Halloween Season: Interview With a Former Witch – Part 1 & Halloween Season: Former Witch on Breaking From the Coven – Part 2

Halloween Season: Interview With a Former Witch – Part 1

Author S.A. (Seleah Ally) Tower shares her story of life as a  former witch who became a Christian in her book Taken from the Night – A  Witches Encounter With God.

The Christian Post interviewed her for an article shortly after her book was released earlier  this year. As Halloween approaches, and as the darker side of the holiday’s  history resurfaces every year, CP decided to take a closer look at the tradition  from the perspective of someone who was once immersed for 10 years in witchcraft  and the occult before fully accepting Jesus Christ into her life.

Tower, who grew up in a traditional Christian household, said she wants the  book and her testimony to help others who have experienced the same struggles in  the spiritual realm.

This is the first part of the two-part interview with The Christian Post.

CP: We’ve all heard many stories about the origins of Halloween. As  someone who has done a lot of research in this area can you give us a brief  summary of what you believe to be the origins of the holiday celebrated in the  U.S.?

Tower: Halloween as celebrated in the USA is a somewhat  diluted version of various traditions mostly stemming from medieval times. Kids  dressing in costume and going door to door looking for treats, which is one of  the main Halloween events, can be found in “souling” or dressing in rags. This  Dark Ages practice included going door to door in search for soul cakes in  return for prayers for the deceased or in “guising” where masqueraders carried  lanterns made of scooped-out turnips going door to door in hopes of being  rewarded with cakes, fruit and money.

Today, adults and even teenagers have taken another medieval time tradition  of demanding beer or ale while costumed in exchange for a performance as an  opportunity to party. During the Dark Ages, many actually feared encounters with  mischievous spirits and wore masks so that ghosts would mistake them for a  fellow spirit if they had to go out at night.

CP: What is it about witches in particular? You were drawn to a  witch’s “lifestyle” at one point in your life. Why the fascination from your  perspective and why do so many others hold, in some cases, a peculiar  obsession?

Tower: A witch has a certain mystique about her and for many the allure has  to do with both the unknown and the unthinkable. It’s our natural curiosity that  causes us to be fascinated with the unknown and the witch portrays this mystery  as well as the excitement of entertaining the unthinkable.

For me personally, the appeal was self-empowerment and the feminine aspect of  witchcraft. The lifestyle enabled me the freedom to make my own decisions  according to how I saw fit and gave me the ability to put those changes into  action through magic. I think a lot of people are looking for a hands-on  spirituality where they can incorporate their own will rather than God’s will.  We live in a “me” focused society that’s all about what “I” want. Part of it is  the fault of churches because Christianity should not be a spectator religion.  We are all part of the Body and each one of us has a significant part in the  whole Church.

CP: How prevalent is witchcraft in the U.S.? What would you warn  people who dabble in the occult and witchcraft?

Tower: Contrary to popular opinion, I don’t believe true  witchcraft is on the rise. Being a witch takes a lot of time and hard work,  something which is rare in today’s society where everything you want is at the  tip of your fingertips. I think the term “witch” is loosely used nowadays and  the rise is in paganism in general.

I would not encourage dabbling in witchcraft from either a Christian or  Wiccan point of view. Magic is real; witchcraft is not a fantasy and not  something to be toiled with. God, in love warns us against engaging in  witchcraft because His desire is to be in a relationship with us alone.

CP: As a Christian, how do you approach the Halloween “season,”  because it truly appears to have developed into at least a month-long  celebration?

I approach the season with prayer rather than paranoia. As Christians we  really have no reason to fear when the light of Jesus is within us. I don’t lock  my door and hide away on Halloween night … rather I see it as an opportunity to  shine the light of Jesus in the darkness. I also pray for those in spiritual  darkness to come to know the God of Abraham, that they would seek godly  knowledge, and for their revelation in Jesus’ death that conquered the grave.  Then when most other Christians have forgotten Halloween for another year I  continue to pray because Samhain is not necessarily October 31st. While all the  Halloween parties and public “Witch Balls” are over, the time in between  [Samhain] will come unnoticed. This year, it falls on Nov. 6 while most will be  distracted with the election for the next president.

CP: What is Samhain?

Tower: Witches and most neo-pagans celebrate Samhain. I am  unable to speak for the satanist but witches celebrate Samhain as the final  harvest celebration or summer’s end for the Celtic people. It is the Celtic New  Year and beginning of the dark half of the year. It’s considered a very magical  time when the veil between the worlds is thinnest and the dead walk among the  living. The Celts believed it was a time when the future could be most  effectively predicted and so it was a time for divination and prophecy.

CP: Do you suggest parents steer away from approving witch or  sorcerer costumes for their children?

Tower: Putting on a costume is like temporarily putting on the persona of the  costume so I would suggest using discernment in the costume choice. I would  certainly not encourage a witch or sorcerer costume, but I don’t think a parent  should overreact to a child’s choice of one either. It can be a great learning  experience and help the child make another choice on their own.

http://www.christianpost.com/news/halloween-season-interview-with-a-former-witch-part-1-83993/#8w66BuBzzzwXhKUY.99

 

Halloween Season:  Former Witch on Breaking From the Coven – Part 2

In the final part of The Christian Post’s two-part interview with author S.A. (Seleah Ally) Tower, a former witch who became a Christian, she shares that it was her realization of how intensely God loves her that saved her from the life of a Wiccan practitioner.

Despite a Wiccan society that is mainly apart from mainstream America, Tower became a member of a coven (community of witches) 23 years ago. This coming Halloween she will be co-hosting a “Hallelujah Night” webcast to commemorate the day 13 years ago when she “walked into church a practicing witch and left rejoicing as a believer in Jesus.”

Tower grew up in a traditional Christian household and wants to continue sharing her life story so that others who are experiencing the same struggles in the spiritual realm can have hope.

