Taking the Spiritual Temperature

How do we respond to circumstances seemingly spiraling out of control, beyond our control, that pose threats to our faith? Ephesians 5 has some guidance for us; it says:
15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise,
16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

The Bible has the potential to inform the way we think and chart a course for how we live - and how we view the world around us. 

Coral Ridge Ministries has released its 2024 Spiritual State of the Nation Survey, which, according to its website, is an "informal survey" that is "sent annually to friends and supporters of Coral Ridge Ministries, providing members of the media and elected officials a gauge of the attitudes and opinions of pro-family evangelical Americans."

The Washington Stand provided analysis.  It related:

One question asked was, “What are the three most critical issues facing the new Congress and administration?” Fifty-six percent of respondents named immigration as one of their top three, 33% named American sovereignty, and 32% named abortion. Immigration has consistently been a top concern for Americans in national polls, typically second only to inflation and the economy.

The article goes on to say:

David Closson, director of the Center for Biblical Worldview at Family Research Council, told TWS, “Although polls consistently show that voters are concerned about the state of the economy and the border crisis, I’m not surprised that evangelical voters are still focused on abortion. Overturning Roe was never the ultimate goal of the pro-life movement. The final goal has always been to make abortion illegal and unthinkable.”

Here are some snapshots from the survey:

90% indicated disapproval of schools using so-called "gender pronouns," and 92% said that schools should not "teach sex education that features transgender exploration and surgery..."

To the question, "Do you believe that all U.S. citizens should have freedom of religion and be able to freely express it in public life?, 95% of respondents said, "yes."

100% said that students should have the "right to pray in public school classrooms, at sporting events, and graduation ceremonies..."

And, in response to this question, "Have you experienced verbal or physical abuse or bias because of your faith in Jesus Christ or for your conservative Christian views?," 25% said "yes" and 68% said "no."

It's certainly not surprising that a survey of supporters of an evangelical Christian ministry would relate the types of answers that were gathered here. There is support for sanctity of life, as well as the sanctity of marriage, and Biblical sexuality.  There is overwhelming support for religious freedom, and a concerning number - one-quarter of those surveyed - who have experienced hostility regarding their faith.  And, we should be encouraged that believers are continuing to stand strong on Biblical principles. 

Christians are also concerned about illegal immigration and economic issues. I submit there is a Biblical component even to these issues, which some might consider non-Biblical.  We live in the real world, and real-world issues affect us.  We have to consider how we as Christians live in light of challenges.  

One thing we have to fight against, though, is discouragement. When you hear high-profile individuals espouse such issues as the unfettered taking of human life through abortion and the support of harming children who are experiencing questions regarding their gender, among other things, we have to be concerned about the direction of our nation and our world.  That is why we must continue to be vigilant and prayerful, taking advantage of openings to share our deeply-held Biblical beliefs. 

A Change of Scenery

No matter where we go, regardless of where we may live, the way we live can have a profound impact on the people around us. In the Sermon on the Mount, in Matthew 5, Jesus said:
13 "You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.
14 You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.
15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

They're leaving.

Leaders of a values-based organization have left California, where it is headquartered, and are heading for other areas, areas that might be more compatible with their lifestyle - and their worldview. 

That's according to an article by Ruth Graham for The New York Times, which explored the transience of members of the Claremont Institute, included President Ryan Williams and his colleague Michael Anton, who moved to the Dallas area.  

Skyler Kressin, who is 38 years old, moved from Southern California to Coeur d'Alene, Idaho back in 2020. He related: "A lot of us share a sense that Christendom is unraveling,” adding, “We need to be engaged, we need to be building.” These men and other like-minded individuals, described by Graham as "young activists and thinkers" who "see themselves as part of a project that goes far beyond electoral politics," are part of what she describes as a "movement to reclaim the values of Western civilization as they see it." According to Graham, their philosophy is "driven by their version of Christian values, with larger families and fewer immigrants. They foresee an aesthetic landscape to match, with more classical architecture and a revived conservative art movement and men wearing traditional suits."

This is a bit reminiscent of Rod Dreher's call for a "Benedict Option," which is the title of a book; upon its 5th anniversary, Dreher wrote at The American Conservative:

It is far clearer now that traditional, small-o orthodox Christians, are a minority in America, and an increasingly despised one. I anticipated this. The Benedict Option has in some ways been overtaken by Live Not By Lies, which is about how to live as a faithful Christian (or someone who refuses the lies of wokeness, even if not a Christian). But the two books are complementary, in fact. Live Not By Lies is more or less an intensification of The Benedict Option — but the more general point of The Benedict Option still holds firm: that Christians who expect to make it through the storm that has overtaken our culture had better form resilient, strong, disciplined communities of formation and practice.

