Prayer in the Jury Box?

We have access to the wisdom of the Creator of the Universe and the Word Who became flesh. Jesus Christ, by His Spirit, will lead us to discover more about His truth, so that we can walk in it. 1st 
Corinthians 1 says:
19 For it is written: "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, And bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent."
20 Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.

In our decision-making, we can choose to follow the wisdom of this world, which is fallible and contrasts with the superior wisdom of God.  He made the world and knows how it works; He created humanity, therefore He is sufficient to guide us in matters of human relationships. When we are confronted with difficult situations, it is important that we are knowledgeable about God's Word and reliant on the Holy Spirit to direct us.

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God desires for us to be wise - not in the ways of the world, but in Him. James 1 tells us:
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.
7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord;
8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

With the confirmation hearings set to begin soon regarding a newly-nominated candidate for the U.S. Supreme Court, we can be in prayer for direction for our lawmakers and protection for the nominee, Amy Coney Barrett.  We can certainly be in prayer for the high court as it readies for its fall term coming up soon. 

We would hope that judges would rule fairly and according to the law, reflected in the Constitution, a document that I believe was inspired by God and provides sound, moral principles for how to live in an ordered society.  And, when we interact with the legal system, it is important that justice is the outcome.

With that in mind, consider the case of a former member of Congress, Corinne Brown.  According to ChristianHeadlines.com, Brown was convicted in 2017 on 18 counts of conspiracy, mail and wire fraud and tax charges." But, she appealed her conviction because she believed that a juror was "improperly dismissed," according to the article. Why? Apparently, Juror Number 13 "said he received guidance from the Holy Spirit on the case."

The article, from last week, stated, "A three-judge panel of the 11th Circuit in January this year upheld her conviction in a 2-1 decision, but on Thursday the full 11th Circuit vacated that ruling and agreed to hear her case. Eleven judges serve on the court."

According to the article:

The juror told his fellow jurors he believed the “Holy Spirit told me” Brown was not guilty, according to court records. The district judge ruled the juror must be dismissed because he is “injecting religious beliefs that are inconsistent with the instructions of the court, that this case be decided solely on the law as the court gave it to the jury and the evidence in the case.”

First Liberty has now joined Brown's defense team; Lea Patterson from the organization said, "How is it possible that we demand a juror take an oath invoking God’s aid in rendering a verdict but then dismiss that same juror for taking that oath seriously? If this decision stands millions of Americans are disqualified from fulfilling their civic duty as jurors simply because they believe that God answers prayer.”

The "one" in the 2-1 decision at the Appeals Court level came from former Alabama Attorney General William Pryor, who wrote in his dissent, “the notion that religion poses a unique problem in the context of juror-misconduct investigations is unfounded.”  He referenced the words of Jesus in Matthew chapter 7 and made reference to the book, Systematic Theology, by Wayne Grudem, and noted "...every prayer implies a hope that the prayer be answered..."

Let's be honest: Our Biblical beliefs should inform every decision that we make.  If we're called to be a judge, the Spirit of God can enable us to be the most fair, most just judge that we can be, realizing that we are accountable to the highest Judge.  But, most of us are not called to that position - but we can still recognize that we are representatives of Christ and we should approach our decisions from a Christian worldview perspective.

And, we don't go it alone.  We have the Holy Spirit, who goes with us to lead us into, as Scripture says, "all truth."  He is the One who directs us, who brings God's Word to remembrance and provides us with a barometer of right and wrong, good and evil - if we would only listen.  As it's been said, the Holy Spirit will activate our conscience.

Finally, we can consider the expectation of answered prayer. The Bible tells us that if we lack wisdom, we can ask of God, the source of true wisdom. So, we can confidently seek God and expect Him to act according to His will - He provides the wisdom that we need to make good decisions.

Calling Out

The prescription for revival is unchanged from thousands of years ago, when God spoke to Solomon in the book of 2nd Chronicles chapter 7; when He said:
(12b) "I have heard your prayer, and have chosen this place for Myself as a house of sacrifice.
13 When I shut up heaven and there is no rain, or command the locusts to devour the land, or send pestilence among My people,
14 if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
15 Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to prayer made in this place.

As it's been pointed out, there are four conditions for revival here, four conditions that are directed at "My people," God's people - we are invited to 1) humble ourselves - to set aside pride and to bow our hearts before Almighty God.  We are called to 2) pray and 3) seek My face. There is a distinction here: I believe this designates an earnest prayer, prayer with urgency and a willingness to know and do the will of God. And, finally, 4) we are to turn from our wicked ways.  This denotes repentance, possessing a clean heart toward God.  Again, this is directed at "My people."  It demonstrates the critical role we have in seeing the healing of our nation.

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In Ezekiel chapter 18, the Lord is calling to His people in a manner that is consistent with how he deals 
with His people; He says:
29 Yet the house of Israel says, 'The way of the Lord is not fair.' O house of Israel, is it not My ways which are fair, and your ways which are not fair?
30 "Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways," says the Lord God. "Repent, and turn from all your transgressions, so that iniquity will not be your ruin.
31 Cast away from you all the transgressions which you have committed, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. For why should you die, O house of Israel?

In the craziness, confusion, and uncertainty of the year 2020, Christians from across the country and in front of television and computer screens across America had the opportunity this past weekend to participate in two different events that occurred in the same city on the same day.

Even though The Return, described as a "National and Global Day of Prayer and Repentance," and the Washington Prayer March were sponsored by different organizations and planned separately, the outcome of having tens of thousands of people in Washington, DC on the National Mall calling out to God and crying out to God was a unified display of believers who are concerned for their country.  The Return was organized by an advisory board led by author of The Harbinger Jonathan Cahn and Global Strategic Alliance head Kevin Jessip, the Prayer March was sponsored by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and led by Franklin Graham.

A CBN.com article quotes Cahn as saying, "We drove God out of our hearts, out of our government, out of our ways, out of laws, out of the education of our children, out of the public squares. Out of our businesses, out of our media, out of our culture, out of our lives. And as we drove Him out, we opened up a vacuum into which came a flood of other gods." Franklin Graham's sister, Anne Graham Lotz, who participated in the opening moments of the event, stated, "When you pray, remember that you are appealing to the highest authority there is," adding, "Nobody can go over His head. He is the highest authority we can appeal to. What he says, is so."  Throughout the day, messages centered on seeking God and the solutions to the enormous challenges that we face as a nation.  

Even President Trump sent a proclamation, which was read by Cahn and Jessup, including these words: "On this inaugural National Day of Prayer and Return, the First Lady and I join millions of Christians here in the United States and around the world in prayer, as we turn our hearts to our Lord and Savior." He added, "Following in our ancestors' footsteps we continue the 'firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence' that provides us enduring strength and reassurance in our times of need."

As attendees of The Return filled a designated space on the Mall between the Washington Monument and the U.S. Capitol Building, about three hours after the day-long event began, the Washington Prayer March began at the Lincoln Memorial, as Franklin Graham introduced a surprise, as CBN called it:

The first thing Franklin Graham did was introduce a surprise prayer-participant - Vice President Mike Pence. He thanked the massive crowd for doing the best thing they can for their country: lifting it up to God. Then he prayed and blessed the efforts of all there.

There were seven stops during the March, but as CBN noted: "There were prayer goals for each stop along the way...But the throngs were so huge that there was no way for everyone to actually listen to one specific person praying."  The article noted that people gathered in "small circles" in order to pray.

It was a very impressive turnout on what appeared to be a dreary weather day in the nation's capital. Even the Washington Post struck a relatively respectful tone, mentioning "healing" in its headline and stating that Christians gathered on the National Mall, "waving U.S. flags, kneeling in small prayer circles alongside monuments, singing and listening to speakers who called on the nation to come together and heal."

The article said that the two groups "emphasized slightly different objectives but came with a shared focus central to many millions of Christian conservatives: repairing a country they say is in the midst of a spiritual crisis."  It quoted a teacher named Diane Hildner, who said, “We came to pray and heal,” adding, “We want people to be happy again and not worried or afraid, not be afraid of retribution for saying your views. We know our nation is in trouble, so we stand here to pray to our God to heal our nation.”

