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Just because something sounds Christian doesn’t mean it necessarily is. Sometimes demonic forces masquerade as light and lurk unnoticed among believers.On this episode of “Strange Encounters,” Rick Burgess warns Christians against a “spiritual counterfeit” that has already taken root in many modern churches: the Passion Translation. The Passion Translation is a modern English paraphrase of the Bible created by former missionary Brian Simmons starting around 2012, with completion plans set for 2029. It aims to convey the "fiery passion" and emotional heart of God through dynamic, readable, heart-level language.Rick argues that it is a dangerous pitfall.“The more we researched this labor of love by Brian Simmons, the more my spirit was grieved and the more concern I began to have,” he says. “Here on ‘Strange Encounters,’ we absolutely believe with zero hesitation that the Passion Translation of the Bible is not of God. You need to get it out of your house if it's in your house.”His first qualm is that the Passion Translation calls itself a translation when it’s really a paraphrase. “It’s already being deceitful,” he warns.His second issue is that “Brian Simmons has an egalitarian view of men and women in ministry and marriage,” meaning “he believes that men and women are interchangeable in the church and in marriage.”Further, the Passion Translation, he argues, uses “hyper-charismatic” language that has “never been in Scripture.”It was also not written by teams of scholars who can “check each other.” “Brian seems to be the sole translator here. He tries to act like there may be other people, but he never tells us who they are,” Rick says.He accuses Simmons of being “deceitful” by using a later Syriac Bible version from 500 years after the Greek New Testament and falsely calling it the "original Aramaic," making the Passion Translation “pure speculation” rather than a real translation.But Rick’s number one issue with the Passion Translation is that it was supposedly inspired by a divine encounter. In 2009, Simmons claims that Jesus appeared to him and personally commissioned him to create the Passion Translation, promising to help him unlock secrets of the Hebrew language and give him supernatural downloads of revelation for the project, which supposedly included visits from an angel.“We're to believe that all those who translated the Bible into English correctly — none of them got it right? And some guy named Brian Simmons was deemed so valuable by God that Jesus went to visit him, touched his forehead, enlarged his brain so he could translate the Bible correctly for us?” Rick asks skeptically.“He might have been visited by a supernatural being, but it wasn't Jesus and it wasn't an angel, and I have zero problem saying that and saying that boldly,” he declares.What Simmons has done, Rick argues, is create a faulty version of Scripture that is appealing because it “makes people feel good.” But this is “incredibly dangerous” because “the Scriptures itself tells us never trust your feelings,” he says.“This is why it's so dangerous.”To hear more, watch the episode above.Want more from Rick Burgess?To enjoy more bold talk and big laughs, subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.

In his new book “Communion: Finding My Way Back to Faith," Vice President JD Vance unveils the story of his spiritual journey — straying from the Christianity of his youth, periods of atheism, and his eventual conversion to Catholicism in 2019.In a recent interview with BlazeTV’s Allie Beth Stuckey, Vance opened up about his turbulent faith journey, the pain of losing his anchor in Christianity, and what ultimately led him back to God through Catholicism. Raised primarily by his Baptist “Mamaw,” Vance’s childhood was defined by Scripture readings, televised Billy Graham revivals, and occasional church visits — an upbringing he describes as devout but “unchurched.”When Mamaw passed away when Vance was 20 years old, the faith she had raised him with fizzled quickly.“I was an atheist two years later ... Christianity to me was Mamaw, and when that was gone ... I just didn't really have any anchor to Christianity anymore,” he says.But there was another factor in his falling away from faith: the evangelical church's heavy emphasis on culture wars, especially the Terri Schiavo case, which he felt distanced from in light of his impending Iraq deployment, loss of his grandmother, and his mother’s severe drug addiction.“Why are we talking so much about [Terri Schiavo] when I saw so much that was going wrong in my own community that it felt like the church wasn't speaking to,” he recounts, emphasizing the importance of Christians caring about both public policy and the individual issues impacting communities.“There was this sense of almost betrayal that there was a total chaotic situation in my own life, and the faith didn't speak to it in the same way. And again, was that totally fair? No, but it's certainly part of the story of why I lost my faith,” he confesses.As a born-and-raised Southern Baptist, Allie has a different perspective on evangelicalism.