The "Why?"

Because Jesus lives, we live in Him.  He said that He is the resurrection and the life and the life of a
Christian is found in Him. 1st Peter 1 says:
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you...

The cross can remind us of what Jesus did for us and the empty tomb is a living reminder of the presence of the Lord in His people.  We can receive forgiveness from God because Jesus removed all the barriers and has invited us to come into a relationship with Himself through salvation.  In a world that is desperate need of a source of hope, the Lord has come to remind us that He is the light of the world and source of our hope, our strength, and our forgiveness!

+++++

Before He raised Lazarus from the dead, Jesus taught his sisters, Mary and Martha, about Himself
and foreshadowed His own resurrection. We read in John 11:
25 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.
26 And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?"

We read in verse 27 that Martha replied, "Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world."

Jesus asked the question concerning resurrection and eternal life: "Do you believe this?"  A story on the Christian Today website leads off by saying:

Only 46 per cent of British Christians believe Jesus died on the cross to save them from their sins, a new poll has found.

The survey of 2,042 British adults was carried out by ComRes on behalf of the BBC and asked participants, 'To what extent, if at all, do you agree or disagree that Jesus died on the cross and was resurrected at Easter so that you can be forgiven for your sins?'

Out of the respondents who identified as Christian, a quarter said they neither disagreed nor agreed, while 17 per cent of Christians said they did not agree.

The poll also examined matters surrounding forgiveness and if respondents thought certain actions could not be forgiven.

Also, in the U.K., around two-thirds of those surveyed attend a religious service, outside of weddings and funerals.

The Church Times website reported that the more active a person identified as a Christian was, the more likely he or she was to agree with the statement.  That article says:

Of those respondents who attended church at least monthly, 67 per cent agreed, as did nearly half (48 per cent) of those who had ever attended. Among “active Christians” (those who identified as Christian and attended church at least monthly), there was 82-per-cent agreement.

Regarding the forgiveness questions, the Church Times website states:

A high percentage of respondents said that they would find it “impossible” to forgive crimes. For murder, the percentage was 73 per cent, with 23 per cent selecting “difficult”. For child abuse, it was 85 per cent.

Nearly one quarter (23 per cent) stated that infidelity would be impossible to forgive, and 60 per cent said that it would be “difficult”.

But, as the Bishop of Manchester, Dr. David Walker points out: "On most of the example wrongdoings the survey poses, regular churchgoers were significantly more likely to think that it was possible to forgive than the general population. That doesn’t surprise me, but it does encourage me enormously.”

The Bishop also says:

I would want to see the crucifixion and resurrection in slightly broader terms, emphasising the promise of eternal life and the assurance of God’s unquenchable love for all his creation. The fact that the survey focuses on sin inevitably has a bearing on how people have answered.

Nonetheless, the clearest finding of the poll is that people who go to church regularly feel more able to forgive. On most of the example wrongdoings the survey poses, regular churchgoers were significantly more likely to think that it was possible to forgive than the general population. That doesn’t surprise me, but it does encourage me enormously.

He also pointed to an area of hope from the survey data, saying that, "one of the striking features of the research is that the group most likely to identify as Christian were under the age of 24." He says, "I meet many young people who are curious about faith and are setting out on their own faith journeys. It also backs up the findings of other recent studies."

The crucifixion of Christ.  His resurrection from the dead.  The forgiveness of sins.  These are all concepts that we can reflect on during this Holy Week.  We can no doubt commemorate the "what?" but we should always consider the "why?"  And, the more we are exposed to the truth of the Scriptures, the greater handle we get on these weightier matters concerning the acts of Jesus at the end of His earthly life.

Unfortunately, you have many British Christians that do not believe that Jesus died and rose again - that is certainly problematic, but not necessarily surprising.  In America, we see that Christianity is being redefined.  We have to sharpen our sensitivity in the Church to the true meaning of Christ's coming - He didn't come to give us the good life or to make us feel better about ourselves; He came to give us the best life - His life.  He has come set us free from the power of the sin that Hebrews 12 says "so easily entangles."

During this season, we can be challenged to embrace the gospel message and appreciate its clarity; to think about how what Jesus did on the cross and through His resurrection affects us.  He wants to change us, to live through us, to express His love to us and His nature through us.

