Fight

In 1st Corinthians 9, we can read about the importance of spiritual determination:
25 And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.
26 Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air.
27 But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.

We have resources and abilities, but we run the risk of those becoming dormant or underutilized if we do not possess the proper attitude, and that is influenced and developed through the absorption and application of God's Word.  We can be renewed in our minds and can train ourselves to be sharp spiritually. God has a purpose for us, and has given us what we need in order to fulfill what He has called us to do and to overcome the challenges we may encounter.

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While the enemy would want us to feel worthless and insignificant, we know that in the Kingdom of God, that no one is expendable. We are part of His body, and in Romans 12, Paul writes:
4 For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function,
5 so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.
6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them...

Arthur Johnson is a former world flyweight boxing champion - born in the rough and tumble world of East St. Louis, he acquired a sense of toughness that led to his development as a champion boxer and kept him out of trouble, according to CBN.com.

The story relates concerning his upbringing in what a 2018 study said was the country's "most dangerous city:"

Unlike some of the other kids, it helped him resist the pull of drugs and violence with a dream to chase success beyond the city limits. He uncovered a pathway the first time he saw a televised boxing match.

"I would imitate the broadcasters and say, 'There goes Arthur!'" Johnson recalled, motioning a right hook with his fist. "He lands a right hand. Another right hand by Johnson!"

"It was something that I think, without question, God put in my heart before I could really even recognize that I was going to maybe be a fighter," he added.

He was 10 years old when he first started to box at a club he joined; he was always on the small side, but apparently what he lacked in size he made up for in quickness. A friend said, "He was a little guy with thunder in both hands...112 pounds: that's not a lot of weight, but, man, his power was exceptional for that weight class."

Johnson's boxing career was stellar, with a total of 12 titles, which is a record. The article relates: "He also became the first American to win gold at the inaugural Good Will Games in Moscow in 1986. Yet, one of Johnson's most defining career moments was representing the United States at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, South Korea."

But there was another fight to come.  In 2008, he was diagnosed with cancer - he was given only a few months to live. Five years later, though, he had defeated yet another opponent.  CBN says:

His health declined, but Johnson, his wife, and their children leaned on their faith in God and support from their church, Faith Family Church, in Shiloh, Illinois. LaTanya also reminded her husband of the fighter within.

"When he was laying in that bed in the hospital, the only thing I could say is, 'Babe, we gotta pull the gloves out one more time,'" she said. "This is going to be our biggest battle. This is going to be our biggest fight."

Now, he's fighting back against some of the factors that hold young people back. He started the Arthur Johnson Foundation, which has a mission "to rebuild East St. Louis by focusing on making a positive impression on youth," according to CBN.  He also has a gym called the Flash Boxing and Activity Center, where, according to the article, Johnson teaches his students the lessons he learned both inside and outside of the ring.

Over 10 years ago, the Herald-Whig newspaper of Quincy, IL ran a feature story on Johnson.  It said:

Johnson, who was once managed by Angelo Dundee and promoted by Don King, said it has always been a strong Christian faith that carried him in the darkest of times. And that faith was instilled in him by his mom, the late Estella Johnson, who as a single mom raised 10 kids in those same East St. Louis projects.

"My mother was my mentor, she was a strong witness," Johnson said.

About 10 years ago, Johnson, who is also an accomplished Gospel singer and songwriter, began gathering film and putting together information for a documentary about his own life. He wanted it to serve as an inspiration. Production officially started in 2006 and earlier this year "The Greatest Comeback" became a finished product on DVD.

Well, that greatest comeback had nothing to do with boxing, but it did reflect an inner toughness that Johnson had possessed from his childhood.  When we struggle, we know there is someone who gives us inner fortitude and determination to walk through it.   God gives us powerful resources, including the power of the Holy Spirit, perhaps the support of family and friends, and a church family who will come around us when we endure tough times.  Johnson can help us to recognize how much we need God and need each other.

Arthur "Flash" Johnson can also help us to think about our need to develop the skills, or the gifts, that God has given to us.  We can acknowledge that we have certain abilities, but those are not intended to lie dormant; we can allow His power to flow through us and to be diligent to use what He has given for His glory.  

Johnson also teaches us the importance of giving back - he is an active part of his troubled community and is addressing needs that he observes.  There are opportunities that we will encounter, given to us by God, divine appointments, that can make a profound impact.

