THE CHURCH MILITANT
Ephesians 5:11-"And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them". This Christian News Blog maintains a one stop resource of current news and reports of its own related to church, moral, spiritual, and related political issues, plus articles, and postings from other online discernment ministries, and media which share the aims to obey the biblical commands to shed light on and refute error, heresy, apostasy, cults, and spiritual abuse.
The showdown in Hong Kong will likely escalate as it becomes a chip in the trade war between China and the United States.
As the western hedge of protection fades in Hong Kong, so the wave of Chinese influence continues to take a stronghold in the US. The media, Democrat party and Federal Reserve appear to be working against American interests favoring China in the accelerating trade war. China has been welcomed into the liberal world order and President Trump's 'America First' agenda stands in its way.
From North Korea to the South China Sea, the trade war with China resistance is heading to a crescendo. Are we poised for war with China?
republished below in full unedited for informational, educational and research purposes:
Controversial “faith healer” and false teacher Todd Bentley — who once boasted about how God told him to kick a woman in the face with his biker boot — took to Facebook on Friday to address numerous allegations of moral impropriety, including claims of homosexual advances toward interns and other sexually-related sins. Bentley, who divorced his wife in 2009 for a ministry assistant with whom he was having an affair, is denying most of the allegations and only admits to sending texts “beyond pornography” as he is being confronted about sins past and present from former associates who have gone public about his behavior.
Christian News Network has reviewed testimony and evidence from several of those who have made various allegations, including one man who was ordained under Bentley in 2016 — after the stated time of “restoration” — and says that he personally witnessed Bentley using sexual speech during his travels.
“I was in a place where I shouldn’t have been taking those thoughts that weren’t right and having those kind of conversations with people that I thought were friends and brothers that I … could really trust,” Bentley said in the 41-minute live video. “But nevertheless, I repented.”
BACKGROUND
A man who once traveled with Bentley came forward on Thursday with the allegations after initially personally contacting Rick Joyner, the leader of MorningStar Ministries and an overseer for Bentley. He says that he did not seek out the information, but others began coming to him to express concern about Bentley’s behavior.
“I believe that Todd has a perverse sexual addiction that he picked up when he was a young man through his dark demonic childhood and through him being abused as a kid,” Stephen Powell wrote on Facebook.
“I believe that that same demonic entity uses Todd to prey on others that have come into Todd’s ministry with their guard down because they felt all was safe being in the presence of an anointed man of God,” he said.
Powell outlined that he has screenshots from at least two women who received messages from Bentley that were inappropriate, including asking one repeatedly for “pictures of herself.” Christian News Network reviewed these screenshots, which include remarks such as “You have great eyes,” “That’s a great photo. Wow,” and “What [are] you wearing today?”
Powell also explained that he has testimony from others who allegedly received sexual advances from Bentley, such as male interns who were offered money for sex acts or photographs, and one who said they caught Bentley with pornography on his phone.
Others alleged that they had heard Bentley engage in crude, sexual speech and that he had a problem with drunkenness.
However, while the testimony mostly comes from others, Powell says that he witnessed concerning behavior himself while traveling with Bentley.
“I myself have seen things over the years that I find very disturbing. I myself have seen Todd preach, pray, and prophesy over the people, only to leave the meeting, purchase hard liquor, and walk into his hotel to party the rest of the night,” he wrote. “I myself have seen and heard Todd and Jessa speak with unclean/foul speech.”
Powell stated that he himself used “locker room talk” for a time and the Lord convicted him of it, adding, “with the vile culture that has infiltrated the charismatic church, it is extremely difficult at times to have fellowship with other ministers, and build alliances with others for the kingdom, and not be affected by this stuff.”
BENTLEY’S PUBLIC CONFESSION
On Friday, Bentley took to social media to address the allegations, during which time he said that he’s “not a homosexual” or “having cocaine-infused parties” or engaged in “swinging,” but admitted that in 2013, he had sent “a lot” of sexually-charged texts about his wife to other men.
