Cuba Libre

We are called to live under the control of the Holy Spirit, who gives us the capability to be influential for Him in this world. Proverbs chapter 11 states:
11 By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted, But it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.
12 He who is devoid of wisdom despises his neighbor, But a man of understanding holds his peace.
13 A talebearer reveals secrets, But he who is of a faithful spirit conceals a matter.
14 Where there is no counsel, the people fall; But in the multitude of counselors there is safety.

We have been entrusted with a message of peace and freedom in Jesus Christ. Across the world, believers in Christ met together and were encouraged and equipped for the service of our King. Now that Sunday has passed, we are launched into Monday, into the world, into our day-to-day lives - the question is: are we going to take the principles we have learned and been strengthened in and apply them, allowing Him to be our source of abundant life?  

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We serve a King who rules above all earthly kingdoms, in order that His Kingdom may advance on this earth - it's a Kingdom of devotion to God, based on our freedom in Christ that enables us to overcome the desire for worldly control. 1st Peter 2 states:
11 Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul,
12 having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.
13 Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake, whether to the king as supreme,
14 or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good.

It's not over, even though the demonstrations for freedom in the nation of Cuba may have disappeared from the news cycles.  Just last week, according to The Daily Signal, Cuban-Americans gathered at the U.S. Capitol for a "Cuba Libre" rally, which was organized, in part, by Alian Collazo, who lives in Florida. He said, “The lack of freedom in Cuba starts with everything...It is not just about freedom of the press and freedom of speech. Those are the fundamental things that they are asking for. But it goes down to every avenue of freedom that one can think of.”

Organizers are asking the U.S. Government to do more on behalf of the people in Cuba who are demanding freedom from the decades of oppression in the Caribbean nation. There were just under a dozen members of Congress mentioned in the article, including several from Florida. One of the attendees, Marta Beatriz Ferrer, said, "We are demanding that the dictatorship tell us where all the missing people are...” Her father has been missing for two weeks.

Meanwhile, the Church in Cuba is continuing to be faithful. The Evangelical Focus Europe website offered a look inside the evangelical community there in a July 12th article, written shortly after the protests began. It stated:

Inside and outside Cuba, evangelical leaders have called to prayer for the island.

“Brothers and sisters, pray for Cuba, the people are on the streets, asking for freedom, the situation is chaotic and very agitated”, said a message shared by Moisés de Prada, the leader of Assemblies of God in Cuba. “Everything points to the fact that this is going to get more complicated. People are in the streets in every province now, and there are clashes with the riot police. I urge you to pray that God takes control and prevents a bloodbath”.

He added, "Cubans could no longer bear the repression."

The article goes on to relate:

Christians in Cuba have denounced lack of religious freedom, slander campaigns and human rights abuses for many years.

Christian journalists have been threatened, evangelical pastors investigated, worship places closed, and individuals abused.

Only a minority of Christian churches have been allowed to operate with normality in Cuba, as international organisations have denounced.

Evangelical Focus also quoted from Noel Nieto, who is pastor of the Cuban Evangelical League, who "told Latin American news website Evangélico Digital that 'the situation today is something we have never experienced before. The peaceful protests are happening in several provinces and municipalities. They [the government] have taken down the internet, to try to avoid more protests and these are broadcasted live. We the churches are organising a prayer vigil asking God for Cuba...'"

Nieto said that "several" Christian denominations had been "praying together."

On July 16th, The Christian Post stated that:

Human rights activist and pastor Rev. Mario Félix Lleonart Barroso reported on Facebook that authorities had detained Yeremi Blanco Ramírez and Yarian Sierra, two pastors from the Berean Baptist Mission in Matanzas who are tutors at the William Carey Biblical Seminary.

Rev. Ramírez and Sierra are being held in a wing of the women’s prison in inadequate conditions in Matanzas, according to the United Kingdom-based watchdog group Christian Solidarity Worldwide.

The article also said:

Rev. Yusniel Pérez Montejo of the Eastern Baptist Convention was also reportedly detained in Songo-La Maya in Santiago. CSW reported on Tuesday that Montejo’s whereabouts were unknown.

A Catholic priest, Father Castor José Álvarez Devesa, was reportedly beaten and detained by Cuban authorities in the Montecarlo Prison in Camagüey. Catholic News Agency reports that Father Álvarez was believed to be defending young protesters on Sunday before his arrest. He was reportedly released.

