Getting Through It Together

We can rejoice that God meets us in our times of struggle and pain. He loves us and He offers us His power when we face adversity, so that we might know Him better and display His glory. In Zephaniah chapter 3, we can read this:
14 Sing, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem!
15 The Lord has taken away your judgments, He has cast out your enemy. The King of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst; You shall see disaster no more.
16 In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: "Do not fear; Zion, let not your hands be weak.
17 The Lord your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing."

We can remember this when we feel weak or burdened - He is with us!  He is the Mighty One, He has come to save us, and we can depend on Him to act according to His love, by His will, in His time. We can be joyful in the Lord, and that joy, as the book of Nehemiah says, is our strength. So, when discouragement sets in, we can turn to Christ and recognize His presence - we can also rejoice in the Lord for giving us people who will minister to and help us.

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In our times of struggle, we can draw strength from the Lord, as well as from the people whom He has placed around us. Deuteronomy 31 contains these words:
6 Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you."
7 Then Moses called Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, "Be strong and of good courage, for you must go with this people to the land which the Lord has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall cause them to inherit it.
8 And the Lord, He is the one who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed."

Yesterday, we talked about the power of prayer in our times of adversity or challenge. Today, I want to share a story of two high-profile athletes, who actually happen to be married to one another and have walked together and with God through a recent time of trial.

If you follow women's soccer, you are probably familiar with Mallory Pugh, a member of the U.S. Women's National Team and a player for the Chicago Red Stars in the National Women's Soccer League.  Well, she is now known as Mallory Swanson, having married member of the Atlanta Braves world championship team, Dansby Swanson, who likewise plays now in Chicago with the Cubs. 

Recently, according to Movieguide, Mallory was "carried off the field in a stretcher after suffering a torn patella."  The article reported that:

Swanson updated fans in a post on her Instagram following surgery to her knee.

“This is hard. I’m in shock and don’t have much to say other than, thank you to everyone for the messages. I feel the love and prayers, and holding them close to my heart. Surgery this morning was a success. I’m thankful for my trainers, doctors, coaches, and teammates for their help throughout this process,” Swanson wrote.

She concluded the post stating that God has all control.

“The beauty out of all of this, is that God is always good. He’s got me and always has ♥️.”

The article notes that her new husband, Dansby, "took her to surgery then later played his game...He removed himself early from the game but not before striking four hits on four at bats."  People Magazine reported:

The Cubs shortstop said he'd been "up since 4 am," The Athletic reports, with Dansby telling MLB.com that his "body was just kind of done" due to the mental and physical exhaustion of worrying about his wife, who'd just had knee surgery.

The MLB.com story related:

The fatigue he experienced -- which manifested in tightness and cramping in his left side -- stemmed from more than his four-hit showing in the Cubs' wild, 14-9 comeback win over the Mariners at Wrigley Field. Swanson had been up since the early-morning hours to be with his wife, Mallory.

The Movieguide story said:

Following the game Dansby commented on the trial that the couple is facing as well as where their hope lies.

“She’s all right,” Dansby stated, referring to his wife. “Everybody knows it’s a pretty tough and heartbreaking situation. I’m heartbroken for her, just a lot of tears and sadness. Two things can be true at the same time: We can be sad and upset, but we can also understand God’s bigger picture and plans. We’ll get through it together.”

The Swansons were married in a Georgia ceremony in December of last year. That month, Sports Spectrum reported on their growth in Christ as a couple:

In an interview with Sports Spectrum in May for a Summer 2022 magazine feature, Pugh shared a conversation she had with Swanson early in their relationship. She told him the only way the relationship was going to work was if God was at the center of it.

“When Dansby and I first started dating, I told him if we’re going to be a thing and we’re going to have a future together, Jesus and God, that is our foundation,” Pugh said. “I look back at the past four and a half years, and it’s amazing how much growth that we both have had in our faith.”

The December 2022 article also said:

The former No. 1 overall draft pick joined the Sports Spectrum Podcast in January to discuss what it’s like becoming a World Series champion and the importance of letting God guide every aspect of his life.

“He’s the one doing the leading, and I’m just the one on earth that’s doing the leading,” Swanson said on the podcast. “But He’s leading through me, and I really feel like that’s kind of the challenge for me as I grow in my spiritual relationship with Him and as I grow in my relationships with Mallory and with my friends and family.”