The Post report featured quotes from other attendees, including two African-American women from Baton Rouge, Laura Guilfo, who heard about the Prayer March through Christian radio, and Carla Augustus.  The story quotes Guilfo as saying, regarding racism, “We look at it from a Christian worldview, not a secular worldview. Evil is now good, and good has become evil,” adding, “There is no ‘social justice.’ There’s just justice.”

There is no doubt that our nation needs healing, and while we can pray for the nation to come together, we have to admit that the Church is having trouble doing that - the body of Christ needs unity.  True unity comes through an expression of the love of God.  We can love our neighbor and pursue peace with our neighbor because He has given us His love.  We are partakers of the divine nature. One of the event attendees stated, “Politics will never get us to unity. It’s only Jesus.”

But, when we come together and pray, incredible things can happen.  But, we have to pray in agreement with one another and pray with contrite hearts.  We have to be repentant, to renounce our individual and corporate sins, and change direction when the Lord calls on us to do so. 

Collectively, we have sown poorly in so many areas, and we are reaping destruction.  But, it's not too late for our nation to turn to God.  We have to make sure that our hearts are right, and that once we pray and confess our sins, we are willing to follow Him.

Agents of Forgiveness

Christ has loved us deeply, and offers us forgiveness for our sins, and He has taught us and empowered 
us to extend forgiveness to those who have wronged us. He says in Luke chapter 6:
35 But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil.
36 Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.
37 "Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.

Forgiveness is not a transactional proposition - we don't forgive in order to get something in return; rather, we forgive because God requires it and because we are motivated with our hearts right before God in order to grant it. Unforgiveness is incompatible with a heart that is dedicated to God, so when it is present, it can do damage to our walk with God and can bring a weight that we are not intended to carry.  We, as God's people, are instructed to love, and have the capacity to do it.

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From our state of being declared holy and righteous before God, we are called to exemplify behavior 
that is consistent with our new nature in Christ. Colossians 3 states:
12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering;
13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.
14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.

A few years ago, Bret Lynn, who is a mechanic north of Philadelphia, returned to his home, he encountered a dangerous surprise that threatened his life - an intruder at his house.  According to Faithwire: 

Arriving home from dropping his kids off at gymnastics, Bret noticed a person attempting to break into some of cars in the lot of his family owned shop, which is in close proximity to his home. When he told the man to leave, the situation escalated quickly and before he knew it, Bret had been stabbed and was in critical condition.

In the ambulance on the way to the hospital, even in the midst of his pain, Bret Lynn was thinking about, of all things - forgiveness. He said, "If I couldn’t forgive when it really mattered, then I think my witness as a Christian would be hurt..."  He believed the Holy Spirit was prompting him to "resolve the conflict."  

Bret discovered that the attacker was experiencing difficulty in his life, and Bret asked the judge in the ensuing trial to allow him to address the man who had broken into his shop and attacked him.  The article relates that Bret told the guy in court:

...I essentially told him, I don’t want him to be in prison any longer than the state deems necessary. It ought not be on account of me, because he doesn’t owe me anything anymore. I told the court, the reason I’m forgiving this guy is because Christ has forgiven me for so much more than he had done to me. None of us are righteous, none of us are perfect, none of us are holy. But God is holy. God is infinite. He’s holy, he’s righteous and he’s perfect. My sins are against God, and so my debt is much greater.”

Are we committed to forgiving others in light of our forgiveness in Christ? Bret Lynn asks this penetrating question: “If we’re Christians and we’ve been forgiven for everything we’ve done then how can we withhold forgiveness?”

That can seem to be a tall order, right?  But, we can be confident that God will give us the love and capacity to forgive.  Because He has loved us and given us new hearts that are activated by His love, forgiveness can flow through our hearts and lives.

We also recognize that our failure to forgive has an impact on our prayer life. Unforgiveness inhibits our prayers, forgiveness allows the grace of God to flow.  And, because Jesus gave His life for us and we have received His grace, we are now called to exemplify the grace of God.

Arrows

Christian parents have the tremendous responsibility before God to model the presence of Christ.  All of us are called to set a tangible example for years to come. Psalm 78 states:
5 For He established a testimony in Jacob, And appointed a law in Israel, Which He commanded our fathers, That they should make them known to their children;
6 That the generation to come might know them, The children who would be born, That they may arise and declare them to their children,
7 That they may set their hope in God, And not forget the works of God, But keep His commandments...

We can think about the "testimony" that God has established in our own lives and be challenged to make that testimony visible. If Christ lives in our hearts, then we are responsible to allow His life to flow outward, from our changed hearts, into a changed lifestyle, into transformed behavior. If we have professed to know Him, then we can show it by honoring Him, sharing His love, and reflecting His principles, so that a mark is made for the future.

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In Psalm 127, we can read this passage of Scripture which speaks to how we can regard our children - 
as gifts from the Lord.
3 Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, The fruit of the womb is a reward.
4 Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, So are the children of one's youth.
5 Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them; They shall not be ashamed, But shall speak with their enemies in the gate.

There is certainly a fascination with large families.  I assume more people, more children, result in more storylines.  Witness the visibility and success of shows such as Jon and Kate Plus 8, which sort of ended up as a train wreck, (Blank) Kids and Counting, featuring the Duggar family, which I believe may have topped out at 19, or Bringing Up Bates, which also features a 19-child family.

Well, the Derrico family is perhaps next in line - they have 14 children, according to a CBN.com story, which relates:

Karen and Deon Derrico and their kids are the stars of TLC's reality series "Doubling Down with the Derricos." The Derricos are the natural parents of quintuplets, triplets, two sets of twins, and singletons.

The Derricos are an African-American family, and in a Fox News interview referenced in the article, Karen said, "It was actually not a number, per se, that we had. It wasn't like a set, like, 'We're going to have only 14 children," adding, "It was nothing like that. He asked me and I was like, 'I just wanted as many children as God blessed me to have,' and that left it open. So here we are now. We're thankful and grateful there's 14." Deon said, "We want this. This is a blessing for us. This is not your view of it. It's a blessing to us..."

Their journey has not been without pain, such as the loss of one of three triplets, about which Deon posted to Instagram in 2018: "These two little precious jewels are the last two born of the #DERRICO crew!! Triplins are what we call them, because they were born #Triplet boys, but one of them went to Jesus."

In that Fox interview, Deon also said, "Faith is also our core value," adding, "That's who we are… It's constantly shown in our deliverance and the way we do things naturally. We want to help others. This is just a blessing to be able to give the kind of help that we give and move our family. We want to help other families do the same with their households."

As for the Duggars, the second generation continues to appear on the series, Counting On, and just this week, the Entertainment Tonight website gave an update on the family.  The original show was cancelled five years ago, just after revelations of moral failure by the oldest brother, Josh, but other siblings continue to live their lives, most in a public fashion. and even make headlines. Josh Duggar, by the way, is still married to Anna and they now have six kids, according to the Entertainment Tonight story, which reports, "Led by parents Jim Bob and Michelle, the Duggar family now consists of 19 kids, eight sons- and daughters-in-law, and 17 grandchildren -- and counting!"

The family still continues to fascinate and unfortunately becomes tabloid fodder, but the reality show family does reflect its own reality. Consider a recent story on The Christian Post website featuring Jessa Duggar Seewald, which states, regarding a recent YouTube video: 

In the “Counting On” star’s video on Sunday, she revealed that she did not really take her faith seriously until she was a young adult.

“If anybody was ever the problem child in the family, I probably could claim that title. I always joke that I probably gave my parents more gray hairs than any of the rest of them combined,” Seewald said.

She explained how growing up as one of 19 children was tough and admitted that her siblings' relationship with God made her doubt her own faith. The reality star confessed to being “self-seeking,” “selfish” and “living in a pattern of sin.” From the ages of 12 to 16, she was not bearing the fruit of the Holy Spirit.

She was able to overcome what she termed "spiritual depression."

