Losing Our Religion?

In Hebrews 9, we encounter a powerful passage that can motivate us to turn aside from works or practices that may seem religious but yet do not glorify God, and to pursue the life-giving presence of Christ:
11 But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation.
12 Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.
13 For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh,
14 how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

God is calling us to walk in His life, to experience the fullness of His presence, to seek His face and to turn aside from works that do not bring glory to Him, some of which might even be considered religious in nature.  We may engage in those practices that seem religious, but God is calling us to allow His life to be expressed through us, to experience the dynamics of a walk with Him.  The reality of a that walk can communicate far more powerfully than religious activity that does not bring life or glorify God.

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This passage from 1st Corinthians 4 can remind us that we need to be strengthened in the ways of the Lord, who gives us power that He desires to release in our hearts and through our lives:
17 For this reason I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church.
18 Now some are puffed up, as though I were not coming to you.
19 But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord wills, and I will know, not the word of those who are puffed up, but the power.
20 For the kingdom of God is not in word but in power.

Traditionally, the church as an institution has been highly influential in society, but a new Gallup poll suggests that the perception of organized religion is declining.  According to a piece on the USA Today website, Americans have less confidence in religion, which is a sign that that the church could be "losing its footing as a pillar of moral leadership in the nation's culture."

Lydia Saad, author of the report, said that, "In the '80s the church and organized religion were the No. 1″ in Gallup's annual look at confidence in institutions.

The article relates that overall, church and organized religion is now ranked in fourth place in the Gallup survey — behind the military, small business and the police — while still ahead of the medical system, Congress and the media, among 15 institutions measured. Saad is quoted as saying, "Almost all organizations are down but the picture for religion is particularly bleak."

In the mid-'70s, nearly 7 in 10 Americans said they had "a great deal or quite a lot" of confidence in the church or organized religion. That has trended downward decade by decade to the new low of just 42%, according to the report.

And, Saad pointed out that the most significant influence on the religion statistic is the high number of Americans disconnected from organized religion and likely to have little or no confidence in it. For instance, as the USA Today piece reports, a Pew Research survey this year finds nearly 23% of Americans say they don't identify with any religion. The Gallup data — which combined this group with non-Christians — finds only 10% of these had a great deal or quite a lot of confidence in religion.

Another Pew poll, from last year, said that three out of four Americans - 72%, a record high - believe that religion is "losing its influence on American life," but a majority of Americans, 56 percent, also believe this shift has been for the worse, according to a Christianity Today piece.  That poll also found that fewer Americans believed that churches should stay out of politics - 48%, down from 52% in 2010.

But, while organized religion may be losing its influence, that still does not mean that Christianity cannot have an impact.  And, Ed Stetzer of LifeWay Research wrote in a piece for USA Today following the Pew poll in May showing the Christian share of the American population declining almost 8 percentage points from 2007 to 2014:

Rather than predict the impending doom of the church in America, this latest study affirms what many researchers have said before. Christianity isn't collapsing; it's being clarified. Churches aren't emptying; rather, those who were Christian in name only are now categorically identifying their lack of Christian conviction and engagement.

He says that, "Nominal Christians are becoming the nones and convictional Christians remain committed. It is fair to say we are now experiencing a collapse, but it's not of Christianity. Instead, the free fall we find is within nominalism."

So, we have to be clear to distinguish between religion and the practice of Christianity.  Stetzer mentions the clarification of Christianity.  I mentioned in an earlier blog post that there is no room in the middle, writing:

...the Bible doesn't teach some sort of cultural Christianity that emphasizes blending in; no, Biblical Christianity calls us to stand out, to be different, and perhaps even to face suffering because of our faith. We are not called to go along, but to go into the world and make a difference.

In the book of Revelation, God says that the lukewarm will be rejected.  God is calling us to go beyond a powerless religious practice and experience powerful Christian living.  Perhaps this new Gallup poll is communicating to us that we need to come away from dead works that might have a religious appearance and serve the living God and proclaim His presence.

We can admit that words and deeds that may be tinged with religion but lack the life and power of Christ do not provide the answers that our society is searching for.  Real, authentic, God-infused Christianity - Biblical truth - offers the insight and satisfaction that so many are craving.

The challenge for each of us is to realize the opportunity and allow God to use us to make a strong statement to our culture.   If we are losing our religion as a culture, that doesn't mean that our faith, our walk with Christ, and our communication of His truth cannot be a powerful force, a transformational element for people - they need to know a living and loving Savior.

Inside Out and Upside Down

Here is a passage of Scripture containing a verse that was brought up last Friday by Dr. Marc Newman of Movie Bible Study, related to the new movie, Inside Out, about which I'll have more to say on The Meeting House program.   This is from 1st Peter 4:

12 Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you;
13 but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.

Even though we face trials in this life, yet we can be confident that God is producing in us fruit to His glory.  We can know His joy and peace because we know that He is walking with us.  And, even if we may encounter sadness along the way, we still know that He is glorified - we can know His presence even as circumstances change of may even go against us.   Our aim is to be pleasing to God, and that can give us great satisfaction.

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In 2nd Corinthians 7, we read about how God will produce His desired work of restoration, even out
of the midst of sorrow:
9 Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing.
10 For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.
11 For observe this very thing, that you sorrowed in a godly manner: What diligence it produced in you, what clearing of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what vehement desire, what zeal, what vindication! In all things you proved yourselves to be clear in this matter.

Well, there has been plenty of buzz about a new film from the folks at Pixar, who have acquired a reputation for making entertaining, heart-warming, and even thought-provoking films that have endeared them to a wide audience.   And, there is plenty of good will to go around about their newest effort, called Inside Out.  The basic premise actually sounds maybe-a-bit-too-basic - you essentially go inside the animation-rendered mind of an 11-year-old and meet her emotions, which are expressed through 5 characters - Joy, Sadness, Fear, Anger, and Disgust.

This young girl named Riley had a lot going for her, with a nice family, wonderful friends, the enjoyment of playing hockey - after all, they lived in Minnesota.  She had been making plenty of wonderful memories, fueled by the dominant emotion of, yes, Joy.  But, then the family moves to San Francisco and the resulting life changes and a few bumps in the road cause upheaval in Riley's life - and her emotions.  For most of her early life, the Type-A Joy was in control, holding off the bumbling Sadness, who has tried to get her hands on some of Riley's Joy-filled memories, which have been built into core memories.  But, the move causes an emotional tug-of-war and plenty of mayhem inside Riley's mind.

Ultimately, when Joy and Sadness are whisked away into a different part of Riley's brain, away from the control center, the other 3 take control, with rather disastrous results.  And, actually, Sadness plays a key role in restoring order, if you can believe that.

Dr. Marc Newman of Movie Bible Study offered a number of ideas related to Inside Out that are worth considering.  You can access that conversation here.   He brought out that God's ultimate goal for us is not happiness, it is joy.  And, as he rightly says, joy will sometimes require unpleasant experiences to mature.   He mentioned 1st Peter 4:12, which says: "Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you..."  The next verse reads, "...but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy."

He also explored the role of grief and sadness in our lives, in making us whole people, even though we don't want to deal with them.  In order to understand concepts of forgiveness and grace, we have to be presented with situations that require forgiveness and demand grace.

