Category: Top articles

Living with quiet hostility toward Christian faith

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DON HEBERT

Many believers today feel worn down by steady criticism. It is not always loud or violent, but it can still sting. Small jokes, unfair claims, etc., these things take a toll. When Christians sense rising hostility, it can shake their sense of peace.

Jesus walking with his disciples. IRS Images, 2025

The teachings of Jesus in John 15 speak directly to this struggle. In the final hours before His arrest, when He gathered with His disciples at the Last Supper and then walked with them toward Gethsemane, He prepared them for life without His physical presence. He also spoke honestly about the hatred they would face.

Jesus explained that believers are often disliked because they belong to Him. The “world,” meaning the moral order that resists God, treats Christians as outsiders. Jesus described this rejection plainly: if the world hated Him first, His followers should expect similar treatment. This knowledge does not remove the pain, but it helps prevent surprise. He wanted His disciples to count the cost of following Him and to recognize that rejection does not mean abandonment. He walked this path before they ever did.

Some today claim to like Jesus but not Christians. But Jesus pointed out that many people actually reject the real Jesus while accepting softened versions that fit their own views. When His followers live by His teachings and speak truth about Him, they may stir the same reactions He did.

Take the world, but give me Jesus
All its joys are but a name
For His love abideth ever
Through eternal years the same

Jesus told His disciples that they once belonged to the world but were now chosen out of it. This shift can make Christians seem like traitors to those still resisting God. People may not realize their conflict with Him, but Scripture teaches that this conflict is real. Believers are not trying to attack others; they have simply joined themselves to the One who offers life. Still, their new loyalty can be misunderstood.

Children and adults alike may fear being disliked for their faith, but Jesus reminded His followers that belonging to Him is greater than any rejection. He also said a servant should not expect to be treated better than the master. If He was mistreated, His people may be as well. Yet He added that some would listen and believe, just as some believed Him.

This raises an important question: is what believers in Canada face truly persecution? While many do not face violence, Scripture identifies insults, ridicule, lies, and public shame as real forms of suffering for Christ. These experiences should not be dismissed. Words can wound deeply. Some believers lose friendships, face hostility in academic settings, or feel pressure in workplaces. Many read hateful comments online and feel shaken. These pressures are not imaginary, and Jesus encouraged His followers to continue standing firm.

Still, not every Christian will face open hostility. Believers should not seek conflict or provoke anger. Jesus explained that hatred toward believers ultimately comes from not knowing God. This should shift believers from anger toward compassion. If people truly knew God’s goodness, they would not reject Him so easily. Their hostility does not make them innocent, but it does reveal their deep need for God.

Jesus also taught that the world’s hatred is without excuse. The people of His time witnessed His words and His miracles firsthand. They rejected God’s clearest revelation. Their reasons were real, but not justified. Jesus was hated without cause, and His followers may experience similar treatment.

The most important preparation for hostility is remembering what Jesus taught. He warned that persecution should not cause His followers to fall away. The greatest danger is not physical harm but abandoning faith.

The core question remains: who do believers belong to, the world or the One who saves? If they belong to Christ, their lives should show it. And they should be ready, with God’s help, to endure hardship with patience and faith.

“If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you.

John 15:18

Understanding Worship Beyond Music

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ALEKSANDR IVANOV

There are people today who connect worship mainly with music, but the Bible presents a much deeper picture. Over time, the meaning of “worship” has shifted. It is now often linked to a musical style rather than to a spiritual act of surrender and reverence before God. To understand what true worship is, it helps to set aside everything we know about church traditions, instruments, or songs, and look only at what Scripture teaches.

Imagine someone who had never attended church, never seen Christian music, and only had the Bible. If that person tried to build a worship service, what would it look like? There are no notes or melodies written in Scripture. Yet, the Bible often speaks about songs and praises to God. This means the form of worship was never the focus. Its essence was. If there were no music at all, would we still know how to worship? The answer must be yes, because true worship is not built on melodies but on the heart.

In the Old and New Testaments, music is mentioned, but it never causes conflict or division. Unlike today, there were no debates about worship styles or instruments. That raises an important question: why do these issues divide churches now? If the early believers never fought over music, maybe we are focusing on the wrong thing.

Ephesians 5:19 and Colossians 3:16 speak of “psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs.” Are these meant to separate types of Christian music, or to describe ways the heart responds to God?

Psalms were poetic songs often accompanied by instruments, expressing a wide range of emotions, everything from joy to doubt.

Hymns were solemn songs that praised the greatness and majesty of God.

Spiritual songs were personal songs that carried faith and truth from Scripture.

In all cases, the heart’s gratitude to God mattered more than the sound or rhythm. The Bible never defines a “worship style.” What we often call “worship music” today was never meant to be a genre. Instead, worship is a life response.

True worship begins long before any song. It starts when a person turns to God in repentance and surrender. Worship is recognizing His power and our weakness. It is humility before the Creator. This is why Jesus said the Father seeks those who worship Him “in spirit and in truth.” To worship in spirit is to be renewed by the Holy Spirit; to worship in truth is to live by God’s Word.