But Dreher is not a pure isolationist; he wrote at the time, in 2022:

I’m still having to argue with people that I’m not saying that Christians should head for the hills. Actually, I’m probably more open to the “head for the hills” strategy than I was when the book was first published, but I really don’t think that anybody is going to be able to escape these trials by geographically situating themselves. I believe that this accusation is part of a coping strategy on the part of Christians who don’t want to accept that things are as bad as they are.

He also contends that "we are not going to vote ourselves out of this crisis."  That, I contend, is not to say that voting is not important - it is a civic duty, and we should redouble our efforts to select leaders who embrace our Christian values, even though in some cases that may be hard to find.

So, back to the Times article.  It goes on to say about these new young, countercultural, Christian-adjacent if not outright Christian individuals...

...Their vision includes stronger local leadership and a withered national “administrative state,” prompting them to celebrate last week when the Supreme Court effectively ended the “Chevron deference,” which could lead to the weakening of thousands of federal rules on the environment, worker protection and beyond.

Fed up by what they see as an increasingly hostile and disordered secular culture, many are moving to what they view as more welcoming states and regions, battling for American society from conservative “fortresses.”

Not only was there physical relocation occurring, but groups have been forming to address the ills of our culture.  The New York Times says:

The year Mr. Kressin moved to Idaho, he and Mr. Williams were part of an informal conversation at Claremont about the need for new institutions in what some hope will be a rejuvenated American society. The idea was a “fraternal community,” as one leader put it, that prioritized in-person meetings. The result was the all-male Society for American Civic Renewal, an invitation-only social organization reserved for Christians. The group has about 10 lodges in various states of development so far, with membership ranging between seven and several dozen people.

Another person who is affiliated with the Claremont think-tank is Josh Abbatoy, described as "the executive director of American Reformer, a Dallas-based journal that serves as an informal in-house publication for the movement." He just moved his wife and four children to the Nashville area. The article says:

Through his new professional network, he is raising funds to develop a corridor of conservative havens between Middle Tennessee and Western Kentucky, where he has also purchased hundreds of acres of property. He expects about 50 families to move to the Tennessee town — which he declined to identify — in the next year, including people who work from home for tech companies and other corporations.

Mr. Abbotoy is betting big on the revitalization of the rural South more broadly, as white-collar flexibility meets conservative disillusionment with liberal institutions and cities. He sees the Tennessee project as a “playbook” for future developments in which neighbors share conservative social values and enjoy, he suggested, a kind of ambient Christian culture.

The Times also notes:

The Obergefell v. Hodges decision, which legalized same-sex marriage nationally, was a watershed moment for Mr. Abbotoy and other conservatives’ understanding of how quickly the ground could shift under their feet. It is a decision that signaled to them the onset of an era that the conservative Christian writer Aaron Renn — who has spoken at the fraternal society’s events — calls “negative world,” an influential concept that describes a culture in which “being known as a Christian is a social negative, particularly in the elite domains of ­society.”

 The article also referred to a man named Andrew Beck; it says:

“Something is shifting that’s tectonic,” said Mr. Beck, who wrote a widely shared essay on “re-Christianizing America” for Claremont’s online magazine the American Mind. “It’s not so much about staking out some stronghold where you can live in a cocoon, it’s to be a part of a place you can truly consider to be home.”

Quite frankly, I think this was a pretty fair and quite informative rendering that captured the mindset. These days, I think there are Christian believers - not to mention other citizens - who are determined to escape.  You have those who want to escape that imposition of ideologies upon us that do not comport with our Christian values. We are concerned about safety for our families and can sometimes feel somewhat helpless.  And, there are those that believe the cultural tide is far too great to reverse.  I get it - so what do we do about it?

So, I sympathize with those who desire a change of scenery - and a more pure atmosphere.  But, we cannot move far enough away where the world will not encroach upon us.  We are engaged in a spiritual war, and it's hard to really fight from a bunker.  Can we experience a "rejuvenated American society," using the language of the Times article, without having the advantage of being salt and light to impact that society?  

So, we can pray to find our place. And, recognize that at this point in time, unless God has shown us that he wants us to uproot our families and move to some other place that is, well, more isolated or insulated, then we are called to have influence right where we are.  This very day.  We cannot change the world in a day or a year, but we can change the direction of our neighborhood.  We can let our light shine, and as more believers are modeling the character of the Savior, more can come into a saving knowledge of Him. That produces real change. 