The Mob

We are called and empowered to be people who love Christ and reflect our love for Him in the situations we encounter each day.  1st Corinthians 2 tells us that we are to have a different mindset
than the world - we can read:
12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.
13 These things we also speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

No doubt, each of us has been placed in this world for a purpose.  And, we can consistently examine how much of the world is in us.  We may have an opportunity to inject Godly wisdom into a situation and allow His truth the shape the thinking of others; but we have to guard against the wisdom of the world to affect us and cause us to compromise His principles.  Romans 12 speaks of having our minds renewed, and that can be so helpful when we encounter streams of thought that don't line up wt His truth.

+++++

The Bible shows us how we can demonstrate Godly character, and we can rely on the Spirit to speak
through us when we are in challenging situations. Colossians 4 states:
5 Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time.
6 Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.

Kay Coles James knows what it means to be an outsider.  She is from Richmond, Virginia, an African-American lady who, as a child was, according to The Daily Signal, "one of two dozen black children who integrated a school" there; the article said that she was "braving taunts, shoves, and being stuck with pins."

Well, decades later, James, who is now President of the Heritage Foundation, has faced the taunts of the corporate world because of her deeply held convictions - she has been known as a reliable, determined, Christian voice for years. The Signal says:

Earlier this year, Google invited James to join an artificial intelligence advisory council that would exchange views to help guide Google’s policies in this area.

Almost immediately, a petition was circulated demanding her removal.  Obviously, she - or more specifically, her views - didn't fit in.  The Daily Signal states:

The petition was eventually signed by some 2,500 people, not just at Google, but at dozens of universities in the United States and Canada and woke companies such as Lyft and Vox Media. The company gave in to the mob last week and disbanded the council.

James’ transgression? The petition accused her of being “anti-trans, anti-LGBTQ and anti-immigrant,” and produced as evidence three tweets.

Of course, as the article says, "James is none of those things."  The article, written by Heritage Foundation Senior Fellow Mike Gonzalez, traces this attempted suppression of traditional views, many of which are consistent with a Christian worldview perspective, back to the early 20th Century and philosophers who have attempted to inhibit freedom and instigate socialism.  This involved taking over "institutions" with revolutionary ideas.

One such individual was a Columbia University professor named Herbert Marcuse, who called for "Repressive Tolerance."  Gonzalez writes:

Writing in 1965, he called for “the practice of discriminating tolerance in an inverse direction, as a means of shifting the balance between Right and Left by restraining the liberty of the Right, thus counteracting the pervasive inequality of freedom.”

Now, as he points out, "Having taken over most of the academy, Hollywood, and the media, they have set their sights on the new commanding heights, the internet. Thus, we see this bias not just at Google, but also in Twitter, Facebook, and the others."  He warns against wanting to slap government regulation on the tech companies, but says that people need to continue to speak out.

James has done just that, writing an op-ed in the Washington Post about her plight.  She has been bullied in her life, and she continues to stand firm.  We can be reminded to stand firm in the face of resistance and oppression.

There does seem to be plenty of that to go around these days.  Many don't understand or appreciate the Christian faith, as Jesus taught and lived it.  There are those that redefine Christianity to fit in a more socially acceptable box.  But, our call is not to make Christianity socially acceptable, but to reflect the reality of Jesus in us.  Cultural institutions have been infected with hostility to the Bible as a whole and toward Christians who live it; but the Bible encourages us to not grow weary in obedience and, as Jesus taught, to be of good cheer, because He has overcome the world.

The aim of our lives is not to try to craft a personal faith that the world accepts, but for Jesus to live through us in a manner in which people are drawn to Him.  We can be firm in our convictions, while our compassion is very evident.  Tolerance is the order of the day, yet Christians are not afforded that same privilege, it seems.  Even though we are being forced to accept ideas that are inconsistent with the Bible, we don't have to incorporate them into our lives and have to guard against the temptation to do so.  

Pete, Pence, & the Presidency

Jesus came to die and to live again so that we, by identifying with His death and resurrection, we might be raised to new life and experience His power to put to death the deeds of our sinful flesh.  Romans 8 says:
11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.
12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors--not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh.
13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

Jesus came to save sinners and to empower us to triumph over sin.  In an age where we find people who identify by their sin and attempt to justify it by placing a "God-stamp" on it, we recognize that we are no longer identified by our sin, but by His resurrection power.  When we sin, we have a powerful ally to bring us forgiveness and to give us the tools through which we can resist temptation and crucify the desires that are not pleasing to God.

