A Thirst for Freedom

The liberty we have been given in Christ does not imply that we can do what we want to do; rather, we are given the power and freedom to overcome what holds us back from doing what He wants us to do. 1st Peter 2 says this:
15 For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men--
16 as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God.
17 Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.

To be a servant of God means that we can know and walk with Him daily. When we do that, we can walk in a level of power, peace, and joy that we cannot do without Christ. The sins of the past that restrain us can be forgiven and the power of sin, that has been vanquished by Christ, releases its hold on our lives.  When we are tempted, we can experience the capability to resist. When we are tried, we can find the ability to endure.

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Freedom has become a topic that keeps popping up these days, especially in light of the lockdowns and 
restrictions that have been commonplace during the COVID crisis. The suppression of human activity may have produced, I believe, a yearning for change, a pursuit of freedom. Galatians chapter 4 states:
4 But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law,
5 to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.
6 And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, 
"Abba, Father!"
7 Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

Our true freedom comes through Jesus Christ, and we can know that every human heart has been hard-wired to seek to live in that freedom.  Unfortunately, our desire to soar can cause us to seek out unhealthy, inadequate ways to fulfill our inner desire.  Freedom can produce a greater sense of God's purpose or in the human sense, our search for freedom can result in unhealthy behaviors. 

Last Sunday, as Americans celebrated their freedoms as citizens of this great nation, The Christian Post reported on a Canadian pastor who experienced freedom from jail.  The article stated:

A Canadian pastor who was arrested for holding an outdoor worship service after authorities ordered his church building to be closed has been released from jail and expressed gratitude to God for sustaining his congregation.

Tim Stephens, who serves as pastor of Fairview Baptist Church in Calgary, Alberta, spent the weekend with his family and church about two weeks after he was arrested, Rebel News reported.

The article goes on to quote the pastor:

Today is a very thankful day,” Rebel News quoted the pastor as saying. “I’m thankful that the restrictions are done and rescinded, including the court orders that go along with that.”

“[M]ost of all, I’m thankful for God,” he added. “I’m thankful that He’s built His church, that He’s sustained our church at Fairview Baptist Church. I’m thankful that He strengthened me, my wife, and our family, and that, through this, people have come to know the saving love of the Lord Jesus Christ. People have been strengthened in this country and around the world, and so, for these many reasons, I’m thankful.”

And, as the Christian Post points out: "Stephens is not the only Canadian pastor to face legal consequences for holding in-person worship services."

These are troubling days for our neighbor to the north in the area of religious freedom.  A CBN.com article quoted a commentator who went on Tucker Carlson's Fox show to liken church fires in the country to oppression occurring in Germany prior to World War II.  The article says:

The conservative commentator’s remarks come as several churches — mostly belonging to Catholic or Anglican denominations — have been burned to the ground amid the discovery of unmarked graves at erstwhile schools for indigenous children.

Prime Minister Trudeau is quoted as saying that the arsons are "unacceptable and wrong..." He said that he "understand[s] the anger," but adds, "...I can’t help but think that burning down churches is actually depriving people who are in need of grieving and healing and mourning from places where they can grieve and reflect and look for support..."

The commentator, Ezra Levant, who founded Rebel News; the article said, "Levant took a dig at the prime minister for being more focused on banning free speech on the internet than on ending the assault on churches in Canada, including one Protestant congregation of Vietnamese refugees."

Meanwhile, to the south of us, the weekend saw a dramatic turn of events in the communist nation of Cuba, where thousands took to the streets to protest the government's response to COVID and to declare their desire for freedom from the oppressive regime.  The Christian Post related:

The people of Cuba on Sunday demonstrated their anger against the communist government in what is said to be the largest protest in decades amid shortages of medicine and food during the pandemic.

Protests were held in cities around the Caribbean island country, including in San Antonio de los Baños, Palma Soriano and Havana, according to reports.

Florida's Governor, Ron DeSantis, and U.S. Senator Marco Rubio tweeted out support of the people's demonstrations.  

The Post noted:

According to the Pew-Templeton Global Religious Futures Project, about 59% of Cubans are Christian. Cuban Christians face constant government surveillance and infiltration even though the church is growing in the island country.

In 2019, Cuba barred evangelical leaders from traveling to Washington, D.C., to talk about the human rights situation during the U.S. State Department's ministerial on international religious freedom.

In 2019 and 2020, the State Department placed Cuba on its “special watch list” of countries that engage in or tolerate severe violations of religious freedom.

