Not Over

When we face loss in our lives, when we have been beset by disappointment or despair, we have the promise of restoration.  We can adopt the mindset that "it's not over."  Paul recognize that in the midst of loss, there was hope in the resurrection power of God. He writes in Philippians 3:
8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ
9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith;
10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death...

As he wrote later, he pressed on in the Lord.  And, sometimes, we have to press on ourselves - we may have faced defeat or failure, but in our loss, we can encounter the gain, the hope, that has been made possible through the resurrection of Christ.  When we are pressured or depressed, we can press on because of the power of the Lord released in our lives.  We can step out in faith and know that God's plan for our lives in not over, that He walks with us, and He will give us strength and direction by His Spirit.

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We celebrate the resurrection of our Savior and can explore the powerful truths of what Christ has
done. 1st Corinthians 2 says this:
7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory,
8 which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
9 But as it is written: "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him."
10 But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.

Resurrection.  The promise of new life.  The hope of another chance.

These are all powerful themes that we can take away from the celebration of Easter.  And, another powerful statement:

It's. Not. Over.

The person who has never dedicated his or her life to Christ or the believer who thinks that he or she cannot be forgiven can have the knowledge that there is forgiveness available.  There is the resurrection power which brings new out of old, light out of darkness, and life out of death. 

There is a powerful story out of Sutherland Springs, Texas that communicates this powerful concept of not giving up, of recognizing that even when there is tragedy and hopelessness, because of Jesus, there is hope - and it's not over.

You're no doubt familiar with the mass murder that occurred at that church a few months ago...a gunman bursting into a Sunday morning service and opening fire.  He took the lives of 26 people, eventually leaving the site and taking his own life.  A place of hope had become a place of terror; but hope is being restored.

And, one of the ways that the church can receive closure is to construct new facilities.  According to the Baptist Press website, pastor Frank Pomeroy, whose daughter was killed that day, a day on which he and his wife were away, announced the plans recently for a new worship center and education building, in association with the North American Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention.

He stated, "Our primary goal is to lift up Jesus in our community," adding:

"Sutherland Springs has a certain distinction because of the enormity of the tragedy that took place at our church, but every community is touched by tragedy. Every family and every person has hurts and sorrows. We want to be a lighthouse. The light of the Gospel shines hope, even in the deepest darkness."

The article gives some insight into the plans:

The planned worship center features an exterior of stone and glass. Two towers on the corners of the building will emanate glowing light. Inside, the worship center will provide seating for 250 people. A memorial to the 26 people who lost their lives in the attack will be located in space between the worship center and the education facility.

Pomeroy stated: "We are grateful for the outpouring of prayers, for the love that we have felt," adding, "So many have done so much for us, and it has been a huge blessing. The purpose of these new buildings will be to serve God and serve others. That is why we exist."

So, it's an initiative that strengthens the local church, but is also a partnership that is open to thousands of other Southern Baptist churches - to repair and to restore.

We recognize, of course, that bricks and mortar alone are insufficient for redeeming the human heart.  But, these structures represent a new beginning - not only to provide practical ministry, but to provide a powerful symbol to the community and the world that even though lives were lost and faith was shaken, the ministry goes on.  The spirit of a people can continue, even though it has been damaged.

And, it's not over!

One of the powerful truths of Scripture, one that we celebrated in churches throughout the world, is that what the enemy intends for evil, and, make no mistake, pure evil visited First Baptist Church that day, God can use for good! 

As the Scriptures state, if those who put Jesus to death had realized the incredible growth and impact that He would have through His death and subsequent resurrection, they would not have crucified Jesus.  Indeed, God's ways are higher than those of humanity.

After devastation, we can be motivated to take the necessary steps to healing - I am convinced there has been incredible restorative ministry that has been done in that Texas city.  And, the church is positioning itself for greater effectiveness - in this new project, they are communicating to the world a sense of hope and new life; the message of new beginnings and the power to carry on.  When we have been affected by a devastating situation, we can move one step at a time toward restoration.

When we are thinking about giving up, we can rely on the Holy Spirit to provide hope and direction as we reinforce our faith in Christ.  The message of resurrection can help to strengthen us when we are feeling hopeless or see no way out of our current situation - but God is mighty; He shows Himself faithful, even though our faith may be tried.