Real worship happens when we accept God’s will, even when it is painful. When God says “no,” our reaction shows whether we truly worship Him. To bow before His decision without anger or complaint is to honour Him. As Job said, “The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.” Worship is not found in comfort but in submission.

The Psalms also teach that “the sacrifices of God are a broken spirit.” A heart softened by humility is more valuable than any song. When we forgive others, seek peace, and let go of pride, we offer God true worship. If we sing but keep anger or pride in our hearts, the song loses its meaning.

Worship is also giving everything to God. It is trusting Him with our choices, our time, and even our losses. When we face trials and still thank Him, that is worship. It is the daily act of learning to say, “Your will be done.” Music can express this, but it cannot replace it. One could say that glorifying God is the outward expression of this inward worship. It may be through songs, testimonies, service, or kindness. But without inward surrender, outward praise is only noise.

Therefore I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.

Romans 12:1

Steve Ladd announces hip replacement surgery, plans September return

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JEFF TURNER

Steve Ladd is going through some tough times after receiving news from his doctor.

“About five months ago, I started having really bad pain in my left hip, down deep inside the socket, thought it would go away, and it just never did. I had an MRI done, met with the orthopaedist, and he says, I have avascular necrosis. He said, there’s no blood flow going to that hip socket, and the bone is dying,” he said in a candid interview.

“Once it starts dying, it’s not coming back. He said, I don’t have to have surgery if I don’t want to, but more than likely, I’ll be in a wheelchair in a couple years if I don’t. So we have opted for a total hip replacement on the left side.”

Steve said he didn’t have this one on his 2026 bingo card, but this isn’t going to keep him from his work in 2026.

“We are doing a total hip replacement at the end of June. My schedule’s full until then I’ll be off July and August for surgery and therapy and healing up and then back out singing in September. I’m just asking for prayers for the surgeons that have steady hands and that I’ll heal up fast and therapy won’t be too hard on me.”

Steve’s latest release, “Everyday Saints,” shines a spotlight on the people in our lives, our communities, and our churches. Anytime help is asked, anytime help is needed, they’re the first ones to show up. The first ones, and a lot of times, the only ones that show up time after time. His previous release, “I’m with the band,” is on the Singing News Top 80, holding the #17 position.

You can learn more about Steve’s music and career on his Facebook page and at his website.

Trusting God When the Future Seems Uncertain

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AMY TURNER

In Genesis 26:1-2, the Bible tells of a severe famine that struck the land. It was not the first time such hardship had come; a famine had also happened in Abraham’s lifetime. During this crisis, Isaac went to the region of Gerar, where Abimelech, the Philistine king, ruled. There, God spoke directly to Isaac, telling him not to travel to Egypt for relief but to remain where God would guide him.

This instruction called for great faith. Staying in a place where food was scarce and survival uncertain was not an easy choice. For Isaac, remaining in the land meant risking his safety and that of his family. Yet, he obeyed because he trusted that God’s direction was better than his own understanding.

Real trust in God often asks for courage. It means believing that God will honour His promises even when there is no visible proof or clear path forward. Faith does not always lead to comfort, but it leads to a deeper reliance on the One who never fails. When life feels uncertain and choices seem risky, holding on to God’s word is the most secure place to be.

for we walk by faith, not by sight

2 Corinthians 5:7

Renowned US geneticist & Christian author Francis Collins honored with top science award

Published on by Texas GospelLeave a comment

JEFF TURNER

Francis Collins, founder of the BioLogos faith and science organization, received the National Academy of Sciences Public Welfare Medal on Jan. 22 for his groundbreaking genetics work and leadership of the Human Genome Project. The academy’s most prestigious honour, established in 1914, recognizes exceptional scientific contributions serving public welfare.

Collins directed the National Center for Human Genome Research beginning in 1993, overseeing hundreds of researchers who completed the first full human genome sequence. This achievement revolutionized biomedical research and established foundations for precision medicine and genetic disease treatments. He implemented the Bermuda Principles, requiring daily public release of genome data in an unprecedented transparency commitment.

The geneticist was appointed by President Barak Obama to head the National Institutes of Health, a position he held from 2009 to 2021, serving under three presidential administrations whilst managing responses to the Ebola outbreak and COVID-19 pandemic. He championed Alzheimer’s research funding, launched the BRAIN Initiative for neuroscience advancement, and initiated the Cancer Moonshot programme.

Collins helped develop the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act, safeguarding Americans from genetic data exploitation. He later advised President Joe Biden from 2022 to 2023, co-leading the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology and directing a national hepatitis C elimination initiative.

His numerous accolades include the Presidential Medal of Freedom, National Medal of Science, Gairdner Foundation International Award, Templeton Prize, and membership in Britain’s Royal Society.

Collins has authored several influential books blending science and Christian faith. His key works include the bestseller The Language of God, which argues for the compatibility of faith and science, and the 2024 book The Road to Wisdom, which addresses truth and trust in a polarized world.

The National Academy of Sciences Public Welfare Medal presentation will occur during the academy’s 163rd annual meeting on April 26.