“For
we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against
powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual
wickedness in high places.” [Ephesians 6:12]
Presbyterians Week Headlines
[1] Aborted Human
Remains Used in the Production and Testing of Vaccines
[2]
Court
to Hear Four Christian Preacher’s Case Against Police after Brutal Bristol Arrests
[3] Introducing
RTS Book Notes
---
[1] Aborted Human
Remains Used in the Production and Testing of Vaccines
NEWS PROVIDED BY
Georgia Right to Life (GRTL)
Dec. 10, 2020
NORCROSS, Ga., Dec. 10, 2020 /Christian
Newswire/ -- Georgia Right to Life (GRTL) announced today its policy
opposing vaccines whose development exploited the intentional death of a
pre-born child.
"The production and testing of vaccines using the remains of aborted human
beings, regardless of manner of conception, is morally wrong and must be
opposed. GRTL strongly urges the rejection of such vaccines," the policy
statement says.
"We're not giving medical advice to anyone," explained GRTL President
Ricardo Davis. "We're just presenting the facts that most groups are
ignoring, because many pro-life advocates will have a problem taking such a
vaccine."
Davis noted that COVID-19 vaccines developed by both Moderna and
Pfizer/BioNtech employed a testing process, either by them or a third party,
that used a cell line obtained from the kidney of an aborted child.
A third vaccine being pursued by AstraZeneca is even worse. It uses that same
cell line for production of its vaccine.
"Exploiting the death of a child for any reason--no matter how noble—is
morally wrong. It denies the Personhood of a pre-born child."
The testing phase involves using animals—the standard protocol of vaccine
development before human trials begin.
Specialized mice were "humanized," meaning mice embryos were
implanted with cells from an aborted child that were programmed to develop into
humanized lungs.
Researchers then inject them with the vaccine, as well as a coronavirus similar
to COVID-19 to test the mice's immune response.
"There are alternative, ethical ways to conduct such tests, as well as to
produce a vaccine," Davis said. "I encourage everyone concerned about
the link between abortion, vaccine development, biomedicine, and human
trafficking to demand that government support the development of vaccines that
don't rely on the brutal act of abortion."
Experts say they really don't know how long a COVID-19 vaccine will be
effective after it's taken. Predictions range from six months to a year.
Moderna recently announced it may be as short as three months.
For more information on other vaccines being pursued go to the highly
respected Lozier
Institute.
Georgia Right to Life promotes respect and effective legal protection for
all innocent human life from earliest biological beginning through natural
death. GRTL is one of a number of organizations that have adopted Personhood as
the most effective pro-life strategy for the 21st century.
SOURCE Georgia Right to Life
CONTACT: Zemmie Fleck,
770-339-6880
Related Links
www.grtl.org
[2]
Court
to Hear Four Christian Preacher’s Case Against Police after Brutal Bristol Arrests
December
7, 2020
Today, four Christian
preachers, known as ‘the Bristol Four’, will challenge Avon and Somerset Police
over their brutal arrests following a dramatic incident in July 2016.
Beginning on Monday 7 December at Bristol County Court, Mike Overd, Don Karns,
Mike Stockwell and AJ Clarke will bring claims against the police for: assault,
false imprisonment, malicious prosecution, misfeasance in a Public Office, and
infringement of their Human Rights, in particular articles 9, 10 and 11 of the
European Convention of Human Rights.
The case raises significant issues on the right to freedom of speech and the
freedom of Christian preachers in the UK to manifest their religious beliefs
and to have the right to freedom of assembly in public.
One of the preachers, Mike Overd, will also challenge the police on what his
Christian Legal Centre lawyers describe as an eight year ‘sustained
campaign of harassment’ against him.
The harassment has included one police sergeant appearing on local BBC
television in 2014 to encourage business owners “if they’re
offended” by Mr Overd’s preaching, “to record any evidence on their
mobile phone and send it to us.”
Rather than reducing crime in Taunton, this led to an increase in abuse against
Mr Overd from members of the public. No video evidence was ever submitted to
the police which led to a conviction against him.
Dramatic video footage
The case primarily centres on a dramatic
piece of body cam video footage revealing the shocking arrest of
Mr Overd in Bristol City Centre on 6 July 2016.
That day, Mr Overd and his three friends were preaching outside Bristol's
Broadmead Shopping Centre, ironically near the statute of John Wesley (who
known for his street preaching). The four took it in turns to preach, and as
they did, a crowd gathered.
At points, the crowd was loud and aggressive, some swore and were abusive
towards the men. However, the vast majority of the crowd wished to engage in
lively debate with the preachers. Members of the public debated all manner of
topics, the differences between Islam and Christian belief, sin and life after death.
After the gospel had been proclaimed for at least a couple of hours police
officers said the amplification needed to be turned off. Another speaker had
set up, across the precinct, to speak about Islam and the police officer had
decided competing amplification was unwelcome. The Christians turned off their
speaker.
However, unexpectedly mounted police arrived on the scene and put a stop to the
public speaking by positioning their horses between the speakers and onlookers.