Testify

Jesus participated in two sacraments that demonstrate to us what He has done for us through His death on the cross - there was communion, the Lord's Supper, in which He took the bread, symbolizing His body broken for us, and the cup, expressing His blood, shed for the forgiveness of our sins.  He was also baptized in water by John the Baptist - this is an outward sign of His death, burial, and resurrection. We read in 1st Corinthians 11:
26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes.
27 Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.
28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup.

We've been talking this week about really considering what Jesus has done - we see that a good portion of His time during what is commonly called Holy Week was spent in teaching; sharing His principles that we can apply in our daily walk.  Because Jesus died on the cross and because Scripture says we have been crucified with Christ, we can identify with that death by dying to self and living anew through the life of Christ, which will consume us as we surrender our hearts to our Savior.

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In Romans 6, there is a passage that effectively summarizes the events of Jesus' death and
resurrection, their significance for us, and the process that we go through when we are actually born again:
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...

A variety of news outlets - Christian and secular - have been covering a celebrity who has made a recent visit to the Holy Land and was baptized in the Jordan River.  His name is Mario Lopez, host of the entertainment television program, Extra.  The Faithwire website traces his steps:

But perhaps the most significant moment of his trip so far came when the “Extra” host decided to get baptized at the very location where Christ himself was submerged by John the Baptist, as described in Matthew 3:13-17.

It is reported that Lopez is from a Catholic background.  The story says that...

...Lopez was led into the river by the two priests, before being asked, “Do you believe in Jesus Christ?” and “Do you intend to serve him all your life?”

“Yes, I do,” Lopez declared, as an assembled crowd of Romanian tourists began to sing “I have decided to follow Jesus” on the river bank.

The Faithwire story goes on to state:

In an interview with Fox News Latino back in 2015, Lopez spoke of the vital importance of his deeply-held faith in God.

“I think as I’ve gotten older, I’ve just tried to build a more spiritual muscle in a business that is very unpredictable,” he explained. “It’s nice to have something that is consistent in our life — family and faith is that for me.”

But to actually get baptized now?  Was it a search for a deeper experience?  Was it the thrill of being baptized in the Jordan River?  Whatever the motivation might be, a very public baptism, as well as other shots from the Holy Land being transmitted to social media, can provide some points to consider.

It is Good Friday - and the sacrament of baptism can provide a picture of what Jesus has done for us through His death, burial, and resurrection; a spiritual process that we undergo as well when we accept Christ as Savior.  Water baptism is an outward expression of the inward work of Christ, which is described in that passage from Romans 6 I read earlier.

In order to experience the life of Christ, we have to surrender; and where there are unsurrendered areas of our hearts and minds, Jesus wants to take those parts of our life as we render ourselves dead to them.  We can confess our sins and be cleansed; we can consecrate our hearts and discover newfound power in Him.  His power can set us free from whatever might hold us back; His love can soften our hearts so that we grow in that love and know Him better.

Celebrate!

Jesus continued to teach in the days leading up to His crucifixion and resurrection.  In Matthew 22,
He is teaching about the significance of the resurrection - to people that did not believe in the concept:
31 But concerning the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was spoken to you by God, saying,
32 'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living."
33 And when the multitudes heard this, they were astonished at His teaching.

We also know that Jesus described Himself as the "resurrection and the life."  Shortly before His body was bruised and His blood was spilled, He illustrated what was to come through the Lord's Supper, through communion.  We reflect on the cruelty and the sufficiency of His death - sufficient to be a satisfactory sacrifice for our sins.  And, not only did He pay the price, but He rose from the dead, making it possible for us not only to be forgiven, but to become new creatures in Christ.  The events of Holy Week have personal significance for each of us, and we have the opportunity to consider more fully what He has done.

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In 1st Corinthians 15, Paul expresses the glorious hope of the resurrection of Christ. We can read:
13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen.
14 And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty.
15 Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up--if in fact the dead do not rise.
16 For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen.
17 And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins!

Easter is such an important holiday - without the resurrection, then we simply have a Good Friday funeral.  Without the resurrection, Christmas loses its impact.

This coming Sunday, Christians across America and around the world will celebrate our risen Lord on Easter Sunday.  And, that celebration, according to a new study by WalletHub, will be drawing people to church.

The survey says that 81% of Americans plan to celebrate Easter and 50.5% say they plan to attend church this Sunday.  Easter is rated as the most popular church day, ahead of Christmas and Mother's Day.