The Swansons have been married less than a year, but they have certainly demonstrated the attribute of teamwork.  And, that is an essential part of a rewarding marriage in Christ.  The attitude of mutual sacrifice - placing each others' needs before our own - has been demonstrated here. 

On Friday's Meeting House, you will hear the testimony of an athlete who had a life-altering injury and who looked to the Lord as he walked through it.  We should always look beyond adversity and place our focus on the One who is there with us.  And, Mallory Swanson not only is looking to the Lord in her time of injury, but she has help - in the Lord and in her husband. We can make sure that we are walking with those who are struggling.

On this day after the National Day of Prayer, we can also recognize the power of prayer that can help get us through.  And, when we have a need, we can take it to Jesus and be mindful that there are others who need our prayers, as well. 

Being There

An effort such as the National Day of Prayer can be a catalyst to pray more fervently, more effectively, recognizing that God infuses our lives with meaning and power as we come before Him - and as we pray corporately, there is an even greater measure of power that is released. Jesus taught in Matthew 18:
18 Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.
19 Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven.
20 For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them."

Verse 18 suggests that while we are powerless in our own flesh against spiritual forces that are arrayed against us, if we take upon ourselves the resources God has made available to us, we can walk in His strength.  When we agree together, there is the availability of incredible power in the Holy Spirit - our agreement can enhance the power, but disunity can break it; that's why Satan wants to drive a wedge between believers in Christ. So, we can seek out prayer partners to agree with God's Word as we pray.

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The Bible teaches us to come before the Lord in prayer and recognize the power that is available to us through His presence and by His Word. 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.

This is the National Day of Prayer, and it's also "Survey Thursday."  So, I wanted to offer results from a study that can help us reflect on the effectiveness of a very unique ministry, which I would say most certainly includes the practice of prayer.

A recent Religion News story related:

For decades, hospital chaplains have offered hope and solace to patients and family alike as they navigate the trauma of being in the intensive care unit. But the impact of those efforts is often intangible, hard to measure and generally anecdotal.

But thanks to a new study of ICU patients’ family members and loved ones, data now confirms what many chaplains already know: Proactive, enhanced spiritual care leads to better spiritual and psychological outcomes.

The article quotes from the leader of the study, Dr. Alexia Torke of Regenstrief Institute and Indiana University School of Medicine. It took place between 2018 and 2021 and involved decision-making individuals, or surrogates, acting on behalf of ICU patients.  128 people were studied.  The results?

According to the article:

The study found that surrogates who received intensive spiritual care had more spiritual well-being and satisfaction with spiritual care and were “less likely to have anxiety and spiritual distress compared to those in control group,” according to Torke, a research scientist at Indiana University Center for Aging Research. Surrogates in the intervention group were “three times more likely to have a clinically important reduction in anxiety,” according to the study.

The study divided participants into two groups: a control group that received what the article described as "typical" chaplain care, and an "intervention" group that experienced greater chaplain involvement. 

Wendy Cadge is the Founder of the Chaplaincy Innovation Lab, and Religion News notes that she "said she hopes the study helps health care executives see the value of investing in and understanding chaplaincy." She is quoted as saying: “Through the lab and other avenues we have spent a lot of time trying to make sure that chaplains are trained well to do the work,” adding, “But if the decision-makers in health care either are not aware of the work or have a different understanding than chaplains themselves, or just don’t have the dollars, then people can be perfectly trained, but they’re still not going to be able to do their best work.”

The Lab, at Brandeis University, commissioned a Gallup poll last year, which found that one out of four Americans "have been served by a chaplain...with half of those people encountering chaplains in a health care setting."  So, this is certainly an important ministry opportunity. 

Chaplains are individuals who are sent, and their presence can be meaningful in a hospital setting, in a workplace, on a military base, in times of disaster, and in other areas of life.  The role of the chaplain has been described in certain circumstances, as a "ministry of presence," and it's a reminder that the presence of God goes with us, so we can be conduits of His love and bring assurance that He is with those who are hurting. 

There have been previous studies about the power of prayer and its impact on spiritual and physical well-being.  Yet, so often, we are guilty of perhaps not praying as quickly as we should when we are facing a challenging issue, perhaps a medical condition or an number of decisions we have to make. We can be reminded to apply prayer to whatever we face. 