+++++

We are called to live the crucified life, recognizing that Jesus gave His life, not to justify our sins or
rationalize our behavior, but to honor Him with the choices we make and the character we demonstrate. In Galatians 5, we can read:
24 And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

The 2020 Presidential campaign is beginning to ramp up, no doubt, as half the Democratic Party seems to be running.  But, an odd development is that the 2024 campaign seems to be getting started, as well.  The latest Democratic "Flavor of the Week" candidate, South Bend, Indiana mayor Pete Buttigieg, who has received some traction as a gay man who uses religious rhetoric against someone who is known for his personal faith, likely 2024 candidate Vice-President Mike Pence.  Yes, "Mayor Pete," as he is called, has taken the VP to task for supporting Mr. Trump's "porn star presidency," but his sharpest arrows have certainly been toward Pence.

The problem for Pete is that Mike Pence has taken the high road and acted in a civil manner - and he's told the truth.  Now, Buttigieg, who has tried to establish himself as some sort of moral authority even as he engages in behavior that is certainly contrary to Scripture, such as being "married" to another man and supporting abortion, has said this, according to a CBN.com story:

“I wish the Mike Pence’s of the world would understand, that if you have a problem with who I am, your quarrel is not with me,” Buttigieg, who is openly gay and married, declared Sunday. “Your quarrel, sir, is with my creator.”

Buttigieg also referred to Pence when insisting that his gay marriage brought him “closer to God.”

I think the errant theology is clear there, but Pence took a clever and personal approach, not engaging him on sexuality, but on integrity. The article says that, "the Vice President told CNBC that Buttigieg 'knows better' than to say 'things that are critical of my Christian faith and about me personally.'"  But, the Vice-President wasn't finished...CBN goes on:

“He knows me,” Pence added, “but I get it. You know, it’s look, again, 19 people running for president on that side in a party that’s sliding off to the left. And they’re all competing with one another for how much more liberal they are.”

Pence, who has been a staunch believer in traditional marriage for his entire political career, noted that this “doesn’t mean that we’re we’re critical of anyone else who has a different point of view..”

Oh, and Mike Pence used to be governor of Indiana, so he, as he says, "worked very closely with Mayor Pete;” also, they “had a great working relationship.”

And, as Faithwire reports, Karen Pence, who has been criticized for teaching at a Christian school that upholds Biblical beliefs, including on the topic of marriage, took a respectful tone:

During an interview with Fox News Radio host Brian Kilmeade, Karen Pence said people “shouldn’t be attacked” over their religious beliefs.

“I think, in our country, we need to understand you shouldn’t be attacked for what your religious beliefs are and I think kids need to learn that, at a young age, that this is OK, what faith people have,” she said. “We don’t attack them for their faith.” 

But you can, I believe, examine his policies.  Author and media host Michael Brown states in a piece at LifeSiteNews.com:

Buttigieg says that one of his favorite verses in the Bible is where Jesus says, "Whatever you did for one of the least of these ... you did for me" (see Matt. 25:31–46). Yet Buttigieg claims that when it comes to abortion, "Jesus never mentioned the issue."

So, for Buttigieg, whose platform is thoroughly to the left, innocent, helpless babies in the womb are not included in the "least of these," yet illegal immigrants are.

In fact, not only is he "openly pro-choice," but when it comes to late-term abortion, he will make no official comment, saying only this: "when a woman is in that situation ... extremely difficult, painful, often medically serious situations where life or health of the mother is at stake, involvement of a male government official like me is not helpful."

So much for caring for "the least of these."

So much to process here..a few related thoughts:

First, a word about Mike Pence's reaction to criticism; he has chosen to take the high road, not responding in kind to unfair criticism or publicly denigrating another person's faith.  Humans will commonly respond in anger to personal attacks, but through the power of the Holy Spirit, we can demonstrate character that is respectful and that honors Christ.

With respect to matters of policy, we can be challenged to get to know the candidates and examine the Scripturality of the issues.  The Bible affirms life and traditional marriage of one man and one woman.  Will a candidate uphold these cornerstone principles and defend them?

What about the so-called Green New Deal?  It seems that has become a legislative initiative that Mayor Pete and most of the other Democratic candidates have lined up behind in some form or the other.  Does giving out "free money" regardless of work square with Scripture?  How far does an intrusive government enforcing socialistic principles fall outside the boundaries of 1st Peter 3, which charges government with maintaining order and punishing evil?  Do candidates who aspire to the Presidency or other offices believe rights come from God or from government?  There is a discussion of the source of rights currently on the Faith Radio website and app, with constitutional attorney Jenna Ellis.