I can't even imagine what it would be like to live in a bubble, where people are watching your lives unfold.  And, people are continuing to do so, perhaps in a much larger way, because you have various Duggar children who are telling their own stories, through not only Counting On, but through online media and social media.  

But, in a sense, we can remember that all of us are being viewed, to some degree - Greg Laurie says life is like a movie, which is incredibly true, but I would contend that life is like a reality show, as well.  As believers, we can choose to embrace our reality or deny what God is trying to teach us through real-life experience; but like it or not, our lives are under the authority and scrutiny of Almighty God. He sees all, and we are challenged to live publicly as His ambassadors. 

The Duggars, while unusual in the fact that they have raised 19 children, homeschooled them all, and are a legendary TV reality show family, are to a certain extent just like you and me. We are all unique, and we are all flawed.  And, the storms of life have not avoided that home in Arkansas. There is an incredible seed of faith in Christ that appears to have helped to sustain them, collectively speaking, through difficulty.

So, we can consider what kind of story we are all writing. Jim Bob and Michelle have been releasing children into the world fairly systematically for quite a few years, and those children have now gone on to have children. Many of their stories are unfolding on the screen week after week.  They are leaving a family legacy, and that is a consideration we can all have.  Our devotion to our Christian faith can influence generations to come.

Into the Word

God gives us incredible direction and strength for our lives.  We can be confident in His supernatural 
ability working through us. Joshua chapter 1 states:
6 Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them.
7 Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go.
8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.

Joshua had a gargantuan task before him - he was called to succeed Moses in leading the people of Israel. But, he had studied under Moses, sort of speak, and had the calling and the capacity to do what God had directed him to do. The Lord instructed him about the importance of extolling His Word, making it a priority, so that he would be, as verse 7 teaches, obedient. God told him to put the Word in his mouth and his mind so that He could demonstrate the kind of obedience that God required.

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2 Timothy 3 contains a passage that can remind us of the authority of God's Word and the sufficiency of the Scriptures. We can see these verses:
16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,
17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Yesterday, I commented on the importance of possessing a Christian worldview - and that comes from developing a belief system - I have called it a "personal theology" in the past - that is based on the teachings of Scripture.  We have to know what we believe and be convinced as to why we believe it.

The summary of a fairly recent LifeWay Research study states:

Despite repeatedly affirming confidence in their own abilities to explain and understand the Bible, a recent LifeWay Research study in partnership with Explore the  Bible curriculum found 57% of Protestant churchgoers say they find it challenging to make sense of the Bible when they read it on their own.

One in 5 (19%) strongly agree, while 38% somewhat agree. Around 2 in 5 (41%) say they don’t find it challenging, including 16% who strongly disagree.

But, even though they find it challenging doesn't mean that they don't press through to discover and apply the meaning of God's Word.  The summary says: "Nine in 10 churchgoers (90%) agree they can usually understand how a passage of Scripture is relevant to them. Only 7% disagree."

And, around 4 out of 5 respondents share that they are confident in helping other people who:

- have "doubts about the truthfulness of Scripture," or
- "difficulty accepting morals taught in the Bible," or
- experience "confusion over a Bible passage."

Dwayne McCrary of Explore the Bible says, “Reading and studying as an individual is important, but we need others to help us think through what we discover,” adding, “Studying together also allows us to gain insights from others that move us forward in our study as well.”

The summary notes that, "Churchgoers may have such confidence because they profess enjoyment in Bible study. More than 9 in 10 (93%) say they enjoy exploring a passage of Scripture to understand its meaning; 5% disagree." It says: "As part of that exploration process, overwhelmingly churchgoers see two aspects as important: understanding the original context of a passage and applying that passage to our modern context."

Here is an interesting response found in this survey, "Despite their commitment to understand the Bible in its original context, 4 in 5 churchgoers say the Bible can have multiple meanings for readers."  The summary says:

Those who attend church more frequently and those with evangelical beliefs are less likely to agree, but more than three-fourths of both groups still agree.

For McCrary, this points to a tendency to hurry and short circuit the Bible study process by confusing the meaning of a text with its application. “We tend to jump from what a passage says to what we do in response and forget to consider the principle or truth behind what is said,” he explained.

“Doing Bible study correctly takes time and thought, but it gets us to the meaning—which does not change—so we can then look at how we encounter God today and what our response should be to those encounters.”

Several ideas come to mind when considering these survey results.  One has to do with how we interact with the Scriptures.  It's important that we read, study, and meditate on the Word, then apply, rather than try to make isolated Scriptures fit your own personal worldview.  It all goes back to the Word, rather than try to manipulate Scripture to conform with our own ideas.

We can be motivated to develop a love for Scripture. We recognize that His words to us are truth and bring life. Our love is demonstrated by our desire and follow through on that desire to commit time to careful study of the Word.  

Finally, we can solicit help in understanding God's Word.  That is a huge purpose of the local church generally, and pastors and teachers specifically.  There are numerous theologians and authors who can bring a solid, reasoned approach to the Word of God.  And, Faith Radio is here to help, offering a selection of Bible teachers with excellent reputations for adhering to Biblical truth - we are not a replacement for the local church, but we seek to complement its work, rather than compete.

Louder

 

In the 1st chapter of the book of Romans, the apostle Paul offers a direct contrast between a Christian 
worldview and a worldview that contradicts Scripture. Regarding a worldview inspired by humanistic, secularistic principles, he writes:
22 Professing to be wise, they became fools,
23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man--and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.
24 Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves,
25 who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

Paul takes aims at the idols of culture - in the Old Testament, they often took the form of graven images. In our day, cultural idolatry is represented by not only embracing the pleasures of this world that we put above God, but the ideas that contradict Scripture that contribute to the decline of a society. We need a collective change of mind and an embracing of God's truth, originating from His heart, spoken in His Word, rather than walking in the world's ways and then placing a religious stamp upon it. Just because it's "religious" doesn't mean it's Biblical.

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It is helpful to determine how our worldview influences the decisions that we make, and to ascertain 
that our belief system lines up with the truth of God's Word. Ephesians chapter 4 states:
17 This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind,
18 having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart;
19 who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
20 But you have not so learned Christ...

Last week on the program, Os Guinness presented the phrase which has unfortunately become true in much of academia - the "long march through the institutions."  In America today, there has been in academic circles a rejection of absolute truth, found in the teachings of the Scriptures.  Moral relativism and worldly theories have come to rule the day.  And, today's college students, and I would submit, even the graduates thereof, are becoming radicalized, indoctrinated to a new and harmful way of thinking.

Ideas that do not conform to the dominant, humanist worldview are cast aside.  Active students openly defy their institutions, leaving the leaders and faculty to submit or risk being ostracized or dismissed. In an attempt to address this imbalance, the President issued an executive order last year, which states, according to the White House website:

Free inquiry is an essential feature of our Nation’s democracy, and it promotes learning, scientific discovery, and economic prosperity. We must encourage institutions to appropriately account for this bedrock principle in their administration of student life and to avoid creating environments that stifle competing perspectives, thereby potentially impeding beneficial research and undermining learning.

The order is designed "to ensure institutions that receive Federal research or education grants promote free inquiry, including through compliance with all applicable Federal laws, regulations, and policies."

That is a positive step, and in the overall landscape of higher education, there is a distinct role for Christian colleges and universities, who have a responsibility to train its students to think Biblically.  

Liberty University is one such institution - its founder, Jerry Falwell, Sr., determined that the school would raise up champions for Christ.  The son of the founder was recently ousted from the presidency of the school because of numerous indiscretions.  But, tens of thousands of students who attend the university are being raised up to influence this culture, and I believe that the DNA of the school is sound, despite the behavior of the man who was recently at the top.

One positive action that Jerry Falwell Jr. took was to play a part in the establishment of what is called the Falkirk Center, which is described in this way on its website:

...Liberty University has launched the Falkirk Center for Faith and Liberty with the purpose of educating, inspiring, and mobilizing Christians in the battle to preserve American liberty and rally citizens in an effort to shape government policies, national institutions, and American society through a Biblical worldview.

