Following the Star

We are students - the phrase, "lifelong learners," has been used - and we are being trained by the best teacher of all, the Holy Spirit, and we can be confident He is guiding our lives. In John 14, Jesus says:
26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.
27 Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

We never truly arrive as Christian believers on this earth - and there is a sense of adventure along the way.  If we look back, perhaps we can identity times in which the Holy Spirit was leading in a profound way, and as we consider God's work in our life, we can know that as He took great care to guide us in the past, so He will lead us into the future.  He is equipping and encouraging us, and He provides incredible guidance, certifying His presence with us.

+++++

We can know that God has plans for each of us, in order to accomplish His purposes. There is great excitement when we consider how He is governing our lives. Psalm 37 provides encouragement:
22 For those blessed by Him shall inherit the earth, But those cursed by Him shall be cut off.
23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, And He delights in his way.
24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; For the Lord upholds him with His hand.
25 I have been young, and now am old; Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, Nor his descendants begging bread.

When Yarrow and Carrie Cheney were in an arts school together and not married to one another, they were paired together in class. When they first met, according to ChristianCinema.com, they shared their views on animation, their favorite types, and even decided, way back then, in 1992, that they would make an animated special.  Fast forward seven years later - Yarrow and Carrie, who had decided to work together, began to brainstorm this film. In 2006, it came to fruition as a story of the wise men called, The Very First Noel.  It developed a following at the time.  And, along the way, the Cheneys became husband and wife.

Now, Yarrow went on to work on projects like The Secret Life of Pets and The Grinch, on which he was co-director.  He had also been a designer on two of the Despicable Me movies. 

And, The Very First Noel is now The Three Wise Men, an animated feature that released late last year.  Christian Cinema relates:

Now, Yarrow says that it’s amazing that the film is coming back around in this way to a new audience. “It’s divine intervention, really,” he says. “It’s a wonderful thing that’s happening. We’re so excited it’s going to reach a new audience.”

Carrie adds, “We’re seeing the sovereignty of God, that this plan has always been in the works, and that it’s so much richer than what we hoped or imagined. And God always had in mind for Jonas Myrin to write and perform the song “Just a Breath Away” for the film.”

Myrin had collaborated with Matt Redman for the classic worship song, 10,000 Reasons. 

Yarrow had these comments about the concept:

“We started with the premise of these three men,” Yarrow explains, “but we didn’t know much about them so we started studying. We’d gone through college and drifted from church. Neither of us had actually ever studied the Bible, but suddenly we were studying the infancy narrative in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke asking, ‘Who were these guys who arrived in Jerusalem from the East?'"

They did their research and continued to collaborate.

In another Christian Cinema story, we drop in on a conversation with Yarrow and Carrie Cheney about thematic material in the film, beginning with Yarrow:

“Stories are always about transformation, how people go through an ordeal and learn a deeper truth, they realize something they didn’t see before. The Grinch can meet so many people in a world that doesn’t often offer grace.”

Carrie adds, “Or believe that people can change. We were so excited that God’s plan was for Yarrow to work on the film.”

The article goes on to say:

That brings them back to The Three Wise Men. Three out-of-towners. Three people who are respected in their own element but nearly deceived by a manipulative king. And they’re not alone in the Christmas story.

Yarrow says, "The Christmas story reminds us of His love and how He pursues us.”

The Wise Men followed God's guidance to visit Jesus - the tool He used was the star. This can really remind us of how God leads us; I am reminded of how he brought Yarrow and Carrie Cheney together to be husband and wife, as well as business and creative partners, out of a seemingly random meeting in a school classroom. We can be confident that God is ordering our steps in order to accomplish His purposes.

The Cheneys took Bible study and began to ask questions.  That is certainly a technique that we can apply to our own study of the Word.  As we approach stories or passages, we can ask what we can glean. Perhaps in a character study, we can set out to learn more about the character and ultimately discover what we can learn from him or her. 

Yesterday, I shared a Scripture reference on the air about how God uses a person's gift that might be applicable to Yarrow and Carrie, who have, according to one of those articles I referenced, said, "The goal is to end up with this finished movie that feels like one piece of art,”adding,“There are tons of conversations all along the way, with other people who are catching the vision and bringing their skills and gifts to make the project better.” Christian Cinema reports:

That sense of collaboration has opened doors for the Cheneys, primarily through Universal’s Illumination Entertainment. But they have always had an eye for the way that the stories can bring people together, how they can exhibit faith.

Proverbs 18:16 states, "A man's gift makes room for him, And brings him before great men."  God has certainly used their giftedness in order to make a place in the entertainment industry to glorify God.

Common

The book of Proverbs has plenty to say about acquiring knowledge and applying Godly wisdom. When we have God's heart on a matter, we can work toward solutions for ourselves and the communities to which God has called us. Proverbs 18 says:
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.

So, there is a certain demeanor that we are to possess, consistent with the presence of Christ in us - and we should be seeking His face, as we see later in the chapter:
15 The heart of the prudent acquires knowledge, And the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
16 A man's gift makes room for him, And brings him before great men.

God will open doors for us - perhaps there is a dilemma that someone or a group of people is facing and we recognize we have been placed there to help craft a solution.  You know, in a sense, we have called to be problem solvers.  Too often, though, people become problem perpetuators - we focus on the negative and are not as dedicated as perhaps we should be to helping people come together - in unity in order to accomplish positive change for the world around them.

+++++

We may find ourselves in the position to inject Biblically-based knowledge into a situation, so that others may benefit. Hosea 4 states:
6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me; Because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.

Just because people are spiritually and ideologically different doesn't mean that we can't work together to impact civic actions.  While politicians call for unity and yet engage in divisive action, there are actually areas where people of different backgrounds can agree and even work together for the good of our nation.

George Barna of the Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University has released a survey about some of these "common ground" elements.  You might be a bit surprised that its not a faith-related survey, per se, but it does illustrate how differences don't have to be the death knell for beneficial policies.

The Christian Post released a story on the survey. Those areas, which are supported regardless of how someone voted in the previous election, are: "supporting school choice, restoring the nation's infrastructure, bringing manufacturing jobs back to the U.S., making Social Security and Medicare financially solvent, reducing federal debt, and lowering federal income taxes.

In fact, the unity in these areas is quite stunning, really.  Here are some examples of the numbers:

Nearly three-fourths of Americans — 75% of Trump voters and 72% of Biden voters — want parents to have more say in the education of their children, desiring greater school choice.

Over 80% of Americans surveyed back heavy investment in restoring infrastructure, 83% of Trump voters and 84% of Biden voters.

Another issue bringing Americans together is increasing manufacturing jobs domestically, with 87% of Trump supporters and 84% of Biden supporters favoring policies geared toward that goal.

And, almost three-quarters of those surveyed expressed a desire for lower federal taxes, split between 79% Trump voters and 72% Biden voters.  The Christian Post article also pointed out:

In addition to the six major policies that have overwhelming support both from Trump and Biden voters, the CRC research found that four other issues enjoy support from a majority of Trump and Biden voters, though a significant gap exists between the percentages in the two groups.

Some 87% of Biden voters and 62% of Trump voters support reducing racial discrimination through legal means. Additionally, 85% of those who backed Biden and 53% of Trump voters support developing more stringent environmental standards.

Regarding immigration, 84% of Trump voters and 54% of Biden voters report wanting strict enforcement of existing immigration laws. Seventy-four percent of Trump voters and 58% of Biden voters also support substantially reducing federal regulations.

George Barna states: “There is a clear path to unity and healing in these common-ground issues."