I have been tracking the thirst for freedom periodically on this program.  We are certainly seeing it in the hearts of the Cuban people and in the Christian leaders there, who are pointing people to the freedom that Christ can offer - a freedom that can sustain and strengthen a person even when he or she is facing oppression from this world.  Deep within the human soul, we want to be free, and our nation was founded on human responsibility - to make good decisions based on reliable information and inspiration. That includes the freedom to practice our faith openly and without encumbrance.

But, there is a sinister human tendency to control others and limit their freedom.  When people don't make the personal decisions that some leaders desire, they resort to mandates - which is expressed in this day of COVID through vaccine passports and mask requirements.  What is so critical, as I alluded to last week, is whom we are allowing to control our decisions.  If we submit to the authority of the Holy Spirit, our decisions will lead to peace and joy even when human authorities result to worldly power and control that are potentially harmful. That's why we need to pray for our leaders and why we have to continue to follow the leadership of the Holy Spirit, who gives us wisdom to navigate uncertain times.

And, we can also be in prayer for the people of Cuba, who have decided that now is the moment in time to throw off the authoritarian rule of its governmental leaders and reach out for freedom. Socialism and Communism are built on the false promise of freedom and equality, yet, as it's been pointed out, it leads to greater control, because the worth of the individual is not respected and someone has to ultimately been in charge to manage the resources - and it's not God; in a socialist system, rights end up coming from the worldly authorities, in the American Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, our rights come from God. 

Determination in Dysfunction

The Bible offers us clear direction for walking in self-control, being able to manage our lives well under the authority and direction of the Holy Spirit. Proverbs 25 states:

26 A righteous man who falters before the wicked Is like a murky spring and a polluted well.
27 It is not good to eat much honey; So to seek one's own glory is not glory.
28 Whoever has no rule over his own spirit Is like a city broken down, without walls.

There are several principles just within those three verses: we are called to resist those who would lead us astray. We are called to stay away from the "honey" of seeking to glorify ourselves or call attention to ourselves, rather than the God who made us. And, we are called to exhibit the correct amount of self-awareness, which leads to the control of the Spirit rather than the control of sinful impulses and desires. We have to be clothed in God's armor and prepared for the internal and external battles we will encounter.

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There are desires that are not of God that we will allow to control us, if we're not careful, and we can seek to follow the world's ways and please people rather than please God. Jesus offers the resources to follow Him; in John 14, He taught:
26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.
27 Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

Pop star Britney Spears has been in the news recently.  At issue is a 13-year-old agreement, called a conservatorship, in which her father, Jamie Spears, controls certain aspects of her life and the management of her business affairs, which would certainly be quite complex due to Britney's success.  Now she is trying to be released from the arrangement, claiming it to be "abusive."

The Guardian states:

Spears has questioned the merits of the arrangement, noting that she has continued to have a successful career while being denied basic autonomy. She also said the arrangement had forced her to work and take medications against her will, blocked her from getting married or having another child and controlled her personal relationships.

A seemingly informal movement has been issuing calls to #FreeBritney in light of her claims, but it seems as if the issue is whether or not Ms. Spears has the mental capacity to manage her own life. 

And, this new chapter has certainly become a mess.  The Guardian says:

Her controversial court-appointed lawyer, Samuel D Ingham, has asked to resign; the wealth management firm, Bessemer Trust, has withdrawn from overseeing her estate; her longtime manager stepped down; her father, Jamie Spears, has asked the court to investigate her allegations; and lawyers involved in the case have feuded in court filings.

She has now been allowed to hire her own attorney.

An article in Vanity Fair, not exactly where you would necessarily go to find Scripture quotes, reported after that development that: "her mother Lynne Spears and sister Jamie Lynn Spears both posted cryptic messages of support on social media," adding:

Lynne posted a photo of the bible verse John 1:5 to her Instagram that reads, “The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it.” This line is often interpreted as meaning that truth will prevail over deception because, despite the darkness’s best attempts to eclipse it, the light of God cuts through the darkness to illuminate what’s been hidden and make it known to the world. Jamie Lynn also posted some vague messages of encouragement that seem directed at her sister on her Instagram Stories on Wednesday.

Lynne Spears, who is divorced from Jamie, the father, has certainly walked a challenging path, actually wrote a Christian book 13 years ago called, Through the Storm.  CBN.com reported that in the book: "she discusses Britney’s rise to fame as well as the lives of her two other children, Jamie Lynn and Bryan. The book is not only about correcting myths in regard to her children; it is also about sharing her heart as a mom and explaining how her Christian faith has carried her through the difficulties of parenting." The article notes:

Spears describes Britney’s fame as a “tornado” that blew through their family. In many ways, she says, they are still trying to pick up the pieces.