The survey also notes that 71% of those surveyed identified as Christians.

Easter is a holiday that yields quite a bit of spending, as well, with 18.2 billion dollars expected to be spent this year.  5.7 billion will be spent on food, 2.9 billion on gifts, and 2.6 billion on candy.

Easter is certainly a time of families and friends getting together, perhaps to share a meal.  Just over 6-in-10 plan to visit family and friends on Easter.  Just under 6-in-10 plan to cook an Easter meal.

The WalletHub summary states:

Easter also is a big donation day for U.S. churches, thanks to the year’s highest attendance rates. It’s a significant revenue-driver for companies in the candy business. And it’s a source of divisiveness for those who feel strongly about the best way to eat a chocolate bunny or the best filling for a chocolate egg.

This is certainly a big day for the Church, because it gives us the opportunity to consider what Jesus has done for us and to communicate His hope to the world.  And, in this special season, even amidst the secular celebration, it might appear that the world just may be paying attention.  The resurrection of Christ represents to people the hope of new life, the invitation into an exciting relationship with a risen Savior.  While Good Friday commemorates His death, which is very important, we can experience life transformation because Jesus defeated death - He is risen and alive this very moment. And, He lives in the hearts of His people.

For individual Christians, this is a time not only for consideration and communication, but also cooperation.  The death and resurrection of Christ are central truths that unite us.  We can boldly demonstrate to the world that He is Lord and that He expresses Himself through His people, His body - the visible manifestation of our Savior to a world that needs to see His light.

Rules and Woes

In the Word of God, we find reliable and powerful principles in order to live a life that pleases God and is productive for His Kingdom, based on our love relationship with Jesus.  In Psalm 119, we can
read:
11 Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You!
12 Blessed are You, O Lord! Teach me Your statutes!
13 With my lips I have declared All the judgments of Your mouth.

God desires for us to adhere to His principles and recognize that His Word contains powerful resources - Hebrews reminds us that His Word is living and active, and we can receive incredible power as we study and meditate on the Scriptures.  His Word provides instruction by which we live and information by which we grow.  If we want to be strong in the Lord, we can know that God's Word can contribute to that strength within.

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In Matthew 23, in this Holy Week snapshot, we find Jesus teaching and taking aim at the corrupt
religious practice that had permeated the Jewish faith. We read:
10 And do not be called teachers; for One is your Teacher, the Christ.
11 But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant.
12 And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.

It wasn't too long ago that a Canadian professor received attention for his opposition to a Canadian bill called C-16, which, according to the BBC, "prohibits discrimination under the Canadian Human Rights Act on the basis of gender identity and expression."  That bill actually passed the following summer. 

The professor, Jordan Peterson of the University of Toronto was...

...especially frustrated with being asked to use alternative pronouns as requested by trans students or staff, like the singular 'they' or 'ze' and 'zir', used by some as alternatives to 'she' or 'he'.

In his opposition, he set off a political and cultural firestorm that shows no signs of abating.

He is quoted as saying, "I've studied authoritarianism for a very long time - for 40 years - and they're started by people's attempts to control the ideological and linguistic territory," adding, "There's no way I'm going to use words made up by people who are doing that - not a chance."

Peterson's latest claim to fame is a book called, 12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos, as well as a lecture series.  Peterson, in some circles, has become an intellectual phenomenon.  A quick-start guide to the "rules" for you now, from The Guardian website:

Rule 1 Stand up straight with your shoulders back
Rule 2 Treat yourself like you would someone you are responsible for helping
Rule 3 Make friends with people who want the best for you
Rule 4 Compare yourself with who you were yesterday, not with who someone else is today
Rule 5 Do not let your children do anything that makes you dislike them
Rule 6 Set your house in perfect order before you criticise the world
Rule 7 Pursue what is meaningful (not what is expedient)
Rule 8 Tell the truth – or, at least, don’t lie
Rule 9 Assume that the person you are listening to might know something you don’t
Rule 10 Be precise in your speech
Rule 11 Do not bother children when they are skate-boarding
Rule 12 Pet a cat when you encounter one on the street

And, there you have it - and perhaps one day, I'll compare each individual rule with the teachings of Scripture.  It is rather intriguing to see articles being written about how closely - or not - that Peterson tracks with Christianity.  There is some overlap, but I have not seen anywhere any writing that makes the case that he is a Bible-believing Christian.