We can also be inspired to make sure that our Christianity is defined by the Scriptures, not by what might sound good to the culture at large.  And, as Everett Piper, the President of Oklahoma Wesleyan University wrote in an op-ed for The Washington Times, "You don’t get to make up your own Christianity. You also don’t get to make up your own Jesus, and in case you missed it, He is explicitly clear on His definition of marriage: 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united with his wife, and the two will become one flesh.'"

Piper asks the question of the Presidential hopeful...

..."has it ever occurred to you, that the “Mike Pences of the world” don’t have a problem with “who you are,” but rather we just disagree with what you do? We believe human identity is much more than the sum total of someone’s sexual inclinations. In fact, the “creator” whom you so boldly reference makes this pretty clear.

There is no place in His entire biblical narrative where He defines us by our desires. All of us, however, are known by our choices.

During this Holy Week, may we defined by our desire to follow Christ and reflect on the incredible sacrifice that Jesus made for us.  In an age where the banner of Christianity seems to cover some unbiblical ideas and those become the central focus on one's theology, it seems, we can return to the simple truth that we need a Savior, and Jesus died for us.

Super

Yesterday was the beginning of Holy Week, marked by Palm Sunday, commemorating the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem.  The story of the events of the week culminated in His death and resurrection, and those are key elements in our own stories of redemption through Christ.  Colossians 2 states:
19 For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell,
20 and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.
21 And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled
22 in the body of His flesh through death...

He did it - for you!  You are part of the incredible story of Easter, because Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead so that you might come to know Him, that you could be brought into fellowship with God through Him.  His story is told through you: you have a new heart, you have become a new creation, and He expresses His newness of life through your life.  This is an incredible time of year where perhaps people are more receptive to the awareness of the presence of God, which can be seen in His people.

+++++

The story of what Christ has done for us and the events unfolding during what is commonly called "Holy Week" is our story, the story of a Savior who gave His life so that we might come to know Him, and He has expressed that story in and through us.  Titus 2 says:
11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men,
12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age,
13 looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,
14 who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.

Minh Viet is a Vietnamese boy who is 11 years old.  His story is told in a recent Faithwire article, which relates:

Minh Viet’s addiction to playing violent video games began at 8 years old, and since then, he’s been at it for hours every day. One visible effect of his obsession is the uncontrollable blinking of his eyes.

But more alarming than the eye twitching is how these games led Minh Viet to think about suicide. One time came after his mother scolded him and took away his iPad.

Minh Viet said, “I cried. I want to commit suicide.” When asked how this is done, he said he learned how to do it from his gaming. “In the video games, they jump off the roof.”

The article quoted his mother, Ngocanh Le: “He says that I will commit suicide. He cannot do what adults expect him to do. He feels he is a failure.”

In this case, this young man was tempted to act, based upon images that he encountered in a a video game.  His mother was no doubt concerned, but as a Christian believed that prayer and God's Word could provide answers for her son.  But, as the article says, "she also knew that Minh Viet needed something that would catch his attention, just like the video games."

Enter a tool that God has been using the lives of children for years, an animated video series that has just been translated into Vietnamese: Superbook.  Faithwire reports:

“He loves ‘Superbook’ very much. He has shifted from video games to ‘Superbook.’ He understands more about the Bible. And sometimes, he says to me he feels he’s very sinful. But God has saved him. He was touched by God. And in school, he got very much improvement.”

The story relates that:

In Vietnam, 7,000 children are learning the Word of God through “Superbook.” CBN Vietnam is praying that more churches will use the “Superbook” curriculum so that children who have been deceived by the devil like Minh Viet can be saved.

Superbook got its start back in 1981 when the Christian Broadcasting Network, or CBN, created it to reach out to the children of Japan, according to CBN's website, which says: "Over 8 million people a night watched Superbook on Japanese prime-time television, and the Bible became the nation's best-selling book."  In 1989, an unstable time in the former Soviet Union, "When Superbook aired during prime-time on the Soviet National Channel, CBN received over 6 million letters from children, introducing an entire generation to the Bible."

That original series has literally gone around the world. The website states, "More than 500 million people watched the series, 52 episodes were translated in 43 languages and broadcast in 106 countries."  There are a number of "Emmy-winning artists and storytellers" who are working with CBN to "reimagine the classic series using the latest 3D CGI technology."

Well, it is clear that God has used and will continue to use these animated presentations that present His truth.  You see, the story captured in God's Word is timeless.  Yes, the methodology of telling His story may change, and as the Superbook producers have shown, sometimes updates are necessary to leverage new ways to tell stories.  We can be reliant on Holy Spirit to show when changes need to be made.

