March 13, 2020: NAE head on reconciliation, Lakewood Church cancels services, new book urging Christians to not be jerks
Friday, March 13, 2020:
Here are the latest headlines, brought to you by The Christian Post.
— NAE’s first minority president to focus on reconciliation amid evangelical identity crisis
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The National Association of Evangelicals recently installed its first minority president, Walter Kim, and he said his focus is reconciliation amid an identity crisis.
He told The Christian Post that in the divisive culture today, there’s an inability to engage in conversation meaningfully and charitably. He also noted that evangelicalism has often been presented as a political movement.
But he stressed that it is a spiritual movement and he hopes to build bridges within the evangelical community.
— Lakewood Church cancels worship due to coronavirus
An increasing number of megachurches are choosing to cancel worship services to help contain the coronavirus. Lakewood Church, led by Joel Osteen, is the latest to announce its cancellation.
The Houston-based church said, “We feel that this move is necessary to ensure the well-being of all of the citizens of this great city, especially the most vulnerable among us.”
Services will still be streamed online.
— 3 Texas churches’ case against city for excessive water fees heard in appeals court
Three Texas churches that believe a local ordinance unjustly charges them excessive water fees have taken their case before a state appeals court.
Magnolia Bible Church, Magnolia’s First Baptist Church and Believers Fellowship had their complaint against the city of Magnolia heard before the Texas Third Court of Appeals in Austin on Wednesday.
The churches filed suit last May, accusing the city of taking “unprecedented action to recoup property tax revenue from churches” by increasing water fees.
— Bread for the World president urges Christians to stop being political jerks
Eugene Cho, the new president of Bread for the World, has a new book out where he urges Christians to stop being a “jerk” when engaging in politics.
He said, “Jesus gave us the beatitudes to be a guiding light for us. There’s a difference between being political and partisan. Sometimes, we become so enamored with a political party that we become fundamentalistic in our views, forgetting that parties change over time.”
“We need to have a commitment to listen and make sure we’re not surrounding ourselves with a bubble or echo chamber. That means breaking bread with people we disagree with. It may not change our views, but it helps us humanize those who disagree with us on passionate issues.”
— ‘I Still Believe’ in theaters Friday
“I Still Believe” is out in theaters Friday and it tells a story of unconditional love and the divine strength to keep believing even after unanswered prayer.
The film shows how Christian singer Jeremy Camp willingly marries and walks through life with Melissa, who has cancer, and how he grapples with his faith after his prayers for his wife to survive are not answered.
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