Firm

The Bible instructs us in 1st John 4 "test the spirits." We have to make sure we are growing in discernment, because deception is so common. 1st Thessalonians 5 states:
21 Test all things; hold fast what is good.
22 Abstain from every form of evil.
23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
24 He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.

Recently, I shared the story of a French teacher out of Virginia because he declined to refer to a student by pronouns that didn't correspond to her biological sex.  He lost his job, but the state Supreme Court told school officials they were wrong and awarded a handsome sum of over $500,000 for attorney's fees and costs. 

It hasn't turned out in a positive way for an Irish teacher named Enoch Burke though.  A CBNNews.com article stated:

Enoch Burke, a history and German teacher, was suspended from Wilson’s Hospital School in August 2022, when he refused, as CBN News previously reported, to call a student who was transitioning from male to identifying as female by “they” rather than “he” pronouns.

The article goes on to say:

In 2022, he told Irish High Court Judge Michael Quinn, who presided over his case, “Transgenderism is against my Christian belief. It is contrary to the Scriptures, contrary to the ethos of the Church of Ireland, and of my school.”

In the days after he was placed on paid administrative leave, Burke reportedly returned to the school grounds in Westmeath, from which he had been prohibited. As a result, he was arrested and placed behind bars at Mountjoy Prison, a men’s jail in Dublin.

That was only the first time that Enoch Burke was imprisoned.  The article states:

Burke was released from his first stint in jail in December 2022. He was then formally fired from Wilson’s Hospital School in January 2023 and jailed once again in September of that year for breaching a court order keeping him from the school’s campus, according to a timeline published by Newsweek.

And, in September, in a return visit to the school, he was arrested for a third time. The CBN story relates:

He told Sky News at the time, “I teach everyone who’s in front of me. I teach every single student. But when I am commanded, when I’m told that I can’t have my religious belief anymore, when I’m told I have to confess belief in transgenderism, instead of my simple belief, which is male and female, that’s just a breach simply of my rights.”

The embattled educator posted footage of his arrest to his X account, which is currently being maintained by his brother, Josiah.

“I’m not going to turn my back on my students,” Burke is heard saying in the video. “I have a right to my job. I have a right to work here. I have a right to be here and not to tell students they need to take puberty blockers.”

The case is scheduled to be reviewed again this Friday. 

Meanwhile, in another case out of the U.K., according to the Daily Mail website:

A Christian teacher who was banned from the classroom over 'misgendering' a pupil has lost a High Court appeal against the decision.

Lawyers for Joshua Sutcliffe argued it was 'perverse' to expect him to use the child's preferred pronouns, which had no basis in law.

In a hearing in May, they also said it was an 'unjustified interference' with his right to freedom of speech and religion.

The article says that:

After the ruling, Mr Sutcliffe, who is being supported by Christian Concern, said: 'I still stand by my Christian convictions that it is harmful and detrimental to affirm gender confused children.

'This is the belief I am fighting for which is shared by not only Christians but many who do not believe in harmful transgender ideology.

'I have been a marked man ever since I dared to express my Christian beliefs in a school.'

These actions in the U.K. come on the heels of the outcome of a case involving a California teacher.  The Sacramento Bee reported several months ago:

A California school district has settled a lawsuit with a teacher who says she was fired over her religious beliefs after she refused to use students’ preferred pronouns, attorneys say. 

The Jurupa Unified School District in Riverside County agreed to pay $360,000 to Jessica Tapia, her attorneys at Advocates for Faith & Freedom said in a May 14 news release.

The article stated that, "The alleged violations in part stemmed from her refusal to call students by their preferred pronouns, along with her concern about not revealing students’ gender identities to parents, the lawsuit says."

Decision Magazine reported recently that:

Tapia, along with Advocates for Faith and Freedom, started Teachers Don’t Lie, an organization designed to give teachers a place to learn their constitutional rights and obtain legal help if they find themselves in a situation similar to Tapia’s.

“I just can’t encourage people enough to do what I did and put their faith into action and boldly stand in the truth,” Tapia said. “We don’t have to see what’s coming next, because He already sees it, and He’s not asking for us to have that part figured out.

“You literally cannot fathom the gain on the other side of living out your faith."

