‘I Will Not Leave Jesus’: Indian Family Forced from Village after Refusing to Renounce Christ

February 24, 2021 — ChristianHeadlines.com reports: “A family that recently converted to Christianity was banished from their Indian village this year after they stood firm in their faith and refused to recant.

Jaga Padiami and his wife accepted Christ in December after hearing the gospel when a group of Christians visited their home village in Kambawada, India.

But in January, they were called to a village meeting and told by the village chief, Koya Samaj, to renounce their Christian faith. Both refused, according to a report by International Christian Concern.

Residents then began to harass the couple, and Samaj gave them an additional five days to recant their faith or face banishment from the village. 

After five days, the couple was called to a village meeting, where Padiami told Samaj and the other villagers, ‘Even though you will drive me out of the village, I will not leave Jesus Christ.’ 

‘This response enraged local villagers who ransacked Padiami’s home,’ ICC reported.

Their belongings were tossed into the street, and their house locked. They were then forced from the village.

The couple was told they would be killed if they returned – unless they recant Christianity. They did not…”  (Even better, Jesus will never leave Jaga and his wife.  Jesus said: Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.” – Matthew 5:10 – 12.  Steven Green released a song in 1991 entitled I Will Serve The Lord and one of the verses and chorus states:

The honor and the privilege ours

With wounds we suffer by His side

And to the glory of the Lord

Those sacred scars

We bear with pride

I will serve the Lord

I will serve the Lord my God

And if God should choose, and my life I lose

Though my foe may slay me, I will serve the Lord

Christians who suffer and die for Christ will receive the “Crown of Life” to place at the feet of Jesus – James 1:12; Revelation 2:10.  The 24 elders represent 12 Old Testament Tribes and 12 New Testament Apostles – saved Jews and redeemed Christians.  In Revelation 4: 10 & 11 they cast their earned crowns before the Lord Jesus Christ.  Question – Will you be among them?)

‘The Bible Isn’t the Word of God’: Nashville Church Comes under Fire for Denying the Bible Is God’s Word

February 22, 2021 — ChristianHeadlines.com reports: “A progressive church in Nashville, Tennessee has been largely criticized as of late after the church openly denied that the Bible is God’s Word in a recent social media post.

In a post on Facebook, GracePointe Church posted a recap of a message titled ‘The Bible | What Is Progressive Christianity?’ from lead pastor Joshua Scott’s Feb. 7 sermon.

‘As Progressive Christians, we’re open to the tensions and inconsistencies in the Bible’, the church wrote in the caption. ‘We know that it can’t live up to impossible, modern standards. We strive to more clearly articulate what Scripture is and isn’t,’ the church noted before further expanding on what the church believes the Bible is and is not.

GracePointe Church added that the Bible ‘isn’t: the Word of God, self-interpreting, a science book, an answer/rule book, inerrant or infallible.’ Instead, the church argued, the Bible is ‘a product of community, a library of texts, multi-vocal, a human response to God, living and dynamic.’…”  (This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.  For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as their’s also was… But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.  But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.  All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works – II Timothy 3:1-9; 13-17 [emphasis mine].)

Lifetime Cancels D. James Kennedy Ministries Programs Due to ‘Controversial’ Biblical Programming

February 23, 2021 — ChristianHeadlines.com reports: “The president and CEO of D. James Kennedy Ministries says the Lifetime channel rejected programming on abortion and other controversial subjects in recent weeks, leading the ministry to pull all its shows off the channel rather than produce ‘milquetoast’ content.

Frank Wright, president and chief executive of D. James Kennedy Ministries, said Wednesday that the ministry is now searching for a new cable television platform that will give it the national exposure it needs to reach a broad audience.

Lifetime had carried the ministry’s Truth that Transforms program the last three years, Wright said. He accused Lifetime of taking part in the ‘cancel culture’ of conservative ideas…”  (I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;  Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.  For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;  And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.  But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry – II Timothy 4:1-5.  See the next report.)

Denmark May Force Churches to Submit Sermons to Gov’t: ‘There Is Much Concern,’ Pastor Says

February 4, 2021 — ChristianHeadlines.com reports: “A proposed Danish law that would require sermons be translated and submitted to the government has sparked concern among Christians throughout the region.

The proposed legislation would require that all sermons not delivered in the country’s native language be translated into Danish and submitted to the government, although it is not clear yet if the sermons must be submitted before or after they are delivered. The bill has the backing of Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen.

Although the legislation is intended to control radical Muslim groups in the country – more than 250,000 Muslims live in Denmark – it has drawn pushback from many Christians.

Anglican Bishop Robert Innes of the European diocese wrote a letter to Frederiksen Jan. 27, expressing concern over the proposal’s impact on religious liberty…”

Islamist Militants Fuel Christian Persecution in Kenya, Faith Leaders Say

February 10, 2021 — ChristianHeadlines.com reports: “The majority of this East African country’s population is Christian, and churches are free to proliferate. It’s also not unusual to find preachers setting up loudspeakers to call people to Jesus. Christian literature is sold on the open street, and phrases like ‘Praise God’ and ‘Amen’ are part of the common greetings.

But recently, Kenya was listed by the U.S.-based anti-persecution watchdog Open Doors as one of the countries where it is difficult to be Christian. According to the group, persecution of Christians has been spreading, especially in the predominantly Muslim northeastern and coastal regions.

‘The threats are there,’ the Rt. Rev. David Mutisya, Anglican bishop of the Diocese of Garissa, in eastern Kenya, told Religion News Service. Mutisya said the challenge for both Muslims and Christians is to be creative about finding ways to co-exist without tension.

Christians who have converted from Islam live under constant threat of attack, even from close relatives, according to the organization. Many have fled their homes to live close to other Christians where they can feel safe…”  (If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.  If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.  Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.  But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not him that sent me.  If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloak for their sin.  He that hateth me hateth my Father also.  If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father – John 15:18-24.  See the next report.) 

Mob of Radical Hindu Nationalists Storms Christian Church Service in India

February 5, 2021 — Breitbart.com reports: “A mob of some 30 Hindu nationalists stormed a Christian church service in southern India this week, beating the pastor and leaving 27 others injured, International Christian Concern (ICC) reported Thursday.

Witnesses said the enraged attackers picked up Bibles and used them to beat the faithful, six of whom required hospitalization, and went on to inflict damage to the church.

Shouting slogans such as ‘Jai Sri Ram’ (Glory to Lord Rama) as they raided the meeting, members of the mob violently beat Pastor Subash, who was presiding over the service, leaving him unable to walk…”