| | Pew: Black Protestants' approval of Biden plummeting | | Curated for you byCP Editors | | Good afternoon! It's Thursday, February 17, and we're here with the latest survey from Pew Research Center, news out of Pakistan on the stoning of a man accused of desecrating the Quran, and an interview with "Jeen-Yuhs: A Kanye West Trilogy" filmmakers Coodie & Chike. | | A survey conducted by Pew Research Center in January has revealed a sharp decline in the number of black Protestants who approve of President Joe Biden's job performance. Whereas 92% approved of Biden's performance in March 2021, that number plummeted to 65% in January. The survey, which polled more than 5,000 respondents, also revealed lessening support from Catholics and Evangelicals. In an analysis released last week, Pew's Justin Nortey noted that “there have been sizable declines in positive ratings from black Protestants and the religiously unaffiliated — two groups that are among the Democratic Party’s most loyal constituencies.” | | P.S. Have a minute? The Christian Post is launching a quarterly print magazine, and we'd love to get your thoughts! Please take the quick survey here. |
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| Whitlock: Secularization of Canada creating hostility toward freedom | | Political commentator and podcast host Jason Whitlock suggested in an interview with Fox News' Tucker Carlson that government opposition to the “Freedom Convoy” of truckers protesting the Canadian government’s ongoing coronavirus mandates stems from a “demonization” of “freedom, opportunity and self-determination” that goes hand-in-hand with Christianity. Whitlock classified both the Freedom Convoy and Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot as demonstrations of "opposition to the Left and their secularization of American society," stating, "[I]f you go look at Canada and in the '50s and '60s, that country, like 65% of them, went to church regularly on Sundays. They dropped that down to about 10% now. And we don’t even value freedom right now because we don’t understand its importance and they’ve handed us equity, diversity and inclusion." | | Man accused of desecrating Quran stoned by mob in Pakistan | | Police in Pakistan’s Punjab province said they have arrested 38 prime suspects accused in the killing of a 41-year-old man who they tied up, tortured and then stoned to death over allegations that he burned pages of the Quran inside a mosque. According to Voice of America, Mushtaq Ahmed, who was reportedly mentally ill, was killed Saturday evening by a mob of about 300 people who snatched him from police officers. Ahmed was pleading innocence while under attack. | | Also of Interest... | | Pakistan: Islamist mob tortures to death, burns body of Sri Lankan man over alleged ‘blasphemy’Pakistani pastor shot dead in ambush attack after Sunday service; mourners chant 'Long live Jesus Christ'14-year-old Pentecostal girl kidnapped, forced to marry captor in PakistanPakistani Christian man imprisoned 4 years on false blasphemy charges is granted bail |
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| The narrow path vs. the broad path | | In this op-ed, Oscar Amaechina, president of Afri-Mission and Evangelism Network in Abuja, Nigeria, writes about the narrow and broad paths Jesus preached about in Matthew 7:13-14. Amaechina explains that Jesus not only pointed at the two paths but also gave specific characteristics of each to help believers make wise decisions. While the broad pathway is attractive because "it looks beautiful and popular," the more difficult narrow pathway is the one "that will eventually culminate in eternal life," he says. Continue reading. | | Why socialists betrayed the working class | | Samuel Sey writes about the Freedom Convoy and why he believes leftists hate and decry the movement but supported the riots that stemmed from the Black Lives Matter riots two years ago. "One of the reasons why socialists hate the Freedom Convoy is because Marxists have replaced the working class with a new proletariat: Anyone who isn’t white," asserts the Ghanaian-Canadian writer. "Marxists claimed the free-market system is oppressive because they want government control, not freedom. In the same way, leftists today claim medical freedom is oppressive because they want government control, not freedom," he explains. Continue reading. |
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| Extending grace to those undergoing 'deconstruction' | | Jon Bloom, co-founder of the popular online theology ministry DesiringGod.org, took to the website on Tuesday to encourage Christians to extend grace to people who say they are undergoing "deconstruction." Noting that the concept is not new, Bloom wrote, "Since the church’s earliest days, some have endured faith crises, some have been harmed by sinful cultural influences, some have questioned traditional doctrines and church authorities, and some have departed the faith. And to each person, whatever their struggle, we are called to extend the grace of Christ.” | | Study explores pastoral views of racial diversity | | A study from Lifeway Research has revealed that, while a majority of Protestant pastors say churches should be racially diverse, most of their congregations continue to be made up of primarily one racial or ethnic group. While 22% of pastors reported at least some racial or ethnic diversity in their churches—up from 13% in 2017—the survey found that 76% of the 1,000 Protestant pastors surveyed reported their churches are predominately comprised of one racial or ethnic group. A previous study released by Baylor University revealed the number of racially diverse congregations in the U.S. had tripled in 20 years with approximately a quarter of Evangelical and Catholic churches now being multiracial. A multiracial congregation is defined as one where no one racial or ethnic group comprises more than 80% of the congregants. |
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| WATCH: 'Jeen-Yuhs' director talks Kanye, power of God | On the heels of the release of Netflix documentary "Jeen-Yuhs: A Kanye West Trilogy," filmmakers Coodie & Chike discuss why they believe Jesus Christ has continued to guide rapper Kanye West despite his sometimes erratic and questionable behavior. In releasing the three-part documentary, the filmmakers say they hope the series will inspire others to follow God's calling for their lives. Chike explains the documentary does not idolize Kanye or Coodie, who also explores his own faith journey in the process, but is about people finding their inner genius. "We all going to make mistakes. We all want to do things that are not right. We do live in this world, but we're not of the world, so that alone lets you know that Kanye's going to be all right. No matter what he's going through, God will never forsake him," says Coodie. Click to watch the full interview.In Case You Missed It ...Lecrae says he's 'tired' of his ego after attending Super Bowl Podcast: Ex-porn star, wife share incredible love and redemption story | | | | | Thank you for spending part of your day with us. We look forward to seeing you again tomorrow! -- CP Editors |
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