The article states that:

The sudden rise to fame took a toll on Britney and the family. As managers, agents, and record companies became more involved in Britney’s life, Spears writes that she began to have less control over her daughter and the decisions she was making – something she regrets.

“God had opened door after door, which seemed to indicate that it was his will for her to walk through them,” she writes. “I still believe he meant for her to do just that. Of course, our choices on the other sides of those open doors have everything to do with making the most – or not—of the opportunities we are given. And unfortunately, as the business got bigger and seemed to take over more and more of Britney’s life, we as parents started to lose sight of the choices being made.”

There are a number of cautionary aspects of this story and we have to look beyond tabloid or entertainment journalism and recognize that there is much about which we can be concerned in our lives.

First of all, we have to ask: how important is fame?   The desire to make oneself known, rather than to make Christ known, can be a powerful force and can distract us from what God has in store. That lure of the world's idea of success, even for those who might have or even be pursing a call of God on their lives, can be highly destructive.  And, as Lynne Spears said in that interview from long ago, a door might open, but that doesn't guarantee that we will make the right choices once we walk through.  We have to be - and stay- grounded.

Then, there's the question of who's controlling your life?  At issue here is a parent who basically doesn't think that his daughter is capable of managing her life well. And, there is a parental tendency to try to fix things.  She was probably not prepared for superstardom - who is.  Her life was certainly out of control, and her father was perhaps trying to keep things in order.  The best option, of course, is to let God be in control of our lives, to help us make good decisions and to empower us to pursue a well-ordered, rather than a dramatic, or chaotic life.

But, the desire to control others can certainly be a strong one.  We see that, unfortunately, manifested almost daily in the lives of officials who believe they know how to manage a person's health better than he or she does - and they're neither qualified nor really authorized to do so.  Before we surrender to powerful forces, in general, who do not have our best interests in mind, we should seek God and allow Him to be the ultimate authority. 

The drama of the Spears family can serve to remind us that dysfunction is everywhere - we live in a sinful world.  Our families, churches, and communities are all inhabited by sinners. So, we are perfectly capable to live in that manner.  But, there is power available to us that can help us navigate the messes of life and to provide hope for the days to come.  Because we serve the restorer - of our souls and our relationships.

True Unity

Romans 14 addresses the importance of living according to the convictions of our conscience and learning how to extend grace to those with whom we differ. Romans 14 states:
6 He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks.

Paul elaborates on the importance of those personal preferences - opinions, if you will. Later in the chapter, he begins to wrap things up by stating:
16 Therefore do not let your good be spoken of as evil;
17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
18 For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men.
19 Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.

It seems people are intent on trying to compel others to act in the way they do - there is an unhealthy thirst for power and control.  While we can set an example and live with conviction, when we try to impose our beliefs on others using the worldly tools of guilt and shame, I just don't see how that can possibly be effective.  And, it's certainly not the way of our Lord.  We should be encouraging one another in these challenging days.
 

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We find a prescription for walking in peace with others in Hebrews chapter 12, where we can read:
14 Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord:
15 looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled...

We are called to pursue and promote unity with one another in Christ.  That is an important distinction; the world's view of unity is grounded in human cooperation and even homogenization of ideas, to the exclusion of others.  We are called to unify around the truth of the Scriptures and the love of Christ, and all who will respond positively to God's truth and accept Jesus as Savior are welcomed into the family. When the enemy comes in to divide believers, to turn us against each other, we have to doggedly make sure that we are seeking unity with one another, even though we have different backgrounds.

And, no doubt we see a wave of division in our culture. An upcoming guest on The Meeting House, Stephen Broden of the Content of Character Series, refers to the "Marxist toolbox."  He notes that the ultimate aim of cultural Marxism is to create division and chaos so that a "new order" might be established.  I am thankful for the "old paths," which can guide our lives and how we relate to one another.

The current cultural revolution has had its intended effect, as it was pointed out on social media with a graphic of a new Gallup survey.  According to Gallup's website:

For the second consecutive year, U.S. adults' positive ratings of relations between Black and White Americans are at their lowest point in more than two decades of measurement. Currently, 42% of Americans say relations between the two groups are "very" or "somewhat" good, while 57% say they are "somewhat" or "very" bad.

This year's rating of 42% is slightly down from last year's 44%, but upside down from the 51% in the good column just two years ago, compared to 47% who believed that race relations were somewhat or very bad. 

In 2013, we were riding high in Black-White relations in America, at 70% good to 30% bad - it dropped off significantly to the point where by 2015, when 53% of respondents had a negative appraisal of race relations, compared to a 47% good rating.