In the Plugged In movie review for Inside Out, Paul Asay writes, referring to director Pete Docter:

He and his moviemaking team also fleshed out a message that feels truly countercultural: Happiness isn't everything.

Our age values happiness a great deal. We're supposed to be happy, jettisoning anything and everything that makes us unhappy: spouses, careers, obligations, our own identities, you name it. If we're happy, that's all that matters, we tell ourselves. And if we're not happy, well, that means something's wrong.

Without giving too much away, here is another passage from the review:

But by the time Inside Out finishes, we realize that Sadness isn't the villain. She's the hero. She allows Riley to grieve over the losses she's sustained in her big move/life change and, eventually, move on and change for the better.

What a brave message that is—that our goal isn't to be happy all the time. We're supposed to be … us. We're supposed to experience life in its wholeness, even in its sadness. Happy smiles don't get us all the way there. Running clear of anything that might potentially upset us doesn't either. Sometimes we need to be sad. And that sadness—indeed, all of those prickly emotions we see in Inside Out—can be catalysts for a much deeper joy down the line.

So, this is definitely a movie that can make you think.  And, I believe that I may have overthought the film at the expense of my being entertained by it.  But, the lessons are very compelling.  Yes, it's true that God does not promise a happy life, dependent solely on the externals, but His goal for us is to experience His joy.   And, even through negative circumstances, we can experience the joy of His presence.

There was a degree of protection that the emotional character Joy wanted to provide for Riley.  Her goal was to make sure all the stored emotions were happy ones, and she was really intent on doing that.   But, the fact is, we are not protected from those things in life that can cause pain and uncertainty, that can produce anger and even fear in our lives.  But, as we come face-to-face with those emotions that would be described as negative, we can learn to exercise self-control and Christlike character.

All in all, through those times of adversity, we can know that God is doing His work.  And, when we miss the mark, we can experience the wonderful love and restoration of our Lord Jesus.  As we are sorrowful for our sin and that Godly sorrow produces repentance in us, we can gain a greater sense of the love of the Lord for us.  Sadness will come, but out of great sadness can come a deeper and more fulfilling joy.

Evaluating Our Options

In John 16, Jesus is teaching His disciples about coming persecution. But, He also tells them about the power source Whom He would send:
7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.

Later in the chapter, He says:
13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.

We live in an age where Christian principles are not respected by many, much less upheld.  There are threats to our freedom to speak out for the gospel and to live out our faith in the public square. This can be discouraging, but we can remember that Jesus has entrusted to us a call to follow Him, no matter what, and He's given us His Spirit to help us, to empower us, to direct us, and in some cases, to protect us.  Later in John 16, Jesus says that in the midst of tribulation, we can walk joyfully, or be of good cheer, because He has overcome.   Overcome what?  The power of sin and death, the power of the enemy who is at work powerfully in this earth, but whose power is far inferior to that of Almighty God.

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In 1st John 4, we find a passage that addresses discernment and overcoming the spiritual influences that are not lined up with Christ:
4 You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
5 They are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them.
6 We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.

It can be frustrating for a believer in Christ when we see examples of degradation across the culture. We await a decision by the U.S. Supreme Court that could be a watershed moment in this decline - the attempt to redefine an institution that God has established.

In this age that has been described as "post-Christian" or "anti-Christian," we still have to remember that we belong to the One who is greater that he who is in the world.  We serve the One who has overcome the world, who calls us to be of good cheer.  But, silence, solitude, or surrender are not options for devoted followers of Christ.

Rod Dreher, who writes for The American Conservative, is attempting to come to grips with how we as Christians should live in and interact with our culture.  He has suggested the "Benedict Option." Recently, he was a guest on Breakpoint This Week, with host John Stonestreet, which is heard Saturday mornings at 11:30 on Faith Radio.  In a summary, Stonestreet writes:

A phrase borrowed from moral philosopher Alasdair MacIntyre's classic work “After Virtue,” Dreher describes the Benedict Option as “the way...to prepare a culture of resistance for the church to live in these post-Christian, indeed, these anti-Christian times.”

It takes its name from Benedict of Nursia, a Christian saint who, during the collapse of the Roman Empire, founded independent communities of believers who preserved virtue, literacy, and civilization through the Dark Ages. These communities, of course, became what we know today as monasteries, and Benedict became the namesake of the most famous monastic order.

Stonestreet points out that Dreher "...isn't proposing we don habits and cloister ourselves in monasteries. But he is proposing that we recognize our civilization’s decline, disentangle Christian identity from secular culture, and prepare the Church to preserve that identity for future generations."

Dreher is quoted as saying:

“The time is going to come when we Christians will have to separate from the mainstream—not head for the hills, let me underscore that—not head for the hills, but live in some sort of separate community so we can be the church. Not so we can keep ourselves pure but so that we can remind ourselves of who we are and be a light to the world, called to fidelity to Christ.”

In a recent piece on the website of The American Conservative, Dreher, who begins his piece quoting from Montgomery pastor Alan Cross' review of the recent Southern Baptist Convention, gives a nice summary of the Benedict Option:

To recap: The Benedict Option is about both retreat and engagement.

It is retreat in the sense that it requires a) an honest and sober recognition of the condition of our post-Christian culture, and the relationship of the church to it; b) a realistic understanding of how radically Christianity opposes the mainstream post-Christian culture; c) a clear grasp of how radically Christians have to live, in community, to “push back against the world as hard as it pushes against you” (Flannery O’Connor), and d) implementing these new, and renewed, ways of living, in part to build resilience for the trials to come, and to guard against assimilation.

It is about engagement in that the church has a mission to serve the world, through evangelism and works of charity. The church can only fulfill its mission if it knows who, and what, it is. The early Benedictines lived in community, behind monastery walls, so they could pray as they were called to pray. But they also served the people outside the monastery walls. The former had everything to do with how effectively they did the latter.

WORLD Magazine has featured the Benedict Option recently on its website, including some analysis from writer and professor at The King's College D.C. Innes.   Here is a powerful paragraph from a recent piece:

It explains much of our present condition that we can speak of this proposal as a radical departure from ordinary Christian practice. Much of this is nothing other than a full-orbed, consistent Christian life. But most churchgoers are only faintly aware of this culture clash, this conflict of kingdoms, and what it should cost them in their discipleship.

He did ask the question, "But what does the defensive cultural and political stance of the Benedict Option look like in practice?" He mentioned that the goal of The King's College is to prepare students to help shape and perhaps lead strategic institutions. He refers to various areas of influence in the culture where graduates are working. He writes, "In these settings, grads will conduct themselves Christianly and bring the mind of Christ to bear on their governing responsibilities with, God willing, transformative effects."

He continues:

Should we dissuade Christians from seeking elective office? If they succeed, should they not advocate godly policies as best they can? As voters, should we not make God’s voice heard in the public square—His square, after all—as we have learned it in His Word? God gave His people a Jeremiah Mandate for their exile in Babylon, “Seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile [in our case, internal cultural exile], and pray to the LORD on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare” (Jeremiah 29:7, ESV).

Dreher is right that we have entered a new phrase of Western history and there is no going back anytime soon. We should labor faithfully in our callings and labor in hope, “for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13, ESV). But at this point, especially given the last 35 years, we can have no reasonable hope of “taking back America” for Christian culture. But there is always hope in the gospel itself and the cultural fruits that follow.