Targeted

Even though the Church can find itself where there are those who wish to silence its voice and extinguish its light, the light of Christ burns brighter. Psalm 89 states:
5 And the heavens will praise Your wonders, O Lord; Your faithfulness also in the assembly of the saints.
6 For who in the heavens can be compared to the Lord? Who among the sons of the mighty can be likened to the Lord?
7 God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, And to be held in reverence by all those around Him.
8 O Lord God of hosts, Who is mighty like You, O Lord? Your faithfulness also surrounds You.

We serve a sovereign God who is continuing to accomplish His purpose across the earth. When we feel weak, we can take courage in the strength of Almighty God, who is doing magnificent works and providing power to His Church, that we might reflect His glory. People in positions of authority will try to silence our influence, but as 1st Timothy 2 says, we are to pray for our leaders, and we can draw strength from the presence of the Lord with us. 

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The great teacher who had attracted crowds to see and hear Him was finally put to death on a cross. Those who sought to silence Him had finally done it! He Himself declared, "It is finished!" But, He rose from the dead, confounding the political and religious leaders of His day. His life goes on and He is alive in His people. 1st Corinthians 2 says:
6 However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing.
7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory,
8 which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
9 But as it is written: "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him."
10 But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.

Christians, including pro-life activists, are desirous for justice in the face of what is apparently an increase in acts of hostility toward faith institutions.  But, based on a Daily Caller report, it doesn't look like this:

Maeve Nota is 31 years old, and is no doubt a troubled soul.  The article says that Nota identifies as "transgender," and vandalized a church in Bellevue, Washington, breaking two glass doors and spray painting epithets on the building, according to a Daily Mail report - this came after the Dobbs decision overturning Roe v. Wade. But, according to the article: "Nota also assaulted a woman, spray painted another person in the face, attacked police and hit an officer’s vehicle with a bag of spray paint cans, but the Biden administration is planning on offering a plea bargain that would require no jail time, according to Fox News Digital."

The Daily Caller went on to say:

Nota’s attack was one in a long line of attacks against churches and pro-life organizations after the Supreme Court ruling and a 2022 report from the Family Research Council found that from the leak of the Dobbs decision in May to December almost 30 churches were attacked by individuals that expressed pro-abortion views. Another report published Monday found that in the first three months of 2023, attacks against churches had already climbed to 69 and that by the end of the year, the number would likely reach a record high.

There is concern that there are those in government that are not only looking the other way in instances of violence against churches and pro-life pregnancy resource centers, but actively attempting to identify people of faith whom they believe to be dangerous to national security.  Just the News reported several weeks ago, regarding the FBI: "The agency's targeting of Catholics was revealed in a press release...by House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan." The article said:

Citing a meager FBI document production in response to a committee information request, the committee reported that "the FBI relied on information derived from at least one undercover employee and sought to use local religious organizations as 'new avenues for tripwire and source development.'"

The outreach plan "included contacting so-called 'mainline Catholic parishes' and the local 'diocesan leadership,'" according to the release from the committee. "The documents reveal that the FBI also expressed an interest in 'leverag[ing] existing sources and/or initiat[ing] Type 5 Assessments to develop new sources with the placement and access' to report on suspicious activity.

The article relates that this information "follow the recent disclosure of a since-retracted January memo generated by the Richmond Field Office characterizing Catholics with a devotion to the traditional Latin Mass as potential violent extremists."

A FoxNews.com article reports:

Bill Donohue, president of the Catholic League, told Fox News Digital that activist secularists have grown militant and have seized the reins of power in recent decades. He said the source of hostility has shifted in the 30 years since he has headed up the nation's largest Catholic civil rights organization.

He is quoted as saying, "When I first started out, most of the anti-Catholicism was coming from the media, the entertainment industry, the arts, education, primarily there," adding, "It's changed. It's coming now more from the Corporate 500, from the United States government, as well as from some state and local governments."  The article goes on to say:

Donohue mentioned bills proposed in multiple states that would require priests to break the seal of confession and the proposed Equality Act, which he said would pull public funding from Catholic hospitals that refuse to perform abortions or sex reassignment surgeries.

Missouri Senator Josh Hawley, after the latest revelations, said, regarding Attorney General Merrick Garland, according to National Review:

“Let’s be clear: your Department has decided to turn Catholic congregations into front organizations for the FBI, and when asked about it, you’ve decided to fudge the truth before Congress. This is an unconscionable assault on American Catholics’ First Amendment rights and an abdication of your duty to enforce the law without fear or favor..."