We also recognize that the story of salvation through Christ does not change, including the Biblical fact of how we can be saved - Jesus came to earth, He died on a cross, is risen from the dead, and lives in you and me.  That's the story, and we can be committed to preserving its integrity. During this Holy Week, we can reflect on how God's story has intersected with our own.

Also, more opportunities for God to express His story are on the way.  Not only will Breakthrough and The Pilgrim's Progress be in theatres this week, but it was announced at NRB that there will be new episodes of Veggie Tales roll out in the future.  We can be thankful for Christian storytellers who are dedicated to presenting the truth of Jesus.

Model Generosity

We cannot be good in our own strength, but we can allow the presence of the Lord to be expresssed from within us.  We can be challenged by Proverbs 16:
1 The preparations of the heart belong to man, But the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.
2 All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, But the Lord weighs the spirits.
3 Commit your works to the Lord, And your thoughts will be established.

Our ambition to do the right thing comes from the presence of the indwelling Christ.  Because of the direction of His Word and the prompting of the Spirit, we have the potential to know what to do in the situations we encounter in life.  Sometimes, even though we may be struggling, we can still find the still, small voice, if we are still and, as the Psalm says, know that He is God.  In those quiet moments, we can discover what the Lord would have us to do and we can draw upon the seeds of compassion and desire to please God.

+++++

The call to serve and to reflect the character of Christ is underscored in Psalm 37.  None of us can rightly be called "good," but good deeds are reflected in our lives through the presence of the Lord working through us. Here's a passage from that Psalm:
23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, And He delights in his way.
24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; For the Lord upholds him with His hand.
25 I have been young, and now am old; Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, Nor his descendants begging bread.
26 He is ever merciful, and lends; And his descendants are blessed.

Yesterday, we talked about Biblical principles that are violated by gambling.  We have to stand against the presence of greed in our lives, and one practical way to do that is to develop a charitable heart.

We can be inspired by the example of a filmmaker who has been known for his honest portrayals of life in America, who has been known for integrating Christian truth into his movies.

His name is Tyler Perry, and recently, he used his financial gain to help someone who had experienced loss.  According to ChristianHeadlines.com, Audrey Turner received a call from the actor and producer after her mother was murdered.   The story relates:

"It was a call I wasn't even going to answer. I said, 'Well, let me answer it to see who it is.' I answered and the person on the other end said, 'This is Tyler.' I said, 'Who?' …[H]e said, 'Tyler Perry.' At that point, I just broke down crying," said Evans' daughter Audrey Turner to WSB-TV.

The four children, two of whom are minors, feared eviction following their mother’s death. But, the actor and filmmaker, best known for his role as Madea, covered their rent. He also paid for two funerals — one in Atlanta and another in Evans’ home state of Wisconsin — as well as tuition for freshman Sharadiant Turner, who attends Spelman College in Atlanta.

The story states that the mother, Tynesha Evans, who was 45 years old, "was fatally shot in the parking lot of a Wells Fargo bank in Alpharetta, Georgia. The alleged shooter was her 58-year-old boyfriend. The Alpharetta Police Department reported that an armed civilian heard the attack and responded to the shooter, demanding that he put down his gun, and waited until the police arrived. Tynesha was taken to the hospital, where she died."

But, this is not a first for Perry. Christian Headlines says that, "According to USA Today, Perry paid over $400,000 in layaway bills at two Walmart stores last December."

I am by no means endorsing the work or lifestyle of Tyler Perry; even though he has been known for his references to faith in film and his personal life, he has faced criticism for not exactly walking the walk. For instance, Movieguide does caution against the filmmaker's latest release.  But I do believe the seeds of faith are there, driving him to do charitable acts such as those I have reported, and that's what I want to drive home.

And, because of the seeds of faith and leadership of the Holy Spirit, people will do the right thing. One of the more recent references to his faith comes in a 2017 piece on the Sonoma Christian Home website, which references his book called, Heaven is Waiting, states:

In his book, Tyler Perry shares how his experiences affected his work, how he nurtured his dreams, and how he discovered solace in nature. Further, he explains his resolute determination to reach ever higher, how he developed an awareness of God, and how he learned to tune into God’s voice. He tells how he persevered through hard times, how he chose faith over fear, and how he developed commitment and service to others. Even more, he explains how has God has guided his life lessons and insights into scripture, as well as why he now shares them with others.