That article shared elements of Tapia's story, including the ultimatums that were given to her in order to keep her job.  It related:

If she wanted to keep her job, she would call students by their preferred names and pronouns; she would not tell parents about their students’ gender transitions; and she would refrain from talking to students about God and the Bible.

“The Lord made it pretty clear to me: ‘You’re entering spiritual warfare. Stand firm,’” she said. “I was either going to crumble at their feet and do whatever and become whoever they wanted me to be to keep my job, or realize I have a huge decision on the line.”

These teachers were essentially being forced to lie.  All three were being told they must call a student presenting with a gender other than his or her biological sex by the pronouns corresponding to their so-called gender identity rather than their biology.  This is a lie.

Furthermore, Jessica Tapia was being forced to be silent about information that parents need to know regarding their child's sexuality.  Enoch Burke was so compelled to tell his former students that they should refuse puberty blockers that he was willing to go to jail for it. Their faith was the root of their passion, with Joshua Sutcliffe saying he was a "marked man" because he was a Christian.

Children are confused about their sexuality, and now they are being enabled to act out their desires by requesting they be referred to by certain pronouns, by school officials concealing information from parents, and by treatments and procedures being made available that are falsely sold as changing a person's "gender."  

In the midst of confusion, we need clarity.  And, clarity comes from the Word of God. Pursuing that clarity means being willing to stand strong with the truth in the midst of lies. There is great misinformation that is being circulated dealing with people's identities, their sexual preferences, and their willingness to give in to desires that contradict God's best.  We must make our decisions consistent with the teachings of Scripture, not the delusions of the world.

One School

The book of Acts contains the narratives of the original apostles, who were sent to spread the gospel and establish the early church. They were seized and put in prison, but miraculously released by an angel, and stood before the authorities, according to Acts 5, which states:
27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest asked them,
28 saying, "Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this Man's blood on us!"
29 But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: "We ought to obey God rather than men.

One school in one of our smaller states is making a big impact on women's sports.  

We're talking about Mid Vermont Christian School, which, as The Daily Signal reports:

Last year, Mid Vermont Christian School accused the Vermont Principals’ Association, the “governing body for high school sports and activities for the state’s 300 public and private secondary schools,” and Vermont state officials of religious discrimination for kicking it out of the state sports league after refusing to compete against a biological male in girls’ basketball.

A lawsuit was filed and the judge who was assigned the case refused to grant the school a temporary injunction to continue to participate in state athletics as the case moved forward.  So, the school went to a federal appeals court.  The story notes that just over a month ago...

...The Washington Times reported the school has once again pressed the issue by asking “the appeals court in the [Aug. 30] filing for a preliminary injunction reinstating its membership in the association pending the outcome of litigation.”

The school has been reinstated to five non-athletic activities, but no sports, apparently. 

Alliance Defending Freedom Senior Counsel Ryan Tucker said, “The [Vermont Principals’ Association’s] blatant act of discrimination and hostility toward Mid Vermont’s beliefs violates the First Amendment.” adding, “We are urging the court to uphold constitutional protections by guaranteeing the school can fully participate while still adhering to its religious beliefs.”

The Daily Signal notes:

...the principals’ association seems to be holding to its belief that Mid Vermont violated its “Policy [on] Gender Identity” and “Commitment to Racial, Gender-Fair, and Disability Awareness” and issued an “immediate determination of ineligibility.”

But, the state's disregard for freedom of religion doesn't end there. Alliance Defending Freedom, on its website, noted this spring that:

Last year, Vermont’s Agency of Education refused to designate Mid Vermont Christian as an approved independent school because of those beliefs, which meant the school could not participate in the state’s Town Tuitioning Program. That program pays for students residing in school districts that do not operate public high schools to attend an approved private school of the students’ choice. The State tried to walk back its denial from last year, but it still has not granted the school fully approved independent status and the school and its families do not know whether they will be able to participate moving forward.

So, the school is in court to right these wrongs against it: the denial of participation in the tuition program and its dismissal from participating in athletics because it refused to play in a game against a team with a male player. 

The outcome of this litigation could have an impact on not only MVCS, but on the face of education, where boys are being allowed to take part in girls' sports. Already, there have been appeals courts that have clamped down on the re-write of Title IX that would have allowed males to participate in female sports, but there have also been court decisions recently that have upheld this practice. 

