There is a Savior

In our lives on this earth, we have a choice to make - we can surrender to our Savior, Jesus, who gave His life and lives again so that we might come to know Him or we can reject Him and rely on human devices, left to deal with this world according to inadequate human wisdom, without understanding of the higher things of God. Romans 6 says:
20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness.
21 What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death.
22 But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life.
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Sin separates us from God; sin robs us of the life that God intends for us.  But, knowing Christ means that we can have a true relationship with Him, that our hearts can be made right with Almighty God and we can truly have a new life.  The fruit of that life includes the knowledge of Christ's love, the experience of the reality of peace with Him, and the joy and satisfaction that can only be gained through knowing Him.  That adventure starts as we allow Christ to come into our hearts.

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In Psalm 14, we find a passage that outlines the predicament of human beings without a knowledge of God:
(1) The fool has said in his heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt, They have done abominable works, There is none who does good.
2 The Lord looks down from heaven upon the children of men, To see if there are any who understand, who seek God.
3 They have all turned aside, They have together become corrupt; There is none who does good, No, not one.

Seth Mahiga is a Kenyan man who recently professed his faith in Jesus Christ. An organization in which he served in leadership, in a press release, stated: "We wish Seth all the best in his newfound relationship with Jesus Christ.”

We should treat conversion as a magnanimous, life-changing event.  What is remarkable about this public proclamation is that Mahiga was the Secretary of the Atheists in Kenya Society.  Christian Headlines.com included content in this press release in its recent article, including these words: “This evening, regretfully, the Secretary of the Atheists in Kenya Society Mr. Seth Mahiga informed me that he has made the decision to resign from his position as Secretary of the society...Seth’s reason for resigning is that he has found Jesus Christ and is no longer interested in promoting atheism in Kenya..."

You think? And, the AIK press release and social media accounts also showed a video of Mahiga in a church setting, stating, "I’ve been going through some difficulties in life. … I’m so happy to be here.”

Days later, according to Christian Headlines...

...the Atheists in Kenya Twitter account was back to advocating for atheism, posting in a tweet, “Remember that it is only when people are free to think for themselves, using reason as their guide, that they are best capable of developing values that succeed in satisfying human needs and serving human interests.”

Baptist Press offered some insight into Mahiga's public proclamation of faith at Life Church International in Nairobi.  It stated:

As the church prayed for Mahiga, Pastor Mark Mutinda described Mahiga as “a point of contact (for) all those people who are in darkness and all the atheists who say there is no God,” and encouraged prayer that “the grace of God reach out to wherever they are.”

As Mahiga prayed the sinner’s prayer, led by a member of the church’s pastoral staff, he described himself to God as “a new creature no longer doubting about your existence. Indeed you are my God, and I will forever confess you are God. In Jesus’ name I accept you and I give my life to you.”

Christian Headlines states that the Atheists in Kenya Society was launched in 2016 "to advocate for secularism, non-religion, and the belief that 'the universe is a natural phenomenon with no supernatural side,' according to its website. It is a member organization of Humanists International." Baptist Press relates that AIK was "suspended for two years after Christians complained. It regained active status in 2018 and describes itself as an organization of secularists who believe no deity exists."

The Bible tells us that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God - there is none righteous, Romans 3 reminds us, "no not one."  But, Jesus died on a cross and rose from the dead so that those who were apart from Him, alienated by sin, could come into a relationship with Him through accepting Him as Lord and Savior.  No one is beyond the reach of our magnificent Savior.  Not even a seemingly hardened atheist.  Not the scheming politician.  Or the entertainer who seems dedicated to self-gratification and hostile to God.  Nor the atheist leader who has promoted a different ideology and practice.

Because everybody has a need within to be loved, accepted, and affirmed. The joy and satisfaction that brings hope in life can only be possible through Jesus Christ. In those quiet times, alone, when a person is willing to evaluate his or her life, they can understand that something is missing.  This self-evaluation comes as people, as the atheist organization's mission statement suggests, are "free to think for themselves, using reason as their guide." Faith and reason are sometimes incompatible, but if we open our minds to consider the claims of Christ, we can discover that we can make a reasonable decision to follow Him.