This is the conclusion to the interview with The Christian Post.

CP: There are some people who are unaware that there are practicing witches in the U.S. How deep were you into witchcraft? How did you “blend into” society?

Tower: I personally embraced witchcraft as a lifestyle, became initiated and practiced within a coven. Aside from perhaps my choice of clothes, I blended in as your typical wife, “soccer mom” and school bus driver quite well. Even though I was “out of the broom closet” with my beliefs, the average person aside from close friends and family would have never known. There was really nothing about my demeanor that would have aroused suspicion in my neighborhood except perhaps my late night trips on full moon.

CP: Were there moments when you were scared? Was there a moment when you knew you could no longer be a witch?

Tower: I wouldn’t say I was actually scared … we were taught not to fear the “dark” but to respect it. Also working within a group we abided by so-called “perfect love” and “perfect trust” which basically meant you trusted your coven with your life so there was no need to be afraid.

For me, the moment came when I encountered the love of God with such intensity that I simply couldn’t deny nor reject Him any longer. It wasn’t as though I had some horrible experience with witchcraft, rather I couldn’t say no to the overwhelming, all-consuming love of God. At that point, I knew I could no longer continue living my life as a witch.

CP: Your book Taken from the Night – A Witches Encounter With God takes readers on your journey from the occult to Christianity – you becoming a born-again Christian – can you give us a brief summary as to your last days as a witch and how you came to know Jesus?

Tower: My former pastor invited me to church to speak with an ex-occultist who was visiting. I had been ex-communicated from the church so I accepted only out of spite. I was happy with my Wiccan lifestyle and had no desire for the Christian God. Despite the fact that the woman didn’t show, I found myself exhausted and overwhelmed in tears throughout the service. Perplexed by my reaction I asked if I could visit again not expecting I would be invited back the day after the Samhain Witch’s Ball. I almost didn’t get out of bed but was determined to prove the same thing wouldn’t happen again, especially since I was still charged with energy from the night before. Instead God had something to prove to me as He swept me off my feet and saturated me with love beyond words. That encounter was the beginning of my difficult journey back yet, His grace sustained me through it all.

CP: Since the book was released in May of this year, what have you learned in your speaking engagements and comments from readers?

Tower: It’s amazing to see the vast difference in the reactions and responses I’ve received but I think the most important thing I’ve learned is to keep my focus on pleasing God. While I have a God-given passion for sharing truth, what a person does with the truth is between them and God.

CP: One last question about Halloween. There are some Christians who say we shouldn’t be celebrating Halloween at all. What will you be doing this Wednesday evening?

Tower: This Wednesday I’ll be co-hosting a livestream Hallelujah Night celebrating the day 13 years ago that I walked into church a practicing witch and left rejoicing as a believer in Jesus. If you’re not sure what to do on October 31st, feel free to join me. For more information go to my Taken From the Night Facebook page and look for the Hallelujah Night post. We’ll even be giving away a few copies of the upcoming new release Insights From Hindsight – A 30-Day Companion Guide to Taken From The Night.

http://www.christianpost.com/news/halloween-season-former-witch-on-breaking-from-the-coven-part-2-84138/

The pervasive presence of pornography

Over 25 years ago God burdened my heart to take leadership of a fledgling anti-pornography group, at that time called Newaygo County Citizens Against Pornography.  We successfully worked to drive out pornography from businesses in our county – magazines, video rentals, etc.  That local organization eventually grew into this national ministry, American Decency Association.

The fight against pornography, obscenity, and indecency is a great burden of mine.  Pornography has a stranglehold on our culture, and sadly, on many within the church.  And all the while far too many pulpits are silent as pornography rips and destroys lives, marriages, and families.

I came across this eye-opening, excellent article (quoted below) that I urge you to read and then share with others – including your pastor.  Urge your church leadership to address this growing concern – to preach against it, assist individuals to resist it, and minister to its victims.

If you or someone you know is struggling with pornography, help is available!

Here are two sources of help we highly recommend.

Faithful and True 15798 Venture Lane Eden Prairie, Minnesota 55344 Phone:  952-746-3880 Email:  info@faithfulandtrueministries.com Fax:  952-746-3897

 

Pure Life Ministries 14 School Street Dry Ridge, KY  41035 888.PURELIFE – order/information 859.824.4444 – administrative office Email: inquire@purelifeministries.org

 

Also, for a helpful resource to help young men resist the pull of pornography that is so pervasive, we urge you to order the powerful DVD “Every Young Man’s Battle.”  Click hereto order it today from our online store.

 

Here is the article mentioned above  – from The Christian Post, written by Rev. Mark H. Creech.

Having been assigned in school to write a story with the word “adult” in it, Little Freddie penned: “Adults don’t have any fun. Adults just sit around and talk. Adults don’t do anything. Nothing is duller than adultery.”

Oh contraire, adultery or immorality is anything but dull to folks these days. In fact, according to statistics provided by Pure Life Ministries, pornography is big business – a $57 billion business worldwide and $12 billion business in the United States. In comparison, the $12 billion made in America is twice as much as the combined U.S. revenues of the three major television networks, ABC, CBS and NBC combined. [1]

Worse still, are the inroads indecency has made in the church. A ChristiaNet survey says 50% of Christian men and 20% of Christian women are addicted to pornography. [2] What’s even more alarming, 37% of pastors say cyber porn is a current struggle for them. [3]

What caught my attention about this matter was a recent article in Men’s Health magazine titled, “The Smuttiest Cities in America.” To my chagrin, Raleigh, North Carolina, the home-base of the Christian Action League was ranked among the top 10 at number 4; with Charlotte following close on its heels at number 5. Believe it or not, Orlando, the home of Walt Disney World took the top spot, Las Vegas came in second, and Wilmington, Delaware came in at number 3. Interestingly, the cities where the two national political conventions are taking place ranked in the top ten – the Democrats in Charlotte at number 4, and the Republicans in Tampa at number 8. (Check to see where your city ranks among the nation’s 100 smuttiest.) [4]

The rankings were based on the quantity of DVDs purchased, rented, or streamed; adult entertainment stores per city; rate of porn searches on the internet; and the percentage of households that subscribe to a channel that shows soft-core porn. [5]

Of course, some erroneously maintain the First Amendment of the Constitution protects porn as freedom of expression. But that’s just untrue. Despite the fact the Department of Justice is doing nothing to enforce obscenity laws, it’s really a crime. It’s no more a protected expression than libel or slander. Moreover, neither is obscenity simply in the eye of the beholder – something subjective. It is, in fact, the description or depiction of sexual activity that is delineated as prohibited by law, to protect the common good.

