Christians
The following article is concerning ‘mental illness’ and how churches handle those who are diagnosed with such. It is interesting that Paul said in Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Thinking takes place in the mind. In Scripture, the mind and heart are closely related and according to the following two passages that is where our thoughts originate. Matthew 15:19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:
Mark 7:21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,
An article answering this issue in more detail from the Scriptures will be written later.
‘As studies continue to show how ill-equipped many churches are in ministering to Christians who struggle with mental illness, some who were once among the faithful are now speaking out about how the spiritualizing of their conditions in church culture forced them to flee. 
In a recent discussion sparked by a rant in a subreddit of more than 40,000 anonymous former Christians, many shared stories about how they were forced to suffer as their evangelical churches and family members urged them to pray away conditions such as bipolar disorder, anxiety and ADD before they were finally able to get help. Some, like one critic identified as just reib0t in the discussion, never got the help they needed until they were adults.
“I am 30 and was recently diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder,” the former Christian began.
The National Alliance on Mental Illness describes schizoaffective disorder as a chronic mental health condition characterized primarily by symptoms of schizophrenia, such as hallucinations or delusions, and symptoms of a mood disorder, such as mania and depression. It is often treated with a combination of medications and psychotherapy.
“As a TEENAGER I said to the Christian I looked up to, ‘Hey, I hear voices and see shadow people everywhere, also I want to kill myself.’ And I was told it was just ‘spiritual warfare’ and Satan fighting for my soul. I was told to NOT seek therapy because therapists work for the devil to drive people away from the Lord,” the ex-Christian wrote.
“I believed it easily because of the nature of my illness. He downplayed and contorted my illness so badly that even after I stopped believing in God, it took me years to get into therapy and get treatment. My life spiraled into drug abuse to cope, lost job after lost job, and my 20s wasted in pain,” the person wrote.
The individual explained that since they decided to get professional help, their life has changed for the better.
“I feel a lot better on medication, have better understanding, and am looking forward to my 30s being a lot better in general, but… I think back to my teenage years and wonder what my life could have been if I wasn’t Christian and got on the right meds much sooner. F**k the evangelical Christian view on mental health,” reib0t said.
About one in four Americans are estimated to suffer from some kind of mental illness in any given year, NAMI says, and many, according to LifeWay Research, turn to the church for help.
A 2014 study by the Nashville-based research organization, which was co-sponsored by the conservative organization Focus on the Family and the family of a man who endured schizophrenia, pointed to the lack of awareness and help available to Christians who turn to the church for help with mental illness.
The study found some pastors were reluctant to help those who suffer from acute mental illness because it takes too much time and that most Protestant senior pastors rarely spoke to their congregation about mental illness.
Asked to describe current church culture on mental illness, Tim Sanford, clinical director at Focus on the Family, said there has been some progress made in recent years but many churches continue to blame mental issues on sin.
“Fortunately, there has been positive movement in recent years as the church is beginning to respond to mental health issues and recognize their legitimacy. While many churches acknowledge mental illness as legitimate and are actively helping their parishioners with such issues, sadly, the belief (and subsequent responses) that anxiety or depression is sin or is a ‘lack of faith’ on the individual’s part is still too common in the body of Christ,” Sanford told The Christian Post.
“Blind adherence to a flawed ethic on mental illness can lead to unnecessary guilt, debilitating shame and fear. This, in turn, limits access to help and freedom — the kind of freedom and compassion Christ modeled and died for (John 10:10). Focus on The Family encourages believers to take a measured, integrated approach to the subject of mental health; hold to what is biblically true and accurate and also hold to what is scientifically true and research proven.”
One former Christian in the subreddit group identified as CastIronMystic, called out Focus on the Family, however, for what they described as an insensitive encounter when they once tried accessing a Christian therapist.
“I was told that I was sinning by having anxiety and intrusive thoughts. This caused me anxiety about anxiety and a spiral of feeling like I wasn’t a true Christian because a true Christian wouldn’t worry. Then there was the time I called Focus on the Family because they said they had a hotline for mental health. I got to their hotline and was matched with a cold rude and condescending mental health worker who tried to charge me $60 to match me with a Christian therapist in my area. Their hotline was a referral program that charged its patients a finder’s fee,” the individual wrote.