Seeing his friend moved aside by the police on horseback, Mr Overd stepped
up to preach again and was told by another officer, PC Phillipou, that he
was "causing a disturbance" and was "not
welcome".
The officer told Mr Overd that he was going to give him a Dispersal Notice, but
instead of doing so, video footage reveals Mr Overd being brutally pulled to
floor and screaming in pain. He was then handcuffed and dragged off to a police
van and held in police custody for over seven hours.
Why have you arrested me?
The policeman said to Mr Overd: ‘there is a line of freedom of
speech…you were aggravating people…challenging homophobia….challenging
muslims…”
To which Mr Overd says: “We were just saying what the Bible says.”
The policeman says: “That’s fine,” to which Mr Overd
responds: “Then why have you arrested me?”
In the footage the policeman admits, when it is suggested by Mr Overd, that he
does not know what Mr Overd is being arrested for. PC Phillipou then had to
radio colleagues for answers.
Two other preachers, both of whom were visiting from the US, were arrested
because they could not give an address to the police as they could not remember
where they were staying.
All four men were detained in custody for over six hours following the incident
and were questioned extensively at a later date before being charged.
During the trial that followed, the prosecutor in court said that quoting parts
of the King James Bible in modern Britain, as the preachers did, should be
considered "abusive" and "a criminal matter".
All four men were eventually acquitted of all charges. There has never been an
apology or any admittance of wrongdoing from Avon and Somerset police.
Public preaching a fundamental right
Ahead of the hearing, Mr Overd said: “We have faced no alternative but
to bring this case as the police must be held to account for their actions for
what they did in July 2016 and moreover for their actions over the past eight
years.
“The freedom to preach the message of the gospel on the streets of the UK to
the lost, is one of our fundamental rights in this country. If we lose that
right, we will begin to lose every other freedom.
“I believe I should be free to express views of public interest, including
on culture or morality. I never use profanity, I do not attack people, however
I accept that I do criticise ideologies, other religions and certain sexual
practises. Ultimately free speech is worthless without the freedom to offend.
“The attitude and approach from the police is that if they receive a report
that a Christian is being ‘offensive’, they turn up arrest first, ask questions
later. There has to be a cultural shift in British policing, not just in
Somerset, but across the UK.”
‘Offence’ is subjective
Andrea Williams, chief executive of the Christian Legal Centre, said: "Mr
Overd and his friends are motivated by love. They want to share the good news
of Jesus with people who might not otherwise hear it. Sometimes that means
addressing the false claims of other religions or ideologies.
"Robust debate is often necessary, especially when objections are being
raised or abuse is hurled. We shouldn't be afraid of it.
"The aggressive treatment of Mr Overd and his friends by the police and
prosecution is shocking. The police should be defending freedom of speech, not
clamping down on it.
"The standing point for the police is whether people are ‘offended’.
This is an entirely subjective concept and cannot be used as the primary means
to decide whether lawful preaching can be stopped and the preachers deprived of
their freedom. Any suggestion that there is a right not to be offended must be
strongly resisted. In today's democracy, we need the freedom to debate,
challenge and disagree.
"We cannot allow the gospel to be shut out of public debate, and that
is what is at stake in this crucial case.”
+ Christian Concern,
[3] Introducing
RTS Book Notes
Reformed
Theological Seminary is excited to announce a new weekly series. In RTS Book Notes,
Dr. Ligon Duncan recommends books to help pastors, teachers, and students grow
in grace and edify others.
Subscribe now to receive these short videos in your inbox each week. The
first video will be released on Thursday, December 10:
https://rts.edu/resources/rtsbn/
+ Reformed Theological Seminary - Jackson, 5422 Clinton Boulevard, Jackson, Mississippi 39209, 601-923-1600, Contact Page
He rose from obscurity to
become one of the most influential preachers in terms of conversions and mass
evangelism since the time of Christ and the apostles. Whitefield spoke with
clarity and conviction. Everywhere we journeyed, there were conversions, and
places were changed. Church buildings could not contain the crowds before the
days of modern communication. Obstacles and opposition neither hindered the
great preacher.
Now Dan Nelson, recently
retired Pastor of First Baptist Church Camarillo, California (serving there 35
years) has captured Whitefield in probably the most concise chronological
biography of his life. Following a lifetime of study, Nelson puts you back in
time when the spirit of Revival lingered over two continents. Learn of this
spiritual giant of whom Spurgeon said was his "human model of ministry and
preaching."
"A Burning and Shining
Light: The Testimony and Witness of George Whitefield" by Dan Nelson is
available by contacting Dan thru messenger on Facebook for $17.99 plus $2 for
shipping. Don't miss this book. It can inspire and challenge you. Dan can be
contacted through email at gospel4you@fbccamarillo.com or
called at 805 484-2879.
John MacArthur says,
"Dan Nelson’s biography of George Whitefield is a wonderfully engaging
chronicle of a truly great life. I love the rich insights into Whitefield’s
personality and opinions." —John Macarthur Pastor, author, President, the
Masters' Seminary.