“I had them with associates, interns. They were sexually suggestive,” Bentley admitted. “Some of the texts, in nature, were outright inappropriate to have these conversations, even about Jessa. Things that were in our marriage bed and things that should have never been out there, and talk and fantasy, and I’ve had to own that. It’s embarrassing to have it out in public now.”
“There was degrading communication, not just jokes or brief lapses of judgment, but these things were on a darker level,” he continued. “There were things in me from my past that I needed to confront, beyond pornography. We’ve struggled, many men, with pornography, but this is beyond that.”
Bentley said that he denied his sin at first and tried to “cover it up,” but “friends would not let me do this.” He stated that he stepped away from Fresh Fire for six months due to his behavior and has been in counseling for years.
“During this long season, I have continued to pursue, even in my heart, true deep repentance,” Bentley said, reading from a statement he said was crafted with the assistance of his accountability team. “I need to be free and I want to walk in purity and holiness, and the Lord has called us all to that.”
“My staff and I have also worked to bring more holiness into our dealings with each other, keeping each other accountable to eliminate foolish practice [and] borderline behavior,” he stated. “I think I’ve made a great deal of progress. I’m still battling to be totally free of a lot of the darkness that gripped me during my lifestyle before Christ even. I’m still being delivered.”
While Bentley admitted in his statement that he was still struggling, he also asserted in his Facebook video that the situation had been dealt with in 2013 but that the allegations had “forced” him to go public and that he’s not in any “ongoing sin.”
ALLEGATIONS BEYOND STATED 2013 RESTORATION
However, on Sunday, Ben Burges of Healing Word Ministries issued a letter outlining that he was ordained under Fresh Fire Ministries in 2016, and that during his travels with Bentley, he witnessed firsthand Bentley engaging in crude sexual jesting, including in the presence to a female intern, who he says turned red with embarrassment.
“Todd’s response was, ‘Oh, get over it. You better get used to [sexual act] soon; you are about to get married,” Burges wrote.
He also says that Bentley is “no longer welcome in Pakistan among the leaders and churches he works with” due to allegations of sexual impropriety against three young women. Burges traveled with Bentley to Pakistan in 2017.
“My concern is that considering Todd’s past that there appears to be a growing amount of red flags in Todd’s life, and I would have thought that after Lakeland there would be an appearance to walk in a manner that is worthy of the call of Christ and avoid the appearance of these things in this letter,” Burges wrote.
“My concern is that if these things are not handled properly by leadership that Todd cannot get the help he needs,” he added. “There are people that are sexually scarred for life, and if leaders don’t handle this properly it will be because of the negligence of leaders that choose to not handle this appropriately.”
Bentley had gone through a “restoration” process once before in 2009 after he divorced his wife, Shonnah, and married his assistant, Jessa.
Bentley is known for his wild “faith healing” practices, stating during one meeting years ago that God had told him that there wasn’t movement during the service “[b]ecause you haven’t kicked that woman in the face.”
“And there is this older lady worshiping right in front of the platform and the Holy Spirit spoke to me. The gift of faith comes on me. He said, ‘Kick her in the face with your biker boot,'” he claimed. “I inched closer and I went bam! And just as my boot made contact with her nose, she fell under the power of God.”
Bentley is also stated to have written an article in 2008 in which he outlined that Bob Jones of the Kansas City prophetic movement once asked him if he had ever met the angel “Emma,” as she had purportedly been of assistance to Jones and others during the 1980s. Bentley says that within weeks, Emma appeared during a service in North Dakota.
“She glided into the room, emitting brilliant light and colors. Emma carried these bags and began pulling gold out of them. Then as she walked up and down the aisles of the church, she began putting gold dust on people,” he wrote. “‘God, what is happening?’ I asked. The Lord answered, ‘She is releasing the gold which is both the revelation and the financial breakthrough that I am bringing into this church.'”
“During this visitation the pastor’s wife got totally whacked by the Holy Ghost — she began running around barking like a dog or squawking like a chicken as a powerful prophetic spirit came on her,” Bentley continued. “Also, as this prophetic anointing came on her, she started getting phone numbers of complete strangers and calling them on the telephone and prophesying over them.”