Sanford apologized for the encounter and debunked the notion that “true Christians” don’t worry.
“I’m very sorry this person was treated in such an uncaring manner and their relationship with Jesus was put into question because of anxiety. The statement ‘a true Christian wouldn’t worry’ is simply not true. I can only imagine the added stress and pain that statement caused this individual,” Sanford said.
He pointed out that Focus on the Family does not provide fee-based tele-mental health services nor does the organization function as a hotline service.
“We have a highly experienced and caring staff of 15 licensed and/or pastoral counselors who return calls to people requesting a consult. We are not a hotline service nor do we provide tele-mental health counseling services for a fee; rather we provide a free, one-time consultation for the caller. Our primary task during this brief consult is to assess how we can best assist the caller,” he explained.
“We will provide answers to questions as we are able, direct them toward resources that may be helpful (be it online or printed resources), make suggestions of professional treatment facilities to consider (if that is what is requested) and provide referrals to licensed counselors in the caller’s area for ongoing therapy as appropriate,” he noted.
As Christians with mental health illness struggle to find help from churches, research also suggests that the need for mental help is not just among the laity. Many pastors struggling with reconciling their mental illness with their faith have turned to suicidebecause they feel they have nowhere else to turn.
Some pastors, however, are choosing to fight back and turning to places like the Shepherd’s Canyon Retreat Ministry in Phoenix, Arizona, for help. The organization offers weeklong counseling retreats for men and women in ministry who are in the midst of various stages of burnout, stress, depression and conflicts of all kinds.
In the last 10 years, Pastor Phil Lee, a Lutheran pastor since 1981, and a licensed marriage and family therapist since 1999, who serves as the organization’s counseling care director, says he has seen 400 to 500 at-risk leaders.
He explained that rather than ignoring the spiritual nature of Christian leaders to address their mental health issues, they take an integrated approach to care.
“We are very careful not to separate the emotional and spiritual; they are interwoven. They are integrated. So our approach to mental health issues, whatever they may be, is that they are part of the overall human condition. Physical, emotional, spiritual — that is all interwoven,” Lee told CP.
“We do not take the simplistic approach, that just pray about it and it will be alright or just pray about it and it will go away. Mental illness is most always more complex than that. Folks on the more conservative end of the spectrum within Christianity often take a pretty simplistic approach — just give it to God. Just pray about it,” he said.
“It really does require different interventions along with Scripture and prayer. Many mental illnesses, for example depression, especially if it’s clinical depression, bipolar, those kinds of things, they really call for therapeutic interventions like talk therapy, counseling, sometimes medication, and other mental illnesses,” he continued. “More complex mental illness like personality disorders, those are things we usually don’t work with because they are more complex than we are prepared to deal with.”
He noted that based on the reporting collected by his organization, the need for the services they provide is “huge” in the Christian community.
Sanford explained that churches can help make churches safer for Christians who struggle with mental health issues by acknowledging that they exist, be knowledgeable about them, establish what level of mental health care ministerial staff can provide and have a trusted network of mental health professionals to which they can refer them.’ https://www.christianpost.com/news/as-churches-struggle-to-help-christians-with-mental-illness-many-flee.html?utm_source=The+Christian+Post+List&utm_campaign=f57bbeb629-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2019_02_25_05_59&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_dce2601630-f57bbeb629-2218869
Don Avigliano
January 12, 1924 – October 2, 2017
Donald Paul Avigliano was an accomplished artist, astronomer, author, and Bible teacher. He served in the U.S. Army in WWII, graduated from Pasadena Junior College, and in 1947, married Helen. In 1954, he turned from atheism and accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior.
In the 1950s and 60s, Don studied Bible at Wheaton College and was an evangelist with Open Air Campaigners. After retiring, Don continued teaching the Bible and ministered to the homeless.
This is 2ndvote.com/s website allowing you to search companies and where they are in pushing agendas such as abortion. https://2ndvote.com/company-scores/
In the early 70’s I was asked to conduct the funeral for a University of Iowa medical student who had committed suicide. The church was packed with students from the University to pay their respect and naturally emotions of grief ran high. I was a young preacher still in my twenties and married with two children. I don’t remember what text I preached but I still remember the scene as though it was yesterday.
