Religion Today Summaries - October 24, 2005

"Charged for Life" Campaign Kicks off at NASCAR Race
Jody Brown, Agape Press

Several hundred crisis pregnancy centers (CPCs) in North America are about to get energized by a fundraising campaign that kicked off this past weekend at a NASCAR race. Care Net, a faith-based group that supports a network of almost 900 CPCs in the United States and Canada -- in partnership with Interstate Batteries -- has announced the "Charged for Life" campaign, which will direct proceeds from the sale of various batteries to the work of those centers. Care Net facilities offers free and confidential services, including pregnancy tests, ultrasounds, counseling, educational resources, and post-abortion support -- and according to the group's website, all its pregnancy centers are committed to sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ. Care Net president Kurt Entsminger describes Interstate Batteries as "a great role model for companies seeking to make a difference in local communities." He predicts that "thousands of women" will benefit as a result of the partnership. The "Charged for Life" campaign kicked off yesterday at the NASCAR race in Martinsville, Virginia, where the Interstate Batteries car, driven by Bobby Labonte, featured Care Net's name and logo. Care Net helps more than 10,000 women a month and connects them with local pregnancy centers.

When Heresy Goes Unchecked
J. Lee Grady, Charisma News Service

The apostle Paul wrote the Bible’s most eloquent words about Christian love. But when it came to the subject of heresy, he went into verbal-attack mode. He labeled those who were spreading false doctrines “dogs”  (Phil. 3:2) and “liars” (1 Tim. 4:2), and he not only labeled heretics publicly  but “handed them over to Satan” in his prayers (see 1 Tim. 1:20). Paul believed that if heresy goes unchecked it gnaws at the larger body of Christ and contaminates everyone. He warned his disciple Timothy that false teaching spreads “like gangrene” (2 Tim. 2:17). The word “gangrene” can also be translated cancer. Modern translation: False doctrine is malignant. Get the tumor out before it kills people. What is troubling these days is that many American church leaders are not displaying the necessary backbone to label a heretic a heretic. We have become masters at soft-pedaling and inaction when the Lord requires us to confront. In the loosey-goosey world of charismatic independence, we find it almost impossible to police our own. Everything is about “fellowship,” but we lack the teeth in our policies to ensure that we can properly discipline preachers who veer off into doctrinal error. We Christians are so nice we don’t know how to handle it when the Bible requires tough love. Let’s remember that when it comes to heresy, God does not require us to be nice. It’s time for all of our congregations, denominations and church networks to raise the bar and defend the faith from those who pervert it. (www.charismanews.com)

Evangelist Prays “In Jesus’ Name” at National Prayer Service
Agape Press

Evangelist Luis Palau says clergy at the recent Washington National Cathedral prayer service for Hurricane Katrina victims were "trembling" over what they'd be allowed to say. The evangelist says organizers of the service made him and his colleagues submit their prayers and preaching beforehand, and Christian ministers were not supposed to pray "in Jesus' name." But Palau says he was praying "to God, not to them," so he ignored some of the edits and said, "with due respect to people of other faiths, this I pray in the name of Jesus." Palau wonders, "Are we all babies?" -- and says that if he hears a Muslim pray in the name of Allah, he "won't melt."

Churches Can Support Law Enforcement Officers
Baptist Press

Law enforcement officers are members of the police department, sheriff's office and the FBI. They are school resource officers and in the military. What can a local church do for these men and women who protect us? Suggestions drawn from the recent Ridgecrest Law Enforcement Summit include:

1. Sponsor an officer and spouse for the 2006 Law Enforcement Summit at LifeWay Ridgecrest Conference Center. If you don't have an officer in your church, offer to sponsor an officer and spouse from another church or contact the head of your local law enforcement agency and offer to sponsor an officer and spouse. Or donate money to pay the fees for an officer and spouse who might otherwise not get to attend. (To donate, contact: [email protected])
2. Honor local law enforcement officers with a special time of recognition in a worship service.
3. Pray for law enforcement officers and their families. Pray for their safety, health, courage and character or find out specific requests and pray for those.
4. Support a chaplain. Officers need the special ministry a chaplain provides, but many smaller law enforcement agencies don't have chaplains. A group of churches can pool resources and support a fulltime chaplain or pay for training for an existing chaplain.
For more information, go to www.lifeway.com/ridgecrest