Tradition

It is important that we recognize the incredible Church traditions that have been passed down to us and reflect on the impact of it in our culture today. In Romans 15, Paul writes:
4 For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.
5 Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus,
6 that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

We are in our current place in the Church partly because of the teachings and traditions that have been passed down from generation to generation.  Unfortunately, in Jesus' day, religious traditions had departed from the Word of God. But, the trajectory of the Bible is to be careful to pass down solid and positive traditions of faith, so those who will come will know and observe the teachings of Scripture. Each of us can strive to build a legacy of faith.
 

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In Deuteronomy 32, Moses is challenging the Israelites to reflect on their history and consider the faithfulness of God - we can read this:
(6) Is He not your Father, who bought you? Has He not made you and established you?
7 "Remember the days of old, Consider the years of many generations. Ask your father, and he will show you; Your elders, and they will tell you:

February is designated and celebrated annually as Black History Month, and there is a strong faith thread in the African-American community.  In fact, a new Barna survey which is part of its project called, State of the Black Church, shows that the perception of faith has actually grown stronger among African-Americans.

The survey summary states:

New Barna research, from the recently announced State of the Black Church project, show that four out of five Black U.S. adults who align with some type of faith group agree to some extent (41% “strongly,” 38% “somewhat”) that “To understand the African American experience, it is necessary to understand the role of religious faith in the lives of Black people.” This percentage has actually climbed by eight percentage points (from 71%) since 1996 when Barna last included it in a survey.

The survey indicates that among Black churchgoers, 88% agree that understanding the African-American experience is tied to understanding religious faith. 92% of churchgoers see their faith as a source of "emotional strength."

Regarding perceptions of the Black Church, the Barna report states:

Barna presented respondents with ranges of characteristics—both good and bad—and asked, when you hear “the Black Church,” which term is your immediate association? Perceptions lean toward the positive. “Safe” and “important” are among the top selections, as well as “reliable” and “healing.”

Around 4-in-10 Black churchgoers and about a quarter of Black adults see the Black Church as "safe" and "important."  But, about a third of both groups indicate they perceive the Black Church as "old-fashioned."  And, the survey notes, "The proportion of Black adults who say church involvement is overall “desirable” is on the decline, from 90 percent in 1996...to just 74 percent today."

There is also a high view of pastors within the African-American community, with just under 7-in-10 Black adults and just over three-quarters of Black churchgoers agreeing with this statement, "The pastors of African American churches are the most important leaders within the Black community."

The survey summary leads off with these statements: "When Black History Month is observed each year, faith is a thread throughout many of the stories and celebrations of the Black community in the U.S. In fact, according to Black Americans, it’s an essential part of the narrative."

Our faith traditions are important, and the practice of faith, especially the Christian faith, is an important building block not only for our communities, but our individual lives. And, we do not need to erase the impact of Christianity on our country.  What can be referred to as the overall Black experience carries a legacy of strength amidst struggle and a thread of defeating adversity through determination.  So, as we celebrate the incredible contributions of African-Americans in various fields of endeavor during Black History Month in February, we can consider the ministers and musicians who have been an integral part of history.  

Not Silent

Jesus taught that the mouth speaks out of the abundance of our hearts. If our hearts are full of God's Word, that will have an effect in what we speak and how we speak it. Ecclesiastes 5 states:
2 Do not be rash with your mouth, And let not your heart utter anything hastily before God. For God is in heaven, and you on earth; Therefore let your words be few.
3 For a dream comes through much activity, And a fool's voice is known by his many words.
4 When you make a vow to God, do not delay to pay it; For He has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you have vowed--
5 Better not to vow than to vow and not pay.
6a Do not let your mouth cause your flesh to sin, nor say before the messenger of God that it was an error.

Our mouths, which can also be applied to online communication, I think - can be used to build up or destroy.  James 3 has quite a bit to say about that.  We can make up our minds to make sure that what we say is consistent with the Savior we say we believe in.  We can rely the Holy Spirit to inspire the words we speak and to enable us to speak them in the right manner, so that in all things Christ is glorified.  We should be courageous to speak His truth, but careful to speak it wisely.

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The book of Colossians, in chapter 4, speaks to the way that we can conduct ourselves in an increasingly hostile climate toward people of faith. Paul writes in that chapter:
5 Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time.
6 Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.

