Fatherhood and Teamwork

Our God, who has established the family for His purposes, has a desire to see fathers functioning in their God-given roles and responsibilities. In Malachi 4, we see these verses:
5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet Before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.
6 And he will turn The hearts of the fathers to the children, And the hearts of the children to their fathers, Lest I come and strike the earth with a curse."

The Lord wants to make relationships right.  Where there have been fathers who have negatively impacted their children, He wants to bring wholeness out of the brokenness.  He wants to do the necessary work on the human heart so that relationships can flourish in Him. Fathers have an enormous Biblical responsibility, and can be empowered by God to fulfill His call to that purpose; a dad has a sizable role, but God equips fathers to bring honor to Him and to raise their children in His principles.

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The heart of God concerning sexuality and the family can be found in Genesis chapter 1, where we
can read:
27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.
28 Then God blessed them, and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth."

Father's Day is coming up this weekend, and it provides a wonderful time to think about God's call on the lives of fathers and their important role in their children's lives.

Barna Research has put together a survey on fatherhood, which has been incorporated into a study on men's ministry called, Five Essentials to Engage Today’s Men, in association with BetterMan.

In the summary of the survey, found at the Barna website, it states:

Christian fathers largely report satisfaction in their relationship to their children; half (49%) say they are very satisfied while another three in 10 (30%) say they’re mostly satisfied.

The study notes that almost half of Christian fathers with children in the household are between the ages of 35 and 54.

And, the impact of one's own father is related to the level of satisfaction in his own fathering practice; the survey found that 53% of "Christian men who report a positive relationship with their father" said they are "very satisfied in their relationship to their own child." 42% of those who did not experience a positive relationship with their own father said they were very satisfied with their relationship with their child.

There is also an element of fatherhood being, as you might say, a team sport, with the data indicating that, "Practicing Christian men who report having intergenerational friendships with both older and younger men are nearly twice as likely to be very satisfied in their relationship with their child (54% vs. 30%) and in their marriage (63% vs. 54%)."  And, fathers who said they had a "confidant," other than a partner or spouse, were two times more likely to be very satisfied in the area of fatherhood.

The summary states:

As churches think through what it means to help men navigate the changing tide of the 21st century, men’s ministry leaders have an opportunity to take stock of the connections that work together to provide support and strength to fathers and have clear reasons to connect men of all stages of life with mentors and friends.

And, there is a dramatic effect of fatherlessness in our nation. If you saw the movie, Courageous, perhaps you remember an early scene in which the sheriff comes into the meeting room with his officers, and says this, according to Crosswalk.com:

I received an email, he tells them, and I want you to know about it. The violent gang members, run-aways, high school dropouts, and teens in prison—the sorts of kids who get into trouble with the law—have something in common: “Most of them are from fatherless homes.”

“When a father is absent,” he goes on, “kids are five times more likely to commit suicide or use drugs. They’re twenty times more likely to wind up in prison. So tonight after you clock out,” he adds, “go home and love your families.”

That article includes a quote from David Popenoe, Professor of Sociology Emeritus at Rutgers University, who says, “Fathers are far more than just ‘second adults’ in the home. Involved fathers—especially biological fathers—bring positive benefits to their children that no other person is likely to bring.”

Today, we can think about God's establishment of the institution of the family.  Genesis 1 nails it: He created us male and female - two genders, with clearly defined roles, including the joint role to "be fruitful and multiply."  In the Bible, children are regarded as gifts from God.  And, we are given Biblical directives to raise our children.  That is the standard; now, we can remember that there are many families who are in single-parent situations, some children are being raised by their grandparents, and other home situations, and there can certainly be compassionate understanding and grace extended.  But, we recognize God's intent for fathers, and the statistical data plays out that fatherlessness is a serious issue in our nation.

Thankfully, there are believers who step up to be mentors for kids without fathers.  There are moms who are, in essence, doing dual roles, which places a lot of pressure on them.  And, unfortunately, there are men who have abdicated their role to be an involved father. But, in the absence of a father-led situation, we can trust God to provide leaders in churches and communities who will provide Godly direction to young people.  And, as the Barna research suggests, fathers who have people who walk with them on the fathering journey are more satisfied along that path.  It's a reminder that in the body of Christ, we need one another.

