Here’s a quick rundown of the top stories on charismanews.com:
Olympics Opening Ceremony and the Real Reason Christians Should Be Offended
Millions of Christians watched the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics, hoping to see an exciting display of art and entertainment that they could watch with their children. Instead, what they saw was an offensive display of hedonistic mockery under the guise of inclusion.
I was hesitant to write concerning this event because I know that writing about offense will cause some who read this to be offended. However, it is not my intention to offend, to seem judgmental or to be accusatory. My intention is only to encourage those who were offended to continue to allow the light of clarity to shine brighter, and to shine not only on others, but also upon ourselves.
On the opening night, in what was termed an attempt to display inclusion, the world was exposed to a blending of the celebration of the Roman festival of Bacchus, the Greco-Roman god of wine, freedom, intoxication and ecstasy, which was based on the Greek god, Dionysus. This display should not have surprised anyone considering the actual history of the Olympics being birthed within Greek culture. However, in the name of inclusivity, the display blended and blurred the festival of Bacchus with a representation of “The Last Supper,” painted by Leonardo da Vinci. It was this purposeful blending of inclusion that offended those Christians watching the opening ceremony.
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Go Ahead and Vote for Trump and the GOP, Just Do It With Your Eyes Wide Open
As a Republican Party voter for as long as I can remember, I’m not discouraging you from voting for the GOP. Not in the least. And as a two-time Trump voter, I’m not discouraging you from voting for Trump. That is not my intent at all, as I personally plan to continue to vote GOP. Instead, I’m urging each of you Christian conservatives who votes for Trump and the GOP to do so with your eyes wide open, recognizing that the GOP is not God’s party and Trump is not the Jesus-centered leader of the Christian Right. Far from it.
Already in 2016, a featured speaker at the Republican National Convention was gay billionaire Peter Thiel, a personal friend of Trump, who said, “Of course, every American has a unique identity. I am proud to be gay. I am proud to be a Republican. But most of all, I am proud to be an American.” (He said this to applause.)
He added, “I don’t pretend to agree with every plank in our party’s platform, but fake culture wars only distract us from our economic decline. And nobody in this race is being honest about it, except Donald Trump.”
13-Year-Old Boy With Promising Future in Ministry Killed in Robbery
Matthiew Stavkovy — a 13-year-old boy known for his dedication to his faith — was memorizing Revelation 21 when his life was tragically taken in a robbery of a camera.
Prosecutors said Matthiew was killed July 16, when he and his 15-year-old sister and an underage friend went to Turnkey Park in Kent, Washington, to sell a camera and its accompanying equipment, according to the Kent Reporter. The sale was arranged through the online marketplace OfferUP.
Over the weekend, a memorial service was held at Way to Salvation Church to remember Matthiew’s life.
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