The phenomenon of what is called "cancel culture" has now become so pervasive that you have an instance of someone being "cancelled" for speaking out against it.  Such is the case of Gina Carano, who was featured in the Disney Plus series The Mandalorian.  Tre Goins-Phillips writes at Faithwire:

For those who don’t watch the series, Carano — a former mixed martial artist — starred as Cara Dune, a character so popular Disney+ was reportedly considering a spinoff series based on her. That is, until the company scrapped the plan because of tweets Carano posted in November, arguing the U.S. needs to “put laws in place that protect us against voter fraud.”

The 38-year-old Carano also reportedly angered Disney insiders when she jokingly listed “beep/bop/boop” as her pronouns on Twitter.

But the final straw was this Instagram post, which has been deleted, which said:

Jews were beaten in the streets, not by Nazi soldiers, but by their neighbors — even by children.

Because history is edited, most people today don’t realize that to get to the point where Nazi soldiers could easily round up thousands of Jews, the government first made their own neighbors hate them simply for being Jews.

How is that any different from hating someone for their political views?

Carano believes the execs at Lucasfilm, which produced the series, were looking for a reason to fire her.  A subsequent Faithwire report states:

During a conversation with The Daily Wire’s Ben Shapiro, with whom the 38-year-old actor has signed a movie contract, Carano said Disney made it “very obvious” they were pushing her out.

“I was prepared at any point to be let go because I’ve seen this happen to so many people,” Carano told Shapiro. “I’ve seen the looks on their faces. I’ve seen the bullying that takes place, and, so, when this started, they pointed their guns at you, and you know it’s only a matter of time. I’ve seen it happen to so many people, and I just thought to myself, ‘You’re coming for me. I know you are.’”

Now, let's go back to a portion of the Carano tweet - I have re-written it for relevancy:

...most people today don’t realize that to get to the point where overzealous government officials could easily round up thousands of Christians, the government first made their own neighbors hate them simply for being Christians.

Remember over Thanksgiving when public officials were encouraging people to "turn in" their neighbors for violations of COVID protocols?  

The Gina Carano story is not a story of Christian faith, per se, but it is indicative of how powerful people can restrict the freedom of speech of people with whom they disagree. She was not intimidated and paid the price for it.  In an age in which there are attempts to mischaracterize and marginalize Christian believers, we have to be aware of these trends and respond appropriately and Biblically.

As we discussed yesterday, that includes being devoted to God's Word and being in prayer. Out of our private fellowship with the Lord will grow our public witness. And, we don't have to be reckless in the words we choose - we can speak our minds, but we can do so in a manner that communicates well and reflects Christ's character.  We should not retreat into silence, but we can advance the Kingdom of God by being devoted followers of Christ.  

By Their Fruits

God is calling us to pursue fruitfulness, allowing Jesus to shine His light through us. Jesus taught about fruit-bearing in John 15:
4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.
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.

We can consider whether or not we are walking in the power of the Spirit or obeying the desires of the flesh - there is a difference, which Galatians 5 highlights for us. There are plenty of representations of Christianity that have very little to do with the Bible, and we have to be diligent to make sure that we are laying down our own lives, so that His life may be seen in us. We can portray an authentic expression of the presence of Jesus, but we have to make sure that we acknowledge that we cannot do it ourselves.

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How we act, especially as we claim the name of Christ, will reflect on people's views of Him. Coming up, I'll share some comments from a writer for a policy organization in Illinois, who uses a variation of this passage from Matthew 7:
17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.
18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.
19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them.

The events of January 6, 2021 will continue to be seared into the minds of Americans who have been pummeled with disturbing images of people entering the U.S. Capitol building and committing or threatening violent acts.  Thanks to the House impeachment managers attempting to tie the lawless actions of that day to the former President, another round of reminders of what has come to simply be known as the "insurrection" has been instituted.  And, don't get comfortable - with the announced return of Donald Trump to public life with an appearance at this weekend's CPAC conference, a deprived media and other Trump opponents will have the opportunity to remind our country of the dreadful events of that day. The picture is coming clearer about who was involved and what motivated them, and the Insider website reports that 260 arrests have been made related to the criminal behavior of that day.