The input of people of faith should be respected in crafting ideas for good laws.  In certain areas there is little or no room for agreement...for instance, on the very divisive gambling issue, there is certainly not agreement - Christians have long been vocal opponents of the expansion of gambling, yet it seems as if there is an uphill battle year after year. Now, with this study commission appointed by the governor releasing their report, advocating an all-of-the-above approach, it places a greater burden on churches, already negatively impacted by the pandemic to spend time and resources in fighting it.  

But, it's an effort worth fighting, when you consider the social costs of expanding this harmful activity. There are other issues, such as life, marriage, and religious liberty, where we encounter opposition, yet we have to be diligent to keep fighting because it is consistent with Scripture.

One area where a significant number of House members has drawn a line in the sand is over the issues of taxpayer-funded abortion.  The Daily Signal reports that Rep. Jim Banks of Indiana, who formerly worked at Focus on the Family and now heads the Republican Study Committee "sent a letter Tuesday to congressional leaders pledging to oppose any legislation eliminating or weakening the Hyde Amendment, which bans the use of federal funds for abortions. Biden has repeatedly promised to repeal the amendment should he become president of the United States."

But, the topic of a healthy economy is an area where you might find more agreement, according to Barna. The Christian Post reported: "The CRC survey found that making Social Security and Medicare financially solvent and reducing the federal government's debt are also supported on a broad bipartisan basis."  The principle of the government spending more than it takes in is a violation of its responsibility, not to mention a violation of Biblical principles.  Excessive taxes also place a burden on families.  The good news is that there is agreement regardless of the political stripe, it seems.  These are examples of areas where people can work together to achieve positive results for our communities.  

The reality is that there are going to be issues about which we have deep convictions, which will motivate us to speak boldly on behalf of a Biblical point of view. Now, that doesn't mean we have to hunker down and have a fighting spirit all the time - sometimes it will be necessary to hold fast to our convictions, and even then we have to continue to strive to be a good witness for Christ.  There are also areas where we can continue to hold to our Biblical standards, but where we can find agreement with others of different ideological or religious perspectives.  This can certainly result in progress for the common good.

Compromise doesn't always have to be bad - when people sit down at a table, figuratively or even virtually, they can seek to find solutions that will benefit a significant number of people - this operates in government, in the Church, on a school PTA, or other sort of community council.  We just have to recognize that we can negotiate, if you will, without compromising our Biblical convictions - and that is certainly a worthy goal.  And, if we disagree, we can do that in a civil manner. So, when Barna talks about "common ground" issues, you can be assured that these are areas where you have a starting point in the positive column and that people of faith can come on board and help to facilitate meaningful change.

There and Back Again

We can be confident in our new identity in Christ, and know that because He is in us, that relationship should ideally affect every area of life. In John 15, Jesus taught:
5 I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.
6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.
7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.
8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.

Biblically speaking, we cannot separate out Christianity from the Christian.  While the world would want to mute or limit the voice of the Church, Jesus enables us to speak and live bold and strong. Because we are in Christ and He lives in us, if we are living for Him and dependent on Him, then fruit will flow forth; we will display the evidence of the indwelling Christ - Christianity is more than what we do, even though there is a practice involved - it is who we are, and that governs what we do and how we do it. 

 

+++++

We can be confident in the Lord, assured, as the old song suggests, that we know Him and that He is in and with us. 2nd Peter 1 encourages us to walk in the confidence of knowing that Christ is in us:
10 Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble;
11 for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
12 For this reason I will not be negligent to remind you always of these things, though you know and are established in the present truth.

Our Christian faith is Biblically a part of who we are - it's more than just what we do; our identity is wrapped up in the knowledge of God through Jesus Christ.  We should not be able to just merely separate our faith as just one component of our makeup - God intends for the presence of Christ to be woven within the fabric of the believer whom He indwells.

So, when you have an instance in which people want to pay tribute to a famous writer, who was known for his faith, which was really part of his writings, but who want to somehow edit that element of his life out, that becomes problematic.

And, that is what is happening concerning a proposed project honoring the memory of the late J.R.R. Tolkien, the author of the Lord of the Rings series.  Smithsonian Magazine reports:

The house where esteemed fantasy author J.R.R. Tolkien created Middle-earth, led Frodo Baggins to the fires of Mount Doom and mythologized the One Ring to rule them all is up for sale. And as Vivian Marino reports for the New York Times, a newly launched crowdfunding campaign hopes to purchase the property, where Tolkien lived between 1930 and 1947, and convert it into a center devoted to the British writer.

The article goes on to say:

Despite its seemingly admirable aims, the project has come under intense scrutiny. As Alison Flood reports for the Guardian, some Tolkien fans questioned the organization’s declaration that money would not be returned to sponsors if the campaign falls through. (The site’s FAQ has since been amended to note that donations made via PayPal may be refunded upon request, albeit with several caveats.)

And, then there's this:

Others wondered how much the center will focus on Tolkien’s Christian faith. According to the Guardian, Project Northmoor’s three trustees are all active or retired directors of Christian organization, and its public relations firm is “a longtime leader in the promotion of faith-based campaigns.”

So, the project earns the descriptor, "Controversial," in the Smithsonian headline.

Project founder Julia Golding, in a Religion News article, commented on the inclusion of Tolkien's faith perspective; the article relates:

According to Golding, in fantasy writing “there should be a space for everyone” to write, regardless of their faith. “Narrowing the world’s cultural voices is the opposite of what we want to do,” she said.

Tolkien was a serious Catholic and founder of the Inklings, an informal literary group of fantasy writers who gathered to share notes and try out new ideas. Many of the members were Christian, including Tolkien’s close friend C.S. Lewis, author of “The Chronicles of Narnia.”

Lewis incorporated Christian themes far more explicitly than Tolkien, who favored a more demure approach to faith in his books. Golding compared the use of faith in Tolkien to the computer graphics effects used to create Gollum in the “Lord of the Rings” films, all of which won Oscars for their visual effects.  

This means, as Golding says, “despite the rendering and under the surface, you can still feel the faith that’s driving it.”

Well, for one thing, this is a countercultural point of view.  In an age in which there are those who want to remove Christianity and even Christians from the public discourse, here you have someone who recognizes Tolkien's Christian faith as an element of who he is, and it should therefore not be downplayed.  We have seen so many instances in which religious speech is introduced into public gatherings, and people are called out for it.  Consider former coach Joe Kennedy from Washington state - for seven years after games he went to the 50-yard line to pray to God; some students joined him, and the school district put an end to it and eventually fired the coach for expressing his religious faith, which is an inseparable part of him - and us!

So editing out the Christian faith elements from a Christian is an exercise in futility; yet there are some who want to do that in the situation involving Tolkien.  When we consider who we are in Christ, we recognize that is a spiritual impossibility.  But, we have to be careful not to self-edit our Christianity, in other words, not be disciplined to seek the Lord consistently, not being obedient and allowing the power of sin to overtake us.  When our Christianity ceases to be on display, then we need to take a look at where we are spiritually and who we are Biblically.  We can be challenged, using the phrase Ms. Golding said, to make sure our faith is "driving" our lives. 

Deprogram

We can have confidence in the Lord and press into Him, even when we find opposition or hostility that is expressed against us. In Psalm 118, we can read these verses:
4 Let those who fear the Lord now say, "His mercy endures forever."
5 I called on the Lord in distress; The Lord answered me and set me in a broad place.
6 The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?

Our God strengthens His people, and when we encounter those who do not know or respect or revere the Most High God, we have to rely on the Spirit to empower us and direct us in our response. We can certainly become fearful when we see instances in which people of faith are being harassed and mistreated, even persecuted for their deeply-held beliefs. God will give us the strength and the wisdom we need in order to speak His truth.