Rep. Jim Jordan, who leads the committee investigating the "weaponization" of government, wrote to FBI director Christopher Wray, who had criticized the actions of his department before the committee earlier, calling him back before the committee, saying, “Americans attend church to worship and congregate for their spiritual and personal betterment...They must be free to exercise their fundamental First Amendment rights without worrying that the FBI may have planted so-called ‘tripwire’ sources or other informants in their houses of worship.”

There are no doubt people in high places who wish to bring the role of religion to a lower place in American society; in their deal to squash ideologies they don't agree with and attempt to paint religious fervor with a broad and negative brush, are willing to take bold, yet misguided steps to find evidence that is consistent with their brand of "truth."  We have to be aware that there will be those who exhibit hostility toward our faith, but use that to motivate us to be more determined to reflect the love and presence of Christ. 

There's a song that asks the question, "who can stop the Lord of glory?"  Another says that the Lord "cannot be stopped." I think we can use this discussion to point us to the sovereignty of God.  Throughout the years, there have been attempts to thwart the spread of Christianity.  Those who crucified Christ thought that by eliminating the Savior that His influence would wane.  Were they wrong or what?  The teachings of Jesus and the authority of Scripture have continued to move forward and are continuing to do so even today.  And, even though in America, we see a troubled Church in some sectors, we can look around the world and see that God is on the move - and He, as Henry Blackaby says, invites us to partner with Him in His work. So, we can be discouraged - temporarily - when we see attempts to harass people of faith.  But, as Jesus said, be of good cheer, He has overcome the world. 

Keeping Secrets

The Lord calls us to exhibit characteristics that are consistent with His presence within us, and Colossians 3 offers a look at how we are to behave in Christ; we can read these words in that chapter:
9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds,
10 and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him,
11 where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.
12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering;
13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.

This passage calls attention to the distinction between what is termed the "old man," the person who has been buried with Christ, and the "new man," who has been raised up with Him. We are not called to act like the world, but to draw a contrast to it.  Our decisions should be based on our adherence to Scripture, making sure that we are people who can be trusted, who tell the truth, and live out the truth of God's Word in our daily interactions. 

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We can remember that we represent our God wherever we are, including in the workplace. We can strive to reflect Him and to be trustworthy and diligent. 1st Corinthians 4 states:
1 Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.
2 Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.
3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by a human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself.
4 For I know nothing against myself, yet I am not justified by this; but He who judges me is the Lord.

Two California teachers have been required to keep devastating secrets by their employers, secrets about students that their parents really need to know.  And, they have made the difficult decision to file legal action against their school district.

The story is out of California - and when you hear it, you might ask, "where else?"  Right?  But, California is not the only bastion of the harmful LGBTQ+ agenda.  So, here's the story from Focus on the Family's The Daily Citizen:

Elizabeth Mirabelli and Lori Ann West, teachers at Rincon Middle School, are suing the Escondido Unified School District (EUSD) and the California State Board of Education “over policies requiring them to keep secrets from, and even lie to, parents about their minor-age students,” reports the Thomas More Society, which filed the lawsuit on their behalf.

The teachers allege that state and district transgender policies force them to participate in “social transitioning” of students through accepting a child’s chosen “gender identity,” use the student’s “preferred pronouns,” and hide this information from parents.

But, as the article points out, the school district is attempting to comply with state law. It states:

AB 1266 amended the state’s Education Code, prohibiting “discrimination for all students, regardless of sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression” and allowing students to participate in sports and use restrooms, locker rooms and showers based on their “gender identity.”

Guidance from the state’s DOE tells schools and districts to implement policies that hide information from parents about their “transgender students,” citing federal law and a minor’s “right to privacy.”

Teachers were told that they could not share this personal information with a student's parents without the students consent - the district said that "...revealing a student’s transgender status or gender diverse status to individuals who do not have a legitimate need for the information without the students consent, and this includes parents or caretakers, we need that student’s consent prior to sharing." The Daily Citizen reports:

Mirabelli and West asked for a religious accommodation from the school, so they wouldn’t have to hide information, lie to parents or use students’ “preferred pronouns.” Their requests were denied by the district. West’s letter to the district says:

I am a Christian. As such, I adhere to biblical principles regarding the binary nature of men and women. I have the religious belief that God created 2 sexes: male and female. God created us in his image. … Genetics, Biology and DNA also say that there are only 2 sexes.