A controversial video posted to YouTube also shows Jessa Bentley convulsing violently during a service as she told those gathered about a dream in which Oral Roberts put his hands over her eyes and she saw a vision of an elephant and a lion.
Christian News Network left a voicemail on a private number obtained for Bentley to seek specificity on the claims being denied and to inquire about a timeline of events. The article will be updated accordingly should more information be received.
QUOTE: "Hopewell Network of Churches is a fellowship of churches empowered by the Holy Spirit to advance Christ’s Kingdom by preparing leaders for ministry and mission. The Hopewell Network of Churches had its beginning back in the charismatic outpouring. The first church wasbuilt on Hopewell Road in Elverson in the mid 1970’s by a small number of families. Within approximately 10years, the founding congregation, called Hopewell Mennonite Church, had grown to about 900 people, hadundergone numerous additions to the original building, and had planted 10 churches. These daughter churchesalso began to plant churches and these became the Hopewell Network in 2001."
"Worship is superficial. I find this church to be very liberal. They have a different "prophet" (profit) through every other week. These "prophets" "Speak forth" lies into lives of the congregants. The Pastor of this "church," Curt Malizzi, claims to be an apostle so you can see the cult like practices. If you read their by-laws they expect you to sign a "covenant card" relinquishing many Constitutional rights. I believe this church to be a cult.
In 2008 Hopewell encouraged the following of the "Lakeland Outpouring" lead by Todd Bentley, a confessed Alcoholic who was having an adulterous affair with a woman he eventually married to the demise of his wife and child. Todd was "commissioned" by Pastor Curt Malizzi's senior, C. Peter Wagner, Presiding apostle of the ICA (International Coalition of Apostles.)
Wagner "commissioned" Bentley BEFORE it was discovered that he was an adulterer. Wagner claims to be a prophet also. Any way, Hopewell christian is a false church and very dangerous. DO NOT GO THERE, if you do, you go at your own peril."
"Hopewell Christian Fellowship was birthed out of what was formerly known as Hopewell Mennonite Church in Elverson, PA and is part of the Hopewell Network of Churches, an apostolic network of 15 churches. As a contemporary Bible teaching church, Hopewell Christian Fellowship was touched by the work of the HolySpirit and has risen to its calling as a place where the manifest presence of God is welcomed and charismatic giftsare allowed to operate."
In this interview with The New American's Alex Newman, U.S. Parents Involved in Education founder Sheri Few highlights some of the problems with federal control over education. Even though federal funding makes up about 10 percent of the funds, the feds control almost 100% of what happens at school, she explained. Blasting Common Core, Few also pointed out that the federally mandated assessments were the crux of the federal government's control. Getting the feds out of the classroom is the first step in fixing education, she added. South Carolina is now working to study what it costs to comply with federal mandates--almost certainly more than the state receives. She also explains how USPIE works, including the advisory board, which has Alex Newman, Michelle Malkin, Dr. Duke Pesta, Dr. Sandra Stotsky, Dr. James Milgram, and other experts. There are already some 20 chapters at work seeking to "End Fed Ed." To learn more, go to USPIE.org and get involved!
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Despite the overwhelming evidence that the Palestinian “resistance” is really an endeavor designed to advance the Islamic jihad, far too many are a still being duped into believing that there is “Israeli apartheid,” Palestinian “oppression,” a history of “Palestine” that goes back thousands of years, and that Palestinians desire a fair “peace process.” The Palestinian jihad notoriously includes a Pay for Slay program in which jihadists and their families are rewarded monetarily for murdering Israelis, from the youngest child to the oldest senior. Yet international aid to Palestinians is also in the billions; it has become a bogus “anti-racism” cause that is lining the pockets of profiteers and crooks at the expense of the willfully blind who are willing to sacrifice the state of Israel.
The real Palestinian goals are terrorizing Israelis, delegitimizing the Jewish state of Israel, and ultimately wiping Israel off the map — from the River (Jordan) to the Sea (Mediterranean). And now the Palestinian “resistance” has more than ever become a part of the American political landscape, since Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib entered the picture. Tlaib supports a one-state solution, which would mean the demise of the Jewish state.