Rules are important.  Now, Peterson's rules might better be described as guidelines or guardrails.  Maybe simply principles.  Petting a cat doesn't constitute a rule, but it may propel us to appreciate the simple things of life.  Rule 6, about setting your own house in order before criticizing the world, is certainly a wise saying and would greatly benefit our perspective and practice.

The Bible contains a thorough set of principles by which we can live - and a study of God's Word and absorption into our hearts and minds can enable us to release God's power to follow His Word.

During Holy Week, Jesus did quite a bit of teaching - and in Matthew 23, we see a set of principles - you might describe them as "Christ's 8 Woes for Learning."  Here's the summary:
#1 - Don't try to keep people from entering the Kingdom of Heaven (v.13)
#2 - Don't pray pretentious prayers (and take special care of the widows) (v. 14)
#3 - Don't corrupt those whom you win to the faith by your bad behavior (v. 15)
#4 - Don't exalt the gold of the Temple over the Temple itself; or, don't exalt the gift over the giver (v.16)
#5 - Don't give of worldly possessions without possessing heavenly character, including justice, mercy, and faith (v. 23)
#6 - Don't clean up the outside without dealing with a corrupt heart on the inside (v. 25)
#7 - Don't try to project a righteous appearance for unrighteous motives (v. 27)
#8 - Don't pridefully say that you would not repeat the mistakes of your predecessors (v.29)

The religious leaders of Jesus' day had created a system that really contradicted the heart of God, and Jesus was calling them out for it.  This leads to our first takeaway when we consider lists of rules or guidelines - whatever "system" of principles we follow should first and foremost line up with Scripture.

Jesus was calling the "scribes and Pharisees" to examine their hearts - and during this Holy Week, we can carefully look into our own hearts, making sure that we are intent on loving Jesus and appropriating what He has done for us in the cross into our own lives.  We have to move beyond showy religion into a sincere encounter with the living God.

Finally, we should have principles that we follow.  And, we should also have discernment - because not all seemingly "good advice" is Godly counsel.   From Biblically-based principles, we develop convictions that serve us well in our walk with Him.

Q&A

Jesus engaged with those to whom He ministered on earth, and He wants to engage with us.  Isaiah 1
says:
16 "Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; Put away the evil of your doings from before My eyes. Cease to do evil,
17 Learn to do good; Seek justice, Rebuke the oppressor; Defend the fatherless, Plead for the widow.
18 "Come now, and let us reason together," Says the Lord, "Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool.

God is calling us to come before Him and to bring the questions, the concerns, the desires of our hearts before Him - He wants us to communicate with Him, and He teaches us how to engage with other people.  He does desire to walk with us through the difficult times we face and the challenging issues that we grapple with.  But, He is patient and kind toward us, full of compassion, and willing to share His wisdom so that we might apply it and share it with others.

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Jesus was attending the Feast of the Passover just days before He, our Passover Lamb, would be sacrificed for our sins.  He made good use of that time there - in the latter chapters of the gospels, you read about His teaching.  And, He engaged the religious leaders in the temple.  Luke 20 states:
1 Now it happened on one of those days, as He taught the people in the temple and preached the gospel, that the chief priests and the scribes, together with the elders, confronted Him
2 and spoke to Him, saying, "Tell us, by what authority are You doing these things? Or who is he who gave You this authority?"
3 But He answered and said to them, "I also will ask you one thing, and answer Me:
4 The baptism of John--was it from heaven or from men?"
5 And they reasoned among themselves, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven,' He will say, 'Why then did you not believe him?'
6 But if we say, 'From men,' all the people will stone us, for they are persuaded that John was a prophet."
7 So they answered that they did not know where it was from.

8 And Jesus said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things."

Jesus was not only about doing wondrous works - healing the sick and demonstrating His power over the work of the enemy - He taught the principles of the Kingdom.  And, as we see here, He had the boldness to engage with people with whom He disagreed.  

The ministry of Focus on the Family, whose radio program airs at 8:30 on weekday mornings on Faith Radio, decided to invite someone who had disagreed with them to be part of a special event recently.  HBO, you see, has a program called, Last Week Tonight, hosted by John Oliver.  He picked a fight with the daughter of Vice President Pence.  Her name is Charlotte, and she wrote and her mom illustrated a book called, Marlon Bundo's Day in the Life of the Vice President.  The main character is actually based on a real-life pet rabbit.