Cancelled

You have no doubt heard the song, There is a Balm in Gilead, which is a song devoted to the promise of healing and forgiveness for the one who would seize the promises of God.  There are several
references to that healing "balm" in Scripture, including Jeremiah 46, which states:
10 For this is the day of the Lord God of hosts, A day of vengeance, That He may avenge Himself on His adversaries. The sword shall devour; It shall be satiated and made drunk with their blood; For the Lord God of hosts has a sacrifice In the north country by the River Euphrates.
11 "Go up to Gilead and take balm, O virgin, the daughter of Egypt; In vain you will use many medicines; You shall not be cured.

Verse 10 describes what we deserve - judgment and destruction at the hand of Almighty God. Verse 11 references what we can have by accepting God's mercy and grace. In this case, it seems that one of the nations under judgment did not accept that healing balm.  In our individual lives and in the life of our nation, we have to make sure that we take hold of the healing hand of Jesus; He is the one who heals our souls and will heal relationships as we allow Him to have His way.

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There is a passage in Jeremiah chapter 8 that speaks to the condition of the human heart and the promise of healing and restoration, even though His people had forgotten God and begun to worship idols. There is still the chance of redemption.
19 Listen! The voice, The cry of the daughter of my people From a far country: "Is not the Lord in Zion? Is not her King in her?" "Why have they provoked Me to anger With their carved images-- With foreign idols?"
20 "The harvest is past, The summer is ended, And we are not saved!"
21 For the hurt of the daughter of my people I am hurt. I am mourning; Astonishment has taken hold of me.
22 Is there no balm in Gilead, Is there no physician there? Why then is there no recovery For the health of the daughter of my people?

The doctor has spoken, and if we are to experience harmony in our culture, perhaps we would do well to heed his diagnosis.

Ben Carson, the noted surgeon who now leads the Department of Housing and Urban Development, or HUD, had some pointed comments on This Week with George Stephanopoulos on ABC this past Sunday, according to an article at ChristianHeadlines.com.  In his reply to a question by the host, the good doctor stated, “We’ve reached a point in our society where we dissect everything and try to ascribe some nefarious notion to it,” adding, “We really need to move away from that. We need to move away from being offended by everything, of going through history and looking at everything, of renaming everything."

Carson also said, “It really gets to a point of being ridiculous after a while...And, you know, we’re going to have to grow up as a society.” He also said, “We have to stop putting everything into the arena of combat. Let's see if we can find a way to work together because if we don't, we’re doomed..."

Most honest Americans and especially Christians should be able to agree on matters of racism (we're against it), justice (we are for it), and unity (it's a good thing).  It's just a matter of how you get there that seems to be the problem.  And, there seem to be levels of addressing these issues - and if you don't say the right thing in the right way with the right tone, you may risk being a victim of "cancel culture."

Take, for instance, the case of a cartoon show that National Review highlighted the other day.  The article says:

Paw Patrol, a children’s cartoon about doggie do-gooders, has as one of its principal characters a German shepherd called Chase, who is a police officer. (A police officer in an imaginary universe in which dogs have full-time jobs, drive cars, and wear jaunty caps.) According to the New York Times, which just fired its opinion editor for publishing opinions, Paw Patrol has run afoul of the new commandment: Thou shalt not make sympathetic depictions of police officers, including police officers whose beat is an imaginary universe in which dogs have full-time jobs, drive cars, and wear jaunty caps.

My Faith Votes tweeted this out recently: "In the age of cancel culture, in which anyone who says anything even mildly “controversial” there is a movement to get that person fired, deplatformed, or worse...How do we combat it? #PrayThinkAct"

It linked to a Faithwire article featuring U.S. Representative Dan Crenshaw.  CBN News published a report on Crenshaw and his new book, Fortitude:

In his new book, Fortitude: American Resilience in the Era of Outrage, Crenshaw shares advice on finding the strength to deal with life's challenges and create solutions where none seem to exist. He says the idea for the book came after many encounters with the "outrage culture" in America today. One T-shirt on a protester summed it up for Crenshaw. It said, "Stay Outraged."

"And it's this sort of strange notion that outrage is the ends," Crenshaw said. "That that is the point. Now, of course, in the end, they want some kind of revolution, but it's outrage itself that is the goal. They were not arguing for any policy, at least it was not apparent if they were, the goal was just to be mad, mad, mad, and to seek to manipulate people's emotions that way for whatever policy end the might have. But those are secondary to the first part which is irrational, emotional exuberance," he said.

