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It's Saturday, April 29, 2023.

Today’s edition covers a sold-out satanic convention in Boston this weekend, a study that finds most born-again Christians don’t believe Jesus was sinless, and more.

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Of Christian Concern

“THE LARGEST SATANIC GATHERING IN HISTORY” IS HAPPENING THIS WEEKEND

The sold-out satanic gathering called SatanCon 2023, dubbed “the largest satanic gathering in history,” began noon yesterday at the Boston Marriott Copley Place. The event is organized by the Salem-based Satanic Temple, an organization known for erecting an 8.5-foot statue of the pagan deity Baphomet in front of government buildings in protest of the presence of Ten Commandment monuments on public property, and for their pro-abortion advocacy. They claim not to believe in Satan but to use satanic imagery to symbolize their skepticism of Christianity.

The event, which celebrates the Satanic Temple’s 10th anniversary, features satanic rituals, entertainment, and discussion panels. Speakers’ talks include topics like “visible satanism in rural America,” “deconstructing your religious upbringing,” “reclaiming the trans body,” and “Satanism and self-pleasure.” The gathering’s theme is “Witch’s Night,” in observance of the pagan holiday May Eve, and it is advertised as “a weekend of blasphemy and remembrance.”

SURVEY FINDS MOST “BORN-AGAIN CHRISTIANS” DON’T BELIEVE JESUS WAS SINLESS

A report released last week revealed that less than half of born-again Christians believe Jesus lived sinlessly on Earth. The findings come from The American Worldview Inventory 2023, which identified “born-again Christians” as those who say “they believe they will go to Heaven after they die on Earth, but only because they have confessed their sins and accepted Jesus Christ as their savior.”

The survey found that only 44% of these born-again Christians affirmed that “Jesus did not commit sins during His time on Earth,” down from 58% in 2020. Also remarkable, only 46% (down from 88%) affirmed that they have a unique, God-given calling or purpose for their lives, 44% (down from 58%) affirmed that the Bible is unambiguous in its teaching about abortion, and 48% (down from 60%) affirmed that human life is sacred. The report points to the impact of the pandemic as the cause for these shifts in Americans’ faith and worldviews.

ARGUMENTS TO BE HEARD ON WEDNESDAY FOR THE ABOLITION OF ABORTION IN MISSOURI ACT

The Missouri Senate Health and Welfare Committee will have a hearing for the Abolition of Abortion in Missouri Act, SB356, this Wednesday, May 3, at 9:30am local time at the Missouri State Capitol in Jefferson City. This act seeks to ensure that “the unborn child at every stage of development has all the rights, privileges, and immunities available to other persons, citizens, and residents” of Missouri.

If passed, the act would establish equal protection for unborn children by effectively adding abortion to the criminal code. Those who commit criminal acts against the unborn would be penalized in a like manner to those who commit such acts against citizens who are already born.

Supporters of the bill have urged everyone who can to rally at the Missouri State Capitol that morning, to show support for the bill. They have also encouraged everyone who can, even those who live outside of Missouri, to contact the legislators to voice support.

Also Noteworthy

→ Country music star Granger Smith announced earlier this month that he’s leaving the music industry to pursue ministry. In an interview with Fox News host Trey Gowdy, Granger explained he couldn’t reconcile seeking his own glory on stage with the self-denial to which Jesus calls His followers.

→ News personality Tucker Carlson, just three days before he was ousted from Fox News on Monday, spoke at The Heritage Foundation’s 50th anniversary gala, encouraging Americans to take 10 minutes a day to pray for the state of the nation. A Tuesday article by Vanity Fair theorized that this “spiritual talk” is the reason he was fired. Carlson’s subsequent public comments did little to shed light on the real reason, and other theories abound.

→ Conservative podcaster Steven Crowder, a professing Christian, announced his divorce from wife Hilary on Tuesday, stating it was her decision. Footage then emerged of Crowder “emotionally abusing” Hilary. Hilary’s family released a statement alleging years of mental and emotional abuse.