ChristianHeadlines.com reported that Oliver wrote a parody of Charlotte's book:

Although the book is not political in nature, Oliver used it to mock the Vice President’s views on abortion and gay marriage.

Oliver changed the book’s title and created a scenario in which Pence, portrayed as a stink bug, tries to stop two gay rabbits from getting married.

Townhall.com said:

HBO's John Oliver likes the rabbit (how can you not?) but he was so offended by one stop on Marlon's book tour that he dedicated a whole segment to it on his program Sunday night. Using the pet to make a point about Vice President Mike Pence's anti-LGBT agenda, Oliver informed his audience that the tour is stopping at a conservative organization called Focus on the Family. Cue a rant about how the group is anti-LGBT and how Pence has long praised their efforts. So, Oliver offered his own bunny book, one that features a gay protagonist. He urged his audience to buy one of his books instead, because it would benefit LGBT organizations.

Focus responded swiftly and strongly, but went one step further.  This, from Focus President Jim Daly on the ministry's website:

Over the years, late-night television has devolved into a breeding ground for cynical, skeptical, bitter and so-called “humor” that cuts people, attempting to both marginalize and tear down individuals and institutions with whom both hosts and often guests disagree.

This past Sunday night, John Oliver was incensed over Focus on the Family’s 40 year history of supporting a traditional and biblical sexual ethic. In particular, the host took issue with our belief that those with unwanted same-sex attraction should be free to pursue counseling, if that is their desire. Of course, millions of Christians and even non-Christians hold to this standard, but Mr. Oliver disagrees and his seething reaction to our ministry’s position was palpable.

I’m disappointed, though not completely shocked by the animus projected by John Oliver, a man whom I have never met.

Focus on the Family is proud to host Mrs. Pence and Charlotte for a book signing next Monday, March 26th. Though lampooned and shamed for selecting our location for one of their events, the Pences will be warmly welcomed guests to our campus in Colorado Springs.

John Oliver is welcome to join us.

That is key! Daly staked out his ground, but made an overture to find common ground.

For her part, Charlotte Pence made an attempt to diffuse the situation, according to Townhall:

She bought the HBO host's book, she said, because she is all about contributing to good causes.

“He’s giving proceeds of the book to charity, and we’re also giving proceeds of our book to charity, so I really think that we can all get behind it,” Pence explained Wednesday.

The Hill reports that portions of the proceeds for Charlotte's book will go to Tracy’s Kids, which "provides young cancer patients with art therapy," and A21, "an anti-human trafficking nonprofit."

It reports, "Oliver has said proceeds from his book will go to AIDS United and the Trevor Project, a suicide prevention organization for LGBT youth."

That may not have been the response I would have chosen, but her desire to diffuse a situation is admirable, according to the DailyWire website: "Rather than respond to Oliver's mean-spiritedness with more mean-spiritedness, she has decided to do the classy thing and buy one of John Oliver's books so that the proceeds can go to charity."

We can think about several principles here, and here is the first one: we don't have to respond to "mean-spiritedness with more mean-spiritedness."  It is easy to respond angrily to anger - in fact, people, I think, tend to respond in kind; that's why the Proverbs speaks of a gentle answer turning away wrath.  Charlotte Pence is being commended for her class; which was even reinforced by going before the ladies of The View last week; yes, the same panel that had members who had ridiculed her father's faith.  Talk about courage and class.

We can also be challenged to reach out to those who have offended us.  Even though John Oliver said some negative things about Focus on the Family, Jim Daly extended an invitation to join them for the Pences' book signing at Focus yesterday.   Jesus had dialogue with the religious leaders of His day - He did not run away from their questions; He tactfully engaged with them.

And, we can be reminded that God's wisdom is available to inject into our confrontations.  In of ourselves, we may fell inadequate, but the Lord wants us to depend on Him to speak through us as He opens up the opportunities.

Consideration and Confrontation

We are called to walk with renewed minds before our Heavenly Father and our Lord Jesus - we can
give careful consideration to the way we are to walk before Him. Deuteronomy 32 states:
6 Do you thus deal with the Lord, O foolish and unwise people? Is He not your Father, who bought you? Has He not made you and established you?
7 "Remember the days of old, Consider the years of many generations. Ask your father, and he will show you; Your elders, and they will tell you...