Tim Challies linked to a piece on a website called, UnHerd by a clergyman from Great Britian named Giles Fraser, who writes:

The new, highly secular ‘cancel culture’ represents an extreme form of righteousness that has all the moral power of a certain kind of protestant Christianity, but none of the basic scaffolding of redemption on which such Christianity is built. And morality without forgiveness or redemption is a frightening, persecutory business.

Fraser goes on to say:

There’s a sort of furious moral vigilantism that encourages its adherents to trawl through our public utterances — in order to condemn and shame us in the high court of Twitter. Against this digital shoaling of the mob, any protestations of rightful innocence are impossible to make, and the fear of being targeted makes any exploration or confession of our hidden failings terrifying to contemplate.

I was pointed to a tweet the other day from Mike Stone, a Georgia pastor who is the outgoing head of the Southern Baptist Convention's Executive Committee, who tweeted: "The new religion of America offers no absolution even when you repent of those dreaded sins you didn’t even commit...That is not the gospel of Jesus."

People in leadership in America today are experiencing this firsthand.  Witness the social media outrage to a well-known pastor who clearly misspoke in a recent forum on race relations and how his attempt to apologize was deemed to be not enough.  Another pastor, also with an impressive track record, had liked some political tweets, apologized, but his church was still banned from doing ministry in certain facilities in his city.  An athlete spoke to a cultural issue in a manner that offended his teammates, and he apologized not once, but twice; his wife apologized, too - is it enough?  We'll see.

In some cases, it is never enough.  Never. Enough.  And so, cancel culture kicks in.

We need a doctor.  Not Ben Carson, mind you, although he is a great guy who speaks truth.  But, we need the Great Physician, the one who offers us what the Bible calls a Balm in Gilead.  The One who can heal our hearts and our relationships. Who brings forgiveness and enables us to forgive one another, because we have been forgiven much.

The Bible says there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.  The Word says that if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us.  That's absolute.  And, we should do no less for one another.  It is the work of the enemy to continually tell us that we're not forgiven, we have not done enough to cleanse the past, and there is no absolution - Christ is calling us to freedom, the enemy keeps us wrapped up in our past mistakes.

Thankfully, our sins have not cancelled us from having a relationship with Christ - He says that the person who comes to Him will not be cast out.  Rather, He provides a way that our sins can be cancelled and He gives every one of us the capability to extend forgiveness, whether or not a person asks for it.  Now, there will be the occasion where we need to ask for forgiveness from others in order for the healing to come; not out of intimidation or a false obligation or social shaming, but out of a heart that is truly devoted to making things right.

A "Harry" Situation

God is calling His people to be distinct, to adhere to His principles, and to stand strong in the face of
shifting cultural winds. 1st Peter 3 offers this encouragement:
13 And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good?
14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you are blessed. "And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled."
15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;
16 having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed.

There is hope that can be found through the truth of God's Word, providing us security and stability in a world that does not offer hope.  We can have confidence in the Lord, who empowers us to speak boldly and wisely about what He has taught us and what He has done in our hearts.  Even though there are many who do not hold to the principles of Scripture, we can be convinced that God's way is best and He will enable us to walk in it.

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In Romans 1, Paul delivers a stark appraisal of those who had rejected God, even though His
presence was clearly known. These truths continue to be applicable for today's culture, which is being confronted with a question: is this really what you want? We can read:
24 Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves,
25 who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
26 For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature.
27 Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.

The world of Harry Potter has always been problematic for Christians - the presence of wizards, incantations, magic, and spells has been viewed as contrary to a Christian worldview perspective, yet the popular franchise of books and movies has been widely accepted and the subject matter viewed as symbolic by some.

Author J.K. Rowling has been the center of controversy recently for her comments on transgenderism.  The Blaze reports that she said:

"Trans people need and deserve protection. Like women, they're most likely to be killed by sexual partners," she wrote.

"So I want trans women to be safe. At the same time, I do not want to make natal girls and women less safe. When you throw open the doors of bathrooms and changing rooms to any man who believes or feels he's a woman – and, as I've said, gender confirmation certificates may now be granted without any need for surgery or hormones – then you open the door to any and all men who wish to come inside," she explained.

Uh-oh - you see where this is going.  Rowling, as the article pointed out, "...had previously been a hero in LGBT circles for declaring that Albus Dumbledore, one of the central characters of the Harry Potter series, was gay."  Not any more, it seems - she has been excoriated on social media.

One critic wrote, "Do NOT read #JKRowling 's transphobia manifesto. I already did it for you. Every line is misinformation, fear mongering, misgendering, othering, ignorance, far right language/dog whistles, and pure hate. It's not just ugly..."

