The War of Christmas - A.D. 2019

Pride is a destructive force that can separate us from God, damage our relationship with others, and
produce devastation in our spiritual life. No wonder Peter wrote in 1st Peter 5:
(5b) Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble."
6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time,
7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

We can be so consumed with how others act that we are not tending to our own spiritual life.  We can become angry and lash out at those with whom we disagree; we can even become impatient with God for not fixing the person who is the object of our disdain.  As we face the new year, we can become concerned with making sure our house is in order, that we are walking before God clean and humble, and that we are not allowing ourselves to get distracted by the schemes of the enemy to get us off track.

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Spiritual pride is a dangerous entity, and we have to be so careful in being caught up in another's sinfulness that we ignore our own propensity to sin.  God does not rank sin - only one will separate us from God, and Jesus died for all of them. Luke 18 states:
10 "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.
11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, 'God, I thank You that I am not like other men--extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector.
12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.'
13 And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me a sinner!'

You could say it was not the so-called "War on Christmas," that we hear so much about, a conflict between those who want to express our Savior's birth and those who would want to restrict that expression.  No, this year, in the final days of the second decade of the twenty-first century, the "War of Christmas," broke out, and the rhetorical shot came from a Christian publication - the target: essentially, other Christians.  The subject: their political views.

Of course, the mainstream media covered it, and at a time when we can show ourselves to be united around one Savior, the fissures in the body of Christ were in full display.

As I mentioned in my news update, The 3, on Monday's Meeting House, the outgoing editor-in-chief of Christianity Today, a venerable Christian magazine and website founded by the late Billy Graham, called for the President of the United States to be "removed," either by impeachment, which the editor, Mark Galli, feels is a slam dunk, with irrefutable evidence.  Or by being defeated in his quest for a second term.

Much has been written about the Galli editorial.  The Christian Post has been providing comprehensive coverage of the piece and response to it.  It stated:

Galli argued in the Thursday editorial that Trump has to be removed from office because he violated the Constitution and is “profoundly immoral.”

“... The president of the United States attempted to use his political power to coerce a foreign leader to harass and discredit one of the president’s political opponents. That is not only a violation of the Constitution; more importantly, it is profoundly immoral,” Galli wrote in the piece published a day after Trump became the third president in U.S. history to be impeached by the House of Representatives.

But, he also had hard words for fellow Christians, saying: "To the many evangelicals who continue to support Mr. Trump in spite of his blackened moral record, we might say this: Remember who you are and whom you serve. Consider how your justification of Mr. Trump influences your witness to your Lord and Savior."

Franklin Graham almost immediately denounced the editorial, which invoked the name of his father, saying that Billy Graham would not have agreed with it and that the elder Graham knew and voted for President Trump in 2016.  In a letter signed by close to 200 evangelical leaders, according to the Post, those who signed related:

"We are not theocrats and we recognize that our imperfect political system is a reflection of the fallen world within which we live, reliant upon the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, which is freely given to sinner and saint, alike.

“We are proud to be numbered among those in history who, like Jesus, have been pretentiously accused of having too much grace for tax collectors and sinners, and we take deeply our personal responsibility to render unto Caesar what is Caesar's — our public service."

They also denounced assertions Galli made in an essay published last year in the book Still Evangelical?, in which he derided the 76% of white self-identified evangelical voters who helped elect Trump in 2016. He described those individuals as "evangelicals [who] often haven’t finished college, and if they have jobs (and apparently most of them don’t), they are blue collar jobs or entry level work.” In the same piece, Galli referred to himself as belonging to a different group of evangelicals, the “elite” evangelicals.

Perhaps one of the most incendiary and irresponsible portions of the Galli editorial had to do with his allegations of how the Christian witness was being harmed around the world.  In a Christian Post editorial, John Grano and Richard Land wrote:

Mr. Galli asks evangelicals supporting Trump to consider how continued support for the president will impede and compromise evangelical witness for Jesus to an unbelieving world. One might well ask Mr. Galli how his obvious elitist disdain and corrosive condescension for fellow Christians with whom he disagrees, as ignorant, uneducated, “aliens in our midst” might well damage evangelical witness to an unbelieving world. Unbelievers might well conclude, “These Christian preach love for neighbor, but they certainly don’t seem to practice what they preach!”

Grano and Land are both in editorial leadership over at the Post.  Incidentially, one of their writers, Napp Nazworth, resigned upon learning that the publication was planning to publish a pro-Trump editorial.  Trinity Broadcasting also took aim at the Christianity Today editorial.

The final statement: "CT’s disdainful, dismissive, elitist posture toward their fellow Christians may well do far more long-term damage to American Christianity and its witness than any current prudential support for President Trump will ever cause."

There is certainly much to consider here, as we embark upon another election year.  I think of the statement that Stuart Shepard, who was once with Focus on the Family and Family Policy Alliance, formerly a regular guest on The Meeting House.  He had a very simple formula for voting; allow me to paraphrase: find the candidate whose positions best line up with your Christian values, and vote for him or her.  That holds true in 2020, as it has throughout history.  

Go back to 2016:  I remember my conversations with J.C. Derrick and others at WORLD Magazine about the election; WORLD was publishing a Christian leaders poll on a regular basis. Throughout the period leading up to the election, Marco Rubio was a favorite of these leaders.  Ted Cruz was also a popular evangelical choice, as I recall.  Trump, well, did not have a significant level of support among evangelical leaders in the primaries - but in a binary contest between Trump and Hillary Clinton, Christians saw someone who talked a good game on abortion, religious liberty, and Supreme Court justices.  They knew that Hillary Clinton's support for abortion-on-demand, as well as her views on religious freedom were non-starters.  They did not wish to sit out the election or vote for a third-party candidate.  So, they voted for Trump.  Three years of a sea of digital ink have not changed that fact.  It's not a matter of Christian witness or of endorsing sin - for all politicians, like all people, are sinners in need of a Savior - it's a matter of political practicality and participation.

Galli has a right to his own opinion, but perhaps, as the editor-in-chief of a once well-respected publication, he should be more careful with his words. So should each of us - we have to think about the consequences of what we say. Now, he has ushered in a new round of anti-Trump/anti-Trump supporter articles.  And, make no mistake, it has been alleged that there will be a concerted effort by Christian organizations to sway the 2020 election away from Trump.  But, again, evangelicals will face perhaps a similar binary choice to what they saw in 2016.

Regarding Trump, there seems to be confusion between support for policies for support for behavior. Who knows the nature that evangelical leaders have with Trump - could they have spoken to and ministered to him, especially about his personal behavior?  Does Mr. Galli possess some secret wisdom?  Some of the immoral behavior for which he has been taken to task occurred a decade ago, a point that Eric Metaxas made in a Washington Examiner piece:

"Trump's infidelities were committed at least a decade before he became president," Metaxas said. "That doesn't make the infidelity any less odious. But when you're looking for context, whether one commits the infidelities while president of the United States or in the White House itself or not seems to me significant."

How about the issue of Trump's Tweets? Is that a ground for impeachment? What are evangelical leaders who support Trump doing wrong? Are they sinning? Have they compromised? What is the sin that a Trump voter has committed?

Finally, I think that we have to be very careful when we start getting into judging degrees of morality. A recent series of editorials at The Christian Post featured a Christian author, Chris Thurman, who declared that Trump was more than just flawed, he was evil with no redeeming qualities.  He issued a somewhat tepid apology for his statements and suggested that "I am going to go to my grave convinced that Donald Trump is, objectively, a severely mentally and morally disturbed individual, unfit to hold the office of the presidency, only going to get worse over time, and that we must remove him from office by any legal means possible" - he encouraged Trump to get mental help and his supporters to expose themselves to materials that are consistent with Thurman's point of view.  Also, in his faux apology, Thurman declares that he has allowed his anger over a laundry list of Trump indiscretions, and, yes, he names quite a few of them, turn into sin.  We have to make sure that our politics and our appraisal of someone's personal character do not create anger.