Every Christian should be deeply concerned about the spread of the smut enterprise. God will never bless a nation given to idolatry. Bishop Clyde E. Van Valin of the Free Methodist Church has eloquently written:

“Pornography leads to idolatry. The central truth of the Christian religion is belief in one Holy God. ‘Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve,’ Jesus said (Matthew 4:10). Ancient near-Eastern history documents the decadence of nations that worshipped the fertility gods using human sex organs as their symbols and prostitution as worship. God eventually punished them without mercy, as He did his own people when they fell into these pagan practices. Pornography supplies the symbols, the rituals, the stimulus, and the creed for worshipping the human body and its sexual impulses rather than the eternal Spirit, Jehovah God.” [6]

Pornography is not a harmless form of entertainment. It conditions people to deviancy, providing malignant fantasy material that is often acted out in real life. Few things do more to debase and dehumanize women. In many cases, it presents a message that pain and humiliation are what women want, thus causing some men to be less inhibited against unwanted aggressive sexual behavior and even rape. It reduces the most sacred act of intimacy between a man and a woman to a cheap thrill to be bought and sold in a marketplace of voyeurism. Van Valin also rightly noted, “It leaves in its wake broken marriages, estranged and molested children, shattered young people, and deteriorating neighborhoods. The producers, promoters, and participants couldn’t care less.” [7]

I can only wonder if the churches of these great American cities know their rankings in smut. If not, they need to know. And to know and do nothing would be a sin.

Could you imagine the outspoken prophets of the Old Testament remaining silent in the light of such debauchery? What would the apostle Paul have said, the same New Testament apostle who denounced the lustful behaviors of his own day? Would he have simply said, “Oh well, that’s the way the world is”, shrugged his shoulders and then walked away. It’s highly doubtful the great saints of yesteryear would have ignored such a grave social evil. Neither should any Christian or person of faith today. To privately disdain but publicly disregard is a default on our accountability to God and responsibility as our brother’s keeper.

Perhaps pastors and key lay leaders could come together and discuss finding ways they could address the problems of smut in their communities. One thing is for certain, pornography is not only negatively affecting our communities and the culture at large, but also our churches. We need to repent as well as work for reforms.

Adulterous and immoral behavior depicted by pornography and other settings of obscenity may be anything but dull. But there is nothing more dismal than the destruction of a nation and its best institutions brought on in part by the pervasive presence of indecency.

Resources:

[1], [2], [3], statistics as provided by Pure Life Ministries at http://www.purelifeministries.org/files/PDFs/Info%20and%20FAQs/Statistics.pdf

[4], [5], Men’s Health magazine, “The Smuttiest Cities in America,” http://www.menshealth.com/print/34019

[6], [7], Biblical Reasons to Fight Pornography, Bishop Clyde E. Valin, The Free Methodist Church, excerpted from Life and Light magazine, http://www.afa.net/Detail.aspx?id=2147484807

Rev. Mark H. Creech
http://www.christianpost.com/news/whats-your-citys-smut-ranking-80332/

http://www.americandecency.org/full_article.php?article_no=1321

North Carolina College Considering Ban on Chick-fil-A By Michael Gryboski , Christian Post Reporter

A college in North Carolina is considering a ban on products from  Chick-fil-A in response to complaints over the chicken sandwich chain’s  connections to social conservative groups.

Davidson College‘s Union Board, a student organization that oversees events  at the campus, decided last week to consider halting the use of Chick-fil-A for  its popular “After Midnight” monthly program.

Bill Giduz, director of Media Relations at Davidson, provided The Christian  Post with a statement regarding the pending decision.

“In light of the controversy over Chick-fil-A, the board has decided to  gather student input on the matter and discuss it at one of their early-semester  weekly meetings after classes resume on August 27,” read the statement.

“The Union Board serves different menus at After Midnight throughout the  year, and Chick-fil-A is served once or twice annually … Until a final decision  is made, alternative options will be served at After Midnight and other Union  Board events.”

“The only process envisioned is that the students who are members of the  College Union Board are planning to discuss the issue,” said Giduz to CP.  “They’re the party responsible for the ‘After Midnight’ events and what’s served  on those occasions. They have not yet set a date for their deliberation.”

Davidson College is not the only academic institution mulling over a ban on  Chick-fil-A products because of the fast-food chain’s connections to  organizations like Focus on the Family and Family Research Council. New York University may also ban Chick-fil-A over the  ideological viewpoints of its leadership.

Philip Lentz, director of Public Affairs for NYU, told The Christian Post  that the university had in the past seriously considered removing Chick-fil-A  from their campus.

“In 2011, the Student Senators Council passed a resolution asking that  Chick-fil-A be removed from campus. However, this spring, the council withdrew  that resolution, saying a ban would have limited freedom of expression,” said  Lentz.

“These types of issues at NYU are typically considered by our University  Senate, which consists of representatives of the faculty, students,  administrators and deans … So the issue has not yet been presented to the  University Senate.”

Lentz explained that the effort to ban Chick-fil-A from NYU reappeared on the  agenda after the much publicized remarks of COO Dan Cathy regarding same-sex marriage.

