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Christian Pronoun Hospitality: The Hidden Problem That Leads to Compromise

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Should Christians engage in so-called gender pronoun hospitality?

Gender pronoun hospitality refers to the concept of using someone’s “preferred pronouns” or a trans-identifying person’s transgender name despite otherwise disagreeing with LGBTQ ideology. . .

Not to practice gender pronoun hospitality, its practitioners argue, risks offense and, ultimately, the potential destruction of relationship, which could be a barrier between LGBTQ-identifying people and the Gospel. Bible scholar Preston Sprinkle has even described pronoun hospitality as a “common courtesy.”

But according to famed pastor John Piper, Christians should not engage in gender pronoun hospitality — and for good reason.

On a recent episode of his podcast “Ask Pastor John,” Piper answered a question he received from a concerned church elder about gender pronoun hospitality and whether Christians can use it in relationships with non-Christians in evangelism contexts. (Read more from “Christian Pronoun Hospitality: The Hidden Problem That Leads to Compromise” HERE)

Christians Celebrate Christmas in 2024: ‘For to Us a Child Is Born’

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Christians around the globe celebrate Christmas this week, what they believe to be the miracle of the Incarnation—that God came into this world by being born as a baby, and living a human life on this earth, believing this to be the fulfillment of centuries of prophecy.

Jesus of Nazareth was born around 4 B.C. in Bethlehem, a small town in Israel about five miles south of Jerusalem. Christians believe that he was born to a virgin named Mary. She would likely have been around 13 to 14 years old, and was formally engaged to Joseph, who would have been around age 15 or 17.

Roman Emperor Caesar Augustus had decreed a census of the Roman Empire, and Mary and Joseph traveled to Bethlehem to register as descendants of King David, who hailed from that town. And so Jesus was born in a stable, because there were no rooms available at the inn in which they sought to stay.

But followers of Jesus believe that far more happened that night. There are dozens of prophesies recorded over the centuries in the Old Testament of the Bible that speak of a Messiah (or “Christ” in Greek), meaning an “Anointed One” chosen by God to deliver his people and rule over them.

The Christian faith teaches that Jesus’s birth fulfilled several of those prophesies. Among those is the one written by Isaiah seven hundred years before Jesus. In Isaiah 9:6–7, the prophet wrote:

“6 For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of his government and of peace
there will be no end,
on the throne of David and over his kingdom,
to establish it and to uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
from this time forth and forevermore.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

(Read more from “Christians Celebrate Christmas in 2024: ‘For to Us a Child Is Born’” HERE)

Photo credit: Flickr

Imam Warns Muslims Against Wishing ‘Happy Holidays’ to Christians

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Christianity today is “paganism” and Christians are “pagans” and “not believers,” according to Florida Imam Abu Usama At-Thahabi, who urged Muslims to reject Western cultural influences and warned them against wishing others a “merry Christmas” or even “happy holidays.”

In his Friday, December 20, sermon at the Masjid As-Sunnah mosque and Islamic center serving the Orlando, Florida, area, the American-born Abu Usama delivered a scathing critique of Christianity, declaring it polluted with pagan practices, while urging Muslims to remain steadfast in their identity.

“The Christians today, the ones you know, those of us who are reverts [to Islam], our relatives — Christians — are pagans,” he argued.

“It’s not a nice word to be called a pagan. They think they’re believers, but they’re not believers — [they’re] pagans,” he added.

Proclaiming that “Christianity today is a pagan religion,” the Imam called out Christian traditions, which he argued bear “absolutely no connection” to Jesus. (Read more from “Imam Warns Muslims Against Wishing ‘Happy Holidays’ to Christians” HERE)

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Survey: Homeschool And Christian School Graduates Far More Likely To Keep Their Faith

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Americans who spent at least three high school years homeschooling or attending a Protestant Christian school are much more likely than public school graduates to express Christian beliefs and attend church as adults, finds a recently released survey. Those surveyed who spent at least three years in a Roman Catholic high school are about as likely to attend church and read the Bible as Americans who attended public schools.

