By Christy Barritt

Americans’ View on Same-Sex Marriage Shifts 

In 2006, sociologists at Rice University polled 1,300 adults randomly, asking them, “The only legal marriage should be between one man and one woman. Do you agree, neither agree nor disagree, or disagree?” Six years later, researchers conducted the same poll among a similar group of Americans.

In 2006, 57 percent of the respondents agreed that marriage should be between one man and one woman. In 2012, 53 percent agreed.

The university was able to see how the same group of people had shifted in their views over the years. Researchers noted that some people who originally supported traditional marriage changed their minds, but also that some people who supported same-sex marriage changed their minds as well. In fact, the authors said that 28 percent of those surveyed actually switched from disagreeing to agreeing that marriage should be between one man and one woman.

The study also pointed out that Americans are becoming more and more divided on this hot topic.

Southern Baptist Chaplains Set Parameters 

The North American Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention announced that it’s prohibiting Baptist military chaplains from performing, attending, or supporting same-sex weddings, either on or off base.

“We want to clearly articulate in writing for the Department of Defense that these are our expectations,” said Mike Ebert, a spokesman for the NAMB.

The decision came on the heels of both the Supreme Court’s decision to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and the new Pentagon policy, which offers travel leave for same-sex couples wanting to marry.

NAMB president Kevin Ezell has asked Christians to pray for their chaplains in these changing times.

“[It’s] so important that our chaplains uphold sound doctrine, while showing everyone the love and forgiveness Jesus offers,” said Ezell.

Do We Think These Are the End Times?

More than four in 10 people over the age of 18 believe that “the world is currently living in the ‘end times’ as described by prophecies in the Bible.”

That’s according to a new poll conducted by the Barna Group.

Barna found that 54 percent of Protestants and 77 percent of evangelicals claimed to believe we’re living in the end times.

Catholics had a different view. Seventy-three percent said the end times were not on us.

The numbers could also be broken down by race. Thirty-nine percent of white Americans said the end is near, while 48 percent of Hispanics and 54 percent of blacks said the same.

Those who are married (46 percent) and families with kids at home (47 percent) also reported believing the end was near.

Christian Food Pantry Loses Government’s Help

A Christian food pantry is no longer eligible for government food donations after its workers refused to stop praying with its clients.

The Christian Service Center in Lake City, Florida has served food to low-income residents for the past 31 years. CSC also prays with clients and asks them if they would like to learn more about Christ. According to the center’s director, clients do not have to accept these offers.

Under a new contract with the USDA, the CSC was asked to halt the religious aspects of its program, as well as take down pictures of Jesus and the 10 Commandments that were hanging on the center’s walls.

The USDA said that the mandate was necessary in order to comply with church and state regulations.

The government usually contributes 30 to 40 percent of the CSC’s total supply. Despite that, the center’s leaders said they will not back down from their beliefs.

Christy Barritt is an award-winning author, freelance writer, and speaker living in Chesapeake, Virginia. She and her husband Scott have two sons.
www.christybarritt.com