And, there are those who want to tie evangelical Christianity to the events of that day.  Yes, there were a number of Christians who attended a rally the day before, including Brian Gibson of Peaceably Gather, who told me on The Meeting House that he preached the gospel to the crowd gathered and people came to Jesus.  I would dare say that since Donald Trump gained a significant amount of Christian support in his two electoral runs, that believers were also part of the crowd that heard his speech on the Ellipse on January 6, and perhaps there were even Christians who were part of the events outside the Capitol that day - after all, it was a publicized event.  But, what occurred inside was not a representation of the practice of Christianity or proper Christian involvement. Jamie Dean of WORLD Magazine wrote about the events of that day and some of the people involved, including Leo Kelly of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; she writes:

In an interview with LifeSite News, the Cedar Rapids man said he walked to the Capitol after the Trump rally. He was disillusioned by the outcome of the election, and says he thought: “None of my institutions are working. What am I supposed to do?”

On the floor of the evacuated Senate, he watched a group pray behind the speaker’s desk, and said they “consecrated it to Jesus. … That to me was the ultimate statement of where we are in this movement.” A reporter’s video from the Senate floor shows a group of rioters purporting to pray after an expletive-laden romp through the room: “Jesus Christ, we invoke Your name.”

This is not a picture of the practice of how the Church should respond to matters concerning our government.  Dean also states:

Joshua Black of Leeds, Ala., said he wanted to make a similar prayer, according to investigators. Authorities said Black acknowledged posting YouTube videos of himself from the Senate floor. An affidavit quoted Black as saying in one of the videos: “I wanted to get inside the building so I could plead the blood of Jesus over it. That was my goal.”

Leo Guthrie Jr., of Cape May, N.J., also cited religious motivations. Guthrie said he didn’t enter the Capitol building, but authorities arrested him for breaking through a police barrier outside. He told a local news station he thought the people who went into the Capitol were wrong, but said, “This was about revival, it wasn’t about threats.”

Both Kelly and Black were also charged for their actions.

Law enforcement used Leo Kelly’s online interview in a statement of facts about the incident, and the FBI arrested him on charges that included knowingly entering or remaining in a restricted building without lawful authority. Officials filed similar charges against Black. Kelly said, “God will judge us for what we did,” he said. “I’m redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ. There’s no judgment that stands against me—perhaps I did something wrong. ... What are Americans supposed to do?”

Jamie Dean has an answer, writing:

It wasn’t immediately clear whether the accused rioters using Christian language have roots in local churches, but the answer to Kelly’s question isn’t complicated: Praying for elected leaders is Biblical, and peaceful protests are lawful. But invading the seat of government as part of a spontaneous mob is antithetical to Scripture.

This was not, by any stretch of the imagination, a Christian-led event or a demonstration or practice of Biblical Christianity, regardless of what Bill Maher says; Faithwire reported that on a recent episode of his HBO show, the talk show host and political commentator stated:

“As long as we’re going to go to the trouble of another impeachment trial,” he told his audience, “we might as well be honest about what it’s really about: the events of Jan. 6 were a faith-based initiative.”

Maher explained that — in his view — those who support former President Donald Trump are part of “a Christian nationalist movement” of people who believe the real estate mogul “was literally sent from heaven to save them.”

Laurie Higgins, writer for the Illinois Policy Institute, cried foul at these attempts to tie Christianity to the Capitol riots.  She said:

Elana Schor wrote an unhelpful article titled “Christianity on Display at the Capitol Riot Sparks New Debate” for the Associated Press (AP) on Thursday. It’s an insubstantial dollop of slumgullion ostensibly on “Christian Nationalism” that throws together equally unhelpful quotes from Christian leaders without once defining Christian Nationalism (or nationalism); or making distinctions between patriotism and “Christian Nationalism”; or between those who merely use Christian rhetoric and true Christ-followers; or between the rioters and the thousands of Americans—including many Christians—who were at the protest but had nothing to do with the riot.

Higgins writes about those who "...claim that the image of Christianity is now marred in the view of leftists, many of whom already hate Christianity and seek its eradication from public life. But is that true? Or are leftists cynically exploiting the indefensible acts of those who falsely claim to be Christ-followers?"

Laurie Higgins poses these questions, too: "Who is doing more damage to the church (small 'c'): the Capitol rioters or the heretical wolves in sheep’s clothing who have infiltrated every denomination and are corrupting doctrine and leading flocks astray...?" And, regarding the fascination that some have with this infiltration of QAnon into the Church, she suggests: "If crazy QAnon ideas have infiltrated churches as heretical views of sexuality have, they must be purged. In my experience, however, heretical views of sexuality are far more prevalent in churches than are QAnon ideas and far more dangerous."