In our country, as well as countries to our north and south, people are calling for freedom, and there is a religious, even a Christian component, at play. 

God offers us the opportunity to be free - in the right way. We see human beings engage in damaging behavior in response to the thirst for freedom in their hearts.  And, we know that we can certainly use our freedom to make incorrect choices; He has given us a free will.  But we can choose how to express our freedom, and recognize that freedom in Christ means that we shed those things which hold us back, which divert us from experiencing His love, so that we may walk in true freedom. Galatians 5:1 says, "Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage."

We know that Jesus can meet the deep desire we have to be free.  We can resist the schemes of the enemy, who wants to deceive and destroy us and we can embrace the truth of God's Word, which teaches us how to truly experience freedom.  The Holy Spirit produces the power to walk in victory over sin, to lay aside, as Hebrews 12 says, the sin that easily entangles us.  When we understand freedom from a spiritual standpoint, we recognize that Christ offers us what can truly satisfy, He provides incredible resources so that we can know the freedom He offers. 

Expressing Freedom

I would submit that deep within the heart of an individual there is a thirst for freedom. Now that desire should not be used as an expression of rebellion against God or detrimental independence, but should be an expression of freedom from the bondage that would restrain us from being whom God called us to be. 2nd Corinthians 3 states:
17 Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.

Liberty in the human sense can lead us into sinfulness, liberty through the eyes of God, seen through the lens of Scripture, is a deep well within us that results in our conformity to God's will so that we might experience what God has in store for us. Sin can weigh us down, but Christ died so that we might be set free. Unhealthy human emotions, such as fear, or unhealthy human actions, such as manipulation, can hold us back, but the Lord calls us to walk in faith, so that we might experience His victory.

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Jesus spoke powerfully to the topic of spiritual freedom when He taught in the 8th chapter of the book 
of John:
31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.
32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

He went on to say:
(34) "Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin.
35 And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever.
36 Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.

Miles McPherson is a former NFL player who has been called by God as the pastor of a church in San Diego called The Rock Church.  I have had staff members of that church on The Meeting House in the past, including Pastor McPherson, and the church has emerged as a proven leader in praying for and ministering in the community that it is called to serve. 

On July 4th on The Christian Post website, McPherson, who is an Exclusive Columnist for the publication wrote about freedom - not only the freedoms we enjoy as Americans, but true freedom in Jesus Christ.  He wrote:

This year, the topic of freedom is particularly meaningful to me as I have gotten to see freedom in action via the San Diego Freedom Center. Through God’s grace, the help of several investors, and too many miracle stories to count, our church was recently able to acquire and permanently shut down one of San Diego’s most iconic and long-standing strip clubs that was for sale. Now, this building will be repurposed into a transitional living center in which women who are survivors of sex trafficking and sexual exploitation can receive hope, safe shelter, and practical services.

The pastor related about the impact of trafficking statistics in his home area, writing:

When I heard the statistics about trafficking in my own backyard of San Diego, I became completely undone. It is overwhelming to hear the numbers, and the temptation is to feel detached or helpless due to the prevalence of this issue.

Still, it is incredibly important to allow the reality and weight of those numbers to crash over us. I knew that our church had to find a way to participate in fighting this crime. I knew we had to find a way to bring freedom to the people who were caught up in the sex industry, whether by choice or by force. I knew we had to find a way to use our freedom to serve others with love.

He referenced a seven-part series that NBC San Diego broadcast about the sex trafficking problem in that area. And, his church has positioned itself to do something about it. McPherson states:

This 4,000 square foot facility will be designed to provide holistic support to women so they can receive resources and experience healing. We don’t just want to see women rescued from trafficking. We don’t just want momentary freedom for them. We want them to experience true, comprehensive freedom that leads to a free and flourishing life.

In light of the announcement of these plans, we can consider the things that bind us.  The enemy wants to keep us in bondage - to sins that hold us back from experiencing the fullness of Christ, to relationships that are not healthy, to patterns that do not contribute to spiritual growth.  Whatever is not of God in our lives can be addressed by the principles and power of God.  We don't have to be subject to worldly, unhealthy thoughts and patterns of action.  There is an answer.