This series of events reminds us that while there is a cost to do the right thing, according to the Scriptures, it can have a positive effect.  We have to make sure that we are upholding truth, then trust the Lord with the results.

We can also see that one person, one entity, one church, one organization, can make a statement and maybe even change the course of history.  That's what these court challenges that we see are all about.  When you consider the case of Coach Kennedy, or of Mid Vermont Christian Schools, we see examples of people who are devoted to upholding Christian principles, which can provide inspiration for each of us to be obedient to the Lord, serving and pleasing Him, even when human authorities fall short. 

Pray For Peace

When we consider the significance of this day, the first anniversary of a day in Israel's history where there was great terror, fear, and death, we can be reminded of our Biblical admonition to pray for Jerusalem. Psalm 122 contains these words:
4 Where the tribes go up, The tribes of the Lord, To the Testimony of Israel, To give thanks to the name of the Lord.
5 For thrones are set there for judgment, The thrones of the house of David.
6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: "May they prosper who love you.
7 Peace be within your walls, Prosperity within your palaces."

The first Sunday of October is commemorated as the Day of Prayer for the Peace of Jerusalem, which was established by Robert Stearns, founder of the ministry of Eagles' Wings, as well as Jack Hayford, according to a recent press release.

This occurred on the day prior to the first anniversary of the brutal, deadly attacks on Israel from the terror group, Hamas, and Eagles' Wings has continued to invite people to sign what has been named, the Bonhoeffer Declaration, according to another press release from the organization, which states:

The Declaration calls for courage and for solidarity with the Jewish people in the spirit of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a German pastor who courageously stood against the Nazis and who was murdered on Hitler's direct order.

Stearns, who serves as President of the ministry, stated: "Antisemitism is once again on the rise again in the world and we are in danger of history repeating itself on our watch...," adding, "Bonhoeffer saw the spread of antisemitism, as he watched the rise of Nazi Germany and famously said, 'The responsibility of the church is not just to bandage the victims under the wheel, but to stop the wheel itself.' His call was ignored by the vast majority of faith leaders in Germany, who stood mute while Jews were slaughtered. We must not allow our churches to follow the same path."  The ministry says: "The Bonhoeffer Declaration is a unified, seven-pronged commitment by the Church on behalf of Jewish people to take action by...

• Standing against evil
• Speaking out against antisemitism
• Educating their communities
• Advocating for Israel

The ministry reports that "3,600 faith leaders and everyday Christians" have signed on to the declaration, that can be found at bonhoeffer.org. 

A Watchman on the Wall Solidarity Tour was planned to depart for Israel last week. According to the ministry, this was scheduled to be one of the highlights: "As an act of solidarity, the tour will include a visit to Hostages Square in Tel Aviv, where ongoing rallies and vigils take place for those still held captive by Hamas."

So, this day observes the first anniversary of the Hamas attack on Israel and a catalytic event of a turbulent year which saw Israel fighting against threats to its sovereignty as a nation against people who desire to destroy it.  From Hamas to the south to Hezbollah to the north, with the Iranian threat manifested through a missile attack last week to inconsistent actions by U.S. officials regarding Israel, this nation has certainly had its share of opposition, bloodshed, and death. 

But Israel continues to stand because, well, God wants it to stand.  Dating back to the time of Abraham, when God made a covenant and chose the people of Israel, He has been faithful, even when they were unfaithful to Him. Christians have been grafted into the family of God out of His mercy by a Jewish man who came to fulfill the Law and make it possible for all to be saved.   As the body of Christ, we can continue to stand with the people whom God has chosen as His very own, who share a common spiritual heritage with us.  And, there will be a huge effort in the last days, according to Revelation, to draw Jewish people to the Messiah, through whom Israeli people can be saved. 

God on the Gridiron

As we surrender to God, we can discover more about how He desires to work in and through our lives for His glory - it's important that we build that awareness of His presence with us each day. Colossians 3 reminds us:
23 And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men,
24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.

The college football season is certainly in full swing, and it gives us an opportunity to consider how the Lord is at work through players whom He has placed in these programs in order to bring glory to His name.

