Daniel Irwin didn’t know why, or who, called a counseling session for the Leonard family in the Word of Life Christian Church after services last Sunday.
CHR Comment: Rumors of abuse were the cause for calling a “counseling session.” The session involved attempts to force confessions out of the teens.
Source: Witness: Father whipped sons multiple times – News – Uticaod – Utica, NY
28 predate the Declaration of Independence, and all were built before the Constitution.
CHR Comment: Beautiful photos of the oldest church buildings. Of course, log cabin versions most likely predated each of these. Would be interesting to learn whether some of the clapboard buildings are log cabin construction underneath.
When the Reformation began in 1517, the Church and culture were soon to change forever. But centuries haven’t changed one thing: it’s still all about Jesus!
Source: Reformation 500th Anniversary | News, Resources, History
This new sight is filled with content on Reformation history and theology, including a massive timeline.
A century ago, Christopher Columbus was considered the most glorious explorer in American history. Today, major cities are voting to eliminate the national holiday in his name. What happened?
Source: How did Christopher Columbus become so controversial? – CSMonitor.com
Columbus brought Indians to Europe as slaves, which a church leader in turn sold. How did churchmen get into the business of slavery, which had all but died out during the medieval period? (Serfdom has similarities to slavery but also important differences.) The fact that this happened in Spain, which most keenly felt Muslim influence during the medieval period, should not be overlooked.
Church attendance is down, but those who go are more devout. Here’s what draws them.
Source: Why religion still matters – CSMonitor.com
The article broadly surveys religion in America, noting that attendance is down but steady while commitment is actually up. The situation is comparable to the boom in church attendance that came after WWII. A major question for Christians is whether the younger generation, which has put off having children, will return with commitment as they do have children and feel the need to pass on the faith and practice of the Christian life to the next generation.
Persecution of Christians is one of the major news stories of 2015. Here is an account I meant to post some months ago though I never got it out of my draft file.
Source: » Arminius’s Declaration of Sentiments
Debates about predestination, which ultimately divided Reformed Protestantism late in the Reformation, surrounded Jacob Arminius. John Aloisi of Detroit Baptist Theological Seminary comments on the recent translation of Arminius’s Declaration of Sentiments.
Planned Parenthood, the law of the land, and Christian response
Source: Concordia Theology » Save Your Outrage – Do Something Positive Instead
A well researched and written article on the recent tensions surrounding Planned Parenthood and selling parts from aborted fetuses (Lord, have mercy). Truth and ethics are presented as needful Christian values when dealing with controversy.
Consortium consulted more than 120 member presidents on what to do about Eastern Mennonite University and Goshen College.
Debate about Gay marriage divided members of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU), which advocates for religious freedom on behalf of Christian schools. The article illustrates how church history affects these modern debates since members of the consortium appealed to “historic Christianity” as setting a standard for agreement and practice.
The Vatican on Saturday fired a monsignor who came out as gay on the eve of a big meeting.
Source: Vatican fires gay priest on eve of Catholic bishops meeting
The public protest of Monsignor Krzysztof Charamsa raised numerous issues, including the celibacy requirement for priests that was imposed in the twelfth century and vigorously debated during the Protestant Reformation.
church history review 