“In the wake of the recent controversy over Mr. Cathy’s remarks, the NYU  administration has asked the University Senate to take up the issue of  Chick-fil-A’s status on campus when it reconvenes this fall,” said Lentz.

“As of right now, the Chick-fil-A on the NYU campus is closed for the summer  and is scheduled to reopen when students return for the fall semester.”

Cathy said last month that he supports the biblical definition of the family  unit. He also remarked that America was “inviting God’s judgment” for saying “we  know better than you as to what constitutes a marriage.”

http://www.christianpost.com/news/north-carolina-college-considering-ban-on-chick-fil-a-79831/#l4rKjrVLrfbbKH6c.99

Westboro to Picket Colo. Victims’ Funerals? Local Pastor Calls It ‘Abhorrent’ By Stoyan Zaimov

In the wake of the deadly shootings that occurred at a movie  theater in Colorado last week, extremist Christian group the Westboro Baptist  Church has revealed potential plans to protest victims’ funerals – a decision a  local pastor has called “insulting and abhorrent.”

On Sunday, members from the infamous Topeka, Kan., group tweeted a number of  messages that suggested they were on their way to picket funerals for the 12  victims of the deadly shooting. The group is infamous for picketing the funerals  of soldiers, celebrities, and anyone who does not agree with their belief that  God hates America because of its tolerance of homosexuality.

“Hi ho Hi ho, to Colorado we go! #godsenttheshooter! #americaisdoomed!  #godisyourenemy! #godkillingyoursoldiers!” read a Twitter message from the account of Fred Phelps  Jr., one of the leaders of the organization.

While it could not be confirmed where, when, or even if Westboro would truly  stage a picket, Pastor Mike Dally from the non-denominational Gateway Christian Church in Aurora, shared with The  Christian Post that if the controversial activists believe themselves to be  doing “God’s work,” they are clearly mistaken.

“Were this the early days of the church when people were killed for not  recanting their faith in God by hideous methods and for public entertainment,  this is a group of people who would have stood outside the coliseum picketing  how the people who were being killed deserved it,” Dally suggested.

“Throughout Scripture God sets Himself apart from the sinfulness of man. As  the Holy God, He cannot sin nor can He endure its presence. Yet it is out of  that righteousness that His love is seen most dramatically,” he continued,  referencing John 3:16-17 and 1 John 4:7-12 to explain God’s love for the world  shown through Jesus Christ.

“The sad reality is that many will reject this love and place themselves  under judgment by that rejection,” he added.

The Colorado pastor claimed that what the Westboro congregation has done is  fallen under a “hyper-critical enticement” that leads them to reject God’s call  for love, and even elevate themselves into the position of God, where they  believe they can judge others.

“When men strive to become like God and take His position they have fallen  sway to the same temptation that befell Adam and Eve,” he said.

“They know neither the lives nor the faith status of any of those who have  been killed and while God may be considering these deaths precious in His eyes  they malign the character of God’s precious children,” Dally concluded.

“I’m not saying that all those who died will reap the eternal reward of  heaven promised to those of faith in Christ, but it is completely beyond my  ability to know their hearts and relationships just as it is impossible for the  Westboro Church to know as well.”

A candlelight vigil for Aurora’s victims has already been held in the town  without incident, and memorial services are expected to stretch all week long  across various areas around the country.

Dally has served as senior pastor at Gateway Christian Church since 2002, and  has previously served ministries in Iowa, Texas, Oklahoma, and Missouri.

http://www.christianpost.com/news/westboro-to-picket-colo-victims-funerals-local-pastor-calls-it-abhorrent-78799/#PVFHtFuK9DRzyRgi.99

Two-Year-Old Bible Study for Homeless at McDonald’s No Longer Welcomed By Alex Murashko

Christian ministry leader Dawn Martinez was told she could no longer hold the twice-a-week Bible studies she has taught for homeless people for the last two years inside a McDonald’s in Camden, N.J. A night manager at the fast food restaurant told her last week that a customer had filed a complaint. Martinez wonders if it could have been because of the topic briefly discussed at one point last Monday – the Muslim faith.

The 33-year-old, who began the ministry to transients and drug addicts two years ago, describes the Bible study group’s last meeting on Monday.

“It was a very powerful night. We had one woman join our prayer circle at the table and she was weeping and crying, but that was nothing unusual for our meetings,” Martinez told The Christian Post. “I gave the Bible study. We talked about Isaac and Ishmael. I began to give the history on the descendants of Ishmael and the differences between the Christian and the Muslim faiths because the Muslim faith believes the descendants of Ishmael are the chosen people.

“It was real brief and nothing unusual happened. We had the Bible study. We prayed and we left.”

On Wednesday, Martinez was told the bad news by the manager right as the small group was about to sit down at the table.

“She was really nice about it but she says, ‘I know that you have been giving Bible studies for a long time but we’ve had a complaint.’ She didn’t tell me what happened, but she said there was a complaint and that we cannot have our Bible studies there anymore,” she explained.

Martinez asked the manager for the reason the meetings were no longer acceptable at that McDonaId’s restaurant.

“She said, ‘Well you are a Christian and there’s other people of other faiths and so people are getting offended.’ She said, ‘I’m really sorry, but that’s just the way it is.’ I had to cancel the Bible study.”

Martinez said she believes someone of Islamic faith was there Monday evening and may have been offended enough to make a complaint.

“But usually when there are Muslims there they will take it upon themselves to ask me questions or to give me their viewpoint, but this is the first time that I know that someone has made a complaint,” she said. “I believe that’s the only explanation that makes sense to me right now. It could have been the praying, but I’ve been there two years and I’ve never changed anything. I really don’t know any other reason.”

She added, “I do know that God is in control of all things and if this is a door that God wants to close, I mean this is His ministry. I’ve never asked to be there in the first place. I’m still praying and I have strong faith that God’s will is going to be done.”