Tlaib now makes no secret of her views, but prior to her victory in the Michigan Democratic primary, she deceptively endorsed “a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,” as well as American aid to Israel. The anti-Israel Jewish group J-Street endorsed her. But Tlaib’s position changed quickly after her victory; the change was celebrated by Palestinian “resistance” activists. She now considered herself free to stoke the flames of the Palestinian jihad against Israel, presenting it as “resistance,” pulling a sudden bait and switch.
Last week, 17-year-old Rina Shnerb was killed in a jihad bomb attack in the West Bank, “at a natural spring outside the central West Bank settlement of Dolev.” Rina’s brother, 19, was seriously injured, along with her father.
Chairman Arthur Stark and executive vice chairman Malcolm Hoenlein of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations issued a statement, saying…
This vicious act, using an explosive device, comes a day after [P.A. leader Mahmoud] Abbas once again reasserted his commitment to the ‘pay to slay’ program, rewarding those engaged in the kinds of terror attacks witnessed today and in recent days and inciting further outrages by providing lifetime funding for the perpetrators or their families.
Rina’s death happened because she is a Jew living in the Jewish state of Israel, the state which has been targeted for obliteration by the neighboring Muslim countries since 1948. Rashida Tlaib implied that Rina’s murder happened as a result of the “Israeli occupation.” She did not and has not called for the end to the Pay for Slay program, or for an amendment to the Palestinian Authority, Fatah, Hamas and the PLO charters which call for Israel’s obliteration.
As Jihad Watch reported, Tlaib said: “We need to support nonviolent approaches to ending the Israeli occupation and guaranteeing equal rights for all.” In other words, Tlaib reiterated the claim that Israel is oppressing the Palestinians, violating their rights, and blamed Rina’s murder on that oppression. Meanwhile, Tlaib’s fellow Palestinians were busy cheering and celebrating the teens murder.
Terror organizations have praised the attack, with Hamas terrorists taking to Gaza’s streets with portable microphones to praise the terrorists for their actions and the results thereof. In addition, the al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades and the Martyr Ayman Judeh groups also praised the “heroic action.” In an announcement, they praised the “legitimate fight” of the “Palestinian nation” against the “enemy Zionist army and the hoards of settlers.
This is a primary source of anti-Semitism today: Islamic anti-Semitism, rooted in hatred.
Yet the West is full of people who accept Palestinian propaganda and even the Palestinians’ use of their own women and children as human shields to advance the jihad against the Jewish state.
“Palestinian’ organizations applaud murderous terror attack,” by Dalit Halevi, Israel National News, August 24, 2019:
The Palestinian Authority and its chairman, Mahmoud Abbas, have not yet condemned the terror attack which killed 17-year-old Rina Shnerb and injured her father and brother.
However, terror organizations have praised the attack, with Hamas terrorists taking to Gaza’s streets with portable microphones to praise the terrorists for their actions and the results thereof.
In addition, the al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades and the Martyr Ayman Judeh groups also praised the “heroic action.” In an announcement, they praised the “legitimate fight” of the “Palestinian nation” against the “enemy Zionist army and the hoards of settlers.”
The Popular Resistance Committees, an Islamic terror group, said the terror attack was a “quality” action in the “Palestinian” struggle in Judea and Samaria, claiming it is a natural consequence of the settlers’ “crimes” in Jerusalem……
In this episode of Behind the Deep State, Alex Newman ties together Islamic terrorism and the deep state out of Russia and the U.S.
Newman cites leaked documents from government agencies proving terrorism support as well as showcases admittance from the likes of Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden.
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When is Marvel going to introduce their Christian, Jewish, Hindu and Buddhist superheroes? They are only introducing this Muslim superhero because of the hugely successful post-9/11 campaign by Islamic supremacists and their Leftist allies to portray Muslims as victims of “Islamophobia” and “hatred” — when actually the incidence of attacks on innocent Muslims is very low (not that a single one is acceptable or justified), and the entire “Islamophobia” campaign is an attempt to intimidate people into thinking that there is something wrong with fighting against jihad terror and Islamic supremacism.