We can sometimes be so intent on being right or to respond quickly that we end up reacting too swiftly, without having relevant facts in place.  James encourages us to be slow to speak, quick to listen, and slow to become angry.  We have to temper our responses with the nature of God, rather than lose our temper according to the nature of the flesh.  Before confrontation should come consideration - it's important that we do not give in to those tendencies to respond instantly.

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In Mark chapter 11, we see that Jesus rode into Jerusalem, which was a fulfillment of prophecy, as we find in Zechariah 9:
9 "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, Lowly and riding on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey.

Jesus' triumphal entry was a bold declaration and an alignment with Biblical prophecy.  Jesus was saying to the crowd, "I am He," the Messiah, but they made Him out to be a different sort of Savior, a political leader who would deliver them from Roman oppression.  There was something that took place at the end of the journey that was pointed out in a sermon I heard yesterday:
11 And Jesus went into Jerusalem and into the temple. So when He had looked around at all things, as the hour was already late, He went out to Bethany with the twelve.

To me, this speaks to the spiritual dynamic of His mission and it can also instruct us about the importance of careful evaluation.  We skip down to verse 15 and find Jesus back in the temple:

15 So they came to Jerusalem. Then Jesus went into the temple and began to drive out those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves.
16 And He would not allow anyone to carry wares through the temple.
17 Then He taught, saying to them, "Is it not written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations'? But you have made it a 'den of thieves.' "

On Sunday night, it was a time for consideration, on Monday, it was certainly the time for confrontation.   The two went hand-in-hand.

This past Saturday, in city after city across America, groups of well-organized young people participated in the March for Our Lives.  It was interesting that there was even a #March4Life hashtag that was going out there to describe these gatherings.  John Stonestreet of the Colson Center tweeted out: "March on DC today to protect innocent children from being slaughtered. That sounds similar to that March each year in January..."

It was also pointed out that the March for Life in DC generally receives little coverage from the mainstream media, in contrast to the March for Our Lives on Saturday, which had wall-to-wall coverage in some outlets.

The whole issue of gun violence is one in which spirited, reasoned debate can take place.  And, the classmates of those who lost their lives in Parkland, Florida, are grieving and wounded by what transpired that day.  But, the gun issue is a multi-faceted one, and should include the redemption of a human heart; for the taking of life illustrates a disregard for the lives of others, a rejection of God's truth and a corrupted mind that can contribute to a person taking a gun, as we saw in Parkland, Sutherland Springs, Sandy Hook, and others, or a series of bombs, which we encountered with the Austin serial bomber, or a constructed weapon, as we saw in Oklahoma City.

Gun violence is real, but to take to the streets, holding signs that contain angry messages, without clear consideration, doesn't offer a comprehensive solution.  Contrast the responses of Parkland student David Hogg, who seems to have trouble controlling his mouth, to another student who has a different idea of confrontation.

According to National Review, in a video, he described 2nd Amendment advocates using a vulgar term, saying, they, "...that want to keep killing our children, they could have blood from children splattered all over their faces and they wouldn’t take action because they all still see those dollar signs...”

He went on: 

“At this point its like when your old-a** parent is like, ‘I don’t know how to send an iMessage’ and you’re like, ‘Ok give me the f***ing phone’ and you take it and you get it done in one second. Sadly, that’s what we have to do with our government because our parents don’t know how to use a f***ing democracy so we have to do it.”

Hogg, who has become the defacto spokesman for the youth gun-control movement, regularly appears on cable news and is featured on the cover of the next issue of Time magazine along with four other Parkland students, all of whom are vocal proponents of increased gun control.

Contrast this response to that of another Parkland student, who was in DC Saturday, but not invited to speak at the March for Our Lives.  Kyle Kashuv did challenge David Hogg to a debate, which did not materialize, and he was on Face the Nation on CBS.  The network's website stated:

"I talked to senators and I looked at all the facts and they all point in the same direction the a ban on assault weapons will not solve this issue," Kashuv told CBS News' "Face the Nation" on Sunday.

