Water

After the feeding of the five thousand, Jesus directed His disciples to travel across the sea while he went up to a mountain to pray.  Later, we find out that He caught up to them - by walking on the
water! Matthew chapter 14 says:
22 Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away.
23 And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there.
24 But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary.
25 Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea.

First the disciples were afraid until they realized it was Jesus.  Then, Peter decided that he wanted to walk out to Jesus on the water - he was successful, until he began to look around at the turbulent conditions, and he sank.  Jesus did great work around water; after all, many of His disciples were fishermen, whom He encouraged to be "fishers of men."  God will speak to us through creation, and He calls us to experience the "living water" of His Spirit.

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We can find scenes in Scripture in which Jesus ministered by the water - or even in it, as we see in
Matthew 4, where we can read:
18 And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen.
19 Then He said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men."
20 They immediately left their nets and followed Him.
21 Going on from there, He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets. He called them,
22 and immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed Him.

Throughout the Coronavirus pandemic, churches and groups of Christians have found creative ways to connect and they share the message of God's Word.  In Virginia Beach, VA, the abundance of water became a wonderful setting for what has become known as the Boat Church.

CBN.com reported on the local phenomenon, that has pulled together a number of area churches.  The story relates:

Organizer and former Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell says the inspiration for Boat Church came from a similar experience he had at Smith Mountain Lake, Virginia.

"We kind of copied the Smith Mountain Lake Boat Church idea and started the planning about a year ago," McDonald told CBN News. "I think this is providential that the planning ended up with this concept to start in the middle of a pandemic when people were looking for a way to be together to worship."

The article reported that on Father's Day:

For those torn between being outside on a beautiful summer day and going to church, Boat Church, here at the Narrows at First Landing State Park offered the perfect solution.

One of the attendees said, "We have four kids, so for them to be able to be out here on a beautiful day, and in worship, and hear the word, and play on the beach...It's just been a really special morning on Father's Day for sure."

Co-organizer Cheryl McLeskey said, "I've always wanted to bring in people that don't believe in the Lord, and people that don't go to church on Sundays, and if we're touching one person, then this is worth it, and I'm just so pleased..."

One of the participating pastors, in that Father's Day sermon, noted how Jesus preached from boats. He also said, "There's something that connects us in the spirit through water."

A coastal setting was also utilized by a minister in the U.K., bringing Great Britain its first drive-in worship service; after clearing legal hurdles, recently some 50 vehicles gathered for a service in the 

town of Newquay.  Assist News reported:

Members of the Wave House Church were elated to have the opportunity to be out together again after months of lockdown. More than 50 vehicles arrived for the service which included worship, prayers and a Gospel message, followed by a screening of surfing film Unstoppable.

In an interview with the Global News Alliance Reverend Matt Timms of Wave House Church in Newquay, said it was remarkable to see the response to this local church event including reports from the national media including Sky News.

Timms is described as a "surfer vicar." Unstoppable is a documentary about the surfing exploits of Bethany Hamilton, who lost an arm in a shark attack, yet continues to pursue surfing - her story was also told in the feature film, Soul Surfer.  Timms said, "...for me the most important thing is that this event will serve as something of a catalyst for other churches and just inspire them to think creatively about how they can reach out to their community and share both the works and the words of Jesus and to release hope and to worship together.”

One of the takeaways that we can have here is the dedication to communicate the gospel using creative means.  The water motif was instrumental in the Virginia Beach outreach, which is slated to continue every Sunday until September 6.  This is so reminiscent of how Jesus went to a shore and preached his message.  

And, He used water as a metaphor - for instance, he said that the person who experiences the Spirit of God will have "living water" flowing through him. Baptism itself is an act of obedience that illustrates the new birth, our cleansing, and our obedience to Christ.  And, Jesus did miracles centered around water: turning water into wine, calming the winds and the storm, and even walking on the water.  He showed the disciples they could be fishers of men. He used this essential element of creation to illustrate essential principles of conversion.

Finally, we can be determined that no worldwide pandemic will keep us apart.  In lockdown, quarantine, and sheltering in place, we have and will continue to find ways to connect.  And, it has taken creativity, yet our incredible creative God has provided the ideas and the anointing to carry out His message and connect with people.

Like Jesus

We are called to imitate Christ, to radiate His nature to the people with whom we come in contact.  In 1st Thessalonians 1, we can read these verses:
5 For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance, as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake.
6 And you became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit,
7 so that you became examples to all in Macedonia and Achaia who believe.

The word, "followers" in verse 6 is also translated, "imitators." The apostle Paul used that word in several places in the Scriptures, encouraging believers to follow his example.  Can you imagine following Christ so wholeheartedly that you can confidently say, "imitate me?"  That sounds like a tall order, but Jesus has made it possible for us to know Him and experience His truth and presence to such a degree that we can show the world what He is like.

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Christians identify with Christ in His sufferings and accept His substitution for our sins; He calls us
to walk in His ways, in His footsteps, as we see in 1st Peter 2:
21 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:
22 "Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth";
23 who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously;
24 who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness--by whose stripes you were healed.

Victor is a character in a television series who appears at challenging moments in people's lives and helps them through those hard times, according to an article at The Christian Post website, which recently featured an interview with the actor who plays this role, who has played a similar role in a number of films, including The Encounter, upon which the series of the same name is based.

His name is Bruce Marchiano, and he has played the role of Jesus in a number of movies.  In the article, he tells the Post's Jeannie Law that:

I started my career in 1984 and was born again in ’89. Almost from day one I sensed the Lord changing my heart and part of that was turning down ungodly roles/shows — which triggered a season of extreme financial struggle (talk about clinging to faith by my fingernails!). Then in ’93 I was cast to portray Jesus in “The Visual Bible: The Gospel of Matthew.” It was a life-transforming experience that ruined me for Hollywood.

That did it for him as far as doing the standard Hollywood fare; he committed himself to doing faith-based movies.  But, he had a problem - he didn't know the character he played very well.  He was a Christian and active in church, but he felt he needed more. Bruce relates: "I was asked to portray Him and suddenly I realized that with all my 'hallelujahs!' I had never intentionally sought to truly know Him — His Person, nature, personality, if you will. The responsibility to represent Jesus drove me to seeking Him in prayer and His Word like I never thought possible."  So, doing The Visual Bible enabled him to walk through his life "frame for frame."

When asked about facing troubled times, including a pandemic, Bruce replied:

I would turn to the words that Jesus spoke 2,000 years ago — standing before a people who were oppressed, beaten down, impoverished … His answer to it all was to offer His hand and plead, “Come to me, you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Learn from Me; I’m gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your soul” (Matthew 11:28-29). It’s always His answer to all our discouragement, fearfulness, fatigue — “Come to Me.” I think of His words in John 14:27, “Peace I leave you; My peace I give you.” Philippians 4:7, “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Let’s turn our all to Jesus like never before!

He is currently working on a film called, The Gospel According to John, which is currently on hiatus. He does ministry work in South Africa through Marchiano Ministries, which has also worked with a children's ministry in India, among other things.

Bruce Marchiano, even though he had done a variety of film roles, is best known for his portrayal of Jesus.  And, his story can inspire each of us.  Because, we are all called to be like Jesus.  Each day, we can consider how we are projecting our Savior to the world around us.  It is not merely a role he plays, and it certainly should not be a role we play, either.  The authenticity of our Christian life is related to the degree to which we surrender to Him and seek to really know Him.

We can also be reliant on the Lord to determine the path of our life.  Bruce was intent on doing Christian movies after he did that Visual Bible project, during which he walked in the footsteps of the Lord. We can make sure that we are allowing Him to empower us to walk in the way to which He is calling us.  Just as we have obeyed Him in accepting Him as our Savior, He calls us to a life of wholehearted obedience, so that the presence of Jesus can be seen in His people.

Intervention

We can be confident that God intervenes in the lives of nations - even though the U.S. certainly does not have a perfect history, we also recognize the principles upon which it was founded, including a devotion to God and a commitment to the worth of the individual. Psalm 33 reminds us:
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.