Movieguide ran an article recently, in which it pointed to a recent opponent of the Auburn Tigers, stating:

A video posted by Christhlete on Instagram shows three players praying.

“Beautiful to see Taylen Green, Addison Nichols and Josh Braun from Arkansas football team coming together to pray after their victory over Auburn on Saturday night,” the outlet wrote.

Christhlete also referenced the Bible verse, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, which says, “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

The article zeroed in an Green, relating:

In a recent post, he shared several photos of him on the field and captioned them with Isaiah 43:19: “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”

Movieguide quoted from a Sports Spectrum article, which quoted Green: "I try to display that every time I go out on the field…I want everybody that watches me to, you know, see that light — see Jesus in me,” adding, “I want to take it off the field too…you know, God created me for more than just being a football player. I know, like, that’s my ability for sure, but, you know, I just wanted to be that light in the community.”

The article also quoted from a previous Movieguide article which described what had occurred at Ohio State: 

Per Sports Spectrum, “On Sunday evening, a number of current Ohio State players held a faith event on campus, organized by former receiver Kamryn Babb and attended by both OSU students and others from around the United States. The Lantern, Ohio State’s independent student newspaper, reported that the event was made possible through a collaboration of a number of local Christian churches in the Columbus area.”

I thought I would take this topic a bit closer to home.  In fact, just this week, Sports Spectrum featured an article centered on Alabama QB1 Jalen Milroe.  The article stated:

Milroe is undoubtedly one of the biggest names in college football, but he’s not after his own glory or fame.

“I get my strength from my Lord and Savior,” Milroe said last season after earning Alabama’s starting quarterback job. “I honestly say that, and I surrender my throne to Him, and I know that I can lean on Him no matter the circumstance. I honestly say I put my trust in Him no matter what.

“That’s where I get my strength at. My favorite Bible verse is Philippians 4:13: ‘I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.’ And I can honestly say that. I can always lean on my Lord and Savior through any situation.”

While Alabama travels to Nashville to face Vanderbilt this weekend, Auburn travels between the hedges to face Georgia, a team coming off that loss last Saturday to Alabama.  

Payton Thorne showed improvement in the game after rocky performances against Cal and Arkansas. The website, AuburnTigers.com, featured a story about Thorne last year, in which he is quoted as saying: 

“My why every time I step out there is playing for my Heavenly Father and just trying to give back to Him what He’s given to me,” Thorne said. “It’s been the No. 1 most important part of my life. My parents have instilled that in me. Just going out there to glorify Him and do all I can to be at my best.”

A 2021 Sports Spectrum piece reported that when Thorne was at Michigan State, following a victory over archrival Michigan, he said: “None of this happens without my Heavenly Father,” Thorne said. “That is what everything points to. I look to Him for everything and I can’t be more thankful for all that He has done for me.”

Millions have watched these two competitors throughout their careers at their respective schools. To think about how these young men perform at a high level week after week in front of screaming fans and interested viewers is truly amazing.  And, then to not shy away from the faith that drives them is remarkable.

They play for what has been called, "an audience of one."  Certainly, they are watched by many, but ultimately, what counts is their love for and obedience to the Lord. 

But, quite frankly, they're no different.  Each of us has a calling upon our lives; Jesus came to save us and if we follow that plan for us and are saved, we enter into our Savior's plan for our lives.  We do what we do for that "audience of one."  And, we may not have millions observe our lives, but the numbers do not matter, it's our desire to obey God and to trust Him to empower us to follow through that are key.  In this "Famous Friday" commentary, I like to point to those people who are considered to be "high-profile," but the truth is, whether we minister to thousands, hundreds, a small circle, or another person, we are here to exalt our Savior. 

Growing in Groups

The Bible speaks in Ephesians 4 about the cohesiveness of the body of Christ. Paul is exploring the topic of the role of leaders to equip members of that body, and writes:
13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;
14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting,
15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head--Christ--
16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

250 years ago, a man named Robert Raikes was concerned about the behavior of children in his English village.  As Lifeway Research relates, in 1780, Raikes started the first Sunday School.