Unlike many of his classmates from the Parkland, Florida, high school, Kashuv doesn't support more restrictive gun laws, like those embraced by protesters at Saturday's March for Our Lives rallies across the country. He has been meeting with lawmakers in Washington, D.C., to discuss solutions to gun violence that don't restrict Second Amendment rights.

Kashuv, according to The Hill, defended Florida Senator Marco Rubio, who was denigrated at the Saturday march. He said, "Every single senator that I’ve spoken with does not want to see this happen," adding, "I spoke with Sen. Marco Rubio. He cares so much about this, and it pains me to see how he’s being represented in the media."

According to the Time Magazine website, Kashuv supports the STOP School Violence Act, which
allocates $50 million to:

• Create and operate an”anonymous reporting systems for threats of school violence, including mobile telephone applications, hotlines, and internet websites”
• Implement improvements to school security infrastructure.
• Develop student, teacher and law enforcement training to prevent violence.

The U.S. House passed it overwhelmingly, 407-10, and Senators Rubio and Hatch are championing it in the Senate.

So, the U.S. Congress, much maligned in the marches on Saturday, along with those who use the phrase, "thoughts and prayers," in the aftermath of tragedies, has actually begun to take action.

It's a serious issue, and one that deserves well-thought-out discussion.  And, gun laws are only a part of the overall debate - consider security of public places, such as schools and churches.  Mental illness is a huge contributing factor - how can the Church be active in identifying those who are struggling?  And, we recognize that the hope for a heart of a person who would take the life of another comes through the transforming power of Jesus Christ.

We don't discount, "thoughts and prayers!!"  Consideration is important when dealing with serious issues in our culture.  There could be a time for confrontation, as Jesus demonstrated the day after Palm Sunday, but we know that He was in line with the will of His Father, and He may have just given us an example to follow when He visited the temple the preceding night.

When we are considering our responses, it's important that we are knowledgeable about what the Bible has to say.  The Scriptures give us clear instruction on so much that we deal with, and His Spirit will enable us to communicate God's wisdom in a way that pleases Him.

Superstar?

The Bible presents to us the true picture of who Jesus is.  And, we are to avoid distortions and seek to worship Him in spirit and truth, according to John 4. 1st John 5 states:
20 And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.
21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.

Jesus is so much more than just a good teacher, a good moral example, or even, as the Broadway musical suggests - a "superstar."  He did not seek to be the best man He could be; as the Son of God, He sought to live His life in a pleasing manner to the Father, so that He could become the perfect sacrifice for our sins.  Through His death and resurrection, He has made a way for human beings to have a relationship with our heavenly Father; in submitting to death, He defeated death so that we, by submitting to Him, can experience eternal and abundant life.

+++++

I think that the Easter season gives people an opportunity to consider and experience the real Jesus, not one who is stylized or redefined, but who is portrayed for us in the Scriptures.  In Matthew 16, we can read:
13 When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, "Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?"
14 So they said, "Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets."
15 He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?"
16 Simon Peter answered and said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
17 Jesus answered and said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.

This is one of those times of the year in which I believe that people's sensitivity is enhanced - it is indeed a special season, a season of great significance to Christians as (hopefully) we pause and reflect on our Savior's death and resurrection.

The entertainment industry weighs in during this time of year, and this year especially, with a powerful triumvirate of faith-related films poised to make an impact.  I Can Only Imagine, after rising to 2nd in the box office sweepstakes on Wednesday, adds hundreds more theaters.  Paul, Apostle of Christ opens today, featuring James Faulkner in the title role and Jim Caviezel, who was a guest on The Meeting House yesterday, playing the role of Luke.  Next weekend, the third film in the God's Not Dead series goes into theaters - stay tuned, David A.R. White, a filmmaker himself, who has played a pastor in the previous two movies and reprises that role in this one, will be on the radio program.

Television will get in the act, as well.  ABC will have its traditional broadcast of The Ten Commandments on Saturday night.  I saw UP TV's lineup for the season, and it includes the cable television premieres of two films that I am quite fond of: Risen, looking at post-resurrection events through the eyes of a Roman centurion, on Palm Sunday at 6pm, and on Easter night, the Erwin Brothers' second film, Moms' Night Out, also at 6.  Other season offerings include: The Passion of the Christ, Heaven is for Real, Son of God, the original God's Not Dead, two Sherwood films, and a movie called, Judas; IMDB gives some plot insight:

A cynical city boy, Judas makes fun of the country bumpkin disciples who follow Jesus but eventually decides to join the band, as well. He and Jesus become good friends, even though they often see things very differently. Ultimately, Judas is convinced that Jesus needs to use his popularity and wonder-working powers to free the Jews from the Romans, and Jesus sees a larger, spritual [sic] perspective.