And, this is a demonstration of something that is very dangerous for Christians - to get pulled in to judging someone's heart.  Apparently, in the world of Thurman and others like him, there is sinful or flawed, and then there is something beyond that. It appears Mr. Galli buys into the "degrees of sinfulness" mantra.  Eric Metaxas disputes this line of thinking in the Washington Examiner:

"When you call somebody morally repugnant or anything along those lines, the question is always: compared to what? Those of us who've subscribed to the basic theology of Scripture would say that we're all morally repugnant. So, that kind of a statement becomes meaningless for those of us who look to the Bible for our standards. So, then the question is, what is it that the president has done that makes [the necessity of Trump's removal] so clear to the folks at Christianity Today?"

We are all fallen creatures, and we have to guard against spiritual pride, which can open the door to all sorts of sin, including anger.  And, in trying to remove the speck from the eye of another, Jesus cautions against being blinded by the log in our own.

Snapshots of Generosity

Humility, service, compassion - these are characteristics of our Savior that He wants to manifest
through us. Philippians 2 states:
3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.
4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.
5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,
6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God,
7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men...

Jesus is risen from the dead and He is alive in the hearts of His people.  We represent the voice of God on this earth and are part of His everlasting Kingdom.  As His representatives, we are called to lift Him up - and we do this by fervent devotion to His Word and faithful service to those with whom we come in contact.  We lift Him up by humbling ourselves before Him and living a life of generosity, reflecting the One who has given so much for us.

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In the 12th chapter of John, following the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, we recognize that God the Father had spoken, affirming His Son. We pick up in the Scripture passage:
30 Jesus answered and said, "This voice did not come because of Me, but for your sake.
31 Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out.
32 And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself."

With Christmas in the rear-view mirror, we can continue to consider the generous spirit that we can express as we allow the Lord to fill our hearts with His love.  I came across some examples recently that can inspire us as we consider how we can walk in the love of Christ.

First stop: Atlanta, where, according to ChristianHeadlines.com, Cascade United Methodist Church paid off $10,000 worth of layaway expenses for 23 families at a Walmart department store. The article quotes the senior pastor, Kevin Murriel; he said at an indoor Walmart ceremony, “We’ve been called by God to be here, and we want to be a blessing to those in our community...We believe that God is calling us to do [this].”

The pastor told the recipient families, “We aren’t asking you for anything...All we ask is that at some point in your life, that you will pay it forward – that you will bless someone else. Because we’re all blessed to be a blessing.”  The article states, "The church posted a video of the ceremony on Facebook that was viewed more than 10,000 times and sparked plenty of feedback."

Next stop: New Jersey, where a church in Paramus has packed over a thousand meals for needy children, according to The Christian Post.  The church is the Paramus campus of The Life Christian Church, and senior pastor Terry Smith "told The Christian Post that the food-packing event was consistent with one of the church’s core values, namely, to be 'enthusiastic servants of all.'"  The church partnered with a local charity that distributes the food kits to children across the region.

Still further north, in Massachusetts, a church is helping female former inmates who have recently been released from prison.  According to Christian Headlines:

Former female inmates from Massachusetts are receiving a little extra help this holiday season, thanks to St. John’s Episcopal Church of Ashfield, according to the Christian Post.

The congregation started a ministry called “Love in a Backpack” that supplies former inmates with three bags of items packed into a backpack. One bag contains personal care items and toiletries; another, food and water; and a third, a Bible and a hand-written note of encouragement.

Mary Link, who is in leadership for the ministry, said, “We have experienced the joy of doing God’s work through our hands, serving the women most in need during a fragile and scary transition time..." She mentioned that "other churches and groups" had partnered with St. John's.

And, there's the attorney and mom in Arkansas who bought 1,500 pairs of shoes from a Payless store that was going out of business.  According to Baptist Press, after Carrie Jernigan bought the shoes, she went to her pastor, Lee Denton and shared she was planning to give them all away anonymously.  By the end of that summer, there were still shoes, and the pastor had an idea.

"When I found out Carrie had purchased the shoes back in the early summer, I had mentioned to her that we could make it a big event," said Denton. "After she shared her initial Facebook post, it went viral within 24 hours, and we were scrambling to decide what, when, how and where."

Her post received national attention, the event became a huge back-to-school event, and Jernigan was able to buy more shoes, as well as school supplies.  And, 5,000 people showed up in a town where the population is 5,748.  Carrie offered some Kingdom mentality, saying: "I think so many times in our community that our businesses are not working with our churches and our people...Everything is so individualized. We had almost every big church in town help, almost every business, the mayor, our police forces, almost all these elected officials. There is just one kingdom, and that's what I think communities like ours have to get better at doing. I think the event is exactly what God wanted that day -- that there was a showing of all these different types of organizations that can work together for Him."

Christmas is certainly a time for the body of Christ to shine, but we really should be known for our generosity.  God gave His Son, Jesus gave His life, and He has given us new life.  It is part of who we are to be selfless, putting the needs of others above our own.  When people see our love, they can be drawn to Christ, the presence of Christ in us.

In a time when there are many who are critical of the Church and of Christian people, we can flip the script and show people what it means to follow Christ.  Our willingness to serve others is a powerful reflection of our Savior.

So, in echoing the words of the Arkansas attorney, we can consider how we can be involved in Kingdom work.  We can focus on how we can exalt Christ and be devoted to advancing His work. And, it opens doors for us to share the "why" behind "what" we are doing.

Healing Through Music

Earlier this week, we concentrated on the significance of singing during the Christmas season and the powerful messages in song that we can experience.  Singing praise to God enables us to gain a greater sense of His presence and the lyrics of various songs can be a vehicle to communicate messages.  We
read in Colossians chapter 3:
16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

See the correlation here between the Word and worship?  How about John chapter 4, when Jesus said true worshippers would worship in spirit and truth.  The music we listen to can powerfully impact us in our minds and even our emotions.  Sometimes a song can touch us in a way that a sermon, book, or article will not.  I believe this is by God's design - He has created music in order to penetrate our hearts and help us to remember His truth.  The devil perverts that by using songs to weigh down the human spirit and try to relate his messages.  God can and will use music for His intent.

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I believe that God has given music as a gift, which can inspire, communicate, and even play a part in the healing of our hearts and even our bodies.  We can read in Psalm 105 about the power of music:

2 Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him; Talk of all His wondrous works!

3 Glory in His holy name; Let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the Lord!

4 Seek the Lord and His strength; Seek His face evermore!

A Nashville musician and non-profit founder believes in the power of music - so much so, that his organization, Instrumental Horizons, provides musical instruments and music therapy to children who are hospitalized or are in "underserved" communities, according to a ReligionNews.com piece on this 2017 college graduate who resides in Nashville.

His name is Luke Putney, and shortly following his graduation from Nashville's Belmont University, doctors detected a cancerous brain tumor requiring surgery.  This was not his first brain surgery - around ten years ago, he had a cancerous tumor removed, but was rendered blind by the cancer.

But, this did not stall his pursuit of his dreams, including wrestling - and music.

Music continues to be a significant part of Luke's life.  The article says that, as a result of this latest diagnosis:

Putney would eventually have nine surgeries and spend 100 days in the hospital. His love of music and his faith — and the support of his mom — sustained him. Though he lost the ability to play guitar and bass, Putney could still sing.