This coming Monday, Martinez plans to show up at McDonald’s to make sure her regular attendees know what is going on, and if necessary meet at a local park. McDonald’s was not contacted for this story because Martinez still hopes to get answers from the restaurant’s management.

Martinez, who lives in a neighboring city, said she started her ministry by first giving out Bible tracts to the homeless in Camden, a city known for its high homelessness and crime rates.

“I was always checking on the homeless every day. I was really desperate to reach them for Christ,” she said. She had asked people at her church to join her in ministering to the homeless, but no one responded. However, she was encouraged by a pastor to follow her heart.

One night she ran into a man she had previously given a devotional booklet to and he asked her if they could discuss the scripture inside.

“We read it together and I broke it down. Before you know it, a group started, not right away, but little by little more homeless people and people from the streets of Camden would come around,” she said. “We would end up on these benches and just start talking about these devotionals.”

As the meetings continued into the fall and winter seasons, the meetings moved indoors.

“It was starting to get cold. It started to rain one night so we decided to go into the McDonald’s which is nearby to get some coffee. This little group of ours said, ‘Hey, let’s break out the devotional booklet.’ So, we just began to read it to each other and talk.”

One of the night managers at McDonald’s was friendly to the group of homeless people who attended, Martinez explained. In the early days of the ministry, the Bible studies at McDonald’s were held three nights per week.

“Before we knew it the night managers started to look forward to us being there. They would spread the word, telling others, ‘Hey, they have church here,’” she said. “I never would have thought that I would give others a Bible study in a McDonald’s of all places, but I knew it was God’s will. It just happened that way.”

Martinez added, “I love the fact that it’s open and you never know what to expect. Sometimes I’m thinking it’s not going anywhere. We have our good days and our bad days. But God would bring people from all over. People next to us at tables would hear something and ask me questions. Then they would end up at the table and we would end up praying.”

She is not sure about how to proceed with her ministry now that they’re not allowed to gather in their regular meeting place.

“I’m not really sure what’s going to happen when they stop seeing me there and how to get the word out because they are not like us. They do not have phones. They just know to go to McDonald’s because Dawn is going to be there,” she lamented. “I do know that I want to step up my evangelism, but I do not want to abandon them either. I’m going to be praying about it. I am going to show up on Monday and Wednesday even if I have to meet outside McDonald’s and we have to take it to the park or something, but I am not going to let them down.”

http://www.christianpost.com/news/two-year-old-bible-study-for-homeless-at-mcdonalds-no-longer-welcomed-78245/

Atheist Calls Out Pastor on Gays Can Go to Heaven Comments By Lillian Kwon

An atheist has called out a Christian pastor for ignoring Bible passages condemning homosexuality to argue that gays can go to heaven.

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“If Christians support that (putting LGBT individuals on equal footing), that’s great, but it’s going to happen in spite of what the Bible says, not because of it,” said Hemant Mehta, also known as the Friendly Atheist, in a recent blog post.

Mehta was referring to commentary written by Pastor Craig Gross, founder of XXXchurch.com. Gross suggested that there will be gays in heaven just as there will be fat people and other sinners.

“Why do they (religious folks) believe that the gay guy goes to hell but the fat preacher who builds some of the largest churches in the world makes it to heaven?” he posed in his commentary.

“God loves gays and Jesus is for them. God loves the fat preacher. Homosexual activity and overeating are both sins – just like speeding, gossip, lying and cheating,” Gross continued. “All are forgivable in Christ and, with the leading of the Holy Spirit, can be changed. Just remember that change does not happen overnight.

“When it comes to the Lord, it’s nothing less than a journey of sanctification. And wherever you are at on that journey, I think there should be a place for you at church. Because there’s probably one in heaven.”

Mehta, author of I Sold My Soul on eBay, doesn’t accept Gross’ argument. While Gross quoted the Bible to make his case, Mehta couldn’t get past the fact that the XXXchurch.com pastor missed the verses in Scripture that seem to undermine his argument.

The atheist pointed specifically to 1 Cor. 6:9-10: “Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.”

“[T]he Bible talks about how gay men (who don’t change their ways) will most certainly NOT go to Heaven, directly contradicting what Gross writes in the rest of his essay,” the Friendly Atheist pointed out.

Mehta told The Christian Post that while he applauds Christians who support the LGBT community, he says such believers can only do so by “taking a non-literal interpretation of the Bible” or by ignoring certain Bible passages.

“But it seems very hypocritical to me when a liberal Christian says the Bible is God’s Word… but then simply ignores the verses that say untrue or un-politically-correct things,” he said in an email to CP. “It’s either God’s Word or it’s not. As an atheist, I believe it’s not.”

Gross, whose ministry helps those addicted to pornography, affirms that homosexuality is a sin but he told The Christian Post that “gays, fat people, addicts, murderers, all can get into heaven if they accept Christ.”

“If you know Christ you go to heaven. If you know Christ and [you're] fat you still get in right?”

“He came to give us all life that none should perish,” he stressed. “Coming to Christ does not mean all your struggles disappear.”

But Matt Moore, a 23-year-old Christian blogger who struggles with homosexual temptations but chooses not to act on them, doesn’t believe the grace of God covers the lifestyle of unrepentant, active sinful behavior.

He cited 1 John 3:4-6, among other passages: “Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him.”

“This all ultimately comes back to the question, what is the Christian life supposed to look like? The Scriptures are clear that those who are legitimate Children of God are radically transformed,” said Moore. “They live a life of faith, in continual repentance from sin and they grow in holiness. But many voices from within the Church deny these truths by saying a simple profession of faith with the mouth is all it takes to be saved…… again, this sounds great, but not true. There is such thing as vain faith, and it will not save.”

For Gross, he believes that churches need to approach the issue differently altogether.

“Jesus came for the sick not the healthy. Churches should be hospitals and not country clubs,” he stated in an email to CP.