“Consistent with previous administrations of [this survey], faith formation is the domain in which the strongest evidence for sector-level effects can be observed, with a clear benefit to respondents who graduated from Protestant schools or were homeschooled,” says the Cardus Education Survey report released Dec. 4. “These graduates are much more likely to report believing in God and life after death, as well as engaging in religious practices.”

Christians are far bigger charitable givers, community volunteers, and supporters of constitutional rights than their secular counterparts. Christians are also more likely to have children at population-sustaining rates. All this makes their prevalence in American society a key national interest.

The U.S. birthrate is at its lowest ever, 1.6 children per woman. This creates demand for foreign migration and hammers the national budget — especially defense spending — by accelerating the already occurring bankruptcy of Social Security and Medicare.

No other nation dropping off a population cliff has been able to reverse it by subsidizing parenthood, finds a November Heritage Foundation report. “The decline in fertility rates in the United States is driven largely by a decline in religiosity,” it shows. America’s decline in religiosity, in turn, is virtually entirely driven by government subsidies for secular education, the Heritage report says, as it erodes children’s faith and therefore their contributions to national economic security via forming stable families. (Read more from “Survey: Homeschool And Christian School Graduates Far More Likely To Keep Their Faith” HERE)

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‘Resurgence’: Christian Leaders See a 4th ‘Great Awakening’ as Americans Flock to Jesus

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More Americans are leaning into their Christian faith in what some religious leaders and scholars are calling a “fourth Great Awakening.”

Bible sales in the United States have skyrocketed in 2024, religious colleges are seeing enrollment boosts despite overall declines in higher education attendance and several states are pushing for Bible-based curriculum in public schools. Some Bible scholars believe this may mark a significant cultural shift.

“While it has been apparent to a few of us for some time, millions are now realizing that ‘woke’ ideologies are, in fact, destructive attempts to re-found the nation according to a new civic religion which both parodies and persecutes Christianity,” Chad Pecknold, theologian and professor at The Catholic University of America, told the Daily Caller News Foundation.

Despite overall book sales increasing by only 1% compared to 2023, Bible sales in the U.S. have reached an impressive 22% increase as of October 2024, according to the Wall Street Journal.

The Cardinal Newman Society in October reported that enrollment at Catholic colleges has risen in 2024 despite an overall enrollment decrease at other institutions, with several schools such as Ave Maria University in Florida and Benedictine College in Kansas seeing record growth, increasing attendance by more than 20% over the last 10 years. (Read more from “‘Resurgence’: Christian Leaders See a 4th ‘Great Awakening’ as Americans Flock to Jesus” HERE)

Earliest ‘Jesus Is God’ Inscription Discovered in Israel: ‘Greatest Discovery Since the Dead Sea Scrolls’

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An extraordinary archaeological find in Israel has been hailed as the most significant discovery for understanding early Christianity since the Dead Sea Scrolls. An 1,800-year-old mosaic uncovered in the Megiddo prison, located in northern Israel, contains what is believed to be the earliest inscription declaring Jesus as God.

The mosaic, measuring 581 square feet, was discovered beneath the floor of the prison by an inmate and has since been painstakingly excavated by archaeologists from the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA). The inscription, written in ancient Greek, reads: “The god-loving Akeptous has offered the table to God Jesus Christ as a memorial.” This inscription not only serves as one of the earliest affirmations of Jesus’ divine status but also sheds light on early Christian worship practices.

Groundbreaking Evidence of Early Christian Beliefs

The mosaic is believed to have decorated one of the world’s first prayer halls or churches, dating back to around 230 AD. Its discovery provides tangible evidence that early Christians considered Jesus to be the Son of God from the very beginnings of the faith. Experts note that the inclusion of “God Jesus Christ” in the inscription represents a monumental find in the history of Christian theology, confirming the belief in Jesus’ divinity at a much earlier date than previously thought.

“This is arguably one of the most important archaeological discoveries for understanding the early Christian church,” said Bobby Duke, director of the Scholars Initiative at the Museum of the Bible. The mosaic also features some of the earliest known images of fish, which experts interpret as references to the biblical story in Luke 9:16, where Jesus miraculously multiplies two fish to feed a crowd of 5,000.