You might say that the Center got its name from a combination of Jerry Falwell and Charlie Kirk, who leads the organization, Turning Point USA, which mobilizes young people to speak out for America's founding values.  That makes sense.  The website points to the battle of Falkirk, depicted in the movie, Braveheart, a battle that was lost by William Wallace, but through it, as the website says, "he ignited the spark of freedom that ultimately won the war."

Recently, the Center held a Faith Summit.  A piece on the university's website says:

Pastors, political commentators, congressional candidates, professors, authors, and other Christian leaders participated in the “Get Louder Faith Summit: Fighting for the Soul of America” at Liberty University on Thursday, addressing the growing concern of progressive, antithetical ideals squeezing into the Church.

Prominent conservative voices included former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee and best-selling author Eric Metaxas.

Center Executive Director Ryan Holfenbein stated, “Now, more than ever, it is critical for Christians to be educated on the cultural threats against our hearts and minds. The principles of what we practice are rooted in the Bible, not culture or subjective feelings. … There are many Christians nationwide who are bowing to the golden calf of political correctness and substituting the Truth of the Gospel for virtue signaling. We must combat the ravenous nature of this politically correct gospel that is marching to the front steps of the Church.”

The speaker lineup was diverse - not only from a racial perspective, but those who attended or watched the event saw presenters from a variety of generations. The press release said, "The nationally televised event, stretching seven hours, has already reached thousands through social media and America’s Voice Network. The event was streamed live on Facebook and YouTube (View the full event on the Falkirk Center’s Facebook or YouTube accounts.)"  And don't miss Charles Billingsley leading worship, with a guest appearance from the Governor - Huckabee, that is, on bass, on "I'll Fly Away."

The Champion, Liberty's student newspaper, was quite effusive in its praise for the event.  It said, regarding one panel:

Honored guests also heard from a panel consisting of Charlie Kirk, Erika Frantzve, David Harris Jr., Ryan Helfenbein and Malachi O’Brien. The speakers encouraged attendees to stand out, to not be afraid to speak their views and to be encouraged if they were persecuted.

The report also noted: 

Frantzve, Falkirk Fellow and host of Midweek Rise Up Podcast, went after the kneeling trend currently inhabiting America.

“In a kneeling culture, in a headline culture, we need to stand for Jesus,” Frantzve said.

U.S. House Candidate from Pennsylvania’s 4th District, Kathy Barnette encouraged Christians to be active in their faith.

“One of the overarching reasons we find ourselves in the culture we’re in now is because good people have decided to sit back and wait for somebody else,”Barnette said.

Barnette is African-America, so is Kimberly Klacik, who also spoke; she is running for Congress from Baltimore.

Just a cursory look at social media this morning reminds me that there needs to be an incredible amount of education from a Biblical worldview perspective.  And, we need more of these types of opportunities for people to share Biblical wisdom from a variety of backgrounds.  For instance, just today, I saw a lengthy thread on Twitter; which, by the way, if you can't say it in 280 characters - get a blog or website, and link to it with your tweet.  That's what I do with my daily commentary; otherwise, it gets hard to read.  But, there was a Christian author and podcast co-host who was ranting about how voting for someone who is pro-life doesn't actually reduce abortion.  As I referred to yesterday, according to Chuck Donovan of the Charlotte Lozier Institute, abortions dropped 18% between 2009 and 2018. Now, respondents chimed in with this false narrative that pro-life people are "pro-birth" and don't care about people once they are born. I'd like some evidence for that!  And, children in cages? Uh, that would be the Obama-Biden administration; the current administration took steps to curb that practice and evangelical leaders, such as Franklin Graham, called out the administration on it.

I contend that while policy is important, worldview is the driver - so are these people comfortable voting for someone who supports the taking of human life?  Or do they feel OK voting for someone who supports so-called "gay marriage?"  Or to throw the support of the government to lifestyles, such as transgenderism, that run counter to God's design?  Worldview is important, and we have to be determined to be a voice for the culture.

The fact that this event occurred on a college campus is key, and is a reminder to young people that those who want to live by Biblical values are not alone.  I think of the prophet Elijah who was so despondent because he thought he was the only one who was determined to follow God, who reminded him that there were 7000 others who had not bowed the knee to Baal.  Who are we bowing the knee to? And, do we recognize that there are others who are bowing to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords?

OK, here's a mashup here.  With regard to embracing Biblical truth as a solution to the maladies of our culture, we can recognize that it's not a matter of right or left, blue or red, it's a matter of right and wrong - Biblically.  The question becomes, are we aligned with God's truth?

Intervention

There is a passage in Isaiah 41 that provides a reminder about God's presence with His people.  We can 
read these words:
9 You whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, And called from its farthest regions, And said to you, 'You are My servant, I have chosen you and have not cast you away:
10 Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.'

It's been said that the phrase, "fear not," is found 365 times in the Bible - that means that there is a reminder for each day of the year. You could also interpret that to mean that God is consistently with us and wants us to walk in faith, and in what 2 Timothy 1 says: we do not have a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind.  Are we demonstrating soundness of mind?  Do we walk as if we believe that God is always with us?  We have the capability to walk in triumph over the force of fear.

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The passage of Scripture in Matthew 28 that contains what is known as the Great Commission says this:
18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.

The phenomenon of a hurricane or even a tropical storm affecting the area in which you live can bring some unexpected challenges, and we know that even in the adversity of disaster, there is the opportunity for God to be glorified.

Even recently, in the midst of Hurricane Sally, a slow-moving Category 2 storm that actually came ashore in Alabama along the Gulf Coast, there have been, and I am confident will be, stories of God's intervention.

Take, for instance, the story of an Alabama pastor who had moved to Orange Beach two years ago, according to a story from ABC33/40, which reported on Brad Doss and his family, who experienced destruction at their condo.  The online story relates that the pastor said, “Every time the wind would gust, we thought okay that’s it. The roof is coming off..."  The station's report goes on to say:

The destruction and loss of power means a hot shower, food, and drinking water have been hard to come by.

The Doss family have been able to grill some of their meals.

“We haven’t really eaten that much in 2 or 3 days and so we sat down to that meal last night. We sat down at the picnic tables with a couple of candles lit,” said Doss.

But, they continue to rely on God, the pastor says: “The one thing about the pandemic and the one thing about this hurricane is that it did not take God by surprise and he is control..." and the report states, "Doss said the hurricane won't keep them from their work of ministering to the community."

On the Fish River near the coast, John Rabur experienced the storm firsthand, according to WALA Television.  The report online states:

“It was the next morning when the surge from the river really started to come up and in about five hours, it came up five feet and that’s when we started to have some concerns about what was happening,” said Rabur.

Rabur thought Hurricane Sally had done its worst, but the storm wasn’t done yet. Preparation time was over. Prayer would be his next line of defense.

Rabur said, “As I was sitting there, I was like, well the Lord was able to part the Red Sea, so I took my Bible put it at the bottom, base of my door. Figured He could stop the Red Sea, if he chose to and He blessed us.”  The story relates that even though water came over the top of his above ground pool, "Not a drop entered in" to his home. Rabur is quoted as saying, “So we were just completely grateful and blessed thank you Jesus for that day..."

Billy Graham Rapid Response Team chaplains are on the ground in Southern Alabama, having recently been deployed to Louisiana to minister to victims of Hurricane Laura.  A story on the BillyGraham.org website tells the story of two men in Lake Charles, Louisiana who survived the storm.

Dan Schaad owns a cafe and bed-and-breakfast in Lake Charles, and he, along with employee Mike Bullock decided to ride out the storm. The story relates:

With many locals now returning from evacuations, Schaad explained he decided to ride out the storm because “I remember leaving last time [during Hurricane Rita and being] anxious to get back. Some of my employees stayed, and I wanted to be there for them.”

Sure enough, the men have helped clear some of the streets so emergency vehicles could get by and served the cafe’s food to emergency personnel.

Bullock, who accepted the Lord in prison when he was a teenager, is quoted in the article, which states:

“I just said, ‘Your will be done [to God],'” Bullock shared, adding that’s what he told his daughter ahead of the storm.