So, there is a real pragmatism here that Innes is bringing out.  I don't sense surrender, but a careful appraisal of where we are.  And, that doesn't preclude attempting to make a statement into our culture about the power and truth of the gospel.  The other two words I mentioned earlier - silence and solitude - are also not reasonable for Christians who are seeking to live out the dictates of and principles of Scripture.

But, there is something to be said for refocusing our attention to personal discipleship and living and functioning together as the body of Christ, encouraging one another in discouraging times.  And, the call upon each of us to live out and speak about the things of God has not diminished; in fact, it is more important than ever before.  Cultural change can come through heart change, and you cannot underestimate the power of God as He sends revival in the hearts of His people.  But we have to want it - if the desire is there and the devoted followthrough is there, then we can trust God to send His Spirit in a fresh way to move powerfully through our lives.

Who Defines You?

We are servants of God, and because we have been adopted into His family through salvation in Jesus Christ, we can live our lives as His representatives, displaying the power and the love of Christ, using the means that we have been given to bring glory to Him. Consider this passage from 2nd Corinthians 4:
5 For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus' sake.
6 For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.

Because of what Christ has done for us, we have His love in our hearts, His life in our spirits, and His life which can be radiated through our lives.  God will place us in positions where we can effectively shine that light through our words and actions.  Even though we live in human bodies, God's supernatural power and strength can flow through us to bring honor and glory to His name.  As we yield to His spirit, we testify to His presence in us and His greatness through us.

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In 1st Corinthians 3, we gain some insight into our identity - to whom we belong, and how we act as children of God and servants of Christ. The final 3 verses of the chapter say this:
21 Therefore let no one boast in men. For all things are yours:
22 whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas, or the world or life or death, or things present or things to come--all are yours.
23 And you are Christ's, and Christ is God's.

And the next 2 verses, in 1st Corinthians 4, say:
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.

He said, "God is great," after his team won the NBA Championship this year, and he was the team's MVP for the Finals.  No, it wasn't Steph Curry - I talk about him later - but it was Andre Iguodala, who, according to a story on the Christian Today website, thanked God for his team's historic NBA championship, saying it's "unreal" how they managed to do it. He said that the Golden State Warriors have bonded over their faith in God, and he said they found their purpose through Him. Iguodala is quoted as saying: "We got a team full of believers. We all go to chapel before every game. We all believe and we all say God has a way for you—a purpose for you. This is my purpose."

The article says that earlier, Iguodala had told the Christian Messenger that his faith kept him focused. He said, "When people see us on the court, we want them to see God's work. We want to be a good representation of what we believe in. When you go out there, you're not just representing your country or the NBA, you're representing your beliefs. You want to play hard for Someone who died for you."

Christian Today related that Iguodala also commended his teammate point guard Stephen Curry not just for his basketball prowess but also for his unwavering faith in God. "I want to be just like Steph when I grow up—just a God fearing man, great guy," he said.

The website has the story of Curry's acceptance speech upon winning the NBA's Most Valuable Player award.  He began by saying, 

"First and foremost I have to thank my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ for blessing me with the talents to play this game, with the family to support me, day in, day out. I'm his humble servant right now and I can't say enough how important my faith is to who I am and how I play the game."

Curry said the four things that helped him achieve his present success were faith, passion, drive and will.

His advice for others? "...be the best version of yourself in anything that you do. You don't have to live anybody else's story... Doesn't matter where you come from, what you have or don't have... All you need to have is faith in God, and undying passion for what you do, what you choose to do in this life, and a relentless drive and the will to do whatever it takes to be successful at whatever you put your mind to."

By the way, in February Curry launched a new signature shoe with Under Armour which features a reference to his favorite Bible verse – Philippians 4:13: " I can do all this through him who gives me strength."

So, here you have two members of the Golden State Warriors who have been designated as being "valuable" to their team.  With regard to the teams to which God has called us, our value can be determined by our willingness to be used of God.  Take Curry's 4 keys to success, if you will: faith, passion, drive, and will.  I also think that our faith combined with humility makes us a good team member with the people with whom we are called...in the home, in the church, in the workplace, or in team sports.   God calls us to trust Him and to not be complacent - you should never be that person that everyone else has to pull along.  We can be driven by our devotion to serve God and to serve other people.

Curry and Iguodala have been given platforms through which they can share their faith - you could say that they have been strategically placed at Golden State and accomplished great things, not so they could boast in themselves, but so they could boast in Christ and make Him famous.  Our success is not measured by financial gain or how much we achieve at the expense of others, but how much we trust God and allow Him to do His will through us.   As Curry reminds us, we can be successful - and God does not oppose success - but we have to make sure it is determined by our level of obedience.

These guys play at a high level and are motivated by their desire to please God and their drive to be their very best - as Curry said, we can be challenged to be the "best version of yourself..."  God has wired us in a particular way - and He has given us a new identity that is found in Jesus Christ - now He wants us to be the very best for Him, utilizing the gifts and skills that He has entrusted in us.  Our identity is not found in how good of an athlete we may be, or even how we perform on the job, even though I believe God desires for us to do our best.  His plan for us is wrapped up in our willingness to follow in His Spirit and to allow Him to work in our hearts for the glory of His name.

Overcome Evil With Good

As we approach the ills of our society, it is important that we are grounded in the principle that we can overcome evil with good. 1st Peter 3 reinforces that notion:
8 Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous;
9 not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.

If we collectively were to apply those two verses, what a transformation it could bring about in our society - the Bible has provided for us sound wisdom in dealing with the conflicts and tensions that we encounter in our culture.  Christians are called to be in unity; however, we allow Satan to divide us, and that renders us ineffective.  We become hardened in our hearts rather than heartened to do the will of God.  We are called to be courteous and to bless people.  What a great opportunity and responsibility we have to shine Christ's light and encourage people to walk in it.

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How do we deal with evil in a civilized society? The Bible teaches that evil is overcome by good. Here are some words from Romans 12:
17 Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men.
18 If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.
19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord.
20 Therefore "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head."
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

The Post and Courier newspaper website described the setting of the horrific event that transpired on Wednesday night in the Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston:

The tragedy unfolded on a hot, steamy night after about a dozen clergy and church members gathered for a regular Bible study and prayer service. They met in the basement, a ground-level floor beneath the sanctuary that housed the pastor’s office and other rooms.

They studied Mark 4 16:20. [sic] “Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy ...”

A young white man, not part of the congregation, came in around 8:15 p.m. and sat down quietly. He stayed for 40 to 50 minutes as the session continued.

“But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away ...”

Suddenly, the young man rose, uttered remarks that betrayed his contempt for blacks and opened fire with a gun.

A female trustee, who hid under a table, was among the survivors. The gunman told her he would let her live so that she could tell the story of what happened. Two other survivors, including a young girl, played dead, church members said.

After a church faced an attack, THE church throughout Charleston responded.  Another Post and Courier article traced the spiritual response.   It stated:

Bursts of loud applause punctuated Thursday’s midday prayer vigil honoring the nine victims of Charleston’s first modern mass shooting. Heartfelt praise and loud singing characterized the evening vigil at Royal Missionary Baptist Church. And at Second Presbyterian Church, worshippers filled the pews for a somber prayer service before marching with tears and flowers to a memorial at the shooting site.