John Stonestreet of Breakpoint pointed this out about responses to Rowling's falling out with the trans agenda: 

After all, as Rowling would later tweet, if biological sex isn’t real, like the T’s claim, “the lived reality of women globally is erased…” That will be an increasingly important truth needing to be said, but to quote Rowling again, “It isn’t hate to speak the truth.”

Co-stars in the Harry Potter movies, Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint, have all spoken out in favor of transgenderism and have been critical of Rowling's comments.

Brandon Showalter points out at The Christian Post: "In December, Rowling spoke out in defense of tax researcher Maya Forstater — a woman who was ousted from her job for writing on Twitter that men who identify as transgender are not women — following an employment tribunal ruling where the judge said Forstater's views were 'not worthy of respect.'"

It is certainly stunning how the transgender movement has swept the world.  Just this past Sunday, according to CBSNews.com:

Thousands participated in a rally and silent march for black trans lives in Brooklyn Sunday. Organizers of the Brooklyn Liberation event say they believe police scanners estimated that 15,000 people dressed in white and demonstrated.

The event was organized by groups including The Okra Project, which provides meals to black trans people, and the Marsha P. Johnson Institute, named for the black trans activist who was a prominent figure in the Stonewall uprising of 1969.

Pictures circulated of that large crowd in front of the Brooklyn Museum.

And, just yesterday, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a ruling that the word "sex" in civil rights law can be interpreted as meaning "sexual orientation" or "gender identity," opening up a new front for the advancement of the LGBTQ in employment decisions, and perhaps, as it's been pointed out in other areas as well.

Writing for The Stream, Jonathon Van Maren states:

If you had told me back in 2007 that the LGBT crowd would eventually declare J.K. Rowling Public Enemy Number 1, I would have laughed at you. Back then, she was raking in accolades from the gay rights movement for declaring that Dumbledore of the Harry Potter series was gay. In the years that followed, she was reliably left-wing on all issues, from abortion to same-sex marriage. Like other celebrities of her wealth and status, she took the requisite shots at Donald Trump on Twitter. Her credentials were impeccable.

But that was then and this is now. The LGBT movement has surged past the redefinition of marriage, abandoned their commitment to free speech and gone to war with biological reality itself. No longer is it enough to be cool with gay marriage. It isn’t even good enough to celebrate Pride Month. Now, you must believe that biological men can become women simply by identifying as such. Biological men who identify as women are women, we are being told. Those who disagree are being purged from the progressive herd.

These abhorrent and unbiblical ideas continue to grow mainstream, and yesterday's Supreme Court decision will no doubt contribute to the institutional acceptance of practices that are Biblically incorrect.  And, the LGBTQ activists will no doubt continue to silence Christians who are committed to living out Scripturally faithful lives.

So, we have the choice: to cave to the cultural winds and wave the white flag of surrender, or surrender more wholeheartedly to the God who promised persecution for faithful believers, but who has promised to be with us when we encounter trials.

Even though the culture is trying to dictate one worldview, which is based on humanist, secularist principles, we can know that we still have the best answers to the needs of the human heart.  People are struggling now, and the peace we radiate and the confidence in God that we demonstrate can communicate powerfully the hope that is within us.

Amazing

Public worship can be a visible expression of the work of God in a person's life, testifying to the
greatness of our Lord. Consider this passage from Isaiah chapter 12:
2 Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; 'For Yah, the Lord, is my strength and song; He also has become my salvation.' "
3 Therefore with joy you will draw water From the wells of salvation.
4 And in that day you will say: "Praise the Lord, call upon His name; Declare His deeds among the peoples, Make mention that His name is exalted.
5 Sing to the Lord, For He has done excellent things; This is known in all the earth.

There are innumerable resources available for the child of God - He wants us to draw from what this passage, in verse 3, calls "the wells of salvation."  We have to dig deeply into what God has in store for us, especially in difficult times. We can anticipate what He will do when we lift us His name; after all, Jesus said that if He is lifted up, He will draw all to Him.  When the presence of Jesus is integrated into a difficult situation, that can change the calculus - He is the one who renews and restores.

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Our worship is an expression of our love for Christ and our corporate worship can reflect our unity in Christ; I believe that worship can bring people together. Follow the progression in Colossians chapter 3:
14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.
15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.
16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

Things are going out of tune in the Music City - according to Nashville's newspaper, The Tennessean:

Activists and protesters gathered Friday night outside the Tennessee state Capitol to claim the space as an autonomous zone, bringing forth a new strategy for demonstrators who have been consistently protesting statewide since the end of May.