I also have the religious belief that the relationship between parents and children was created by God with the intent for the parents to raise and guide their children. …

I also believe that God forbids me from lying. I believe that E.U.S.D. is asking employees to check their religious beliefs at the door.

Of course, their request was denied.  The teachers have the receipts of the school district's plan to promote the gay agenda; the article notes:

The lawsuit includes forms, memoranda, presentations, letters and policies from EUSD forcing teachers to hide information about a student’s “gender identity” from parents and requiring teachers to use students’ “preferred pronouns and name.”

It also documents all manner of LGBT paraphernalia, posters, and banners around the middle school, along with “Pride Flags” handed to students, pushing this gender dogma on students.

Here we have more examples where teachers, attempting to do their jobs, who are being swept up in cultural warfare.  It should not be this way, certainly, but the moral challenges are making it more difficult for them to do their jobs - to teach what they are supposed to teach without the unfortunate ideology that has found Christian teachers at odds with their employers.

These two ladies obviously would like to continue to teach and hopefully train their students to think, to acquire and improve basic skills, and to be a strong Christian influence in the classroom. Their plight is a reminder and challenge to all of us to make sure that, in our workplaces, that we are living a good Christian example.  

We may face moral dilemmas and critical decisions on a regular, perhaps even a daily basis, in the workplace.  These teachers are struggling to do the right thing and tell the truth.  We can realize that we are accountable to our employers and ultimately to God.  So, we should always be devoted to being trustworthy, making sure we give an honest account of the work we do.  We are called to work diligently and to do a full day's work - with excellence, because we serve a God who calls us to that standard.  

Reversal

God is our refuge and strength, and we can hide in Him, even when He calls us out of our comfort zones. He does not call us necessarily to a safe course, and we can know when we face trouble in this life, that He goes with us. 2nd Timothy chapter 2 says:
8 Remember that Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, was raised from the dead according to my gospel,
9 for which I suffer trouble as an evildoer, even to the point of chains; but the word of God is not chained.
10 Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

Paul did not life a "safe" life - but he was so devoted to serving the Lord who had saved Him that he was willing to completely lay down his life for the sake of the gospel. We can go to the Lord and His Word for motivation to live our lives in such a way that we demonstrate our love for Christ. Because of His great love, He gives us a capacity to love Him and love others, and that is our motivational factor in order to do the work to which He has called us.  That may involve risk and difficulty along the way, but He is with us. 

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Because Christ has changed our lives, because we are born again, out of our gratefulness to Him for saving us and the motivation of our love for Him, we go forward to do His will. In 2nd Corinthians 6, we can read:
4 But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God: in much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses,
5 in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in fastings;
6 by purity, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love,
7 by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,
8 by honor and dishonor, by evil report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true;
9 as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold we live; as chastened, and yet not killed;
10 as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

We are certainly mindful of unrest that is occurring in the African nation of Sudan.  A number of years ago, South Sudan broke away from that nation, but conditions there have deteriorated, as well.  Teresa Janzen was on The Meeting House a few weeks ago to discuss the missions work that she has been involved in there. 

Faithwire has published a story about a pastor in South Sudan who has had a very adventurous journey.  He's 66 years old now, but Bernard Suwa thought about ending it all when he was much younger.  The article notes:

He spent his early years in southern Sudan, but became a refugee of the Sudanese Civil War in 1964.

“The first Sudanese Civil War reached our village, so I fled to Uganda with my sister’s family,” he told Premiere. “We began our 22-mile journey on foot, but because the main road was infested with soldiers, we had to access the border another way.”

His father died of an asthma attack when Suwa was 12 years old. Later, his mother died a brutal death at the hands of soldiers. The article relates: "Suwa said the pain and trauma of it all weighed on him, causing depression, sadness, confusion, and other emotions to rage."  He ended up at a boarding school, but he was hopeless and ready to take his life.  Faithwire quoted from a Premier Christianity story:

“One Sunday, when I was wondering how to take my life, I heard a song coming from the nearby chapel,” he said. “When I heard ‘What a friend we have in Jesus’, I felt that I was being called, so I left my tree, walked in, and sang with the rest of the students.”