The slayings at the historic Emanuel AME Church reverberated across the metro area prompting thousands to pay their respects and pray for healing.

The largest of the special services, held at Morris Brown AME Church in the heat of the afternoon, drew church officials, politicians and civic leaders who issued calls for unity in the face of evil and emphasized the role of the church in fostering healing.

At the Morris Brown service,  the Rt. Rev. Dr. John Richard Bryant, senior bishop of the AME Church, spoke of the resiliency of the faithful. He said, "the young man picked the wrong place," then addressed what he called the elephant in the room: “the growth of senseless violence.”

Mayor Joe Riley said that the Emanuel church was already a sacred place and declared, "And now it’s even more sacred. Sacred because of the lives lost in it while in prayer.” He added, "It isn’t when we fall that counts, it’s how we get up...We will look back on (this tragedy) as a time when love and goodness came together to overcome evil."

Gov. Nikki Haley said, “As all eyes of this country are on our state and our city...what happened in that church is not the people of South Carolina.” She added, "If this can happen in church, we’ve got some praying to do. If there’s one thing we can do in South Carolina it’s pray. ... We are a state of faith, we are a state of prayer, we are a state of love.”

Friday at 6:00 ET, the City of Charleston scheduled a community vigil at the College of Charleston TD Arena.  The Charleston Area Convention and Visitors Bureau has organized a special citywide church bell ringing for 10 a.m. Sunday to show solidarity with the church.  About a dozen downtown churches have so far agreed to participate. 

A gospel artist named Marcus Stanley made the decision to reach out to the alleged shooter, 21-year-old Dylann Roof, on his now-deleted Facebook page.  According to The Christian Post, Stanley wrote: "I don't look at you with the eyes of hatred, or judge you by your appearance or race, but I look at you as a human being that made a horrible decision to take the lives of nine living and breathing people."

His post stated, "Children do not grow up with hatred in their hearts. In this world we are born color blind. Somewhere along the line, you were taught to hate people that are not like you, and that is truly tragic." He added, "If you are still out there and you have your phone with you … Give your heart to Jesus and confess your sins with a heart of forgiveness. He is the only one that can save your soul and forgive you for this terrible act that you have done."

There are several words that come to mind in the aftermath of this tragedy:

Number 1 is pray.  Pray.  Whenever there is an incident that stirs our hearts, when we see a loss of life, as people are feeling insecure, we can be encouraged to go to the Lord and ask for His will to be seen.  

Another is overcome.  The Bible speaks of overcoming evil with good.  And, make no mistake, this was an act of pure evil, inspired by the Father of lies.  Murder is an act straight from the evil one. Sure, we know that all sin is evil, but this is an unspeakable act that defies description, an expression of violent hatred in the heart of a severely deceived individual.  And, we have to be aware that enemy's strategy is to divide people, to turn them against each other, and to plant seeds of hatred in the hearts of people. 

There is also the word, heal.   Already, people in leadership are calling for healing and restoration, and that is good.  A Christianity Today story quotes Cecilia Williams, director of ministry initiatives of Love Mercy Do Justice for the Evangelical Covenant Church, who said that for many African Americans, the shooting brings up memories of other racial violence. She said, "This a tragic reminder of a historic legacy of violence,” adding, “It feels like there is no safe place for black people in America.”

Still, as the article states, Williams said that she’s not without hope. This incident is a chance for Christians of all races to speak “into the fullness of human suffering,” she said. “This situation is not beyond God’s watchful eye or his ability to redeem and restore.”

We can rely on the Lord, as His people come together, to bring a wave of healing in our land.  People can talk, deeply share, across racial and cultural lines, to address, in a common sense way, the issues that are facing our communities.  It is the presence of God and the love of Jesus that can bring unity.

Finally, there is the word, love.  Love is the fuel for prayer, it enables us to overcome evil, and brings healing between people who have been separated.  Knowing God's love can bring comfort in the face of loss.  Experiencing and appropriating the love of God can be very powerful in the face of fear - the Bible says that perfect love casts out fear.  

This was a heinous act.  Now, as believers come together with a common purpose to serve God and to provide leadership on dealing with issues in our communities, we can help to provide a way forward, to continue progress in bridging the gaps that would separate us.

Uncertainty, Anxiety, and Confidence in God

The thought of what could be coming in our future - morally, economically, and politically - can produce a sense of anxiety and even a lack of hope.  God wants us to draw near to Him with confidence, knowing that He is with us and He will sustain us and give us peace and joy even in those difficult times. Psalm 91 reminds us:
1 He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust."

Think with me about the concept of a "secret place" with God.  Do you know what that looks like? Have you experienced it?  I would think you could describe it as a one-on-one experience with the Almighty, when we pull away from the cares of this life and abide in and even rejoice in the care He has for us.  He calls us to come before Him, to approach His throne, to know He loves us and will walk with us through uncertain and challenging times.

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In times of uncertainty, which can produce anxiety in our hearts and minds, we can renew our confidence in Christ. Here are some encouraging words from Hebrews 10:
35 Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward.
36 For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise:
37 "For yet a little while, And He who is coming will come and will not tarry.
38 Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him."

I want to encourage you to be in prayer for the U.S. Supreme Court as the nine justices consider how to handle the issue of what is called "same-sex marriage."  A decision is imminent, within the next couple of weeks.

While you never can predict what the Supreme Court is going to do, a new survey gives an indication as to what Americans think the high court will do.  According to a PRRI - Public Religion Research Institute - poll, nearly two-thirds, or 65% of Americans believe that the court will overturn state bans preventing same-sex couples from marrying and make same-sex marriage legal nationwide. Only 25% of those surveyed say they believe the Supreme Court will leave existing state bans on same-sex marriage intact. One in ten (10%) Americans offer no opinion on the outcome of the Supreme Court ruling.

And the speculation somewhat corresponds to the degree of support for same-sex marriage.  80% of those who favor same-sex marriage believe the Supreme Court will make same-sex marriage legal nationwide.  But, opponents of same-sex marriage are divided on the outcome. Nearly half (47%) believe that the Supreme Court will legalize same-sex marriage while roughly as many (42%) believe the court will uphold the bans.

Almost two-thirds, or 63% of white evangelical Protestants and 60% of Catholics say they expect the court to make same-sex marriage legal in all 50 states.

Overall, 55% of those surveyed favor allowing gay and lesbian couples to marry legally, while 37% are opposed. Strong generational, religious, and partisan divisions persist on the issue. For instance, in categories related to religion, majorities of religiously unaffiliated Americans (79%), white mainline Protestants (60%), and Catholics (58%) favor allowing gay and lesbian couples to marry legally. Conversely, only 29% of white evangelical Protestants and 35% of non-white Protestants support making same-sex marriage legal; majorities of white evangelical Protestants (62%) and non-white Protestants (54%) oppose.

There was a question about what is described as "discrimination" against LGBT individuals, which includes a broad description.  69% of Americans in this PRRI survey favor laws that would protect LGBT individuals against discrimination in jobs, public accommodations, and housing, compared to 25% who oppose such policies.  Fifty-nine percent of non-white Protestants, 60% of white evangelical Protestants, 67% of white mainline Protestants, and 71% of Catholics favor nondiscrimination laws for LGBT people.   Of course, you have to define what is meant by discrimination.  Non-discrimination laws that have been passed or proposed have dealt with creating special classifications or special rights based on sexual orientation and gender identity.  But, the question did not appear to go far enough in accurately measuring opinion on that topic.