“The deal is we don’t have doctors leading our hospitals; we have [fallen] patients who … need … help and that should be the mentality of our pastors that they don’t have all the answers or problems solved either.”

http://www.christianpost.com/news/atheist-calls-out-pastor-on-gays-can-go-to-heaven-comments-77973/

Chick-fil-A Called ‘Anti-Gay’ for Contributions to Pro-Marriage Groups

Chick-fil-A, the fast-food chicken restaurant chain known for its commitment to employing biblical beliefs in its business practices, is once again under attack by homosexual activists for its support of pro-traditional marriage organizations.

The most recent attacks come from an analysis by homosexual activists claiming that the company – primarily through the WinShape Foundation – has donated over a million dollars to organizations that promote family and Christian values such as the Fellowship of Christian Athletes ($480,000), Family Research Council ($1000), the Marriage and Family Foundation ($1,188,380) and Exodus International ($1,000).

“Let’s face it: despite what the company’s president says, Chick-Fil-A is an anti-gay corporation,” wrote Tyler Coates in Blackbook. “I hate Chick-Fil-A, and not just because I think pieces of chicken slathered in pickle juice is inherently revolting. I hate Chick-Fil-A because Chick-Fil-A hates me. You know what I do have a problem with? The fact that the company gives so much g**damn money to anti-gay groups.”

The restaurant chain started by Truett Cathy and his wife over 66 years ago is now one of the nation’s fasting growing fast food enterprises in spite of being closed on Sundays – a move that brings continued criticism from atheists and secular organizations.

According to the company’s website, “Truett Cathy, made the decision to close on Sundays in 1946 when he opened his first restaurant in Hapeville, Georgia. He has often shared that his decision was as much practical as spiritual. He believes that all franchised Chick-fil-A Operators and Restaurant employees should have an opportunity to rest, spend time with family and friends, and worship if they choose to do so. That’s why all Chick-fil-A Restaurants are closed on Sundays. It’s part of our recipe for success.”

Peter Sprigg, vice president for the Family Research Council, says their group makes it a practice not to comment on the individuals or corporations who give money to them, but it appears much of the criticism throw at Chick-fil-A has to do with their donations to marriage enrichment programs.

“Chick-fil-A has given money to groups that support and strengthen marriage between men and women,” Sprigg told The Christian Post. “I would hardly say that is anti anything. The company boldly states they were founded on Christian principles and marriage is one of the most basic of Christian tenets and is the foundation of the family. I can’t see why anyone would object to that.”

What confuses pro-family groups such as the Family Research Council the most is why they are labeled a “hate” group by liberal watchdogs such as the Southern Poverty Law Center simply because they subscribe to and believe in biblical principles.

“My question would be when someone gives money to an organization that promotes the homosexual lifestyle, does that mean they hate Christians? I certainly hope not,” Pastor David Baker told The Christian Post. “To my knowledge, I’ve never seen a group that advocates and truly believes in Christian principles say they hate anyone. I think that would apply to Chick-fil-A and the local business owner who happens to be a Christian.”

Although the company rarely responds to inquiries about its corporate donations, Chick-fil-A President and COO Dan Cathy released a statement in 2011 denying that Chick-fil-A had an agenda against any group or organization but would “continue to offer resources to strengthen marriage and families.”

http://www.christianpost.com/news/chick-fil-a-called-anti-gay-for-contributions-to-pro-marriage-groups-77621/

Pro-Life Group Applies More Pressure on Congress to Ban Sex-Selective Abortions By Alex Murashko

The pro-life Live Action group continues to apply pressure on congressmen to ban sex-selective abortion in the U.S. by releasing more undercover video that shows workers at abortion clinics unwilling to deter women who say they want to abort their babies based on gender.

“Live Action will continue to release more footage confirming that the facilitation of sex-selective abortion at Planned Parenthood and other abortion clinics is widespread,” Lila Rose, founder and president of Live Action, told The Christian Post on Thursday.

A fourth video in the series released this week shows two Planned Parenthood staffers at clinics, one in Maui and one in Honolulu, advising a woman on how best to procure a sex-selective abortion of her baby girl because she wants a boy instead. Planned Parenthood has previously claimed to condemn sex-selective abortion but continues to provide the service, according to Live Action.

“The campaign has been extremely successful, raising widespread awareness of the brutal practice, and just this week Sen. Vitter introduced his own version of the Prenatal Non-Discrimination Act (PRENDA), which would ban sex-selective abortions in the U.S., following our video campaign,” Rose said. “We have learned that the abortion industry will stop at nothing to protect their business, even going so far as to break the law in Arizona.”

Live Action applauded Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) for introducing PRENDA. A companion bill in the House sponsored by Rep. Trent Franks (R-Ariz.) was brought to a vote in May.

The two bills were introduced amid multiple undercover videos in a series called “Gendercide” showing that the practice is growing at an alarming rate in the U.S., according to Live Action.

What Rose found most troubling about the newest undercover video release was that the Planned Parenthood workers in both clinics helped facilitate the lethal gender bias – counseling on how to identify the sex of the pre-born baby, schedule an abortion if it’s a girl, and “even get the state of Hawaii to pay for the sex-selective abortion.”

In a segment of the latest video, Maui Planned Parenthood counselor Leslie Watson says, “If that’s, you know, if that’s what you wanna base your decision on–really–it’s up to you,” giving the purportedly pregnant woman assurance when she explains she wants an abortion because of the sex of the baby.

Watson counsels the woman to be certain about the sex of her unborn child before going through with an abortion, telling her to seek an ultrasound from an OB/GYN and not to be concerned if they might judge a sex-selective abortion. “This is your reason and this is your situation. So they should be accommodating because this can help you determine and it’s nobody’s business and nobody’s reason but yours,” Watson says on the video.