This historical episode in my life comes flooding back each time I read or hear of a suicide. Statistics show ‘The number of suicides in the United States increased 24 percent from 1999 to 2014, gaining momentum after 2006 when the increase each year jumped between 1 and 2 percent, according to the Centers for Disease Control. The biggest jump was among adolescent girls and men aged 45 to 64.’[1] According to the same article ‘…a clinical psychologist who consults for the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), said he believes the rate of pastor suicides has increased during his 30 years of practice. And he expects the number will continue to rise.’
The prince of preachers suffered greatly with gout and depression was something he definitely was acquainted with throughout his life and ministry. He wrote that “One Sabbath morning, I preached from the text, ‘My God, My God, why has Thou forsaken Me?’ and though I did not say so, yet I preached my own experience. I heard my own chains clank while I tried to preach to my fellow-prisoners in the dark; but I could not tell why I was brought into such an awful horror of darkness, for which I condemned myself. On the following Monday evening, a man came to see me who bore all the marks of despair upon his countenance. His hair seemed to stand up right, and his eyes were ready to start from their sockets. He said to me, after a little parleying, ‘I never before, in my life, heard any man speak who seemed to know my heart. Mine is a terrible case; but on Sunday morning you painted me to the life, and preached as if you had been inside my soul.’ By God’s grace I saved that man from suicide, and led him into gospel light and liberty; but I know I could not have done it if I had not myself been confined in the dungeon in which he lay. I tell you the story, brethren, because you sometimes may not understand your own experience, and the perfect people may condemn you for having it; but what know they of God’s servants? You and I have to suffer much for the sake of the people of our charge … You may be in Egyptian darkness, and you may wonder why such a horror chills your marrow; but you may be altogether in the pursuit of your calling, and be led of the Spirit to a position of sympathy with desponding minds” (Spurgeon, An All Round Ministry, pp. 221-222).’
What does the Word of God have to say concerning the murder of oneself? As we take a look at the Bible we notice most are found in the Old Testament. These may be categorized as (1) those who did commit suicide by their own hand or with the help of another, (2) those who wanted God to take their life but did not and those who contemplated suicide by their own hands but did not, (3) and those who attempted to take their life but didn’t accomplish the task.
THOSE WHO DID COMMIT SUICIDE
Saul and his armourbearer – 1Samuel 31:3 And the battle went sore against Saul, and the archers hit him; and he was sore wounded of the archers. 4 Then said Saul unto his armourbearer, Draw thy sword, and thrust me through therewith; lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and abuse me. But his armourbearer would not; for he was sore afraid. Therefore Saul took a sword, and fell upon it. 5 And when his armourbearer saw that Saul was dead, he fell likewise upon his sword, and died with him.
It is plain that Saul committed suicide due to his injuries from battle and Jewish pride but his disobedience in consulting with a witch among other things precluded his suicide. Mental illness, no, disobedience and sin were the force behind Saul’s suicide.
Samson – Judges 16:30 And Samson said, Let me die with the Philistines. And he bowed himself with all his might; and the house fell upon the lords, and upon all the people that were therein. So the dead which he slew at his death were more than they which he slew in his life.
John Wesley commenting on Samson’s death said ‘Let me die-That is, I am content to die, so I can but contribute to the vindication of God’s glory, and the deliverance of God’s people. This is no encouragement to those who wickedly murder themselves: for Samson did not desire, or procure his own death voluntarily, but by mere necessity; he was by his office obliged to seek the destruction of these enemies and blasphemers of God, and oppressors of his people; which in these circumstances he could not effect without his own death.’
Abimelech – Judges 9:53 And a certain woman cast a piece of a millstone upon Abimelech’s head, and all to brake his skull. 54 Then he called hastily unto the young man his armourbearer, and said unto him, Draw thy sword, and slay me, that men say not of me, A woman slew him. And his young man thrust him through, and he died. 55 And when the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, they departed every man unto his place.
Matthew Henry writes that ‘His foolish project to avoid this disgrace; nothing could be more ridiculous; his own servant must run him through, not to rid him the sooner out of his pain, but that men say not, A woman slew him. Could he think that this would conceal what the woman had done, and not rather proclaim it the more? Nay, it added to the infamy of his death, for hereby he became a self-murderer.’
