By Tyson Thorne

February 6, 2019
 

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"Media" used to mean "print media" like books and newspapers, but the world has grown. Today media can also mean radio, television and movies delivered to personal computers, tablets and cell phones. As the world's best selling book of all time the Bible continues to make headlines, both good and bad, across all forms of media. Terrorism in Syria drives Muslim's into Jesus' arms, Dallas-based megachurch Gateway opens a new campus in maximum security prison, and Senator Corey Booker (D) proves judicial nominee Neomi Rau knows the US Constitution better than he does.

The purpose of terrorism is to bully (or terrorize) people into submission. On one level, it works exceptionally well. We've seen that in Islamic states the majority of people are Muslim not because it is the religion of choice but because it is the religion enforced. As we reported previously in our series on Islam, many are Muslim because they are too afraid of being anything else. To convert from Islam is a capital offense. To be a Christian or a Jew is a capital offense. To befriend and help a Christian or a Jew is a capital offense. You get the idea. Fortunately this radical religion and enforcement of its ideas also has an unintended consequence.

In areas previously controlled by ISIS, like the city of Kobani is Syria near the Turkey border, many are turning to Jesus. Omar, 38-years old, told NBC News that many Muslims are open to Christianity. “Most of the brothers here converted or come to church as a result of what ISIS did to them and to their families,” he said. Echoing that sentiment, Farha Jasim, 23, stated, “If ISIS represents Islam, I don’t want to be a Muslim anymore." Jasim's family abandoned him for his beliefs in accordance with Islamic law, though he has hopes that they too will join him in his new-found faith.

In Dallas, Texas megachurch Gateway opened a new campus at the Coffield Unit maximum security prison. At the first service (back in November 2018) services were attended by 650 inmates. Since then, 500 men have given their lives to Jesus Christ. According to the report by Fox News, the church campus is mostly served by inmates, including audio/visual techs, greeters, ushers and the worship team. The pastor is an ex-con himself, Stephen Wilson, who went to seminary after getting out of prison. While I personally am not a fan of the mega-church model, I have to say this is a great idea and one I hope is duplicated elsewhere across the country.

In other news, "Spartacus", also known as Senator Corey Booker (D), makes headlines again at another judicial confirmation hearing by asking the candidate if she believes gay relationships are "immoral" or "a sin". First, the US Constitution forbids a religious test for all offices, including elected and unelected offices like the judiciary. His question was not only inappropriate but unlawful. Nominee Neomi Rao responded appropriately by saying her beliefs or opinions were irrelevant. Booker disagreed and pressed for an answer leading Rao to make this statement: “Senator, my personal views on any of these subjects are things that I would put to one side and I would faithfully follow [the precedence of the Supreme Court]." I don't personally know much about Neomi Rao or what kind of candidate she is; I haven't done my homework on judicial nominees yet. But she handled Booker well and proved without question she knows the Constitution better than he does.

 
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