Friedrich Hegel in 1831

Roger E. Olson, “Hegel In a Nutshell” Patheos (September 6, 2023).

Historian of religion, Roger Olson, offers a brief introduction to the influential philosophy of Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel (1770-1831) in 7 bullet points: Hegel’s epistemology, Hegel’s ontology/metaphysics, Hegel’s religion, Hegel’s history, Hegel’s reason, Hegel’s influence on Christian theology, and Christian reactions to Hegel.

Revisiting the call to being a peacemaker in social media: Douglas S. Bursch, “Three Practical Ways to Engage in Online Peacemaking: How reflecting the servant attitude of Christ in our online engagement makes us effective ambassadors” The Better Samaritan (January 24, 2022).

PneumaReview.com author Douglas Bursch offers practical advice for engaging in social media in a Christ-like way.

Aimee Semple McPherson

Roger E. Olson, “The Almost Forgotten Story of Non-Liberal Feminist Christian Women Influences” Patheos (September 20, 2023).

Historian of religion, Roger Olson mentions some of the most influential theologically conservative Christian women that have often been ignored by those writing about medieval mystics or modern feminist theologians.

Further Reading: “Pioneer Women of Pentecostal Revivals” Leah Payne speaks with PneumaReview.com about her book, Gender and Pentecostal Revivalism.

“A Misinformation Expert’s Top Tips to Slow the Spread of Misleading Information in the 2024 Election” Georgetown University (August 31, 2023).

The subtitle of this article is “Ask a Professor: Leticia Bode on Misinformation, Technology and the 2024 Election.” “If you accidentally shared something that wasn’t true, how would you want someone to approach you? You probably want whoever is correcting you to be kind, understanding and empathetic. You’d want them to say, ‘I understand this is complicated. I was confused by it too. Here are some sources that I found that seem to say the opposite of what you’re saying. I’m happy to have a conversation with you about it.’” Thanks to PneumaReview.com author Michelle Vondey for suggesting this article.

Roger E. Olson, “Belong, Believe, Behave?” Patheos (September 15, 2023).

Historian of religion, Roger Olson, shares his insights and observations of the so-called emerging church movement of the late 1990s and early 2000s.

Andrew K. Gabriel, “When God Speaks Through Dreams…” AndrewKGabriel.com (October 2, 2023).

Pentecostal/charismatic theologian and educator, Andrew Gabriel talks about how to recognize if dreams have come from God, what the Bible has to say about contemporary dreams from God, and what to do with them.<<

Daniel Silliman, “Died: Loren Cunningham, Who Launched Millions on Short-Term Missions: YWAM founder saw “waves” of young people carrying the gospel to every nation” Christianity Today (October 9, 2023).

Margaret Ringgit, “Thousands to mark 50th anniversary of spiritual revival” New Sarawak Tribune (October 2, 2023).

Celebrating 50 years of God’s work in Malaysia through the Bario Revival, the Ba’kelalan Revival, and the Taginambur Revival. PneumaReview.com contributing editor John Lathrop writes: “Two men who used to attend the church I pastored are speakers at this event.” See the article by Soh Pooi Siang, “Mount Murud Prayer Gathering 2019.”

Eddie L. Hyatt, “Do Cessationists Have Any Evidence at All to Support Their Theory?” Charisma (October 18, 2023).

Michael Brown, “Let the Reformed of the Lord Say No to Cessationism: Disbelief in the Spirit’s miraculous work is gaining ground in some Christian circles, but it’s fighting a losing battle” Christianity Today (October 9, 2023).

Pastor John Lathrop notes that to read the full article you will need a CT account.

David Livermore, “How to compensate for lack of lived experience” DavidLivermore.com (October 13, 2023).

One of the founders of the Cultural Intelligence Center and PneumaReview.com author, David Livermore was asked this question by Rodger Dean Duncan when he interviewed him for Forbes: “What’s your response to someone who’s skeptical about a book about diversity written by a white man?”

Image: Eberhard Grossgasteiger

Michael L. Brown, “Stewarding God’s Holy Flames of Revival” Charisma (November 2023).

John Lathrop writes: “Here is the link to an excerpt from Dr. Michael Brown’s newest book.” Seize the Moment: How to Fuel the Fires of Revival publishes in January, 2024.

Maryam Rostampour-Keller, “Persecuted Christians Around the World Need the U.S. To Be a Safe Haven” Newsweek (October 13, 2023).