“My faith takes all fear of dying away from me. I don’t really worry about what’s happening in the world as long as me and Christ have things straight. That’s all that matters,” Bullock said.

The Billy Graham team set up at First Baptist Church across the street.  The church received extensive damage, but the article states:

Chunks of cement blocks had tumbled down the front stairs of the church after its giant stained glass windows blew out, letting rain pelt its interior. Amazingly, a concrete depiction of a Bible remained intact, bearing these Scriptures:

“Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest.” —Matthew 11:28

“Go ye, … and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost.” —Matthew 28:19

These stories remind us of how we can turn to God's presence and sustaining power, even when we are seemingly helpless.  Brad Doss was reminded of God's control even when things seem out of control, John Rabur relied on prayer and the assurance of God's truth when he faced danger, and Mike Bullock related how he was not afraid of death because of his eternal life in Christ.  Pastor Doss experienced the loss of a home, Mr. Rabur did not.  But, in all things, God is to be praised.  People die in storms and other natural disasters, others survive.  We can't understand it all, yet we can continue to  be confident in the Lord and allow Him to do His work in our hearts.

We do know that God is sovereign, and He works according to His purposes.  We know that He sometimes works in ways that we do not understand, and that death and destruction will invade our lives. So, we praise Him in the rescue, certainly, and we even praise Him when we face the struggles and losses of life.  Bullock's wife had died seven years ago, but God used that loss to draw Mike closer to Himself.  So, even though all doesn't work out like we think it should, and we will experience human suffering, we can continue to draw close to God and know more of His peace and love, realizing he comforts us in our loss. 

In the Fire

Life can be difficult, but even when we face challenges, we can know and utilize what is available by
virtue of our relationship with Christ. 2nd Corinthians 4 states:

7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.
8 We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed--
10 always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. 

The power to overcome and the ability to grow through trials is directly related to our reliance on the Lord's strength, that He makes available to us.  We can also make sure that we are growing in the knowledge of God, so that we can turn to Him in faith when we encounter the opposition that is sure to come in this world.  We are in a consistent state of training, being molded into the image of Christ, growing in Him, and becoming more skillful in the use of what He has provided to sustain us when we feel weak.

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1 Peter 4 indicates some of the resources that are available in order to prepare and sustain us when we 
attempt to navigate through difficulty. We can read:

11 If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
12 Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you;
13 but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.

Where there is a crisis, we can look for the presence of Christ - time and again, when there is disaster, you see believers who are stepping up to answer God's call.  No doubt, we will see that in the coming days in the aftermath of Sally.  And, California residents, as well as those in other Western states, who have faced destruction or the threat of it in the face of rampant wildfires, are experiencing the tangible presence of the Church.

Religion News covered different forms of relief from religious organizations, including several Christian entities. One example is from Clovis Hills Community Church in the Central Valley of California, which, according to the article, "has been accepting perishable donations and has opened up their parking lot for evacuees who need to sleep in their cars. People have also camped out in tents on church grounds."  The article relates:

Erin Cox, a church member, has been taken aback by the public’s generosity. She teared up talking about people impacted by the fires who have volunteered their own time to help.

“People who have lost everything, their entire home, they're coming back to volunteer the next day,” Cox said.

“These people don’t want to take,” she said. “They want to save it for their neighbor.”

The article also mentions the work of Southern Baptist Disaster Relief in California, which is headed by Mike Bivins. It states:

Bivins said about 60 church volunteers have been working in shifts to help distribute food to evacuees who have been placed in area hotels by the Red Cross.

Bivins said they’ve also deployed chaplains to provide company and guidance to people who have been evacuated. This work has been challenging during COVID-19, as chaplains have to wear protective gear and keep socially distant from those they accompany, Bivins said.

“The main thing is stress mitigation,” Bivins said.

But, there have been other barriers, too, according to Bivins, quoted in a Baptist Press article from August; he says, regarding COVID rules preventing the Red Cross from establishing shelters: “Feeding and chaplaincy work was done in the shelters, and they are not setting up any overnight congregate shelters.”  The piece goes on to say:

Instead, those forced to flee the flames are being given vouchers for hotel housing in multiple locations.

“It’s really in a way sort of frustrating because … people are just scattered,” Bivins said. “With COVID and non-congregate sheltering, it’s difficult to set up and serve meals.”

He says that, “Right now, the churches seem to be handling it on their own..." The article notes: "...Individual Southern Baptist churches in the state have offered to help displaced residents and receive any needed supplies from the state convention."

Nevertheless, national relief organizations are continuing to do the persistent work of getting supplies to those who need it.  Recently, The Christian Post reported on the efforts of Convoy of Hope. Stacy Lamb from that organization said, “When you take something like fires in California, Oregon, and Washington, where they’re literally stretched over thousands of miles, setting up a single site out there doesn’t really make a lot of sense..." He adds: “So it’s easier to find those partner churches or those hub churches and provide them with the resources and let them distribute locally.”  Lamb described the situation as "almost apocalyptic," and added, “Even the folks that aren’t necessarily in harm’s way from the fire, the smoke and all the ash and all those things out there are just impacting so many more people..."

The article notes that the causes of the fires are multiple, including lightning, downed powerlines, and even arson.

We can be thankful for churches and relief organizations that are sensitized and mobilized in times of adversity - as we will be seeing in the days to come, there will be a coordinated response throughout the body of Christ to minister to storm victims in the aftermath of Sally and the continued relief provided in the areas affected by Laura.  Plus, there is an ongoing response to the fires in the western states.  And we can remember the firefighters in those areas who are bravely going into harm's way to provide a solution, as well as first responders who have faced the brunt of storms in order to rescue and protect those affected by storms.

Certainly, there are storms that will afflict us - not only those natural occurrences, but also emotional storms that will rock our world, spiritual storms that will threaten to get us off track in our walk with Christ, relational storms that produce bitterness and anger.  We also know that we will encounter those fiery trials that may seem insurmountable.  But, regardless of the form that adversity comes, we have a faithful God who is with us in the challenging times, who shows us His mercy and reminds us of His presence when it is difficult, and who will train us in spiritual crisis management when the fires and storms are not so intense.  We always need to recognize and rely on Him, knowing that we will face difficulty in this life.

The God of Miracles

We serve a great and mighty God, who is able to do incredible things as we call on His name in faith. In Jeremiah 32, we read these verses:
17 'Ah, Lord God! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for You.
18 You show lovingkindness to thousands, and repay the iniquity of the fathers into the bosom of their children after them--the Great, the Mighty God, whose name is the Lord of hosts.
19 You are great in counsel and mighty in work, for your eyes are open to all the ways of the sons of men, to give everyone according to his ways and according to the fruit of his doings.

In verse 27, God spoke to Jeremiah and said:
27 "Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?

Jesus taught that with God, nothing is impossible. So, even when we encounter situations where solutions seem to be in short supply, we can stand fast in the strength of the Lord and rely on Him in faith. We don't have to give in to fear, because we know that God is with us. In our times of desperation, we can be motivated to call out to Almighty God; He is the Creator the universe and the one who has made it possible for us to know Him - He is the One who works wonders!

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In Acts 3, we find that God worked through Peter and John to heal a lame man. And in the 12th verse of that chapter, Peter asked these questions:
(12) ..."Men of Israel, why do you marvel at this? Or why look so intently at us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk?

Later, he declared, concerning the name of Jesus:
16 And His name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.

Colton Dixon came to the awareness of the American public when he was a finalist on American Idol during Season 11, placing 7th in the season that was eventually won by Phillip Phillips.  He has become a popular Christian musical artist, and one of his latest song releases, Miracles, actually came to have fresh significance recently.

In August, his wife Annie gave birth to twins, Ava Dior and Athens Elizabeth.  According to People magazine, Colton says that the birth came after a "perfect pregnancy." He said, "Annie never got sick, not once. Every checkup was textbook perfect," adding, "People would stare at just how well she was carrying not one, but two babies. But the delivery was a different story."

Annie was in labor for 30 hours, and Dior was born with no pulse, according to the article. Colton says, "In that moment, we had a choice: faith or fear...We watched and prayed as the doctors and nurses resuscitated our daughter back to life."