Luke says, regarding a verse in the Bible, Philippians 4:13: "I like the part that says, ‘I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me,’” he said. “But I really like the part which precedes that, which is to be content no matter what my circumstances. That speaks to me.”  He added:

“When I was in the hospital for over a hundred days, I was questioning: 'God, why is this happening to me? Why do I keep having to go back for more surgery?' I was in so much pain,” he said. “Then I remembered Paul in the prison and thought, 'Oh yeah, oh yeah, I’ve got to be content, no matter my circumstances.' And I thought about his words and they brought joy to me.”

He was released from the hospital, and he continued to be motivated to help his charity.  The article says:

He decided to walk a marathon to raise funds for Instrumental Horizons. Since he could only walk a little bit at a time, he broke it into small pieces – one mile a day for about a month, with a few days off for hospital visits.

Putney asked everyone he met to chip in a dollar for every mile he finished. By the time he finished the last mile, he’d collected more than $17,000 — all of which he said will go to fund a music therapy program in Cape Town, South Africa.

 And, Luke is continuing to pursue music.  ReligionNews.com reports:

While he still can’t play bass or guitar, Putney is slowly getting back into music. He’s been playing piano with one hand and returned to the recording studio this fall to finish an original song called “Cape Town (I Miss Africa).”

The piece also relates:

Putney, who described himself as a “hopeful, comedy-centric, Christ-following jumble of musical knowledge and smiles,” hopes to someday get back to playing music on his own.

Till then, he’ll stay focused on helping others through his charity, highlighting the healing power of music.

Putney said he’s felt that power in the past. He said the gift of a bass guitar right after his first brain surgery at age 12 changed his life. At the time, Putney said, he felt powerless and broken. But with that bass guitar in his hands, he felt ready to take on the world.

This story can help us consider a number of principles regarding the power of music:

For one thing, we can take steps to surround ourselves with content that can build us up.  That can include songs that exalt Christ and present messages that are consistent with Scripture.  We can establish, as I call it, an "atmosphere of worship."  Faith Radio can help you to do that, as we present in excess of 15 hours per day of songs that lift up that Lord and that can refresh and renew us.

Also, we can recognize how music play a part in changing us inwardly and even outwardly.  Listening to music, singing, and even playing instruments can alter our attitudes and provide encouragement.  Music can change the mood of a person or a group of people. Luke Putney is involved in music therapy and helps children by providing them with instruments to play.  We know that in a worship-filled venue, such as a church worship center or sanctuary, the songs that are sung and played have a power that is, in a sense, all their own, infused by the Spirit of God.  What a gift the Lord has given to us!

Giving Because He Gave

We can rejoice that God has given so much to us.  We have celebrated the gift of His Son, sent to
earth to redeem us, and our lives can be a reflection of His great love. 1st Timothy 6 states:
17 Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy.
18 Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share,
19 storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

The apostle Paul deals in this chapter with the idea of, as Jesus taught in Luke 12, being "rich toward God." That means we are to place the will of God above our own and the interests of others, as Philippians 2 teaches, above our own.  With a sense of humility, we can remember the One who humbled Himself, even to the point of death on a cross, so that we may be saved.  Humility and compassion communicate powerfully the presence of Almighty God in us.

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Because God, in His great love, has given so much to us, He calls us to be people motivated by and
acting in His love. In Luke chapter 12, Jesus shared the parable of a rich man - we pick up here:
18 So he said, 'I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods.
19 And I will say to my soul, "Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry." '
20 But God said to him, 'Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?'
21 So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God."

Over the past 10 years, the most generous nation on earth is...the United States of America.  That is according to an article on the MarketWatch website, covering what is called the World Giving Index.  The story states that the index is "a ranking that measured how likely residents of 128 countries were to practice acts of generosity." It goes on to say: "The index, from the U.K.-based nonprofit Charities Aid Foundation, is based on Gallup’s World Poll surveys of 1.3 million people."

The top 3 most generous nations: the U.S., Myanmar, and New Zealand.  The bottom 3: Yemen, Greece, and China. The article states:

The U.S. peaked on the World Giving Index in 2014, but has declined since then. The report authors called this a “worrying trend” that’s also happening in other developed countries.

The U.S. scored 64% in 2014 and 58% in 2018. The score is the average of “yes” responses to the three key questions asked in each country.

What were the three questions? They had to do with whether or not, in the last month, the respondents had: "helped a stranger or someone they didn’t know who needed help, donated money to charity, or volunteered their time to an organization."

The article also stated that, "While charities in the U.S. took in $427.71 billion in 2018 — an increase in total dollars from 2017 — giving by individual Americans dropped by 1.1%, a June 2019 Giving USA report found." It went on to say, "The overall amount given to charity increased because donations from corporations and foundations...increased by 5.4% and 7.3% respectively in 2018."

Interestingly enough, as a subhead in the article notes, "Both rich and poor countries are generous."  The story also notes:

“There is no one trait that points to a country’s generosity,” the World Giving Index authors said. The highest scoring countries “represent a wide range of geographies, religions, cultures and levels of wealth,” they noted.

And, apparently, Americans want to give more, according to a LendingTree survey that was referenced by MarketWatch.  While two-thirds of Americans have given to charity in the past year, just over 70% say that debt keeps them from giving as much as they would like to give.  Just over half of those surveyed said that income constraints kept them from donating more.

So, what do you make of this?  Well, for one thing, I believe that Americans are conditioned to give.  It's really part of our culture, and when you consider our nation was founded on Judeo-Christian principles, we know that compassion is a characteristic that many Americans possess.  We have a propensity to give back, and even the younger generations are driven to give to causes.

Specifically, God's people, who call on the name of Christ, have been given an innate desire to be generous.  If we are loving God, then it follows, as Jesus taught, that we would love our neighbor - and that goes beyond possessing good feelings and being nice - true Christian compassion involves giving of ourselves, and that includes the resources with which the Lord Himself has blessed us.

We also know that debt is an inhibitor of generosity - if we don't see the resources there, it is very easy to become discouraged. But, as it's been said, even someone who is trying to work through debt can give something, and in that obedience, it could release the power of God to more effectively work through those restrictions.

The Bible is a book of giving.  God is described as the giver of all good gifts, and He has shown His love for the people He has created by sending Jesus to give His life for all humanity.  As we reflect on how generous our Savior has been toward us, we can show our appreciation to Him by giving of the resources He has entrusted to us, not holding back, but allowing His love to flow through us.

Advent-ure December 23: Sing Unto the Lord

During this Christmas season, our lives can be enriched by singing the great carols that have endured throughout the years, that bring great insight into the significance of our Savior's birth.  Music can be
such a wonderful component of our spiritual lives, as Psalms reminds us. Psalm 98 states:
(1) Oh, sing to the Lord a new song! For He has done marvelous things; His right hand and His holy arm have gained Him the victory.
2 The Lord has made known His salvation; His righteousness He has revealed in the sight of the nations.

Because of the Advent of Christ, because of His coming to earth, He continued the process of bringing salvation to fallen humanity.  Christmas was not the end in itself, but the beginning of another stage of God's wonderful redemption plan that had been foretold throughout the ages. The entirety of the Bible shows how God regarded His people, tells us how He intended to reconcile them, and illustrates how He brought it to pass through His death and resurrection.  The earthly birth of Jesus can communicate to us about the new birth He desires for us to experience.

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On the Nineveh Plains in Iraq the bonfires are still burning, and after years of persecution and uncertainty, maybe hope is burning in the their hearts.  Day 23 of our Faith Radio Advent Guide, Around the World in 25 Days! is devoted to this unique area, the home to many Assyrian Christians. The website, ChaldeanNews.com, reports that Assyrian Christians read the Bible, then light bonfires, made of dried thorns, at their homes and churches.

