Author: Texas Gospel

OPINION: All men are sinners, even atheists

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2018-04-17 Crowded street.png

It’s not uncommon after a Christian leader is accused of some indiscretion to hear non-believers claim this demonstrates that religious people have some flaw.  That is, some claim it is religion that caused the individual to do whatever it is they are accused of doing.  But some of those same non-believers abandon this standard when it is applied to other groups.

For example, BuzzFeed reports that the board of  American Atheists terminated David Silverman as president of their organization earlier this month because of financial conflicts and sexual assault. This happened within weeks of the American Humanist Association’s removal of Lawrence Krauss, a winner of the Humanist of the Year award, from its speaker pool because of alleged misconduct.  The Freedom from Religion foundation removed Krauss from its honorary board citing, “Well-documented allegations of sexual misconduct” according to an article on patheos.com. What, if anything, does this prove?

I don’t mention these men as part of an effort to demonstrate that atheists are bad people; quite the opposite.  I don’t accuse all atheists for the actions of individuals, but some non-believers condemn all Christians for the actions of individuals. It would be wrong to assume that something about atheism makes people do things like these atheist leaders have done.  It is equally wrong to assume that there is something about religion that makes religious leaders do wrong.  Individuals are responsible for their choices.

I think a good example is the way some non-believers react when a priest is accused of a crime against children.  If I am going to assume that religion causes some priests to assault children; then by that convention I should assume that education leads school teachers to assault students.  Making this assumption in either case is a sort-of composition fallacy; they are assuming what is true of a member of a group is true for the entire group.  In this case, they add on an assumption of cause. This type of reaction to individual actions is assumption based on personal bias.

Terrible acts are committed by religious and atheist leaders; therefore, a researcher should look for rival causal factors.

What are your thoughts?

Florida Man sets fire to occupied church building

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2018-04-17 Mug shot of church arsonist

Florida authorities have not yet determined the motive of a man they say tried to set a church building on fire knowing that a person was inside, according to a report from News 6 in Florida. The station identifies the man as Daron Sanders, 21.

The person who was inside the ACE Faith Kingdom Church building when the fire was set told deputies with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office that Sanders saw her go inside before he set the fire, according to Kissimmee News Today.

The fire was quickly put out.  Damage to the building is estimated at less than $1,000.

Sanders is charged with criminal mischief and arson of a structure known to be occupied.

Fellowship of Christian Athletes Distributing ‘Bags of Bibles’ Worldwide

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2018-04-16 Fellowship of Christian Athletes

 

Fellowship of Christian Athletes Distributing ‘Bags of Bibles’ Worldwide

FCA Handed Out 169,815 Bibles Last Year Alone and 2.5 Million Bibles Over the Past 15 Years,As Global Hunger for God’s Word Grows

KANSAS CITY, Mo.—Many in the United States may take for granted the Bibles they have in their homes. In fact, surveys show that the average American home has three Bibles.

But this is not the case for many around the world, for whom having a Bible in their own language is a precious gift. For the past several years, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes has focused on distributing Bibles, and in fact, handed out 169,815 Bibles last year alone and 2.5 million in the past 15 years.

FCA now ministers in 73 countries around the world, and has a strong passion to print and distribute God’s Word, says Dan Britton, Executive Director of FCA International, and more importantly, to see coaches and athletes transformed in God’s Word.

Britton recounted that he handed out his first “bag of Bibles” at the age of 8, when his grandfather took him to the Baltimore airport to give away God’s Word. The question was not, “Do you want a Bible?” but rather, “I have a gift for you. I would like for you to have a Bible.” Not a question, but instead an invitation to receive God’s Word—a powerful lesson learned from a wise old sage, Britton remembered. Britton’s father was also never without a box of Bibles in his car so he could strategically bless someone with a gift.

“Now as a third-generation Bible distributor, I have the same passion to see God’s Word getting into the hands of coaches and athletes,” Britton said. “I have taken hundreds of bags of Bibles around the world, so our international leaders can bless coaches and athletes in their countries with a gift! One of the things I love most about FCA is we have the same passion for God’s Word. Often, I share with people that FCA is a sports ministry. They understand that. But when I share we are a Bible ministry as well, they are surprised. Besides distributing Bibles, FCA also works to create scripture resources, reading plans and devotions to help coaches and athletes to engage with the Bible.”

FCA’s Bible ministry is growing internationally, as the global hunger for God’s Word is great. Last year, FCA partnered with a Bible society to develop and distribute 50,000 Thai Sports New Testaments and 10,000 Vietnamese Sports New Testaments. Work is also underway to develop, publish and print the 2018 STRONG Sports Bible Handbook, which will be translated into eight languages for use at FCA Camps this summer, including Korean, Mandarin, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Ukrainian, Russian and Urdu.

“We are thankful that bags of Bibles are blessing coaches and athletes around the world,” Britton said, “and we pray God’s Word will always produce fruit. The Fellowship of Christian Athletes desires to lead every coach and every athlete into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ and His church. That’s our mission! And the best way to do this is to engage coaches and athletes with the Word, equip them with the Word and empower them with the Word.”

Teens arrested months after church Vandalism in Houma, Louisiana

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2018-04-16 Church vandalism

Police in Houma, Louisiana Friday arrested two teens for vandalism and attempted arson at the First Assembly of God Church building in Houma, Louisiana.

The vandalism happened in June. Police determined the teens were responsible for vandalism of the church while building investigating vandalism at another structure in the city, according to a report from Houmatoday.  Officers say the teens set multiple fires in the church building, but firefighters were able to put them out without major damage.  Later the same morning the teens returned and spray painted threatening messages, vulgarities and “God is dead” on the building, according to a report from WDSU.

The names of the teens have not been released because of their age.

The case was investigated by the Houma Police Department, Houma Fire Department, State Fire Marshal’s Office and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

Former Miami Dolphins cheerleader says leaders mocked her about religion, virginity

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2018-04-13 Lawsuit

A former Miami Dolphins cheerleader says she was discriminated against for talking about her Christian faith and mocked by her superiors because she was a virgin.

Kristian Ann Ware’s complaint with the Florida Commission on Human Relations says her workplace turned hostile after an incident in 2016.  She said other cheerleaders were talking about what song they liked to listen to while having sex.  She told them she did not have one because she was waiting until marriage to sleep with a man.  She said the harassment increased when a photo of her baptism was posted to social media, according to a report from NBC News.

Ware questioned why male NFL players are free to discuss their faith but she was told not to post her religious views on social media. She said when she wrote a blog post for the Dolphin’s website, all mentions of her faith were removed except for a general reference to God, according to an article in the New York Post. She says she wants to know why she is held to a different standard than male members of the organization.

“The NFL and all NFL member clubs support fair employment practices,” NFL spokeman Brian McCarthy said in a report published by the Chicago Tribune. “Everyone who works in the NFL, including cheerleaders, has the right to work in a positive and respectful environment that is free from any and all forms of harassment and discrimination and fully complies with state and federal laws.

Ware spent three seasons with the Dolphins.