A group of approximately 50 people gathered around 5 p.m. Friday and plan to stay for an undetermined amount of time. Ahead of the protest, Gov. Bill Lee issued a warning that autonomous zones "will not be tolerated."

"We encourage Tennesseans to exercise their First Amendment rights and have seen many examples of peaceful protests across our state in recent weeks," Lee said in a statement midday Friday. "As demonstrations continue, we will continue to protect Tennesseans' right to peaceful assembly, while also reassuring citizens that lawlessness, autonomous zones, and violence will not be tolerated.

And, while the Capital Hill Autonomous Zone in Seattle, or "CHAZ," has crafted a lengthy list of demands for local officials, the Nashville would-be anarchists have a more simplified agenda, according to the newspaper:

The group's listed platform includes the firing of Metro Nashville Police Department Chief Steve Anderson, to "defund" and "demilitarize" police, as well as removing "racist statues."

But, Nashville has had its share of looting in the downtown area, and according to the website, WorshipCity.com:

During the protests after the tragic death of George Floyd, our friends knew our city needed hope in the aftermath of the traumatic looting in downtown Nashville. Broadway is a place our teams go for continual prayer and worship to pray for revival. But now we have felt the whole city needs re-uniting.

Barbi Franklin, who is in music ministry with her husband Terry, came up with an idea.  The website says:

...Barbi had a vision. Some of our team leaders spoke with bar managers on Saturday, June 6th asking if their bar bands could sing Amazing Grace at the same time that our worshipers would be singing it on the street. Surprisingly, 18 out of 20 bar bands agreed, so the whole Broadway strip was singing Amazing Grace at the same time. FOX 17 NASHVILLE showed up and Live-Streamed the worship to Facebook, getting well over 120,000 views in just a few days.

This past weekend, it happened again!  The Worship City Facebook page brought live video and this report:

Almost all the bars joined us to "Sing Amazing Grace At 8" again tonight on Broadway. We stood in front of the Boot barn that had been looted more than a week ago during the protests. We wanted to spread a little love and grace at this tumultuous time and www.GetAmericaSinging.com instead of fighting! #GetAmericaSinging #SingAmazingGraceAt8

And, others joined in - in Rogersville, Tennessee up in the extreme Eastern section of the state, they were singing Amazing Grace.  Sheldon Livesay of the Of One Accord Ministry shared this on Facebook:

Tonight, in the midst of unrest and national turmoil, Christians take to the inner cities, to the streets and the bars at 8pm to sing probabaly the most well-known Christian song of all time- Amazing Grace

We sang it as a prayer asking for God's amazing grace during this most critical time in our nation's history to rest on our nation from the east coast to the west coast.

You may remember my report about Awaken Tennessee a few months ago - Livesay, along with the Franklins, were involved in that effort, where some 1,000 churches were committed to spiritual awakening.

I think this is really a testimonial to the power of corporate worship - when we come together and honor the Lord together and sing songs that exalt Him, it can strengthen a church body.  And, the act of worship can build bridges, unite the saints, and help heal.  It's a reminder of our one purpose in Him.

I do believe that God has moved in the midst of our isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic.  People that may not have been interested in attending a church service have heard God's Word through online services and other content.  But, I also think our separation may have adversely affected our cohesiveness as a body.  We need those reminders to show us how to function together, and I would hope that we can get that sense of common purpose back, quickly - the world needs our witness.

This is yet another example of positive action that can grow our of negative circumstances.  The Nashville protests, while peaceful by and large, have certainly had some destructive elements.  We can't condone all that occurs in local bars and honkytonks along Broadway, but we can't condone the destruction of property and local economy, either.  And, thanks to these worshippers, those who work in the bars on Broadway joined in to honor God.  That can have a peaceful effect on a city and a nation, reminding us that He holds the solutions to the upheaval that we are experiencing.

Promoting Peace

There are ways in which believers in Christ can settle our differences and maintain a spirit of humility and peace.  2nd Thessalonians 3 states:

13 But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary in doing good.
14 And if anyone does not obey our word in this epistle, note that person and do not keep company with him, that he may be ashamed.
15 Yet do not count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.
16 Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always in every way. The Lord be with you all.