+++++

In the 31st chapter of the book of Deuteronomy, we find that Moses is giving what might be called a "farewell address," and encourages his successor, Joshua, saying:
6 Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you."
7 Then Moses called Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, "Be strong and of good courage, for you must go with this people to the land which the Lord has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall cause them to inherit it.
8 And the Lord, He is the one who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed."

In 2016, Josh Hawley ran for Attorney General in Missouri and won. Two years later, he ran against and defeated an entrenched U.S. Senator. In 2021, he is running against fellow members of Congress who want him to depart the hallowed halls of DC, simply because he held a different view than they about what he saw were irregularities in the 2020 Presidential election.

Can we agree that people will disagree about that subject? And, if a person who claims to be a Christian chooses to believe what has come to be known as The Big Lie, does that disqualify him or her from being considered a Christian? Are people disqualified from public service because they have examined the evidence and concluded there were irregularities?

Hawley is considered to be one of those people, and has faced some unfortunate consequences.  By the way, Hawley got to know Washington while serving the Judicial Branch, as a clerk to Chief Justice John Roberts, apparently not a place where there are very many evangelical Christians, like himself.  A WORLD Magazine article from 2016 stated:

Hawley said he felt the Supreme Court was “very welcoming,” even though he and his wife were among the few evangelicals.

“In general evangelicals are underrepresented in the law, and certainly in the practice of constitutional law,” he said. “We need more evangelicals to enter that field and to pursue constitutional law in its dimensions.”

Next he went to work at Roberts’ old law firm before serving as counsel on several major religious liberty cases with the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, including Hobby Lobby as well as Hosanna-Tabor v. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Hosanna Tabor, concerning a Christian school’s personnel decision, was a unanimous win for religious liberty advocates.

While some are attempting to hold Hawley and other colleagues culpable for the lawless attack on the U.S. Capitol earlier this month because of their viewpoint on alleged irregularities in the 2020 election, Hawley has fought back in a New York Post article, likening American cancel culture to the "social credit score" in China. He writes:

...social credit scores are new. They’re the latest corporate import from Communist China, where government and big business monitor every citizen’s social views and statements.

And they’re the latest form of cancel culture in this country, as corporate monopolies and the left team up to shut down speech they don’t like and force their political agenda on America. For those who still believe in free speech and the First Amendment, this is the time to take a stand.

Hawley has faced other reprisals:

In my case, it started with leftist politicians demanding I resign from office for representing the views of my constituents and leading a democratic debate on the floor of the Senate.

Taking that cue, a corporate publishing house then canceled a book it had asked me to write. Ironically enough, the book is about political censorship by the most powerful corporations in America. (And will be published by an independent publishing house.) Now corporate America is cancelling my political events...

And, he warns: "It will get worse."  Already, one of Hawley's colleagues in the House, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is calling for federal funding for de-radicalization efforts. The New York Post relates:

AOC said there is a spectrum of radicalization that ranges from sympathizers to conspiracy theorists, to Neo-Nazis. Such radical ideology could lead to violence and domestic terrorism.

She said the conspiracy theory wrongly pushed by Trump that the election was stolen from him radicalized his supporters who invaded the Capitol last week, leading to violence and the death of five people. AOC said she felt her life was threatened.

So, who gets to decide what a domestic terrorist is?  Certainly, white supremacists and neo-Nazis are a threat to society, but does that condemnation extend to people who supported Trump actively, or passively just by casting a vote for the former President?  And, when you consider that 8-in-10 white evangelicals voted for Trump, does that place evangelical Christians in that range?

Count Katie Couric on board, seemingly - CBNNews.com reported last week that:

During an appearance Friday on HBO’s “Real Time with Bill Maher,” former CBS News anchor Katie Couric rebuked Republicans who failed to vote in favor of impeaching President Donald Trump and suggested the 74 million Americans who voted for the outgoing commander-in-chief need to be “deprogrammed.”

“The question is how are we going to really almost deprogram these people who have signed up for the cult of Trump?” Couric asked.

Eugene Robinson of The Washington Post, seems to be on board, saying on Morning Joe on MSNBC that there are "millions of Americans...who somehow need to be deprogrammed.”

And, as CBN.com reports:

Then, on Sunday, during an appearance on CNN’s “Reliable Sources” with host Brian Stelter, former Facebook executive Alex Stamos said social media platforms and even television service providers need to quash “the capability of these conservative influencers to reach these huge audiences.”

A FoxNews.com article registered the response of former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee:

Huckabee asserted that there is "no cult" of Trump supporters, but rather people who "appreciate the many" actions that President Trump made for the country such as "standing up for the sanctity of life, standing with Israel by moving an embassy into that country, and resetting the Middle East."

"I'm glad he cut taxes, deregulated for businesses so that people had the highest number of jobs among Hispanics, Blacks and women in the history of the country. I'm glad that he pushed back against China so we're not rolling over as these Communists continue to steal everything, including our information and our data and every single secret and innovation we've created," Huckabee said.

It's very concerning when you consider that Christians now face the real possibility of being tossed from social media simply for seemingly innocuous political choices or perhaps even stating a Biblical position on a cultural issues. Perhaps making statements that can be considered to be consistent with a Christian worldview perspective.  Realistically, there seem to be people that do not allow for disagreement from their position on a variety of issues and have set out to silence and even punish the opposition.  

This is not a cause for backing down and retreating into our Christian enclaves. I believe we have a responsibility to continue to speak the truth.  Fear can cause us to descend to silence, but if we have a strong faith, we can make it public. There are matters of the human heart that can certainly be considered private, but I think there is a public element to being a Christian, so that the world can see and know the love and truth of God. 

It can be a scary time when you consider hostility toward people of faith, but we can be confident in the Lord and know that He goes with us.  

Building a Wall

God is inviting us to call upon His name, so that He might demonstrate His love to you and show His power through you. Jeremiah 33 states:
2 "Thus says the Lord who made it, the Lord who formed it to establish it (the Lord is His name):
3 'Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.'

What an incredible shift could take place in this world if only we, as the people of God, would take Him at His Word!  We can believe for the Lord to do incredible things in our midst and recognize that He wants to express His story through us, so that we might grow closer to Him and impact the world around us.  We are called, through our prayers and communicating what God has done, to show others the love and hope of Jesus.

+++++

In the Sermon on the Mount, in Matthew chapter 7, we find Jesus teaching these principles about prayer:
7 "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
8 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.
9 Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone?
10 Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent?
11 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!

Richard Gamble could be described as a modern-day Nehemiah - he wants to build a wall, first virtual, then literal - to display how Jesus is at work in our world today.  The British businessman today has launched the Eternal Wall of Answered Prayer; the website The Stream reports that Gamble "invites Christians from all over the world to share personal stories of answered prayer on social media."

He is quoted as saying: "more people are watching church online in [the UK] than ever before. People are googling what prayer is. It’s one of the biggest searches right now. So, we just want to give people encouragement that actually, when you cry out to God, He’s there. He listens.”

The writer of the piece, Nancy Flory, states:

The answer to prayer may not always be “yes.” It could be “no,” or something different than what we expect. In any case, Gamble wants people to share their stories to give others hope. “I just believe when you hear a story of something that God has done for somebody else, it just inspires faith in people. It gives them hope and I believe hope is the most powerful force on this planet.”

Gamble says that, "Our aim is to make hope visible. … Why not share a story of something God has done in your life, and then nominate three of your friends to do the same?”  

The sidebar to the article gives four steps in sharing the news of an answered prayer:

Step One:

Think of a prayer that God has answered for you.

Step Two:

Record a short video on your phone sharing that answered prayer (1-2 minutes, landscape format). In your video it could be as simple as including these 3 key elements: What was your situation? How did you pray? How did Jesus answer your prayer?

Step Three:

Nominate three people to take part in the answered prayer challenge!