A critical first step in the salvation process is to realize the need for a Savior.  After admitting one is a sinner, he or she can reach out and put their faith in Jesus, believing on Him, as we find in Romans 10: if a person confesses the Lordship of Jesus and believes God has raised Him from the dead, i.e., that He is alive, that person will be saved.  A person then, confessing Jesus, also confesses his or her sins.  You can make that decision today - there is no need to delay; now is the day of salvation.

In the Face of Evil

It is sometimes asked why a loving God would cause bad things to happen. Fact is, we live in a fallen world, a world where sin and evil are all around us. Jesus is our Redeemer, and He will bring His glory, His good results, even out of adversity. We have to maintain the proper attitude when we are tried. James 1 states:
2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,
3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.
4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

It is so critical that we maintain the proper attitude when things don't go our way; even in the face of evil, there is an opportunity for God to be exalted through us.  His steadfast love will sustain us when we are challenged and He gives us the inner fortitude to stand strong in our trials. And, those trials are being used by Him to develop His work in our hearts and to provide an outward expression of His faithfulness, a testimony to those who are watching to see how we respond. 

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When we come face-to-face with evil, we can remain steadfast in what 1st Peter 1 states is our "living hope," that is, our hope in Christ. Picking up later in the chapter, we can read:
(6) now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials,
7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,
8 whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,
9 receiving the end of your faith--the salvation of your souls.

Yesterday, I discussed God's Word in the battles we face.  We can know that His Word is available and sufficient when we face spiritual challenges.  But, we have to put it to work for us - when we are tempted and tried, He is with us and we can continually rely on Him.

In real-life situations around the world, believers in Christ are facing stiff opposition - with the threat of arrest and even death simply because they have professed faith in Christ.  Yet, in the middle of these fiery trials, God is faithful and Jesus is continuing to be exalted.

David Curry of Open Doors USA, which advocates for the persecuted Church, was on The Meeting House last week and shared about the Church in Iran and the perseverance of Christians in that majority-Muslim country that is run by a group of Muslim clerics. 

There have been reports recently out of the African nation of Mozambique, where the situation is dire. ChristianHeadlines.com spotlighted the work of an organization called Iris Global, which is headed by Heidi Baker.  The article reports that "Since 2017, ISIS-linked militants have killed over 2,600 people and displaced 700,000 more in their invasion to establish an Islamic caliphate in Mozambique's Cabo Delgado Province. Al Shabab, a militant terror group, is responsible for the dozens of terror attacks on churches in the region." The country is described in the article as "one of the world's poorest and most dangerous countries."

The U.S. State Department reports, according to the article, that in March, Al Shabab attacked the city of Palma, which, according to Faithwire, resulted in the deaths of "dozens of civilians." It was described as "one of the bloodiest Islamic terror attacks in southern Africa."

This incident, as well as the threat that I would imagine is pervasive, could bring discouragement and fear. Yet, Baker says that God is working powerfully in these adverse circumstances, relating that, "I'm telling you in the midst of the tragedy, God is doing the most incredibly beautiful things, and He's wiping away the tears..."  But Baker's attitude is forthright; the Christian Headlines article says:

But Baker just wants to keep preaching the gospel, even amid the militant terror group. "Al Shabab, they are a frightening bunch. I'm not going to be phony, I don't want to get chopped up, I don't want to be kidnapped, I want to continue to preach this glorious gospel for many more decades." But she also said, "If you are a believer in Jesus, you are one of the first who is right on the list."

This is an example of how militants in Mozambique, as well as persecutors of Christians in other parts of the world, are operating. You don't agree with them and harm could come to you - it was reported in the article that crops and houses were being burned, children being taken.  Yet, through it all, and above it all, God is being glorified.  The bad things that occur are not signs that God is mean and uncaring; He is the One who goes with us and stands with us in the face of evil.  He doesn't prevent calamity, but He is our companion through it.  

We can also be challenged to continue to pray for those around the world who are being persecuted.  And, to be mindful of Christians in our nation who are receiving opposition because of their faith.  We can respond with bitterness and anger at how believers are being tried, yet we can be mindful that these moments and seasons of tribulation provide opportunities for God to be glorified and the gospel to be shared. 