We are in an age where the mischaracterization and attempted marginalization of Christianity has been heightened.  The challenge is on us to show the world the unlimited love of an authentic Jesus. And, civic involvement is a way that we show the love of Christ - by injecting His ideas into a process that can affect culture.  That's why we should not be scared off by those who conflate proper love of country with so-called "Christian nationalism."  We should not shrink back, but we should be careful, as always, how we engage.

In her closing paragraph, Laurie Higgins writes:

The challenge for Christians in this time of turmoil and growing persecution is to hold fast to the whole counsel of God, rooting out heresy of all kinds; to proclaim the whole counsel of God even when the world hates us; and to come alongside those who speak truth in the public square and are mocked for doing so. We have no biblical warrant for speaking truth only when we’re guaranteed doing so will be cost-free.

We have to make sure that we are living our lives based on the firm foundation of God's Word, knowing the truth so that the truth might be seen in us. 

Light in the Dark

We read a passage in the book of Acts in which Peter was summoned by Cornelius in Caeserea. He preached to the people of God gathered there, and declared, as we can read in chapter 10:
39 And we are witnesses of all things which He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem, whom they killed by hanging on a tree.
40 Him God raised up on the third day, and showed Him openly,
41 not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before by God, even to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead.
42 And He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead.

Peter had a call to share what he had seen regarding Jesus.  We may not be eyewitnesses as he was, but we do have the capacity to proclaim what we have seen - the power of God entering into the lives of believers, His love flowing through us, and the works that He has done.  We read in the Word about the salvation that we can experience, and by accepting Christ, we can really know Him.  Our words and the way we live reflect the living Lord within us.

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In the book of Romans, Paul wrote to the church in Rome, the center of the mighty and treacherous Roman Empire. He stated:
15 So, as much as is in me, I am ready to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome also.
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.
17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "The just shall live by faith."

For years, I have been reporting about the World Watch List, published by Open Doors, an organization that advocates for persecuted Christians.  And, 2021 is the 20th year that North Korea has been atop the list, which ranks the countries who are the leading persecutors of Christians.  

ChristianHeadlines.com reports that the Korea Future Initiative has released a report with some details of North Korea's trampling on religious freedom.  Based on 173 interviews with a total of 273 victims, the 98-page report contains these examples:

• 244 incidents of arbitrary arrest (which means there was no likelihood or evidence of a crime or no due process of law—depriving people of liberty and their rights)
• 79 incidents of forced return to North Korea by refugees;
• 36 incidents of torture or sustained physical assault;
• 32 incidents of sexual violence;
• 20 incidents of execution.

The article states that, "An estimated 50,000-70,000 Christians in the communist-run country are often sent to labor camps or prison because of their faith."  But, the report also highlights how God is moving among persecuted Christians in that nation. The Christian Headlines article says:

Respondents in the report show that prisoners are sharing their faith with others in prison. One case details how a witness recounted how another prisoner told her, “‘God sent me here for you.’”

She continued, “eventually I listened to her […] she was a light that came and warmed me when I was drowning in my sorrow […] I would have killed myself if it were not for her.”

This report can remind us of the dangers that Christians face in what is known as the "Hermit Kingdom," and we can stand with the persecuted Church throughout the world.  We can also evaluate the degree to which we stand for our Savior.  Paul wrote that he was not ashamed of the gospel; we can consider the amount of boldness we possess and how we demonstrate it.

We can also be reminded of how God is with us even in our difficulties.  Even though adversity is not pleasant, we can also keep in mind that God will use our trials in order to produce the fruit of Jesus in us. He will bring us supernatural strength in order that we may endure our challenges.  We can grow closer to the Lord as we trust Him when things are difficult. 

The Race

The world promises us instant gratification, but will not always deliver. It has been said that the Christian life is a marathon, not a sprint, but we can be confident of God's work in and through us. Hebrews 12 can challenge us:
1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

The attitude that we can possess as believers rooted in Christ is to pursue God and develop perseverance - God doesn't always answer in our time frame, but we have to adapt to His and not grow impatient when His timing is different that ours or the way He moves is not the way that we might expect.  We do not order Him to do anything, but He orders our steps so that in all things He receives the glory.

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God calls us to be faithful and to follow Him wholeheartedly. If we are standing faithful in Him, we can trust Him to grow the fruit that He desires, in His time and in His way. Philippians 3 reminds us:
12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.
13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead,
14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Zero for 357.