But, time and again, just as Israel experienced, God will speak to a nation and offer it a chance to turn to Him. The United States has a rich history and a foundation of Judeo-Christian principles, but we also know that we cannot expect Him to bless a nation that does not adhere to His teachings.  When humans decide they will go their own way, He will call them back, but if they reject Him, individually and collectively, as we see in Scripture, they will reap what they have sown and experience the consequences of their rejection.  Thankfully, we have a loving Savior who desires for all to come to Him and who brings forgiveness to each of us through His death and resurrection.

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God has placed us on this planet for this particular moment in history, to join together to make history for His glory.  And, we have a place where we live, a locale in which He has chosen for us to live and to make an impact.  He has placed men and women in nations, in cities, in communities - we may
have different backgrounds, but as Paul said in Acts 17:
26 ...He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings,
27 so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us;
28 for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, 'For we are also His offspring.'

America the nation is certainly not perfect, but it has a Constitution that is devoted to pointing its citizens to a "more perfect union," a phrase that the Vice-President used in a recent discussion about dealing with race relations.  In other words, we get the government we desire, and unfortunately, deserve, and "We the people" have a say in that direction.  And, because we have been called by God to be together as citizens of this republic, we have a duty to one another to move together in unity.

There are many who are not satisfied with the U.S. right now, and dissatisfaction can certainly lead things to get better - and we have that opportunity, because of the Biblical concepts of life and liberty that are woven in the DNA of America, to be able to work for the common good.  We can build one another up and build together.  But, there are also those who want to destroy and build something else, centered around a godless system of socialism, the end of which, as it's been pointed out, could lead to a totalitarian form of leadership, because, after all, someone has to be at the top of the food chain.  Our forefathers desired for our nation to be rooted on Biblical principles - a concept that those who came later inserted into the Pledge of Allegiance - "one nation under God."  When we depart from God or no longer seek Him, then trouble ensues.

Two-thirds of Americans still say they are proud to be an American, according to a recent Gallup poll, with 42% saying they are "extremely proud" and 21 percent saying they are "very proud."

Both of those, however, are, as the survey summary points out, "the lowest they have been since Gallup's initial measurement in 2001."

The summary states, "These latest data are from a May 28-June 4 poll, which also found 20% of Americans are satisfied with the way things are going in the U.S., and presidential approval fell back to 39%."

And, this level of "extreme pride" is lowest in the lower adult age group - 18-to-29 year olds.  Only 20% of respondents in that demographic said they were "extremely" proud to be American.  The summary notes: 

Since 2016, extreme pride is down among all major subgroups. And this measure of national pride is at its lowest among several demographic subgroups that have been consistently less likely to express extreme pride over the years. These groups, which are typically Democratic-leaning, include young adults aged 18-29, women, college graduates and nonwhites.

Two-thirds of Republicans expressed a level of pride to be American, but even that is a decline. The summary says, "Although Republicans still report more acute pride than Democrats and independents, the latest poll finds a 9-percentage-point decrease in Republicans' national pride. This marks the largest year-over-year decline in the percentage of Republicans who say they are extremely proud. There was not meaningful change in the past year in the percentage of independents (41%) or Democrats (24%) who say they are extremely proud to be Americans."

And, the Rasmussen poll which measures whether or not Americans feel the country is on the right track or wrong track, shows a steep decline from just before the pandemic hit, late February: then, it was 45% of likely voters feeling the country was heading in the right direction - last week, it was 25%.

To be devoted to our country is a recognition of the common bonds we share and the principles upon which this nation was founded.  Christian believers should not worship America or prioritize our civic responsibilities over our calling to follow Christ.  But, because we follow Him, we can heed His direction regarding how to be engaged with the culture, including the political.

And, while there may be a decreased level of satisfaction with our nation now doesn't mean things cannot get better and we can pursue matters of justice in our land...actually, because our nation was built on with an understanding that all are created equal - a premise that has not always been lived out - we can progress to recognize our opportunity to craft a society that recognizes the value of every human being.  Born or unborn.   That's the standard; a standard that can motivate us as Christians and as Americans.  And, the Church can lead the way in teaching all of us to love one another - to love and place God first and allow Him to show us how we can live that out.

Hiding

In the third chapter of the book of 2nd Peter, we see that the Bible teaches that in the last days, there
will be scoffers who basically deny the existence of God and do not wish to adhere to His truths. Peter outlined the reason for the letter when he wrote:
2 that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior,
3 knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts,
4 and saying, "Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation."

There is a human tendency to want to be his or her own God.  It's a product of the fall, when Adam and Eve questioned Him and went their own way.  God is good, His ways are righteous, and He has, in His Word, given us a prescription for a fulfilling life through a relationship with His Son. But, humans are willing to settle for far less, simply because we don't wish to be accountable to anyone. And, while God's way leads to life, the world's way leads to decay and destruction - no wonder that God said to the people of Israel, "Choose life."

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We are seeing instances in which people are departing from a Biblical understanding of who God created us to be.  In Genesis chapter 1, we read these words:
26 Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth."
27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

The normalization of transgenderism took a significant step forward recently with the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in the Bostock case, in which civil rights law was expanded to include sexual orientation and gender identity.  It's a ruling so impactful that John Stonestreet, on a Breakpoint commentary, said:

If the Obergefell earthquake was the legal and cultural equivalent of a magnitude 7, last week’s Bostock v. Clayton County decision may be a magnitude 9. If you’re like me and had to look up how earthquakes are measured, that’s about 100 times as powerful.

It's one thing to describe the attempt to change one's gender or to identify as the opposite gender as an immoral action, it's another to protect the immorality under Federal law.  And, the victimization of this agenda knows no age limits.

The insidiousness and pervasiveness of this transgender revolution that is occurring is illustrated in a recent case out of British Columbia.  A LifeSiteNews.com story from a few months ago provides a summary of a situation in which a 13-year-old girl was attempting to "transition" to a boy; the article relates:

The father went to court last year to argue that his child, who has suffered emotional distress and depression since her parents separated in 2013, lacked the maturity to understand the radical and long-term consequences of the hormones, and that she had fallen under the sway of transgender activists.

This includes the psychologist who advised her at age 13 to “transition” from a girl to a boy, and the pediatric endocrinologist at the BC Children’s Hospital who recommended in his first meeting with the girl and her mother that she start testosterone shots. The doctor subsequently informed the father that his consent was not needed.

One judge said that the father, known as "CD" in court documents had committed "family violence" by attempting to prevent the "change" and to not refer to his daughter as a boy."  An appeals court reversed the "family violence" declaration, but directed the father to refer to her as male and not to speak to the media.

The story, from this past March, notes that that father and two journalists were facing contempt charges - "CD" for speaking to the media and journalists Laura Lynn Tyler Thompson and Dan Dicks for publishing interviews with the father.

Less than two weeks ago, Thompson published a new interview with "CD." She wrote an article to go along with the video presentation, in which she said:

The Father is now able to speak and here is the update. The government's perspective is parents don't matter. A young person who feels like changing their whole life and future, removing healthy sex organs can make these decisions and yet not drive a car or get a tattoo. Canada has betrayed the family and betrayed common sense and is now more interested in political correctness than the protection of young people until they are of age to make these life altering decisions. Real data and statistics show that 82% to 92% of kids completely stop having the desire to change their sex after they go through puberty. Yet, doctors are more interested in their financial kickbacks from the life-long drug therapies these young people will have to go on.

She also notes that "many kids eventually realize the mistake they have made and regret sets in, yet the consequences are not changeable." She links to the website of Walt Heyer, who had an operation, and has devoted his life to the Lord and to speaking out about his experience and against the act of attempting to change one's sex.  Lawmakers in Alabama, before the regular session of the Legislature was cut short by COVID-19, were considering criminalizing doctors involved in this practice for minors in Alabama.