The survey summary notes:

While White Americans have typically been more likely than Black Americans to say race relations are good, at least slim majorities of both racial groups rated them positively until 2016. Although the racially divisive events of the past few years have taken a toll on both Black and White Americans' views of race relations, Black adults' views continue to lag White adults'. Currently, 10 points separate Black and White adults' views of race relations -- 33% vs. 43%.

There was a 14-point gap in 2018. 

But, there is optimism expressed by survey respondents - the summary states: "Fifty-seven percent of U.S. adults currently say a solution to the problem of Black-White relations will eventually be worked out and race relations will not always be a problem, while 40% disagree and say it will always be a problem."  Broken down by race, 60% of whites are optimistic, but only 40% of African-Americans are, a steep drop from last year's 54%, which represented a 10-point rise from 2019.

We are certainly addressing two types of unity - peace within the Church, and a more civil culture. For the Church, we know that in Christ, there is cause for optimism - He can bring us together, He can give us the ability to unite around His common love and truth. We have to be determined not to allow the enemy to divide us - will we disagree on issues? Certainly.  But, it is the overriding truth of God's Word and our common confession of Christ that can bring together.  And, a unified Church can lead the way and set the example of racial harmony.

Societally speaking, a key to harmony between people is understanding the efforts that are being made to divide us and rise above them.  That means understanding the effort to radically and fundamentally change our nation. Racial harmony was thought to be positive as recently as 2013 - by Black and White Americans. You have to ask what has changed - I believe that the messages being communicated through political leaders, media, and entertainment have contributed.  

But, a more harmonious society is possible - we've been there before.  What got us there?  Can we return?  And, can we return to the principles of Scripture that inspire us to love one another?  A prescription for the Church and society is to recognize the importance of recognizing our common bonds and concentrating on what unites us, keeping the Biblical admonition to love our neighbor and put the needs of others above our own foremost in our thoughts and actions.

Driving Trust

Each day, we need reminders of God's presence and His faithfulness - the concerns of this world can certainly be overwhelming at times, and we need to rely on the strength of Almighty God. Proverbs 3 says this:
1 My son, do not forget my law, But let your heart keep my commands;
2 For length of days and long life And peace they will add to you.
3 Let not mercy and truth forsake you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart,
4 And so find favor and high esteem In the sight of God and man.
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding...

You're probably familiar with that 5th verse, but I think those preceding verses give us some insight into how we can sustain and grow in that trust.  We are charged not to "forget" God's law and the third verse actually offers the challenge to keep His Word foremost in our consciousness.  Deuteronomy 6 addresses keeping God's words in front of us by posting them in our homes.  Whatever we can do to keep His truth before us, deep down in our hearts - we need that reminder.

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Proverbs 29 prescribes that people who are "righteous," who follow God and put His principles into leadership make a significant impact. The first four verses of the chapter say:
1 He who is often rebuked, and hardens his neck, Will suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.
2 When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan.
3 Whoever loves wisdom makes his father rejoice, But a companion of harlots wastes his wealth.
4 The king establishes the land by justice, But he who receives bribes overthrows it.

There seem to be quite a few people with "hard necks" out there, who are intent on following principles that are not in keeping with God's truth.  But, we can affirm our devotion to our Savior.

Don Carey is a member of the City Council in Chesapeake, Virginia who apparently wanted to do something to reflect upon the foundations of our nation and the source of our rights as American citizens. CBNNews.com reports that Carey recommended that a decal stating, "In God We Trust" be placed on all city vehicles; Carey said "that the objective is to 'rebuild a healthy patriotism that can unify people.'"

The City Council voted recently to approve the proposal.  CBN stated:

During last week's meeting, Carey explained that displaying the decals will play a role in strengthening relations within the community.

He is quoted as saying:

"If you look around, you can see that the state of our country, the state of our city is crumbling from a social fabric standpoint. There is a lot of rhetoric that is divisive both in speaking of the foundation of America, the ontological existence of America nowadays and I think it's important that we have something that rather than divides us... unites us..."

The council voted unanimously for the decals. Carey also, according to CBN, "...noted that 'In God We Trust' was authorized to be the nation's motto dating to the 1950s and has continued to be reaffirmed." He stated, "...I think it's good that we continue to push forth In God We Trust as a unifying banner for us to coalesce around particularly in a world that has grown ever more divisive, and I hate to say oftentimes by individuals in the political sphere."

Carey also shared: "...part of the rhetoric around the separation of church and state in my mind is problematic because it makes it seem as if people think that God has no place in the public sphere of marketable ideas and I think that's disheartening."

