are.

Driven in large part by the belief that mere church activity produces spiritual growth, the consumer-driven model—aka seeker-sensitive—tends toward the maxim: just get ’em in the door!

The average member of such a church is not growing spiritually. Craven suggests that we stop watering down the Word, begin equipping the saints, and obey Christ's command to take the Gospel to the non-believers.

Source: Crosswalk

Christianity: Declining or Growing?

Easter, 2009 - The secular media made its annual attack on Christianity last week, led by Newsweek' Cover story: The Decline and Fall of Christianity in America. Fox News joined Christian commentators on the issue all week, and publicized a new book called "God is Back: How the Global Revival of Faith is Changing the World." The book was written by Economist editor John Micklethwait and Adrian Wooldridge, who leads the newspaper’s Washington bureau. The debate brought out these facts:

- The number of Americans who claim no religious affiliation has nearly doubled since 1990, rising from 8 to 15 percent.

- The percentage of self-identified Christians has fallen 10 percentage points since 1990, from 86 to 76 percent.

- The number of people willing to describe themselves as atheist or agnostic has increased about fourfold from 1990 to 2009, from 1 million to about 3.6 million.

- Fewer people now think of the United States as a "Christian nation" than did so when George W. Bush was president (62 percent in 2009 versus 69 percent in 2008).

- However, rumors of the death of Christianity are greatly exaggerated.

- Formal, liturgical Christianity is in decline but charismatic Christianity is growing.

- Early American Freedom of Religion produced competition among denominations, resulting in a succession of waves of evangelization.

- The American religious model is spreading around the world.

- A third of Americans say they are born again.

- There is a movement towards a more conservative and 'evangelical' outlook among Christians.

- Growing churches are using all the tools of modernity, from megachurches to radio and television to spread the word.

- World-wide Christianity is growing rapidly.

- In Communist China, the underground church has grown from 3 million when the missionaries were expelled, to more than 100 million today!

- A 2006 poll in once-atheist Russia discovered that 84% of Russians believed in God while only 16% considered themselves atheists.

- Five of the world’s ten biggest megachurches are in South Korea.

- There is even an upsurge of Evangelical Christianity in Europe.

The End of Christian America - Newsweek

God is Back - By John Micklethwait and Adrian Wooldridge - Fox Forum

Newsweek -- The End of Christian America - Albert Mohler

Are We A Christian Nation? - Jane Chastain – WorldNetDaily

Is Christianity Really Declining in America? - Video interview with one of the authors of "God is Back" -CBN

Newsweek Editor Welcomes Easter with the 'End of Christian America' - Newsbusters

Christianity Is No Longer Americans’ Default Faith - George Barna (Jan. 12, 2009)

Has Christian America Come to an End? - Pastor Mark Driscol - Fox

Top Scholars Confirm Truth of Christianity

Dec. 26, 2008 - Dr. Ted Baehr, founder of The Christian Film & Television Commission says that Christianity has been shown to be true and “intellectually sound.” He cites the work of many top scholars, historians and experts, and says:

“These people are wonderfully astute thinkers, investigators and writers. They have refuted all of the important lies, half-truths and silly comments against Jesus, His apostles, the Bible, and Christianity made by non-Christians and even by some allegedly former Christians.”

Source: NewsMax

Review of "DOUBT"

Nov. 12, 2008 - Read the Movieguide review about the movie. Extreme caution is recommended because of it's subtle anti-christian theme.

This is a battle between conservative, traditional religion and progressive, so-called tolerant, religion. Although DOUBT has many Christian elements in it, the point of the movie is to cast doubt on true religion, especially traditional, conservative, biblical Christianity.

Source: Movieguide.org

Early Christian Creeds

The Apostles' Creed

The Nicene Creed

Questions And Links For Christianity

These are some of the questions that are asked about this topic. Click on the links to find helpful teaching and resources from Christian Apologists.

Will all mankind eventually be saved?

Will all mankind eventually be saved? - ChristianAnswers.net

What about the heathen who have never heard?

Is God biased? Is it fair to save only some? - Christian Answers.net

What about the heathen who have never heard? - Campus Crusade for Christ in Great Britain

Dreams of Isa - (Muslims converted by dreams and visions about Jesus)

What about Those Who have Never Heard the Gospel? - Christian Think-Tank

What about those who have never heard? - What If We're Right? - Radio program

Books by Don Richardson
Peace Child and Eternity In Their Hearts

Am I good enough to go to Heaven?