But, Pastor Miles points out, "the spiritual freedom that Jesus imparted to us was not momentary or a means to an end. Christ set us free FOR SOMETHING – in order that we would 'serve each other through love' (Galatians 5:13) and grow in deeper levels of freedom each day as we walk in step with the Holy Spirit."  We also recognize that the experience of this freedom does not manifest itself suddenly. When we received Christ, we were instantaneously born again, but that was not the end of the story - it was the beginning: of a life full of purpose and passion to serve the Lord, to become transformed into the image and likeness of Jesus and to grow as we know Him better.

These plans demonstrate the simple truth that we, as the Church, are called to identify a need and meet it. We are called to walk in love, and that involves depending on the Spirit of God to show us where we can serve and to empower us to express that love. Just as He identified our need for redemption from our sin problem, He enables us to address the problems in us and around us.

Running Toward Jesus

The apostle Paul would use sports analogies to illustrate spiritual truth, and coming up on The Meeting House, you'll hear about a real-life runner who depends on the Lord strengthen and direct her.  In 1st 
Corinthians 9, we can read these words:
26 Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air.
27 But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.

Self-control is described as a fruit of the Spirit. Self-discipline can serve to undergird us as we serve the Lord. We have to develop the self-awareness to recognize when we are obeying the Lord and when we are not.  We can learn to see ourselves in the light of God's truth and learn to apply that truth as we live each day. By placing our confidence in the Lord and concentrating on pleasing Him, we find that He will express Himself through us in a powerful way.

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The confidence we have in the Lord can sustain us in our everyday struggles; and when we mess up, the message is to come before the Lord and receive His forgiveness. Confidence in the faithfulness of God may not grab headlines or create drama, but it brings glory and honor to Him. James chapter 5 states:
16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months.
18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit.

The 2021 Summer Olympics are set to get underway in Tokyo in a couple of weeks, and the headline-grabbing news leading up to the summer games, postponed from last year due to COVID has to do with bad behavior on the part of athletes.  One of the storylines has to do with whether or not athletes representing America should respect the national anthem of their country.

Gwen Berry, the third-place finisher in the recent Olympic trials for the hammer throw, upstaged the first-and second-place athletes.  According to the New York Post, during the National Anthem on the medal platform, she "shifted to face the stands rather than the flag before holding up a black shirt that read, 'Activist Athlete.'" She said, “I feel like it was a setup, and they did it on purpose..."

It was not always this way, it seems.  According to the Outkick.com website, now that it's "trendy," she feels free to show this disrespect.  The article says:

Noted by Twitter user Tim Young, Berry released a personal website leading up to the games in Rio that showcased a radical difference in political beliefs held by the track and field athlete.

The website’s description of Berry frequently alludes to a pride for country, while the picture of Gwen hoisting the American flag with a smile appears to support the sentiment.

Then, there's Sha'carri Richardson, who won't be representing the U.S.A. in the Olympics due to the use of marijuana.  ESPN included this in a report:

"I apologize," Richardson said on NBC's "Today" show. "As much as I'm disappointed, I know that when I step on the track I represent not only myself, I represent a community that has shown great support, great love. ... I apologize for the fact that I didn't know how to control my emotions or deal with my emotions during that time."

The article said, "She said she knew the rules but that her use of marijuana was a coping mechanism after finding out her biological mother had died."

It is astounding and disappointing how people make headlines for wrong reasons - as a culture, we gravitate toward drama, and ideally, we should highlight the truly heartwarming, virtuous stories, such as the faith-related narrative carried by Sydney McLaughlin, another American track star.

Movieguide relates that:

Despite record temperatures causing delays, American athlete Sydney McLaughlin set a new world record for the women’s 400m hurdles at the US Olympic trials.

She became the first woman to clock under 52 seconds in that event. The article, including material from a FoxNews.com story, goes on to say:

McLaughlin responded to her record-setting time by thanking God.

“The face of a woman who is in awe of God 🙏🏽 51.90,” McLaughlin wrote on her Instagram under a photo of her reacting to her time.

“I could feel this meet was going to be something special… but MAN. Weeks like these are some of the hardest in a track athletes life. The mental strain of preparing for the rounds in order to solidify your spot is heavy enough. But the amount of weight the Lord took off my shoulders, is the reason I could run so freely yesterday,” McLaughlin said.

There's more - the runner stated: “My faith was being tested all week. From bad practices, to 3 false start delays, to a meet delay. I just kept hearing God say, ‘Just focus on me,'” ... “It was the best race plan I could have ever assembled. I no longer run for self recognition, but to reflect His perfect will that is already set in stone. I don’t deserve anything. But by grace, through faith, Jesus has given me everything. Records come and go. The glory of God is eternal. Thank you Father.”