Step Four:

Post your video and nominations on your social media on January 25th and tag in @eternalwalluk and use #answeredprayerchallenge.

A Dr. John Kirkby shared his challenge on Twitter; saying:

Here’s my @eternalwalluk#answeredprayerchallenge since I met Jesus 29 years ago and through 15 hrs of @CAPuk God has answered prayers, often not when and how I asked Him. He’s faithful.

CAP is apparently a church-equipping ministry.  Kirkby also shared three Twitter handles to invite them to the challenge.

Richard Gamble wants to do more with the concept of the wall - he is the process of developing a literal wall in Birmingham, UK, built with over a million bricks and situated between two British highways. He says, “Every single brick on it will represent an answered prayer. And so people will be able to come. They’ll be able to point their phone at a brick, and then using some state of the art technology, the phone will light up and it’ll tell you the story of answered prayer that that particular brick represents.” He projects it will be almost as high as the Statue of Liberty and in the shape of the infinity symbol.

Gamble has already seen answered prayer in the form of God's provision. He received the permission to proceed with the plans. He was able to raise the over 61 thousand dollars to do the original architectural renderings. 

He is concerned about the Christian heritage of his nation.  Gamble relates:

“You know, there are many stories of God answering prayer in our nation that are disappearing. … We want to make sure that people in our country know that God is alive. He listens when we pray and He answers.” He added that it’s difficult to find positive stories in the media these days. That motivates him. “Do you know what people think? [They think] God isn’t doing anything. He’s doing absolutely loads. And this is a contemporary way to communicate the truth about God in the visual age of the 21st century.”

Like Richard Gamble, each of us is called to trust God.  We can call upon Him with expectancy and passion.  And, as he inspires us, we can testify to what He has done.  If you are a believer in Christ, certainly you have a story of His work in your life - we can make sure that we are relating hope to other people, to "make hope visible," as Gamble says, and by observing and communicating the story of what God is doing through us, we can impact our world.

So, we can trust and testify, but we can take steps to reach out in faith.  Our faith will result in action - remember, James says faith without works is dead - as we pray, we can also gain a sense of where God is leading us, so that through our obedience, He is glorified.

Pity the Fool

Jesus taught us, and John reinforces the concept in the 3rd chapter of the book of 1st John, that hate is a destructive force and is likened to taking the life of another. We see these verses:
15 Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.
16 By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
17 But whoever has this world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?
18 My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.

Hate is a strong force in this world, activated and accelerated by the power of the evil one.  But love is stronger, and when the love of God is released into a human heart, incredible things can happen - a shift in attitude, a shift in mindset toward another person, a willingness to obey the Lord and follow Him in ministering to others.  When we combat hate through the power of God's love, our hearts become lighter and the light of Christ is released into our communities. 

+++++

A well-known actor tweeted out a verse contained within this passage of Scripture, which can challenge us to allow and apply the love of God in overcoming the work of the enemy. From Matthew 5, we can read:
43 "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.'
44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,
45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.
46 For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?
47 And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so?
48 Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.

He may have played one of the most legendary villains in a sports movie - ever.  But, the actor known simply as "Mr. T," who played Clubber Lang in the third Rocky film and went on to be part of TV's "A Team," is a long-time Christian whom The Christian Post says, "...has been using his Twitter account to almost exclusively promote the Bible and his reflections on what’s happening in the world."

He has received attention for a recent series of tweets:

“We are fighting 2 contagious deadly virus[es]! One is COVID-19 and the other is hate!” he wrote on Twitter Tuesday.

The television personality continued, “We got vaccinations for COVID and the love of God for all the haters!”

The article also included some other pithy online quotes, such as, “The vaccine works when it’s injected into our arm! The love of God works when you invite Him into your Heart!” He also said:

Referring to Matthew 5:44, he said: “The admonition ‘love your enemies’ is one of the greatest statements Jesus ever made," he wrote, and added, “Love in this passage is love that originates from God Himself.”

The actor, who, as the article notes is a former professional wrestler, has not let up seemingly after this article was published this past Sunday. In a thread from Tuesday, he said: "We have to stop worrying about when this pandemic will end! Instead, let’s ask God to change Us while we are in it! Don’t you know God can Bless you in the midst of it?" He added, "God can AND will turn this Around! God doesn’t have to check-in with the CDC before He starts blessing you!..."

The Post article also relates that...

In 2017, he bravely shared how he came to his Christian faith while on "Dancing With the Stars." During his segment on the dance competition series, Mr. T discussed his cancer battle in 1995. He testified that he had to solely rely on his faith in God during that time.

A Faithwire story quoted Mr. T as sharing with Fox: "My faith was tested like Job. That’s the message I try to tell other people, just because you believe in God, serve God, feed the hungry, clothe the naked, people gotta realize, it don’t mean things not gonna happen to you,” adding, “I believed in God when cancer come to me. Now, when I speak, I speak with authority because I’ve been there.”

That same story related that:

It’s no secret that Mr. T is a Christian, as he has been vocal about his faith in the past. He’s the son of a pastor and has routinely explained the important role that Christianity plays in his life. In fact, he told HuffPo Live back in 2015 that he once turned down $1 million to appear in a beer commercial simply because he didn’t feel quite right about it.

I think this can remind us of the importance of declaring our faith principles, as well as making sure that our lives line up with the testimony.  If we say we love God, then we can ascertain whether or not we are showing that we love Him by loving others. If our hearts are weighed down by fear, hate, and anger, it is difficult to authentically show the love of Christ.

As we have said for months here on Faith Radio, the coronavirus can certainly produce fear, but we know that the word of Christ produces faith - faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God, so an exposure to God's truth can help to fortify our hearts in the face of COVID and can help to soften our hearts in order to reflect God's love. 

We can rely on the Lord to provide an antidote to hate and other works of the flesh. But, we have to do more than just talk about it or sing about it - as health officials have said about the COVID vaccination, distribution is not enough, we have to get it into arms.  The love of God is available, we just have to get it in our hearts. 

The Dominant Voice

We are called to be sharp in our pursuit of godly principles and to have our minds trained to follow the teachings of God's Word. Romans 13 encourages us:
12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.
13 Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy.
14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.

The armor of light, referred to in verse 12, is predicated on the presence of Almighty God and His truth in our lives.  He has given us His Spirit to lead us into the truth and to empower us to walk in it. The Bible speaks of being renewed in our minds, and we have to recognize when the enemy is trying to deceive us to get us to think unbiblically or in an unsound manner - we don't have the spirit of fear, but of power, love, and...yes, a sound mind.  It's the mind of Christ, and when He is the dominant voice that we hear, it makes a drastic difference in us. 

+++++

The Bible instructs and encourages us to be prepared for whatever comes our way and to allow His truth to govern our minds. 1st Peter 1 says this:
13 Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
14 as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance;
15 but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct,
16 because it is written, "Be holy, for I am holy."

The role of what is termed, "Big Tech," in our lives continues to be a debated subject.  And, two surveys conducted by polling companies that represent an ideological diversion seem to come to similar conclusions.

Last fall, Politico reported on a survey conducted by the organization Data for Progress, which was described as "progressive" in the article, which states that, "About 65 percent of likely U.S. voters think the economic power held by tech companies like Amazon, Google, Facebook is a problem for the U.S. economy, according to a survey on antitrust and the tech industry..."  

The article goes on to say: "Overall, 56 percent said they would strongly or somewhat support breaking up tech companies to promote competition, compared with 26 percent who said they oppose or strongly oppose such a move and 19 percent who didn’t offer a view."