By the way, next week, you'll hear from Chicago-area pastor Colin Smith, who has written a book about Judas, exploring themes of betrayal, as well as repentance and forgiveness...Smith draws the distinction between regret, which led Judas to take his life, and repentance, which he failed to experience.

One of the more unusual Easter offerings comes from noted Broadway producers and writers Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice - a live presentation of Jesus Christ Superstar, Easter night on NBC.  It actually adds the words, "Live in Concert," implying that dramatic elements may be kept to a minimum.

Now, Fox tried a live Easter presentation with Tyler Perry's The Passion a few years back, which turned out to be a mishmash of the Bible narrative, the integration of pop songs, and a public walk through the city of New Orleans centered around a lighted cross.  Relevant magazine wrote this about the latest offering:

The original 1970 musical—which is based on a very loose interpretation of the Gospel story and the crucifixion of Christ—was extremely controversial, and was even banned in South Africa after its release. The story is told from the perspective of Judas. As with many entertainment industry takes on Bible stories, it was criticized by some for being blasphemous.

John Legend plays Jesus, Sara Bareilles plays Mary Magadalene, and in the role of King Herod: rock superstar Alice Cooper.  Before you sigh here, this superstar has met Jesus Christ - the Savior, not the superstar.  That's right; according to the God Reports website:

Dark-themed rocker Alice Cooper — whose onstage theatrics included handling boa constrictors and staging mock suicides with guillotines — has returned to the God of his childhood after dumping alcoholism and feeling dissatisfied with riches.

“When you get out there and realize you’ve had every car, every house, and all that, you realize that that’s not the answer,” Cooper told CNSnews. “There’s a big nothing out there at the end of that. So, materialism doesn’t mean anything. A lot of people say that there’s a big God-sized hole in your heart. And when that’s filled, you’re really satisfied, and that’s where I am right now.”

Cooper had done missionary work with Native Americans with his dad; his grandfather was a pastor - the story says that Cooper, born Vincent Damien Furnier, "stretched the outer limits of what it means to be a prodigal." He states:

“God has a plan for everybody. I look at my life and I think, ‘How is it possible that I didn’t die?’” he said. “God’s chipping away at your life all the time to try to make you more like Him. That’s what a Christian is, a person that’s being molded and shaped all their life. I think the Lord expects you to do your best in His name. I had to struggle a long time about rock and roll. I realized it’s not really the music. It’s what’s being said with the music. So I think you have to be careful of what you’re writing, what you’re representing.”

He also is quoted is saying, "I think my job is to warn against Satan."

Say what you will, but this is someone who has professed Christ and is apparently seeking to live for Him.  It will be interesting to see how he performs on Easter night in that live presentation.

But, keep in mind, while the real Jesus has invaded Alice Cooper's life, the Andrew Lloyd Webber version seems to certainly be more of a fantasy.  It's a strange juxtaposition, indeed - so while many may be fixated on the Broadway rendering of Jesus and the theological trappings, we have another opportunity to present the truth about Jesus, someone whom at least one of the singers has experienced.

It is interesting, though, to consider that, as we celebrate Palm Sunday this weekend, there were those in Jerusalem who did regard Jesus as a "superstar:" He would be the one to come and free the Jews from the evil Roman oppression.  But, we know the truth that He would free people from their sin. He would teach about, minister, and bring about true freedom through a knowledge of Him.

He is certainly not a "superstar," but a Savior.  He came not to call attention to Himself, but to be a servant; ultimately a servant to death on the cross.

But, in rising from the dead, Jesus has transcended the life of a human - He lived a perfect life in human flesh, but death could not hold Him because He could not be held by it; He was a perfect substitute for us, who could not save ourselves.  He is the greatest human who ever lived, but...He did not seek to become famous, but He wanted to be faithful to His Father.  He is known today because some say He was a great teacher, but we have to acknowledge that He is more than that - He is God, who came in the flesh, so that we might come to know Him.  During this season, it would be my hope that people would discover the real Jesus, not the Hollywood, Broadway, or Washington version of Him.