I discussed this subject with James Gottry of the James Dobson Family Institute at the NRB Convention in February.  He had written last fall:

Each day, parents across the country are waking up to their own nightmare. The transgender movement is advancing an agenda that is putting children in harm's way, and parents are often helpless to stop it. More specifically, parental rights are being sacrificed on the altar of the new orthodoxy regarding human sexuality and gender.

Gottry notes, "We should not empower our teachers, social workers, judges and elected officials to use our children in furtherance of a dangerous ideology. We should not allow proponents of that ideology to indoctrinate the most vulnerable among us. Children are not pawns to be used; they are precious lives to be protected."

And, in the British Columbia case, the court system had directed the father to keep quiet about it and journalists were facing contempt charges simply because they were allowing him to tell his story. What are they trying to hide?  This should be motivational for parents, who need to be aware of this insidious move to try to force children who may be struggling with their own identity or sexuality to make permanent changes in order to deal with a temporary phenomenon.  But, it's indicative of the philosophy today that doesn't value the Biblically-based concept of gender, which can show a person that he or she can and ideally should appreciate the way that God made him or her. And, parents can seek to reinforce those gender roles.

As concerned Christians, we can be aware of this trend and the availability of these so-called "therapies."  We can take steps to support legislation that would prevent those in the medical field from taking advantage of our children in this way.  And, understand that the area of gender is a new battlefield in the attempted dismantling of a Christian worldview.  The threats seem to be great, but God, His Word, and the power of prayer are greater.  We cannot hesitate to speak God's truth.

Search

When we can come honestly and humbly before God, pouring out our hearts before Him and earnestly seeking His face, we can be confident that He will meet us, He will teach us, He will reveal
Himself to us as we cry out for Him. Psalm 42 states:
4 When I remember these things, I pour out my soul within me. For I used to go with the multitude; I went with them to the house of God, With the voice of joy and praise, With a multitude that kept a pilgrim feast.
5 Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him For the help of His countenance.
6 O my God, my soul is cast down within me; Therefore I will remember You from the land of the Jordan, And from the heights of Hermon, From the Hill Mizar.

There may be those times when our faith in the Lord is challenged, when we don't necessarily see His hand or seek His presence.  The Psalmist was not hesitant to call out when he was struggling in His faith, which seemed to be quite regularly - what a wonderful example that is to us, because we have the assurance that even when a Christian doubts and has questions, God, in His great love, has understanding in store if a person truly desires, with an open heart, to learn more about our Lord.

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Because we have come to Christ, we can stand in and grow in the faith that we have, a faith that can sustain us even when we doubt, a faith that teaches us and reinforces the truth that is in Jesus.
Romans 5 states:
1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

It was a declaration that shook the world of Christian music.  The lead singer of Christian band, Hawk Nelson, Jonathan Steingard shared that he was no longer a Christian.  In an Instagram post, Steingard said, "I am now finding that I no longer believe in God."

But, apparently, Jon is open to talking about this pronouncement more, finding time to go on a talk show on U.K.-based Premier Christian Radio to chat with the son of one of the leading Christian apologists of all time; that would be Sean McDowell.  A Christian Post article quotes the singer:

“When you become the singer of a Christian band, all of a sudden you’re put in this role that almost has a pastoral element, and there’s an expectation that you’re going to have something worthwhile to say,” Steingard shared. “That was a season of me digging in a little more and going like, ‘Oh, I really need to be able to say things that are meaningful and to write songs that are meaningful to people.’”

The article goes on to say:

One day, he said, a thought hit him, “If I don’t have to believe in God, do I?” And “I did not know what to do with that question,” he added.

Steingard, a pastor’s son, said he spent a year-and-a-half reading and thinking, which “led me to a place where eventually I felt I had to be publicly honest about how I was feeling.”

McDowell has certainly been in a similar place, he said, but he also held on to the reality of Christ's resurrection.  The Christian Post reported:

McDowell said his father, Josh McDowell, has been a Christian apologist for 50 years, and one of the narratives that he pushed to him was, “Son, question things, always look at both sides, doubt is OK.”

When Sean McDowell was 19 years old, he told his dad he wasn’t sure he believed “this Christian stuff.”

McDowell said his dad “simply encouraged me to seek truth and wanted to be sure I knew his love for me was unconditional. He didn’t freak out. He wasn’t threatened. He simply gave me space to work through my doubts.”

In the give-and-take, Sean held on to his deeply held belief in the resurrection, but apparently, Jon is not ready to completely buy in anymore, which is sad.  The Post says:

McDowell said whenever he has doubts or questions after he sees some horrible things happening in the world, he asks himself why is he a Christian. “And for me, it’s because I really believe it’s true that Jesus rose from the grave.”

Steingard said he agrees that there are many benefits of the Christian faith, including the community it builds, but “asking if it’s beneficial and asking if it’s true are not the same question.”

And, McDowell apparently felt that Steingard was not given "space" or "grace" in order to be able to come to some informed conclusions about truth.  Sean is quoted as saying:

“Jon describes being ‘terrified’ at expressing his loss of belief and what it would mean for him professionally and personally. If I read his story correctly, he seemed never to feel the freedom to raise doubts about his faith except for in a few private conversations. And when he did, he has experienced ‘absolute shock that [his doubts] are shared by nearly every close friend [his] age who also grew up in the church.’ If this is true, then there may be many more people struggling with doubt in the church. How can we ignore this?”

McDowell encourages the Church to "do better" in ministering to those who have doubts.

So what does that mean?  I think that believers can make sure that we are living according to the Scriptures and living a life of love.  And, a life of listening.  Apparently, this singer felt pigeonholed into the Christian life without having the understanding of what that life entailed.  And, he rejected it - just my opinion.  To Steingard, growing up in a Christian home, being in a Christian band, and thinking it was his duty to write Christian songs may have presented a sense of legalism to him, where when the works run out and there is no faith; rather than a vibrant faith producing Christ-inspired works.

We can always call out to God on behalf of those who have doubts, that He will make Himself very real to those who have seemingly departed from the faith.  We can speak the truth, as well as live the truth, that the reality of Jesus might be seen through us.  Obviously, people throughout Christian music have not written Jon Steingard off and are continuing to reach out to him - that's unconditional love and abundant grace, which we are all called to have.

Quick to Listen

Proverbs 18 reinforces the idea that we should gain information first - through careful listening,
before we attempt to speak and address an issue. We can read:
12 Before destruction the heart of a man is haughty, And before honor is humility.
13 He who answers a matter before he hears it, It is folly and shame to him.
14 The spirit of a man will sustain him in sickness, But who can bear a broken spirit?
15 The heart of the prudent acquires knowledge, And the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.

There are some wonderful lessons here that we can apply in order to do effective ministry - humility is necessary when we are attempting to share the love of Christ and apply His truth in a situation. We are cautioned against drawing quick conclusions, and we are affirmed in gaining knowledge.  The Bible also teaches us that knowledge without love can make us arrogant, but if we are listening to another person, motivated by the love of Christ, we can gain understanding, so that we can say what the Lord would intend.

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In James chapter 1, the Bible shows us a progression regarding how we can engage with others - it
says:
17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.
18 Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.
19 So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath;
20 for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.

Last night, a documentary was premiered on Facebook Live that examines how God is working in the aftermath of the tragic death of George Floyd in Minneapolis four weeks ago today.  A Facebook post embedded in a CBN.com article said:

In the midst of all the pain, confusion, and unrest, there is an incredible glimmer of hope that is being sparked as the body of Christ is responding with compassion and love. This is a film that aims to answer, in part, what the church can do to respond to the cries of our nation for justice and racial equality.

The filmmaker's name is Andrew Chalmers - he felt that God was leading him to observe what he saw on the streets after Floyd's death.  Unsure of how to respond, he believed that God was directing him to visit JT Thomas in Ferguson, MO, where, according to the article, "the two men spent several days filming their conversations with faith leaders who were sharing the gospel on the streets."