Now, fast forward to a poll from McLaughlin and Associates just a few weeks ago - this firm actually did polling for the Trump campaign.  According to the Washington Examiner, the McLaughlin survey "found a backlash to Twitter, Facebook, and other social media platforms that have erased Trump for his comments on last Wednesday’s Capitol protests." The Examiner article said, "The fear found in the survey is that if Big Tech can ban the president, there is nothing to stop it from censoring regular members of the public." The survey revealed that "70% believe that technology firms, including Twitter, Facebook, Amazon, Google, and Apple, are too powerful and need to be regulated."

The article quotes John McLaughlin who stated, "Voters strongly prefer that Congress deal with fighting coronavirus and not impeachment. Impeachment is viewed as a waste of time and money."
Voters in 17 states, many of which would be considered so-called "battleground" states, said that 60 of voters surveyed held that view about impeachment.

So here you have two polls, taken months apart, with seemingly similar results - about two-thirds of Americans have concern with "Big Tech."

How do we respond?  One thing is to recognize that there are people and institutions that are out there who seem to want to be the dominant voice in your life.  When you hear of media people and others that want to "deprogram" an entire group of supporters of one particular candidate, that has a chilling effect.  Certainly, Christians want to persuade people to see things from our worldview perspective and to come to know Jesus Christ, but our aim is not to be compulsory; rather we are called to be compassionate in our convictions.

But, let's consider what we want to be the dominant voice in our lives.  We have to reject the world's ideologies and embrace the truth of the Scriptures.  There are those who would want to retrain or reprogram your mind, even to reject your deeply held beliefs and violate your conscience.  We, as the Bible instructs us, have to train our minds for action - if we have sharp minds, that will be reflected in action that reflects the character of Christ in us.  His Word is to be the dominant voice that governs us each day. 

Day of Prayer

Daniel lived in a difficult time - his people, the Jewish people, were under the control of the Babylonians, and a despotic king was in control.  Daniel and his friends had taken a strong stand regarding the dietary laws of the nation, and Daniel had the attention of the king, who had a dream and 
was asking his intelligent people to not only interpret it but to tell the king what he had dreamed. So, enter Daniel, who was able, by God's help, to speak in accordance to the king's request. We can read in Daniel 2:
19 Then the secret was revealed to Daniel in a night vision. So Daniel blessed the God of heaven.
20 Daniel answered and said: "Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, For wisdom and might are His.
21 And He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise And knowledge to those who have understanding.
22 He reveals deep and secret things; He knows what is in the darkness, And light dwells with Him.

This is a breathtaking declaration about the sovereignty of God!  And, it can be motivational for us with regard to how we view our leaders. If you believe that God ordains human government and puts people in positions of power in order to accomplish His purposes, then we can trust Him with our lives and our prayers.  Now, whether or not leaders are good stewards of God's appointment or comply with His principles are other matters, but our call is to be faithful, good citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven and the earth to which are called.

+++++

A Scripture passage that is especially appropriate for today is found in 1st Timothy chapter 2 - it reads:
1 Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men,
2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.
3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,
4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

This is the day that has been set aside every four years to inaugurate a new President of the United States.  That event, consistent with a peaceful transfer of power, occurred in Washington, DC, and although there were threats of violence and increased security, in addition to social distancing rules as the result of the COVID pandemic, Joe Biden is now the President.  And, whether or not you voted for him or even do not believe that his election was legitimate, as perhaps a third of Americans do not, we can all still pray for him, his family, and his team.

And, there have been a number of prayer efforts that have been initiated for the new Administration and others serving in our government.  Focus on the Family sponsored an online prayer meeting this morning - the head of the ministry, Jim Daly, said: “I can be extremely concerned with current circumstances—even burdened...But we’re called to act—and trust. Prayer is a powerful way to do just that, so we’re encouraging Christians around the nation to join us in corporate prayer for some of the most foundational aspects of our culture.”

Franklin Graham wrote in a Decision Magazine article recently:

As we approach a transition in the leadership of our government in Washington, it is critically important for followers of Jesus Christ to pray for those who will be making decisions that impact the future of our nation. Just because we might not have voted for someone doesn’t mean that we get a pass to not pray for them. The Bible instructs us to pray for all of our leaders—“all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior” (1 Timothy 2:2-3). We must not give up or waver.

Pray for President-elect Joe Biden, that he would not be swayed by the voices of self-interest, but that he would listen to the still small voice of Almighty God. Pray for him every day—that God would direct his decisions.

The Presidential Prayer Team states on its website: "Every 4 years, beginning on Inauguration Day, we commit to 100 days of prayer over the president’s administration. These first 100 days are often crucial as new Cabinet-level positions are appointed and confirmed, new policies are set into motion, and work alongside the new Congress begins."  It offers this prayer:

Heavenly Father, on this important day in the workings of our nation, we come to You with complete confidence, knowing that You are the magnificent and benevolent Controller of All Things. You have repeatedly assured us of the righteousness of Your plans, and we stand in wonder as we watch You working them out through people and events. We praise You, O Most High God. Amen.

The Team has also launched, BOLD, which stands for Beside Our Leaders Daily, predicated on this statement: "Starting on January 3rd with the swearing-in of the 117th United States Congress, we will highlight one elected freshman senator or representative each day. Pray with us for each of them as they take on their new responsibilities and fulfill their oaths of office."

But, we have to be clear-eyed and prayerful about what could be in store for us in the not-too-distant future. In a sermon covered by The Christian Post, First Baptist Dallas Senior Pastor Robert Jeffress "urged Christians to 'be prepared' for a possible 'restrain on our ability' to teach God’s word 'without consequence.'”

The article stated that Jeffress...

...said the storming of the Capitol was carried out by “despicable human beings” who need to be prosecuted “to the fullest extent of the law.”

“They weren’t doing God’s work; they were doing Satan’s work,” he said. “I denounce it with every fiber of my being.”

But the answer to such disarray isn’t limiting free speech, the pastor declared.

“Once you allow the government to start controlling speech, it’s not a very long trip to the persecution of the Church at all,” he stated. “We need to get ready for it. It is coming.”

While the Church must “push back” against persecution, the body of Christ can still be “hopeful” because “terrible times” are temporary and simply a prelude to the return of Christ, he said.

The article states:

The most important prayer a believer can pray, Jeffress said, is that government leaders “would leave us alone to practice our faith.”

That's consistent with 1st Timothy chapter 2. We recognize that our own prayers are powerful, and when Christians are praying according to the will of God, in the same direction, incredible things can take place.  We are called not to be afraid in this world, and when you consider that there is a move afoot to limit the voice of the Church, we have to dig deeply into our hearts and remember that greater is He who is in us than he who is in the world.

We may not have an easy road ahead, but we have the power and presence of Almighty God with us to navigate difficult times.  And, ultimately, He has a purpose - He is at work, He is sovereign, and we remember that He has established human government and is the one who raises up and brings down those who are leadership.  We are not forgotten, and God is on the throne!  

Commandment 9

The Bible issues a tall order for us in 1st Corinthians 13, as it lays out for us what it looks like to live of life of love, God's love - unconditional, predicated on the unlimited resources of heaven. We can read:
4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up;
5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil;
6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;
7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
8 Love never fails.

In the Amplified Bible, verse 7 is translated like this:

Love bears all things [regardless of what comes], believes all things [looking for the best in each one], hopes all things [remaining steadfast during difficult times], endures all things [without weakening].

But, in our flesh, when we operate from our own humanity, we are prone not to look "for the best" in another person.  We have a penchant for rejoicing in iniquity, rather than the truth. If we are more enthusiastic about seeing another person stumble than rejoicing in their well-being, we have gotten off track. We have to make sure that we put others first, and even in our online interactions, that we are not labeling or calling people names, questioning their motives or relaying information that may be not be accurate.  Love pursues the truth. 

+++++

The Bible teaches us what we are to focus our attention on in Philippians chapter 4. We read these words - about the words, images, and concepts we embrace:
8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things.
9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.