The Word Through the Ages

God accompanies us in the battles we face and provides powerful resources that we need. When we make His Word a priority, we can experience His wisdom and strength. In 2nd Chronicles 20, King Jehoshophat and his army are preparing for battle and a certain priest speaks up, saying:

(15) "Listen, all you of Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you, King Jehoshaphat! Thus says the Lord to you: 'Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God's.
16 Tomorrow go down against them. They will surely come up by the Ascent of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the brook before the Wilderness of Jeruel.
17 You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, who is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem!' Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the Lord is with you."

Indeed, as Jehoshophat and his troops went into battle, bringing praises to God, they were victorious! In the pages of Scripture, we can receive the reminder that God is with us, and by absorbing His words, we can develop our strategy for navigating this life. We can hold His principles to be relevant and powerful and trust in His wisdom rather than the frail wisdom of this world.  We can choose to serve and follow Christ and stand strong in His truth.

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The Bible is our training manual for the battles we encounter, and the principles of God produce strength in our hearts. Psalm 144 states:
(1) Blessed be the Lord my Rock, Who trains my hands for war, And my fingers for battle--
2 My lovingkindness and my fortress, My high tower and my deliverer, My shield and the One in whom I take refuge, Who subdues my people under me.
3 Lord, what is man, that You take knowledge of him? Or the son of man, that You are mindful of him?
4 Man is like a breath; His days are like a passing shadow.

Last week, I talked about how the founding principles for our nation are consistent with Scripture and that our Founders were inspired by the Word of God.  I believe that faith and patriotism are compatible, as long as we are careful not to prioritize our country over our love for God.  God will certainly use the political realm to establish His will, but we have to be careful that politics does not become our God - a careful evaluation of how we spend our time and the information we consume can tell us quickly whether or not we are doing that or are in danger of doing so.

We recently commemorated Memorial Day, which is one of three major patriotic observances during roughly a month-long period, including Flag Day on June 14 and Independence Day on July 4.  Plus, yesterday, there was the anniversary of D-Day, a major turning point in World War II. CBN.com reports that Museum of the Bible in Washington observed Memorial Day by displaying Bibles that were present in times of war.  

There is a letter from 1917 on display from President Woodrow Wilson, as the article says, "encouraging soldiers to read their Bibles." Jeff Kloha, the museum's chief curatorial officer, said, "This proclamation would be printed inside these little pocket Bibles which would be distributed to soldiers..."

The exhibit contains Bibles dating back to the Civil War, including one written in German from that conflict. Kloha asked, "You see that stain there?" He added, "That's almost certainly blood that ended up on the Bible and left this stain from the Civil War. So again, it shows the price of war and the cost people paid to maintain our freedom."

There's also a display of items from George Rome, ("room") of the 55th Massachusetts regiment, described as "one of the first African American regiments." The story relates that, "Rome's items include a tin photograph of himself, his satchel, and his sword case."

  

Also, Kloha shared with CBN a World War II-era Bible that belonged to his grandfather - he said: "This was given to him by his pastor...It's a leather cover and you can tell it's quite worn. He must have carried it all over in his battle gear."  

The Museum display also includes an original copy of the Battle Hymn of the Republic and Bibles owned by past Presidents.

Museum of the Bible is committed to showing the role of the Bible in history and its profound influence.  This story can remind us of the enduring nature of God's Word.  The Bible is inspired by God and its principles are timeless - it has survived thousands of years of history, and God still speaks to us through His Word.

We can also find encouraging hope in the words of Scripture.  In the battles we face, we can keep the Bible close to us and turn to the Word of God to encourage us and direct us. 

And, as so many have discovered over the past year and a half, there is excessive comfort in the companionship of Christ.  He is our all-sufficient Savior, and the pages of the Scriptures remind us of who He is and what He wants to bring into our lives.  

God Bless the USA

As citizens of this earth, we recognize that ultimately, we, as those created by God, are witnesses to the work of His sovereign hand in establishing and judging the nations. Acts 17 states:
26 And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings,
27 so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us;
28 for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, 'For we are also His offspring.'