Maryam Rostampour-Keller co-authored Captive in Iran: A Remarkable True Story of Hope and Triumph amid the Horror of Tehran’s Brutal Evin Prison and “Miracles in an Iranian Prison: An interview with Maryam Rostampour and Marziyeh Amirizadeh,” which appeared in the Spring 2020 issue of The Pneuma Review.

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“… the prophet makes clear that [Amos’ audience] celebrate a different god, one they might call Yahweh but one who was nevertheless a deity of their own making. It was a god of blessing and goodness, with no rough edges.

“Theirs was worship disconnected from reality and the living God.”

“Prophetic Anticipation Builds: Unblemished Red Heifers for Temple Ceremony Soon Come of Age” CBN (March 17, 2023).

Messianic teacher Kevin Williams writes: “In case you follow such things, it looks like we are about a year away from a potential Red Heifer update. The article says during the spring of 2024, but based on the other things in the article, I think the fall feasts are more likely. The article is intriguing though, regarding nine pure priests, the secured location, and the notion that the next temple will be ‘a house of prayer for all nations.’”

Richard R. Hammar, “Expanding Abuse Victims’ Rights and What It Means for Churches” Church Law & Tax.

From this landing page, Attorney and CPA, Richard Hammar launches a 4-part series on what the expansion of abuse victims’ rights means for churches.

“50,000 mosques have closed in Iran – Are Iranians seeking truth outside of Islam?” AllArab.News (August 16, 2023).

Here is exciting confirmation that God is doing something in Iran. Thanks to Iran Alive Ministries for pointing out this story of how 50,000 out of Iran’s 75,000 mosques have closed.

Image: Steven Coffey

Sam Storms, “Why Are Charismatics So Weird?” Enjoying God Blog (August 21, 2023).

No thinking Pentecostal/charismatic has ever denied that some that identify with that label do bizarre things and teach strange doctrines. Retired pastor and scholar Sam Storms argues that when cessationists (those who say the miraculous ministry of the Holy Spirit has ceased) hold up these undeniably bizarre examples as if they represent all Pentecostal/charismatics they are being deceitful and not acting like Christ.

Daniel K. Williams, “Evangelicals’ Theology of the Church Must Be Born Again: The ‘Great Dechurching’ is an opportunity for our tradition to rediscover a more enduring ecclesiology” Christianity Today (August 24, 2023).

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“The Rise of the Pentecostal Fusionists: They’re uniting Spirit-led worship with the riches of historic church tradition, says a leading charismatic bishop” Christianity Today (October 3, 2022).

Pentecostal Theological Seminary (Church of God) professor Dale Coulter interviews Emilio Alvarez, presiding bishop of the Union of Charismatic Orthodox Churches, about what has often been called the Convergence Movement, the purposeful blending of sacramental liturgy with charismatic worship.

Lazarus Yeghnazar and Lana Silk, “Iran’s Spiritual Awakening” Charisma (October 28, 2022).

“How the Persecuted Church Wants You to Pray: Leaders in six countries explain how Christians can best support and rejoice with fellow believers suffering for their faith” Christianity Today (November 10, 2022).

“The Rise of the Global South: John Lathrop interviews Dr. Elijah Kim” PentecostalPastor YouTube (November 16, 2022).

John Lathrop writes that in this 1 hour video: “I interview Dr. Elijah Kim, the author of The Rise of the Global South: The Decline of Western Christendom and the Rise of Majority World Christianity. In addition to discussing Global Christianity we also talk about the impact that Pentecostalism has had on Global Christianity.” Read Pastor Lathrop’s review of The Rise of the Global South.

Leopoldo Sánchez, “How Irenaeus, Ambrose, and Basil Help Us See the Spirit: When the Holy Spirit seems tough for congregants to grasp, borrow these surprising images from the church fathers” Christianity Today Pastors (Fall 2022).

Andrew K. Gabriel, “How Should non-Trans Christians Respond to Transgender and Queer People?” AndrewKGabriel.com (December 11, 2022).

Pentecostal scholar Andrew Gabriel writes: “In this short video, I share some thoughts on how non-trans Christians should respond to transgender and queer people.”

N.T. Wright, “Should We Cancel Luther and Calvin?: The Reformers believed in burning heretics. Making sense of that grave mistake means looking first at ourselves” Christianity Today (November 14, 2022).