Ahithophel – 2Samuel 17:23 And when Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled his ass, and arose, and gat him home to his house, to his city, and put his household in order, and hanged himself, and died, and was buried in the sepulchre of his father.
His name means ‘son of a fool or folly’ and so he lived or rather died showing how correct his parents were in their choice of names. When you read the passage describing his actions prior to his suicide you see how well thought out it all was. He put his house in order before murdering himself! Mental illness, nay, pride was at the heart of the matter.
Zimri – 1Kings 16:18 And it came to pass, when Zimri saw that the city was taken, that he went into the palace of the king’s house, and burnt the king’s house over him with fire, and died, 19 For his sins which he sinned in doing evil in the sight of the LORD, in walking in the way of Jeroboam, and in his sin which he did, to make Israel to sin.
Zimri committed suicide because of fear, pride and spite. Fear of falling into the hands of the enemy. Pride because he could not face the truth of losing the battle which in turn meant he lost the palace. Spite is seen in that it is as if Zimri is saying ‘If I cannot enjoy the luxury of this palace neither can you’.
Judas – Matthew 27:5 And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.
Acts 1:18 Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out.
Judas is probably one of the best-known people in the Bible who committed suicide. Judas was a disciple of the Lord’s and he was a traitor to that Lord. Yes, Judas acknowledged he had sinned but he acknowledged it not to God. The Lord said of this disciple that “it had been good for that man if he had not been born.”
Those who wanted God to take their life but He did not and those who contemplated suicide by their own hands but did not.
Elijah – 1Kings 19:4 But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.
What Ahab and the prophets of Baal could not do, a woman did. After the experience on Mt. Carmel Elijah was physically, spiritually and emotionally exhausted. He had fought a battle and won but at a cost. Ahab, instead of getting right with the God of Israel went home and told Jezebel what had occurred. As ungodly as Ahab was Jezebel was even more so and Elijah knew that what she promised to do she would make sure was done! Therefore, Elijah ran and requested the Lord take him home. What he could or would not do with his own hands he requested God to do. However, God stepped in and Elijah went on living with God leading him in the choice of his replacement. Spurgeon’s Devotional Commentary states ‘His intense excitement had been followed by languor, his exhilaration by depression: man is but dust. He prayed to die, and yet the Lord did not intend that he should ever die. Truly, we often know not what we ask.’
Jonah – Jonah 1:11 Then said they unto him, What shall we do unto thee, that the sea may be calm unto us? for the sea wrought, and was tempestuous. 12 And he said unto them, Take me up, and cast me forth into the sea; so shall the sea be calm unto you: for I know that for my sake this great tempest is upon you. 14 Wherefore they cried unto the LORD, and said, We beseech thee, O LORD, we beseech thee, let us not perish for this man’s life, and lay not upon us innocent blood: for thou, O LORD, hast done as it pleased thee. 15 So they took up Jonah, and cast him forth into the sea: and the sea ceased from her raging.
Note, Jonah, knowing all this came upon the ship because of his disobedience to God and in spite of that he doesn’t throw himself into the sea, suicide, but tells the mariners to cast him into the sea. Jonah will not take his own life but he will allow others to be complicit in his death. Jonah is saying, I am guilty and, in my disobedience, I will bring guilt upon others as well. It is never good to hang around with disobedient Christians!
Job – Job 7:13 When I say, My bed shall comfort me, my couch shall ease my complaint; 14 Then thou scarest me with dreams, and terrifiest me through visions: 15 So that my soul chooseth strangling, and death rather than my life. 16 I loathe it; I would not live alway: let me alone; for my days are vanity.
Most know the story of Job and how he suffered because of Satan. Sleep was not an escape for he had terrible dreams while in his bed. Physical and mental anguish brought him into deep depression where he wished for death rather than life. Nevertheless, in his despair and depression Job never went so far as to seek to end his life by his own hands or by those of his ‘friends’.
Those who attempted to take their life but didn’t accomplish the task.
Jailer – Acts 16:27 And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled.