He goes on to say, "After several days in the NICU, Dior was able to join us at home, happy and healthy. That was a great day," adding, "Life doesn't always happen the way we want it to, but we believe that life is more about the way we respond to things than what happens to us. We thank God and our amazing doctors and nurses for our two little miracles."

The Movieguide website, which linked to the People story, added:

Colton, who earlier this year performed his single “Miracles” at the 28th Annual Movieguide® Awards, told PEOPLE that the song has a new meaning.

“To be honest, this recent journey has given the song a whole new meaning to me.”

When referencing the trial of her delivery, Annie wrote, “The battle is the Lord’s. So thankful.” on her Instagram.

Colton also posted about this experience on Instagram, stating, “We originally wanted to keep this story in the dark, but realized that this is a story of hope that needs to be heard. Just because a situation looks dark or grim doesn’t mean that you agree with it or give it control over the outcome.” He also said, “Sometimes we have to fight. Our words are a weapon. Our praise is a weapon. God declared us victorious as His sons and daughters, but according to His word, we have to agree with Him…”

What an amazing story!  And, an amazing God who meets us with His hope and strength when we are feeling hopeless.  In the face of fear, we can respond to Him in faith.  When we are in desperate situations, even life-or-death scenarios, we can remember to call out to Him and recognize His love, faithfulness and truth.  In our darkest hours, we can know the brightness of His presence.

The Bible is full of stories of people who were facing difficult challenges and who responded by calling on God. We see how Jesus showed His power and love when people were in need, and that same Jesus, the One who did miracles here on earth, who rose from the dead and has brought us the miracle of redemption, can show up in our lives in profound ways.  He is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and He desires to demonstrate how much He cares for you. 

Sexual Devolution

We can recognize that God is serious about the area of sexual immorality.  When you consider that, according to Ephesians chapter 5, that marriage represents the relationship between Christ and the church, this sort of behavior outside of marriage, because it weakens marriage, does not please the Lord - it is sinful. Ephesians 5 states:

3 But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; 
4 neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.
5 For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.

The Lord, in His Word, has given us principles by which we can live the life He desires for us. We can attempt to live outside the boundaries that He is set, but we know that we will reap the negative consequences. We can be careful to not only read the Bible, but to know it and make sure that it is part of our consciousness, so that we can make good decisions and make sure that we are strong in order to resist temptation.

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The Bible cautions us not to pursue sinful pleasures, but to submit ourselves to the satisfaction of a right relationship with God. Hebrews 11 says:
24 By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter,
25 choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin,
26 esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward.

You can also find the phrase "passing pleasures of sin" translated as "pleasures of sin for a season."

The permissiveness of our society as it pertains to sex is quite stunning, and the Biblical principle of sex within the bonds of marriage is being disregarded, even by Christians.  Consider the results of a new Pew Research survey; the summary of which makes this bold statement: "Half of Christians say casual sex – defined in the survey as sex between consenting adults who are not in a committed romantic relationship – is sometimes or always acceptable."

Breaking that down, you find that just under a-fifth of Christians say that such activity under those conditions is always acceptable.  In a committed relationship, one-third of Christians in the survey say sex is always acceptable and about a quarter say it is sometimes acceptable, for a total of around 57%.  These results do have a caveat: respondents indicated whether they believed that this activity was acceptable, not whether or not they would do it themselves.

The survey also shows that one-third of evangelical Christians believe that "casual sex" is always or sometimes acceptable. 

The summary also says:

Among those who are religiously unaffiliated, meanwhile, the vast majority (84%) say casual sex is sometimes or always acceptable, including roughly nine-in-ten atheists (94%) and agnostics (95%) who say this.

The Pew survey summary notes:

How often Americans attend religious services is another factor in how they responded to the questions. Those who said before the coronavirus outbreak that they typically attend monthly or more are less likely than others to approve of sex and dating practices asked about in the survey.

For example, a little less than half (46%) of U.S. adults who attend services at least once a month say sex between unmarried adults in a committed relationship is sometimes or always acceptable, compared with three-quarters (74%) of those who go less often.

The expressions of the so-called "sexual revolution" reverberate throughout society.  Glenn Stanton of Focus on the Family wrote in a piece late last year at The Federalist website:

What people do in their intimate lives indeed affects their neighbors, whether they are those next door, co-workers, or extended family.

The effects of sexual relationships also reveal themselves in our community institutions — in schools, hospitals, police stations, social service offices, and nearly all levels of government — in various ways. Each of these must deal with the positive and negative consequences, often daily, of who had sex with whom and under what circumstances.

Just a couple of examples - citing research, Stanton writes, "Sex within marriage cultivates responsible men who are more likely to be employed, hold jobs longer, go to school to improve their futures, and be more involved in the lives of their children, making those young people less likely to cause trouble in their neighborhoods. Responsible men are essential to creating healthy communities." He also decries the spike in out-of-wedlock births:

Despite women’s increased fertility control, out-of-wedlock births have skyrocketed. They now account for 40 percent of all births, with many of these children being raised by single parents, resulting in not only poverty, but sometimes abuse. A live-in boyfriend is substantially more likely to be physically and sexually abusive to his single-parent girlfriend and her children than if they were married and raising their own biological children. Thus, women, children, and the larger community suffer from what people have done in the bedroom.

Bottom line: No architect or facilitator of the sexual revolution could have ever imaged the deep and vast human suffering their project has wrought. But there it is.

The violation of God's principles concerning sexual practice has ramifications for the individuals involved, as well as society, and, I would contend, the Church.  When professing Christians are involved in sexual sin, it does not contribute to a healthy body of Christ, and the fallout results in widespread brokenness that weakens the mission of the Church.  We cannot expect the fullness of a satisfying, dynamic relationship with Christ when we are willfully sinning against Him, pursuing the pleasures of sin for a season. 

The Bible is explicit regarding fornication, which includes various degrees, I believe, of sexual practice outside marriage.  In an age in which we need to see the beauty of marriage exemplified, there are those who unfortunately weaken marriage by not following the principles of Scripture.  In all of the decisions we make, we should be guided by the Scriptures, so that we can glorify the Lord in the way that He would intend.

The Wrong Side

There does seem to be so much political posturing these days, virtue signaling by individuals and companies to show how correct that they are, based on the errant standard of the world's approval.  
Jesus calls out people of this sort in Matthew 15, when He says:
7 Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying:
8 'These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me.
9 And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.' "

Hopefully, that's not us.  But, it is beneficial to examine our hearts.  We are called to be compassionate in our relationships with the world around, and consistent in our adherence to Scripture. We should be known for how we uphold God's principles and reflect His heart.  We can allow the teachings of the Word to guide our positions and not allow the world to dictate how we are to believe and behave.  If we are not grounded in the Word, we become vulnerable to being hypocrites - saying one thing, and doing the other - a practice that Jesus warned against. 

+++++

In Matthew 23, Jesus warns the Pharisees against self-serving and their hypocrisy toward the people 
they were called to serve:
23 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone.
24 Blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!
25 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence.

The Disney organization is certainly by no means a faith-based organization, although it built its reputation on family-friendly entertainment.  It, along with other studios, made news last year when it threatened to pull its extensive filmmaking apparatus out of Georgia due to the state's passage of a law that protects pre-born children from having their lives taken once a heartbeat can be detected via ultrasound.  The Hollywood Reporter at the time shared this information:

Bob Iger said it would be “very difficult” for Disney to keep filming in Georgia if the state enacts a new abortion law. 

In an interview with Reuters, the CEO of the Walt Disney Co. said he had doubts the company would continue production in Georgia if the controversial ban on abortion in the state comes into effect, primarily as the company's employees would be against it.

The law has been struck down in court, and it seems as if Disney, as well as Netflix, have not made any other threats - but you can readily see the company's disregard for the sanctity of human life.  

Well, Disney has on one level been caught in hypocrisy, threatening to pull out of Georgia, but filming in China in close proximity to an area where people are being tortured.  The Daily Signal published an article from The Daily Caller, saying:

Disney is facing criticism for filming where China’s Uighurs are allegedly being interned more than a year after CEO Bob Iger suggested the company might be forced to cut ties with Georgia after the state passed an anti-abortion law.