Anglican theologian N.T. Wright introduces this contemporary issue: “Cancel culture knows no bounds, even historical ones. Based on some un-Christlike writings by Protestant reformers John Calvin and Martin Luther—along the lines of burning heretics—there have been some recent discussions about ‘canceling’ these paragons of church history. The debates sound similar to conversations we’ve had about secular historical figures being canceled for owning slaves, for example.”

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Hormoz Shariat firmly believes that Iran will be the first Islamic nation that turns to Christ. He says it is ready for a major transformation—spiritually, socially, financially, and politically, and that it will be a Christian nation soon, as prophesied in Jeremiah 49:38. PneumaReview.com spoke with Dr. Shariat about how he came to Jesus, what he sees God doing in Iran, and how Christians in the West can pray for Iran’s thousands of secret believers.

PneumaReview.com: You were a Muslim who became a Christian. Please tell our readers how you came to the Lord.

Dr. Hormoz Shariat: I was a Ph.D. student at the University of Southern California (USA) when I came to Christ by comparing Quran and the Bible. I realized that both could not be true. After that, I went to a church in downtown Los Angeles. That is when I heard the Gospel and responded to it.

PneumaReview.com: When you became a believer in Jesus you were in the United States, but you admit that you found it difficult to share your Christian faith. What advice would you give to a believer who is currently experiencing this same struggle?

Hormoz Shariat:

• Believe in the power of the Gospel to change lives (Romans 1: 16).
• Know that it is selfish to keep such a life changing message to yourself.
• Love others. That will help you take your eyes off yourself, get rid of shyness and share the Gospel.
• Do it anyway. Courage is doing what is right no matter how you feel.

Hormoz Shariat, Iran’s Great Awakening: How God is Using A Muslim Convert to Spark Revival (Iran Alive Ministries, 2020).
Read the review by John Lathrop

PneumaReview.com: In your book Iran’s Great Awakening you shared a great loss that your family suffered. Your brother, who was 18, was executed by the Iranian government on a minor political charge. How were you able to get through the pain of that event and go on to serve the Lord?

Hormoz Shariat: I mourned and prayed for 3 days. During that time, I felt God revealed his heart and plan to me. I realized that I am not supposed to hate anybody including those who killed my brother. And the fact that we have only one enemy: Satan, and those who killed my brother are not my enemies but victims in the hand of our one enemy (Satan). Also, I learned the best thing I can do for the injustice in this world is to share the Gospel.

PneumaReview.com: What kinds of ministry have you been involved in since you became a believer in Jesus?

Hormoz Shariat: First evangelism. Then I planted 6 churches in various cities in Northern California.

In 2001, after 9/11 events, we bought airtime from a secular channel to broadcast into Iran.

In 2011, we came to Dallas to start a 24/7 channel to reach into Iran.

We have used the channel not only for evangelism but as a tool to plant underground house churches.

PneumaReview.com: There are people who say that Muslims and Christians worship the same God. How would you respond to that statement?

Hormoz Shariat: Yes, there is one God. But the presentation of that God by Quran and Bible are so totally different that one of them is introducing a false God. On my programs, I give the characteristics of both Gods, and ask people to think about it and decide which one they want to follow.

By the way “Allah” was the name of an idol.

PneumaReview.com: What attracts Muslims to Christianity?

Hormoz Shariat: Things that are in Christianity that are absent in Islam: Love, Joy, Peace. When they see the love of Christians, the relationship we have with the Lord through prayer and worship, and the peace we have in our life, they are convinced that we have something that they do not have.

PneumaReview.com: In your book you write that you believe Iran will become a Christian nation. Why do you believe that?

Also, what is happening in Iran today indicates that Iran could be transformed by the Gospel even during our lifetime. The fulfillment of this promise will be at Christ’s return.

PneumaReview.com: What are some of the current signs of the growth of Christianity in Iran?

Hormoz Shariat:

• Iran has the fastest growing evangelical population in the world (Operation World).
• The majority of Iranians have already rejected Islam. A recent survey has shown that less than 1/3 rd of Iranians (32%) consider themselves Muslims!
• The rejection of Islam by masses. Islam is experiencing its greatest defeat in its history in Iran today.

PneumaReview.com: Are the charismatic gifts of the Holy Spirit a regular part of the life of the Iranian church?

Hormoz Shariat: Yes. Because Iranians read the Bible and believe all that is in it. Nobody has told them yet that not all the gifts are for today. Visions and dreams and miracles are common.

PneumaReview.com: You and your wife started Iran Alive Ministries. What types of ministries is it involved in?

Hormoz Shariat: Using media to go over the heads of the Mullahs into people’s homes to evangelize, help transform lives, and plant house churches.