Suicide would have cast this jailer from this life into eternity without Christ. Without Christ means an eternity ‘Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched’. Death whether it comes by our own hands or via what is called a natural death the reality is that of which Job said ‘As the cloud is consumed and vanisheth away: so he that goeth down to the grave shall come up no more. He shall return no more to his house, neither shall his place know him any more’ Job 7:9,10.
Albert Barnes in his New Testament Commentary says ‘It should be added, that it was common, and approved among the Greeks and Romans, for a man to commit suicide when he was encompassed with dangers from which he could not escape. Thus Cato was guilty of self-murder in Utica; and thus, at this very place at Philippi–Brutus and Cassius, and many of their friends, fell on their own swords, and ended their lives by suicide. The custom was thus sanctioned by the authority and example of the great; and we are not to wonder that the jailer, in a moment of alarm, should also attempt to destroy his own life. It is not one of the least benefits of Christianity, that it has proclaimed the evil of self-murder, and that it has done so much to drive it from the world.’
John Wesley notes ‘Although the Christian faith opens the prospect into another life, yet it absolutely forbids and effectually prevents a man’s discharging himself from this.’
So, what is the conclusion to the matter of suicide from Scripture? Paul in his chapter on the resurrection in 1Corinthians 15:26 says The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. So, death is an enemy and not a friend. Death by suicide may release one from whatever they are seeking to avoid in this life but eternity and the God of eternity reside on the other side. Isaiah 57:15 For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.
To the unsaved, unregenerate Spurgeon wrote ‘If you knew the misery of the saint when his Lord deserts him but for a small moment, it would be enough to amaze you. Then what must it be to endure it throughout eternity? Sinner, thou art hasting to hell, mind what thou art at! Do not damn thyself, there are cheaper ways of playing fool than that. Go and array thyself in motley, and become the aping fool, at whom men laugh, but do not make laughter for fiends for ever. Carry coals’ on thy head, or dash thine head against the wall, to prove that thou art mad, but do not “kick against the pricks;” do not commit suicide upon thine own soul for the mere sake of indulging thy thoughtlessness. Be wise, lest being often reproved, having hardened thy neck, thou shouldest be suddenly destroyed, and that without remedy.’
The question is often asked ‘Can a Christian commit suicide?’ Perhaps we should ask ‘Will a true Christian commit suicide?’ I am not sure I can answer that question but let us consider a couple of things from Scripture.
When a sinner has repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ they are born again and receive everlasting life. John 3:8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
There needs to be a spiritual self-examination of ourselves. 2Corinthians 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
A born-again believer has God the Holy Spirit in them. John 14:17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. Ephesians 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Would suicide grieve God the Holy Spirit?
A born-again child of God is God’s possession. 1Corinthians 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
A born-again child of God is to be dedicated totally to God. Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Self-destruction is NOT in the perfect will of God!
A child of God should be very careful in their thinking and in doing so as to be an example to others. Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. 9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.
There are more Scriptures one could look at but in the end, suicide, whether by a professing or non-professing Christian, is in the hands of the individual but the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity is on the other side either as Saviour or judge.
[1] https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/why-pastors-are-committing-suicide/
Acts 11:26 And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.
Recently I read a blurb from a Chapter of a new book titled I DON’T WANT TO BE CALLED A CHRISTIAN. In that Chapter, the author said “I think it’s too late to try to redefine the word Christian for our world. That ship has already sailed. It isn’t my passion or interest to turn the strong tide of our culture away from what they think of Christianity. Rather than change people’s language, I want them to see Jesus in me. I want to live in such a way that my neighbors will remark, “There is something different about you.” I want to respond to conflict the way Jesus would respond. I want to treat my wife and kids the way Jesus would treat them. I want to run my business affairs with the highest integrity—no cut corners, no white lies, no manipulation tactics.”
Shouldn’t all born-again believers desire for others to see the Lord Jesus in them? However, what the author is doing is throwing the baby out with the bathwater. In other words, one should not throw a good NAME like “Christian” out simply because you or others you know have not lived up to what you believe is the standard underlying the name Christian.
The fact is, the name Christian is a Biblical name given first to those believers in the local church at Antioch and it remained as a name for all who later trusted the Lord Jesus Christ as Saviour.
Allow a few quotations from three commentaries on this matter.