Carlos Campo, CEO of the museum, called the discovery “the greatest discovery since the Dead Sea Scrolls,” underscoring its profound importance for both archaeology and the study of early Christian history. Alegre Savariego, curator of the exhibition, emphasized that the mosaic provides “groundbreaking physical evidence” of the practices and beliefs of early Christians.

The Megiddo Mosaic was found in the Jezreel Valley, an area steeped in biblical significance. The region is believed to be the location of the final battle of Armageddon, as prophesied in the Book of Revelation. The discovery is seen as further proof of the area’s central role in Christian tradition.

The mosaic also reveals a fascinating glimpse into the relationship between Romans and early Christians. An inscription on the mosaic mentions Gaianus, a Roman officer who financed the creation of the mosaic. The inscription reads: “Gaianus, a Roman officer, having sought honor, from his own money, has made the mosaic.” This suggests that, despite the many accounts of conflict between early Christians and the Roman Empire, there may have been some degree of peaceful coexistence.

In addition to the mosaic’s religious significance, researchers uncovered a nearby Roman camp, further supporting the theory that Romans and Christians may have lived side by side during this period.

Another notable aspect of the mosaic is its inclusion of the names of five women, underscoring the significant role women played in the early Christian community. In addition to Akeptous, who is mentioned for her donation of a table for the prayer hall, the mosaic also honors Primilla, Cyriaca, Dorothea, and Chreste. This detail provides further insight into the active participation of women in the early church.

The prayer hall, or church, in which the mosaic was originally placed was likely abandoned and covered up after the Roman Empire’s Sixth Legion was transferred to Transjordan, to the east of the Jordan River. This abandonment may have led to the preservation of the mosaic until its rediscovery in modern times.

The Megiddo Mosaic’s excavation took four years, and its display in the United States is now part of a major exhibition that will provide visitors with a unique opportunity to explore one of the earliest and most significant symbols of Christian history.

Archaeologists Uncover One of the World’s Oldest Christian Churches

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By New York Post. Archaeologists recently uncovered what they believe to be one of the oldest Christian churches in the world. . .

The remains of the ancient Christian building were found at the Artaxata site in the Ararat Plain [in Armenia].

“The find consists of an octagonal building with cruciform extensions,” the University of Münster explained. . .

The find is fitting in Armenia, which the University of Münster says was the first Christian state ever established. (Read more from “Archaeologists uncover one of the world’s oldest Christian churches” HERE)

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Press Release from University of Munster

Archaeologists from the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia and the University of Münster have discovered the remains of a previously unknown early Christian church in the ancient city of Artaxata. The find consists of an octagonal building with cruciform extensions. The team excavated parts of the church and studied it using geophysical methods. “The 4th century building is the oldest archaeologically documented church in the country – sensational evidence for early Christianity in Armenia,” remarked Professor Achim Lichtenberger of the University of Münster. “Octagonal churches were unknown here until now, but we are very familiar with them from the Eastern Mediterranean region, where they first appeared in the 4th century AD,” added Dr Mkrtich H. Zardaryan of the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia.

Typologically, the find corresponds to early Christian memorial buildings. In the cross-shaped extensions, the researchers discovered the remains of wooden platforms, which were radiocarbon dated to the mid-4th century AD. The octagonal building, around 30 metres in diameter, had a simple mortar floor and terracotta tiles. Finds of marble indicate that it was lavishly decorated with this material imported from the Mediterranean. The German-Armenian team has been in Armenia since September. They will continue their excavations and hope to make new discoveries, including the question of to whom the church was dedicated.

Background:

According to legend, Gregory the Illuminator converted the Armenian king Tiridates III to Christianity in Artaxata in 301 AD, making Armenia the first Christian state in the world. The medieval monastery of Khor Virap, just a stone’s throw from the now-discovered church, is a reminder of this tradition. Artaxata served as the capital of the Kingdom of Armenia, ruled by the Artaxiad and Arsacid dynasties. The city developed into an important metropolis in the Hellenistic period and was the capital of the Kingdom of Armenia for almost six centuries.

The Armenian-German research team has been exploring the Hellenistic metropolis of Artaxata in the Ararat Plain since 2018. The excavation project on the settlement archaeology of the ancient city is funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) and the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia.

(Read the full press release HERE)

AI Has Shown Us the Face of Christ. Will It Bring More to the Faith?