Good for Sydney McLaughlin - certainly she will be someone to watch during the upcoming Games.  Not for drama off the track, sort of speak, but on it.  Many will be keeping their eyes, unfortunately, on Gwendolyn Berry to see how she disrespects the country that she is representing.  The problem is that drama sells, outrageous actions and comments rule the day, it seems.  The stature of a Christian is not to make headlines, but to make sure we are following the Head.  Sydney seems to be someone who is dedicated to being her best, which involves being faithful to train on the track, and to train herself to focus on God and His power. 

And, while Sydney demonstrates a quiet confidence in the Lord, there is a lesson to be learned from Sha'carri, as well.  There's not necessarily a spiritual element to her story, but she does remind us how we need to own up to our mistakes. Members of a Fox News panel called attention to her response the other day. She broke the rules, she is paying the price.  She apologized - she didn't criticize the rules or come up with some excuse.  The Bible tells us that the person who covers his or her sin will not prosper.  For the Christian, we can know that forgiveness is available - that doesn't mean we won't face the consequences of sin, but we know that we are right with Him. 

To Be Free

We can be thankful that God has placed us in a nation that has historically been dedicated to allow the practice of one's faith. Throughout our land, in our cities and our rural areas, we see churches dot the landscape, a reminder of the deep religious faith of those who came to our shores in the quest for freedom. 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.

We are directed by Scripture to have respect for authorities (and to pray for them), and when they operate outside of that Biblical mandate that we find in verse 14, we can certainly make our appeal. If we are conforming to the law of Christ and behaving in an "honorable" way as the text says, then we reflect our citizenship of heaven, as well as good citizens of the nation in which we have been placed.  In all things, we ideally should be free to glorify Christ in all that we do.

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Even though we see a great departure from our founding principles and a rejection of those principles in the pursuit of a counter-agenda, we live in a nation that was founded on respect - for the dignity of individuals and the practice of their faith. Psalm 33 offers us a worthy goal:
12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, The people He has chosen as His own inheritance.
13 The Lord looks from heaven; He sees all the sons of men.
14 From the place of His dwelling He looks On all the inhabitants of the earth;
15 He fashions their hearts individually; He considers all their works.

The Fourth of July weekend is over, and this year, as we have seen in previous years, there was a fair share of fireworks - not just the kind that explode overhead, but that have been spoken by people who are highly critical of our country and have failed to recognize its progress on issues in ways that are true to the foundation of our nation.

Tony Perkins of Family Research Council, in response to inflammatory rhetoric that he observed over the weekend wrote:

The Declaration of Independence provided the moral force for the movements that ended slavery and segregation, but whereas the woke Left has indoctrinated our children against their own country, so that only 36 percent of adults aged 18-24 are proud to be American. They've intimidated patriotic Americans in the public sphere so even Olympic athletes are disrespecting the flag.

One of the key cornerstones of the American experience is our country's years-long devotion to religious freedom, a concept that is embraced by an overwhelming number of Americans, according to a new poll released by Summit.org, a worldview ministry that is aimed at high school and college students.  Regarding the poll conducted by Rasmussen Reports, Summit President Jeff Myers said: “This research affirms that the American people overwhelmingly support the continued protection of the Constitutional right of freedom of religion, and oppose policies requiring churches and faith-based charities and organizations to compromise their deeply-held religious beliefs...Yet, leaders in Washington, DC are aggressively pushing forward on legislative measures such as the mislabeled Equality Act, which specifically strips away religious freedom protections. In an era of hyper-partisanship, freedom of religion retains broad, bi-partisan support among Democrats, Republicans, and Independents.”

One of the key findings: "82% of Americans say freedom of religion is important to a healthy American society, only 9% say it is not important."  Of that 82%, 67% say it is "very important."

Another key point is this: "Only 20% of Americans say churches and faith-based charities should be required by law to hire people who oppose their religious beliefs."  Considering the remaining 80%, half of Americans oppose the statement and 30% are not sure.

Again, the breakdown along party lines shows bi-partisan support for those core findings.

Our nation was founded on the principles of, as the Pledge of Allegiance says, "liberty and justice for all."  The Declaration of Independence recognized God-given rights. Our national motto is not, "E Pluribus Unum," but "In God We Trust."  So, it's really tough and irresponsible to separate our nation from our religious founding, consistent with Judeo-Christian principles.