In the credits for the live-action version of “Mulan,” Disney thanked a Chinese agency called Turpan Municipal Bureau of Public Safety, which is allegedly responsible for running internment camps housing individuals from the country’s Muslim minority groups, the BBC reported Monday. Disney filmed the movie in Xinjiang, China, where Uighur people have reportedly been imprisoned.

The article goes on to say:

Numerous reports have shown Uighurs being held in concentration camps and being subjected to forced sterilization. Chinese officials deny any wrongdoing in Xinjiang, and claimed in an April statement that there is no “detention of a million Muslims from Xinjiang.”

The Stream posted another Daily Caller article, reporting that:

It’s inconceivable that Disney was unaware that Xinjiang, China, is the location where China is imprisoning the country’s Uighur population, stockholder Justin Danhof told the Daily Caller News Foundation. Disney is facing intense criticism for filming in 2019 the live-action version of Mulan in Xinjiang, where the minority group is allegedly being interned.

“Disney will be hearing from us in a formal way on this issue. We will be engaging with Disney in that way,” Danhof said, referring to his fellow stockholders. “Other investors who are not aware of what Disney is doing will be made aware.”

Danhof did not elaborate on what he and the other stockholders supposedly have planned, noting that he does not like to discuss such internal matters.

Danhof is general counsel and director of the Free Enterprise Project, which is a product of conservative think tank National Center for Public Policy Research; he said: “It’s wildly offensive...There can be no doubt that Disney has to be aware of this. Some executives probably even saw some of the centers housing the Uighurs.”

John Stonestreet, in a Breakpoint commentary, stated:

Xinjiang is the home province of some 12 million Muslim Uighurs. According to the U. S. State Department, over one million of them have been moved to concentration camps where “they are starved, abused, tortured, electrocuted, raped and even killed.” Uighur women have been “forcibly sterilized . . . [and] made to use intrusive birth control methods.” There have even been reports of forced abortions and even infanticide.

Stonestreet also pointed out Disney's threat to Georgia in 2016 over a religious liberty law and poses the question: "Why then, would Disney be willing to put the economic screws to a U.S. state over abortion and LGBT rights, but not to a Communist dictatorship over human-rights violations and even genocide?"  He adds:

While Beijing clearly doesn’t care about world opinion, too much world opinion cares about China… especially China’s money. Having propped up its authority for so long on economic promises, the only pressure China is likely to take seriously is financial. Nations like Japan and India, and even some corporations like Apple, have taken a stand and moved business out of China. Disney, on the other hand, gave China a great big PR win instead.

Disney clearly does not see the harm in abortion, which is genocide in and of itself, and is apparently insensitive to the plight of these political prisoners who are facing torture and death.  So, it seems to be across the board, womb to tomb. After all, why risk offending an economic partner such as China?  

The fact is, so many companies, in wanting to be on the right side of social issues, are risking offending customers in order to pursue a liberal and dehumanizing political agenda.  Pre-born children are being exterminated in the U.S. and homosexuality is being glorified.  In China, all manner of human rights violations are being perpetrated.  But, what is right and what is wrong has been turned upside down. 

But, Disney is apparently willing to stand with genocide, wherever it may occur.  We have to make sure that we align with life.  We are called to protect the vulnerable among us, in the womb, as well as those who are facing persecution for their faith.  Religious liberty is a value that is ingrained in Scripture and in the substance of our nation.  Thankfully, we have the freedom in this country to speak up against injustice - we have to make sure that we are not turning a blind eye to the cause of the persecuted.

The Disney company has been accused of hypocrisy.  And, I think it is highly instructive that Jesus spoke some of his harshest words to hypocrites.  His life and ministry and one of the character traits of the Christian life is to make sure we are walking in integrity - not saying one thing and doing the other. That is actually a principle that we find ingrained into our society, and Christians are sometimes taken to task for not, well, acting like Christians.  We have to make sure that we are consistent in our philosophy and our practice, and that we don't buy in to upside-down thinking that violates Scriptural principles.  The Uighurs may not share our faith, but they share our humanity, and opposition to religious persecution is a just cause; but a cause that is not a very high priority for Disney and corporate soulmates.

A Heart of Prayer

In Matthew chapter 21, Jesus is teaching about the power of prayer and provides a powerful illustration that can inspire us as we come before Him. We can read:
21 So Jesus answered and said to them, "Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' it will be done.
22 And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive."

As we will talk about later, based on the words of a prayer leader, we can strive for more intensity in our prayer life.  Prayer can be something in which we engage in consistently, and we can make sure we don't approach it casually.  We can be devoted to seeing God move in our lives and in the lives of those for whom we pray.  It can and ideally needs to be a priority in our lives, and He calls us to adopt the proper attitude when we approach His throne.

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Jesus instructs us in the 11th chapter of Luke that we can come before Him in prayer, and outlines some of the dynamics of our approach to Him. He says:
9 "So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
10 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.

This time next year, we will have just completed the 20th anniversary commemoration of the events of September 11, 2001.  The events of that day can remind us of so much, including the value of life, the vulnerability we have in the face of those who wish to do us harm, and the valor that so many people have displayed in responding to the tragedy of the day. 

And, who can forget the unity that we saw in the aftermath of that day?  What happened to it?  Don Pierson certainly observed it.  He was the chaplain coordinator for Southern Baptist Convention Disaster Relief at that time and was sent to New York following 9/11.  A Baptist Press article says that Pierson saw, "as the dust lingered, so did the hurt, anger and fear."  The piece goes on to say:

But according to Pierson, that potent combination of emotions pushed people to find more strength and unity in prayer than he had ever before experienced.

He says, “Of all the bad that was done through 9/11, it did unify churches and denominations. It wasn’t just Southern Baptists that were praying … there was unity in prayer in our nation that can only be known in a time of crisis like that.” The article notes that, "There was hunger for the comforting presence of God."  He believes that there was an "urgency" for Christians to pray intensely, something for which they had been prepared.

Pierson went on to become prayer strategist for the Tennessee Baptist Convention and now he pastors a church in Flintville, Tennessee.  But the events surrounding 9/11 have certainly stuck with him.  He ministered in the area near Ground Zero, providing counseling and serving meals; afterward, he had the chance to go to the Middle East, to Gaza, working with Southern Baptist missionaries, ministering to Muslims - Muslims who were angry.  Pierson recounts:

“I believe God said to me, ‘Don Pierson, it’s more important for you to listen than it is for you to speak. And what you hear may not be what you want to hear, so make sure you keep your emotions in check as you listen.’,” Pierson said. “Anger was high in America during that time. It was in our churches, it was everywhere. People said things during that time they probably wouldn’t say today, and so I think I learned to listen better. I learned to choose my words more carefully.”

And, his perspective on prayer was altered. He says, “I still believe our God is a God who loves the world and is not willing that any should perish,” adding, “Praying for the lost has to be for those that look like you, and those that don’t look like you.”

When we come before the Lord, we can always be open to adjustments in our prayer life.  We can be encouraged to allow God to change our perspective on prayer.  That can include seeing people who are lost, even those whom we may consider our enemies, as candidates for salvation.

We can also consider this question: What does intense prayer look like?  I would certainly think that time is a key element.  We can also be cognizant of the direction of our prayers, allowing the Spirit to guide us.  Another component that comes to mind is freedom from distraction: our minds can become so cluttered with the cares of this life and the execution of our daily schedule.  We also have to keep in mind that we should take prayer seriously.  And, our hearts have to be right - we come before the Lord with a repentant mindset, allowing Him to cleanse us.

New Birth

Because we have believed in Christ, we are called to adopt an eternal perspective - we have been called to put aside the temporary in this world and embrace the eternal; we can be raised to new life in Him. 2nd Corinthians 4 states:
17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,
18 while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Perhaps this season has been one in which you have been forced to reevaluate your priorities.  Maybe you have experienced the loss of a loved one or considered your own human frailty.  The Lord, by His Word and Spirit, draws us to consider the eternal, to realize that we do not belong to this world and it is not where we will spend eternity.  Jesus has prepared a place, as He said in John 14, where He will receive those who belong to Him.  He calls us to take our eyes off the temporary and place them on the eternity He has promised to us.