The accompanying Scripture is from 1st John chapter 1, verse 7. Let's begin with verse 5:
5 This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.
6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.
7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

We have an incredible message to proclaim, and during this Advent season, we can dig deeper in reflection - and in song.  Keith Getty desires for believers to embrace the meaning in some familiar, timeless carols, and in my earlier discussion with him, in which we discussed the latest Keith and Kristyn Getty album, Sing! An Irish Christmas, he talked about 10 carols that he has pinpointed as containing strong truth about the coming of our Savior.

Baptist Press and Challies.com have both post the list of those 10 carols.  Just last week, a self-penned article by Keith was at the Baptist Press website. He writes:

Christmas can be the biggest evangelistic event of the year. The very act of singing traditional carols is a radical Gospel witness; it reveals the hope of the world to those in our midst who are singing about Him or listening to songs about Him but have yet to believe in Him.

So here are 10 Christmas carols that will help us revel in the mystery of the incarnation but will also help us share God's heart with our friends and families, our colleagues and communities.

On The Meeting House, Getty spoke with me about the importance of reflecting on and singing these carols.

So, for the next few minutes, let's reflect on these 10 significant carols.

Hark the Herald Angels Sing.  Keith points out that the carol was written by Charles Wesley and included in his Methodist hymnal, released in 1739. He writes on Baptist Press, "This theologically rich classic is unlike many other carols; it embodies the entirety of the Gospel. It moves us on from the idea that Jesus' birth is confined to a sweet childlike nativity scene -- instead, it forces each of us to confront the raw and powerful truth of who Jesus is and what He came to do..."

Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus is another carol by Charles Wesley,  included in a 1745 collection, about which Getty states, "The song captures how centuries of waiting, longing and weeping find ultimate resolution in Christ."

Then, there's O Come All Ye Faithful, likely written by John Francis Wade in 1744, described as "a Christmas call to worship; it beckons us simply to come and adore 'Christ the Lord.'"

In the Bleak Midwinter is, according to Keith, "...among our most plaintive carols, partly because of the melancholic melody by Gustav Holst. Penned by English poet Christina Rossetti, the lyrics first appeared in 1872. The last stanza brings us to a place of personal reflection and response -- what should we do about the message of Jesus' birth?"

Joy to the World, a 1719 composition by Isaac Watts, possesses, as Getty says, "triumphant cadence and rousing spirit..." He points out that it's "based on Psalm 98 and wasn't even originally intended to be a Christmas carol."

We continue to highlight these 10 significant carols, as highlighted by modern-day hymnwriter Keith Getty, using information and quotes from a recent Baptist Press article.  We move on now to O Come, O Come Emmanuel, which Keith dates back to the 800's - he writes, "It allows people both inside and outside our churches, for whom Christmas may not be the time of joy they feel it should be, to reflect on and connect with a carol that expresses a deeper longing for God's promises to be fulfilled."

Then there's Silent Night, about which Getty says, "...is arguably the best-known Christmas carol in the world; it has been translated into 300 languages and dialects." It was "originally a poem with six verses written by Joseph Mohr, an Austrian priest, in 1816."  The performance of this carol at the event, Sing! An Irish Christmas at the Grand Ole Opry House during the Getty Music Worship Conference, called, Sing! included the guitar artistry of Phil Keaggy.

About Angels We Have Heard On High, Getty states, "The lyrical journey shines a light on the reality of the incarnation in a way that refreshes the soul. This carol contributes wonderfully to that sense of celebration expressed by the angels in the Gospel of Luke."

O Little Town of Bethlehem was composed by a Philadelphia pastor, Phillips Brooks in 1867, and was influenced by a trip to the city of Christ's birth. It was actually "sung by a group of Sunday School children and their teachers...," as Getty relates.

And, there's a carol that Keith says is not as popular as it once was. Once in Royal David's City was composed by Cecil Frances Alexander, the wife of an Irish pastor  - she published it as a children's carol in 1848. Getty states, "It ultimately reminds all who sing it of the humanity of Jesus and the tremendous mystery of God becoming man."

So, there you have these 10 significant carols, with some deeper meaning provided by the inimitable Keith Getty.  When we sing these carols, as well as other songs that celebrate the birth of Christ and provide insight on His birth, we can be encouraged in our faith.  Fact of the matter: Christ came, He grew, He taught and ministered, He died, He is risen, and He lives forever.  He has brought salvation to each of us, and we can remember to exalt Him in how we participate in this time of observing His birth.  As worship leader Tommy Walker discussed with me recently, Christmas is a tremendous opportunity for worship!!

Advent-ure December 20: Chicken Feathers

The Christmas season reminds us that Jesus came to earth and took upon Himself upon flesh - we cherish the picture of baby Jesus in the manger, and we think about what He did for us in bringing salvation through His death on a cross and resurrection from the dead.  We also recognize that Jesus
is our example, as 1st Peter 2 teaches:
21 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:
22 "Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth";
23 who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously...

We can walk with the attitudes and actions that are consistent with our Savior, the One who has given us a new heart and will lead us by His Spirit.  As followers of Christ, we can make sure that we are being good examples of His presence in us, allowing Him to use us for His glory.  We have unique characteristics - He has wired us a certain way; there is only one of us, fearfully and wonderfully made, and appointed and anointed for service in His name.

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Our journey through various Christmas traditions around the world has taken us to 19 different countries so far, and today, we visit the island nation of Indonesia.  There is a practice on the island of Bali, according to the AsiaExchange.org website, in which Christmas trees are made of chicken feathers. These are exported around the world. Plus, fireworks and bamboo cannons are part of Indonesian celebrations.

The corresponding Scripture today is from Philippians chapter 4, which, in considering the celebrations that occur in Indonesia, as well as around the world, we can make sure we have a spirit
of celebration, of rejoicing, in what God has done:
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!
5 Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.
6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;
7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

NFL players who profess to be Christians have been celebrating God's work in their lives and giving back to people in need by their participation in the league's "My Cause My Cleats" emphasis, which occurred in Week 14, which was the first full week of December.  Players highlighted their respective causes by the design of their shoes.

Sports Spectrum reported on some of these players who participated.  First up, the one and only Benjamin Watson, who is currently with the Patriots.  The article states that Watson...

...highlighted his One More Foundation, which seeks to spread the love and hope of Christ to “One More” soul by meeting real needs, promoting education and providing enrichment opportunities through charitable initiatives and partnerships.

Then there's D.K. Metcalf of the Seahawks, who "wore pink and green cleats to honor Prison Fellowship, whose mission is to restore those affected by crime and incarceration, and whose vision is to see all affected by crime reconciled to God, their families and their communities."

From the Colts, Marcus Johnson called attention to "Young Life, whose mission is to introduce adolescents to Jesus Christ and help them grow in their faith." The article notes that, "In those cleats, Johnson enjoyed the first 100-yard receiving game of his young NFL career."

Not surprisingly, according to the article:

And numerous players showed their love for Fellowship of Christian Athletes, a sports ministry that aims to see the world impacted for Jesus Christ through the influence of coaches and athletes — including Bills quarterback Matt Barkley, Broncos linebacker Malik Reed, Redskins quarterback Case Keenum, Jaguars safety Cody Davis, and Raiders fullback Alec Ingold.

We can consider some principles together today.  First of all, we can think about how the way that we walk represents Christ.  And, to stick with the "cleats" theme, we can ask, "Am I following in His shoes?  We are told to follow in Christ's steps in 1st Peter 2, and Romans 10 talks about those beautiful feet that carry the good news of the gospel, prepared, as Ephesians 6 describes, with the gospel of peace.

We can also take time to reflect on how God is working through His people and ministries devoted to lifting up His name...and rejoice!  Sometimes, the ministry occurs through the regular ebb and flow of life; other times, it may be unique, kind of "out of the box," maybe like "chicken feathers" Christmas trees - but God can take what is unique and use it to export His truth.  And, when it comes right down to it, we each are uniquely gifted to share His love.