And, this survey said that 60% of Americans oppose allowing a small business owner to refuse products or services to gay and lesbian people, even if doing so violates their religious beliefs, while 34% support such a policy.  Again, a general question.   When you narrow it down to a business providing services related to marriage, as WPA and Rasmussen have done in surveys earlier this year, the outcome changes. Family Research Council reports that a WPA Opinion Research poll found 81 percent of Americans believe the "government should leave people free to follow their beliefs about marriage as they live their daily lives at work and in the way they run their businesses." A Rasmussen Survey reported 70% of Americans "agree that a Christian wedding photographer who has deeply held religious beliefs opposing same-sex marriage has the right to turn down working a job at such a wedding."

By the way, FRC is involved in the Call 2 Fall event on the Sunday prior to July 4th - an event in which over 2 million churches have participated.   It is simple and involves setting aside a definite time during worship on June 28 when people are called to get on their knees and faces before the Lord for 3 to 5 minutes in repentant prayer for God to reshape our lives and renew our land. The event website says:

Why that Sunday? Because on the day before we celebrate our "Independence," we should also express our "Dependence" upon the Lord. Throughout this special day, we encourage believers to spend time on their knees in crying out to God to heal our souls and our land.

So, what are the takeaways from the PRRI research.  Well, for one thing, there is plenty of uncertainty.  Polls are taken from a representative sample, and while they can give information on trends and give us points for discussion, they are not completely definitive.   There is uncertainty in what the Supreme Court is going to do.  And, we know that the direction of our nation is at a critical juncture.  We cannot know what is taking place in the future, but we serve Someone who does.  And, we submit ourselves to His will and His control.  He calls us to pray, to seek Him, and to be dependent on Him, and He does give us the opportunity to shape the future by our alignment with Him.  In uncertain times, we place our lives in the hands of a God of Whom we can be certain.

And, uncertainty can produce anxiety.  I feel it; you probably do, too, if you're engaged in cultural issues.  Maybe you think about the implications of a sweeping decision by the high court that allows gay marriage in all 50 states, and even more personally, how that might affect your church or your business.  In those times when we tend to become fearful or anxious, that is when we need to press into the peace of God.  If uncertainty is producing that anxiety, maybe even a sinking feeling about the future direction of our nation and the institution of marriage, we can be motivated to pray, to abide in Christ, and to trust in His Word and His power.

Rise Up and Lead

In 1st Peter 3, we can find verses that will motivate us to seek the Lord, to do good, even when we face opposition:
12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their prayers; But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil."
13 And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good?
14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you are blessed. "And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled."

So, we stand on the truth of the Scriptures, recognizing that the presence and the blessing of God is upon His Word and people who call on His name and are dedicated to living according to that Word. And, the Bible never promises us a care-free or a trial-free life; there is a cost for living the truth. That could come in the form of opposing thoughts and actions, suffering in various forms, but we can know that One greater than ourselves is standing with us as we stand with Him.

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In Ezekiel 3:17, we see that God defined His call upon the prophet Ezekiel.  Now, we certainly don't have this type of call upon our lives but we can be challenged to be obedient to Christ as He directs us to stand, to speak, and to warn:
17 "Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore hear a word from My mouth, and give them warning from Me:
18 When I say to the wicked, 'You shall surely die,' and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life, that same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand.
19 Yet, if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered your soul.

 Affirmation for a couple in Northern Ireland who refused to bake a cake expressing a message in support of homosexuality came from an unexpected place recently.  The Christian Post reports that actor Patrick Stewart, who starred in "X-Men" and "Star Trek: The Next Generation," says he supports the right of a Christian bakery in Northern Ireland whose owners refused to make a cake with a gay marriage slogan on it.  The bakers were last month convicted of "discrimination," and fined.

The article states that Stewart was speaking on BBC's "Newsnight" show and expressed support for Ashers Baking Company in Belfast, which was fined 500 pounds, or $763 dollars for refusing to make a cake with "support gay marriage" written on it along with a picture of Bert and Ernie from "Sesame Street" in May 2014.  The bakery is owned by Colin and Karen McArthur, who say they will appeal the decision. The family said in a statement: "We continue to insist that we have done nothing wrong as we have discriminated against no individual but rather acted according to what the Bible teaches regarding marriage." They also said, "...Our hope and prayer would be that an appeal will allow us and other Christians to live out their faith."

Stewart, who is known for his support of so-called LGBT rights, said, "It was not because it was a gay couple that they objected — it was not because they were celebrating some kind of marriage or an agreement between them," adding, "It was the actual words on the cake that they objected to, because they found the words offensive."

And of course, the actor's words produced a backlash on Facebook.   E! Online reports that Stewart had to defend his comments. He stated, "In my view, this particular matter was not about discrimination, but rather personal freedoms and what constitutes them, including the freedom to object." He added, "Both equality and freedom of speech are fundamental rights— and this case underscores how we need to ensure one isn't compromised in the pursuit of the other."

Stewart took people to task who he said "...have conflated my position on this single matter to assume I'm anti-equality or that I share the personal beliefs of the bakers."  He said, "Nothing, absolutely nothing, could be further from the truth. I have long championed the rights of the LGBT community, because equality should not only be, as the people of Ireland powerfully showed the world, universally embraced, but treasured."

Isn't it interesting that supposed supporters of so-called "equality" did not allow for a point of view that apparently did not line up with their agenda?  Even from someone who has historically supported their agenda?  In an age when you have those who would subvert free speech rights and religious rights, which are guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution, with "sexual rights," there does seem to be little or no room for disagreement.  And, I do disagree with Stewart - so-called "equality" is not a fundamental right - from a Biblical worldview perspective, there is no right to same-sex marriage; there is only one definition of marriage, and there are no other counterfeits that are "equal" to it.  

But, we are in a critical time.  There are those that want to silence debate on the important issue on what constitutes marriage, which is a settled issue according to the Scriptures.  There are those who hold an opposing view basically do not want to acknowledge God's viewpoint on their lifestyle choices.  And, Christians should welcome debate on a wide variety of issues, so that we can winsomely and skillfully present the truth of Scripture, not force others who hold to a different view to be quiet and go away.

Dr. Ronnie Floyd, President of the Southern Baptist Convention, made some poignant comments about not being silent in his remarks before the Convention's annual meeting in Ohio last night. Baptist Press reported on his message.  He stated: "The lostness has never been greater in our dangerous and hopeless world...Everyone, and I mean everyone, needs to rise up and lead."

Here is an excerpt from the article:

"Now we await the outcome of the next possible Supreme Court ruling that could alter our nation's belief and practice on traditional and biblical marriage, but also our historic commitment to religious liberty for all people," Floyd said, calling it a watershed moment potentially fueling "the already sweeping wildfire of the sexual revolution" beyond "anyone's control locally, statewide, nationally and globally."

Floyd said that neither the Supreme Court nor the culture is the final authority and insisted that he and thousands of pastors in the nation refuse to officiate any same-sex unions. He also said that Christians in America must stand for freedom of religion, knowing it promotes the common good of the nation and the world.