Something Real

God offers us the ability to experience authentic, lasting change, a dynamic relationship with the living God. The Psalmist writes in Psalm 16:
8 I have set the Lord always before me; Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved.
9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices; My flesh also will rest in hope.
10 For You will not leave my soul in Sheol, Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption.
11 You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Winter Jam has become one of Christian music's showcase events, with multiple artists playing a variety of venues across the country.  Launched by legendary Christian group New Song, the event has made quite an impact for the Kingdom. 

Crosswalk Headlines featured an appraisal of the event recently, including comments from the evangelist who travelled with the latest tour, Zane Black.  The article stated:

At each stop, Black offered a gospel presentation.

“It seems to me as we traveled around the nation, there’s a stirring, there’s an uprising,” Black told Christian Headlines.

The Winter Tour recorded some 34,500 first-time professions of faith from individuals and had a few sold-out shows.

At one specific sold-out show, Black said, young people unable to get into the arena stayed outside and “worshiped into the night in a parking lot.”

“Some of the artists went there with acoustic guitars,” Black said.

For instance, CAIN would play inside, then go outside to minister with acoustic music.

Black said that the COVID pandemic has been a catalyst for this hunger, stating: “It pulled back the blinders of what’s at stake and made aware of the need [for God], and I think out of it, the Gospel has become that much more beautiful in so many people’s eyes -- and the hope of heaven. The promise of His life now has become all the more tangible.”

But, it's not intended to be a one-off, according to Black; the article noted: 

The purpose of Winter Jam, Black said, is to not only spread the gospel but to encourage Believers -- to “send people back into their communities on fire as the light of Christ in their communities, in their schools, to their friend groups.”

A previous Crosswalk Headlines article related:

Generation Z, Black said, is “hungry for what's real.”

“They are inundated with the counterfeit -- whatever is edited, cropped, filtered,” Black told Crosswalk Headlines. “The digital age has pushed them so far into the world of AI that they long for something real. And so I think we have an opportunity within the church to present authentic, real truth in an age of [the] artificial and skeptic. There is a real God. There's a Book that is true. And there's a love that is life-changing, that's tangible.”

What a great insight - in a world of social media and rampant Internet information, these young people are looking for something real, something authentic. They experience the reality of the presence of God. And, we can ask ourselves: are we experiencing the reality of God's presence in our lives?  Or, are we content with the superficial, the digital, the worldly?

The world's pleasures do not satisfy - it's only as we experience the risen Lord that we move from mere head knowledge to a heart knowledge, a heart changed and energized by the Spirit of Almighty God. We don't seek the experience, but a transformational encounter with the Lord can certainly propel us to a more consistent, passionate walk with Him.  We can be motivated to draw near to Him and see what He will do in and through us.

Confronting Barriers

The apostle Paul wrote in 2nd Corinthians 12 about a malady that he had, one that God did not heal - the reason: to keep him humble. We can't recognize while God heals some and doesn't heal others, but we can trust in His love and His sovereignty. Paul wrote:
9 And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

When the Summer Olympic Games are history, Paris will, later this month, be the host for the Paralympic Games, which offers the opportunity for impaired athletes to compete and to demonstrate to the world that despite barriers, they can showcase their abilities.

One of the participants will be track star Daniel Romanchuk, who, according to Movieguide, "...shocked the world with his talent when he took home gold at the Tokyo Paralympic Games in the 400-meter T54 for wheelchair racing and bronze in the marathon T54."

The article notes that he said to Fox News: “It’s a huge honor to be able to go to the Games and to represent the U.S. on a world stage,” adding, “After everything had sunk in with winning the 400, at first, I was just thankful. Really thankful to God for the opportunities that I’ve had."  Movieguide goes on to report:

Before Romanchuk’s birth, his parents knew he had myelomeningocele spina bifida and would never be able to walk. However, they knew that his life would be full of meaning.

“We were in shock a couple of days,” his mom Kim said. “But then came that understanding and true knowledge that this was not a surprise to God. He will use this for good and that what we see as hopeless, God knows and God’s got it — we just had to truly trust that and give it over to Him.”

That was a quote from an article from the Assemblies of God website, which says that if you ask Daniel...

...what or who he is, and it isn’t “elite athlete,” “engineering student,” or “Paralympian” that comes from his lips. Instead, he states with firm warmth: “I’m a child of God.”