It does seem that in some circles, a variety of ideas are tolerated, but when the concept of God is brought into a discussion, people bow up and cry "separation of church and state," which is taken from the words of Thomas Jefferson written to a religious group and the idea was that there should be no state church - to me, it is consistent with the "free exercise" clause of the Constitution that seems to be forgotten these days.  

There are those that read or quote the First Amendment and emphasize the first part, when it says that Congress would not establish a religion.  Don't stop there - it also says that Congress should not prohibit the free exercise of religion.  Have you ever written an e-mail that is more than one paragraph, then you get a reply and it is clear that the person didn't read past the first one?  That seems to be some folks' approach to the First Amendment.

I believe that the legality of robust practice of faith is healthy for a society, but the practice of the Christian faith offers the one true hope for a world that is suffering from discouragement, division, and even hope.  If the Church is fruitful, it has a significant impact.  We need godly wisdom and an expression of Biblical principles in our world today.  We have to be seen as putting our words, based on God's Word, to work - proclaiming His love and truth and dedicated to being His representatives.

Purge

We belong to Christ and are now citizens of heaven; yet, He places us here on earth to be good citizens and reflect His glory. Jesus was asked by Pilate if He was the King of the Jews.  We can read in John 18:

36 Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here." 

37 Pilate therefore said to Him, "Are You a king then?" Jesus answered, "You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice." 

38 Pilate said to Him, "What is truth?" And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews, and said to them, "I find no fault in Him at all...

We have to keep that in mind when we are weighed down by the concerns of this world, including the hostility that we may face as people of faith.  We claim the cross and that means that we may bear a cross as the result of our confession of Jesus as our Savior. But, each day, we can make it our ambition to reflect Christ to a society that so desperately needs hope, to see and experience the love of the Savior; we have been dispatched for this purpose, in this place.

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There is an attempt to misrepresent what Biblical Christianity is all about. Philippians 3 talks about the perpetrators of deceit and the promise of the Kingdom of God:
18 For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:
19 whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame--who set their mind on earthly things.
20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,
21 who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.

This week, the so-called "Select" committee to look into the events of January 6; what has come to be known as the "insurrection," will occur.  Only, the selections were all made by one person, who dismissed some of the selections of the other party.  So, it's not really a bi-partisan committee; ultimately, it seems the aim is to control the narrative and attempt to disqualify and marginalize political opponents leading up to the 2022 election.  

What happened on January 6 was an unfortunate chapter of American history, and nobody should admit that the actions deployed by those who entered the U.S. Capitol were by any means right.  You had people in Washington that day who had been invited days in advance to show solidarity with the former President of the United States.  And, yes, there were Christians in the crowd at the White House and at the Capitol that day.  There were people that were a) driven by political passions to support Trump b) motivated by beliefs that the election results were suspect or at least there were irregularities and/or c) concerned about the direction of the country if the apparent winner were to be sworn in. It was a toxic mix that exploded. 

Not only were hundreds arrested, most of whom have not even been brought to trial, but the events were used to create the narrative that people who support Trump, including people of faith, are extremists, white supremacists, enemies of the government, and should be objects of suspicion. We are seeing an unprecedented level, I think, of suspicion toward one another as Americans and members of the human race.  

CRT is turning people against each other based on race.  The Marxist ideology that assigns characteristics to people based on the group to whom they belong is creating chaos and division.  And, the demonization of Christians, even by fellow Christians, as "white supremacists" or "racists" is certainly unhealthy in the body of Christ. 

Two weeks ago, Jimmy DeYoung mentioned an article by Caroline Glick, who is an Israeli journalist - his comments, consistent with his perspective on the Middle East, was that American efforts to combat the Iranian threat were really just windowdressing.  But, the article really presents a number of areas of concern which I found interesting.  The article ran on the Jewish News Service and related:

During his Senate confirmation hearing, Defense Secretary General Lloyd Austin gave an ominous description of how he viewed the Pentagon’s mission. He began his statement blandly enough.

He immediately added, however, “But we can’t do that if some of those enemies live within our ranks.”

Upon entering the Pentagon a week later, Austin issued a 60-day stand-down order to all units in the U.S. Armed Forces to enable commanders to deal with “the enemies within our ranks.”

So who are these enemies? Glick shares:

Although no evidence has been presented indicating the protesters were at the Capitol to advance a white supremacist agenda, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley intimated in congressional testimony that the Capitol Hill protest was informed by white supremacy.

Austin, Milley and their colleagues are using the misrepresented events of that day as an ongoing justification of their efforts to purge the U.S. military of the “enemies within the ranks.”