If you reflect on American history, you can see instances in which God's hand is extremely evident - He has established and protected us, and you could say that we are a blessed people.  Not a perfect people, not a "perfect union," but as it's been said, the implementation of our founding principles can provide solutions to the problems we encounter.  So, we can love our country, but we have to be careful to love God more and recognize He is our ultimate authority. 

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As Americans, we stand on the shoulders of those who built this nation, and recognize that the Judeo-Christian principles they embraced have served us well and can continue to serve us as we navigate a challenging season. But, we have to turn to godly wisdom, as Psalm 33 suggests when it says:
10 The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; He makes the plans of the peoples of no effect.
11 The counsel of the Lord stands forever, The plans of His heart to all generations.
12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, The people He has chosen as His own inheritance.

The song may not be counted at the level of enduring patriotic songs such as Battle Hymn of the Republic, America the Beautiful, or The Star-Spangled Banner, but the song originally recorded by Lee Greenwood, God Bless the U.S.A. has certainly earned its place among beloved songs that extol the greatness of this incredible country.

Recently, it was announced that the song would provide inspiration for the development of a new Bible, combining the Scriptures with inserts of founding documents of the United States.  A remarkably positive article about the proposed Bible ran at The Tennessean website and also appeared in the Montgomery Advertiser.  The article reports:

The new Bible is a project of Elite Source Pro, a marketing consulting company in Wilson County that approached Greenwood about signing onto the project.

The singer-songwriter said he thought the custom Bible was a grand idea. Greenwood said readers can refer to the Bill of Rights, U.S. Constitution, Declaration of Independence and Pledge of Allegiance located at the back of the Bible and know the country got its start not by escaping religion, but by escaping persecution.

The Bible is due out around the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks later this year, according to Hugh Kirkpatrick of Elite Source Pro. The article states: "The goal was to commemorate the milestone anniversary and inspire unity, he said."  It goes on to say:

The "God Bless the USA Bible" was born out of conversations he had last year with friends in the music industry about division in America, Kirkpatrick said.

He said, "We put all that together in our thinking cap and we came up with a custom, unique, limited edition 'God Bless the USA Bible,'" adding, "It's the Holy Bible. It just leans toward you're American and maybe you need to understand the documents behind America and what did these people believe?" The Tennessean also reported:

Kirkpatrick said he does not see it as an example of Christian nationalism, a cultural framework that wants a politically and religiously conservative expression of Christianity to have more access to power.  

He said, "We don't believe in Christian nationalism at all," adding, "We really didn't worry about an extreme left or extreme right being upset … I think most people that we talk to they just want to live and love and go to work and live life."

So, full speed ahead, right?  Well, since the publication of the article, the pushback that Kirkpatrick thought might occur has occurred. 

Religion News reports that:

Hugh Kirkpatrick of Nashville-based Elite Source Pro said he had reached an agreement with HarperCollins, whose subsidiary Zondervan is licensed to publish the NIV, to produce 1,000 copies of the Bible and already had more than 500 orders.

After news about the Bible was reported by ReligionUnplugged, an online magazine, several Christian book authors published by Zondervan objected. More than 800 people also signed an online petition as well.

But was it because of the pushback from a small number of progressive authors and less than a thousand signers on a misguided petition?  The manufacturer issued this statement to Religion Unplugged:

“Zondervan is not publishing, manufacturing or selling the ‘God Bless the USA Bible’,” the statement emailed to Religion Unplugged reads. “While we were asked for a manufacturing quote, ultimately the project was not a fit for either party, and the website and marketing of the NIV project were premature.”

The story goes on to say, 

In the end, HarperCollins decided to halt production of the “God Bless the USA” Bible. They worked “very graciously” with Kirkpatrick, he said, to give him digital files of the Bible that he plans to print with a King James translation that is not copyrighted. The whole ordeal only set him back a few hundred dollars, he said.

So, it appears the project is moving forward.  Kirkpatrick said

Kirkpatrick also believes the nation’s Founding Fathers were inspired by the words in the Bible and that it will be helpful to have both the Scripture and the Constitution in the same book.