This is not an endorsement of what is called "cancel culture," in which you write someone off without any desire for restoration.  No, we are called to be restorative in our approach to those who are struggling - it may call for some "tough love," but that situation seems to only be temporary.  God doesn't write us off, thankfully, when we do wrong - we may realize that we are seemingly not as close to Him as we once were, but He lovingly holds out hope for reconciliation; that can be our attitude toward our fellow believers.

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Coming up, I will be sharing a verse that one high-profile former NFL coach has used with respect to our recent social upheaval.  I want to back up a few verses and share this passage from the same
chapter of the Bible. It says:
16 Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.
17 Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men.
18 If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.

The Bible says, "blessed are the peacemakers," and that simple phrase can be so applicable in these tumultous days, when there is such a sense of upheaval.

And, we can find people who are anchored in Christ and seek to emulate those who are working through issues, but doing so in a reasoned, graceful way.  George Floyd was described as a "man of peace," and there are high-profile people in our culture today who are exhibiting the peace of Christ.

Like former Super Bowl champion coach Tony Dungy, heard on Faith Radio weekday mornings at around 10 after 10 during FaithSongs.  I had quoted from his wonderful statement shortly after the death of George Floyd, which he closed out by saying, "In the words of the Apostle Paul, 'Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.' Romans 12:21 NIV"

Sports Spectrum reported on a recent radio interview out of Pittsburgh, in which the coach said, "I’m a Christian, and I feel like as a representative of Christ, I have an obligation to speak up and I have an obligation to help wherever I see it needed. I think we’ve got to come together and do that.” He also underscored the magnanimity of the situation, saying, “It’s not just a black problem. It’s not a white problem. It’s not an inner-city problem. It’s not a governmental problem. It’s our problem and we gotta solve it.”

This past Tuesday, Dungy issued another nugget of truth, tweeting out: "I woke up this morning & really felt led to pray for our country. We’re in a difficult place and everyone is looking for answers. Can we come together in love and in respect? Sometimes it seems like that’s impossible but it is possible-If we let the LOVE of Christ work-Mark 10:27"

Tim Scott is a man of peace, as well.  He is a Senator from South Carolina, an African-American who is in a God-given vantage point to not only see the issues confronting our culture, but to do something about them.  He was a guest on Focus on the Family recently, and Jim Daly, host of the program, shared these comments about the program: "...his faith transformed his life from despondency and disillusionment to one of purpose. He accepted Jesus at the tender age of 11 and recommitted his life at 17."  Daly also said, "You’ll hear Senator Scott say that society is only positively transformed through the heart – and that it’s hard to hate someone when you’re breaking bread with them."

The Senator also said, “There’s no doubt that Jesus Christ is the Way, the Truth and the Life,” adding, “And I will say this as a kid who experienced the American dream brought to me on the shoulders of a praying mother and a powerful mentor. You and I both have the same story that in this country, anyone from anywhere, at any time can rise to the level of Ephesians 3:20 and 21 and [believe] that, ‘God is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or imagine.’ Let’s just get to it.”
Positive words of affirmation, certainly - words of hope that we need to hear these days.

He is now the Republican Senator who is the point man for police reform legislation.  A recent Politico article stated:

“The thing that really anchors me, especially in these challenging times, is when you realize that it’s not about you. It’s about you being a resource for hopefully greater good,” Scott said in an interview. He grew increasingly introspective when asked whether he enjoys being the center of attention on issues of race and policing.

“The purpose really can’t be me at this moment. The purpose is that there are literally tens of millions of Americans who’ve lost confidence in institutions that have authority,” Scott said. “As a victim of that situation many times, including this year, how do I make sure that my experience and not myself becomes the focal point?”

Dungy and Scott teach us that we can change hearts through love, and recognize that the wrong tone can yield the wrong results.  But, it takes courage and taking advantage of opportunities that we can depend on God to provide for us.

But, there is humility involved.  In this rampant "cancel culture" that we are seeing - really a terrifying trend for people of faith - there is a small group of people that is stirring up dissension, determining the correct "talking points," calling people names, and excluding from participation those who do say exactly the right things.  Rather than bringing people together for positive change and the benefit of society, people are being pushed apart.  Believers in Christ are better than that; we can humbly and orderly model the love and principles of Christ.

Out of Control

When things seem out of control in our lives, perhaps that can spur us on to invite God to be very real and submit ourselves to His control, recognizing that, according to Hebrews 2:
8 You have put all things in subjection under his feet." For in that He put all in subjection under him, He left nothing that is not put under him. But now we do not yet see all things put under him.
9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone.
10 For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

Suffering will come, certainly, but we know we have one who walks with us through our sufferings, so that we might be more wholeheartedly devoted to Him and that His presence may be manifested through us. He is the Lord of heaven and earth, and while we can become discouraged with the state of our world, we can recognize that He is continuing to work out His purposes, calling human beings to turn to Him and to submit to His lordship.