“Something I really appreciate about evangelicals is not only, you know, doctrinal fidelity and being consistent on that, but the willingness to take that and take those doctrines into the culture and to say, ‘Look, if God is the creator and the authority of all things, then that has to dictate what we think about life ... [and] all of these other other issues as well,” she explains, “and when Christians don't do that, especially if evangelicals didn't do that, we'd be in a really bad spot.”Despite these strengths, Vance ultimately found his way back to faith through a different tradition.After achieving much worldly success, he found himself feeling empty and uninspired despite being surrounded by fellow high achievers at Yale Law School.“These Christians in my life, they're actually the ones who seem to have it figured out. Like they're much happier, they're much healthier, they're much more well-adjusted,” Vance recalls.“So that got me on the pathway of like, well, if they're right about virtue and they're right about character and they're right about the things that actually matter, maybe they're right about Jesus. Maybe this actually comes from some inner truth that radiates outward.”This intellectual and personal reckoning eventually led Vance to Catholicism in 2019.To hear more about his spiritual journey — including what ultimately drew him to Catholicism rather than the evangelical faith of his youth — watch the full interview above.Want more from Allie Beth Stuckey?To enjoy more of Allie’s upbeat and in-depth coverage of culture, news, and theology from a Christian, conservative perspective, subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.

Citing "alarming violence," a New Jersey community has decided to cancel its Fourth of July celebration ahead of America's 250th anniversary, KYW-TV reported.The township of Mount Holly and its police department released a joint announcement earlier this week about the cancellation, the station said.'We understand the disappointment this decision may cause.'"We regret to announce the cancellation of the 2026 Mount Holly Township Independence Day Celebration," the announcement said, according to KYW. "This decision was not made lightly — over the past few months, we have been meticulously monitoring local and regional events throughout New Jersey, assessing which events have been canceled due to alarming violence, as well as those communities that have continued their events with significantly increased security measures and protocol put into place."Mount Holly is about 45 minutes east of Philadelphia.KYW said the announcement indicated the township couldn't create an "actionable solution in such a short period of time to alleviate our security concerns without incurring additional, significant costs to the township and our residents.""We understand the disappointment this decision may cause and extend our heartfelt thanks and gratitude to all who have supported this event over the years," the announcement also said, according to the station.While Mount Holly didn't get into specifics regarding the "alarming violence" the announcement cites, KYW reported that numerous carnivals recently have been canceled. In May, the Roebling Carnival in Florence Township was canceled after the first night when crowds became unruly, the station said, adding that a police officer was injured amid numerous fights. Florence is about 20 minutes north of Mount Holly.WTXF-TV noted that several recent area events have been "impacted by violence, including large fights involving teenagers."RELATED: Fights erupt, deputies hurt after more than 1,000 teens descend upon Florida amusement park in planned 'takeover' Indeed, a rash of "teen takeovers" have plagued various communities around the country over the last several months:With one culprit claiming that "we was bored!" hundreds of teens rampaged a Bronx mall and even fought with police in a planned "takeover" on Presidents' Day in February.A violent Florida teen takeover in May led to the arrests of 22 suspects as young as 12, officials said, adding that it resulted in "significant disruptions, fights, and other issues in the park."A teen brawl in a Washington, D.C., Chipotle restaurant last month saw combatants using chairs as weapons — and occurred just one day after U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro announced she would prosecute parents of youths taking part in teen takeovers.In contrast, Chicago aldermen this week rejected a proposed ordinance that would have held parents of teen takeover participants financially accountable for their children's actions.