The tradition of Sunday School has been a vital link to church engagement throughout the years, and now that model is one of many types of small groups that are part of local churches.  But, the small group concept originated long before Raikes acted out of love for the children of his hometown.  We can think of Jesus and His disciples as a bold example of a small group.  I think of David, who had a small group of "mighty men" around him.  And, there are others. 

In any church, regardless of size, a small group can be a source of fellowship and belonging.  Even in a congregation of 100 or less, people can find Christ-centered companionship among fellow believers. Churches have interest-based groups set up by age, such as children and youth, which are examples of opportunities to grow through teaching and fellowship. 

Lifeway Research has conducted a study about small group participation. Its website relates:

According to a Lifeway Research study of U.S. Protestant churches with ongoing adult Bible study groups, 56% say the label “Sunday School” describes at least part of their groups ministry. Almost 3 in 4 (72%) say they are comfortable with others referring to their groups as adult Bible studies. 

There are other names, as well: almost 40% use the terminology, "small groups."  Ken Braddy, director of Sunday School and network partnerships at Lifeway, is quoted as saying: “When it comes to Bible study groups, it’s less about the name we give the ministry and more about what the groups actually do,” adding “If a group learns and obeys God’s Word, invites others to follow Jesus, forms deeper relationships and engages in acts of service inside the church and out in the community, you can call a group ministry whatever you like.”

Just less than half of respondents say that the primary purpose is Bible study. Regarding the percentage of those who attend church who take part in small groups, about 4 out of 10 do so.  The article summarizing the survey states:

On average, churches have seven ongoing Bible study groups for adults with an average of 69 weekly participants. In a three-month period, the average church sees 91 individuals connect with a small group Bible study at least once.

Over 90 percent of small groups meet weekly, and 3 out of 4 meet year-round.  And most small group ministry leaders say their group members remain static over a long period of time. 

Scott McConnell, executive director of Lifeway Research, says: “The higher a church’s percentage of weekend worship attendees involved in a small group, Sunday School class or similar group, the more likely worship attendance growth is over a 5-year period.”  

We are part of the body of Christ - it's a large, worldwide body that has been extremely influential in our world today; it is doing excellent work and God is continuing to move through His people.  We meet in large groups frequently - as congregations, at conferences, and other larger events.  That is something that can be extremely healthy to our body.  But, smaller gatherings have their place, too - for those are the times in which we can discuss Scripture, fellowship together, and encourage one another on a deeper level.   

We can draw strength from not only our vertical relationship with God through prayer, Bible reading, and worship; but we can also receive encouragement through those horizontal relationships, as well. The body grows more cohesive as we know one another better. 

Purposeful Politics

God is speaking regarding the nation to which He has called us to inhabit. Psalm 33 states:
10 The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; He makes the plans of the peoples of no effect.
11 The counsel of the Lord stands forever, The plans of His heart to all generations.
12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, The people He has chosen as His own inheritance.

He is speaking, but are we listening and following His direction?  And, to what degree are the candidates who want our vote following God's principles?

A group of what was reported to be 300 "Christian leaders" have issued a statement that is entitled, generically enough, "Our Confession of Evangelical Conviction."  The signatories seem to be of the progressive wing of Christianity and at first glance, as Terry Mattingly notes in a piece I found at the Cumberland Times-News website, Andrew Walker of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary writes at The Gospel Coalition website: “It’s hard to read this new confession and disagree with any word in it. The statement is correct in virtually all its ... assertions about Jesus Christ’s supremacy over worldly political regimes and about the dehumanizing attitudes that can corrupt Christian political witness..."

He goes on to say:

Several commentators have noted that this confession appears — in format and subject matter — to have been inspired by the “Barmen Declaration,” published in 1934 by the Confessing Church of Germany as a rejection of the Nazi Party.

“Our Confession of Evangelical Conviction” declares: “No political ideology or earthly authority can claim the authority that belongs to Christ. ... We reject the false teaching that anyone other than Jesus Christ has been anointed by God as our Savior, or that a Christian’s loyalty should belong to any political party. We reject any message that promotes devotion to a human leader or that wraps divine worship around partisanship.”

Mattingly notes:

It’s important, noted Walker, that this new confession says Christians shouldn’t retreat from the public square, while it also condemns political actions it considers worldly.