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In Ephesians 1, Paul is sharing what he is praying for, including...
(19) what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power
20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places,
21 far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.
22 And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church,
23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

Do you sometimes feel that the world is spinning out of control?  We have gone through isolation to prevent the spread of a virus that continues to afflict thousands to a time of irritation and hopefully introspection.  Americans have gone through a gamut of emotions through a pandemic and protests, and there is an uneasiness among us.

Maybe God has us just where He wants us.

NBCNews.com reports on a "new NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll that was conducted May 28 to June 2, during the aftermath of George Floyd's death in Minneapolis, as the U.S. death toll from the coronavirus surpassed 100,000 and after millions of people have lost their jobs:"

According to the poll, 80 percent of registered voters say they feel that things are generally out of control in the country, versus 15 percent who believe that things are under control.

Regarding the death of Mr. Floyd in Minneapolis, the survey found:

Fifty-nine percent of all voters — including 54 percent of whites, 65 percent of Latinos and 78 percent of African Americans — said they're more troubled by Floyd's death and the actions of police.

That's compared with 27 percent who said they're more concerned about the protests over Floyd's death, some of which have turned violent.

The survey also found that there is still concern, rightly so, over the Coronavirus, as well as its economic effects:

...a combined 63 percent of voters say they're "very" or "somewhat" worried that they or someone in their immediate families might catch the coronavirus, down by 10 points from April's poll (with much of the decline coming from Republicans).

Nearly half of voters — 46 percent — describe the state of the economy as "poor," the highest percentage on this question since September 2012.

And over half think, "...it will take a year or longer for the coronavirus to be contained and for the economy to return to normal."

Presidential indicators were also part of the poll, with Joe Biden holding a 7-point lead over Donald Trump, same as April.  Respondents broke for Biden by about a 2-to-1 margin as someone who could unite the country - that should be a wake-up call for the President, who has had difficulty finding his voice regarding race relations in the current crisis; and more felt Trump could restart the economy, with the President holding an 11-point margin.

When things seem out of control, we can know that God is in control.  These polling results are just a reminder that we need God's presence - He is the one who can bring stability to our streets and to our lives.  His love and truth are necessary in navigating important human relationships.

We recognize that God's words and principles can lead to peace - inwardly and outwardly. Scripture teaches that He has not given us a spirit of fear, which can be helpful in these seasons of instability.  We need sound-mindedness in order to think Biblically about what we are seeing unfold in our country and in the Church.  Because, there are those in the Church who have adopted worldly ideas; we have to make sure that we are walking in step with His ideas.

Holding Up the Bible

When we accept the Word of God into our lives, having made Jesus, the Word who became flesh, the
Lord of our lives, we can be changed. Jeremiah 23 says:
29 "Is not My word like a fire?" says the Lord, "And like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?
30 "Therefore behold, I am against the prophets," says the Lord, "who steal My words every one from his neighbor.

The Scriptures will change our thinking and renew our minds.  The entrance of His Word, according to the Psalms, brings light - and this passage points out that we can have old ideas and worldviews burned away, so that our minds are retrained to think in line with God's wisdom.  His Word has such power that it will break up the ingrained thought patterns and replace them with powerful truth by which we can live and relate to the world around us.

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We can hold up God's Word as an example for us, but Christian believers also recognize that we have
to open the book and open our hearts so that we can receive direction from God. Hebrews 4 states:
12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.

It's become a narrative that the media has seized on in the midst of unrest.  A speech by the President declaring his desire to see violence end on the streets of America, followed by a walk to the venerable St. John's Church across the street, which had been set on fire by vandals.  President Trump, accompanied by Administration officials, famously held up a Bible as he stood outside the church.

The narrative emerged that the President, or someone associated with him, ordered "peaceful" protesters to be dispersed using tear gas so that he could do a photo op, using the Bible as a prop. A week later, the Washington Post was still fixated on the events of the evening and released a detailed "investigation" piece about what happened.  The U.S. Park Police produced a timeline of events that indicated that the protest was by no means peaceful and Attorney General Barr said that action to clear nearby Lafayette Park was not because of the President's visit.  Even some supporters of Mr. Trump, namely, senators Lankford and Sasse, were critical of the Bible being used as a "prop."