In light of challenges such as the savagery of Islamic militants to the horrors of human trafficking to the absence of religious liberty, Floyd quoted from Dietrich Bonhoeffer's The Cost of Discipleship: "Silence in the face of evil is itself evil: God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act."

We continue to pray and to prepare regarding the Supreme Court decision, which I am anticipating week after next, perhaps sooner.  If it redefines marriage, as many court watchers think it will, it could have a dramatic impact on our culture, increasing the degree of legitimization of the practice of so-called same-sex marriage.   How will it change our lives?  It's hard to say, but I do know that we can be challenged to continue to defend not only the Biblical position on what marriage is and its place as a sacred institution, but also Biblical practice concerning our marriages.  We can become greater advocates of marriage and more dedicated to loving our mates and to helping to strengthen marriages - our own, those in our churches, our circles of friends, and throughout the culture.   We need to, as Dr. Floyd said, "Rise up and lead."

Sharing the Reality of Life in a Family

In Psalm 127, we can see a passage that can encourage us to build our homes upon the strong foundation of God's Word through the power of Jesus Christ:
(1) Unless the Lord builds the house, They labor in vain who build it; Unless the Lord guards the city, The watchman stays awake in vain.
2 It is vain for you to rise up early, To sit up late, To eat the bread of sorrows; For so He gives His beloved sleep.
3 Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, The fruit of the womb is a reward.

These verses can be applied to our homes and our families, reinforcing the concept of centering our home lives around the principles of Scripture.  We can seek to build and leave a legacy of a strong family, training children in the truths of God's Word, so that the truth of Christ is lived out for generations to come.  Each family has a story - and for Christian families, we can relate the story of God's faithfulness, through triumph and tragedy - and I believe that those stories can be used to strengthen our own faith and to tell to others.

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We have been born into a family, and while the institution of the family is facing stress fractures these days, and some families are on the brink of disintegration, there is opportunity for God to work. There may be room for restoration in broken family situations.  Psalm 68 gives some insight into the value of this institution:
4 Sing to God, sing praises to His name; Extol Him who rides on the clouds, By His name Yah, And rejoice before Him.
5 A father of the fatherless, a defender of widows, Is God in His holy habitation.
6 God sets the solitary in families; He brings out those who are bound into prosperity; But the rebellious dwell in a dry land.

Yesterday on The Meeting House, I featured a conversation with Christian musical artist John Waller, whose family almost doubled in size through adoption and childbirth - from 5 kids to a total of 9.  In the midst of the adoption process, their faith was challenged and stretched, and the song title, Crazy Faith, certainly describes some elements of John's journey in trusting God.

So, the Waller household has 11 members.  The Willis household from Tennessee, well, they have 14.  And, they have a TLC series.  Forbes suggested that they might be a modern-day Von Trapp family.  They were featured on the reality show America's Got Talent.  In a profile on the Crosswalk.com website, we learn that they are homeschooled and want to travel the country in a sort of Partridge Family way.

And, while they are a God- and music-loving family, a tragedy in 1994 has shaped the life of father Toby Willis.  According to a Crosswalk.com piece from WORLD News Service, he is "the son of Rev. Scott and Janet Willis, who lost six of their children in an infamous 1994 car accident in Illinois. Toby Willis wasn’t in the van that day and so survived. But the incident left a deep mark on him and his children. Toby’s commitment to his family is one result, according to his children."

“It’s a lesson that stays with you,” said eldest daugher Jessica, crying as she recounted details of the tragedy. “That not just things, but people can be gone like that,” she observed as she snapped her fingers.

Charisma News quotes a statement that Toby made to the Washington Times: "We had faith before, and we had faith afterwards; there's nobody else to turn to. People of faith [in the Bible] went through hard times, even worse than we went through. Just because you have faith in God, it doesn't mean bad things won't happen."   The Times reported that around a decade ago, the family home burned to the ground.  Mom Brenda Willis is quoted as saying: "It was a total loss. I just held my kids and said, ‘Thank you, God.’ It gave me a different perspective on life, in comparison to my in-law’s tragedy. When you go through hard things like that it strengthens you.”

And, then you have the family of 19, the Bates family, that are also featured on a reality show, on the UP network.  Mom Kelly Jo is quoted on the Hope for Women website:

“Parenting is rewarding, but at the same time it is very challenging. We know how much we have been helped by other people. So we felt like if we could somehow be an encouragement to other families and help them focus on their priorities and relationships with each other and their relationship with the Lord, then we felt like it would be worth doing the show in spite of what [often] comes along with doing a show.”

And, the family has known its own unique set of struggles.  The article says:

Over the course of 27 years, Gil and Kelly Jo Bates have enjoyed the births of their 19 children, given three away in marriage, and welcomed one grandchild into the world. The family has seen its fair share of happiness as well as indescribable sadness, especially with the miscarriage of four children. However, it’s the joys of family and the promises of God that far outweigh even the darkest days and nights.

So what's your family's story?  There may have been triumphs, maybe some trials and tragedies along the way.  You may not have cameras invading your home, but the story of how God has worked in your family could be transmitted in a variety of ways.  And, in this day in which what it means to be a family is being transformed, we can still be challenged as Christian families to demonstrate His light and love to a culture that needs to see our example.

I believe the Wallers, the Willises, and the Bates all have platforms that God has given to them.  John is passionate about the adoption issue, the Willises see their music as a tool to point to their personal stories, in which faith is incorporated.  The Bates believe that they can send teachable messages and moments into the culture.  As families, we have the opportunity to export what God is doing within the four walls of our homes to communicate His truth.  You could say our homes are incubators or laboratories, where God is doing His work, bonding us together in His love, a place of hope, of security, of accountability.   We can then take what He has taught and share it with the world.

Never Too Late

From Philippians 3, we can find motivation to move forward in the Christian life:
12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.
13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead,
14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

No matter our age or stage of life, we can continue to look forward to what God has in store for us. And, we have to make sure that we are cognizant of our own usefulness.  Our being here on this earth signifies that God has a purpose for us.  He will give us wisdom to hear the call, find a place to serve, and to discover the resources necessary to bear fruit for His glory.  And, I believe we do not age beyond our usefulness - He is at work up until the time He calls us home.

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In the closing days of his life, the apostle Paul left some words of encouragement for Timothy, and he spoke of dealing with his own mortality and with God's call on his life. Here is what he wrote in 2nd Timothy 4:
6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand.
7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.

Ingeborg Sylim-Rapoport is a 102-year-old retired neonatologist and a resident of Berlin, Germany. And, she has reached a milestone in her life - not only passing the century mark, but also in her education.

Less than a week ago, in Hamburg, surrounded by friends, family, and former students, she received her official certificate, showing that she had completed her Ph.D., according to a piece from USA Today on the Religion News Service website.

Sylim-Rapoport first submitted her doctoral thesis on diphtheria in 1938, but she was not allowed to complete her oral defense under Hitler’s Nuremberg Race Laws, which disenfranchised citizens with Jewish ancestry. Officials at the University Clinic in Hamburg-Eppendorf learned of her case and formally invited her to finish her Ph.D.

The article says that she told NBC News, "I was very excited during the exam and could have done better, if I had been just a little younger." She also said, "I am happy and proud, but this is not about me,” adding, “This is in commemoration of those who did not make it this far.”