Then they went to Minneapolis, and Chalmers made this observation: "So many people are coming together in this place. People of different faiths, backgrounds - people that look different are flooding the corners and just loving on each other," adding, "In this city, there was a lot of riots...a lot of bad was going on but churches have landed here in the heart of this and are really demonstrating the love of Christ."

The film is called, We Hear You, and Andrew sensed that the first thing he needed to do in these turbulent situations was to listen; he related, "One of the main themes of the whole film is that God would give us His heart. I think one of the most dangerous things we can have as Christians is a lack of empathy and turning off our emotions. I believe Jesus would respond the opposite. He would lean into the pain as opposed to turning away."

The CBN article states:

Over the five days of filming the documentary, the director saw grief-stricken people begin to heal.

"With God's love and an open ear, I'm able to see healing begin," he said. "I'm learning to engage with those who are hurting rather than turning the other way. I'm discovering that there are opportunities to share the gospel in the midst of that pain."

He went on to say: "These moments are powerful times to share the gospel with those who are hurting and promote positive changes in our society. Right now, people are searching for answers and longing for hope. The church is the hope and the light of the world. There is no issue or darkness that is too great for the light of Jesus Christ in us and through us..."

Andrew Chalmers has captured an essential truth of the Christian life.  So often we want to speak, but we may miss the point.  We have to be willing to listen, as James 1 directs us.  When we close our mouths, open our ears, and open our hearts, we can gather the right information about which the Spirit can give us understanding.  Then we can be the responders whom God needs in order to accomplish His purposes.

We all have opinions - that can be a gift of God or it can be a tool of the enemy.   We have to make sure our opinions are centered on Scripture and based on correct information or intel.  If we speak before listening, we may get the facts wrong, which will influence our opinions in the wrong direction, which will cause us to say the wrong things and could actually bring division rather than healing.  Ultimately, restoration should be our goal, as people respond to the love of Christ working through us.

No Fear

We are continuing to see in our society today the fruit of a lack of Godly fear and wisdom.  And, Christians have the opportunity to live and speak Biblically, to show we love Him and love others.
Proverbs 8 says:
12 "I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, And find out knowledge and discretion.
13 The fear of the Lord is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way And the perverse mouth I hate.
14 Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom; I am understanding, I have strength.
15 By me kings reign, And rulers decree justice.

We need Godly wisdom in order to navigate the spiritual decline that we see in the culture to which we are called - we live in uncertain and fearful times, but the principles of God continue to provide the answers that people need.  But, when there has been a departure from the fear of God and a move to reject authority, where hope might be a bit more scarce and there is anger in the hearts of human beings, we can continue to speak His Word and demonstrate that we love and reverence Him.

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In Romans 3, Paul presents a description of the degradation of humanity going its own way. He writes in verse 12, "There is none who does good, no, not one."

Later in the chapter, we see these words:
18 "There is no fear of God before their eyes."
19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.
20 Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
21 But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets...

We live in an age in which there is, in so many areas, a lack of fear of God - a time in which people do not consider the consequences of their actions or the end of their reckless means.  In the streets, there are those who are attempting to cast aside authority and advocating autonomy.  And, ultimately, you could say that the anarachists, who eschew order in our communities, are also rejecting the authority of God - it's been said that Marxism, or socialism, are godless systems in which the so-called "people" are in charge, but there is no restraining authority, so ultimately, the enlightened ones turn on themselves.

We see the lack of fear of God in our institutions - whether it be the educational, the political, and the world of arts and entertainment.  One expression of this rejection of the principles of Scripture is a proposed film called, Habit, starring Paris Jackson, the daughter of the late pop superstar Michael Jackson.

A CBN.com report says that Jackson will play...Jesus in the film, and the article states: "Jackson's portrayal of Christ will be as a lesbian who involves herself in a series of carnal acts with another woman."  It goes on to say:

According to Eonline.com, the film follows a "party girl with a Jesus fetish who gets mixed up in a violent drug deal and finds a possible way out by masquerading as a nun."

Release of this film will confuse and mislead the minds of our children and new Christians, Movieguide contends.

The entertainment monitor is urging Christians to sign a petition opposing the film and its blasphemous representation of the Son of God. So far, the ministry has received over 100,000 signatures.

So far, the film has not picked up a distributor, so no release date has been set.

This is an instance where Christians have the opportunity to act as protectors for the culture at large, standing against ideas that are contrary to a fear of God and understanding of His truth.  When the Word of God is rejected, we can recognize how we have been called to speak that truth.

We recognize that the authority of Scripture is being called into question these days. We have to continue to take our role as Biblical influencers seriously, living the life in the spheres to which we are called and showing the love of Christ to the people we meet.

Fatherhood and Teamwork

Our God, who has established the family for His purposes, has a desire to see fathers functioning in their God-given roles and responsibilities. In Malachi 4, we see these verses:
5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet Before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.
6 And he will turn The hearts of the fathers to the children, And the hearts of the children to their fathers, Lest I come and strike the earth with a curse."

The Lord wants to make relationships right.  Where there have been fathers who have negatively impacted their children, He wants to bring wholeness out of the brokenness.  He wants to do the necessary work on the human heart so that relationships can flourish in Him. Fathers have an enormous Biblical responsibility, and can be empowered by God to fulfill His call to that purpose; a dad has a sizable role, but God equips fathers to bring honor to Him and to raise their children in His principles.

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The heart of God concerning sexuality and the family can be found in Genesis chapter 1, where we
can read:
27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.
28 Then God blessed them, and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth."

Father's Day is coming up this weekend, and it provides a wonderful time to think about God's call on the lives of fathers and their important role in their children's lives.

Barna Research has put together a survey on fatherhood, which has been incorporated into a study on men's ministry called, Five Essentials to Engage Today’s Men, in association with BetterMan.

In the summary of the survey, found at the Barna website, it states:

Christian fathers largely report satisfaction in their relationship to their children; half (49%) say they are very satisfied while another three in 10 (30%) say they’re mostly satisfied.

The study notes that almost half of Christian fathers with children in the household are between the ages of 35 and 54.

And, the impact of one's own father is related to the level of satisfaction in his own fathering practice; the survey found that 53% of "Christian men who report a positive relationship with their father" said they are "very satisfied in their relationship to their own child." 42% of those who did not experience a positive relationship with their own father said they were very satisfied with their relationship with their child.

There is also an element of fatherhood being, as you might say, a team sport, with the data indicating that, "Practicing Christian men who report having intergenerational friendships with both older and younger men are nearly twice as likely to be very satisfied in their relationship with their child (54% vs. 30%) and in their marriage (63% vs. 54%)."  And, fathers who said they had a "confidant," other than a partner or spouse, were two times more likely to be very satisfied in the area of fatherhood.

The summary states:

As churches think through what it means to help men navigate the changing tide of the 21st century, men’s ministry leaders have an opportunity to take stock of the connections that work together to provide support and strength to fathers and have clear reasons to connect men of all stages of life with mentors and friends.

And, there is a dramatic effect of fatherlessness in our nation. If you saw the movie, Courageous, perhaps you remember an early scene in which the sheriff comes into the meeting room with his officers, and says this, according to Crosswalk.com:

I received an email, he tells them, and I want you to know about it. The violent gang members, run-aways, high school dropouts, and teens in prison—the sorts of kids who get into trouble with the law—have something in common: “Most of them are from fatherless homes.”

“When a father is absent,” he goes on, “kids are five times more likely to commit suicide or use drugs. They’re twenty times more likely to wind up in prison. So tonight after you clock out,” he adds, “go home and love your families.”

That article includes a quote from David Popenoe, Professor of Sociology Emeritus at Rutgers University, who says, “Fathers are far more than just ‘second adults’ in the home. Involved fathers—especially biological fathers—bring positive benefits to their children that no other person is likely to bring.”