Rather than ending it all, Suwa said this was the start of his new life. He eventually got married, started a family, and moved to Australia.

He came back to Sudan in 2005 and founded a church.  Now 66 years old, he is now in South Sudan, about which the Faithwire article states:

Suwa serves in South Sudan, a nation formed in 2011. It’s a country that has faced multiple crises over the years, according to watchdog Open Doors.

“South Sudan has endured crisis after crisis since 2013. Many had hoped that tolerance, democracy and human rights would flourish in the majority Christian nation,” Yonas Dembele, a World Watch Research analyst, said in a statement. “However, the clash between the two main ethnic groups (represented by the president and the vice president) led to a civil war that resulted in hatred, death and destruction.”

Suwa's story illustrates the actions of a man of God who has determined that he will face difficult and even dangerous challenges for the sake of the Lord whom He loves.  He illustrates how all of us are called to lay down our lives - coming out of what is comfortable in order to take the gospel to people who need to hear it.  

This is a man who is so grateful for what Christ has done in His life that He has devoted His life to preaching the gospel, with great risk.  We have to make sure that we are not "playing it safe," in our Christian life, but willing to speak hard truth and depend on God no matter what.  Even in America, we are seeing that it is tough in some circumstances to be a Christian - there is hostility, there is conflict, there is ostracization and marginalization.  But, through it all, we have a Savior who goes with us and bring us His sufficiency even in the face of opposition. 

A Force for Good

The evil one is at work throughout this world, the one who has come to steal, kill, and destroy, as Jesus pointed out. But, we have been called to share His message and to align with Him in order to be an incredible force for love and truth. 2nd Corinthians 4 states:
11 For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus' sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.
12 So then death is working in us, but life in you.
13 And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, "I believed and therefore I spoke," we also believe and therefore speak,
14 knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you.
15 For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.

We are a testimony to the life of the Lord Jesus - He is producing fruit through us for His glory, as we testify to the world what He has done: that He has come to bring eternal and abundant life, that He loved the entire world so much that He died, but rose again to demonstrate His defeat of the power of sin and death. Our belief in what He has done and practice of the principles of Scripture can communicate to the world who He is and what He wants to do in peoples' lives.

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In John 17, Jesus prayed for the Church - that we would be a force in this world. We can read these words:
14 I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.
15 I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one.
16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.
17 Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.
18 As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.

This week, I've made some comments about the contrast between serving God and following the misguided ideologies of this world.  In the Christian worldview, we have to see things not as right and left, as it's been said, but right and wrong, good and evil.  We have to view current events in the light of Scripture, which is clear regarding what pleases God and to love what He loves.

I was pleased to have Christian hip-hop artist Brinson on my program recently.  I have been so impressed by artists in that genre with whom I have spoken throughout the years. I truly believe they have had the discernment to see what is occurring in the world and to speak truth in a very unique way. 

A recent CBN article features the insight and comments of hip-hop artist, KB.  Those initials stand for his name, Kevin Burgess.  The article notes: "KB...told Christian Headlines he believes contemporary hip-hop is teaching young people to 'hate Jesus.'"  It goes on to say:

He also implored fellow Christians to put reservations to the side to support people like him trying to spread the Gospel message through Christian rap.

“Let’s return to that era of seeing Christian hip-hop as a powerful way that we might bring revival,” KB told Christian Headlines. “Think about what we can rejoice over — that the Gospel is being preached, churches are being strengthened and people are coming to Christ.”

The artist also said, “The alternative is what your children are going to listen to — they are listening to,” adding, “And the alternative is teaching them to hate Jesus. That’s a little hyperbolic. But there’s truth to it.”  CBN noted, "KB encouraged Christians to look past differences and to focus on the Gospel as a unifier that helps everyone look past any divides."

We have to be clear to live for the gospel.  Christians living for the sake of the gospel, committed to Christ and centered on the Word - that is a force: for truth, for love, for righteousness.  The gospel is a force; the world offers a farce.  We need to be serious about shining the light of God's truth into our world. 

Another contrast: the gospel brings clarity and healing; the world offers a counterfeit.  In an era of confusion, when people call what is evil good and vice versa, we can depend on the wisdom of God to cut through the noise so that we might hear and heed the Spirit of God.