Robert Jones, who heads the research firm Public Policy Research Institute, makes a similar claim about the culture at large in a Religion News article, including the popular notion that Christianity and white supremacy are somehow tied together:

On Jan. 6, an undulating sea of rioters revealed, with their flags and signs and totems, that this attack on our democracy was animated not just by fealty to a single leader but also by deeper allegiances to both white supremacy and Christianity.

Comfortably intermingled with these tributes to white supremacy were Christian symbols and rhetoric. There were numerous Bibles, crosses, “Jesus Saves” signs and “Jesus 2020” flags that mirrored the design of the Trump campaign flag.

This shows why all Christians should be concerned - this is evidence of an attempt to take the narrative of January 6 and tie it to the practice of Christianity in general.  Jones goes on to say:

But these awful events had one value: They put on plain display the unholy amalgamation of white supremacy and American Christianity that lives among us today.

These unsettling connections among white supremacy, white Christianity and support for the former president are not confined to the extremists who attacked the Capitol.

This is a sinister effort, I believe to tie Christianity, which is made up of a beautiful tapestry of people from every "tongue, tribe, and nation" and misrepresent it as a bunch of white supremacists who are a poison to our nation.  And, unfortunately, we must be purged.

Or reprogrammed.  That's what Caroline Glick is contending is happening within the military. And, it's happening in companies across America as well as churches.  She writes:

A key component of the purge is indoctrination. Officers and enlisted soldiers, airmen, sailors and marines are now compelled to study and internalize progressive texts and other materials that are aligned with Critical Race Theory. As army veteran Sen. Tom Cotton (Ark.), defined the term in an article in National Review, “Critical race theory repudiates the principle of equality under the law that is articulated in the Declaration of Independence and that has motivated civil-rights reformers for generations. It claims that this American ideal is a sham used by the white majority to oppress racial minorities, and consequently that America is racist to its core. The theory concludes that the only way to end perceived discrimination against racial minorities is to systematically discriminate on their behalf.”

Glick notes that: 

Cotton and Rep. Dan Crenshaw set up a “whistleblower hotline,” for service members who feel assaulted by the indoctrination.

It's not just our military - there is an attempt to change people's thinking, and the horrific events of January 6 give progressives an opportunity to purge the principles and practice of true, Biblical Christianity from our culture.  

Now, mind you, those that breached the U.S. Capitol were passionately devoted to a cause; they just went about it the wrong way.  And, thousands outside the Capitol, where you saw banners proclaiming the name of Jesus, were exercising their right to peaceful assembly.  Real, authentic peaceful protest, unlike the rioting of last summer, where personal property was actually being destroyed and a nation was on edge. 

But, we should not allow the attempted intimidation of Christians through the use of this "insurrection" narrative to be successful. We should continue to be prayerful for our nation - throughout the Scriptures, we see God working in the the events of nations, including the nation of Israel, the people He chose to be His own.  Israel's relationship with other nations is a key element of the Biblical text.  He has placed you in this nation for a purpose - that's not "nationalism," it's a sense of God's purpose and desire to use you for the advancement of a Kingdom, headed by Christ.  Ultimately, we are citizens of that Kingdom, but we are called, I believe, to be actively involved in civic life. 

In the next few days, there will be further information revealed about the events of January 6, but there will be an attempt to paint groups of people with a broad brush.  Some of the fallout has and perhaps will land on our doorstep.  We have to continue to faithfully live our lives, to understand the attempts to lure us away from a pure and authentic walk with Christ, and to reject ideas that are not grounded in Scripture.  Now is not a time to draw back; we must speak clearly about who we are, and most importantly, who our Savior is.

Pain and Pleasure

We certainly rejoice when we see God at work, when times are what we consider to be good, and we 
have to be careful to give Him the glory, even when there is trial. Romans 5 reminds us that we...
2 ... rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance;
4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope.
5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

If we want to experience revival in our lives, it is important that we place ourselves in right relationship with our Savior and allow Him to have His way - sometimes that will manifest itself in fruitfulness, but there will be times when we encounter difficulty, though which we can become more fruitful.  We are called to consistently hope in God, so that His presence can be seen working through us, even when we are challenged, whether we are sensing apparent triumph or we are going through trial.

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There is much about which we can rejoice as believers in Christ; and in the good and rich times for us spiritually, as well as trying times, we can continue to recognize God's presence. 1st Peter 1 states:
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,
5 who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
6 In this you greatly rejoice, though 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...

In our humanity, we want life to be neat and tidy, and pain-free. Yet, Jesus promises that we will have tribulation. The Bible teaches us how to rely on God in our trials.

The earthly ministry of Jesus was an unmitigated success, yet in the midst of it, according to the will of God, He was taken out and suffered a cruel death.  But, the suffering Savior became a triumphant one, because the story was not over - He rose from the dead.