Today, we can think about God's establishment of the institution of the family.  Genesis 1 nails it: He created us male and female - two genders, with clearly defined roles, including the joint role to "be fruitful and multiply."  In the Bible, children are regarded as gifts from God.  And, we are given Biblical directives to raise our children.  That is the standard; now, we can remember that there are many families who are in single-parent situations, some children are being raised by their grandparents, and other home situations, and there can certainly be compassionate understanding and grace extended.  But, we recognize God's intent for fathers, and the statistical data plays out that fatherlessness is a serious issue in our nation.

Thankfully, there are believers who step up to be mentors for kids without fathers.  There are moms who are, in essence, doing dual roles, which places a lot of pressure on them.  And, unfortunately, there are men who have abdicated their role to be an involved father. But, in the absence of a father-led situation, we can trust God to provide leaders in churches and communities who will provide Godly direction to young people.  And, as the Barna research suggests, fathers who have people who walk with them on the fathering journey are more satisfied along that path.  It's a reminder that in the body of Christ, we need one another.

Cancelled

You have no doubt heard the song, There is a Balm in Gilead, which is a song devoted to the promise of healing and forgiveness for the one who would seize the promises of God.  There are several
references to that healing "balm" in Scripture, including Jeremiah 46, which states:
10 For this is the day of the Lord God of hosts, A day of vengeance, That He may avenge Himself on His adversaries. The sword shall devour; It shall be satiated and made drunk with their blood; For the Lord God of hosts has a sacrifice In the north country by the River Euphrates.
11 "Go up to Gilead and take balm, O virgin, the daughter of Egypt; In vain you will use many medicines; You shall not be cured.

Verse 10 describes what we deserve - judgment and destruction at the hand of Almighty God. Verse 11 references what we can have by accepting God's mercy and grace. In this case, it seems that one of the nations under judgment did not accept that healing balm.  In our individual lives and in the life of our nation, we have to make sure that we take hold of the healing hand of Jesus; He is the one who heals our souls and will heal relationships as we allow Him to have His way.

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There is a passage in Jeremiah chapter 8 that speaks to the condition of the human heart and the promise of healing and restoration, even though His people had forgotten God and begun to worship idols. There is still the chance of redemption.
19 Listen! The voice, The cry of the daughter of my people From a far country: "Is not the Lord in Zion? Is not her King in her?" "Why have they provoked Me to anger With their carved images-- With foreign idols?"
20 "The harvest is past, The summer is ended, And we are not saved!"
21 For the hurt of the daughter of my people I am hurt. I am mourning; Astonishment has taken hold of me.
22 Is there no balm in Gilead, Is there no physician there? Why then is there no recovery For the health of the daughter of my people?

The doctor has spoken, and if we are to experience harmony in our culture, perhaps we would do well to heed his diagnosis.

Ben Carson, the noted surgeon who now leads the Department of Housing and Urban Development, or HUD, had some pointed comments on This Week with George Stephanopoulos on ABC this past Sunday, according to an article at ChristianHeadlines.com.  In his reply to a question by the host, the good doctor stated, “We’ve reached a point in our society where we dissect everything and try to ascribe some nefarious notion to it,” adding, “We really need to move away from that. We need to move away from being offended by everything, of going through history and looking at everything, of renaming everything."

Carson also said, “It really gets to a point of being ridiculous after a while...And, you know, we’re going to have to grow up as a society.” He also said, “We have to stop putting everything into the arena of combat. Let's see if we can find a way to work together because if we don't, we’re doomed..."

Most honest Americans and especially Christians should be able to agree on matters of racism (we're against it), justice (we are for it), and unity (it's a good thing).  It's just a matter of how you get there that seems to be the problem.  And, there seem to be levels of addressing these issues - and if you don't say the right thing in the right way with the right tone, you may risk being a victim of "cancel culture."

Take, for instance, the case of a cartoon show that National Review highlighted the other day.  The article says:

Paw Patrol, a children’s cartoon about doggie do-gooders, has as one of its principal characters a German shepherd called Chase, who is a police officer. (A police officer in an imaginary universe in which dogs have full-time jobs, drive cars, and wear jaunty caps.) According to the New York Times, which just fired its opinion editor for publishing opinions, Paw Patrol has run afoul of the new commandment: Thou shalt not make sympathetic depictions of police officers, including police officers whose beat is an imaginary universe in which dogs have full-time jobs, drive cars, and wear jaunty caps.

My Faith Votes tweeted this out recently: "In the age of cancel culture, in which anyone who says anything even mildly “controversial” there is a movement to get that person fired, deplatformed, or worse...How do we combat it? #PrayThinkAct"

It linked to a Faithwire article featuring U.S. Representative Dan Crenshaw.  CBN News published a report on Crenshaw and his new book, Fortitude:

In his new book, Fortitude: American Resilience in the Era of Outrage, Crenshaw shares advice on finding the strength to deal with life's challenges and create solutions where none seem to exist. He says the idea for the book came after many encounters with the "outrage culture" in America today. One T-shirt on a protester summed it up for Crenshaw. It said, "Stay Outraged."

"And it's this sort of strange notion that outrage is the ends," Crenshaw said. "That that is the point. Now, of course, in the end, they want some kind of revolution, but it's outrage itself that is the goal. They were not arguing for any policy, at least it was not apparent if they were, the goal was just to be mad, mad, mad, and to seek to manipulate people's emotions that way for whatever policy end the might have. But those are secondary to the first part which is irrational, emotional exuberance," he said.

Tim Challies linked to a piece on a website called, UnHerd by a clergyman from Great Britian named Giles Fraser, who writes:

The new, highly secular ‘cancel culture’ represents an extreme form of righteousness that has all the moral power of a certain kind of protestant Christianity, but none of the basic scaffolding of redemption on which such Christianity is built. And morality without forgiveness or redemption is a frightening, persecutory business.

Fraser goes on to say:

There’s a sort of furious moral vigilantism that encourages its adherents to trawl through our public utterances — in order to condemn and shame us in the high court of Twitter. Against this digital shoaling of the mob, any protestations of rightful innocence are impossible to make, and the fear of being targeted makes any exploration or confession of our hidden failings terrifying to contemplate.

I was pointed to a tweet the other day from Mike Stone, a Georgia pastor who is the outgoing head of the Southern Baptist Convention's Executive Committee, who tweeted: "The new religion of America offers no absolution even when you repent of those dreaded sins you didn’t even commit...That is not the gospel of Jesus."

People in leadership in America today are experiencing this firsthand.  Witness the social media outrage to a well-known pastor who clearly misspoke in a recent forum on race relations and how his attempt to apologize was deemed to be not enough.  Another pastor, also with an impressive track record, had liked some political tweets, apologized, but his church was still banned from doing ministry in certain facilities in his city.  An athlete spoke to a cultural issue in a manner that offended his teammates, and he apologized not once, but twice; his wife apologized, too - is it enough?  We'll see.

In some cases, it is never enough.  Never. Enough.  And so, cancel culture kicks in.

We need a doctor.  Not Ben Carson, mind you, although he is a great guy who speaks truth.  But, we need the Great Physician, the one who offers us what the Bible calls a Balm in Gilead.  The One who can heal our hearts and our relationships. Who brings forgiveness and enables us to forgive one another, because we have been forgiven much.

The Bible says there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.  The Word says that if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us.  That's absolute.  And, we should do no less for one another.  It is the work of the enemy to continually tell us that we're not forgiven, we have not done enough to cleanse the past, and there is no absolution - Christ is calling us to freedom, the enemy keeps us wrapped up in our past mistakes.

Thankfully, our sins have not cancelled us from having a relationship with Christ - He says that the person who comes to Him will not be cast out.  Rather, He provides a way that our sins can be cancelled and He gives every one of us the capability to extend forgiveness, whether or not a person asks for it.  Now, there will be the occasion where we need to ask for forgiveness from others in order for the healing to come; not out of intimidation or a false obligation or social shaming, but out of a heart that is truly devoted to making things right.

A "Harry" Situation

God is calling His people to be distinct, to adhere to His principles, and to stand strong in the face of
shifting cultural winds. 1st Peter 3 offers this encouragement:
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."
15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;
16 having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed.