But, there are those who are trying to do that and undercutting the foundational principles that have served us extremely well for 245 years.  Our takeaways from this information:

We can make sure that we are taking advantage of the freedoms of being Americans by taking to heart the declaration of Paul that "I am not ashamed of the gospel."  We do not have to be intimidated to share and live our faith, and even though there have been examples where government oversteps its bounds, we can continue to have confidence that we can be who we are in Christ in and to our culture.

We can also ascertain that we are not embracing ideologies or worldviews that run counter to the principles of Scripture, predicated on the love of Christ and the worth of the individual.  Cultural Marxism leads to division. Perkins poses this question:

Why is the radical Left force-feeding America a false narrative about our racist founding that reinterprets selective facts through the (racist) lens of critical race theory? Not so that we will heal our past racial divides and move forward as a nation. Rather, so they can ram a radical policy agenda through the chasm of racial strife they create.

Out of chaos comes a desire to control, and I can assure you, America will certainly not prosper under the heavy hand of those who would want to hurl us toward socialism.  We are called the "United" States of America, and what unites us is a common bond that is based on something - in our case, the timeless beliefs centered on the worth of the individual and the freedom to live our lives without unnecessary entanglement.  We should be devoted to enjoying our freedom in Christ in a land that respects our beliefs and allows us to worship freely and to abide by His directives.

Who Gets the Credit?

The book of Proverbs is full of verses in which we see the contrast between the person who follows God and the one who does not. We find examples in this passage from chapter 10:
8 The wise in heart will receive commands, But a prating fool will fall.
9 He who walks with integrity walks securely, But he who perverts his ways will become known.
10 He who winks with the eye causes trouble, But a prating fool will fall.
11 The mouth of the righteous is a well of life, But violence covers the mouth of the wicked.

I want to key in on verses 9 and 10.  We should be people who are full of integrity - walking in honesty, telling the truth, not misrepresenting situations, devoting ourselves to speaking clearly. When we make an error, we can attempt to confess and repent, apologizing to those we have offended.  We should not, as verse 10 states, "wink" with the eye - in other words, we don't wink at sin by not taking it seriously and attempting to make amends. We should take our conduct seriously.

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God desires for us to use the words of our mouth and bring Him glory, recognizing that we can speak powerfully in the Spirit as God gives us understanding, as He makes His Word known to us - personally. Jeremiah 23 declares:
29 "Is not My word like a fire?" says the Lord, "And like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?
30 "Therefore behold, I am against the prophets," says the Lord, "who steal My words every one from his neighbor.
31 Behold, I am against the prophets," says the Lord, "who use their tongues and say, 'He says.'

We can seek to communicate the message of what God has done and is doing in our lives.  Out of the abundance of the expression of His Spirit in us, we can share with the world the presence of the Lord.  

It's not the easiest thing to deliver news stories relative to church leadership, but an emerging story from the Southern Baptist Convention has attracted attention beyond the Christian space. And, perhaps from this very unusual series of events, we can consider some principles that will affect our lives.

The mainstream media certainly has an interest in what occurs in evangelical Christianity in America; and generally, it can be a negative tool to discredit the gospel.  I want to concentrate on some of the coverage from the Newsweek website, which reports on this situation I will be relating to you today; it states:

Pastor Ed Litton has removed dozens of videos from his church's YouTube channel after he was accused of plagiarizing sermons.

Newsweek found more than 140 videos were either unavailable or hidden across several playlists on the Redemption Church YouTube page as of Monday morning.

It comes after Alabama pastor Litton, who was recently elected as president of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), came under fire for using segments in 2020 from sermons delivered by Summit Church Pastor J.D. Greear in 2019.

Now, I will say, to be accused of plagiarism is a serious thing - to use material from a source without giving proper credit is a serious offense; it's an indiscretion that has brought down powerful people, including the current President of the United States during one of his Presidential runs.  And, when someone is entrusted to share God's Word, it should be done with personal integrity.  

Not only are there accusations of plagiarism, but the content of the message, presumably delivered by Greear originally and then delivered by Litton, with some exact phrases being used, according to video evidence, is questionable from a Biblical standpoint. Newsweek says: "The sermons focus on the New Testament book Romans, homosexuality and how the Bible merely 'whispers' about sexuality, and that as such, it is not the worst of all sins."  

