Winter 2019: Other Significant Articles
Kate Shellnut, “Ahead of 2019, Bulgaria Rejects Severe Church Restrictions: The new year brings new regulations—but thankfully not the worship and seminary bans evangelicals initially feared” ChristianityToday.com (December 26, 2018).
Marian L. Tupy, “Globalization and Poverty’s Unprecedented Decline: The last forty years have seen a massive and historically unprecedented decline in global poverty” HumanProgress.org (November 22, 2016).
Reminder of good news: This article was originally published in 2016, but this under-reported good news is worth repeating. “[T]he economic liberalization and globalization that started in the late 1970s and accelerated in the 1980s, has led to a massive and historically unprecedented decline in global poverty. Contrary to much of the public perception, liberalization and globalization have not led to an increase in U.S. poverty rates, which continue to fluctuate within a comparatively narrow and, by historical standards, low, band. … In 1981, the year Ronald Reagan became America’s 40th President, 44.3 percent of the world lived in extreme poverty (i.e., less than $1.90 per person per day). Last year [2015], it was 9.6 percent. That’s a decline of 78 percent.”
“While overall violence has declined in 2018, conflict is spreading” ACLED (December 21, 2018).
This Press Release from the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project has both good and bad news. Thanks to our friends at Brigada for suggesting this article.
Ed Stetzer, “Three Markers for Discipleship” EdStetzer.com (April 23, 2018).
In case you missed it: A practical article on discipleship.
Peter Gräbe, “Do These And You’ll Always be Successful!” PeterGrabe.com (June 30, 2018).
Cletus Hull wrote, “My PhD adviser at Regent University asked me to share something for his blog and I believe it can pertain to healing and the Lord.”
Geir Lie, “The Origin of T.B. Barratt’s Concept of ‘Missionary Tongues” Cyberjournal for Pentecostal-Charismatic Research #26 (November 2018).
Gordon Govier, “Biblical Archaeology’s Top 10 Discoveries of 2018: A glimpse at the important excavation work revealed this year” Christianity Today (December 27, 2018).
2019 Risk Map from ControlRisks.com
What areas of the world are projected to be the most dangerous in 2019?
Caleb Courtney, “Researching Canadian Pentecostalism” CalebSourtney.com (January 30, 2019).
Author of A History of Bethel Pentecostal Church in Sarnia, Ontario writes about the rewarding but often neglected work of recording and sharing history.
“Jackie Pullinger: ‘We’re going to feel stupid for eternity if we waste this life’” Premiere Christianity (January 2019).
Sam Hailes, editor of UK magazine Premier Christianity, interviews missionary Jackie Pullinger. The by-line reads, “In a rare interview, the straight-talking missionary challenges the Church to stop living vicariously through her, and get on with the job.”
Todd Wilson, “Ten Theses on Creation and Evolution That (Most) Evangelicals Can Support: We won’t achieve perfect unanimity on every contested topic” ChristianityToday.com (January 4, 2019).
Yuliya Talmazan, “Life under ISIS led these Muslims to Christianity” NBC News (February 3, 2019).
The byline of the story reads, “‘If heaven is made for ISIS and their belief,’ said one convert, ‘I would choose hell for myself instead of being again with them in the same place, even if it’s paradise.’” Thanks to Brigada for pointing out this news story.
“‘A Theology of Everything’ for a Pluralistic World: Fuller theology professor Veli-Matti Kärkkäinen thinks Catholics and Pentecostals are doing today’s best theology” Christianity Today (February 6, 2019).
In this interview by Viktor J. Toth, Kärkkäinen says, “I was hugely influenced by my mother’s devoted Christian life in my early teenage years. She always has been a very pious person. By birth she was a Lutheran, but she found her primary spiritual home in Pentecostalism but without leaving behind Lutheranism. I think this is why I still consider myself a ‘hybrid Christian’ or a ‘Lutherocostal.’”
Eddie L. Hyatt, “How Spiritual Awakening Ended Slavery in America,” Part 1, BiblicalAwakening.blogspot.com (February 7, 2019).
“Should We Keep Studying a Fired Pastor’s Work?” ChristianityToday.com (February 15, 2019).
The subtitle of this article reads: “After LifeWay pulls James MacDonald’s Bible studies, Christians consider if and when a leader’s teachings remain edifying after a scandal.” The article was compiled by Kate Shellnut.
Matthew Branaugh, “Seventh Circuit: Clergy Housing Allowance Is Constitutional: Appellate court reverses lower court ruling, preserving valuable tax benefit” Church, Law & Tax (March 15, 2019).
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