That was the record for NASCAR driver Michael McDowell going into this past Sunday's Daytona 500. The journeyman driver was in his 13th season and has continued to persevere.  Sunday night, at the conclusion of a rain-delayed race, he was in Victory Lane.

Faithwire pointed out the faith of this long-time driver, stating that the driver...

...narrowly dodged a fiery crash to take the lead during the final lap of the race, earning the win and a spot in the playoffs this fall, according to Sports Spectrum.

Following the race, he said experiencing the coveted win was just what he imagined it would be like.

He was quoted on the NASCAR.com website: "I just can’t believe it...I’ve just got to thank God. So many years just grinding it out and hoping for an opportunity like this. I’m just so thankful – God is good.”

An earlier Sports Spectrum article quotes the driver: 

“I’m passionate about people coming to know Christ,” McDowell said recently on the Sports Spectrum Podcast. “Part of that is just a realization that you’re either alive in Christ or you’re dead. There’s no in-between.”

McDowell came to Christ through the witness of some of his racing mentors.  And, he is now influencing his fellow drivers.  After the race Sunday, Aric Almirola tweeted out:

@Mc_Driver has become one of my closest friends over the last few years. He got me involved in the @FollowMRO Bible study. He is an incredible human being and loves the Lord with all his heart. I am so happy for him and his family. Fun to see good things happen to good people.

MRO is the acronym for Motor Racing Outreach. And, McDowell was involved in an effort that raised over $20,000 for that organization - after he crashed into driver Bubba Wallace in a race that would have sent Wallace to the All-Star race, Wallace reacted strongly and took the bumper from his car that had been removed in the wreck and put it in McDowell's garage, to which Michael responded on Twitter, according to CBSSports.com:

Thank you @BubbaWallace for the gift. Hopefully we can raise a lot of money for @FollowMRO. They are a CHRISTIAN ministry that has loved and served our @NASCAR community for over 30 years.

Wallace tweeted out:

When life gives you lemons, auction them off and raise money for @FollowMRO. May not agree to what happened on track, but we can agree on a positive outcome from the situation.

You could say that McDowell's racing career has had a lot of lemons - his first victory in over 300 starts came this past Sunday.  But, he has continued to persevere.  That is a great life lesson.  We won't always experience instant achievement in this life, but if we believe that God has called us, we can continue to be faithful and seek to glorify Him.  And, you know, Michael has to race next week; he certainly hasn't arrived in his racing career - this isn't the pinnacle, and he has to keep working and getting better.

We can also follow McDowell's example to develop a contagious faith.  What God has done within is displayed by how we live it. A simple profession from the heart will bring salvation to us, but that's only the beginning; we have to do more than say we believe in Christ. It is vital that we live it, showing others that we love Him and love them.  How we respond is difficult situations can be a barometer of the spiritual growth we have experienced.

Dissatisfaction

You might be dissatisfied today - these are certainly discouraging times. If you follow politics, we know our answer is not there; if you or loved ones have experienced coronavirus, you know its devastating effects. Yet, Jesus continues to remind us that this world is not home for us. 1st Peter 2 says:
11 Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul,
12 having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.

Satisfaction, as I will talk about on The Meeting House today, is often derived from external circumstances, or at least as the world sees it.  True satisfaction and joy come from what's going on inside, and for the Christian, it is fed by our relationship with Christ.  When the world around us may be falling apart, He is the One who keeps us together - He will bring a level of satisfaction with life that is not of this world, even when we may face discouragement or anxiety.  He is our peace and He brings hope and strength.

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A new poll shows there is deep dissatisfaction in our country today, and in the midst of despair, there is a group of people, called by God, who are anointed to show a deep-seated confidence in Him and can display a satisfaction, not in external circumstances, but in the internal presence of the Lord. In John 15, Jesus taught:
16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.
17 These things I command you, that you love one another.
18 "If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you.
19 If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.

Certainly, the American people have been down a tough road over the last 12 months - we are now approaching the one-year anniversary of that week when our country began to shut down over fears of the coronavirus.  While many areas of the country have opened up to some degree, there are others who face business and especially church restrictions. 

No wonder there is dissatisfaction with American institutions, according to a Gallup poll that measures a variety of metrics related to satisfaction.  A recent summary says: 

Americans' satisfaction with seven broad aspects of the way the country functions is collectively at its lowest in two decades of Gallup measurement. This includes satisfaction with the overall quality of life in the U.S., assessments of government, corporate and religious influence, and perceptions of the economic and moral climates.