There is an incredible amount of tension surrounding social media these days, and while people of faith, in some instances, are finding their views suppressed, others who profess a religious faith are using social media as a tool against fellow believers.  Social media can certainly inform and inspire, but it can be used to demean, mischaracterize, and falsely accuse. And, in viewing some of the harsh rhetoric on social media, especially after the election, I thought it would be good to relate some "ground rules" for our use of social platforms.

Tim Challies, who is a church and media observer, can help.  His wise words can help us to think in line with that passage in Philippians 4 and prevent us from violating the Ninth Commandment, which warns against "bearing false witness" against our neighbor.  When you consider Jesus said the Greatest Commandment was to love God with our entire heart, soul, mind, and strength, and the second was to love our neighbor as ourselves, we have to evaluate our own public behavior and make sure that what we post is posted in love.  And, remember, once you post it, that means that more than likely someone has seen it, and even if you remove it, the content can still live on the consciousness of other people.

Challies writes:

So here’s the challenge: Think of the people you follow on Twitter, the blogs you read, the news sites you browse, the videos you watch on YouTube, the friends you engage with on Facebook. Think of the topics you discuss with your family in the home and friends in the church. Think not only of what you say, but also what you read or listen to; the ninth commandment is not just meant to govern your mouth, but also your eyes, your ears, your heart, and your mind. And then consider the wisdom of the ages...

Here are some highlights of one of two pieces that he wrote; the first is centered on the duties of the Ninth Commandment, based on the Westminster Larger Catechism, including: the preserving and promoting of truth between man and man, and the good name of our neighbour, as well as our own...

So, he poses these questions:

• In what you say and what you read online, are you committed to promoting truth and to preserving and enhancing the reputation of others? Or are you willing to read rumors and innuendo, or to spend time reading, writing, or sharing things that tarnish reputations, especially of other believers?

He also highlights the 1st Corinthians 13 admonition to believe the best in others, saying that another requirement is: a ready receiving of a good report, and unwillingness to admit of an evil report, concerning them...  Challies goes on to say:

Do you love to receive a good report about another believer, even one with whom you have substantial disagreements? Do you refuse to receive an evil report on another believer, especially when that information is unsubstantiated or no business of yours? Do you shut down gossip when someone attempts to communicate it to you? Do you idly chat with friends or family members about others in such a way that you actually spread evil reports about them?

In the second article of the series, he points out the sinful behavior that is forbidden by the Ninth Commandment.  The first: all prejudicing the truth, and the good name of our neighbors, as well as our own, especially in public judicature... 

In relation to that topic area, he poses these questions:

• Do you routinely seek out and read information that causes you to look at other people with suspicion? Do you spread information (online or offline) about brothers or sisters in Christ that might cause others to look at them suspiciously? Do you spread the kind of information that prejudices people against others?

And, Challies addresses what I would rate as one of the leading abuses of social media: demonstrating how holy or knowledgeable a person is, and engaging in "virtue signaling," to show how superior and correct a person's perspective actually is, at the expense of others. He writes against what is called "flattering, vainglorious boasting...," posing these questions: "Do you flatter others or brag about yourself through social media? Do you see social media success as so meaningful you are tempted to sin to achieve it?" And, next, he warns against, "thinking or speaking too highly or too meanly of ourselves or others..." He asks:

• Do you use social media to speak too highly of yourself or too highly of others? Do you use it to speak too poorly of yourself or too poorly of others? Do you visit sites or read feeds that commit such transgressions?

Social media can become a cesspool of what have been called "Ninth Commandment violations." Now, as Challies points out: "God calls us to examine this commandment carefully and apply it deliberately," even though it is by no means the only commandment of Scripture and should not be obeyed "at the expense of" the other nine of the 10 Commandments. 

So, what's it going to be?  While there are valid concerns about social media censorship, especially of Christian views, perhaps due to a mischaracterization of Christian thought, we also have to be responsible that the words that we use honor Christ and do not contain or lead to slander and false accusations. Pejorative labeling of fellow believers certainly does not honor God and can even contribute to the damaging of a reputation. So, be cautious - you have a gift, an ability to communicate, but it should be used responsibly.

What MLK Can Teach Us Today

How we are to treat one another is prescribed in the Scriptures, and God gives us the capacity to view others in a loving manner. James 4 states:
10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.
11 Do not speak evil of one another, brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge.
12 There is one Lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy. Who are you to judge another?

We have to possess a humble attitude, willing to submit ourselves before a powerful and holy God, who teaches and empowers us how to relate to one another.  We can depend on the Spirit of God to govern how we regard other people and to muzzle our mouths when we are tempted to speak evil or judge the motives of another person.  If we are questioning another's motives, rather than looking into our own hearts, we are pursuing a path of division.

+++++

If we see that the Lord is gracious and have experienced His grace through faith in Christ, we can be people of grace, infused by the Spirit...that is what we can take away from the first five verses of 1st Peter 2:
1 Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking,
2 as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby,
3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
4 Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious,
5 you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

On this day set aside to recognize the birthday of the late Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., I want to pose a question to you.  It's one about which many might have an answer, but walk with me here: what can the teachings of Dr. King say to us today?  In this increasingly polarized society, in which we have faced challenges in the the area of race relations, can we take his faith perspective and views on society and apply them as Christians?

I think we can.  Patrina Mosley of Family Research Council, who has been a guest on my program 
multiple times in the past, wrote several years ago, said that King "...was able to articulate what the real problems were and to cast a unifying vision for all Americans to move forward. Dr. King also called the collection of his brave volunteers an army, but 'an army whose allegiance was to God … it was an army that would sing but not slay … no arsenal except its faith, no currency but its conscience.'" She writes that:

Dr. King took universal Christian principles that inherently speak to every human conscience and used them to make a crisis of conscience to promote action. He made sure the world televised his non-violent marches for the enforcement of equal rights, while dogs and water hoses were unleashed on their bodies, knocking them to ground only to be beaten down more with clubs and fists. The world saw the participants of these non-violent marches singing praises to God and stopping together to sink to their knees on the pavement to pray.

The words of the late Dr. King echo through history and can speak powerfully to us today.  Patrina quotes from him, when she says: 

“This is our hope, and this is the faith that I go back to the South with. With this faith, we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith, we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.”

She adds, "We must be the voice of truth and fill the void. We cannot afford to wait, hoping things will just get better. Our destination should be what it was always meant to be, 'to sit at the table of brotherhood.'" And, Mosley does not undersell the importance of the application of Biblical truth, writing: "any social movement not based on Christian principles cannot be sustained and will fail. Christianity operates in truth and is a benefit to all people, no matter one’s color, gender, or culture."

We need to hear and heed this, in a time in which Christianity is being mischaracterized and the Church is facing unique struggles, coming through a worldwide pandemic and a distinct pattern of disunity over how to transform society.  The Bible, as it was expounded upon by Dr. King, offers us powerful principles for how we are to function in the body of Christ and the human family.

The ministry of FamilyLife ran a piece recently written by one of its staff members, an African-American man named Rodney Adams, and his wife, Lisa.  They write:

The truth is, Dr. King left a legacy from which anyone of any race can benefit.

Even though many people believe Dr. King’s fight was only about Black people, when you take the whole of his discourse, you find it was about all of humanity. While being Black, in an eerily similar time of social unrest like today, was most certainly the catalyst and driving motivation for the movement, he knew, as a man of God, that the struggle was deeper. He knew his dream needed to be understood and embraced by all in order for a real difference to be made in this world.

He was a man who fought for the rights of people, like his four little children, to be seen, respected, and treated as the sons and daughters of God they are.