There is hope that can be found through the truth of God's Word, providing us security and stability in a world that does not offer hope.  We can have confidence in the Lord, who empowers us to speak boldly and wisely about what He has taught us and what He has done in our hearts.  Even though there are many who do not hold to the principles of Scripture, we can be convinced that God's way is best and He will enable us to walk in it.

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In Romans 1, Paul delivers a stark appraisal of those who had rejected God, even though His
presence was clearly known. These truths continue to be applicable for today's culture, which is being confronted with a question: is this really what you want? We can read:
24 Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves,
25 who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
26 For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature.
27 Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.

The world of Harry Potter has always been problematic for Christians - the presence of wizards, incantations, magic, and spells has been viewed as contrary to a Christian worldview perspective, yet the popular franchise of books and movies has been widely accepted and the subject matter viewed as symbolic by some.

Author J.K. Rowling has been the center of controversy recently for her comments on transgenderism.  The Blaze reports that she said:

"Trans people need and deserve protection. Like women, they're most likely to be killed by sexual partners," she wrote.

"So I want trans women to be safe. At the same time, I do not want to make natal girls and women less safe. When you throw open the doors of bathrooms and changing rooms to any man who believes or feels he's a woman – and, as I've said, gender confirmation certificates may now be granted without any need for surgery or hormones – then you open the door to any and all men who wish to come inside," she explained.

Uh-oh - you see where this is going.  Rowling, as the article pointed out, "...had previously been a hero in LGBT circles for declaring that Albus Dumbledore, one of the central characters of the Harry Potter series, was gay."  Not any more, it seems - she has been excoriated on social media.

One critic wrote, "Do NOT read #JKRowling 's transphobia manifesto. I already did it for you. Every line is misinformation, fear mongering, misgendering, othering, ignorance, far right language/dog whistles, and pure hate. It's not just ugly..."

John Stonestreet of Breakpoint pointed this out about responses to Rowling's falling out with the trans agenda: 

After all, as Rowling would later tweet, if biological sex isn’t real, like the T’s claim, “the lived reality of women globally is erased…” That will be an increasingly important truth needing to be said, but to quote Rowling again, “It isn’t hate to speak the truth.”

Co-stars in the Harry Potter movies, Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint, have all spoken out in favor of transgenderism and have been critical of Rowling's comments.

Brandon Showalter points out at The Christian Post: "In December, Rowling spoke out in defense of tax researcher Maya Forstater — a woman who was ousted from her job for writing on Twitter that men who identify as transgender are not women — following an employment tribunal ruling where the judge said Forstater's views were 'not worthy of respect.'"

It is certainly stunning how the transgender movement has swept the world.  Just this past Sunday, according to CBSNews.com:

Thousands participated in a rally and silent march for black trans lives in Brooklyn Sunday. Organizers of the Brooklyn Liberation event say they believe police scanners estimated that 15,000 people dressed in white and demonstrated.

The event was organized by groups including The Okra Project, which provides meals to black trans people, and the Marsha P. Johnson Institute, named for the black trans activist who was a prominent figure in the Stonewall uprising of 1969.

Pictures circulated of that large crowd in front of the Brooklyn Museum.

And, just yesterday, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a ruling that the word "sex" in civil rights law can be interpreted as meaning "sexual orientation" or "gender identity," opening up a new front for the advancement of the LGBTQ in employment decisions, and perhaps, as it's been pointed out in other areas as well.

Writing for The Stream, Jonathon Van Maren states:

If you had told me back in 2007 that the LGBT crowd would eventually declare J.K. Rowling Public Enemy Number 1, I would have laughed at you. Back then, she was raking in accolades from the gay rights movement for declaring that Dumbledore of the Harry Potter series was gay. In the years that followed, she was reliably left-wing on all issues, from abortion to same-sex marriage. Like other celebrities of her wealth and status, she took the requisite shots at Donald Trump on Twitter. Her credentials were impeccable.

But that was then and this is now. The LGBT movement has surged past the redefinition of marriage, abandoned their commitment to free speech and gone to war with biological reality itself. No longer is it enough to be cool with gay marriage. It isn’t even good enough to celebrate Pride Month. Now, you must believe that biological men can become women simply by identifying as such. Biological men who identify as women are women, we are being told. Those who disagree are being purged from the progressive herd.

These abhorrent and unbiblical ideas continue to grow mainstream, and yesterday's Supreme Court decision will no doubt contribute to the institutional acceptance of practices that are Biblically incorrect.  And, the LGBTQ activists will no doubt continue to silence Christians who are committed to living out Scripturally faithful lives.

So, we have the choice: to cave to the cultural winds and wave the white flag of surrender, or surrender more wholeheartedly to the God who promised persecution for faithful believers, but who has promised to be with us when we encounter trials.

Even though the culture is trying to dictate one worldview, which is based on humanist, secularist principles, we can know that we still have the best answers to the needs of the human heart.  People are struggling now, and the peace we radiate and the confidence in God that we demonstrate can communicate powerfully the hope that is within us.

Amazing

Public worship can be a visible expression of the work of God in a person's life, testifying to the
greatness of our Lord. Consider this passage from Isaiah chapter 12:
2 Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; 'For Yah, the Lord, is my strength and song; He also has become my salvation.' "
3 Therefore with joy you will draw water From the wells of salvation.
4 And in that day you will say: "Praise the Lord, call upon His name; Declare His deeds among the peoples, Make mention that His name is exalted.
5 Sing to the Lord, For He has done excellent things; This is known in all the earth.

There are innumerable resources available for the child of God - He wants us to draw from what this passage, in verse 3, calls "the wells of salvation."  We have to dig deeply into what God has in store for us, especially in difficult times. We can anticipate what He will do when we lift us His name; after all, Jesus said that if He is lifted up, He will draw all to Him.  When the presence of Jesus is integrated into a difficult situation, that can change the calculus - He is the one who renews and restores.

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Our worship is an expression of our love for Christ and our corporate worship can reflect our unity in Christ; I believe that worship can bring people together. Follow the progression in Colossians chapter 3:
14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.
15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.
16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

Things are going out of tune in the Music City - according to Nashville's newspaper, The Tennessean:

Activists and protesters gathered Friday night outside the Tennessee state Capitol to claim the space as an autonomous zone, bringing forth a new strategy for demonstrators who have been consistently protesting statewide since the end of May.

A group of approximately 50 people gathered around 5 p.m. Friday and plan to stay for an undetermined amount of time. Ahead of the protest, Gov. Bill Lee issued a warning that autonomous zones "will not be tolerated."

"We encourage Tennesseans to exercise their First Amendment rights and have seen many examples of peaceful protests across our state in recent weeks," Lee said in a statement midday Friday. "As demonstrations continue, we will continue to protect Tennesseans' right to peaceful assembly, while also reassuring citizens that lawlessness, autonomous zones, and violence will not be tolerated.

And, while the Capital Hill Autonomous Zone in Seattle, or "CHAZ," has crafted a lengthy list of demands for local officials, the Nashville would-be anarchists have a more simplified agenda, according to the newspaper:

The group's listed platform includes the firing of Metro Nashville Police Department Chief Steve Anderson, to "defund" and "demilitarize" police, as well as removing "racist statues."

But, Nashville has had its share of looting in the downtown area, and according to the website, WorshipCity.com:

During the protests after the tragic death of George Floyd, our friends knew our city needed hope in the aftermath of the traumatic looting in downtown Nashville. Broadway is a place our teams go for continual prayer and worship to pray for revival. But now we have felt the whole city needs re-uniting.

Barbi Franklin, who is in music ministry with her husband Terry, came up with an idea.  The website says:

...Barbi had a vision. Some of our team leaders spoke with bar managers on Saturday, June 6th asking if their bar bands could sing Amazing Grace at the same time that our worshipers would be singing it on the street. Surprisingly, 18 out of 20 bar bands agreed, so the whole Broadway strip was singing Amazing Grace at the same time. FOX 17 NASHVILLE showed up and Live-Streamed the worship to Facebook, getting well over 120,000 views in just a few days.