Will Kamala Khan fight against jihadis? It’s much more likely that she will face an array of “right-wing Islamophobes,” leering evilly as they pull of hijabs and vandalize mosques.
Will Marvel be introducing a counter-jihad superhero? Don’t hold your breath.
“Disney Plus’ Ms. Marvel Series Will Star Franchise’s First Muslim Hero,” by Malcolm Venable, TV Guide, August 23, 2019 (thanks to The Religion of Peace):
Marvel’s first Muslim character to headline her own comic book is making history yet again. Kamala Khan, aka Ms. Marvel, will now be the first Muslim character to lead her own Marvel superhero franchise on-screen, in a new live-action Ms. Marvel series for the Disney+ streaming service….
While the Ms. Marvel comic has been around since 1976, the latest iteration debuted in 2014 and follows a teenager named Kamala Khan, a Pakistani-American girl living in a religious family in New Jersey and idolizes Carol Danvers, aka Captain Marvel. Gifted with polymorphous powers, Kamala has the ability to stretch and change shape….
Over 30 women claiming to have been victims of Jeffrey Epstein appeared outside of a Manhattan court Tuesday to describe the abuses they allegedly endured at the hands of the late billionaire pedophile.
To the victims, including Epstein’s most well-known accuser Virginia Giuffre, the hearing is their last chance to tell their story to a federal judge before Epstein’s case is closed following his suspicious death in his prison cell earlier this month.
Many of the victims, some of whom haven’t been named, ripped Epstein as a “coward” who “ruined” their innocence and “robbed” them of the chance to confront the pedophile in court.
“Jeffrey Epstein sexually abused me for years,” said Courtney Wild, who says she was a middle schooler who wore braces when Epstein groomed her. “I feel very angry and sad and justice has never been served in this case.”
Another anonymous victim released this statement: “Jeffrey Epstein stole my innocence. He gave me a life sentence of guilt and shame. I do not consider myself a victim — I see myself a survivor. The abuse that I endured cannot continue. Let’s stop this before it happens to other young women.”
Other unnamed victims put out statements of their own for U.S. District Judge Richard Berman.
“I used to be relatively carefree, inquisitive, hopeful, and excited about life,” one accuser said. “But, my life changed because of Jeffrey Epstein. My perspective on life became very dark when I was unknowingly recruited by one of his agents. Jeffrey Epstein ruined me. His recruiter ruined me.”
“The far-reaching consequences of that day ruined my family’s lives. I’ve chosen to remain anonymous in order to protect my family from unwanted media attention.”
Another accuser said Epstein was very “strategic” in how he selected and groomed his victims.
“Each of us has a different story and different circumstances as to why we stayed in it,” said a woman identified as Jane Doe 2. “It was like the analogy where the frog is in the pot and the heat goes up over time.”
Jane Doe 4 said Epstein’s victims “will never heal” from his abuses.
“He could not begin to fathom what he took from us,” she said. “I am every girl that he did this to and they are me. Today we stand together.”
The judge will likely close the criminal case against Epstein now that he’s dead, but the victims have vowed to sue his $577 million estate.
WORLDVIEW TEST REVEALS COLLAPSE OF CHRISTIANITY IN AMERICA
In this exclusive interview with The New American magazine's Alex Newman, Nehemiah Institute chief Dan Smithwick discusses the results of his internationally acclaimed "PEERS" worldview test. In short, the biblical worldview held by generations of Americans is being eroded--even among Christian children in Christian schools. Government education is the prime culprit, Dan says. The implications of this are enormous. PEERS stands for Politics, Economics, Education, Religion, and Social Issues. Dan also discusses one model of education--the Principle Approach--that does produce a biblical worldview in children. There is hope!
republished below in full unedited for informational, educational and research purposes:
Among China’s totalitarian policies, perhaps one of the most egregious — besides, of course, a limit on how many children a couple may have — is the invasive “Social Credit System.” If you are unfamiliar, yes, it’s as bad as it sounds. Since 2014, citizens are given a rating (similar to a credit score) on how well they behave. Their “Social Credit Rating” covers things such as whether a citizen jaywalks, buys products made in China, smokes in a non-smoking area, and what they post and share online.