→ The Netherlands announced plans earlier this month to legalize euthanasia for children of any age, with parental consent. Regulations previously limited euthanasia to age 12 and up. The new rules are estimated to result in the killing of up to 10 children each year who are experiencing “hopeless and unbearable suffering.” Overall, euthanasia killings in the Netherlands rose 14% last year, with over 8,700 killed.

Content Catch-Up

Recent, notable content by Christian creators.*

→ Men CAN Get Pregnant. The Bible Says So.: Project 18:15 creator Anthony Langer (yours truly) reveals the Bible verse that proves men can get pregnant—though perhaps not in the way you might think. (Article)

→ Sex and the Church. Clarity is Kindness.: Pastor James Kearny describes his failures in handling sexual identity in the church, and defends a better way. (Video)

→ Three Worlds of Evangelicalism: Conservative writer Aaron Renn outlines “the three worlds of evangelicalism”: pre-1994, 1994 to 2014, and 2014 to present. (Article)

→ 5 Reasons Why People Ask Their Pastors Questions: The social media influencer known as Failing Pastor identifies five motives people often have when quizzing their pastor, none of which are to actually get an answer. (Article)

*Not necessarily an endorsement

The Bible, Briefly

A Cheeky Proverb

Consider this biblical phrase: “Nothing you desire can compare with her.”

Whoever it refers to, it’s a superlative statement. Is it hyperbole? Is it a mere romantic sentiment? Before turning to its context, appreciate the intensity and extreme exclusivity of this single phrase itself. 

Nothing you desire can compare with her.

Nothing you desire? Nothing? There are many things we each desire, and often with great enthusiasm. What or who do you desire most? 

If your answer is something other than what this ancient proverb recommends, then your greatest desire has—you might say—something to be desired. When it comes to desires, you’ve got a shoddy standard. That might seem a bit cheeky, but that’s the claim.

So, if nothing you desire can compare with “her,” who is she? Here’s the context:

“Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding, for the gain from her is better than gain from silver and her profit better than gold. She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her. Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her; those who hold her fast are called blessed.” (Proverbs 3:13-18)

So then, “her” is wisdom, also known as understanding. And why is she so desirable? The answer lies within this passage, and we’ll dive in a little deeper next week.

Church History Tidbit

A Must-Read Ancient Christian Text: The Didache

The Didache (DID-a-key) is a Christian text from the first or second century, written in Greek, that was apparently popular among early believers. The title literally means “Teaching,” and is short for “The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles to the Nations” or simply “The Teaching of the Apostles.” This short treatise—a full copy of which was only rediscovered in 1873—was considered by some to be part of the New Testament before the canon was settled upon. Since it teaches a number of essential doctrines and practices, the document was likely used to instruct new converts.

The text has 15 short “chapters” (about seven pages total, by modern standards), which can be considered in four parts. First, a discourse on “the two ways” (the way of life and the way of death) teaches basic Christian doctrine and moral behavior. Second, there is instruction on how to eat, fast, and pray, and on how to administer baptism, the Lord’s Supper, and (in the Coptic version of the text) ointment or incense. Third, it teaches on Christian community life: how to treat Christian leaders, show hospitality, gather on Sunday, etc. Finally, this handbook of sorts presents a “little apocalypse,” a brief description of the end times and an encouragement to be faithful. 

The introduction to a 2016 publication of the Didcahe offers this fitting remark: “The Didache is a book that all Christians can find profit in. Scripture weaves through the text's clear teachings, demonstrating why the book was so well-loved and appreciated by the early Church.”

Read it for yourself here.

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Why "18:15"? The name Project 18:15 is based on Proverbs 18:15: “An intelligent heart acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.” The aim is for this weekly email—a Christian news briefing, a Bible study, and a Church history lesson rolled into one—to be one way you keep abreast of current events and acquire knowledge you might not acquire elsewhere.

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