This past weekend, it happened again!  The Worship City Facebook page brought live video and this report:

Almost all the bars joined us to "Sing Amazing Grace At 8" again tonight on Broadway. We stood in front of the Boot barn that had been looted more than a week ago during the protests. We wanted to spread a little love and grace at this tumultuous time and www.GetAmericaSinging.com instead of fighting! #GetAmericaSinging #SingAmazingGraceAt8

And, others joined in - in Rogersville, Tennessee up in the extreme Eastern section of the state, they were singing Amazing Grace.  Sheldon Livesay of the Of One Accord Ministry shared this on Facebook:

Tonight, in the midst of unrest and national turmoil, Christians take to the inner cities, to the streets and the bars at 8pm to sing probabaly the most well-known Christian song of all time- Amazing Grace

We sang it as a prayer asking for God's amazing grace during this most critical time in our nation's history to rest on our nation from the east coast to the west coast.

You may remember my report about Awaken Tennessee a few months ago - Livesay, along with the Franklins, were involved in that effort, where some 1,000 churches were committed to spiritual awakening.

I think this is really a testimonial to the power of corporate worship - when we come together and honor the Lord together and sing songs that exalt Him, it can strengthen a church body.  And, the act of worship can build bridges, unite the saints, and help heal.  It's a reminder of our one purpose in Him.

I do believe that God has moved in the midst of our isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic.  People that may not have been interested in attending a church service have heard God's Word through online services and other content.  But, I also think our separation may have adversely affected our cohesiveness as a body.  We need those reminders to show us how to function together, and I would hope that we can get that sense of common purpose back, quickly - the world needs our witness.

This is yet another example of positive action that can grow our of negative circumstances.  The Nashville protests, while peaceful by and large, have certainly had some destructive elements.  We can't condone all that occurs in local bars and honkytonks along Broadway, but we can't condone the destruction of property and local economy, either.  And, thanks to these worshippers, those who work in the bars on Broadway joined in to honor God.  That can have a peaceful effect on a city and a nation, reminding us that He holds the solutions to the upheaval that we are experiencing.

Promoting Peace

There are ways in which believers in Christ can settle our differences and maintain a spirit of humility and peace.  2nd Thessalonians 3 states:

13 But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary in doing good.
14 And if anyone does not obey our word in this epistle, note that person and do not keep company with him, that he may be ashamed.
15 Yet do not count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.
16 Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always in every way. The Lord be with you all.

This is not an endorsement of what is called "cancel culture," in which you write someone off without any desire for restoration.  No, we are called to be restorative in our approach to those who are struggling - it may call for some "tough love," but that situation seems to only be temporary.  God doesn't write us off, thankfully, when we do wrong - we may realize that we are seemingly not as close to Him as we once were, but He lovingly holds out hope for reconciliation; that can be our attitude toward our fellow believers.

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Coming up, I will be sharing a verse that one high-profile former NFL coach has used with respect to our recent social upheaval.  I want to back up a few verses and share this passage from the same
chapter of the Bible. It says:
16 Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.
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.

The Bible says, "blessed are the peacemakers," and that simple phrase can be so applicable in these tumultous days, when there is such a sense of upheaval.

And, we can find people who are anchored in Christ and seek to emulate those who are working through issues, but doing so in a reasoned, graceful way.  George Floyd was described as a "man of peace," and there are high-profile people in our culture today who are exhibiting the peace of Christ.

Like former Super Bowl champion coach Tony Dungy, heard on Faith Radio weekday mornings at around 10 after 10 during FaithSongs.  I had quoted from his wonderful statement shortly after the death of George Floyd, which he closed out by saying, "In the words of the Apostle Paul, 'Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.' Romans 12:21 NIV"

Sports Spectrum reported on a recent radio interview out of Pittsburgh, in which the coach said, "I’m a Christian, and I feel like as a representative of Christ, I have an obligation to speak up and I have an obligation to help wherever I see it needed. I think we’ve got to come together and do that.” He also underscored the magnanimity of the situation, saying, “It’s not just a black problem. It’s not a white problem. It’s not an inner-city problem. It’s not a governmental problem. It’s our problem and we gotta solve it.”

This past Tuesday, Dungy issued another nugget of truth, tweeting out: "I woke up this morning & really felt led to pray for our country. We’re in a difficult place and everyone is looking for answers. Can we come together in love and in respect? Sometimes it seems like that’s impossible but it is possible-If we let the LOVE of Christ work-Mark 10:27"

Tim Scott is a man of peace, as well.  He is a Senator from South Carolina, an African-American who is in a God-given vantage point to not only see the issues confronting our culture, but to do something about them.  He was a guest on Focus on the Family recently, and Jim Daly, host of the program, shared these comments about the program: "...his faith transformed his life from despondency and disillusionment to one of purpose. He accepted Jesus at the tender age of 11 and recommitted his life at 17."  Daly also said, "You’ll hear Senator Scott say that society is only positively transformed through the heart – and that it’s hard to hate someone when you’re breaking bread with them."

The Senator also said, “There’s no doubt that Jesus Christ is the Way, the Truth and the Life,” adding, “And I will say this as a kid who experienced the American dream brought to me on the shoulders of a praying mother and a powerful mentor. You and I both have the same story that in this country, anyone from anywhere, at any time can rise to the level of Ephesians 3:20 and 21 and [believe] that, ‘God is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or imagine.’ Let’s just get to it.”
Positive words of affirmation, certainly - words of hope that we need to hear these days.

He is now the Republican Senator who is the point man for police reform legislation.  A recent Politico article stated:

“The thing that really anchors me, especially in these challenging times, is when you realize that it’s not about you. It’s about you being a resource for hopefully greater good,” Scott said in an interview. He grew increasingly introspective when asked whether he enjoys being the center of attention on issues of race and policing.

“The purpose really can’t be me at this moment. The purpose is that there are literally tens of millions of Americans who’ve lost confidence in institutions that have authority,” Scott said. “As a victim of that situation many times, including this year, how do I make sure that my experience and not myself becomes the focal point?”

Dungy and Scott teach us that we can change hearts through love, and recognize that the wrong tone can yield the wrong results.  But, it takes courage and taking advantage of opportunities that we can depend on God to provide for us.

But, there is humility involved.  In this rampant "cancel culture" that we are seeing - really a terrifying trend for people of faith - there is a small group of people that is stirring up dissension, determining the correct "talking points," calling people names, and excluding from participation those who do say exactly the right things.  Rather than bringing people together for positive change and the benefit of society, people are being pushed apart.  Believers in Christ are better than that; we can humbly and orderly model the love and principles of Christ.

Out of Control

When things seem out of control in our lives, perhaps that can spur us on to invite God to be very real and submit ourselves to His control, recognizing that, according to Hebrews 2:
8 You have put all things in subjection under his feet." For in that He put all in subjection under him, He left nothing that is not put under him. But now we do not yet see all things put under him.
9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone.
10 For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

Suffering will come, certainly, but we know we have one who walks with us through our sufferings, so that we might be more wholeheartedly devoted to Him and that His presence may be manifested through us. He is the Lord of heaven and earth, and while we can become discouraged with the state of our world, we can recognize that He is continuing to work out His purposes, calling human beings to turn to Him and to submit to His lordship.

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In Ephesians 1, Paul is sharing what he is praying for, including...
(19) what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power
20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places,
21 far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.
22 And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church,
23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

Do you sometimes feel that the world is spinning out of control?  We have gone through isolation to prevent the spread of a virus that continues to afflict thousands to a time of irritation and hopefully introspection.  Americans have gone through a gamut of emotions through a pandemic and protests, and there is an uneasiness among us.

Maybe God has us just where He wants us.