In the portion of the video filmed at a Honolulu abortion clinic, the Planned Parenthood counselor “Rogue” tells the woman it is okay to have multiple abortions of pregnancies so long as the abortions are spaced far enough apart. The Planned Parenthood counselor suggests paying for the abortions using Hawaii’s QUEST state health insurance. “So if I wanted to terminate a girl the government would pay for it?” asks the undercover woman. “They don’t care,” the Planned Parenthood counselor replies.

Rose said the latest video from Hawaii shows that the practice of sex-selective abortion is not isolated.

“Planned Parenthood’s first priority is not the welfare of women or girls, but protecting their abortion business from any regulation,” she said. “The companion bill in the House gained support from both sides of the aisle, and we hope the same will be true in the upper chamber. We urge Senator Reid and Senate leadership to take up the bill and stop this real war on women.”

In response to Live Action’s release of the videos earlier in their campaign, Planned Parenthood denied any wrongdoing and said the claims by Live Action were false and that the videos included “highly unusual and scripted scenarios” and “hoax patients [who] sought services related to sex selection.”

The national company providing abortions is “by far” the most vocal opponent of Live Action’s expose, said Rose.

“Planned Parenthood knows their lucrative abortion business and the half billion they receive in taxpayer funds is threatened when the public sees their facilitation of sex-selective abortions of pre-born girls,” she said. “While it claims to support women, Planned Parenthood reveals that their first priority is abortion, not women – even when those abortions are the late-term killing of pre-born girls, just because they are girls.”

The videos can be seen at ProtectOurGirls.com.

http://www.christianpost.com/news/pro-life-group-applies-more-pressure-on-congress-to-ban-sex-selective-abortions-76690/

Pro-Gay Groups Dispute Study Revealing That Kids Fare Worse in Same-Sex Households By Stoyan Zaimov

A new study analyzing how children who grew up in same-sex parent households have fared as adults is being disputed by some pro-gay groups as questionable, while pro-family groups say it reveals what they have known all along — children tend to fare best when raised in heterosexual households.

The New Family Structures Study, overseen by Mark Regnerus, an associate professor of sociology at The University of Texas at Austin, surveyed 3,000 U.S. adults from ages 18 to 39 and was published in the July issue of Social Science Research journal. Of the respondents, 73 shared that their father had engaged in a same-sex relationship and 163 reported that their mother had done the same. The research organization also concluded that based on their findings, differences have been observed between outcomes of children in same-sex-based intact families and children in cohabiting, divorced, step-, and single-parent families in the large, representative sample.

“Children who grow up in a household with only one biological parent are worse off, on average, than children who grow up in a household with both of their biological parents…regardless of whether the resident parent remarries,” the study notes.

The study also adds that differences have recurred between children from same-sex couples and children from heterosexual couples in connection with factors such as health, mortality, suicide risks, drug and alcohol abuse, criminality and incarceration and intergenerational poverty, among others.

“This is by far the best study done on these issues because it is the first national sample survey that we have,” said Patrick F. Fagan, Senior Fellow and Director of the Marriage and Religion Research Institute (MARRI), in a phone interview Monday with The Christian Post.

“It should get wide consideration, and the facts that it is revealing are substantive. To me, the most telling thing is how few, how minuscule the incidents of two homosexual parents raising children together are. It’s 0.2 percent of the population,” he added. “That is actually the biggest finding there. The other thing that is really clear is that instability seems to be the main component of gay coupling. That is one of the biggest findings that the gay community has to deal with.”

Some pro-gay rights organizations have questioned the legitimacy of the results, saying that the 18-39 demographic covers children who have grown up in a time when same-sex couples have not been accepted in society, and kids in those households have had a harder time growing up because of that.

“I’d be interested in seeing this study redone in 20 years with the more intact same-sex families we see now,” said Dr. Jenna Saul, a Wisconsin-based child and adolescent psychiatrist, ABC News reported. “This study doesn’t really have anything to do with same-sex families of today.”

Regnerus agreed that a study on younger children in same-sex households might reveal different results, but insisted that the study was not aimed at categorizing gays and lesbians as “bad parents.”

“This study may not reflect the experience of younger children growing up today in same-sex families, particularly because society has become more accepting of gay and lesbian families in the last decade,” he said in a University of Texas report. “Nor does the study tell us that same-sex parents are necessarily bad parents. Rather, family forms that are associated with instability or nonbiological parents tend to pose risks for children as they age into adulthood.”

Fagan of the Marriage and Religion Research Institute told CP that suggestions that children today from same-sex households will be better off 20 years from now is merely a hope.

“I can understand their hope, but it is only hope. It has no basis in research. The analogous situation that I think one would look at, is what is happening intergenerationaly? To children of single parents?” he suggested.

“The scores on that are that gradually, we have some evidence from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth, that the children of broken families, where 50 years that was much more frowned on and less accepted – the stigma on single-parent families is now lifted. But the scores have not changed – if anything they continue to prop intergenerationaly.”

Fagan alluded to a 2002 National Longitudinal Survey by the U.S. Department of Labor that found that 7.8 percent of children in married-couple families were living in poverty, compared to 38.4 percent of children in female-householder families.

“That is not proof, but it raises the strong hypothesis that the wishful thinking will not be fulfilled,” Fagan continued.

On suggestions that the study shows a strong anti-gay stance, Fagan explained that groups with a specific agenda will always find such studies suspicious – but that should not discredit the research.

“There is not a pro-gay or anti-gay good social science research. There is only good social science research. Good social science always upsets people with an agenda – I don’t care if they are on the right or if they are on the left. Good social science describes human nature, which is often messy, the way it is.”

Maggie Gallagher, co-founder of the National Organization for Marriage, agreed that the study is not a reflection on the parenting skills of gays and lesbians, but actually reveals what is best for children.

“Does this prove that gay parents are bad parents? No, of course not. It does suggest what no one familiar with the larger family structure research should be surprised by: compared to every other family form we know that has been studied, the ‘gold standard’ for children remains the intact, married biological family, a mom and a dad,” she said in a statement.