First Baptist Dallas pastor Robert Jeffress, heard on Faith Radio, responded to radio host Todd Starnes by saying, " If this report is true, it is tremendously troubling. The article goes on to say that these two men talk about that homosexuality is not as serious of a sin as other sins in the Bible. Look, first of all, the comment is wrong when you go to Romans One. When Paul writes about the topic of homosexuality, he doesn’t use his whisper voice, he says, in fact, it is unlike any sin in in the universe, because it is not only the cause of God’s judgment, it is also the result of God’s judgment."

As Newsweek reported, both men have issued statements, with Greear contending he gave Litton permission to use the material and Litton apologizing for not giving proper citation.  The Christian Post quotes Greear as essentially saying his words were taken out of context about the severity of sexual sin. 

The Capstone Report earlier this week published a story that traced multiple instances in which Litton used material that was apparently taken from other speakers. 

The controversy may not die down anytime soon, and I have not seen where there is a concrete mechanism in place for the SBC to remove or replace one of its leaders.  The Executive Committee, headed by Ronnie Floyd, is charged with the day-to-day operation, but it has come under fire as of late for its handling of sexual abuse cases in the denomination, and the new President - Litton - has been charged with appointing a committee to investigate. 

In response to a Texas pastor's tweet related to the plagiarism situation, EC President Rolland Slade, tweeted this out:

My understanding is that the SBC Executive Committee is not the SBC nor does it run the SBC. 

GOD is the head, JESUS is our Lord and the HOLY SPIRIT our guide. 

The EC serves to carry out the will and wishes of the messengers.

The messengers spoke in Nashville and elected its new officers; that seems to be the message. 

A Southern Baptist seminary President, Jason Allen of Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, weighed in on Twitter, stating:

Re re-preaching other’s sermons, I believe:

One *ought* not preach another’s serm (w/ rare exceptions) even w/ permission & attribution. 

One *must* not preach another’s serm w/out permission & attribution. 

If this appears to happen, the church’s elders should review & resolve.

It does seem he understands that the acceptance of plagiarism by high-profile preachers could set a bad example for the students who attend his seminary. 

And, we can be reminded that the Convention is a collective of autonomous church bodies.

So, how do we respond to this situation? Certainly with prayer, and perhaps looking at how we communicate if we have been placed in a leadership role.  Ruth Graham, who has an understanding of religious matters and apparently writes now for the New York Times, in a front-page article, writes:

...a great sermon is also laborious to produce. It can include deep analysis of biblical texts, historical research, compelling anecdotes, a dose of humor and a stirring call to action. Now imagine producing at least one such message every week, year after year, all based on the same collection of texts and delivered to the same audience.

Some full-time pastors report spending up to 30 hours a week on the task; more common is devoting two full work days to it.

For many churchgoers, a sermon is not just a clever speech but proof of the pastor’s deep spiritual life. “A sermon is a person studying the Bible, encountering God in their own life and history, and then spewing it all out on Sunday morning for the good of the people of God,” said Scot McKnight, a professor of the New Testament at Northern Seminary in Lisle, Ill. “It’s a personal encounter.”

As a Christian communicator, I have come up with a few principles that describe how I approach the subject:

1) The Bible says "thou shalt not steal."  Delivering material that was not given to you and not saying that it is not originally yours is problematic.

2) Plagiarism involves taking material that belongs to someone else and communicating it as your own. I attempt to make an intentional effort to give citations of material that is not my own - as it should be.

 
3) When you plagiarize material, you are in essence telling people that you are smarter or more creative than you actually are.

4) Don't let the plagiarism scandal distract you from another big point - the material that was preached was not Biblical. The Bible certainly DOES NOT whisper about sexuality. And, homosexuality is condemned explicitly in multiple places in Scripture and implicitly in other passages.  When you read about sexual immorality, you can assume that means of ALL kinds.

We can also ask further questions:

5) Who is holding your leaders accountable?  And, personalize it - who is holding YOU accountable for your actions?

6) Repentance is more than saying, "I'm sorry - I didn't mean to," or, "I'm sorry I got caught." It is a heartfelt admittance of wrongdoing and a pledge to not do it again.

7) It never pays to cover up your sin. There has been some confusion over sermons being removed from the Internet. Signs point to a coverup.

8) We should always be checking ourselves to make sure we are walking in integrity.  That we are telling the truth about our actions and motives, that we are representing ourselves and the Christ within us in the most transparent, truthful way possible.  