Nick Hall of the PULSE Movement is calling for a truce in the war of words over the event, which came in response to a church being burned, which should ideally have aroused more anger than the President's action.  Hall, at ReligionNews.com, poses the question concerning the horrific death of George Floyd and the protests and violence in the aftermath: "So what is the answer?"

I think President Donald Trump pointed to it — even if you don’t like how it happened or who it happened through: We need to meet at the Bible.

The Bible offers solutions for this present moment, and the president holding it has people all over the world talking about what it actually says.

Hall delivers this perspective:

So, yes, you should be glad Trump is holding the Bible, not because he is the embodiment of the words of the book, but because the book offers the embodiment of the fruits of the Spirit that he, and all of us, need.

Now, I get many are upset the president was seen holding up a Bible after making statements many view as unbiblical. Similarly, I know there are many others thankful that the president is holding up a Bible because they believe he is God’s man for the job. I would like to simply suggest a third option — that we look past all of that to the book in his hands. 

For those more upset about rioting and looting than grieved over the injustice done to George Floyd and the systemic racism that has existed for 400 years in America, the Bible speaks much to listening and seeking to understand the experiences of others. It prophetically calls out injustice.

For those upset with Trump, the Bible speaks much about loving those different from us, turning the other cheek when we are offended and forgiving those who wrong us not simply seven times, but 70 times seven.

Hall, by the way, had partnered with other ministries to declare 2020 as the "Year of the Bible." He writes: "We had no clue that in 2020 we would be facing a global pandemic and a national crisis over our history of racism. Yet it’s precisely these kinds of moments in our lives when we need to turn to Scripture and remember what the Bible says about justice, forgiveness, reconciliation and mercy."

It is unfortunate that there seems to be more angst over the President's symbolic gesture than the actual attack on a church. So, he used a Bible as a symbol - some say a prop; it wasn't perfectly executed.  But, keep in mind that symbols are important in our culture and can powerfully represent institutions and concepts.  Those who have turned to violence in these days get that and have attacked symbols of the American experience - houses of worship, historical markers, places of business - and many of these are intent on bringing down American institutions, figuratively or literally.

The American Bible Society is attempting to capitalize on the recent attention over the Bible - another Religion News story highlights a campaign to make free Bibles available and to encourage people to download a Bible app.  The article quotes from Whitney T. Kuniholm, a senior vice president of the society, who stated in a blog post: “In this time of pandemic fear and social isolation, in this time of racial injustice and senseless violence, in this time of economic uncertainty and generational pain, we should be careful not to use the Bible as a political symbol, one more prop in a noisy news cycle...:  The Religion News article continues; 

Asked if the statement was a response to a specific government leader, Kuniholm noted the conversations that started after Trump’s appearance.

“The President's visit on Monday to St. John's Episcopal Church with a Bible in-hand sparked a lot of dialogue across the nation about the Bible,” Whitney T. Kuniholm, a senior vice president of the Philadelphia-based society, told Religion News Service in a statement.

“Since Monday, other politicians have referenced the Bible as well. At American Bible Society, we believe this is an opportunity to encourage conversation and be a resource to share the life-affirming message of God's Holy Word.”

Fox News reported on someone that didn't agree with Trump's actions, the Episcopal Bishop of Washington, the Right Rev. Mariann Budde, who "accused the president of using the Bible and 'one of the churches of my diocese, without permission, as a backdrop for a message antithetical to the teachings of Jesus.'" Franklin Graham disagreed, saying, "Offended? Not at all," adding in a Facebook post that the President "made an important statement that what took place the night before in the burning, looting, and vandalism of the nation’s capital—including this historic house of worship—mattered, and that the lawlessness had to end."

The Bible refers to itself as "living and active."  Yes, the sight of a physical Bible can certainly symbolize faith and truth, but we do have to open our Bible - to see what's inside, and realize that the application of the Scriptures during these difficult times can be highly effective.

And, remember that symbols matter. Our houses of worship are filled with them - most Christian churches have a cross prominently displayed - I don't think that is a prop; it's a bold reminder of what Jesus has done for us.  The crosses that have been erected in yards across our area during Christmas, some of which have been used during the time of COVID-19 serve to remind us where our help comes from.  Beautiful stained glass windows have been used through the centuries to tell stories of God's faithfulness.  We need to be reminded of God's timeless truths and look to apply those principles; in so doing, we release His mighty power.