Kirkpatrick believes America was once a Christian country but it has been “sliding away from that.” And he does worry about the future.

“The Bible and the Constitution someday could be a banned item in the United States,” he said. “That sounds odd even to say but there are other countries around the world that you can’t have a Bible.”

How ironic - since there are what would be termed "progressive" authors in the Christian space who don't care for the mix of Christianity and patriotism and wanted to ban the project. 

Love of God and love of country - the welding of those two concepts has actually generated controversy in some circles.  I believe that Christians can do both, as long as love of country does not exceed our love for God.  But, there are those that, because of America's shortcomings, have decided that it is not right to love America - I would submit that because of the principles, consistent with Biblical truth, upon which this nation was founded, we can effectively address the challenges we face and move toward "a more perfect union."  In our Christian foundation, we can have hope.

That doesn't mean our Founders wanted a theocracy.  And, we certainly don't look like a Christian nation these days.  But that doesn't mean that the American ideals that have guided us throughout the years are to be discarded.  

William Federer, on his American Minute website, points to the writings of former U.S. Supreme Court Justice David Brewer, who wrote in his book, The United States-A Christian Nation, which was published in 1905:

"While the separation of church and state is often affirmed, there is nowhere a repudiation of Christianity as one of the institutions as well as benedictions of society.

In short, there is no charter or constitution that is either infidel, agnostic, or anti-Christian.

Wherever there is a declaration in favor of any religion it is of the Christian ...

I could show how largely our laws and customs are based upon the laws of Moses and the teachings of Christ;

how constantly the Bible is appealed to as the guide of life and the authority in question of morals."

Federer also points out that President Truman said to the Pope in 1947: "As a Christian Nation our earnest desire is to work with men of good will everywhere to banish war and the causes of war from the world whose Creator desired that men of every race and in every clime (region) should live together in peace, good will and mutual trust ... that mankind shall live in freedom, not in the chains of untruth nor in the chains of a collectivist organization."

That doesn't mean that everyone in America is required to be Christian or that somehow Christians are to have special rights in America.  But, it does mean that the principles of Scripture held significant influence over the Founders of this country and those principles are reflected in our founding documents.  And, Christian people do not always embrace Christian principles.  But, it is irresponsible to reject our rich history and to characterize those who love America because of what it stands for and its rich Christian tradition as "Christian nationalists," which has come to be used in a pejorative way. 

God Bless the USA?  Certainly - he has.  And, we can expect that He would like to continue. That's up to us, if we are willing to walk in obedience to Him.  Remember, the term, "separation of church and state" is not a constitutional one, and it is my understanding that it was written by Thomas Jefferson to  a group of Baptists affirming that the Church should be protected from the state.  The First Amendment was never intended to remove the influence of religion from American life. 

I Will Build

Even though there are scores of local church congregations across America and around the world, we remain unified by a common Savior, who has given us a common purpose. Romans 12 says:
4 For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function,
5 so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.

Local churches and denominations, as well as non-denominational churches, come in a variety of sizes and shapes - some are united by a strong governing body that sets church policy, others are part of denominations or organizations that have autonomous local congregations. But, what unites us is the presence of Jesus, and our willingness to serve Him in fellowship with other believers.  When we are functioning as one, even though we may belong to or attend different church bodies, we can see the power of God work to transform our communities.  

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The Church is the institution established by Jesus, who said, "I will build my church," so that the Church would reflect the love and life of our Savior. Ephesians 2 says:
19 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,
20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone,
21 in whom the whole building, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord...

14.1 million people.

That's a powerful force for Christ from just one denomination.

The latest set of numerical figures regarding participation in the Southern Baptist Convention has just been released, and it shows that while 2020 was a year of decline in several key areas, there is still incredible potential.

Here is the raw data, from Lifeway Christian Resources:

Slightly more churches in operation, 62 more, in fact, in 2020, from the previous year, to tip the scales at almost 48,000 churches. 

But, membership was slightly down, from just over 14.5 million members to just under 14.1 - that's a 3% decline.

Baptisms were down significantly, from almost 236,000 in 2019 to just over 123,000 last year - over a 47% decline.