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Father’s Day can be complicated.For some, it is a day of gratitude. For others, it is a day of grief, anger, regret, or longing. Some remember fathers they dearly loved. Others struggle to remember a father at all.The best fathers point toward a greater Voice. The worst fathers cannot eclipse it.Thinking about Father’s Day recently, a friend sighed and said, “I guess I’ll have to figure out a way to honor my father.”The hesitation said more than the sentence.Years ago, a caller to my radio program spoke of caring for his aging father, an abusive alcoholic who at that point required assistance. The caller was 52 years old, yet he confessed that whenever he was around his father, he felt 11 again.The years had passed. The wounds had not.Another friend put it more bluntly: “My father was a pedophile.”No explanation followed. No attempt softened it. Just the stark reality of a life marked by a father’s betrayal.I once heard a well-known minister recount standing at his father’s grave at 16, feeling as though he were losing his mind. Looking at the headstone, he cried through his tears, “You can’t leave. You didn’t tell me what you think of me.”He was not grieving the loss of money, advice, or even protection. He was grieving the loss of a verdict.For all our confusion about identity, one truth remains stubborn: People know when something essential is missing. Despite endless debates about who we are, millions spend their lives searching for the same thing — a father.Men sire children every day. Being a father is something else.A father forms. He blesses. He corrects. He protects. He teaches. He commissions. With a word, he can instill courage or fear. He can strengthen a child for the journey ahead or leave wounds that linger for decades.A father’s voice can penetrate places explanations never reach.Forty-three years ago, my wife awoke from a three-week coma following a catastrophic automobile accident. Broken, disoriented, and in unimaginable pain, she did not know where she was. She did not understand what had happened. She could not comprehend what lay ahead.The first words she heard were spoken by her father.RELATED: NIGHTMARE as 3-year-old winds up in crocodile pit — suspect is already back on the street Krishan Kariyawasam/NurPhoto/Getty Images“Daddy’s here, Gracie. Daddy’s here.”She did not know where “here” was. But she knew her father’s voice.Years later, one of our sons fell on a playground and split his chin open. I rushed him to his pediatrician, where he needed stitches. As I held him while the doctor sewed him up, he looked at me with fear, confusion, and the unspoken question every hurting child eventually asks: Why are you letting this happen?He knew nothing about infection, wound care, or why stitches mattered. No explanation I offered could bridge the gap between what he experienced and what I understood. So I kept repeating the only thing I knew to say.“It’s OK. Daddy’s here.”The explanation would have meant nothing to him. Presence meant everything.There are fathers who leave too soon. Fathers who abandon. Fathers who wound. Fathers who spend a lifetime trying to repair the damage they have done. There are fathers whose voices still comfort decades later and fathers whose words still wound.Many spend years trying to wipe their father’s face off God.But Scripture does not ask us to measure God by our fathers. It asks us to measure our fathers by God.Even when his only begotten Son cried out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” the Father had not surrendered his authority, abandoned his purpose, or ceased loving his Son. The darkness was real. The suffering was real. But the cross was not chaos. It was the predetermined plan of God for the redemption of his people.Life eventually leads all of us into terrifying places we do not understand: hospital rooms, funeral homes, gravesides, cancer centers, long nights, and hard diagnoses. In those moments, we want explanations. Yet faith does not require complete understanding.The older I get, the more I understand how my son felt lying on that examination table. He was too small to grasp what was happening to him. He could not understand why I allowed it. He only knew I was there.Living in Montana, I am reminded daily of how small we all are. The mountains were here long before any of us arrived. The rivers carved their courses before our names were spoken. The wind that sweeps across this valley pays little attention to our plans, fears, or accomplishments.We are smaller than we imagine.RELATED: Want to leave a legacy for your kids? Focus on living like this. Boonyachoat/Getty ImagesYet older than the mountains, older than the rivers, older than the wind itself, is a Voice that has never fallen silent.When Gracie’s father sat beside her hospital bed and whispered, “Daddy’s here,” he gave a frightened young woman waking to a world she could not understand a gift beyond explanation.But even that voice was only an echo.Every good father is.The best fathers point toward a greater Voice. The worst fathers cannot eclipse it.When explanations fail, that Voice still calls to his children.Perhaps that is why those words still move me after all these years.“Daddy’s here, Gracie. Daddy’s here.”In a frightened world, they remind me of a greater promise.