Some takeaways from this story, include the challenge to practice generosity.  The Bible teaches us to look to the Lord, which means that we will look beyond ourselves, outside ourselves, and put the needs of others above our own.  He has been so generous to us, which is something we will commemorate more intensely next week - and He gives us the capacity to love others with His love.  That transcends just being nice, but being concerned and compassionate.

We can also recognize that the seeds of God's Word will produce fruit.  Sometimes that will not be readily apparent, but we can be convinced that where God's truth has been planted, there is the potential for growth, and we may be called to water the seed in a person's life.

All in all, we can look for ways to bless others and to exalt Christ.  God gives us spiritual sensitivity and that can be activated through our devotion to Him and our reliance on the Spirit to direct our steps.

Risky Revenue

God provides resources so that we can honor Him, and He gives us the ability to engage in commerce, to buy and sell, and to be economically responsible.  But, when people gamble, they are
engaging in risky and unbiblical behavior. 1st Timothy 6 says:
9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.
10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

The gambling industry, whether it be lotteries, casinos, or even sports wagering on the Internet, entices people to take a risk on some unspecified reward, which more often than not does not come into fruition.  The Bible teaches work and responsibility, gambling reinforces greed.  A winner is only a winner because someone else, or a number of someone elses, lose.  The pursuit of shiny rewards through gambling runs counter to Biblical pursuits.

+++++

I will be mentioning some verses referenced by a website later in today's commentary, and it deals with people being responsible and pursuing a solid work ethic.  These verses are part of this overall
passage from 2nd Thessalonians 3:
10 For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat.
11 For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies.
12 Now those who are such we command and exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness and eat their own bread.
13 But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary in doing good.

The NCAA men's basketball tournament is now history, and one of the negative cultural aspects of the tournament is the sheer amount of money that is spent on gambling on the outcomes.  According to an article from several weeks ago at the Baptist Press website, "Americans are expected to wager more than $8 billion on this year's NCAA men's basketball tournament."

There is the expectation, due to a Supreme Court decision, that more states will be allowing gambling on sports, and recently, the article relates that LifeWay Research surveyed pastors recently on the topic of sports gambling.  LifeWay had previously found that 64 percent of Americans in general "disagree that sports gambling is immoral," with 31 percent agreeing, but a study from last year "found most pastors believe it is morally wrong to bet on sports, while few agree it should be legalized nationwide."  The results:

Around 6 in 10 (59 percent) pastors agree it is morally wrong to bet on sports, while 32 percent disagree.

Scott McConnell, executive director of LifeWay Research, said, "The large majority of pastors oppose sports betting," and added, "And pastors are willing to put their ministry where their mouth is by being ready to help those hurt by gambling and to discourage people from participating."

The numbers:

Nearly 9 in 10 pastors (88 percent) say if their state legalizes sports gambling, they will offer counseling for those struggling with debt or addiction.

Majorities say they will use private conversations to discourage participation (65 percent) and offer support groups for gambling addiction (60 percent).

Less than half - 42 percent - of pastors said they would advocate for "stricter laws on sports betting," with still fewer, about a third, saying they would discourage participation in sports betting in their sermons.

Only 12 percent of pastors believe sports betting should be legalized nationwide.

This removal on the prohibition on sports gambling gives states another opportunity to consider what they see to be a revenue stream, unreliable and addictive as it is.  The lure of gambling, whether it be through a lottery, or a casino or a computer desktop or smartphone, continues to plague our land. And lawmakers in Alabama seem to be addicted to the idea of expanding gambling in our state.

Currently, there are bills that would do just that, including the allowance of a statewide lottery.

But, the Scriptural principles that are violated by gambling still remain, and point to gambling as an immoral activity.

The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association website offers this insight:

Gambling clearly breaks several biblical principles which are central to a Christian’s way of life. A Christian lifestyle is one that expresses faith in the loving care and provision of Almighty God, not in chance or luck (Matthew 6:33). A Christian seeks to love his neighbor, not to profit from a loss by someone else. A Christian seeks to avoid every form of greed and covetousness and to be content with what he has (see Hebrews 13:5). In addition, a Christian realizes that everything he possesses has been given in stewardship by God and should only be used in a way that honors Him.

The site quotes Billy Graham, who said:

“Gambling is nowhere approved in the Bible. Instead, the Bible stresses that the Christian should earn his living by honest work and effort, and this would exclude relying on chance (2 Thessalonians 3:10-12). The Bible tells us to ‘abstain from all appearance of evil’ (1 Thessalonians 5:22). Gambling has often done untold evil to people by making them lose money that could be used for good purposes or even the necessities of life. Money is given to us by God to be used for good, not evil. Anyone seeking to do God’s will should not be involved in gambling.”