Those who play by “the rules”— only posting or saying good things about the Communist government, take their own parents to the doctor, make charitable donations, and avoid associations with “questionable” characters and organizations — are given a high score and put on a Red list (similar to a “white list,” with a commie twist.) Those who smoke where they are not supposed to, play too many video games, criticize the government, neglect sweeping the sidewalk in front of their homes and businesses, or play their music too loud are given a low score and placed on a Black list.
Those who are “blacklisted” pay higher rates for electricity, may not be able to purchase high-speed Internet service, may not be able to get their kids into better schools, or — in some cases — banned from leaving the country on either business or pleasure.
Blacklisted citizens are also routinely shamed by having their pictures and addresses published on government-owned television and social media platforms. While China’s program is not yet nationwide, it seems to be having the desired effect on those who suffer under it. A recent “poll” shows that roughly 80 percent say they favor it. Could that be because — having no choice in the matter — agreeing that the program is good is a sure way to avoid being dinged for criticizing it. How do you say “catch 22” in Mandarin?
Looking at that list, two things stand out to this writer: First is the question of how difficult it must be in China to buy anything made anywhere else. It is difficult enough to buy anything in America that is not made in China. Second is the realization of just how much surveillance would be needed to keep track of all of the data required to compile such a rating.
That second point may soon become an issue in the United States, because the Tech Tyrants in Silicon Valley are looking to create a similar program for this country. In fact, some components of it are already up and running. Earlier this year, the New York State Department of Financial Services cleared life-insurance companies to base premiums on what they see in your social-media posts. So, a selfie showing a cigar and a beer while eating a marbled steak could go into the math that raises your cost of insurance, while an upload from your Fitbit showing that you’ve walked 200 miles and lost 25 pounds in the last four months might get you a lower rate.
Imagine getting kicked out of a restaurant for complaining too loudly about the lousy service, only to find that you are now on a nationwide list banning you from scores of restaurants and bars. Because that is exactly what PatronScan does. The subsidiary of a Canadian software company named Servall Biometrics, PatronScan sells businesses an ID scanner to “verify” a patron’s ID card and search a national database — shared by all businesses using PatronScan — and tell them if you are a troublemaker. While the service would be helpful in blocking patrons who may get drunk and start a fight or sexually assault someone, it could also be used to “even the score” if you refuse to pay for a meal that was late arriving and undercooked when it did finally arrive.
Other services, such as Airbnb, Uber, and even WhatsApp have already nearly perfected their own version of this without the need of an outside “rating” company. Airbnb, for instance, reserves the right to boot you from its service without stating a reason. Presumably, the ban would be related to complaints from Airbnb hosts, but without transparency, there is no way to know how valid those complaints are. Airbnb’s competitors have similar policies.
Uber announced in May that it not only allows passengers to rate drivers (which has always been the case), but now allows drivers to rate passengers. Uber reserves the right to ban passengers whose rating is “significantly below average.”
And WhatsApp will ban you if too many other users block you. So, being unpopular could lead to being banished from communicating with anyone else who has WhatsApp as their preferred method of text and chat.
Considering the incestuous relationship between Big Tech and Big Government — through which the Surveillance State leans heavily on the culture of surveillance — it is not difficult to imagine the emerging “Social Credit Rating” system in America turning into a method by which minor crimes or social infractions are punished by “offenders” being deprived of basic means of communication, transportation, dining, and entertainment. Such people could quickly find themselves on the outside of society looking in.
Also, considering the frequency with which Big Tech finds itself standing on the precipice of Big Government regulation, it is not difficult to imagine Big Government taking over the “administration” of such “Social Credit Rating” systems — leading to even greater government surveillance and intervention.
Most of this could be avoided by users carefully reading over end user license agreements and rejecting anything that diminishes their rights as well as refusing to patronize businesses that use invasive platforms to create a database of patrons and their “worthiness.”
A controversial video posted to YouTube
