News round-up: August 21

Fake gay pastor disturbs American viewers

Impastor is a new US sitcom about a con man, Buddy Dobbs (played by Smallville‘s Michael Rosenbaum), who assumes the identity of an homosexual minister. Such a controversial premise for a TV comedy series has sparked plenty of American Christian groups to criticise the way Impastor presents the Christian faith. While those behind the series claim it doesn’t intend to mock Christianity, various prominent Christian groups disagree. Movieguide has been seeking donations to fund its campaign against the show, while advocacy group One Million Moms states Impastor has “crossed the line” with its negative depiction of a pastor.
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Australia’s biggest Christian retail chain bought by Bible Society

Two of Australia’s best known Christian organisations — retailer Koorong and the Bible Society — have teamed up. Bible Society has purchased Koorong’s operations, forging a partnership that aims to further encourage Australians to embrace the living word and the countless ways it can impact us all. “Bible Society and Koorong share a common goal and we believe that by coming together, we have the potential to transform hundreds of thousands of lives,” said Greg Clarke, CEO of Bible Society Australia.
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God does help those who help themselves?

A provocative article about community aid in Rwanda claims that the answer to addressing global poverty is not hand-outs. Instead, a “hand up” is a better solution for addressing needs across the world. But the key element noted in the Rwandan success stories was how intentional assistance and Christian faith came together. When this happens, the empowered poor can help themselves — with God’s help.
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Slovakia to only accept Christian refugees

Presenting a migration policy that some have labelled “discrimination”, the Slovakian government will not take in Muslim refugees fleeing violence in Syria. While the UNHCR is calling upon European nations to be inclusive, Slovakia maintains that if Muslim migrants tried to settle in their country, they would not feel included. This is due to there being no mosques in Slovakia. With the EU coming under increased pressure to settle refugees from neighbouring war-torn regions such as Syria, Slovakia will receive Christian refugees from Syria.
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