So, Alabama lawmakers should not be authorizing or paving the way for the authorization of immoral activity.  They can stop it in the Legislature, rather than pass the buck and allow a lottery or gambling expansion to go to a statewide vote, where, as it's been pointed out, large-scale gambling interests will overwhelm opponents with huge advertising dollars to deceive the public about perceived benefits.

There are certainly some moral issues that come into play when considering expansion of gambling in our state.  Lawmakers, essentially, become stumbling blocks to others when they allow activity that has the potential to destroy lives and families.  They should investigate honest and reliable revenue sources, rather than bank on unstable funding streams.

We can pray for our legislators to exercise godly wisdom.  It seems as if, year after year, those we elect to represent us have been tempted by the lure of gambling legislation.  It's a big money-maker for some, namely the gambling interests; but in order to win, someone has to lose.

The Bible warns against the love of money, certainly, and is dead set against greed and coveteousness.  I believe that Biblically, we should not pursue "get rich quick" schemes, rather, as the Billy Graham piece alludes to, we are to work hard and responsibly.

True Identity

In Ephesians 4, we find the charge to live at peace with each other as members of the body of Christ. We see in verse 3 that the apostle Paul desires for God's people to be...
3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

That comes with the recognition that:
4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling;
5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism;
6 one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

Oneness does not mean "sameness:" we are each uniquely created and called by God to love and serve Him and to serve one another.  Oneness doesn't mean we will agree with one another about every single thing.  But, we have to guard against polarization within the body of Christ; the Bible warns against us in Galatians 5: "But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another!"  Unity comes as we recognize our identity in Him first and foremost, rather than to stake out positions that supersede our identities as children of God.

+++++

We are given insight in 1st Peter chapter 2 about our individual and collective identity as the people
of God - one body, united in His Spirit. We can read:
9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;
10 who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.

I am a Christian.  My identity is in Christ.

I am a Christian, who is also a man.  But, my most important identity is found as a child of God.

I am a Christian who believes God created male and female and that marriage is one man for one woman.  Ultimately, I belong to Him and Christ is my sufficiency.

I am a Christian, whose skin color is white.  My ultimate identity is found not in the color of my skin, but through Christ in me.

A Gospel Herald article quotes Tony Evans:

He said it is technically incorrect for someone to call themself [sic] a "black Christian," or a "white Christian," or a "Hispanic Christian."

"Then you make your color or culture an adjective. It's the job of the adjective to modify the noun. If you put Christianity in the noun position, and your color or culture in the adjective position, you have to keep shaping the noun so it looks like the adjective that describes it. So if your color stays in the adjectival position, you got to keep shaping Christianity to look black or to look white or to look red," he said.

Evans adds: "You must be Christian first. If we could get enough Christians to be Christian before white, Christian before black, Christian before Spanish, it doesn't take 240 years to fix this. It takes about two minutes and 40 seconds..."

We live in an age of identity politics, which separates people into gender, race, and class, and through the insidious structure of intersectionality, actually ranks people based on what perceived oppressed group they belong to.  In other words, a gay, black female is far more significant than a straight white male.  In fact, writing for Sovereign Nations, Thomas Bradstreet quotes from a piece at the Gospel Coalition website by someone named Rebecca McLaughlin.  She says:

Likewise, when it comes to other areas of cultural engagement, we need to let our most credible voices speak. In a world where Christians are seen as homophobic bigots, we need to get behind the biblically faithful, same-sex-attracted Christians God has raised up to speak for and to his church. In a world where Christianity is dismissed as a white man’s religion, we need to get behind biblically faithful men and women of color. And in a world where Christianity is thought to denigrate women, we need to get behind biblically faithful, rhetorically gifted women—particularly on issues like abortion, where being pro-life is often (falsely) equated with being anti-women.

McLaughlin refers to an "A-Team" in the public square; and it seems to be consistent with identity politics.  Bradstreet writes:

Only certain voices are “credible” and can “be heard.” Absent from the A-team in the public square is the straight white man—the identity that represents homophobia, racism, and misogyny. McLaughlin is not seeking to elevate marginalized voices so that all can equally speak truth in Christ to the world. Rather she is calling for a sort of reverse marginalization. McLaughlin’s strategy involves nothing less than the marginalization of the straight white man.