Paul experienced tremendous success in the establishment of the Church that still survives today. Yet, he was put in prison for his faith and even while held captive, he continued to minister through his writings, which are part of the New Testament. 

Ministry success will not guarantee a life free from pain and challenges.

I have reported to you about how God is working at a church outside Nashville, Long Hollow Baptist Church, pastor by Robby Gallaty.  Over a thousand baptisms during a span of time from just before Christmas through Easter Sunday.  Baptist Press reported on July 16:

The church staff has seen some of the “highest highs” of ministry during that time, said Gallaty.

They’ve also been racked by grief over the death of beloved staff pastor Chris Swain, who died Thursday at age 47.

Swain was taken to the hospital after he was found "lying by his mailbox, unresponsive."  He was put on a ventilator but he was never conscious again.

Members of the church united their hearts in prayer, according to the article, which said:

Earlier this week, Gallaty and other church leaders gathered at the hospital to pray for Swain and asked church members to join them. About 150 people showed up at the hospital in the pouring rain to pray for Swain, before Gallaty and other leaders made their way to Swain’s room.

“We begged God, we read Scripture, we wept at times because we could not talk,” said Gallaty, who also shared prayer requests for Swain on social media.

On top of that, you learn from the pastor's Twitter feed that Gallaty's father-in-law passed away not long after Swain. The pastor wrote on Twitter:

I've never had to write two funeral messages in 1 week. Because both of the messages celebrate the lives of two men I loved, I'm experiencing a range of Emotions. I am grateful they both knew Jesus. The Pain we experience today is temporary, but joy in Christ is for Eternity.

The Baptist Press article relates:

In recent months, Gallaty said he’s learned that faith endures, even if his prayers aren’t answered in the way that he or church members hoped. And faith does not make you immune from sorrow.

“It’s easier to believe in God when it looks like he’s working than when it looks like he is not,” he said. “But the prayer of faith is not so much about the outcomes as it is with the relationship you develop with God along the way.”

In his grief over the death of Swain and other close friends, Gallaty has tried to lean on the words of a well-known hymn: “When darkness seems to hide his face, I’ll rest on his unfailing grace.”

“The Bible doesn’t offer explanations to cope with life’s problems,” he said. “It offers promises to cling to.”

I remember the words of Charles Dickens when he referred to "the best of times and the worst of times." And, we can find ourselves living in both those conditions simultaneously.  Here we have a church that is in the midst of revival, yet a much-loved staff member passes away, as well as the pastor's father-in-law.  We are reminded, though, that in good and bad circumstances, God is there. We even recognize that in fruitfulness, according to John 15, there is pruning that occurs so that we may bear more fruit. So, we can take courage when there is tribulation in the midst of triumph, because God's presence can be acknowledged in both.

There is also a powerful enemy who would want to stop or reduce the work of God.  Those things which bring disappointment can cause us to be discouraged and perhaps even try to prevent us from seeking God like we have.  In our despair, we have to keep being diligent to stay connected to the Lord; we should run toward Him in our darkest hours not away.  Because when we run toward God, we can experience the bounty of His nearness and know the expressions of His love. Ultimately our level of devotion grows as we remain submitted to Christ, even in grief, loss, and difficulty.

Cultural Laundering

The world offers its solutions to the dilemmas we face as a result of its fallenness - but if we're reliant on the world's ideas, we miss what God is wanting to do. 1st Corinthians 3 tells us:
18 Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise.
19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, "He catches the wise in their own craftiness";
20 and again, "The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile."

To relieve the pain and frustration of our humanity, people make the mistake of relying on inferior ideas and powerless principles. The emptiness inside produces a desire to do better, be better, but the Bible teaches us that in and of ourselves, we cannot truly accomplish those goals.  It is by recognizing our sinfulness, our brokenness, our departure from the ways of God, that we can truly come to know true love and peace in Christ. The world's promises and philosophies are fruitless - the wisdom of Scripture is the key.
 

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Because we belong to Christ, we have the ability and responsibility to walk according to His principles. Colossians 2 states:
6 As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him,
7 rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.
8 Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.

Face it, there are powerful cultural influencers who do not share our values. We have to be discerning in our entertainment choices, and be able to navigate in the Spirit those decisions.

I would think that long-time Disney fans have to be concerned about the direction of its company and the content that it is producing. This is not necessarily a new phenomenon, but periodically, there seem to be news items emerging from the company that indicate a rejection of values that are consistent with a Christian worldview.