The Adamses state: "Seeing people the way God sees them is one very important way our family strives to live out Dr. King’s legacy. It makes it much easier to show kindness and have empathy for others. We know all too well when we look at others through our own lens, the view becomes warped, distorted, disproportionate, and unforgiving." They add, "So many are on the receiving end of an unfair glance. Dr. King’s legacy teaches us it doesn’t have to be this way."

I think we can be motivated to move from that unfair glance to a unlimited grace.  As I will share tomorrow, I commonly see on social media a move from the Great Commandment of loving God with all that we are and loving our neighbor to violating the Ninth Commandment and bearing false witness. God's grace enables us to move from slander to seeing people through God's eyes, a principle to which Rodney and Lisa allude.

We can become jaded and bitter, angry and frustrated with the way things are. But Dr. King teaches us that we can change, we can bring about a new perspective - we can move from how things are to how God desires that they should be.  So, in answering the question regarding what Martin Luther King Jr. would teach us today, we have to be willing to adopt God's perspective, see the possibilities, and activate the power of a love that does not come from earth. 

No Hell?

We are powerless to save ourselves, but thankfully, Jesus came so that we might have eternal life, that 
we may be saved from eternal punishment and live together with Him. Romans 3 reminds us, though, of our sinfulness:
(9) we have previously charged both Jews and Greeks that they are all under sin.
10 As it is written: "There is none righteous, no, not one;
11 There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God.
12 They have all turned aside; They have together become unprofitable; There is none who does good, no, not one."

But, later in the chapter, we can read these words:
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus...

So, as human beings, we are all under the curse of sin, dating all the way back to the Garden, when God's precious human creations made the decision to rebel against Him.  But, fortunately, He did not leave humanity in a state of hopelessness - the Bible begins to talk about a Redeemer, a Savior, a Messiah who would come to redeem fallen humanity and restore us to Himself.  We can choose to live for Him, we can choose eternal life, we can choose to be with Him in heaven forever.

+++++

Romans chapter 5 reminds us of the enormous resources of the love of God, a love so great that enables us to break free from our sins so that we might come to know a living Lord:
8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.
10 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.

The classic song encourages the listener to "Imagine there's no heaven...It's easy if you try...No hell below us...Above us only sky."  That's it, the famous viewpoint of John Lennon that is used in what is regarded as an anthem for world peace - just don't believe in anything.  Love, love, love.

Entertainer Sarah Silverman apparently doesn't believe there is a hell, and she is brash enough to say so. ChristianHeadlines.com stated that, "Silverman's remarks were featured in a clip of her show The Sarah Silverman Podcast that was posted on Twitter last Friday." The article says:

“If you’re in the range of my voice right now and you’re someone who believes and fears Hell, let me release you of that fear right now,” Silverman began as she contended, “there is no hell I promise you.”

“I mean it, what do I know?”, she continued,” but I believe it with my whole heart.”

The story goes on to state that "Silverman went on to recount a story that took place between her and some young Catholic students in New York before the pandemic. As the kids were coming out of school, she blurted out, "there’s no hell!'" One of the students asked her about that, and she said, "I’m an adult and I’m telling you, I promise you, there is no Hell.”  The article says:

Alongside Silverman was a friend who told her, “you can’t tell other people’s kids there isn’t Hell.”

In response, the comedian asked, “what am I? Ruining Hell for them?”

Apparently holding and sharing this errant belief makes Silverman feel better, or so she says.  She even dared God to take her out if there is a hell.

The article quotes from Darrell B. Harrison, a Christian who directs social media for the ministry of Grace to You, expressed concern in a tweet, saying, "Notwithstanding her views on hell, what, to me, is concerning about this is that many people who profess to be Christian are living under the same faulty proposition as Silverman in that they believe being a good person (moralism) is how one avoids going to hell after they die."

There are those who question how a good and loving God could send someone to hell.  The fact is, God does not send anyone to hell - that is the choice of the individual.  Because of sin, we deserve eternal punishment.  But because of Jesus, we can avoid that punishment by accepting Him as our Lord and Savior.  We could not pay that penalty ourselves, but Jesus, because He came to earth as a man, lived a perfect life, and offered Himself as a perfect substitute for us, we can have the promise of heaven when we die.  

We can steer clear of falling into the trap that if our good outweighs our bad here on earth, then we will go to heaven - that is unbiblical and generates a sense of false hope.  The Bible tells us that no one is truly good, truly righteous.  We cannot live up to God's standards, but we can have hope in our Savior, who has come so that we might know Him and live with Him eternally.  We are lost, doomed, without Him, but we can know His love and hope.

Are You Q?

We believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and adhere to His teachings - we believe in his death, burial , resurrection, and recognize that He is seated at the right hand of God the Father. Bible prophecy teaches us that world events will accelerate as we approach the day of His return. 2nd Peter 3 says that there will be critics of our deeply-held beliefs:
(3) 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."
5 For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water,
6 by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water.
7 But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

God has a plan, and it's laid out for us in His Word.  Events will occur, according to Scripture, that will pave the way for a one-world government, led by a man who would want to usurp the power of God. He will be defeated and Christ will return to establish His Kingdom forever. We can be encouraged by these words - we have to be astute when it comes to world events and be sure that we are learning what the Scriptures teach about the days to come.

+++++

The Bible encourages us in 2nd Timothy 2 to hold fast to the truth of God's Word:
22 Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
23 But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife.
24 And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient,
25 in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth...

As believers in Christ, we have a responsibility to stay grounded in Scripture.  There will be those who relate ideas that sound remarkably like the Word of God, but we have to recognize that there are deceivers in this world.

Which brings us to the so-called "Q" or "Q-Anon" philosophy, which has been termed a "conspiracy theory" or even a new religion.  Researchers Paul Djupe and Ryan Burge, in an article at the Religion in Public website, say, "While QAnon may be 'highly unoriginal' by drawing on existing conspiracy theories, their combination at this time under the Q label arguably constitutes a movement." They say:

We focused our attention on feelings toward the QAnon label using a feeling thermometer (running from 0 “cold” to 100 “warm”). And we also asked for agreement or disagreement with this statement which we adopted from Eric Oliver,

Within the upper reaches of government, media, and finance, a secretive group of elites are thwarting Donald Trump’s efforts at reform, fomenting street violence, and engaging in child trafficking and other crimes.

In their analysis, they engage in this "you could be a Q supporter, if" rhetoric. For instance, they say, "...a strong majority (almost 60 percent) agreed or strongly agreed with the 'upper reaches of government'” statement listed above. It’s not wholly owned by Republicans, however, as a quarter of Independents and thirty percent of Democrats agreed as well."  Then, they begin to try to link Biblical ideas about the nature of evil in the world and the end times with Q, stating:

Those who believe in a fallen world, where evil acts unfettered, also tend to believe in the idea of an end times, when heaven and earth will be reunited, perhaps after the forces of good and evil meet for a final battle (there are many versions of the end times tale). We asked if “We are very likely entering the prophesied ‘end times’” and 42 percent of the sample agreed. Validating the arguments in early reporting, end times believers are more likely to believe in Q, too.

And, then of course, you see the element of the so-called "Christian nationalist." The survey summary says, "Put together with the religious beliefs in evil, Christian nationalists could be susceptible to the idea that a vast conspiracy has taken root opposed to God’s anointed champion of their cause – Donald Trump – a belief that has been growing through his term in office." They add, "Only an eighth of the least Christian nationalist believe in Q, but huge numbers of the most ardent Christian nationalists are QAnon believers. Almost 80 percent of politically interested Christian nationalists believe in Q, though it is a bit less among those with less political interest."  And, those who might tend to embrace Q, they contend, may also be concerned about persecution of Christians.