Advent-ure December 19: The Light of His Word

Through His Word, God brings light into our lives - by His Spirit, He guides us in the way we should
walk. In 2nd Timothy 2, Paul is writing about Scriptural authority, and says:
7 Consider what I say, and may the Lord give you understanding in all things.
8 Remember that Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, was raised from the dead according to my gospel,
9 for which I suffer trouble as an evildoer, even to the point of chains; but the word of God is not chained.

We need to have Biblical illumination, so that we are not stumbling around trying to find our way, but relying on the One who said that He is the way.  He has not left us without direction - God has given us His Word, and He desires for it to become part of us.  That comes through regarding the Word as our spiritual food and making regular study of God's Word a consistent pattern.  As we embark on a new year, we can develop a strategy for personal Bible reading and study.

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Today's focus in our 25-day Christmas Advent-ure in the Faith Radio Advent Guide, called Around the World in 25 Days! is the nation of India.  India has been receiving quite a bit of attention because of a spike in persecution of Christians, especially at the hands of radical Hindus.  India has moved up to #10 on the World Watch List of the leading countries which persecute believers in Christ, as named by the organization, Open Doors.

Those who celebrate Christmas in the country may take part in the practice of displaying Star Lanterns, which are paper lanterns in the shape of stars, according to the website, WhyChristmas.com. This is especially popular in the province of Goa and the city of Mumbai, where manger scenes are also popular.

The corresponding Scripture passage is from 2nd Corinthians chapter 4:
6 For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.

We know that God's Word brings light into our lives and will bring us into a greater knowledge of Him.  And, here at the end of the year, some notable Bible verses have been pinpointed as being popular with those who use technology to access the Word.

The website, Facts and Trends, reports that:

Both YouVersion, the world’s most popular Bible app, and Bible Gateway, the most visited Christian website, recently announced their top Bible verses for the year.

Among global YouVersion users, the 2019 verse of the year is Philippians 4:6.

The verse is quoted: "Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."

YouVersion founder Bobby Gruenewald said, "We’re encouraged to see so many people turning to the Bible in response to their worries, remembering what God has done in their lives, and choosing to trust in His faithfulness.”  The story notes:

Paul’s admonition to the Philippians was the most popular verse in countries ranging from the United States, Jamaica, and France to Kenya, the United Arab Emirates and China.

The article reports that: "Among visitors to Bible Gateway in 2019, the top verse was a familiar one: John 3:16."  6 of Bible Gateway's top 11 verses are from the 23rd Psalm.  Philippians 4:6 ranked 14th in popularity on that website.  And, the Facts and Trends article reports that:

Bible Gateway also tracks the most searched for words each year. “Love” is the most popular search term in both English and Spanish.

So, let's consider a few things today. First of all, our Lord desires for us to search the Scriptures.  And, God has provided great tools to help us do so.  But, the Christian life is more than just knowing a few Bible references or memorizing a few popular Scriptures - it involves having the Living Word, the Lord Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh, change us.

As we enter into the final weeks of 2019, we can be motivated to make God's Word a priority in 2020.  Bible reading guides abound, including the Bible and Bible reading plan on the Faith Radio app.  The World Evangelical Alliance is leading a number of organizations to commemorate 2020 as the Global Year of the Bible.  According to the Year of the Bible website:

Only half the story of the Bible is being told today. Yes, those claiming to be religious and “Bible-engaged” are declining. But there is a new wave of truth-seekers not content to hear second-hand information about God’s Word. While many see only negative statistics when it comes to faith, we believe there is a Bible revival unfolding. From 2016 until today, those using digital platforms to engage God’s Word has exploded from 200 to over 400 million people worldwide, and the numbers are growing. Imagine if the world found its 2020 vision from the Word of God. Imagine more people, in the Bible more than at any other time in history.

Partners in the effort are: the Table Coalition and the Pulse Movement, in which evangelist Nick Hall is involved; also the American Bible Society, Museum of the Bible, and Biblica: The International Bible Society.

Tomorrow on The Meeting House, you'll hear about a new Bible product that leads you through the Bible in one year and provides perspective on praying for our nation - it's the One Year Pray for America Bible, and you can find out more tomorrow.

Advent-ure December 18: Corrupting Agents

We must pursue purity in Christ - of thought and deed - allowing God's truth to cleanse our souls and
guide us into the way we should walk. 2 Peter 1 states:
2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord,
3 as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue,
4 by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

This is a wonderful picture of standing against corruption.  We have to guard against corrupt ideas from permeating our hearts and minds and, as the Church, we must be aware of how the enemy is attempting to infiltrate the body of Christ with his corrupting influences.  While we rejoice in how we see God moving around the world, we also know that there are spiritual entities at work to short-circuit His work.

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We are now up to Day 18 in our Faith Radio Advent Guide, our Christmas Advent-ure, if you will.  It's called, Around the World in 25 Days! and we continue to reflect on various Christmas traditions and remember that our God is working around the world.  Today, we come to the Philippines, where a feast called Noche Buena is observed. WhyChristmas.com reports that family and friends are invited to partake in a midnight feast, normally including roasted pig and rice.

The corresponding Scripture passage is about a feast to come, foretold in Revelation chapter 19; there is the voice of what is called a "great multitude," saying:
7 Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready."
8 And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.
9 Then he said to me, "Write: 'Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!' " And he said to me, "These are the true sayings of God."

The Bible shows us the image of Christ and His Church, likening it to a husband and wife.  In these days leading up to the return of our Lord, we can be devoted to pursuing the purity of God's Word, and allow Him to cleanse us.

However, there is corruption that we find in the Church today, and it takes on many forms.  Instead of focusing on the One True God and operating as the bride of Christ, the Church has adopted the world's ideas, which become corrupting agents.

One dangerous instance of compromising with the world involves the perversion of God's picture for marriage and the adoption of the LGBT agenda.  Last year, around this same time, I reported to you about an effort to exchange the granting of special civil rights protections based on sexual orientation and gender identity for religious protections.  Just days ago, legislation was introduced into Congress under the name, "Fairness for All," which is the moniker used for this concept.  And, it's related to the Equality Act.

Andrea Jones, in an article from the Daily Signal published at The Stream, writes:

A small group of House Republicans introduced a proposal on Friday that would codify the sexual orientation and gender identity provisions of the Equality Act with limited exemptions for certain religious institutions.

The inaccurately named Fairness for All Act is not an improvement on the Equality Act but rather compounds the underlying issues.

The Fairness for All Act adopts the faulty reasoning of the Equality Act, treating all disagreement about the nature of marriage and the biological basis of sex as illegal discrimination.

And, Christian organizations have bought in to this concept of trading the recognition of rights based on sexual orientation and gender identity for the mirage of religious protections.  As Jones points out:

In reality, its narrow exemptions for some religious schools, colleges, and charities would not even fully protect those institutions. If they open their property to the public, they would be required to allow it to be used to celebrate same-sex weddings.

The legislation also contains a severability clause, meaning that a judge could strike down the religious exemptions while leaving the other harmful provisions in place, leaving the country with the functional equivalent of the Equality Act in law.

Christianity Today, in a startlingly neutral article, states:

Leaders from more than 90 evangelical groups signed a statement rejecting any legislation protecting sexual orientation or gender identity after the CCCU started to advocate for a Fairness for All law in 2016.

CCCU stands for the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities, that has been leading this Fairness for All effort.  The article says that Jim Daly of Focus on the Family was one of those leaders.  The Colson Center was involved in leading the effort to mobilize Christian organizations to stand against this concept.