Great story - the Nazis prevented her from completing the degree because she was Jewish.  But, she was able to finish, even at an age that some might think to be limiting.

There are several points of inspiration for us here:

First, there is a theme of finishing what you have started.  It's a component of a "no regrets" life - there may be something that you have attempted and never completed.  Perhaps you believe that God called you to do something earlier in life - you know, that call and the empowerment to complete it may still be there.  He can give us the direction and resources to complete what we have undertaken and perhaps have set aside or that circumstances have set aside.

There is also a component of finishing well.  At the end of his life, Paul wrote from a perspective of knowing that he had fought the good fight and finished the race to which God had called him.  There are many opportunities for us as we age, and we have to make sure that we are continuing to follow the will of God and not veer off course.  And, even in what are commonly called the "retirement years," there are ways for God to use us for His glory.

Finally, we can be encouraged to keep pressing on.  We can evaluate and ascertain that we are moving forward, following a course of spiritual growth.  God does not call us to stand still and allow ourselves to become complacent; rather, he provides us with motivation and energy to bear fruit for His glory.

Faithful Where You Are

In Mark chapter 10, Jesus is teaching His disciples about the importance of servanthood. Here He is the Son of God, who is talking to them about His own call to be a servant.
42 But Jesus called them to Himself and said to them, "You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them.
43 Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant.
44 And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all.
45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."

We are called to be faithful, and we have been enlisted into the service of a faithful God.  That involves possessing an attitude of humility, not thinking of ourselves in a haughty or arrogant manner, but recognizing that He is our Lord and He calls us to serve Him and to serve others.  The call on our lives is wrapped up in fulfilling who God wants us to be, and His purpose for us is to demonstrate His love and character, so that He might be glorified.

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There is a passage of Scripture in Luke 16 containing the words of Jesus, who teaches us to be faithful in the small things of life, indicating what is in our hearts:
10 He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much.
11 Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?
12 And if you have not been faithful in what is another man's, who will give you what is your own?
13 No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon."

The annual convergence in Omaha, Nebraska commences this weekend - yes, it's the College World Series, or is it the SEC Invitational.   Out of 8 teams in the tournament, the conference has half of them: Florida, LSU, Arkansas, and Vanderbilt, the defending national collegiate baseball champions.

Yes, that is the Commodores squad that had 3 players drafted in the first round.

The number 1 pick, selected by the Arizona Diamondbacks, has the reference Proverbs 3:5-6 on his Twitter feed, following the words, "I am Second."

The top draft pick was demonstrating that on the field at the Hoover Met recently.  The story is told in the Tennessean that at the SEC Tournament recently, the stadium grounds crew saw that this player led the team out of the dugout during a downpour to help pull out the heavy rain tarp. The opposition players later followed before quickly returning to shelter.   As the rain continued, the grounds crew thanked the Vandy players for their much-needed help.  His father is quoted as saying, "That's our family's Christian background," adding "The leader is the servant."

In draft scouting reports, Dansby Swanson's character and leadership qualities are listed in equal portions to his hitting prowess, arm strength and fielding range.  His coach Tim Corbin, says that
jealousy hasn't bitten Swanson's teammates because he "does everything top shelf … including picking up buckets and serving other people."

Fellow first-rounder Carson Fulmer, Swanson's roommate says, "What you've got on the field is obviously what you see, but he's even better off the field."

And, how about on the field?  Well, the VUCommodores.com website announced yesterday that D1Baseball.com has named Swanson the National Player of the Year.  He and Fulmer are first-team All-Americans.  He is the first Commodore to win the honor since former Montgomery Biscuit David Price in 2007.  He leads the Commodores in batting average, runs, hits, doubles, triples and home runs going into the College World Series. Over his last 15 games, Swanson is hitting .361 with 15 extra-base hits, eight home runs, 19 RBI and 19 runs.

And, he believes he's right where God wants him to be.  In a "Behind the V" piece on VUCommodores.com website, he's quoted as saying: "After I came on my visit to Vandy, I knew this was where God wanted me to be. The family atmosphere and culture of our baseball team is second to none, and the academics will set you up for life after baseball is over. "

So one day, you are likely to be watching the Vandy star in the major leagues, and maybe even at Riverwalk Stadium along the way - Arizona's AA affiliate is the Mobile Bay Bears, so who knows? 

This young man from Marietta, Georgia, my hometown, whose parents were athletes at the high school I attended, as well as at what was then Troy State, can challenge us in our own lives. 

First of all, are you where God wants you to be in your life?  This young man sensed God's call upon his life to attend Vanderbilt.  We can be challenged to really examine the course of our lives to see if we are really within God's will.  There may be an opportunity for some course correction, and we can depend on the Holy Spirit to help get us on track.  Perhaps God is calling you to take a bold step in your life, or maybe He is leading you to take the next step - in school, career, a leadership position, a ministry opportunity.  It's important to depend on Him to get us into the right place.

And, no matter where you are along the timeline of your life, there are opportunities to engage in activity that brings honor to God.  You don't have to wait for the next destination.  Just as Dansby's father said, "the leader is the servant."   So, even though God may be moving in your life in a macro sense to position you for effectiveness in His plan for you, I believe He still directs us to do those "little things," those acts of service, that demonstrate to others that we belong to Him.  And, remember that Jesus talks about being faithful in those small things.

Right in Our Own Eyes

Jesus draws a stark contrast between a person whose life is built on His truth, a strong foundation, and a person who builds his or her life on a shaky foundation. Here are the words of Jesus in Matthew 7:
24 "Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock:
25 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.
26 But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand:
27 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall."

The circumstances were the same - rain, floods, and winds.  The difference was the foundation.  In an era where cultural winds are blowing in opposition to the principles of God's Word and our culture is in need of a moral compass, our lives can continue to reflect the presence of the Lord and the conviction of His truth.  As we see people define truth for themselves, which is a shaky foundation, we can abide in God's truth and reflect that His ways are best.

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In Proverbs 21, we see that even though people may try to craft their own morality, ultimately it is God who is the judge:
2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, But the Lord weighs the hearts.
3 To do righteousness and justice Is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.
4 A haughty look, a proud heart, And the plowing of the wicked are sin.

If you were to be asked by a pollster if you thought the state of moral values in this country is getting better or getting worse, what would be your answer? Well, according to the Gallup organization in a recent poll, 72% of Americans responded that the state of moral values in the U.S. is "getting worse," while 22% say it is "getting better." The Gallup website says that, "Large majorities have said the state of moral values in the U.S. is declining since Gallup started asking this question annually in 2002."

Gallup says that those who identify as social conservatives have consistently been more likely than social liberals to believe the nation's state of moral values is getting worse, with social moderates falling about midway between the two. The liberal-conservative gap was relatively narrow in the first two years Gallup measured this, in 2002 and 2003, but that may have reflected the more positive feelings Americans had about their country in the first few years after 9/11.

When asked to rate the overall state of moral values in this country, 45% of Americans describe the current state of moral values in the U.S. as "poor," with 34% saying they are "only fair" and 19% rating the state of moral values as either "excellent" or "good." Currently, 57% of social conservatives say the state of moral values is poor, down from 63% two years ago.