John Corvino, professor of philosophy at Wayne State University, with whom Gallagher authored the book Debating Same-Sex Marriage, argued against suggestions that the NFSS study affects the same-sex marriage debate.

“Same-sex marriage never takes children away from competent biological parents who want them — and thus, whatever insight the NFSS provides, it will not significantly inform, much less settle, the marriage debate,” Corvino said in a statement.

“Unfortunately, that fact will not prevent its misuse by same-sex marriage opponents. What the study may do is provide data on the needs and challenges of children in same-sex households, only a minority of whom, sadly, currently have access to the stability of legal marriage.”

Despite the debate, the study’s author said its findings were not being provided as political fodder.

The findings are “consistent with a large body of research that suggests that children are most likely to thrive when they are raised by their own married parents,” Regnerus said. “Such families provide a biological link between parents and children, and unparalleled levels of stability, both of which have a long reach in the benefits they afford to children.”

http://www.christianpost.com/news/pro-gay-groups-dispute-study-revealing-that-kids-fare-worse-in-same-sex-households-76453/

Christian Author Tells How God Took Her Back From Witchcraft By Alex Murashko

A feeling of being abandoned by God and a curiosity about the pagan religion of Wicca led her to a 10-year life immersed in witchcraft, says a first-time Christian author. S.A. (Seleah Ally) Tower said she wants to share her story in order for others to learn how she escaped a very dark period in her life.

Tower told The Christian Post that her book, Taken from the Night – A Witches Encounter with God, is meant to tell her spiritual journey from first being a doubtful Christian, then to a witch, and later to a born-again believer in Jesus as authentically as possible. She wants the book and her testimony to help others who have experienced the same struggles in the spiritual realm.

“I grew up in a traditional Christian household. My parents took us to church. We went to Sunday school and vacation Bible school. We learned about how to be good and walk in a godly way,” Tower explained. “The only thing is that in my youth, as I was growing up, although I heard all the Bible stories about Jesus it was like He was far away. He was like somewhere in the universe and we were down here on earth.”

When asked about whether she considered herself a Christian before becoming a Wiccan follower she answered, “[Christianity] was more of a religious belief that was instilled in me from my family and I followed a certain way of living, but I didn’t realize that I could actually have a relationship with God until much later.”

In her twenties, she heard from a friend about how it was possible to have a real connection with God through Jesus and decided to accept Him into her heart.

“I became one of those zealous, born-again Christians that are on fire, ready to save the world,” Tower said. Later, she met her husband at a church they both attended and began to raise a family.

“I went into my marriage and my Christian walk with God and all I wanted to do was to glorify God. That was my focus and my goal, but what happened was that after I was married then hope soon began to be shattered,” she said. “It was a marriage that was very dysfunctional. Little by little it became worse and worse.”

In explaining how she became a witch, she said she was in a desperate state of mind.

“I was praying and fasting, but I just didn’t see that God was working in my life. I came to a point where I actually felt that God had abandoned me. I began to doubt His word for my life.

“I just grew weary of trying to do good and have the perfect marriage. It came to a point where I fell flat on my face and cried out to God, but I felt like He had left me,” she described.

“It was at that point – and it was not like I decided that’s it, I’m going to walk away from God or that I had any interest in Wicca – I had all these things happening and I came to a point of desperation.”

Tower said she then picked up a book that had been lying on the couple’s shelf about a man who delved into witchcraft, but later left a group of people who believed in the pagan traditions of witches because he felt they had abandoned him. He then had a renewed faith in Christianity, she explained.

The contents of the book then led her to look further into the occult. She began to go to the library to read books on the subject.

“Everything inside of me said don’t go research, don’t go look any further, don’t look into this, but I started to think the little thoughts that come into your head which [went like] ‘if you are not receiving the blessings of God why would you be concerned that you would be cursed because obviously you are not receiving them,’” she said.

At first, Wicca was not particularly alluring to her, Tower insisted.

“It wasn’t so much that Wicca itself allured me to begin with, it was the situation that I was in that sent me searching for something. It was the twisted Word of God really,” she said.

However, later, there was some attraction to the pagan religion, partially because of its claim to empowering women.

“It was the books on Wicca that I felt attracted to because it spoke of harmony and peace, and living where all life around you is sacred, where women were thought of very highly and encouraged to take charge of their lives,” Tower said.

Her 10-year experience in witchcraft that began in 1989 came to an end through divine intervention, she said.

“It came to a point where it felt like God had intervened and literally came down and took me back.”

In addition to the book, her testimony and insightful revelations in the spiritual realm have been told on several Christian radio programs.

Tower said she shied away from writing a typical book on the subject of witchcraft that might paint a stereotypical picture of gory sacrifices and “what the Bible says about it.”

“To someone who is wavering or looking into Christianity a little bit, not yet 100 percent sure, those types of books can be very frustrating,” she said. She explained that when she was moving away from witchcraft she was looking for stories about someone who had just left the cult.

“I just wanted to hear the facts of what happened,” she said.

She wrote the book, which at first was simply a therapeutic exercise for her, to help churches go beyond perpetuating the stereotypes of witchcraft. She also wanted to help people involved in witchcraft with “a book that they pick up and actually read, which is that it tells a story that’s real.”

Thirdly, she hopes the book will be read by people who are not following any religious beliefs – “people who just in general would like to read a good book and see what God did through my story.”

Ultimately, she would like people to see “what God is really like and what His love will do,” she said.

“Everybody has a testimony and the important thing is to speak it in truth and love,” she added. “There’s somebody out there who needs to hear what you’ve been through and that’s walking through a similar situation.”

On the Web: TakenFromtheNight.com

http://www.christianpost.com/news/christian-author-tells-how-god-took-her-back-from-witchcraft-75810/