His pastor describes him as a "very committed Christ-follower," according to that article.  

It goes on to say:

In addition to involvement at church, the Romanchuk family has helped facilitate respite times several times a year where kids with disabilities can be dropped off for hours of fun while providing parents a break. They have also donated equipment and worked with groups such as Joni and Friends to refurbish wheelchairs for individuals around the world.

Movieguide also noted:

The gold medalist just got engaged last month.

He posted on Instagram, “She said ‘Yes!’ Forever thankful to God for bringing us together and excited for a lifetime to grow together in love for each other and Him❤️”

What an inspiration this young man can be to so many people, sharing a message that despite the barriers, a person can fulfill his or her God-given potential.  He - as well as his family - demonstrate the ability to trust God, even through negative life circumstances.  I'm reminded of the Christian speaker David Ring, whose website notes: 

As one who has not been stifled by his physical limitations, he clearly stakes his challenge to everyone. “I have Cerebral Palsy–what’s your problem?”

We can become so wrapped up in our own problems, can't we?  And, God is calling us to see our challenges as opportunities through which He can be glorified.  In so doing, we send a message to the people around us, perhaps people who are lacking hope in their lives, that truly there is hope in Jesus Christ. 

Connected

The pattern of the early Church indicates that the teaching of the Word of God was paramount, and it led to a variety of expressions of the Spirit of God in their midst. We have to keep God's Word at the forefront of our hearts and minds. Acts 2 states:
42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.
43 Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles.
44 Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common,
45 and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.
46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart,
47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.

Throughout our culture today, we know that people are seeking for meaning, to know they are loved - and seen. That sense of value and worth can be found through a relationship with Jesus Christ.  Certainly, the world has its insufficient counterfeits, but through the Church, God makes Himself known to people.

The Barna Group recently shared some data about the meaning that can be found in the local church. Over the past few years, the organization has partnered with The Aspen Group to research how church design helps to create a more meaningful experience with God.  A summary on the Barna website notes:

While spiritual formation doesn’t exclusively happen in a church building, embodied worship and fellowship in church are powerful influences on a person’s faith walk. We’ve seen this in past research: A coffee shop, park or even a home cannot replace the sacredness and intentionality of a church building.

It’s this sacredness that people expect from a church. And Christians, as they are formed, increasingly want their church to point to God, not only in the explicit worship and teaching, but also in its appearance, how it makes them feel, and the subconscious ways they experience the space.

We see in the data that the most devoted Christians—Christians who strongly agree “my religious faith is important in my life,” “Jesus was crucified and raised from the dead to conquer sin and death” and say “yes” they are currently being discipled—value community over a thought-provoking sermon. As Christians grow spiritually, so also grows the yearning to experience the peace and presence of God and demonstrate an active faith through practices like prayer, worship, discipleship and communion. Church is the place where these practices flourish.

The summary posted a graphic of data from 2022 that shows that 78% of these devoted Christians believe that "serving" is one of the most important factors in "having a meaningful experience at a Christian church." 70% said that "discipleship" was one of the most important.  By contrast, among other Christians, 36% named "serving" and 31% named discipleship. 

The Barna Group notes that, "Above all else, Christians want to feel connected to God at church, and this desire increases with one’s spiritual engagement. You may find those who are experiencing greater spiritual formation place a higher value on church design that reflects their valued experience of participation."

Certainly, we should be people of service, no doubt, because it is through our service that people see the tangible presence of the Savior through His people.  But, we should never sacrifice service for the study and teaching of God's Word.  I think we can certainly do both. But, the direction of the Spirit of God and the flowing of the love of Christ through us can motivate us to love others in the best possible way in the Lord.

I do think the place we worship - the "space," if you will, is significant.  We have to keep in mind that there just may be an expectation by some who come into our midst that the church building is a place they can go to experience the presence of God.  As we attend our local churches, we can be reminded of our role as representatives of Christ and make sure that we are entering into worship ourselves and helping those around us to feel comfortable and centered on the Lord.   Previous Barna/Aspen research notes this:

In a world where we are more fragmented and disconnected from each other and meaningful experiences, it seems even more imperative that the spaces people inhabit, worship in, visit and rest in are places of peace and calm.

Many adults—especially Christians—say they feel peaceful when sitting in a Christian church.

47% of adults, in fact, say that when they are "sitting in a church building...," they are "peaceful."  We must never underestimate how powerful it is to be in the presence of Almighty God, who invites us to experience and interact with Him. 

