From the Frontline

From The Frontline-Episode 141-USA Elections, Foreign Policy and the Persecuted Church

From the Frontline: American Elections and Foreign Policy Affects the Persecuted Church

As Americans approach their 2020 Elections, next week, few may be considering its implications for the persecuted Church. Yet recent history reveals that the lives of many millions of Christians are drastically affected by United States foreign policy. As a missionary to the persecuted in Africa for over 38 years, I have seen first-hand the, often, disastrous consequences of White House policies. We continue to pray that our Christian brethren in the United States will be in much prayer and seek the wisdom of God as they approach this critical election.

"Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the Lord? Therefore, the wrath of the Lord is upon you."

2 Chronicles 19:2

From The Frontline-Episode 140-Can We Trust the Media

From the Frontline: Can You Trust the Media?

On a daily basis people not only receive information from the news media, but are being influenced. To what extent are we receiving views rather than news? How can we distinguish between facts, fashion and fiction? How can we recognise bias in the media? What are the various worldviews which lie behind the media we are exposed to? What are the practical implications of these worldviews as seen in news reporting? There seems to be many vitally important issues and events which do not receive any coverage from the media. Why is that? How can we be more careful and critical in what we read or view? How can we become more discerning in the sources we trust and the resources we make use of?

“Whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.”

2 Corinthians 4:4

From The Frontline-Episode 139-Can We Trust the Government

From the Frontline: Can You Trust the Government?

From so many directions, we are urged to trust the government. Not only for our physical security, but with the education of our children, with our physical health, on medical and scientific issues and in economics. Under the lockdown, we were expected to trust the government’s understanding of medical science and not question the severe disruption, suffocation and in many cases, destruction, of millions of jobs and our livelihoods. We were told to trust them with the billions of dollars in Covid Relief Solidarity Fund, which was swallowed up by corruption. On a regular basis, we are expected to trust the government with the moulding of the minds of our children through the textbooks and teachers that they control. Ben Carson observed that we have been conditioned to think that politicians are the solutions to our problems when, historically, they are the problem! Are governments trustworthy? What does history teach us? What does the Bible teach us, concerning the legitimate role of government? What books and documentary resources can help us understand the dangers of government and the Biblical limitations that should be restricting government?

“For the Lord is our Judge, the Lord is our Lawgiver, the Lord is our King…”

Isaiah 33:22.

From The Frontline-Episode 138-Malice Against Ministries

Malice Against Ministries

Sadly, there are many who appear to have a ministry of criticism. The Bible warns us of those who "get into the habit of being idle and going about from house to house. And not only do they become idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying things they ought not to." 1 Thessalonians 5:13. Why are there such an abundance of negative reports against ministers, ministries and missions? What does the Bible teach concerning gossip and slander? How should we as Christians respond to character assassination? How can we understand what is behind these campaigns? What can we do to help those who are targeted? 

"Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and deceit, hypocrisy, envy and slander of every kind." 

1 Peter 2:1