So, your worthiness to speak or to be heard is determined by your skin color or gender?  I thought that we all had specific, God-determined gifts and callings.

But, this Christianized version of identity politics is becoming more and more prevalent.  Bradstreet shared more examples:

Russell Moore, for example, declaring a “white church no more,” cast the “Mayberry of white Christian America” as a place of “murder.” And Tim Keller said that while he sees a role for “ethnic” churches in the future of American Christianity, he sees no role for “purely white” churches. Or, again, a vocal professor at King’s College has claimed that “white evangelicals have never had the gospel.”

But, these divisive mindsets, I believe, are being challenged and exposed.  Recently, there was a conference called the Sparrow Conference held in Dallas.  Some 1,500 people attended, and one of the speakers certainly got out of hand.  Her name is Ekemini Uwan.  A Religion News article stated:

“Because we have to understand something — whiteness is wicked,” Uwan said. “It is wicked. It’s rooted in violence, it’s rooted in theft, it’s rooted in plunder, it’s rooted in power, in privilege.”

She told the audience they should give up whiteness and “recover” the ethnic identities “your ancestors deliberately discarded.” Rather than thinking of themselves as white, they should try to rediscover their immigrant cultural ancestry: “Are you Italian, are you Irish, are you Polish, are you Turkish?”

“Celebrate that,” she said.

Some attendees chose to demonstrate their displeasure with these comments by walking out.  Initially, it appeared that the conference organizers had scrubbed evidence of Uwan's speech, later to apologize for their handling of the overall situation. The story quotes Sarah Humphries:

In a phone interview, Humphries said audience members near her seemed upset by Uwan’s remarks — especially when she said the word “whiteness.”

“I was really surprised at how angry the people in front of me and the people from my left were during Ekemini’s conversation,” Humphries said.

In an essay at The Witness, freelance writer Deedee Roe said that most conference attendees were white and that they were “angry and uncomfortable” during Uwan’s interview. She said that after Uwan told audience members to “divest from whiteness,” people began to leave.

Social media has erupted over the past few days over the incendiary comments, including some African-American commenters.  Samuel Sey, a black author and blogger, tweeted out: "If you respond to anti-Black racism with anti-White racism, it isn’t because you share different skin colours, it’s because you share the same sinful heart." He admitted the tweet was "largely prompted by many racist words against White people I've come across this week, including Ekemini Uwan's words from the Sparrow Conference and her recent tweets." He then, in another tweet, railed against this example of identity politics: "Judging a group of people because of their skin colour as she so unashamedly does is racist and ungodly."

Darrell Harrison with the ministry of Grace to You, who is also an insightful black man, tweeted:

The evangelical social justice movement has reduced the gospel to a message of aesthetics. Words like "melanin" are used more often than "Messiah" and "whiteness" more than "witness." This "gospel" does not foster the kind of unity Christ desires for His people (Jn. 17:21).

The Bible talks about pursuing peace; the Bible is clear in showing us that we are to be one in Christ.  If we are looking at each other through the lens of identity politics, dividing people into oppressors and oppressed, victimizers and victims, we are seemingly looking in the wrong direction.  But, if we're looking to the cross, we can see the love of Christ that unites us and can experience the forgiveness that can flow in order that we may step toward the concept of being part of one body - with one Lord, one faith, one baptism.   Taking potshots at each other behind racial bulwarks does not contribute to a healthy body.

We can also be encouraged to remember where your identity comes from and what identity is most important.  Now, we cannot ignore the history of race relations in our nation - the scourge of slavery negatively impacted our nation for hundreds of years, and only within the last fifty or so have we seen advances in the area of civil rights; we have seen positive change.  But, the Church does not lead the way in seeing greater progress in race relations when we are pointing fingers and talking at each other rather than with each other,

Perhaps God is exposing the wisdom of the world that has infiltrated the Church.  The truth about abortion, the fallacy of identity politics, the LGBT agenda's advance.  Perhaps it's time to say, "enough."  For instance, recently, there has been the exposure of a so-called ministry that caters to the "same-sex attracted" or "gay" Christian, who identifies more with his or her sin than with the Savior who died to bring power to overcome that sin.  We are seeing intense wrestling with racial issues that have apparently been bubbling beneath the surface and are now coming into full view. But, collectively, we have to make sure that we deal with these issues related to identity Biblically. And, individually, we can look at our own hearts and allow the Holy Spirit to expose areas where we have missed the mark, repent, and depend on the Spirit to get things right.