The article includes this statement from Owen Strachan, director of the Center for Public Theology at Midwestern Seminary, wrote in September: “Christians cannot support [Fairness for All] for this overarching reason: It is grounded in an unbiblical conception of the human person," adding, "The Scripture will not allow us to see any ungodly ‘orientation’ or ‘identity’ as essential to our humanity, as directed toward our flourishing, and thus enshrined in law as a protected category.”

But, Christianity Today's editor-in-chief Mark Galli says that a "both/and approach is possible."  So does noted theologian Tim Keller.  The article also states:

If legislators come to think it’s possible to embrace LGBT rights and religious liberty, they may be able to convince voters. Michael Wear, chief strategist for the And Campaign and former faith outreach director for President Barack Obama, said that in a pluralist society where people disagree about very basic things, it’s critical that leaders help people find common ground.

“Proposing a bill helps voters imagine a different possibility,” Wear said. “It’s like, this is an option. This is on the table. We need to make this conversation more concrete, not less. Voters don’t have an imagination for how it would be possible. It takes leadership to take real risk and show them how it could be.”

The And Campaign has urged all the 2020 presidential candidates to come out in support of the Fairness for All Act.

Remember: the And Campaign and Michael Wear.  I am sure that I will probably be talking about this group more in the future.

Some takeaways from this very important discussion.  First of all, compromise can be beneficial, but it can also corrupt.  Solutions can come through productive discussion, but if we compromise our deeply held principles to get there, then that is counterproductive.  The concept of compromise doesn't seem to be in the lexicon of the LGBT activist.  Case in point: the Fairness for All bill was panned by the President of the Human Rights Campaign, Alphonso David, who is quoted by The Hill: “The so-called Fairness for All Act is an unacceptable, partisan vehicle that erodes existing civil rights protections based on race, sex and religion, while sanctioning discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) people..."

So, it seems to be a non-starter from the leading gay rights organization.  And, a number of Christian organizations and leaders.  Fact is, there is not an appetite for partial surrender to the radical LGBT agenda.  Just ask Chick-fil-A.  Or Hallmark.  It's all or nothing, as far as they're concerned, and there has been a tangible lack of respect toward people of faith who do not wish to accept the practice of homosexuality or transgenderism.

The two elements: 1) civil rights in support of sinful behavior and 2) religious freedom are not compatible.  In a pluralistic society, without this understanding, there will continue to be conflict.  But, believers in Christ and the truth of Scripture can continue to show love toward LGBT individuals in the hopes of showing them the way to a relationship with Christ so they can discover His true freedom.

Advent-ure December 17: Rearrange Our Priorities

In Hebrews chapter 4, we find words of encouragement to experience God's rest, which is something that we're told we actually "enter" into:
10 For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His.
11 Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience.

The disobedience referred to here has to do with the children of Israel and their wandering from the ways of God.  That can be avoided when we stay grounded in truth, and that's where verse 12 comes in:

12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

The Word of God renews our minds and brings life to our souls.  It is spiritual food that can nourish us in our inner being.  God wants us to come to Him and experience His rest, so that we may be well-equipped for whatever we may face, and that we can face the challenges of life with a sense of His presence, giving us the right attitude.

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We are now on Day 17 of our 25-day Christmas Advent-ure, called, Around the World in 25 Days! It's the Faith Radio Advent Guide, highlighting Christmas traditions around the world.  We stay in Asia today and focus on the nation of Japan, where Christmas is more like, well...Valentine's Day!  That's according to the website, KidsAreATrip.com, which reports on a "couples-"type celebration, and informs us that traditional family gatherings feature Fried Chicken and Christmas Cake.

The corresponding Scripture passage is from Ephesians 5:
25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her,
26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word,
27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.

We have to be so protective of our marriage relationships - if we're not careful, there will be other activities and priorities that will supersede our spouses; we have to stay grounded in our love for the Lord and for the one whom He has called to us to be wed to.

The Christian Post had an article recently about a Washington, DC-area pastor, a progressive pastor named Howard-John Wesley, who announced that he would be taking a break.  He is currently unmarried, and I would dare say that he and I would occupy a different, well, theological space, yet, some of his guiding principles on this topic of rest can be instructive for all of us.

According to the article:

“From January 1 (2020) to April 1. I am walking away from every responsibility I have as pastor,” Wesley announced in his sermon on Dec. 1.

“You can’t pour out of an empty cup. It is very dangerous for your pastor to be on empty,” he told congregants. “I need to take care of me.”

He further noted that: “I’m tired. And I’m tired in a way that one night of sleep ain’t gon’ fix. I’m tired in my soul.”

This came at the end of a sermon called, "Selah," dealing with rest.  He said:

“The enemy in an attempt to block your holiness, wants to remove rest from your life and push you back into slavery. And here is the greatest deception of the devil – to convince you that the busier you are the more important you are. That the more you got to do, the more high up on the food chain you are. That if you’re working yourself to the bone somehow you are glorifying God. And God says you are not being holy if you don’t know how to rest..."

He encouraged congregants to make sure they use up all their annual vacation days. Wesley stated:
"...the word to somebody today is if you really want to be holy you gotta learn how to rest."

In a season where we celebrate how God rearranged human history by becoming a man and interrupting the status quo, we can think about how we may have to take the occasion to rearrange our priorities, for the sake of our individual lives and the lives of our families, including our marriages.  FamilyLife is sponsoring a marriage getaway in Montgomery on Valentine's Day weekend next year at the Embassy Suites - you can learn more through our website or go to WeekendToRemember.com.

The Christmas season does give us the chance for rest, if we use our time properly.  Certainly, there is plenty of busyness to go around, yet, we can savor the moments that God gives us and take time for ourselves and our families - to strengthen and enjoy relationships, including the one with our Heavenly Father.

Now, rest is not only a lack of activity, although that is a part of it.  But, as Hebrews 4 teaches us, we can actually enter His rest, which implies that we can take measures to reduce stress and anxiety, to allow the Spirit of God to refresh us, and to draw near to our Lord.

Advent-ure December 16: Person of the Year

In 1st Thessalonians 4, we can see how our demeanor is to be driven by God's love and a desire to please Him, not seeking to be recognized, except for what brings glory and honor to Him.  We can
read:
9 But concerning brotherly love you have no need that I should write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another;
10 and indeed you do so toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, that you increase more and more;
11 that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you,
12 that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing.

The pursuit of fame can certainly distract a person from his or her devotion to God.  Now, there will be occasions when people become known by large numbers of people - and that can be an opportunity to allow God to be glorified.  But, our goal is obedience, not recognition; our attitude is humility, not to self-promotion.  If we are motivated by our love for Christ, He will create a desire to serve others and to do our work unto Him.

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We are now into the last full week before Christmas, and continuing to walk through the Faith Radio Advent Guide, available in the latest Ministry Magazine and through a free download on the FaithRadio.org website.  The guide highlights 25 Christmas traditions from various countries of the world, and hopefully can help us to consider that God is working all over the globe.

On Saturday, the 14th, the country was Spain, where, according to WhyChristmas.com, there are Epiphany Parades. Twelve days after Christmas, parades honor the “3 Kings” in the Spanish Epiphany: Gaspar (frankincense), Melchior (gold), and Belshazzar (myrrh). The corresponding Scripture is Matthew 2, verse 10 and 11.

The same site mentions the celebration of Colindatul in Romania, the country that is the focus of Sunday, the 15th, in which children sing carols from house to house on Christmas Eve, and receive treats for their performance. Adults go carol singing on Christmas Day. Psalm 96, verses 1 and 2, the corresponding Scripture verses, highlight singing to the Lord.

Now, we come to Day 16, and we shift our Advent journey to the continent of Asia.  The country is China, where Christmas is celebrated in the underground church.  As I state in the Faith Radio Advent Guide:

Christians gathering to commemorate the holiday, specifically those in “underground” churches, face difficulty. The South China Morning Post says that, as of last year, officials have “more power to act against churches and impose tougher penalties for ‘unauthorised religious gatherings.’”