You may disagree with some of my contentions here; you may even say they do not apply to the current situation. These are my personal convictions, which I believe are governed by Scripture. But, we have to think about our own convictions and allow Christ to develop them by His Word - if our consciences are not directed properly, we become vulnerable to wrong decisions.  But, always make sure that your beliefs are governed by the Word of God.

Grace and Courage

The hope for our world is the gospel of Christ, which is demonstrated by His people - as we demonstrate courage and love to walk in His grace, He will do amazing things through His people, which can result in the change of a heart from darkness to light. 2nd Corinthians 4 says:
5 For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus' sake.
6 For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.

We have been entrusted with the light of Christ and called to share and stand on His truth. During these days leading up to Independence Day, we can reflect on the dependence of our Founding Fathers, expressed in the Declaration of Independence, which expressed a "firm reliance" on the hand of God. In our country today, we need to recapture a sense of that reliance on Almighty God - we need to know the power and presence of God, which brings people into a saving knowledge of Christ, the changing of a heart, which transforms thinking and behavior for a more God-honoring society.

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In 2nd Thessalonians 2, Paul gives an admonition to continue to walk in faith, exhibiting grace in the Lord. He writes:
15 Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle.
16 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace,
17 comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work.

The dedication to Christ that has been shown by former Growing Pains star Kirk Cameron has certainly been inspiring, and Kirk is continuing to make an impact on our culture, calling for our great nation to seek God and to experience revival.

There is an actress who was not impressed with his being outspoken for Christ, though. Christianity Daily reports on Adrienne Curry, who competed on the reality show, America's Next Top Model. The article mentioned a recent Facebook post:

"I sneered at the mention of his name because my agnostic beliefs set me above all others in my infinite godless greatness," she wrote on her post. "When I really ask myself why I did so, my only truthful answer is that I was surrounded by godless people who fancied themselves better than anyone and everyone who had faith in anything besides their own selfish selves."

The article goes on to say:

After seeing an interview of Cameron, the actress' attitude changed, CBN's Faithwire noted.

"Recently, I watched an interview with the guy. He came off as very humble and incredibly likable. I watched a few more. Loyal to his wife, a family man, a former atheist who found some meaning in life. He just comes off as a good dude," she explained.

Curry wrote: "Sorry, dude. I walked with the flock of sheep who told me what to hate and what to like without question..."

Cameron had been told about Curry's apology and responded in the comments section of the post; the article says:

The 50-year-old Christian superstar expressed his gratitude to her kind words, saying he is "genuinely grateful." He said he was also inspired by Curry's "honesty and transparency and humble admission."

He went on to share some of his personal testimony and she later made another post and "thanked Cameron for showing grace in the face of someone who had misjudged him."

And, on this Friday prior to the Fourth of July, it's appropriate to note that Kirk has a heart for seeing revival in our nation.  He embarked on a 100-day "American Campfire Revival," earlier this year, and CBN.com said, "Cameron's campaign incorporated Biblical discussions about truth that focused on restoration within the country and how we can become a more unified America."

Kirk is quoted as saying:

"We need to be fearless and full of faith right now. This is the moment that God has placed us on the stage of the world. The stakes are very high. I like freedom and comfort. I like when I'm not scared but there is so much at stake right now that we've got to let our love for people and our love for God swallow our fears and do what needs to be done in this moment. And that takes courage. Courage is not the absence of fear, it's the overcoming of it. We need men and women of courage right now."

The American Campfire Revival is continuing with a new chapter, the Love Dare series, which is based on the movie in which Kirk starred, Fireproof. 

245 years ago, men of faith and courage set out on a risky journey that resulted in the independence of the American colonies.  We stand on their shoulders.  Their beliefs that "all men are created equal" and that everyone has rights that are given to us by God have provided the basis for a country that has sustained the test of time, overcome obstacles, and has been a beacon of freedom throughout the world. We celebrate that this weekend, and as Christians, the celebration is sweeter, because we recognize that our nation is built on, as the Declaration says, "a firm reliance on divine Providence."

But, godlessness is a threat to the very fabric of our society - actress Adrienne Curry admitted that her association with people who possessed "godless beliefs."  That's not to say that she has necessarily embraced Christianity, but she saw something in Kirk Cameron that broke through her hardened beliefs. That can be an inspiration to each of us - that our lives so reflect Christ that the Holy Spirit will use our witness in order to break down barriers.  The counter to the secularization of our culture is the infusion of Biblical faith, in order that Christ may be seen in us.