Inseperable

There is a tremendous emphasis on religious practice that we see in the history of our nation. And, in a time in which ideas and actions that are detrimental to our country are being perpetrated, we need to take advantage of every opportunity to speak God's truth. 1st Peter 2 states:
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.

Take a country with a rich religious heritage and attempt to separate it from that heritage, from the principles upon which it was founded.  That's the situation you have in modern-day America. 

But lawmakers across the nation are attempting to recapture that foundation, and in so doing, reminding Americans, hopefully, that they cannot successfully remove one key component of our nation and completely secularize it.  You don't practice religion - you don't have to in America.  We have freedom of religion baked into the Bill of Rights.  But, if you do, you have that right, and your freedom to express should not be restricted.

There's a refreshing trend in Texas, in which school officials are actually embracing the teaching of Biblical principles.  According to the Texas Tribune website, the Texas Education Agency, or TEA, has proposed a "curriculum that would insert Bible teachings into K–5 reading and language arts lessons." This comes after legislation passed that would allow it to do so.

And, while the article stokes fears that people will be ostracized by the inclusion of these materials, each district is given the option whether or not to implement Biblically-infused curriculum.

The article notes:

TEA Commissioner Mike Morath told The Texas Tribune in May that the curriculum as a whole — which consists of lesson plans for K–12 students and spans other subjects that don’t include religious references like math and science — is based on extensive cognitive science research and will help improve student performance in reading and math.

Morath noted that religious references only make up a small “but appropriate” fraction of the content pie and that the textbooks mark a shift from a skills-based curriculum to a more “classical, broad-based liberal arts education.”

Comments from a representative of a pro-family organization were included in the article, which said:

Megan Benton, a strategic policy associate at Texas Values, an organization that describes itself as being dedicated to the Judeo-Christian faith, family and freedom, said her group supports “an objective reading of the Bible and other religious texts” in public schools.

“In fact, they'll elevate the quality of education being offered to all Texas students by giving them a well-rounded understanding of important texts and their impact on the world,” Benton said about references to religious texts.

Now, there's the obligatory mention of, well, you know: "...critics worry the TEA’s proposal is a symptom of a growing Christian nationalist movement, the belief that the United States’ founding was ordained by God and that its laws and institutions should favor Christians."  That's an interesting definition of the nebulous term.  But, suffice it to say, removing religious references from the classroom because of unfounded fears is most certainly the denial of a free exercise of religion.  

The Texas Tribune also says:

Efforts to infuse more Christianity in schools across the nation are currently facing several legal challenges, but legal experts note that recent rulings by the U.S. Supreme Court’s conservative majority have eroded decades of precedent and made it unclear what state actions are unconstitutional. In its 2022 ruling on Kennedy v. Bremerton, for example, the high court found that a Washington high school football coach did not violate the First Amendment by conducting personal prayers on the field after team games.

In doing so, the Supreme Court put an end to what was known as the Lemon test, a standard the court used to assess whether the primary purpose of a government action was secular, whether it promoted or inhibited religion and whether it represented an excessive entanglement between church and state.

During the same term, justices also ruled that states could not exclude religious schools from programs that use taxpayer dollars to fund private education.

Good!  For so long, we have found those who embrace secularism hiding behind the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment and have tipped the scales against free exercise.  Religious content has been singled out for extinction.  You simply should not attempt to separate religious elements of American life.

We do recognize that our rights come from God - yes, that's been described now as Christian nationalism, the weaponized term that marginalizes Christian Americans. But, misplaced government interests have been found to diminish or even eliminate those rights.  Religious freedom is a core principle of our nation, and we should be able to speak according to our deeply held beliefs and have an expectation of the leaders we select to uphold that freedom.  You cannot remove what is ingrained in our founding principles. 

Awakened

The Church can be confident in the Lord, and when there are difficult seasons, that we all will face, we can turn to the Lord and rejoice that He has a plan and will establish it for His glory. Proverbs 28 states:
11 The rich man is wise in his own eyes, But the poor who has understanding searches him out.
12 When the righteous rejoice, there is great glory; But when the wicked arise, men hide themselves.
13 He who covers his sins will not prosper, But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.
14 Happy is the man who is always reverent, But he who hardens his heart will fall into calamity.

The scene on that morning in April of 1775 was potent with the prospect of conflict.  British soldiers, also known as "regulars," were approaching the hamlet of Lexington, Massachusetts.  Paul Revere had ridden across the countryside to warn the residents and local militias of the impending situation.  And, then, as colonists and those loyal to the crown faced off, a shot fired and the British soldiers attacked.