PneumaReview.com: How can believers in the west best help the church in Iran?

Hormoz Shariat:

• Pray. Because we are facing the dark spirit of the “Prince of Persia” mentioned in Daniel 10.
• Support us financially. The people in Iran cannot support our channel. They depend on their brothers and sisters to take the Gospel to them.
• Become a TV partner. People with good video content can join us to disciple a nation. We have partners like Michael Yousef, Jack Graham, Robert Morris, and others who are using our channel to reach millions of Iranians.

Our channel was ranked Number 1 as the most watched Christian channel in Iran with 7.7% (that is 6 million) people saying they watch us daily. We estimate 24 million watch us at least once a week.

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Further Reading:

John Lathrop’s review of: Hormoz Shariat, Iran’s Great Awakening: How God is Using A Muslim Convert to Spark Revival (Iran Alive Ministries, 2020)

Amid U.S.-Iran tensions, broadcaster SAT-7 gives Iranian Christians first opportunity to share with millions of viewers, many from extremist backgrounds

EASTON, Md. – On January 27, 2019, pioneering broadcaster SAT-7 announced a virtual, “real-time” television news-talk show – Signal – that is the first program of its kind encouraging Iran’s “secret church” – at a time when U.S.-Iran tensions have ramped up the threat of persecution against Iranian Christians.

Middle East satellite TV network SAT-7 (www.sat7usa.org) is now beaming the live, interactive Persian-language program into thousands of homes across Iran and the entire region for the first time, providing Iranian Christians with an opportunity to share their stories with millions of viewers, including many from extremist backgrounds.

“Inside Iran today, God is causing a commotion,” said Dr. Rex Rogers, SAT-7’s North America president. “The outside world often perceives Iran to be a country filled with hostile zealots. But the reality is that God is building the fastest-growing, most energized church in the world today in Iran.”

Reports from inside Iran suggest that hundreds of thousands of Iranians are turning to Christ as spiritual revival sweeps the Islamic Republic and young Iranians grow increasingly disillusioned with life under the hardline regime.

Current tensions between Iran and the U.S. have increased the risk of persecution against minorities, including Iran’s estimated 800,000 Christians – thousands of whom meet in secret “underground” house churches because of constant fear of arrest and imprisonment.

It is illegal for Christians in Iran to share their faith with non-Christians, or hold church services in Farsi, the country’s common language.

Satellite Broadcasts Evade Censors

Hundreds of thousands of isolated Christians, cut off from other believers, rely on satellite TV and the Internet to connect. Governments cannot censor satellite broadcasts, leaving organizations like SAT-7 free to broadcast into homes 24/7.

“During this uncertain time in Iran’s history – and amidst the fastest growing church in the world – our TV show Signal gives Iranian viewers the opportunity for the first time to call in and share their encouraging stories and experiences live on-air,” said program producer Petros Mohseni.

Jahan, a former Muslim extremist taught to hate Christians, called in to share his story. “Before I gave my heart (to Jesus), I read the Book… and I found the way,” he said. “My heart aches for my father and mother. They don’t answer my calls, and I know if they found me, they’d kill me.”

Another viewer shared live on-air how he became a believer after a taxi driver gave him a Bible. “I read John 15:16: ‘You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit’ (NIV)… the very same words that I’d heard in a dream.”

Iran, with a population of 82 million, ranks ninth globally on the 2020 World Watch List “persecution chart” recently published by mission agency Open Doors, which describes persecution of Christians in Iran as “extreme.”

“Often, our viewers aren’t even aware of their basic human rights,” Rogers said. “SAT-7 helps inform people in Iran and other Middle East countries of their rights, and this serves as a starting point to bring about change.”

About SAT-7

Launched in 1996, SAT-7 (www.sat7usa.org) — with its international headquarters in Cyprus — broadcasts Christian and educational satellite television programs to more than 25 million people in the Middle East and North Africa. Its mission is to make the gospel available to everyone, and support the church in its life, work and witness for Jesus Christ. SAT-7 broadcasts 24/7 in Arabic, Farsi (Persian) and Turkish, using multiple satellite channels and online services.

NEW HOPE FOR IRAN’S ‘SECRET’ CHURCH: Middle East satellite TV broadcaster SAT-7 (www.sat7usa.org) is now beaming its live, interactive Persian-language Signal show into homes across Iran and the entire region — giving isolated Christians their first opportunity to connect on-air with other believers in real-time. Click here to watch.