Average weekly worship attendance was down to 4.44 million, from 5.25 million the year before; all state conventions did not provide information in this category. The Lifeway summary of this data says this is a greater than 15% decline.

Lifeway's summary of this survey, the Annual Church Profile, states:

Scott McConnell, executive director of Lifeway Research, said a number of factors likely contributed to the 3 percent decline in overall membership, including fewer congregations, fewer additions through baptism and other additions, likely higher deaths from COVID-19, and other reductions in the membership of individual Southern Baptist congregations.

Yes, this was a COVID year, and you really don't know what story the numbers would have told had conditions been more normal, but the summary notes that the SBC has been in a "14-year trend of membership decline.", relating that, "Membership in Southern Baptist congregations peaked at 16.3 million in 2006, declining more than 2 million since." The summary also notes that, "This is the 9th straight year with fewer baptisms reported than the prior year."

But, as McConnell notes, “Socially distant behavior is helpful for containing a pandemic, but it hindered meeting new people, inviting people to church, and helping them take a step of obedience to be baptized...The additional outreach through online methods did not make a dent in the smaller number of opportunities to share the gospel in person, including fewer Vacation Bible Schools, live events, and weekly services to invite people to attend. The last year Southern Baptists saw this few people follow Christ for the first time was 1918 and 1919 when the influenza pandemic was sweeping the world.”

A Religion News story on the numbers included comments from a high-ranking SBC leader:

Ronnie Floyd, president of the SBC’s Executive Committee, said the report showed a need for a renewed focus on evangelism, missions and church planting.

“It may take years for us to know the full effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on our churches,” Floyd told Baptist Press. “There are lessons to be learned from 2020 as we put it behind us — such as the vital need for corporate worship, the value of being creative in developing ways to share the Gospel, and how much local communities need our churches to minister in difficult circumstances.”

As the Convention prepares to meet later this month in Nashville for an event that is reportedly approaching record numbers, there are certainly issues to be dealt with on the leadership level. But, one must remember that the SBC is comprised of autonomous local churches - so the cumulative statistics are made up of local church data.  And, this upcoming convention will likely have some substantive debates - a new convention president will be chosen from four announced candidates.  And, many Southern Baptists are still stinging from the hastily-passed Resolution 9 dealing with critical race theory and intersectionality, which a number of Baptists do not feel went far enough in repudiating these worldly ideas. 

I would also submit, that if you look at the numbers, Southern Baptists may be declining numerically, but the church landscape in local communities is changing.  There do seem to simply be more choices. And, researcher Ryan Burge wrote several years ago:

Are nondenominational Christians just Southern Baptists by another name? The answer is a tentative “yes”, with some caveats. Nondenominational churches are typically younger and more racially diverse than Southern Baptist churches. On religious matters, both groups attend church at the same rate, yet nondenominationals are more likely to hold a moderate theological position on the Bible than SBC churchgoers. Finally, when it comes to politics it seems that Southern Baptists and nondenominational Christians are very similar. Nondenominational parishioners are slightly more supportive of same-sex marriage and slightly less supportive of abortion rights, but these differences are small. Taken together it makes sense that there is so much movement between Southern Baptists and nondenominational churches as the differences are in many cases small or nonexistent.

But, it starts at the local level - with each of us!  A healthy church is made up of people who are growing spiritually, as well as people who find the church to be a safe place to bring their struggles. Every believer can examine how he or she is contributing to the spiritual growth of the local church.  When the love of Christ is being shared and the life of Christ is being lived, people will be drawn to what they see.  That's how the Church grows. 

Bad Influence

We have to be careful about the role models that we and our children select. Ultimately, we should be inspired by the behavior of those who are devoted to following Christ and who turn away from immorality, as Ephesians chapter 5 directs - we can read:
1 Therefore be imitators of God as dear children.
2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.
3 But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints;
4 neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.

Of course, each of us, in our following of Christ, should seek to set godly examples, demonstrating that we know Him and that we love Him and all people, just as Christ gave Himself for the entire world.  We have to guard ourselves against the pollution of this world and not allow ourselves to be corrupted by immoral thinking that violates what He has taught regarding sexuality - He gives us the power to keep our thoughts, our language, and action pure.