Is there a literal Heaven and Hell?

Search for "hell" on CRI site - Christian Research Institute

Using the Doctrine of Hell in Witnessing - Douglas Groothuis

Why Should I Believe In Hell? - Hank Hanegraaff

Abandon Hope, All Ye Who Enter Here - Hank Hanegraaff

Search for "hell" in "WebBible™ Encyclopedia - ChristianAnswers.net

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How can I experience forgiveness?

(Accepting Christ/ Being born-again)

How Hard Is It To Become A Christian? - What If We Are Right? - Radio Program

Would God forgive a great sinner? (Could my sins be greater than God would forgive?)

What is the “unpardonable sin”?
How does sin become “unforgivable”? - ChristianAnswers.net

"Would God forgive a great sinner?" - What If We Are Right? Radio program

What is baptism?

Can I lose my salvation?

What does it mean to be “sanctified”?

Christianity Links

Access Research Network

A non-profit organization dedicated to providing accessible information on science, technology and society, especially on controversial topics as genetic engineering, euthanasia, computer technology, environmental issues, creation/evolution, fetal tissue research, and AIDS.

Michael J. Behe

Phillip E. Johnson

William A. Dembski

Steven Meyers

Answers In Genesis

Extensive website reflecting the teaching and ministries of founder Ken Ham. Information is available about their "Creation Museum" in Cincinnati and Answers Magazine.

Apologetics.com

Apologetics: A Reasoned Defense of Christianity

Southern Baptist – North American Mission Board

Apologetics Study Bible

Biola University - Christian Apologetics Program

Biola offers a Master of Arts degree in Apologetics. They also conduct certificate programs for their popular "Defending The Faith" lecture series, and support the peer reviewed journal, Philosophia Christi. Dr. Craig Hazen leads the outstanding faculty of this department.

Catholic Encyclopedia: Apologetics

The Center For Christian Apologetics

ChristianAnswers.Net

A mega-site providing biblical answers to contemporary questions for all ages and nationalities with over 45-thousand files.

Menu - Bible and Theology Questions

Eden Communications / Films For Christ - Lowell Wallen, President, Executive Director, Paul S. Taylor

Christian Research Institute (CRI)

Home of the "Bible Answer Man" radio program with Hank Hanegraaff. Publisher of the "Christian Research Journal." They have a large searchable database with helpful articles on all aspects of apologetics.

Discovery Institute - Center for Science and Culture

Among other things, this organization supports research by scientists and other scholars developing the scientific theory known as intelligent design.

Access Research Network

Michael J. Behe

Phillip E. Johnson

William A. Dembski

International Society For Complexity, Information, and Design

Origins

Institue For Creation Research (ICR)

ICR was founded in 1981 by Dr. Henry Morris, co-author of The Genesis Flood, which began the "young earth" concept. ICR Graduate School offers an advanced degree in science education. ICR publishes Acts & Facts magazine and the Days of Praise daily devotional, conducts a daily radio program, and maintains the Museum of Creation and Earth History in San Diego. Leadership is now provided by Morris' sons, John and Henry III.

Lifeway Article Repository on Apologetics

Koinonia House

Find a wealth of useful information from Chuck Missler. His unique approach and insights make him one of the most popular teachers of our time. The new website includes audio files. Selected articles from Personal Update, read by 100,000 subscribers, are also available.

Prophecy Central's Creation Section

Interesting connections between Creation, The Flood, and Prophecy

Reasons To Believe

Biblical creation teaching from the perspective that astronomy and other scientific disciplines prove that the earth and Universe are billions of years old. Dr. Hugh Ross is President and Director of Research.

Skeptical Christian

Stand To Reason

This is the website for "Stand To Reason" radio show and host Greg Koukl. Koukl and other faculty members offer lectures and seminars geared towards helping Christians gain practical tools they need to make a difference in their world.

Lee Strobel - Investigating Faith

James Sundquist – Abrahamic Faith

To Every Man An Answer

This is a live call-in radio program that answers your questions about the Bible and the Christian faith.

Ravi Zacharias International Ministries

A global ministry that seeks to communicate the Gospel of Jesus Christ to cultural influencers throughout the world.

Christianity on YouTube