Religious A recent Gallup poll showed, for the first time, the majority of Americans are not members of a house of worship. Thirty-five percent of Gen Z students are atheists, agnostic, or have no religious belief. — Religion News Service, 6/3/2021 (Editor’s note: Members of Gen Z are those born between 1997 and 2015. This puts the age group for Gen Z in the range of 6-24 years old in 2021) Increasing numbers of African American mosques are closing, while the overall […]
Governments and Religion “He said unto them, Then render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and unto God the things that are God’s” (Luke 20:25, scriptures from Revised Version Improved and Corrected, RVIC). Lawmakers in the French parliament’s lower house overwhelmingly approved a bill that would strengthen government oversight of mosques, schools, and sports clubs to safeguard France from radical Islamists and to promote respect for French values. In addition, the bill would allow temporary closure of any religious group that […]
Church Five, Sardis “Remember herefore how thou hast received and didst hear, and keep it, and repent” (Revelation 3:3. Scriptures from Revised Version Improved and Corrected). By Len Griehs Sardis1 was the capital of the powerful kingdom of Lydia (western provinces of Turkey), conquered by Cyrus in 547 BC. Paganism flourished in Sardis. John the Revelator lamented over many Christians who had returned to former beliefs. Thus verse three, “remember therefore how thou hast received and didst hear: and keep it, and […]
Messenger to the Church in Philadelphia (1667-1874) “The way of taking up the cross is an entire resignation of soul … The way is narrow indeed, and the gate very strait … they that can not endure the cross must never have the crown” (William Penn)1 by Richard Doctor A freshly printed “blasphemous book” titled The Sandy Foundation Shaken reached the hands of the Bishop of London. It was a direct attack on the Trinity, asserting, “that the Father, Son, and Spirit, […]
Church Seven “I would thou wert cold or hot” (Revelation 3:15 ASV. Scripture quotations in this article are from ASV and RVIC). by James Parkinson The closing period of the Gospel Age is shown in the letter to the Laodicean period (Revelation 3:14-22). Our Lord gives us few commendations for our period of Christian history. Let us each apply the lessons to self, before trying to apply them to anyone else. Verse 14, “And to the angel1 of the church in Laodicea […]