Well, no doubt the awareness of this "conspiracy theory" is growing, but people are not quite sure what it is.  Pew Research states:

In a Feb. 18-March 2 survey, about a quarter (23%) of U.S. adults said they had heard “a lot” or “a little” about QAnon. By September, that number had increased to 47%. At the same time, though, very few Americans have heard a lot about it: 9% as of September, up from 3% in February.

The survey report also states: "When asked to describe QAnon, people most often mentioned that it was a group of some kind (41%) or a conspiracy group or theory (44%). When Americans who said they had heard at least a little about QAnon were asked to write in their own words what they thought it was, they were most likely to describe it as a group of some kind or include a more specific description of it as a conspiracy group or theory."

So, it seems in the general public, there's a knowledge of QAnon, but people don't really know what it is. Unfortunately, there seems to be a mislabeling of traditional Christian thought, especially regarding matters of end times theology and even religious freedom, as being tied in somehow to Q. It's easy to label someone a "conspiracy theorist" these days, and we have to be careful that our belief systems are rooted in Biblical truth and practical reality.  

But, it can be easy to dismiss a person's beliefs by merely labeling him or her as a conspiracy adherent. This is dangerous and does not promote unity.  There will be matters over which we disagree, but we have to be careful not to ostracize someone or "cancel" him or her out merely because their position does not line up with ours. I do believe that we have to be prepared to defend our positions Biblically, and make sure that we are guided by the Spirit. 

Reckoning? Really?

As we consider this new year in which we have embarked, we can consider spiritual goals - where God might be taking us individually and collectively in our Christian walk. Ephesians 4 address this, reminding us the following the leadership of the Spirit and human leadership He has anointed...
15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head--Christ--
16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

The enemy will use any number of devices at his disposal to attempt to diminish the effect of the Church. He will use complacency in order to stall our spiritual growth and will attempt to divide believers in order to keep us from having the indelible impact that God desires. We have to guard against divisiveness and distraction and consider the condition of our heart, making sure that our love for Christ and desire for growth in Him is paramount. 

+++++

We are called, as believers in Christ, who have called upon the name of Jesus, to be part of one body. 1st Corinthians 12 addresses our connectivity as the Church:
18 But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased.
19 And if they were all one member, where would the body be?
20 But now indeed there are many members, yet one body.
21 And the eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you"; nor again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you."

There's a phrase that seems to be making the rounds that, quite honestly, I hope I don't see again -  the phrase is "evangelical reckoning." The Atlantic has used that phrase more than onCe to describe the support of evangelical Christians for Donald Trump.  Now, USA Today has unwisely published an opinion piece that proclaims, "Evangelicals face a reckoning: Donald Trump and the future of our faith."

I have criticized so-called, self-proclaimed Christian leaders for taking what they perceive as dirty laundry regarding the Church and taking it into secular culture.  The writer of this article, Ed Stetzer, who leads the Billy Graham Center at Wheaton College, has decided to harshly criticized his fellow believers for the sin of supporting Donald Trump.  He writes:

It's tough to admit we were wrong. Now, many evangelicals are seeing President Donald Trump for who he is, but more need to see what he has done to us.

It’s time for an evangelical reckoning.

While giving a tip of the hat for Trump's support of pro-life causes and religious liberty, which are reasons that he engendered evangelical votes, even in the latest election, Stetzer comes unhinged when he writes:

He has burned down the Republican Party, emboldened white supremacists, mainstreamed conspiracy theorists and more.

Yet of greater concern for me is the trail of destruction he has left within the evangelical movement. Tempted by power and trapped within a culture war theology, too many evangelicals tied their fate to a man who embodied neither their faith nor their vision of political character.

He writes that "all of us have failed to foster healthy political discipleship. The foundation of our reckoning was laid far before Trump. Committed to reaching the world, the evangelical movement has emphasized the evangelistic and pietistic elements of the mission. However, it has failed to connect this mission to justice and politics." And, this indictment: "The result of this discipleship failure has led us to a place where not only our people but also many of our leaders were easily fooled and co-opted by a movement that ended with the storming of the U.S. Capitol."  News flash: Donald Trump, because of the reasons that I highlighted earlier, has received support from the Christian community.  There are numerous Christian leaders who believe that there were irregularities in the Presidential election - certainly a number of them traveled to Washington to show support for Mr. Trump.  Was his message "perfect," as he claims?  Perhaps not - but this gives critics of the President and the Christians who supported him an opportunity to harshly criticize and even to shut them down. No wonder in some circles connected to evangelical Christianity, there is talk of a "purge" regarding the right to communicate opinion. 

Tom Gilson, writing at The Stream, voices his respect for Stetzer, but believes that the content and tone of the article was a bridge too far.  He says there is a reckoning, but perhaps more in line with what I just described:

There is a reckoning come our way. It’s coming for all of America, but especially, I expect, for followers of Jesus Christ.

Stetzer thinks it’s because of pro-Trump evangelicals. I think there will be a lot more to it than that. The Left is coming into unprecedented power in America, and believers will feel the heat of its anti-Christian hostility. We will need to be united as we have never been before — which is why I must speak to Ed Stetzer, and to other NeverTrump evangelicals. There has been hostility between evangelicals on account of Donald Trump. It must stop. We need to unite. Now.

Gilson continues:

I speak as an evangelical who spent 36 years as a fully supported missionary. I am as always fully committed to the truth of Jesus Christ. I spent much of the Trump era studying and writing about Him, and if it came to it, by God’s grace I would be willing to die for Christ.

Some evangelicals may have sold out for power. Not those with whom I work here at The Stream, though. Not those I worship with at church, either, and not even those I connect with on social media. I am absolutely not interested in selling out, any more than Ed Stetzer or any other NeverTrump evangelical. We follow Jesus Christ. That is the basis for our unity, now as always.

That's, to me, a much more accurate picture than that presented by the head of the Southern Baptist Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, which is currently under investigation by the denomination's Executive Committee.  Russell Moore wrote this diatribe:

If I were the President, I would resign. If I were the Vice President, I would assemble the cabinet in accordance with the 25th Amendment. If I were a Member of Congress, I would vote to impeach. And if I were a United States senator, I would vote to convict. And I would be willing, if necessary, to lose my seat to do so. As a matter of fact, I am willing, if necessary, to lose this seat.

Moore doesn't seem to understand that Christians can support a political candidate without worshipping him and can't separate the large crowds of people, including Christians, who attended rallies in Washington last week from the lawless group of extremists who invaded the Capitol while lawmakers did their constitutional duty.  He writes:

The sight of “Jesus Saves” and “God Bless America” signs by those violently storming the Capitol is about more than just inconsistency. It is about a picture of Jesus Christ and of his gospel that is satanic. The mixing of the Christian religion with crazed and counter-biblical cults such as Q-Anon is telling the outside world that this is what the gospel is. That’s a lie, and it is blasphemous against a holy God.

Look around us, five years into this experiment. Every family I know is divided over this personality. Every church I know is too. Friendships are broken, for almost everyone I know. And, most importantly, every survey shows that the church is hemorrhaging the next generation because they believe that evangelicalism is a means to an end to this political movement...

Every family?  Every church?  Friendships are broken?  If that is true, then, we need to heed the words of Tom Gilson and realize that we are part of one body, unite, and move forward.  It should never have come to this, but, the enemy is working overtime to divide us from within and to silence us from without.  We need each other, and running to the secular press is not the answer. 

Every day, believers in Christ need a reckoning, not in the political sense that Stetzer and Moore are promoting; but in a personal sense.  We are called to be disciples - speaking out on cultural issues, even supporting political candidates, are part of that mix, but our primary focus is to follow Christ and to seek to make His love known to a world that is looking for answers.  We can become easily distracted, but the Bible will keep us in focus.