Amid Persecution, How Can Christians React As Jesus Did?

In Jesus’ response to authorities' treatment of Him, we can learn how to become whole in our increasingly vitriolic secular age.

To Better Avoid Temptation This Lent, Revisit ‘The Screwtape Letters’ Or Its Many Spin-Offs

C.S. Lewis’ 'The Screwtape Letters' is a definitive treatment of the subject of temptation and has inspired many worthy imitations.

How Focusing On Prayer This Lent Could Lead You To Redemption

Focusing on prayer this Lent could lead us to happiness and help us form a closer relationship with God.

This Divine Music Will Get You In The Lenten Spirit

Here is a selection of hymns, ancient chants, and choral music to prepare you for the penitential season of Lent.

Simple Observances For Lent, A Season That Can Help Christians Prepare For Persecution

Amid our culture's deepening darkness, there's no better response than to repent, fast, and pray. That's what Lent is all about.

The Case For Observing A Quiet Advent Season This Year

Infusing more silence in our lives, especially during such a consumeristic and gluttonous few weeks, can do wonders for our souls.

'We must love our redeemer more than our whiteness,' says pastor of woke Illinois church



A liberal Illinois church that has received media attention for saying that it would not utilize any hymns or liturgy created by white people during Lent is standing behind its woke ways.

The First United Church of Oak Park, which is openly pro-LGBT and lists social justice as one of its "core values," had previously posted a message on its website headlined, "Lent 2022: Fasting From Whiteness."

"For Lent this year, First United is doing a mix of 'giving something up' and 'taking something on.' In our worship services throughout Lent, we will not be using any music or liturgy written or composed by white people. Our music will be drawn from the African American spirituals tradition, from South African freedom songs, from Native American traditions, and many, many more," the church's website previously stated. "For Lent, it is our prayer that in our spiritual disciplines we may grow as Christians, united in the body of Christ with people of all ages, nations, races, and origins."

While that message no longer appears on the church's website, statements addressing the controversy have been posted.

"Our Lenten theme has spurred considerable discussion, with some people questioning the message. In practice with the Lenten spiritual discipline of fasting, our intent was to lay aside our usual frames of reference and open ourselves to hearing the Gospel message through the voices of Black People, Indigenous People, and People of Color," one statement explained. "Our worship services in Lent have been diverse and beautiful. We pray that God oils the hinges of our hearts’ doors that they might swing open gently to receive the good news of Christ’s resurrection, which we all await at the culmination of Lent."

The church said in another press release that it got more than 1,000 "hateful messages" in less than a day.

"White people absolutely have a place in the redemption story. White people were even at the foot of the cross: they were the Roman Guards. As white people we must love our Redeemer enough to put down our spears. We must love our redeemer more than our whiteness, and kneel before our redeemer who is a dark-skinned man from the poor parts of town," Rev. John Edgerton said, according to the press release.

Edgerton is described as the "Lead Pastor" on the church's website — the press release uses the term "senior pastor."

'Fasting from Whiteness': Woke church in Illinois says during Lent it is avoiding music and liturgy created by white people



The website of a woke church in Illinois says that during Lent the church will not utilize any music or liturgy created by white individuals.

A section on the home page of the website of the First United Church of Oak Park bears the headline, "Lent 2022: Fasting From Whiteness."

"For Lent this year, First United is doing a mix of 'giving something up' and 'taking something on.' In our worship services throughout Lent, we will not be using any music or liturgy written or composed by white people. Our music will be drawn from the African American spirituals tradition, from South African freedom songs, from Native American traditions, and many, many more," the website states. "For Lent, it is our prayer that in our spiritual disciplines we may grow as Christians, united in the body of Christ with people of all ages, nations, races, and origins."

Turning Point USA posted a photo of a church sign that bears the headline, "Fasting from Whiteness" — the sign includes the message, "This Lent we build our worship life around the voices of Black people, indigenous people, and people of color."

The church is unabashedly pro-LGBT, declaring on its website, "We welcome lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people into the full life and ministry of the church, including ordination, expecting and encouraging them to share their talents and gifts in the life, liturgy, leadership, and employment positions of our congregation, as our ministers, teachers, members, visitors, and friends."

6 Warm Winter Soups To Share At Lent

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This Holy Saturday, Remember The Disciples, Whose Fear And Weakness Is Our Own

The fear and weakness of Christ's disciples aren't foreign at all -- they are you and me. And with the Holy Spirit, they built Christ's church.