NBCNews.com reports on a "new NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll that was conducted May 28 to June 2, during the aftermath of George Floyd's death in Minneapolis, as the U.S. death toll from the coronavirus surpassed 100,000 and after millions of people have lost their jobs:"

According to the poll, 80 percent of registered voters say they feel that things are generally out of control in the country, versus 15 percent who believe that things are under control.

Regarding the death of Mr. Floyd in Minneapolis, the survey found:

Fifty-nine percent of all voters — including 54 percent of whites, 65 percent of Latinos and 78 percent of African Americans — said they're more troubled by Floyd's death and the actions of police.

That's compared with 27 percent who said they're more concerned about the protests over Floyd's death, some of which have turned violent.

The survey also found that there is still concern, rightly so, over the Coronavirus, as well as its economic effects:

...a combined 63 percent of voters say they're "very" or "somewhat" worried that they or someone in their immediate families might catch the coronavirus, down by 10 points from April's poll (with much of the decline coming from Republicans).

Nearly half of voters — 46 percent — describe the state of the economy as "poor," the highest percentage on this question since September 2012.

And over half think, "...it will take a year or longer for the coronavirus to be contained and for the economy to return to normal."

Presidential indicators were also part of the poll, with Joe Biden holding a 7-point lead over Donald Trump, same as April.  Respondents broke for Biden by about a 2-to-1 margin as someone who could unite the country - that should be a wake-up call for the President, who has had difficulty finding his voice regarding race relations in the current crisis; and more felt Trump could restart the economy, with the President holding an 11-point margin.

When things seem out of control, we can know that God is in control.  These polling results are just a reminder that we need God's presence - He is the one who can bring stability to our streets and to our lives.  His love and truth are necessary in navigating important human relationships.

We recognize that God's words and principles can lead to peace - inwardly and outwardly. Scripture teaches that He has not given us a spirit of fear, which can be helpful in these seasons of instability.  We need sound-mindedness in order to think Biblically about what we are seeing unfold in our country and in the Church.  Because, there are those in the Church who have adopted worldly ideas; we have to make sure that we are walking in step with His ideas.

Holding Up the Bible

When we accept the Word of God into our lives, having made Jesus, the Word who became flesh, the
Lord of our lives, we can be changed. Jeremiah 23 says:
29 "Is not My word like a fire?" says the Lord, "And like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?
30 "Therefore behold, I am against the prophets," says the Lord, "who steal My words every one from his neighbor.

The Scriptures will change our thinking and renew our minds.  The entrance of His Word, according to the Psalms, brings light - and this passage points out that we can have old ideas and worldviews burned away, so that our minds are retrained to think in line with God's wisdom.  His Word has such power that it will break up the ingrained thought patterns and replace them with powerful truth by which we can live and relate to the world around us.

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We can hold up God's Word as an example for us, but Christian believers also recognize that we have
to open the book and open our hearts so that we can receive direction from God. Hebrews 4 states:
12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.

It's become a narrative that the media has seized on in the midst of unrest.  A speech by the President declaring his desire to see violence end on the streets of America, followed by a walk to the venerable St. John's Church across the street, which had been set on fire by vandals.  President Trump, accompanied by Administration officials, famously held up a Bible as he stood outside the church.

The narrative emerged that the President, or someone associated with him, ordered "peaceful" protesters to be dispersed using tear gas so that he could do a photo op, using the Bible as a prop. A week later, the Washington Post was still fixated on the events of the evening and released a detailed "investigation" piece about what happened.  The U.S. Park Police produced a timeline of events that indicated that the protest was by no means peaceful and Attorney General Barr said that action to clear nearby Lafayette Park was not because of the President's visit.  Even some supporters of Mr. Trump, namely, senators Lankford and Sasse, were critical of the Bible being used as a "prop."

Nick Hall of the PULSE Movement is calling for a truce in the war of words over the event, which came in response to a church being burned, which should ideally have aroused more anger than the President's action.  Hall, at ReligionNews.com, poses the question concerning the horrific death of George Floyd and the protests and violence in the aftermath: "So what is the answer?"

I think President Donald Trump pointed to it — even if you don’t like how it happened or who it happened through: We need to meet at the Bible.

The Bible offers solutions for this present moment, and the president holding it has people all over the world talking about what it actually says.

Hall delivers this perspective:

So, yes, you should be glad Trump is holding the Bible, not because he is the embodiment of the words of the book, but because the book offers the embodiment of the fruits of the Spirit that he, and all of us, need.

Now, I get many are upset the president was seen holding up a Bible after making statements many view as unbiblical. Similarly, I know there are many others thankful that the president is holding up a Bible because they believe he is God’s man for the job. I would like to simply suggest a third option — that we look past all of that to the book in his hands. 

For those more upset about rioting and looting than grieved over the injustice done to George Floyd and the systemic racism that has existed for 400 years in America, the Bible speaks much to listening and seeking to understand the experiences of others. It prophetically calls out injustice.

For those upset with Trump, the Bible speaks much about loving those different from us, turning the other cheek when we are offended and forgiving those who wrong us not simply seven times, but 70 times seven.

Hall, by the way, had partnered with other ministries to declare 2020 as the "Year of the Bible." He writes: "We had no clue that in 2020 we would be facing a global pandemic and a national crisis over our history of racism. Yet it’s precisely these kinds of moments in our lives when we need to turn to Scripture and remember what the Bible says about justice, forgiveness, reconciliation and mercy."

It is unfortunate that there seems to be more angst over the President's symbolic gesture than the actual attack on a church. So, he used a Bible as a symbol - some say a prop; it wasn't perfectly executed.  But, keep in mind that symbols are important in our culture and can powerfully represent institutions and concepts.  Those who have turned to violence in these days get that and have attacked symbols of the American experience - houses of worship, historical markers, places of business - and many of these are intent on bringing down American institutions, figuratively or literally.

The American Bible Society is attempting to capitalize on the recent attention over the Bible - another Religion News story highlights a campaign to make free Bibles available and to encourage people to download a Bible app.  The article quotes from Whitney T. Kuniholm, a senior vice president of the society, who stated in a blog post: “In this time of pandemic fear and social isolation, in this time of racial injustice and senseless violence, in this time of economic uncertainty and generational pain, we should be careful not to use the Bible as a political symbol, one more prop in a noisy news cycle...:  The Religion News article continues; 

Asked if the statement was a response to a specific government leader, Kuniholm noted the conversations that started after Trump’s appearance.

“The President's visit on Monday to St. John's Episcopal Church with a Bible in-hand sparked a lot of dialogue across the nation about the Bible,” Whitney T. Kuniholm, a senior vice president of the Philadelphia-based society, told Religion News Service in a statement.

“Since Monday, other politicians have referenced the Bible as well. At American Bible Society, we believe this is an opportunity to encourage conversation and be a resource to share the life-affirming message of God's Holy Word.”

Fox News reported on someone that didn't agree with Trump's actions, the Episcopal Bishop of Washington, the Right Rev. Mariann Budde, who "accused the president of using the Bible and 'one of the churches of my diocese, without permission, as a backdrop for a message antithetical to the teachings of Jesus.'" Franklin Graham disagreed, saying, "Offended? Not at all," adding in a Facebook post that the President "made an important statement that what took place the night before in the burning, looting, and vandalism of the nation’s capital—including this historic house of worship—mattered, and that the lawlessness had to end."

The Bible refers to itself as "living and active."  Yes, the sight of a physical Bible can certainly symbolize faith and truth, but we do have to open our Bible - to see what's inside, and realize that the application of the Scriptures during these difficult times can be highly effective.

And, remember that symbols matter. Our houses of worship are filled with them - most Christian churches have a cross prominently displayed - I don't think that is a prop; it's a bold reminder of what Jesus has done for us.  The crosses that have been erected in yards across our area during Christmas, some of which have been used during the time of COVID-19 serve to remind us where our help comes from.  Beautiful stained glass windows have been used through the centuries to tell stories of God's faithfulness.  We need to be reminded of God's timeless truths and look to apply those principles; in so doing, we release His mighty power.