In Walker's piece, he writes: "There’s nothing wrong with making political claims...if those are truly in the furtherance of the common good. Why? Because that’s what politics simply is: the organizing of power for the sake of mutual benefit."

He goes on to say:

Navigating the complexities of modern politics is difficult. But Christians must recognize that political power, when wielded justly, can be a tool for promoting the common good and upholding God’s created order. This requires discernment, wisdom, and a willingness to engage in the political process without compromising core biblical principles.

Walker chides signers of this declaration who associate with those who oppose Biblically-based viewpoints on the sanctity of life and traditional marriage, which obviously do not uphold the "common good." 

On X, pastor and podcast host Lucas Miles characterized this and other similar documents as "riddled with half-truths and politically charged language, subtly pushing a leftist agenda under the guise of faith. The signatories are predictably drawn from the ranks of progressive Christianity."  He posted the ID's of Russell Moore, Phil Vischer, Curtis Chang, and Karen Swallow Prior, all of whom have developed a reputation to be disruptive, left-leaning progressives. Miles goes on to say:

This latest statement, "Our Confession of Evangelical Conviction," is no different. It elevates human activism and social justice above the authority of Scripture, misdiagnosing America's real problem—sin—by scapegoating "candidate worship."

This "Confession" seems to be a utilization of Scripture to achieve a desired political outcome.  That's not the purpose of the Bible.  In examining our political choices, we start with the Scriptures, then we prayerfully examine our choices and, as it's been said, select the candidate who best lines up with our Biblical viewpoint.  We don't start with a worldly viewpoint and then attempt to fit Scripture to it. That's applicable to elections, and it's applicable to other areas of our lives.  

But, do not sit this one out.  We recognize that the direction of our nation has been greatly influenced by the outcome of elections.  Now, we realize that God is sovereign, and that He is ultimately the One who raises up and deposes leaders.  But, I believe there is a distinct responsibility the Church has, and because millions of evangelical Christians have actually sat out elections, as studies show, we have received leadership that does not reflect Biblical principles.  If we want leaders who reflect our deeply held beliefs - and there's nothing wrong with that, then we should examine the candidates and vote for the one closest to our beliefs.

Boys to Men

Our Lord Jesus, in His earthly ministry, demonstrated patterns of life that can be helpful to us today, and we can be reminded that we are empowered and directed by the Holy Spirit to live a life that honors Him. In John chapter 1, we can read:
12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:
13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

A coming-of-age movie about a troubled young man who discovers the importance of character, rooted in a relationship with Christ, continues to hold on in theaters after over a month of release.  

An article at Religion Unplugged by Joseph Holmes states the the film, "follows Isaiah, a high school graduate living at home with his mom, Cynthia...with no plans for the future. After his mom threatens to start charging him rent to live there, Isaiah is taken under the wing by a man who promises to help him become the man God is calling him to be."

The article is critical of the film, but is fair in pointing out that, "The film deserves credit for tackling the problems of wayward young men. Men in our society are falling behind in school, dropping out of the workforce, abandoning marriage and parenthood and increasingly ending their lives."  While Holmes believes the film could have offered a different take on Joshua's plight, stating, "The film largely ignores putting us in Isaiah’s point of view or understanding his perspective."  And, Holmes believes the movie runs the risk of turning young men away from the Christian faith. 

But, Paul Asay of Plugged In quoted from film director Alex Kendrick in his review; he said: “We realize that some people are not going to like our movies, and we are totally OK with that,” adding,“But those that do, [those] that we can encourage and help go deeper in their faith, praise the Lord.”  Asay adds, referring to the mentor character, Joshua Moore:

And that’s really what The Forge is all about: An exhortation for Christians to go deeper.

“The Lord doesn’t need more lukewarm churchgoers,” Joshua says. “We need more believers who are wholeheartedly following Jesus.”

Why? Joshua shows us every moment he’s on screen. We see what total commitment costs—and what harvest it reaps. We see how one man can completely transform another man’s life—and how that transformation can exponentially grow. According to the Pew Research Center, 210 million people in the United States identify as Christian. Can you imagine what would happen if every one of those 210 million people were as committed to Christ as Joshua? If they gave so much of their time and treasure?