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God calls us to a walk of purity, of honoring Him in thought, word, and deed. The world, unfortunately, has adopt views of sexuality that do not meet the purity standard and run contrary to the ways of God. 1st Corinthians 6 contrasts the world's activity with the teachings of Scripture:
9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites,
10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.
11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.

Romans 1:25 says that immoral people, "exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever," and verse 26 says that this is why "God gave them up to vile passions..."

The Bible does not use flowery or vague language to communicate God's heart on matters of sexuality. That is why it is unacceptable for Christians to mix an acceptance of what the Bible does not support with the truth of the Scriptures.  We have to be consistent and adopting the ways of this world into the practice of Christianity is a harmful mix. 

For some time now, we have witnessed the emergence and advance of an event at local libraries called the Drag Queen Story Hour.  And, the upholding of the purity of the Spirit has been dragged down by men who dress like women and flaunt their disregard for the gender traits that are established by Scripture.  God made men and women different, according to His plan, and society is dedicated, it seems, to blurring the lines or outright crossing them.

We have seen a major U.S. denomination prepare to ordain for ministry a so-called "drag queen" and a toy manufacturer recently released a product that honors "drag queens."  While there are those that believe that the Story Hour is protected under the First Amendment, other say that libraries should not be promoting this deviant behavior to children.  I believe that if a community does not desire to have this behavior on display, that community pressure can lead to its elimination. 

But, as we have seen, the promoters of the LGBTQ agenda do not stop, they are always looking for ways to advance their agenda.  So, mass media has now taken up the baton.  A story at CBN.com says that: 

The Daily Wire reports the New York City Department of Education and the public media company The WNET Group are partnering together for a new education television program called "Let's Learn," which is geared toward kids ages 3 to 8.

The article says: 

One of the latest episodes of the program features a drag queen named Little Miss Hot Mess as the host. The drag queen reads and dances to a book he wrote...

The drag queen would like for children to regard his behavior as normal, saying, "Drag queens, we are everyday people who love to play pretend and dress up as often as we can. We love to wear shiny, sparkly outfits with all of our sequins and all of our glitter and a lot of jewelry and maybe a little too much makeup..."

The CBN article says that:

The Daily Caller reported the "Let's Learn" series doesn't belong to PBS, but the programming is being made available to PBS stations.

As CBN News has reported, Drag Queen Story Hours have spread to libraries, schools, bookstores, and even liberal churches across the country in the last few years, trying to convince young children the LGBTQ lifestyle is normal and exciting.

The library events are about 45 minutes long for children aged three to eight years old and intend to capture children's imaginations and normalize gender fluidity through "unabashedly queer role models," according to the Drag Queen Story Hour's official website.

The CBN article goes on to name two instances in which one of these "drag queens" was found to have been "convicted sex offenders."

This Scripture verse was actually quoted on my program the other day about another matter, but it's applicable here. Isaiah 5:20 says, "Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!"  The Drag Queen Story Hour and other instances that further the LGBTQ agenda would fit that description.  As it's been pointed out, there is nowhere in Scripture that homosexuality is presented in a positive light; it is presented as sinful behavior in a number of verses and passages in the Word of God. Yet, the agenda marches on - in and out of the church.  

Yet, there are those who struggle and should go to the Church and find help - for assistance in overcoming this sinful behavior and resisting its temptation, not for accommodation as part of someone's identity.  Paul clearly teaches in 1st Corinthians 6 that what we now know as LGBTQ actions are products of the "old nature," or the "flesh."  We confess our sins and receive forgiveness and power to walk in victory!  

But, we recognize there is the attempt to normalize what the Bible clearly condemns.  That is the nature of sin, any sin: we want to say, "well, that's just the way I am."  But, we have to dig into God's Word and see that there is a way that He has declared us to be, according to the new creation.  Sinful patterns and areas of vulnerability do not automatically go away, in most cases, but we can find new power and instruction in order to live in the light of God's truth.

