World & National News

Can Christians Trust God with the Economy?

An international Bible teacher, author, and co-founder of a teaching ministry says Christians in America can and should find hope in the midst of the economic downturn. Recent news reports of the fluctuating economy and the downturn in the Dow have many people, including Christians, worried about the future. Stuart Briscoe, cofounder of Telling the Truth ministry and author of more than 40 books, believes God's Word instructs Christians how to live in uncertain times. "[The Book of] James goes on to explain [that] we don't welcome those trials because they make us feel good," he points out. "We welcome these trials because we know what is going on. And what is going on is that these particular situations give us the opportunity of living at a different level -- and that is the reason why we should respond positively to the trials." Briscoe also suggests that materialism has caused many Christians to focus on the riches of the world instead of true riches found in a deeper walk with Christ. Can Christians trust God with the economy?

Atlanta Welcomes Bars and Clubs, Excludes Churches

Alliance Defense Fund is accusing Atlanta of illegally denying a church the right to use its leased property. The church is Kingdom First Ministries and David Cortman is the attorney filing the federal lawsuit. According to an Alliance Defense Fund (ADF) press release, the church has suffered hardship and could be forced to shut down because of Atlanta's unlawful zoning restrictions. "This church wanted to lease an existing building that's been empty for two years in the west end of Atlanta -- which is a high crime, high drug area -- and they wanted to come in and kind of help out the at-risk kids," Cortman explains. "They wanted to minister, to offer church services." The city has consistently said no. The lawsuit states that Atlanta is violating the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act, or RLUIPA, which protects churches from discrimination in land use disputes with local governments. "The city of Atlanta has a discriminatory zoning code that allows nearly every use you can think of, both for profit and notfor- profit: restaurants, bars, retail establishments, clubs, and lodges," Cortman adds. But Cortman says that no churches are allowed, unless they go through a special use application, which the church did -- but again they were rejected. Cortman believes that is a violation of federal law and adds that the church is nearly bankrupt because it must pay rent on a facility it leased but cannot use.

Robert Schuller and Son 'part ways'

There has been a shakeup at the Crystal Cathedral. Pastor Robert H. Schuller, founder of the Crystal Cathedral, has removed his son, Robert A. Schuller, as preacher of the church's weekly Hour of Power syndicated TV broadcast. According to the Orange County Register, the church will bring in a guest pastor each week to preach during the show. The newspaper says the elder Schuller told the congregation Sunday that he did not force his son out. The senior Schuller also said through a spokesman that he and his son had different ideas regarding the direction and "vision for the ministry." "For this lack of shared vision and the jeopardy in which this is placing this entire ministry, it has become necessary for Robert and me to part ways," said the church founder. Robert A. Schuller will remain as senior pastor of the Crystal Cathedral and will return to the pulpit occasionally, according to his dad. Robert H. Schuller turned over the church ministries and the television program to his son in 2006. The Hour of Power is broadcast to more than a dozen countries worldwide.

Lutheran Oppose Same-Sex Marriage

The Lutheran Church- Missouri Synod has spoken out about constitutional marriage amendments on three state ballots. The Missouri Synod is the second largest Lutheran denomination in America with 2.5 million members, and it is headed by Dr. Gerald Kieschnick. According to Kieschnick, the denomination has "declared homosexual behavior to be intrinsically sinful on the basis of holy scripture." He believes voters throughout the country, but especially those in Arizona, California, and Florida, need to become educated on homosexual marriage. "And on the basis of what you discover as you inform yourself, vote what you believe is the right way to vote," Kieschnick suggests. "In my mind's eye, I'm going to vote to preserve marriage as we've historically understood it and as we've practiced it for thousands of years." Kieschnick adds that homosexual activity is forbidden in the Bible, both in the Old and New Testament, but there are other reasons, too. "To try to change the relationship of marriage as that relationship of one man and one woman in a lifelong faithful relationship goes against biological, natural, reproductive facts of life," he contends.

Conservative Episcopalians Take a Stand

An official with the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh says the recent vote to break from the liberal Episcopal Church means congregations in the conservative diocese can now focus on the gospel. Last weekend, the Pittsburgh diocese became the second nationwide to sever ties with the Episcopal Church USA. Clergy and lay members of the Pittsburgh diocese had sharp differences with the Episcopal Church on a number of issues such as biblical teachings on homosexuality and salvation. And only weeks before the vote to split, the longtime leader of the Pittsburgh diocese, Bishop Robert Duncan, was removed from office by the national church's House of Bishops. Rev. Peter Frank is a spokesman for the Pittsburgh diocese. Unity, he says, is something Episcopalians value very highly. "That's why we've taken the actions we have," he explains. "The Episcopal Church was separating itself from the majority of the world's Christians, and we simply were not going to go along with that." And while unity is something Christians should strive for, Frank says it should never be done at the cost of truth. "We have a gospel to proclaim," the minister says, "and we can't have confusion about what it is or who the Lord is." Frank says a vote will be taken soon to reinstate Bishop Duncan.

CG