Several years ago I worked with an organization that had every staff member sign a “Covenant of Harmony.” The idea was having everyone abide by biblical principles of resolving conflict and promoting harmony, cooperation and unity within the organization. There are many principles and instructions given in Scripture for experiencing unity. Yet, there are so few real examples of true biblical unity in churches, ministry and
Mike Vaughn doesn’t think churches should accept money from the government, normally. But when the administrative pastor of the Palm Valley Church in Goodyear, Arizona, looked at the looming economic crisis brought on by the coronavirus shutdowns, the staff jobs he was trying to save, and the way Congress structured the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) to be used by religious organizations, he felt different.
“That program is a worthwhile exception to the general rule,” Vaughn told Christ
Video Courtesy of Legacy Disciple
One of the things that puzzled me growing up, and still puzzles me today, is how devastated and broken many African American communities are although there are a huge number of local churches across America.
I often wondered why there were churches where so many people who claim to be changed and transformed had no effect on the community around them. Before we dive in, I’d like to emphasize that this is not a sweeping indictment of all black churches.
In fa
Video of a Fox News debate with Juan Williams on evangelical support for Trump. Williams wrote the op-ed “Evangelicals Sell Their Souls for Trump” for TheHill.com.
Now a famous (infamous?) truism that 81 percent of white evangelicals supported Donald Trump in the 2016 presidential election. In doing so, evangelical leaders cast aside their past and very public statements about the importance of strong moral character for those in leadership.
It makes a certain kind of sense that some white ev
Everyone wants to be a great leader. Nowhere is that call more important than in the local church, where often the pastor is looked at to lead their church in inspiring and expectation-defying ways. Meanwhile, books on leadership tend to give broad advice that can be relatively difficult to apply in the local church setting.
We’re here to help.
Below is the best advice from CT Pastors on leading your church well. Whether you’re trying to raise up new leaders, lead into your strengths, or cast
“Everyone knows that the stories we’re told in church aren’t the truth,” said David Silverman, president of American Atheists, in a press release on Thursday.
“People ignore that fact because they enjoy the community, the friendship, and the traditions that go along with religion. But
The Rev. Marcus Murchinson of Tree of Life Missionary Baptist Church in Los Angeles, California, is unapologetic. There is nothing wrong with a few expletives in church, he says, because he knows God can handle it. And he is standing his ground even though he’s been getting death threats for his belief.“The truth is sometimes when I’m praying, my prayers are not ‘guide me o thy great Jehovah, pilgrim through this barren land.’ I’m not quoting from the 23rd Psalm. I’m not quoting from Philippi
http://blackchristiannews.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/prayer-little-boy-holy-bible.jpg 618w" sizes="(max-width: 550px) 100vw, 550px" />One key decision about a meeting can be who will pray. (Unsplash)
Most pastors tell me the most important meeting of the church is the prayer meeting. They also tell me it is the least-attended meeting in their church. I am told that people will come easy to a potluck but not to a prayer meeting. But the power of a well-attended prayer meeting is vital to a
As a young man in the fifth century, Benedict of Nursia traveled to Rome in order to pursue his education, but left wearied by the corruption and licentiousness of the privileged classes. Fleeing to the rural areas surrounding Rome, Saint Benedict first lived as a hermit before finding community among other monks. Ultimately, he founded twelve monasteries, re-built Monte Cassino into a grand monastery and wrote the “Benedictine Rule,” a book of precepts that formed the cornerstone of Western
(PHOTO: REUTERS/LUKE MACGREGOR)
Dressed as a witch, Maisy Thompson plays with pumpkins in the pumpkin patch ahead of Halloween at Crockford Bridge Farm at Addlestone near Woking, southern Britain October 26, 2015.
Many Christians celebrate Halloween. Some churches and pastors even do. I recently saw a church advertising they were having a Zombie Run. Seriously? God’s House? This pastor does not celebrate Halloween and neither does her church.
In a spirit of full disclosure, when I was a bran
Donnie McClurkin, the pastor and gospel music singer who said God delivered him from “the curse” of homosexuality, is now under fire from critics after speaking out against last Friday’s U.S. Supreme Court ruling which made same-sex marriage legal nationwide.
McClurkin, 55, received some harsh criticism after he shared his interpretation of the Bible’s position on homosexuality on Facebook last Friday.
“We’ve just received the answer from man’s Supreme Court … we already received the answer
As I write this, the Supreme Court has handed down what will be the “Roe v. Wade” of marriage, redefining marriage in all 50 states. This is a sober moment, and I am a conscientious dissenter from this ruling. The Court now has disregarded thousands of years of definition of the most foundational unit of society, and the cultural changes here will be broad and deep. So how should the church respond?
First of all, the church should not panic. The Supreme Court can do many things, but the Supr
Have you been feeding your soul with spiritual junk food? (Tim Reckmann/Flickr/Creative Commons)
“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers” (2 Tim. 4:3).
Have you ever asked yourself or quietly wondered why so many in the Western church today lack a strong devotion and dedication to God? Why are there so many professing Christians who still pursue the lusts an
by Mike Stockwell
by Mike Stockwell
A new study finds that following the Mediterranean diet could add about 4.5 years to your life. Researchers found that the diet, which focuses on fruits, veggies, whole grains, and olive oil, is good for our DNA, the New York Times reports. Nearly 4,700 women were followed for more than 20 years, and those whose diets were more similar to the Mediterranean diet had longer telomeres—protective structures found on the ends of chromosomes that “are often compared to the plastic caps that preven
by Jack Earl