One True God

There are many who claim that they are on the path to the knowledge of God, who are experiencing a higher spiritual plane. But what is spiritual is not necessarily Biblical. The Word of God says in the book of 2nd John:
7 For many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.
8 Look to yourselves, that we do not lose those things we worked for, but that we may receive a full reward.
9 Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son.

The Bible shows us what is accurate and what is not - and there are many cults in the world today that are centered on a particular person or ideology. And, in the occult, you find people who are devoted to the worship of spiritual beings rather than the one true God. We have to be careful that our religious practice is not predicated on a particular individual and that our beliefs and actions are inspired by and consistent with the teachings of Scripture.

+++++

There was certainly a reason why God said that we are no have no other gods before Him. We are warned against idolatry, setting up false gods instead of the one true God. And, in Isaiah 44, we read this:
5 One will say, 'I am the Lord's'; Another will call himself by the name of Jacob; Another will write with his hand, 'The Lord's,' And name himself by the name of Israel.
6 "Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel, And his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts: 'I am the First and I am the Last; Besides Me there is no God.

No other God.  We get ourselves into trouble when we worship people, things, ideas, or even spirits that are not from God.  The good news is that we can come to know this wonderful God through a relationship with His Son, Jesus Christ.

There's a disturbing story out of Colorado about people who did not adhere to the ways of God.  They set up a false, human god, named her "mother God," and then somehow she ended up losing her life.  I came across the story at ChristianNews.net, which republished part of a story from The Independent; it led like this:

Seven people are facing charges related to abusing a corpse, as well as child abuse, after a cult leader’s mummified body was found decorated with Christmas lights and glitter in what appeared to be a shrine in southern Colorado in the US.

It goes on to say that 45-year-old Amy Carlson, "who was known as 'Mother God' by her followers, was found dead in a home in a small town in called Moffat in Colorado on April 28, according to...official documents. However, no details about the cause of death have been revealed."

The name of the cult: "Love Has Won."

An update on the CBS4 website out of Denver says: "the group has reappeared online. It appears the cult has changed its name." It goes on to say:

Calling itself “5D Full Disclosure,” members of the group posted a blue full page on a site stating, “God was here. She ascended, now it’s our turn.”

It also reports:

Two known members of the group posted on Facebook dated May 20 with Amy Carlson’s picture in the background.

One person said, “How did this happen. Everybody still loves mom… nothing changed.” It is a live stream entitled “The Return of the Oracles.”

Another story at The Independent website states, "The group are facing various counts of child abuse, abuse of a corpse, tampering with deceased human remains, and false imprisonment." It also relates that, "Several children at the property were reportedly taken into the custody of Child Protection Services."  The story relates that one member of the group has had a court appearance.

So how does this happen? BBC reports:

Little is known about the origins of Love Has Won, which is believed to have emerged in the late 2000s under a different guise.

A follower encouraged Ms Carlson to join their movement, paving the way for her elevation to the head of Love Has Won. Its disciples do not appear to have a fixed set of beliefs. Instead, they practise and preach a fluid theology consisting of New Age philosophy, conspiracy theories, and messiah worship.

Their messiah was Ms Carlson, who was known as "Mother God".

Her teachings were sacrosanct, and her claims were even more fantastical than her title. She was Jesus Christ in one of her 534 past lives, could cure cancer, and could speak to the spirit of the late actor Robin Williams, she would often claim.

OK, let's get to the point: There is no messiah other than our Messiah.  No human being can save the soul.  We should never worship a person or group of people in order to meet the spiritual needs of our hearts.  We have to be careful not to get off track in our pursuit of "salvation" so that we seek it in things or people who do not satisfy.  There is no god other than the One True God.  There are scores of unworthy counterfeits, but fall far short of the criteria of savior. 

I think of the name of this group, Love Has Won.  I'm not sure how the seven people charged in relation to this woman's murder are carrying that out, but we have to realize that the world has its values, which do not necessarily line up with Scripture.  And, the enemy of the soul is at work in a significant way.  We have to be discerning so that we do not corrupt the practice of the Christian faith by interjecting worldly ideas.  When the Church adopts that philosophies of humanity to solve its problems - and we are seeing that with greater regularity, it seems - we become guilty of designing our own religious practice that does not conform with the simplicity and the power of the gospel message.