So, this news item is not really a surprise, but disappointing nonetheless. At Townhall.com, Todd Starnes made this sobering pronouncement:

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, an extremely popular yuletide tradition, is going to be rebranded. Instead, the Magic Kingdom will host a night time show.

The new "don't call it Christmas" event is called 'Disney Very Merriest After Hours' - a generic, holiday-themed celebration.

As Starnes points out: "Disney did not provide an explanation for the change - but in recent days the woke imagineers at the Magic Kingdom have made national headlines by culturally cleansing many popular rides."  At The Daily Wire, Megan Basham reports:

Disney theme parks have finally unveiled changes to the classic Jungle Cruise ride, and one of the company’s chief “Imagineers” argues they’re not woke, they’re necessary.

Carmen Smith, the Disney executive who heads “inclusion strategies,” told The Los Angeles Times, “When we look at something and realize the content is inappropriate, and may perpetuate a misconception or a stereotype, our intention is to take a look at it critically, and figure out a way to enhance it, to make the necessary changes so it is relevant.”

Basham states: "The Times claims the ride, which families of all ethnicities and backgrounds have enjoyed since 1955, had a 'reputation for racist depictions of Indigenous people as tourist attractions, attackers or cannibals — tribal caricatures crafted through a colonialist lens.'” She contends, "Though the Jungle Cruise will no longer feature vignettes that might offer families the opportunity to discuss real historical culture clashes, legacy media outlets are treating the changes as unequivocally positive..."

Furthermore, Starnes says:

Disney also eliminated the words "ladies and gentlemen" and "boys and girls" from recorded greetings at its theme parks.

In April, Disney announced it was adding "Inclusion" as a key component of its customer service. "We want our guests to see their own backgrounds and traditions reflected in the stories, experiences and products they encounter in their interactions with Disney," the company said.

On top of that, Starnes notes, "And how can we forget that Disney wanted its white staffers to complete a "white privilege" training workshop."  The New York Post reported this back in May:

Disney has reportedly deleted its “diversity and inclusion” anti-racism training program following a backlash about it becoming the “wokest place on Earth.”

The webpage that previously carried the much-maligned internal training documents was down this week, replaced with a “pardon our Pixie dust” message, according to Christopher Rufo, who first reported on the training forcing staff to recognize their “white privilege.”

Signs of the times, indeed.  After all, we become more culturally sensitive by branding certain elements of history and seeking to eliminate or revise them.  And, we sterilize humor because it may offend someone.  

A "Christmas" event?  Too religious, perhaps.

"Ladies and Gentlemen"?  Too limiting, too few genders.

Rethinking rides that have been popular for years?  Too insensitive.

And, how about this one; as Starnes relates:

There was even controversy surrounding Prince Charming's life-saving kiss that awakened Snow White from her slumber. The #MeToo crowd took issue with the 'unwelcomed' smooch.

Too misogynistic.

Culture has gone stark raving mad in this terrifying ride in which people are divided into categories and turned against one another. Owen Strachan writes at the Family Research Council website regarding "critical race theory:"

According to CRT, people of color are fundamentally oppressed by white people. People of color do not live in a fair and prosperous order; they live in an environment framed by “white supremacy.” Robin DiAngelo defines such a culture as one “that positions white people and all that is associated with them (whiteness) as ideal.” According to woke voices, this condition terrorizes people of color, leaving them without agency, without justice, and without hope. Instead of teaching people that their freedom and destiny are in the hands of “white” oppressors, we do better to teach them to reject such a view, and take agency in their own life. Can “white” people wrong others? Absolutely. Is every “white” person a “white supremacist”? Absolutely not.

So, the self-appointed cultural cleansers have taken it upon themselves to create a new order of society by turning people against one another and against the institutions that are perceived to be by-products of what they deem to be "white supremacy."  Part of the new Marxist dream is to tear down institutions, create chaos, and replace the old with a new, more enlightened vision - I would contend that's why you eliminate "Christmas," a bastion of the old order, so that you can replace the old, stale Judeo-Christian ideas with new ones which promote human flourishing - without God.  As Strachan points out in his FRC piece, the goal of Marxism is to create utopia - which "is not possible." 

This runs counter to the Biblical viewpoint, in which we don't foster division by labels or immuatable characteristics, but recognize all people as created in the image of God.  And, we live in a fallen world, but one day, there will be a utopia, of sorts - not created by human hands or human wisdom, but by the King of the Universe, the Messiah, who will wipe every tear for eyes. It's far better than Marxism or socialism could ever imagine. But, we arrive in that place by humbling ourselves before an Almighty God, who made it possible for us to experience salvation by humbling Himself to the point of death.  Praise His holy name!