There are more people identifying themselves as social liberals these days, according to Gallup, and there have been significant shifts in Americans' views on same-sex marriage and other moral issues. However, all in all, Americans' views of the state of moral values haven't changed much over the past 13 years.  The Gallup summary points out that "...Americans' views about the declining state of moral affairs largely reflect a belief that there is a deteriorating collective moral character.That is, their views have less to do with greater acceptance of same-sex marriage or having babies out of wedlock and other hot-button issues, and more to do with matters of basic civility and respect for each other."

But what constitutes a "moral value?"  Dr. Frank Newport, Editor-in-Chief for Gallup, writes:

When we asked Americans a few years ago to talk about what was wrong with moral values, many responded by talking about the lack of consideration of others, deficits in the public's compassion, personal accountability, respect and tolerance; greed, selfishness, dishonesty -- in addition to things such as the change in family structure, lack of religion, lack of morals (a somewhat tautological response) and fairly small percentages who mention sexual promiscuity, abortion and gay marriage, specifically. Thus, we have Americans largely saying that the overall moral tone of our culture is in bad shape and getting worse, even as they increasingly say that formerly taboo behaviors are morally acceptable.

Newport makes the statement that, "Gallup has been noting in a series of articles that Americans are shifting left on moral issues. But they aren't shifting on their views of the state of moral values in the country.

So, in culture at large, it seems that perhaps that morality is defined by the individual.  What is immoral to me and you may be perfectly moral to someone else.  When there is a lack of a moral compass, foundational principles that define what is "good" morality, then people abide by their own definitions.  For some, apparently, to say we are in decline morally means that we just aren't being nice to one another.  I do believe that lack of civility is a big problem, but when tolerance and acceptance do not have specific definitions, then it is left to the individual, which can lead to cultural chaos.

Bottom line, what constitutes so-called "good" morality for society has become debatable.  Someone who embraces what God has called sinful and sees others move in that direction might think the moral climate is improving because larger numbers of people hold to that point of view.  But, while our politics are democratic, what constitutes right and wrong in God's eyes is not the result of majority rule.  But, when people define their own truth, without regard for the "true north" of God's Word, it leads to a person doing, as the Scriptures say, "what is right in his own eyes."  Judges 21:25 says, "In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes."

I believe that in this culture where morality is adrift and truth is no longer adored, that we can demonstrate in our own lives what is right in God's eyes.   While there are those who would redefine marriage, for instance, we can respond by showing the benefits of living in a one-man, one-woman, one-flesh relationship.  We can attempt to instill values in our children that are consistent with God's Word.   We can demonstrate peace in the midst of shifting tides and live out our convictions in a way that can draw people to the presence of Christ in us.  In short, we build our lives on the rock of Jesus, and allow His life and nature to be foremost in our thoughts and actions.

Building the Ark

Because of the corruption of the people of the earth, and because He is a God of justice, He decided to send a Flood upon the whole world - no one would be saved, except for a man named Noah, his family, and representative samples of animal species. In Genesis 6, we read:
17 And behold, I Myself am bringing floodwaters on the earth, to destroy from under heaven all flesh in which is the breath of life; everything that is on the earth shall die.
18 But I will establish My covenant with you; and you shall go into the ark--you, your sons, your wife, and your sons' wives with you.

God entered into a covenant relationship with Noah.  We can be reminded that we are in a covenant relationship with Jesus Christ - where He agrees to save us and we agree to walk with Him.  He brings us salvation as we humble ourselves before Him, confess His Lordship, and believe upon Him, that He is the risen Lord.  We can completely trust Him to keep His promises toward us, and we can enjoy the riches of His presence.

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In Genesis chapter 6, we see God issuing a warning of impending judgment:
3 And the Lord said, "My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, for he is indeed flesh; yet his days shall be one hundred and twenty years."
4 There were giants on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of men and they bore children to them. Those were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown.
5 Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
6 And the Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart.
7 So the Lord said, "I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast, creeping thing and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them."
8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.

There is some massive construction taking place off I-75 in northern Kentucky these days.  A life-sized replica of Noah's Ark is being built by the ministry of Answers in Genesis, which also operates the Creation Museum in the region.  According to the Answers in Genesis website, the 510-foot-long ark will be part of a theme park called Ark Encounter.

And, the construction site is open to the public. Ken Ham, AiG president, is quoted as saying: “Visitors will have the thrill of witnessing firsthand the historic construction of Noah’s Ark, being built according to the biblical proportions described in Scripture. Our guests will safely observe the Ark from a viewing spot just outside the actual hard-hat area. It will be their once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see an Ark being built, which will become the largest timber-frame building in the world.”

The website shows a picture of large cranes that are ready to lift wooden beams and place them onto the Ark’s foundation piers.

Ark site visitors will be able to watch the crews assemble the support towers this month, and over the next few months see the placement of lumber and timbers in sections called bents (or “ribs”) on the Ark foundation.

According to the Ark Encounter website, they are constructing "a full-scale, all-wood ark based on the dimensions provided in the Bible (Genesis 6), using the long cubit, and in accordance with sound established nautical engineering practices of the era. It should become the largest timber-frame structure in the USA."  The site states that "the Ark Encounter will present America and other nations with a reminder about the Bible’s account of the Ark."

Oh, and in anticipation of the opening of Ark Encounter, the Creation Museum is offering a "2 Buy 2" promotion.

Ark Encounter is scheduled to open next summer.

It's really fascinating, and it shows the dedication of Answers in Genesis to illustrate Biblical truth.

According to Answers in Genesis, the countdown to the flood is found in Genesis chapter 6 - a period of 120 years.  The site estimates a 55-75 year range in order to build the ark.

But the countdown had begun.  And, there were no doubt people that looked upon Noah and his construction project with a sense of being puzzled.  He probably had his own set of detractors.   His righteousness stood in stark contrast with the corruption that had come on the earth.

The ark was a dynamic work of God, but no more reservations were being taken - the residency upon the large boat was set.  The Flood was coming, judgment was at hand, and the consequences of rejecting God were about to be pronounced upon the earth.  You could say that the people had reached a point of no return.

But, not so with those who reject God today, just yet.  But, in light of events pronounced in the Scriptures, there will be a judgment upon all humanity, and those who do not yield their lives to Christ, as the result of their choice, will be sent to everlasting punishment.   Jesus said that just as in the days of Noah, so would the coming of the Son of Man be.

The story of the ark reminds us that judgment is coming.  There is an everlasting judgment coming for all, as promised in Hebrews 9.  And, I do believe that God judges nations, groups of people, because of their disobedience.  But, I also think that the Scriptures teach that God will preserve His remnant, who, by devotion to Christ, can stand strong in the Lord even in the midst of peoples and nations reaping the results of the corruption they have sown.

But, unlike the situation in the days of Noah, when people could stand idly by and never be admitted to the ark of safety because of their hardened hearts, we can be convinced that salvation is available. Jesus has offered the extreme privilege of being spared from eternal punishment, inviting us to come to Him, to know Him and walk with Him.

You can actually go to Kentucky and watch a replica of the ark being built.  A question for us is: are we watching a work of God being built around us and responding to His invitation to join Him?  And, are we inviting others to join Him through a relationship with Jesus Christ?   Noah's Ark and the Flood are highly relevant today and offer reminders of God's compassion for humanity, as He expressed to Noah, but also His view of sin.  Jesus Christ offers us the refuge that we need.