Barnes says that as the name Christian ‘…became the distinguishing name of the followers of Christ, it was worthy of record. The name was evidently given because they were the followers of Christ. But by whom, or with what views it was given, is not certainly known.’
‘It is, however, of little consequence whence the name originated. It soon became a name of reproach; and has usually been in all ages since, by the wicked, the gay, the licentious, and the ungodly. It is, however, an honoured name; the most honourable appellation that can be conferred on a mortal. It suggests at once to a Christian the name of his great Redeemer; the idea of our intimate relation to him; and the thought that we receive him as our chosen Leader, the source of our blessings, the author of our salvation, the fountain of our joys. It is the distinguishing name of all the redeemed.’
Barnes continues by saying ‘The name shall be had in remembrance when the names of royalty shall be remembered no more, and when the appellations of nobility shall cease to amuse or to dazzle the world.’
Adam Clarke’s Commentary states ‘It is evident they had the name Christians from CHRIST their master; as the Platonists and Pythagoreans had their name from their masters, Plato and Pythagoras. Now, as these had their name from those great masters because they attended their teaching, and credited their doctrines, so the disciples were called Christians because they took Christ for their teacher, crediting his doctrines, and following the rule of life laid down by him.’
Matthew Henry aptly says ‘…it is probable they called themselves so, incorporated themselves by that title, whether by some solemn act of the church or ministers, or whether this name insensibly obtained there by its being frequently used in their praying and preaching, we are not told; but it should seem that two such great men as Paul and Barnabas continuing there so long, being exceedingly followed, and meeting with no opposition, Christian assemblies made a greater figure there than anywhere, and became more considerable, which was the reason of their being called Christians first there, which, if there were to be a mother church to rule over all other churches, would give Antioch a better title to the honour than Rome can pretend to. Hitherto those who gave up their names to Christ were called disciples, learners, scholars, trained up under him, in order to their being employed by him; but henceforward they were called Christians.’
Matthew Henry continues ‘…they laid upon themselves, and all that should ever profess that name, a strong and lasting obligation to submit to the laws of Christ, to follow the example of Christ, and to devote themselves entirely to the honour of Christ–to be to him for a name and a praise. Are we Christians? Then we ought to think, and speak, and act, in everything as becomes Christians, and to do nothing to the reproach of that worthy name by which we are called; that that may not be said to us which Alexander said to a soldier of his own name that was noted for a coward, “Either change thy name or mend thy manners.” And as we must look upon ourselves as Christians, and carry ourselves accordingly, so we must look upon others as Christians, and carry ourselves towards them accordingly. A Christian, though not in everything of our mind, should be loved and respected for his sake whose name he bears, because he belongs to Christ.’
NOTE the above words in the second paragraph, “obligation” “submit” “follow” and “devote” are all directed to the Lord Jesus Christ after Whom the disciples were named Christians. Do these words fit into the lives of most professing Christians today? Matthew Henry sums it all up in the centre of that second paragraph by stating that our thinking, speaking, and actions should be befitting to that precious name Christian! Therefore, to be called a Christian is more than a simple profession but it is a life lived solely for Him!
Consequently, it must be said that IT IS NOT THE NAME “CHRISTIAN” THAT IS AT FAULT BUT THOSE WHO CLAIM THE NAME. Sadly, many born-again believers are not living as a born-again child of God should live and then there are some who claim the name but have never been born again!
The conclusion of the matter is that born-again believers should continue to use the name Christian but make sure ‘that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called”.
The Enemy is real. Now, for the Christian, we know there isn’t just one enemy but three; the flesh, the world, and the devil. You do not have to agree but Facebook fits the “world”
and Islam is certainly the product of the “devil”. For instance, Islam as the product of the Devil denies the Scriptures that speak to the fact of Jesus’ death and resurrection. Christianity itself is based on those two facts; 1 Corinthians 15.
I say all of that to say that Facebook (the world) is working with the devil (Islam) to stifle your and my freedom of speech along with other precious liberties.