My wife, Beth, and I stood on the Lexington Green, the site of that conflict, not too long ago during our vacation in Boston.  We visited that site, as well as the Old North Bridge in nearby Concord, typically thought to the be site of the "shot heard 'round the world."

And, there were men of faith who were actively involved in promoting the cause of liberty.  After our visit, I looked into some of these pastors, such as Jonas Clarke.  The Lexington 250 website notes that...

...Influenced by prominent thinkers of the time, including the renowned theologian Jonathan Edwards, Clarke’s theological beliefs began to take shape, molding him into the pastor and revolutionary leader he would become.

In 1755, he was appointed to serve as pastor of Lexington's First Parish Church. The site notes that:

As the winds of revolution swept across the colonies, Clarke’s dedication to the cause of liberty became resolute. A fervent supporter of American independence, he stepped beyond the boundaries of his pastoral duties, immersing himself in revolutionary organizations. Clarke’s involvement in groups such as the Sons of Liberty and the Committee of Safety further exemplified his commitment to the fight for freedom.

The website also says: 

Clarke’s contributions extended far beyond the Battle of Lexington. As a spiritual leader during a time of immense turmoil, he provided moral guidance, nurturing the spirits of the patriots. His resolute belief in the righteousness of their cause inspired the soldiers on the front lines and the civilians supporting the revolution from their homes. The Battle of Lexington stood as a testament to Clarke’s unwavering commitment, and his influence reverberated throughout the American Revolution, igniting the flames of freedom that would shape the destiny of the nation.

Meanwhile, William Emerson, who built the Old Manse in Concord adjacent to the Old North Bridge, the grandfather of Ralph Waldo Emerson, was also passionately involved in the cause of liberty.  A National Park Service website states that:

Emerson came to the pulpit in Concord barely a month before the Stamp Act, the first major crisis that led to the separation of the American colonies from the mother country. From its passage and through the tense years of the Townshend Duties, the arrival of British troops in Boston, the Boston Massacre, the Boston Tea Party and the Intolerable Acts, Emerson, an enthusiastic patriot known for his inspirational sermons, fired up his parishioners after each new atrocity committed by the British Parliament. Emerson never wavered in his firm belief that God was on the side of those who opposed British tyranny, no small comfort to the townspeople who looked to religion for guidance and encouragement.

He was an eye-witness to the events at the Old North Bridge, in which British regulars and colonial patriots squared off. He had been involved in providing encouragement for the "minutemen" local militias and became a chaplain to the Provincial Congress. The site also says that, "He met on numerous occasions with General Washington and his troops in Cambridge, and was instrumental in moving Harvard College to Concord for the duration of the British occupation of Boston. In August, 1775, Rev. Emerson left Concord nine days after the birth of his daughter, Rebecca, for Fort Ticonderoga, where he would join the Continental army as Chaplain." However, just months later, in October, he passed away as the result of dysentery.

In the midst of the spirit of Revolution, I believe there was a move of the Spirit of God - these two ministers who were at the center of the impending conflict were part of it. The spiritual fervor was reflected in the words of the Declaration of Independence, as they looked to Almighty God, their Creator, and His Providence to throw off tyranny and to unleash liberty.  There had been a Great Awakening in the colonies in the time period leading up to the Revolution, and spiritual awareness was great.

Around our nation today, we see a cultural awakening has been taking root - a rejection of the things of God and a turning aside of His truth.  Authoritarian leaders, not only in politics, but throughout culture, have decided to shake their fist at Almighty God and to walk in a different direction. But, God still has His people.  

Franklin Graham responded to Elon Musk the other day on X.  Musk had tweeted out: "Unless there is more bravery to stand up for what is fair and right, Christianity will perish..."  Graham wrote:

I appreciate Elon Musk bringing this up—we must absolutely stand strong for what is right. And I believe we must stand for God’s truth. However, I don’t believe Christianity will perish, because Jesus Christ said “Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore” (Revelation 1:17-18). He died on the cross for our sins and rose again. He’s alive, and one day, He is coming back. If we receive Him in repentance and faith, we can look forward to spending eternity with Him.

But, while I believe in the durability of the Church, I am also reminded of the words of Judges chapter 2 - following the death of Joshua, we can read: " When all that generation had been gathered to their fathers, another generation arose after them who did not know the Lord nor the work which He had done for Israel."  In order to properly face the future, we have to remember our history and the works of God, and recognize the incredible staying power of His Church.