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God has called us to walk in the new life He has provided for us in Jesus - recognizing the old self is 
dead and acknowledging that we are new in Christ. Romans 6 tells us:
4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
5 For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection...

Hillvue Heights Baptist Church in Bowling Green, Kentucky has acquired quite a reputation - it has placed a priority on baptisms.  And, this year, it had a goal of 700 people to experience this act, an expression of new birth in Jesus.

And, according to Kentucky Today, it was on its way to that goal - until COVID hit.  The church sets its baptism goal according to fiscal year, which begins in September. The article says: "In the fiscal year of 2019, Hillvue baptized 641, so they set a goal of 700 for 2020. At the end of February, they were more than halfway to the goal with six months remaining." It relates that Co-Lead Pastor Jamie Ward "said he thought they were around 350 at the end of February."  During the 12-month period that just ended last week, there were 506 baptisms that had been performed.

That is with COVID as a huge factor.  What is remarkable - and Biblical - is that even without in-person services, church members were sharing about Jesus.  The story says, "Instead of crouching in the corner, they seized the moment. They shared the gospel with friends, family members, neighbors and co-workers. They even spoke to some believers who, for whatever reason, hadn’t yet entered the baptismal waters."

So, when the church went back to in-person services in May, there was "a list" of people to be baptized. Ward says, “Once we started coming back, people just brought people that they had shared the gospel with at COVID time,” adding, “They were waiting for the opportunity to be baptized. Honestly, it was kind of hard to keep up. People were coming at different days and different evenings for baptism.”

Good problem to have, right?  It's the result of faithful obedience to speak and live the Word.  The article states:

Hillvue does a lot of teaching on baptism and every Sunday shares the gospel message. Their members are equipped for action.

“What has been amazing, during my time at Hillvue, so many of these baptisms are not a result of a sermon,” said Ward, who has been at the church for 16 years. “It’s people sharing their faith with their family, co-workers and neighbors. Another thing we do at Hillvue, if you lead a buddy to Christ, we want you to baptize them.”

Ward said there are more baptisms performed by other people than the church staff. “It’s such a great visual for our church,” he said.

Ward likened the COVID season to the period just after 9-11. He says, “Any end-of-the-world scenario gets people’s attention...People start thinking, ‘I don’t think I’m right with the Lord’ or ‘My worldview has no solution in it.' Ward added, “Nobody knows how closed off you've been with Christianity or anything in a spiritual realm until something like this cracks the window open. That's what we experienced here. For a lot of people, that window got cracked open.” 

We remember that the world and its circumstances can cause us to think about the temporary nature of life.  The Word can help us to consider the eternal.  

In a season in which people may be dealing with life-and-death matters and perhaps even considering their own mortality, the truth of God's Word can instruct people on how to find peace about eternity.  We each can respond to the temporary by embracing what is permanent.

We show that we have obeyed Christ in salvation by obeying Him in baptism.  Baptism demonstrates that we have been raised to new life in Jesus Christ.  It communicates to the world what God has done in our hearts.  We can certainly be motivated to rejoice in our new life.

In the Face of Trials

As we navigate the trials and challenges of this life, we can remember that God is near to us. Romans 8 
tells us:
38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come,
39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

That was a Scripture passage that President Bush used in the 9-11 memorial service at the National Cathedral in Washington three days after the attacks, a service in which Billy Graham also spoke. It was also used by Carmen Falcione in a special observance related to 9-11 at the Alabama State Capitol. This passage can remind us that even though we will face difficulty in this life, through Jesus, we can know the love of Christ.  Apart from Him, we cannot experience the abiding presence of His love - so He is drawing us closer, in order that we may be comforted and strengthened.

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As citizens of heaven who are placed on this earth, we know that we will encounter trials - and in their 
midst, we can surrender to and experience God's purposes. James chapter 1 reminds us:
2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,
3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.
4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

There are certain events in history about which you can recall exactly where you were.  September 11, 2001 is one of those days.  I remember it so well - I was actually right here, hosting Morning Praise on Faith Radio, when the news first came in.  It became very apparent within minutes of when the first plane hit the World Trade Center that this was bad, really bad.  In the next few hours, there was already a prayer response that was occurring.  And, honestly, you had a sense that things in America might never be the same.

Christina Stanton remembers that day well.  According to a FoxNews.com story from last year:

On the morning of September 11, 2001, Christina could see the smoke billowing from the World Trade Center after the first plane hit. As she watched the black soot, the second plane flew within 500 feet of her 24th-floor balcony. The sound of the roaring engines knocked her down and out, rendering her temporarily deaf. She and her husband, a finance executive, grabbed what they could, his wallet, the dog and the dog's leash. Christina was still in her nightgown and no shoes.

In the book, Christina describes how they joined the throngs on the streets running for their lives. As the towers fell and the yellow debris covered everything, Christina and Brian, exhausted, stopped. She asked her husband: "Are we going to die?" He responded by saying the Lord's Prayer, “Our Father, who art in heaven…”

Lauren Green from Fox writes that 9-11, "...became a moment of a faith transformed..." for Christina. The story quotes her:

"When the attacks happened I learned, 'Wow! I actually have no control,'" she said.

She realized that life offered few guarantees, that it wasn't just, "work hard and God will bless and prosper you."

"My worldview was totally changed."

Stanton has been a New York City tour guide and author of the book, Out Of the Shadow of 9-11: An Inspiring Tale of Escape and Transformation.  Green writes:

She says, "I really had to start over from the very beginning. Who am I? Who am I in Christ?... I would call myself somebody who went to church on Sundays," but, "I really hadn't internalized the Bible, internalized who Jesus said he was, who I am in him."

It took, as the story says, "a-decade-and-a-half" to come to grips with the events of that day, perhaps a form of PTSD.  

But, Christina and husband Brian encountered a different type of menace earlier this year.  A CBN article from late April says:

The Stantons didn't die, but suffered health problems from the toxic dust for years. Their troubles did bring them closer to God, Christina saying, "Our whole lives are changed because of 9/11. It certainly deepened our relationship with Christ."

Now they've spent the last month fighting to survive the coronavirus after both of them tested positive.

Christina says, "It was definitely a battle. And you were very cognizant that you were in a battle for your life..." She was close to death two times, according to the article and went to the hospital on two occasions.  A doctor told her that she had a "50/50" possibility of survival.

Upon learning that she had COVID, she had sent out over 100 e-mails asking for prayer, and she says those prayers strengthened her.  She says: "When you have a temperature over a hundred degrees, it's really hard to pray or even string a sentence together. And I knew there were people praying for me when I couldn't pray for myself." Christina offers this reminder: "So prayer is everything. And I invoked the name of Jesus Christ quite a bit during this past month. And there is power in that name and there is power in prayer."

Amen.  And, there is no shortage of items for which we can be in prayer.  On 9-11 and in the days after, we were a nation united - church attendance was on its way up, political leaders were in lockstep, and a national tragedy brought a sense of national sorrow and resolve.  However, much has changed in the 19 years since September 11, 2001.  What hasn't changed is our need for prayer in our nation.  If we believe that God has ordained the founding of our nation, to operate in His principles, then we should pray and act toward its preservation.  That idea unfortunately has been called "Christian nationalism" and idolatry by evangelical elites - I believe that we are blessed to be part of this incredible experiment in liberty and self-governance that has been sustained for almost a quarter of a millennium.  We need to pray for America.

Christina Stanton has personally experienced two American trials - an eyewitness to the horror of 9-11 and someone who contracted the coronavirus.  Her story can be inspiring to everyone who has faced trials.  We know that God speaks to us in our difficulty and shows Himself faithful.  He did a work in her life, drawing Christina to Himself through September 11, and responded to her as she called upon the name of Jesus during COVID-19.  In our trials, we can be reminded of the power in His name.