For instance, an Islamist website says ‘In addition to the armies of fake accounts and pages that Russia propagated on Facebook, we’ve also seen a disturbing trend of hate groups who are all too real using social media platforms to organize and spread their malice. As just one example, ACT for America and its founder Brigitte Gabriel continue to
have active Facebook presences (and in Gabriel’s case, a ?? verified account), despite being named as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center. As other organizations, including Muslim Advocates, have noted, there are dozens more self-proclaimed and unambiguously hateful pages with thousands of followers. For them, Facebook becomes a useful one-stop platform for spreading false and fear-mongering information about minority communities, cyber-bullying individuals, and organizing real world events to spread hate and even launch outright criminal actions.
Along with a diverse group of community and advocacy organizations, MPAC has had the opportunity to meet regularly with Facebook to discuss these concerns and work on proactive solutions to make the platform empowering rather than targeting of our communities. We have joined our colleagues in urging that the company fundamentally address the way both fake profiles and real hate groups use the social network to prey upon our communities, and have stressed that such a task can only be accomplished through direct partnership and representation of those who are most directly affected. We have also expressed our willingness to work with the company to better identify problematic content, outright hate speech and patterns of anti-Muslim activities that Facebook’s staff may be less intuitively prepared to recognize.
Finally, no matter what steps Facebook takes to reduce the presence of hate groups and foreign actors on its platform, it can’t delete the underlying hate itself, particularly when bigoted users often cast their actions as protected free speech. In addition to combating hate speech, therefore, we also urge social media platforms and our own community to work closely together to better amplify our own voices. Russians and anti-Muslim extremists alike have demonstrated a far more sophisticated understanding of how to use these platforms to spread their messages and create real social impact. We ought to be able to do the same.
Facebook, to its credit, has often demonstrated support for our community. When President Trump unveiled his Muslim ban last year, COO Sheryl Sandberg
spoke forcefully against the move, saying that it defied “the heart and values that define the best of our nation.” And in 2015, in the midst of then candidate Trump’s Muslim ban rabble rousing, Zuckerberg wrote directly to Muslims to offer his solidarity and pledged to “fight to protect your rights and create a peaceful and safe environment.”As Facebook thinks deeply about its future and the responsibility it has to its 2 billion users (both real and fake), we hope its leadership will follow through on their own words and work with us to create a better platform for all.’ https://www.mpac.org/policy-analysis/why-facebooks-future-matters-for-muslims.php
So Zuckerburg’s Facebook is working with Islam to silence those who speak against the “devil”!? For instance, Brigitte Gabriel is the spokesperson for http://www.actforamerica.org/ which states ‘ACT for America showcases the tolerant and patriotic nature of our nation through our diversity, as well as by fostering a healthy dialogue about the most critical threats facing our nation from the perspective of a variety of voices.
While we welcome all who share our beliefs, we never have and never will tolerate any bias, discrimination, or violence against anyone, based on their religion, gender, race, or political persuasion. Freedom to practice one’s religion in peace is afforded to each of us by the U.S. Constitution and we will defend it vigorously.
Through our advocacy and activism, we will continue to address the threat presented by those who seek to destroy our Western way of life through advocating violence or radical religious discrimination through hate groups, such as those represented by movements like radical Islam.’ http://www.actforamerica.org/aboutact
It seems Facebook and most of the social media we use have sold themselves out to the Devil! The Christian’s decision to stay on or get off Facebook may depend on how much the Christian loves their freedom of speech.
One wonders why anyone would send their child off to a ‘Christian’ school like BIOLA when ‘In March of 2016, Biola hosted a conference “Love No Matter What: Politics, Sex, Race and the Way of the Cross.” Themes were LGBT rights, racial issues, capital punishment, etc. The speaker was 29-year-old, black, single Christena Cleveland, associate professor at Duke University Divinity School. She pontificated on radical causes especially pushing Biola to accept Black Lives Matter and the “Palestinians.” Remember this conference was at a major Christian University.
She is a very important person because Christianity Today said so. The magazine named her “one of 33 millennials leading the next generation of Christian faith.” God help us.’ http://donboys.cstnews.com/biola-university-has-slipped-into-the-slim-pit-of-cowardice-compromise-and-corruption
After reading the article I googled Christina Cleveland 
and found an abundant amount of information. For instance, ‘…at Duke Divinity School, Christena teaches classes on race, reconciliation, and conflict, and leads a research team that is investigating self-compassion as a buffer for racial stress.’ http://www.christenacleveland.com/bio/
Those are not the courses that will help fulfill the Lord’s command in reaching a spiritually lost world with the Gospel of the resurrected Lord Jesus Christ!
