Have you come across The National Prayer Breakfast in America? If you’re not sure, Wikipedia describes it as:
It is hosted by members of the United States Congress and is organized on their behalf by The Fellowship Foundation, a Christian organization. It is designed to be a forum for the political, social, and business elite to assemble and pray together.
Baring the above in mind, Jimmy Kimmel has shown a comparison between Donald Trump, and President Obama at the Prayer Breakfast…
Christian evangelist and hate-preacher Franklin Graham was scheduled to speak in Liverpool this summer as part of a longer UK tour, but that stop won’t be happening anymore. The venue where he was speaking, ACC Liverpool, announced that he would no longer be welcome. They cited Graham’s history of statements which are “incompatible with our values.”
Ok. So Franklin Graham has been from a Liverpool venue. Since the above he has been banned from speaking at a venue in Sheffield, and Glasgow.
Considering he appears quite a diversive figure within the church, is it a surprise that secular organisations, aren’t comfortable with him preaching there?
And finally… a look at how Guardian Angels operate…
Did you know that you have an angel assigned to you by God? Watch as Kenneth Copeland explains how our guardian angels operate. pic.twitter.com/pnQKlkR4dT
Every week Sofa attempts to round up some of the bits of church internet, that didn’t really make it as a proper post. I say attempt – mostly because this doesn’t seem to have happened for a while. I’m not sure why.
Any way… This collection of fun links comes to you to the backdrop of “Happy Feet.” A bonkers film about singing penguins.
Jim Bakker wants to sell you a Trump Photo…
Jim Bakker wants to sell you a photo of Trump with the MyPillow guy that you can place prominently in your home as a regular reminder to pray for Trump's re-election. pic.twitter.com/Xl67FZVY4a
Grand Forks Herald reports that a church memo was sent to elderly members recommending they attend the Woodbury campus while the church “resets”. They were also encouraged to wait two years before re-applying for membership.
A round up of some of the more random things from the world of Church internets that have come across The Sofa’s attention this week.
Something about Harry and Meghan
Christian Today reported on Christians reaction to recent news from the Royal Family…
Christians have been voicing their sympathy for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex on Twitter today after they confirmed that they are stepping back as “senior” members of the Royal Family.
In an announcement, the couple said they had reached their decision “after many months of reflection and internal discussions”.
They plan to split their time between the UK and North America, “continuing to honour our duty to the Queen, the Commonwealth and our patronages,” and have said their goal is to become “financially independent”.
“We intend to step back as ‘senior’ members of the Royal Family and work to become financially independent, while continuing to fully support Her Majesty The Queen,” they said.
Well that was both doom laden, and vague. I guess if something happens, at somepoint, in some of those huge cities – Jim Bakker can point back to this right?
Heres to a more optimistic and positive week ahead…
Perhaps its because its nearly Christmas. Perhaps its because Donald Trump is being impeached, but there’s been a few talking points from the Christian internet world this week.
No. Its totally all about Donald Trump being impeached and American Evangelicals… reacting…
Christianity Today had something to say…
So. The US magazine Christianity Today, has pretty much come out and said this week that Donald Trump should go, and Christians shouldn’t support him.
Whether Mr. Trump should be removed from office by the Senate or by popular vote next election—that is a matter of prudential judgment. That he should be removed, we believe, is not a matter of partisan loyalties but loyalty to the Creator of the Ten Commandments.
It has lit Twitter on fire, and credit should be given to Christianity Today for making it clear where they stand.
To the many evangelicals who continue to support Mr. Trump in spite of his blackened moral record, we might say this: Remember who you are and whom you serve. Consider how your justification of Mr. Trump influences your witness to your Lord and Savior. Consider what an unbelieving world will say if you continue to brush off Mr. Trump’s immoral words and behavior in the cause of political expediency. If we don’t reverse course now, will anyone take anything we say about justice and righteousness with any seriousness for decades to come?
Hopefully these strong words would start to give people the permission to feel they can also disagree with Christians about Trump.
Donald Trump had something to say…
Because of course he did…
I guess the magazine, “Christianity Today,” is looking for Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, or those of the socialist/communist bent, to guard their religion. How about Sleepy Joe? The fact is, no President has ever done what I have done for Evangelicals, or religion itself!
And unsurprisingly doesn’t address the point of the article.
Then Franklin Graham piled on…
But doesn’t address the nuance of the Christianity Today article.
Hopefully 2020 will be the year that politics and Christianity becomes a little less binary. A little less black and white. And a little more open to discussion.
What can be said? Besides, does anyone really know what any of this actually means?
As far as a political response goes, I’m not sure if Sofa is the most qualified blogger to comment. But can I offer a suggestion to how we all respond?
Be kind.
I am open to any and all positive practical suggestions of how to show this kindness below!
As and when, Sofa presents a quick round up of bits of the internet – that are a little bit more random than normal.
Here’s a round up of the random stuff from this week…
Why The Christian Right Worships Trump?
RollingStone.com have had a look, a very good look at why… a particular part of the church in America seem to be in support of Donald Trump,
In other words, for the God-fearing evangelical, gay marriage, abortion, and the evils of socialism — as opposed to racial injustice, family separation, or income inequality — put America squarely in the path of the wrath of God. “Parts of the Old and New Testaments imply very strongly that there’s not just a judgment of individuals, but there’s a judgment of nations,” says historian Diana Butler Bass. “People who sin are keeping the nation away from a moral goodness that needs to be present, because they think that God’s coming back and is going to destroy everything, and they want America to be on the right side of that equation. They want to stand before God and say, ‘We did your will. We created a godly nation, and we’re the remnant. We’re your true people.’?”
Its a long read, so grab yourself a drink, and give this a read.
I Am Jesus Christ – The Video Game
It looks like there will be a new video game coming out where you are Jesus Christ, called ” I Am Jesus Christ”. Sofa will keep an eye out for more about this when its out.
And a dance to end with…
i just found a “Christian version” of the Cha Cha slide & i am dying. please god tell me this is the war on Christmas pic.twitter.com/XHDfq70ZOf
A quick round up of the positive underbelly of church internets over the last week… (May not be so positive)
Question of the Week. What is the Opposition to Trump?
Well, it seems that there was an interview between Franklin Graham, and Eric Metaxas during which it was questioned if opposition to Donald Trump is demonic…
During his November 21 interview with Graham, Metaxas, a Salem Radio Network talk-show host, asked the son of the late evangelist Billy Graham, “What do you think of what is happening now? I mean, it’s a very bizarre situation to be living in a country where some people seem to exist to undermine the president of the United States. It’s just a bizarre time for most Americans.”
Franklin Graham, president and CEO of the Billy Graham Evangelical Association, responded, “Well, I believe it’s almost a demonic power that is trying—”
At which point Metaxas interjected, “I would disagree. It’s not almost demonic. You know and I know, at the heart, it’s a spiritual battle.”
The Bible says that no person, "not even the angels in heaven," know when the End Times will come … but Jim Bakker and L.A. Marzulli say that if Trump is not re-elected, it'll accelerate the process. pic.twitter.com/zlig4FpKlN