This report adapted from the Press Release from InChrist Communications.

Thankfully, that war never came. I followed God’s leading and my family background to become a Pentecostal pastor and theologian. Many years later I’m no less angry at the taking of those hostages, but I also understand that crisis came in the context of decades of missed opportunities to talk to each other dating back at least to a US-backed coup in 1953, the shooting down of a civilian airliner with nearly 300 passengers on board and Iran’s sponsorship of violent extremism across the Middle East.

I don’t know every single detail of the new agreement negotiated with Iran. But I do try to live by God’s call to “seek peace and pursue it” (Psalm 34:14). If, after decades of hostility and angry rhetoric, the international community has crafted a nuclear accord that helps keep Iran from the bomb and helps keep the United States from another devastating war in the Middle East, then we have much to celebrate. And even if we don’t trust the Iranians or even our own government entirely, we still ought to pursue the path of peace as vigorously and strongly as possible.

The new diplomatic agreement with Iran does not erase history or cause us to forgive or forget the taking of U.S. hostages or, I would guess, the Iranian people to forget the U.S. warship shooting down a civilian airliner. What the new agreement does do is establish a process for the international community to monitor Iran’s nuclear energy program and require the Iranian government to limit that program in ways that have not happened for the last decade. And in exchange, the international community will begin to lift sanctions on Iran. It also establishes a solid international process for monitoring Iran’s compliance with the restrictions on nuclear activity – a process much stronger and more robust than anything that has been in place before.

I’m not naïve enough to suppose that the Iran Nuclear Deal is perfect, or that tensions between these two nations will simply disappear. I recall the instructive words of Jesus for those sent out “as sheep in the midst of wolves” to “be wise as serpents and harmless as doves” (Matthew 10:16). Honestly, I struggle with balancing such obviously conflicting images in my mind. And yet… that’s what Jesus said. And I trust Jesus. I don’t trust human governments. I don’t trust politicians’ hidden agendas. But I trust Jesus. I trust Jesus completely.

The U.S.-Iranian relationship will likely continue to be defined by disagreements for some time, whether on crises in the Middle East, or on human rights and religious freedom issues. As one wise Israeli leader reminded us decades ago, you don’t make peace with your friends.  Jesus taught us to love those whom we consider to be our enemies. On this I may struggle to be a good Christian, but I again recognize the wisdom of Jesus words proclaimed from the Sermon on the Mount, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God” (Matthew 5:9).

Personally, I affirm the right and responsibility of sovereign nations to defend and protect themselves and their citizens. Protecting the people of both the US and Iran in this case clearly involves containing and deescalating the nuclear arms race. Paraphrasing Jesus, “All those that take up nuclear weapons shall perish by nuclear weapons” (see Mathew 26:52).

There are already voices in Iran and in the United States clamoring for our two countries to reject this agreement. My concern is that many in our country seem to have already made up their minds that this is a bad agreement that can’t be supported. To my mind, that would be a mistake of historic proportions. Why not at least give it a chance? Let’s take time to pray about it, think about it, talk about it; if it really isn’t any good, its flaws will show through soon enough. If it does turn out to be a positive tool for progress, we will not have missed the chance without even considering it.

For me, giving this agreement a chance to work isn’t about partisanship or political posturing. It isn’t about supporting the Obama administration or preparing for 2016 presidential elections. As a follower of Jesus, I feel called to speak out for the possibility of peace. The greatest danger here is that we don’t take a risk for peace, that we don’t pursue the possibility that an agreement with Iran could lessen the tensions between the international community and Iran and ultimately deescalate the potential for conflict in a region that is already suffering the effects of war and violence in ways unimaginable to most of us in the United States.

In the coming weeks, members of Congress in both the House and the Senate will vote on whether or not this agreement proceeds. Every lawmaker will cast a vote on whether to approve or reject this deal. The stakes on this matter have never been higher. That is why forty national organizations, including more than a dozen faith-based groups, wrote a letter urging lawmakers to vote in support of this deal. The groups noted that this “will be among the most consequential national security votes taken by Congress since the decision to authorize the invasion of Iraq.”

Our elected officials need to hear from pro-diplomacy constituencies, and hearing from people of faith in support of diplomacy could have a lot of sway.

This agreement is an opportunity to imagine a brighter future for us all—one in which Americans and Iranians are no longer condemned to live through another generation of animosity. At such a historic moment, we are reminded of our responsibility to seek peace and pursue it, whether in Washington or in our own communities.