We can recognize that the gospel can be communicated in creative and compelling ways to reach an audience with the life-changing message of Christ.  Kevin Burgess - KB - and so many others have chosen to use Christian hip-hop as a carrier in order to counter the hostile messages toward God that are communicated through its secular counterpart.  Music is so powerful, and I am reminded of the early days of contemporary Christian music, when people were using popular sounds, yet bringing distinctly different messages.  We have to remain faithful to the message of the gospel as we seek to glorify God. 

Beneficial Bible

Idolatry - which could be described as prioritizing other objects of our affection before an adoration of God, is called out in 1st Corinthians 10. Here are some verses in that chapter:
7 And do not become idolaters as were some of them. As it is written, "The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play."

12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.

14 Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.

We have to consider if our devotion to Christ is the highest priority in our lives.  If we follow the world's principles, rather than what is taught in the Word - of God, we simply will not reflect the glory of God and keep ourselves from experiencing what He has in store for us.  We become ineffective in our own spiritual life and lack the strong moral voice that our culture needs.  The Bible - and living according to it - must be a central focus for us. 

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What we know as the 10 Commandments are found in Exodus chapter 20. This passage highlights the first two:
2 "I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
3 You shall have no other gods before Me.
4 "You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth;
5 you shall not bow down to them nor serve them...

The Bible has been a profound influence on our nation, and we don't have to look too far to see the evidence of God's hand throughout our history.  I believe that He has certainly preserved our nation. But, even though we can certainly recognize a departure from Biblical truth and conformity, almost half of Americans in a recent survey believe the Bible is still beneficial in our nation.

The Baptist Paper ran an article recently on a survey from the American Bible Society in its latest State of the Bible survey.  The article stated:

The survey conducted in January also found that 44 percent of Americans believe the nation would be worse off without the Bible and 23% believe negative influences from media, movies and music are feeding a moral decline.

“For years, we have asked Americans to imagine their nation without the Bible,” the organization said in a report highlighting the findings. “The results have been rather consistent. While some observers assume there’s a growing animosity toward the Bible, we don’t see that.”

However, one must ask the question: "well, if you revere the Bible so much, why don't you follow its teachings?" In other words, "if you think that Bible reading is such a good thing, why don't you participate?"

The Baptist Paper article quoted from the ABS report on the survey data, which said, "It’s worth noting that more than a quarter of non-Bible users say the country would be worse off without it,” adding, “They don’t interact with Scripture themselves even three times a year, but they seem glad that others do.”

The article quoted from the report, which stated, “Only two in five Americans, 39%, were Bible users. Frankly, we were hoping this was a glitch, but the 2023 responses matched last year’s low point, 39%." The Baptist Paper stated:

The report said the most recent high point of 50 percent Bible use occurred in 2020, a year when many people were cooped up at home with little else to do. The next two years saw a return to activity for many, and for a 10th of the population, the Bible was not part of the reboot.

“Despite the downturn in Bible use, we can still say that about 63 million American adults, 24%, use the Bible — on their own, outside of a church service — at least once a week,” the American Bible Society reported.

One further note, according to the article: "The survey found that 86% of Americans see a moral decline in the nation, though they disagree about where to place the blame. The study reported 26% blamed a lack of positive parental involvement, 23% blamed the negative influence of media, movies or music and 16% blamed an unhealthy reliance on social media for information."

I want to go back to the questions I posed.  A greater percentage of Americans think that the Bible is beneficial than actually read it themselves.  So, the question becomes, "if you revere the Bible so much, why don't you follow its teachings?"  The fact is that people don't like the moral direction of our country, yet they are unwilling to embrace themselves what could really shift that moral slide.  Similarly, "if you think that Bible reading is such a good thing, why don't you participate?"

I would theorize that you have a large number of people who attend church, fill a spot in the pew or the chair, every week, but have not flipped the switch and totally surrendered to Christ.  Jesus had a word to describe those folks in Revelation 3: "lukewarm."

If only we would apply the teachings of Scripture to our individual lives, our families, our churches, and our civic engagement, what a difference we would see!  But, our devotion is diluted by other things, the things we idolize, what we put before God.  The first two commandments warn us against having other gods and not making idols.  Idolatry is the enemy of Biblical faithfulness. A large majority of Americans sees it: a moral decline.  There are various things to blame.  Ultimately, it's a decline in the degree to which we revere - or fear - God.