Regarding Isaiah's entry into manhood, Asay writes:

“A big part of becoming a man is showing up,” Joshua tells Isaiah.

The Forge shows us just how true that is. Isaiah’s father hurt Isaiah just as much by what he didn’t do as what he did. “He made all these promises,” Isaiah says. “[He’d] stop drinking, get a job, pick me up from practice—all lies.”

But as much as Isaiah doesn’t want to be his father, Cynthia sees Isaiah turning into him. He fails to show up and return his mom’s car on time. He oversleeps and shows up late for work. The process of becoming a dependable man isn’t always easy, and Isaiah’s story arc shows its ups and downs—but that arc ultimately lands in a positive place.

To his credit, Holmes explores the "why?' of a male character like Isaiah descending into rebellious behavior.  He states:

The thing is, we have pretty good information on why men today are struggling. Dr. Jonathan Haidt points out in “The Anxious Generation ” that overprotectiveness of children has undercuts boys' confidence growing up by keeping them from going on adventures without supervision — which they can’t gain confidence without having.

Schools reward girls’ natural sit-still-and-listen style of learning while punishing boys' active, hands-on learning style, as The American Psychological Association points out. Add that to men feeling stigmatized for their masculinity, as Dr. Richard Reeves's book “Of Boys and Men” unpacks, and many men don’t see the point of trying to succeed. A father can help if he and his son have a close relationship, as Nancy Pearcey’s “The Toxic War on Masculinity” shows, but they are still fighting against the current.

This results in a generation of boys who don’t have the skills and confidence in themselves to succeed in the world, and feel stigmatized for the parts of themselves they like. Therefore, they retreat into fantasy like video games or porn, which do validate their masculine drives.

It seems that Jonathan Haidt is getting quite a bit of visibility these days. Richard Blackaby states that, "Haidt is not a Christian. In fact, he would most likely claim to be a Liberal atheist." But, he seems to have discovered an important thread that could provide answers.  In a commentary by John Stonestreet and Jared Hayden at the Breakpoint website, they write:

Haidt argues in his latest book, The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness, that collective action is what we need to save our children. He suggests four ideas that need to become new norms, which would require collective action: no smartphones before high school, no social media before 16, phone-free schools, and more independence, free play, and responsibility in the real world at an earlier age.

The commentary actually questioned the effectiveness of government action to regulate cellphone use for minors, and said that more stakeholders are needed.  The article states:

In recent years, local congregations and groups of Christian families have joined together to take the “Postman Pledge.” By taking this pledge, named after tech critic Neil Postman, families agree to a year of raising their kids sans smartphones and in social community with one another. 

Now more than ever, we need collective action to protect kids from phone-based childhoods. The more, the better.

The so-called "boy crisis" is something that is very much on the mind of Mark Hancock, the CEO of Trail Life USA, who has been a guest multiple times on The Meeting House on Faith Radio.  In a blog post in response to the renaming of the Boy Scouts of America, the organization stated:

For Trail Life USA CEO Mark Hancock, the name change served as a sobering reminder of a dividing line between principle and progressivism. "Our focus is different," he responded. "Our number one job is not to get kids into the program. Our number one job is to grow godly men. The reality is that males and females are fundamentally different in many ways: physically, emotionally, and in their relationships. Pretending otherwise in the name of progress or permissiveness might be culturally acceptable, but it does both sexes a disservice. Boys and girls deserve unique programs created with their specific needs in mind."

We are suffering the effects of the homogenization of gender and gender roles.  The Bible is clear that God made men and women unique. This means that there are specific attributes that are consistent with and an extension of biological sex.  This is not intended to perpetuate stereotypes, but the truth is, we live in an age of gender confusion, and what it means to be a man and if manhood is even valuable and relevant are topics that are up for debate in some circles. 

There are many reasons, but we can find wisdom to address these issues through the clarity of the Scriptures.  Rather than wander in confusion and despair, men - and everyone, for that matter - can gain a sense of identity by pressing into Jesus. He is a great model for us of true manhood - strong, yet compassionate; directed, yet dependent on His Heavenly Father.  In an age in which the Christian faith and Jesus Himself have been redefined, recast, we can know the stability and security that come through a relationship with Him.