Now, I will say, there are still Christmas celebrations throughout the nation, but as the SCMP website points out, there are some municipalities that are banning Christmas decorations.  And, believers in Christ continue to meet in secret.

The corresponding Scripture passage is from Ephesians chapter 5:
15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise,
16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit,
19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord...

This passage can help us to think about how we should walk humbly with our God, not seeking recognition, but seeking to be obedient to God.  And, for the persecuted church, including the underground church in China, the less public notoriety, the better.

The TIME Magazine "Person of the Year" has been named, and the award goes to climate activist Greta Thunberg.  Interestingly enough, readers were given the opportunity to vote, and they chose the Hong Kong protesters, who, as we know, are railing against the Chinese government's influence and power in their nation-state.  

Dan Andros, Managing Editor of Faithwire, writes:

Since the mainstream media would prefer to prop someone up who sounds the alarm on their pet political issues of the day rather than people out there doing things truly worthy of recognition, here is a list of a few other people the media would likely never give serious consideration to an honor such as this.

The most obvious omission was the protesters in Hong Kong. In fact, they actually won Time’s reader poll but were overruled by the editors. Their inspirational courage in the face of oppression has gripped the attention and hearts of many around the world, especially in America because of all the American flags and songs that have appeared throughout the protests.

Andros offers some other alternative choices, most of whom have experienced persecution in other countries.  One of them is a Chinese pastor, Wang Yi, about whom Andros writes:

Prominent Chinese pastor Wang Yi was arrested along with around 100 Christians in his congregation following threats from government officials to shut the church by the end of the year.

He of course, bravely refused and ended up suffering the consequences.

Later he would publish a powerful letter about civil disobedience, which he instructed to be published should he ever be detained by government authorities for more than 48 hours.

Two Christians who were released from captivity last year, Asia Bibi, who had been imprisoned in Pakistan for violating the country's strict blasphemy laws, and Andrew Brunson, an American pastor who had been detained in Turkey, would also qualify for Andros' list.

Andros had another unique choice on his list.  He writes:

Founder of the Free Burma Rangers, Dave Eubank made national news when he brazenly risked his own life to save a young girl from near certain death at the hands of ISIS. His heroics were caught on camera and undeniable, running across open ground as bullets flew by, to rescue a young girl hiding under the body of her dead mother.

He has gone into a number of war zones to help those who are suffering, according to Andros, who reports that he most recently went into Syria to help "civilians getting bombarded by Turkish drone strikes after the announced American pullout from northeast Syria." He notes, "Eubank regularly cries out to Jesus and prays fervently, believing in God’s sovereignty over all situations he finds himself in." 

Kanye West also made the Andros list, about whom he wrote: "If reporters in the media considered influencing people for Jesus a worthy cause, perhaps they’d be a little more excited about putting Kanye West on the cover of the magazine."

Dan Andros called Greta Thunberg a "climate alarmist," but that's what seems to appeal to many in the media and politics today.  We do need to consider that Christians should exhibit concern about the environment, recognizing that caring for God's creation is a serious responsibility - but we should never get to a point where we worship the earth, and certainly we should be merchants dealing in truth, rather than alarmists.  And, as Cal Beisner of the Cornwall Alliance has pointed out, an extreme view on the environment can have negative effects on the poor.

The TIME Person of the Year could certainly be considered a prestigious award, although it is one news media outlet's opinion on who is making "news."  For the believer in Christ, our purpose should never be to achieve selfish recognition, but to be obedient.  And, if recognition comes, then the glory goes back to Him.  Our calling is not to be famous, although some will be, but ultimately, to make Him famous.  We should relish the praise of God much more than the praise of men.

Advent-ure December 13: Light of the World

God is calling each of us to step into His light, following the principles of His Word and walking in His Spirit.  Jesus taught in John chapter 3:
19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.
21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God."

Jesus has come to illuminate our hearts - He will show us where our lives are not lining up to His standards, forgive us of our sins, and empower us to walk in His light.  The Bible warns against the ways of the world and provides a credible alternative to its philosophies.  When we follow the Lord, He displays Himself through His people, so others might see and perhaps come to know His love. The answers of this world are insufficient in light of the wisdom of God.

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We continue our journey through the Faith Radio Advent Guide, Around the World in 25 Days! Today, we visit the country of Sweden, where today, St. Lucia’s Day is commemorated. According to the website, WonderfulTime.com, on December 13, a young Swedish girl, St. Lucia, a 4th-Century martyr, is honored. She is believed to have brought food to persecuted Christians in Rome, wearing candles on her head to free up her hands.

The corresponding Scripture verse is found in John 8:12, which says:
12 Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life."

The subsequent verses state:
13 The Pharisees therefore said to Him, "You bear witness of Yourself; Your witness is not true."
14 Jesus answered and said to them, "Even if I bear witness of Myself, My witness is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going; but you do not know where I come from and where I am going.

St. Lucia's Day is centered around the image of a young girl bringing light into darkness.  In John 8, Jesus taught on the light He was bringing into the world.  We see darkness all around us in the form of rejection of Christ and His teaching, hostility to God's principles, and ignorance of His ways.  His truth brings light, clarity, and hope.

If you read today's blog post of this commentary, you may not want to follow the links.  I provide the links for further insight, but some of the language that you may find will be rather rough and even graphic.  But, I think the exchanges are instructive, and demonstrate the unfortunate perspective of someone who wants to "shout her abortion" and denigrate pro-life people who dare present another perspective.

There's an actor named Jameela Jamil; she's on a show called, The Good Place.  Yes, that's the one about heaven with Kristen Bell and Ted Danson.  But, there's really nothing good in what Jamil has to say about her unabashed support for abortion.  The Daily Wire website relates:

Ms. Jamil, who has called her abortion the “best decision” of her life, posted the expletive-laced message after she was criticized for agreeing with fellow abortion-promoting feminist Gloria Steinem that democracy is impossible without abortion-on-demand.

She described the actions of those responding negatively to her comments as "trolling," and said they were "clueless," in a mean-spirited tweet with profanity.  She added, "My life *is* more important to me than an unborn fetus’ one..."  The article says that the actor believes that abortion should be available "for any reason."

The Twitchy website published another tweet from Jamil, in which she said:

Receiving THOUSANDS of messages about how I made a mistake having an abortion 7 years ago and how I must be a miserable person... I am in fact a happy, thriving multi millionaire, madly in love, with free time, good sleep and a wonderful career and life. But thanks for checking

Liz Wheeler of the One America News Network responded by tweeting, "Isn't it fundamentally insulting to women to suggest that we can't do both - be mothers with babies AND have thriving careers & lives?...Terrible message to send to women to insinuate we aren't capable of juggling it all."

Outspoken columnist Allie Beth Stuckey tweeted, "Having babies and leading a fulfilling, successful life aren’t mutually exclusive. Yours is a terribly low view of women’s capabilities." She added: "Also, this line of reasoning could be used to justify anything. 'I stole a million dollars from the bank, and you guys said it was a mistake, but now I’m a millionaire and my life is great, so there!'"

Social media can certainly be brutal, and you can see that in the tweets that were posted.  In another profanity-tinged tweet, according to another Twitchy article, we discover Jamil hurled the insult that pro-lifers were only "pro-birth," and mentioned that there were "plenty of harmless, starving babies," and that there were over 100,000 kids who were seeking foster care, to which Stuckey responded:
"...this trope is tired. For the millionth time- who gives charity? Who adopts? Who takes in foster children? Who provides help and aid and clothes and refuge for moms in crisis? I’ll give you a hint: it ain’t the pro choice side."