The next year, 2017, Dr. Cleveland spoke at All Saints Church, Pasadena, California on Sunday, May 21, 2017.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJlt1zwGZqM All Saints Church is typical of theological liberalism. Why do I say that? One reason is this. ‘Are you looking for an absolutely fun time for a great cause? Come join us on Friday, April 20th for An Evening of Drag Queen Bingo — with all proceeds going to support our Trouvères Youth Choir on their Civil Rights Choir Tour to Birmingham, Selma, New Orleans, Memphis, and Ferguson/Saint Louis in June, 2018.
Sweetland Hall will be all decked out for the event and our Bingo caller will be the awesome Roxy Wood! 
Arrival is 6:30pm and the games are played from 7-9pm. The cost is $35 for adults and $20 for children and youth 18 and younger. Your entrance fee includes cards for 10 games, beverages, and appetizers/snacks. Additional cards and adult beverages are available with cash.’ https://allsaints-pas.org/an-evening-of-drag-queen-bingo-fundraiser-for-trouveres-choir-tour/
Sadly, many once fundamental schools and churches have gone the way of BIOLA. They are inviting liberals, if not out and out unbelievers, to speak to their students thinking they are being relevant! This ought not to be. Paul wrote that we are to ‘…mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them’ Romans 16:17. Matthew Henry rightly commented on this verse writing ‘Whatever varies from the form of sound doctrine which we have in the scriptures opens a door to divisions and offences. If truth be once deserted, unity and peace will not last long. Now, mark those that thus cause divisions, skopein. Observe them, the method they take, the end they drive at. There is need of a piercing watchful eye to discern the danger we are in from such people; for commonly the pretences are plausible, when the projects are very pernicious. Do not look only at the divisions and offences, but run up those streams to the fountain, and mark those that cause them, and especially that in them which causes these divisions and offences, those lusts on each side whence come these wars and fightings. A danger discovered is half prevented.’
Today’s Christianity has become soft on Biblical separation and it shows by those with whom they fellowship. Now, some have not gone as far as BIOLA but they are seeking to be culturally relevant while losing their saltiness.
The Gospel has always been relevant and as Paul so aptly wrote under the moving of God’s Holy Spirit ‘…that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed’ Romans 13:11.
Is this for real? ‘Today former Southern Baptist Convention President Frank Page spoke 
with the FBC Jax Watchdog in an exclusive interview, revealing the details of his “inappropriate relationship in the recent past” that caused him to resign from the SBC Executive Committee.
“It is with deep regret that I let my fellow pastors and Southern Baptists know that I have had a morally inappropriate relationship over the past several months,”, said Page. “The Lord has shown me recently that this moral failing requires my repentance and departure from full-time ministry.”
When asked by the FBC Jax Watchdog for the details of the nature of the relationship, Page was at first hesitant and obviously embarrassed. Finally he did explain what happened.
Page explained that the relationship was not with a woman, but was actually with two men who are fellow “men of God”.
“In December, I committed the sin of befriending disgraced pastor Ergun Caner, and I 
even stooped so low as to share a pulpit with him at a youth camp meeting. Even knowing that Caner lied for over 10 years about being raised in Turkey and raised to ‘do that which was done on 11 September’, I still stood on the same stage as Ergun. This led to a further moral failing of shaking hands with Ravi Zaccharias 
at a pastor’s conference, knowing he is still unrepentant for his online relationship with a married woman.”
Page continued that these moral failings even led to a month-long bout with depression that caused him to watch the godless movies “Year One” and “Sausage Party”.
“I am committed to making things right with my family and fellow Southern Baptists”, said Page.’ http://fbcjaxwatchdog.blogspot.com.au/2018/04/frank-page-reveals-details-of-his.html
Now, wait a minute. If every preacher stepped down because they shared the pulpit with a lying preacher or shook hands with another preacher at a pastor’s conference that was accused of infidelity or other sins there wouldn’t be too many men still in the ministry!
Page’s explanation just doesn’t make sense!
whatyareckon 