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. . .Christianity isn’t merely a story that’s been retold for millennia; it is the story. It’s the one that never grows old, never fades with the times.

Sometimes, the new chapters of this story come in the most unexpected ways. A recent example is how the Shroud of Turin — a centuries-old relic long thought to be a medieval hoax — found its way back into the public conversation. . .

AI gave us the face of the Lord

But it’s not just relics like the Shroud that are undergoing a digital transformation. Technology is now playing a central role in how we encounter faith.

The face of Jesus — something people have dreamed of, imagined, and painted for millennia — has been recreated by artificial intelligence. Using data from the Shroud and other sources, AI systems have attempted to render what may be the most accurate depiction of Christ’s face.

It’s a face that’s both familiar and new. The long hair, the beard, the haunting eyes — eyes that seem to look into not just the world but each of us, individually, deeply. (Read more from “AI Has Shown Us the Face of Christ. Will It Bring More to the Faith?” HERE)

Leftist Law School Goes Anti-Christian With New Course About ‘Age of Trump’

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A top public university’s law school is offering a class this fall that aims to explore the U.S.’ political shift towards “authoritarian Christianist nationalism” in the “age of Trump,” according to an email obtained by the Daily Caller News Foundation.

The University of Colorado Boulder’s Law School class, titled “Statutory Interpretation,” is offered to second-year law students and will hinge on topics of relevance in the current election season, including former president Donald Trump’s legal battles and the Supreme Court’s supposed “legitimacy crisis,” professor Paul Campos told students in an email obtained by DCNF. Campos noted in the email that the course could be more aptly named “The Crisis of the American Legal System in the Age of Trump.”

“[It] isn’t surprising that [the school would] offer such a course, but it is disappointing,” a law student who alerted the DCNF of the course said, mentioning multiple instances of similar bias experienced at the school. The student requested anonymity in order to “avoid retaliation” from the school.

“When I learned constitutional law, I learned it from a professor that openly called for the rewriting of the constitution. Students in that same class complained about the fact that “non-college educated” voters in rural America could affect elections at all,” the student told the DCNF. Professors at the university, he said, “tout the likes of Ginsburg and Sotomayor, reading their opinions as though it were gospel. I have yet to hear critiques on the liberal justices, but I often hear critiques on the likes of Justice Gorsuch, who once taught at the school.”

Course topics will include abortion and the “current legitimacy crisis” of the Supreme Court and will discuss how they create a “fundamental threat to social and political national stability,” according to the email. (Read more from “Leftist Law School Goes Anti-Christian With New Course About ‘Age of Trump'” HERE)

Photo credit: Gage Skidmore via Flickr

Ex-Employee Sues Blue State University For Allegedly Firing Her After She Converted To Christianity

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A former City University of New York (CUNY) staff member is suing the university for wrongfully terminating her employment after she converted to Christianity, according to a religious discrimination lawsuit filed last week.

Teona Pagan, who worked at CUNY’s Research Foundation as the Fellowships and Public Service Program Coordinator, alleges she was denied a religious accommodation for an aspect of her job that required her to recruit students for a fellowship focused on the promotion of LGBT “rights and causes,” according to the complaint filed Aug. 28. When Pagan converted to Christianity in April 2022 — months after beginning her job in November 2021 — she suddenly found her duties related to the fellowship in conflict with her sincerely held religious beliefs.

“After my hire, I was told that the committee was particularly drawn to me because of my youthful maturity and willingness to stand boldly for issues plaguing our generation,” Pagan told the Daily Caller News Foundation. “Ironically, when I decided to finally stand for the Truth, who is Jesus Christ, they chose to terminate my employment.”

Pagan was hired for the position right after graduating from the Honors Program at CUNY’s Baruch College, according to the lawsuit.

Pagan oversaw nine other fellowship programs, and less than 10% of her job was devoted to the LGBT-centered program, known as the Mixner Fellowship, she told the DCNF. She thought the religious accommodation would be an “easy fix and compromise,” especially since she had collaborated with her supervisor on other projects “where roles shifted smoothly.” (Read more from “Ex-Employee Sues Blue State University For Allegedly Firing Her After She Converted To Christianity” HERE)