Fact is, as Allie Stuckey contends, those who are pro-life, despite charges to the contrary, are concerned about the women, as well as their unborn babies.  And, Christ-centered pregnancy resource centers care about the souls of the women who visit seeking answers.  Christians are at the forefront of encouraging adoption.  The "pro-birth" argument is certainly tired, and even the mischaracterization of pro-lifers as only caring about the baby is misguided.  We can always be sensitized to opportunities to show the love of Christ for those in crisis.

And, despite Jameela Jamil's insistence to the contrary, it is not a badge of honor to "shout your abortion."  There is an organized campaign encouraging women to proudly publicize the fact they they terminated the life of their unborn child.  An Alliance Defending Freedom blog post states:

Oprah’s website published the story of how the “Shout Your Abortion” campaign got started by a young woman named Amelia Bonow in 2015. Bonow says sharing about her abortion on social media is important because “the anti-choice movement wants it to be terrifying to speak the truth.”

But if the #ShoutYourAbortion campaign was really about truth, it would share the stories of the thousands of women who deeply regret their abortion.

“What irks me the most,” writes Janet Morana in the Washington Examiner “is that thousands of courageous women who speak publicly about their abortions, and the lifetime of regret that has followed, are, as usual, being left out of the conversation.”

Janet Morana is the co-founder of Silent No More, an organization of women who also want to share their experience with abortion—but not in support. These women want to share their personal stories because they are intimately familiar with the painful reality of abortion, and they want to help women to choose life.

So, even though Jamil is upbeat about her heinous act, the fact is that sin has consequences, and it is irresponsible to display arrogance on this topic.  And, for someone so happy, it does seem that she is rather angry in her response to those who would challenge her.  Fortunately, there is forgiveness and hope in the Lord for those who will step into the light of Christ.

Advent-ure December 12: Civil War and the Prince of Peace

The Bible gives us some insight into how we can function in this polarized world in 1st Peter chapter
2:
11 Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul,
12 having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.

Another translation says that we are "aliens and strangers."  We are not of this world, just as Jesus was and is not of this world.  But, because of His great love, He came into our world, into human flesh, lived in this world, showed us how to live, and now, by virtue of His death and resurrection, lives in the hearts of His people, empowering us to follow Him and reflect His glory - that's the message of Christmas.  He, the Prince of Peace, brought us peace with God, and commissioned us to invite others into that wonderful relationship.

+++++

We continue our journey through Europe in our 25-day Christmas Advent-ure on Faith Radio.  Yesterday, France was the focus; today, Germany is the country from which we reflect on a Christmas tradition.  We are going through the Advent Guide, available free at FaithRadio.org or in the Faith Radio Ministry Magazine, which is called, Around the World in 25 Days!  And, today, in the Advent Guide, we discover the origins of the Advent Calendar - from Germany.  According to the website, German-Way.com, the Advent Calendar, counting down 24 days until Christmas Eve, features “windows,” behind which were originally small Christmas scenes. Now, chocolates or candy are found behind the windows.

The observance of Advent has within it a sense of anticipation - of the coming of Jesus, which was
foretold throughout the Old Testament, including in Isaiah chapter 9:
6 For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.

Jesus has come to bring peace, as the Prince of Peace: reconciliation with God, certainly, as well as peace with one another.  In a turbulent world, we need to reflect on how Jesus and His truth can unite us as we embrace it in His love.

A Washington Examiner piece shares this information from a month and a half ago:

Partisan political division and the resulting incivility has reached a low in America, with 67% believing that the nation is nearing civil war, according to a new national survey.

“The majority of Americans believe that we are two-thirds of the way to being on the edge of civil war. That to me is a very pessimistic place,” said Mo Elleithee, the executive director of Georgetown University’s Institute of Politics and Public Service.

This is from, ironically enough, Georgetown's Battleground Poll, and describes a political battleground that perhaps will continue to exacerbate. Elleithee is quoted as saying that this poll, "paints a scenario, a picture of a highly negative campaign that will continue to exacerbate the incivility in our public discourse."  And, this is an apparent subset of the Battleground Poll called the Civility Poll, which is a paradox.

The Examiner article points out this paradox:

While it found that 87% are frustrated with the rudeness in politics today, it also revealed that the public really isn’t interested in traditional compromise. For example, a nearly equal 84% said that they are “tired of leaders compromising [their] values and ideals.”

Furthermore, the poll found "84% believe that 'behavior that used to be seen as unacceptable is now accepted as normal behavior.'"  Seemingly at the same time, citizens and voters are calling for civility and compromise, but also want their politicians to stand with conviction.

These really aren't that paradoxical, though, when you think about it.  Your convictions are what you believe and are consistent with who you are.  We should all possess convictions, and in Christ, deep ones. That doesn't mean you can't be civil toward those with whom you disagree.  

Compromise can be a double-edge sword - sometimes it's necessary to get things done.  But, if you compromise your ideals and values that are rooted in God's Word, then that can lead to an erosion of morality.   

That's where we are today.  I would encourage you to go to the Front Room blog post that I did back in October after Pastor Jeffress had made reference to a "civil war."  I actually entitled the post, A War of Bullet Points.  That comment was made in the context of the impeachment of the President, which has turned out to be incredibly divisive, with significant numbers of Americans on either side of the issue. The latest Quinnipiac poll, shows, according to SeattlePI.com:

The survey, taken as impeachment hearings in Congress were televised to the country, shows 45% in favor of impeachment and removal, while 51% of Americans do not believe he should be impeached. The pro-impeachment figure had remained the same from a poll last month, while opposition has climbed by 3%.

The article also shows head-to-head matchups for the Presidency between Trump and leading Democratic candidates, in which the President is running behind in a national vote.  Of course, as it has been pointed out, that these "national" polls would be consistent with a popular vote, not an Electoral College vote.  Axios reports on polling data from three significant states: Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.  The report on the survey by Firehouse Strategies, with Optimus, states:

Trump won by an average of six percentage points in hypothetical match-ups against all current Democratic candidates, including Joe Biden, who was performing well in head-to-head contests against Trump in polling conducted earlier in the year.

The article adds, "The poll found that a majority of likely 2020 voters surveyed do not support impeaching and removing Trump from office."

As I was perusing the Seattle website, a pop-up ad appeared, in which the Poarch Creek Indians are promising the citizens of Alabama a "billion dollars," which would come from gambling revenue and grant their empire a monopoly on gambling operations in the state, including piece of the action in a state lottery.  The expansion of gambling has proven to be a divisive issue in the state Legislature, and represents a stark difference between adherence to Biblical principles and a thirst for income; which studies show do not generally meet the expectations over time.  

But, there are many issues in which Biblical morality and the philosophies of this world come into stark contrast, and about which people are deeply divided.  In my previous blog post, I cited some examples.  Here are 10:

• Sanctity of life vs. abortion on demand
• God's view of sexuality vs. the LGBT agenda
• Identity in Christ vs. identity politics
• Social justice vs. mercy and forgiveness
• Limited government vs. government intrusion
• Freedom of religion vs. "freedom of worship"
• Freedom of Conscience vs. Forced Submission
• Surrender to God's Law vs. Redefinition of God's Law
• Support for Israel vs. Opposition to Israel

And, perhaps what drives it all...Belief in God vs. Belief in Humanity.

There is a divide, a chasm, and while there are ways our lawmakers can work to get things done, such as the recently-passed trade agreement and the passage of budgets to keep the government going, there are issues that have become so polarizing -  I would submit due to the dramatic departures from Scriptural principles - that even to embrace a middle ground would be to violate the teachings of the Scripture.  In this culture, we can continue to be people who do not compromise, but through our compassion, show and share that His principles are applicable and effective for our world. Through the Prince of Peace, we can pursue peace with others while still maintaining our convictions that flow from peace with God.