View of the World

We have been empowered to do the work of the Lord in the earth - because we have been born again, we have a relationship with Christ, and from that relationship flow good works - lasting fruit - for the glory of God. In Acts 28, the writer gives us some insight into the devotion of the apostle Paul:
28 "Therefore let it be known to you that the salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will hear it!"
29 And when he had said these words, the Jews departed and had a great dispute among themselves.
30 Then Paul dwelt two whole years in his own rented house, and received all who came to him,
31 preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, no one forbidding him.

We are servants of the King, the One who has come to establish His everlasting Kingdom, and our actions day by day are to reflect that we are citizens of that Kingdom, bringing honor to our Lord. We can exhibit dedication to the cause of Christ and determination to do His will. He gives us the capacity to speak His truth clearly and the confidence to know in our hearts that He is with us. We have to make sure that we adopt a worldview that is consistent with the teachings of Scripture.

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We are called to be people who are dedicated to living according to the truth of God and advancing the Kingdom of God; devoted to knowing and speaking God's heart. Hebrews 10 states:
36 For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise:
37 "For yet a little while, And He who is coming will come and will not tarry.
38 Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him."
39 But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.

On The Meeting House program, I talk often about the development and application of a Christian worldview perspective - it is important that we allow the Bible to govern how we see ourselves and how we see the world.

And, as a new survey released by the Center for Biblical Worldview, a new arm of Family Research Council, over half of Americans believe they possess a biblical worldview.  CBN.com ran an article about the research, and reported that: "Among the 1,000 American adults interviewed across the nation, 51 percent said they have a biblical worldview. However, the survey revealed big inconsistencies between what they believe and what the Bible teaches."

The research was conducted by George Barna, who is now based at Arizona Christian University and is now a Senior Fellow for the new Center, which was featured in a recent conversation with Owen Strachan, who is also a Senior Fellow.  The Director, David Closson, spoke with me at the recent National Religious Broadcasters Convention, and will be featured on The Meeting House soon.

The survey summary stated that, "extensive testing through the American Worldview Inventory indicates that just 6% of the adult population actually has" a Biblical worldview.  It goes on to say:

• Among the 51% of adults who claim to have a biblical worldview, there are massive inconsistencies between what they believe and what the Bible teaches. There were 6 of the 12 worldview questions for which a minority of those who claim to have a biblical worldview actually possess a biblical perspective, plus another indicator for which 49% held an unbiblical point of view.

Some of the aforementioned discrepancies mentioned in the CBN article concerning those claiming to possess a Biblical worldview include:

• 33 percent believe that human beings are born with a sinful nature and can only be saved by Jesus Christ
• 47 percent believe that they will go to Heaven when they die if they confess their sins and accept Jesus Christ as their Savior
• 48 percent believe that it is important for their religious faith to influence every aspect of life
• 49 percent say that the most probable source of moral instruction would be the Bible 

So, only a third of Americans believe in original sin and salvation through Christ and less than half believe they will go to heaven if they are saved.  When you consider that only half of those surveyed think it's important for their faith to influence "every aspect of life," and half look to the Bible as the primary source of instruction, it's not hard to comprehend the state of our nation, and even the state of the Church.  Across the board, in the categories of age, race and ethnicity, and political perspective, there is a huge gap between the percentage of survey respondents who believe they have a biblical worldview and those that indicate they actually do based on the follow-up questions. 

When people don't think Biblically, there are implications for the individual and the culture at large. Family Research Council President Tony Perkins is quoted by CBN; he said: "Every Christian can and should obtain a biblical worldview -- which is only achieved when a person believes that the Bible is true, authoritative, and then taught how it is applicable to every area of life, which enables them to live out those beliefs. We look forward with eagerness for how God will use our new Center for Biblical Worldview."

Something that I am committed to is that we have to look first to the teachings of Scripture to address the issues and decisions we face.  Faith Radio desires to be a trusted source for solid Bible teaching that will help you grow in your walk with Christ.  And, as you grow in the Lord, you can be confident that He direct the course of your life.

We can also admit that the Scriptures are sufficient.  But, we have to be in the Word and hold to a high view of Scripture.  Just because we call ourselves Christians doesn't mean that we possess a Christian worldview - it's all about application...considering: how does God's Word apply to me?  And, how does that govern my interaction with the world around me?  Now is not a time to "shrink back," as the Bible says - it is time to advance the Kingdom of God.