The average percentage satisfied with these seven dimensions has plunged to 39% at the start of 2021. That compares with 53% a year ago, the highest average in more than a decade amid strong economic confidence and before the coronavirus pandemic took hold in the U.S.

This is called the Mood of the Nation poll, and the summary says: "Americans' satisfaction with each element of the index is at or near its lowest since 2001. This reflects declines of seven to 17 percentage points in the past year."

In the area titled "the overall quality of life," the satisfaction level dropped from 84% just one year ago to 67% this year. Yet, that is only one of two areas in which there is satisfaction, i.e. the level is over 50 percent. And, digging a bit deeper into the data, you find only 1-in-5 Americans are "very satisfied" with the overall quality of life. The other is "The opportunity for a person in this nation to get ahead by working hard," at 58%. 

Confidence in government has slid 16%, and it wasn't even over 50% last year...it is now at 27%.  And, get this, the "moral and ethical climate" metric, which was at about a-third of Americans last year is now at a stark 18%, with only three percent saying they were "very satisfied."  I believe that going hand in hand with that is this bullet point from the summary:

• For the first time, less than half of Americans are satisfied with the influence of organized religion (48%).

While I don't think that is to say that half the country wants religion to have more influence, you could draw a conclusion that if religion were demonstrated in the right way, that influence would be appreciated, and perhaps could contribute to a greater level of satisfaction.

Because, Christians, regardless of the circumstances, should exude a level of satisfaction that, quite frankly, is not of this world, because we are not of this world.  In a world searching for hope, mired in dissatisfaction, the Word of God and a relationship with Jesus Christ offer a way for someone to experience true joy, a sense of satisfaction that comes from within, not from without.

And, the principles of Scripture, if applied correctly, can change of the moral climate of America.  The indication is that people are not satisfied with a number of components - so how do we address the morality, or lack thereof, that we see?  Well, it's one person at a time, making sure our lives are right with God and living so that others may see the presence of Him within us.  And, in light of moral failure that we see, even from those who claim the name of Christ, and even may be Christian leaders, we have to make sure that our hearts are right.  That is the purpose of Lent, which began yesterday with Ash Wednesday - we must repent of our own ways and intentions that are not consistent with God's principles and allow Him to change our hearts so that His nature is seen in us.

Fixed

We will have open doors, opportunities, that God will use in order that we might bring glory to or call attention to His name. Ephesians 5 says:
15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise,
16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

That phrase, "redeeming the time," is also translated as "making the most of every opportunity." We are responsible for using the gift of time wisely - and we can depend on God to provide us with the ability to demonstrate our love for Him. We are called not to be idle, but to be engaged in seeking Him and allowing Him to work through us, sometimes in seemingly insignificant ways.  It's all about the development and fulfillment of His plans for us.

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In His Word, God prescribes a way for us to live - in light of the salvation Jesus has provided, we respond by loving Him and loving others, reflecting His presence in us. 1st Thessalonians 5 states:
8 But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation.
9 For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
10 who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.
11 Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.

Dave and Jenny Marrs, the hosts of the HGTV reality series, Fixer to Fabulous, have a commitment to help repair and decorate people's homes, and there is apparently a commitment to make sure their family is secure - in Christ.

Movieguide reported that at the beginning of the new year, Jenny declared her intent to help keep the family strong through prayer - a recent article stated:

“At the start of each year, rather than crafting New Year’s resolutions, which are based on my own will-power and grit, I spend time recording prayers for the coming year,” Marrs wrote on Instagram.

The article goes on to say:

“Through the process, I often find myself drawn to a specific verse that I pray over my family throughout the year,” Marrs said. “My 2021 verse is recorded in two books, which feels significant in and of itself:

‘As for God, his way is perfect.

All the Lord’s promises prove true.

He is a shield for all who look to him for protection.

{2 Samuel 22:31 & Psalm 18:30}’”

Her word for the year: shield. Jenny adds: "I love the imagery of God being our shield against the fiery arrows of the enemy. Against harsh words and lies and physical harm."

Jenny Marrs believes that the television series is a gift from the Lord.  In another Movieguide article, she says:

“We know that God led us to this opportunity,” Jenny says. “It definitely was never on our radar to do a television show. We fought against it big time. We didn’t want to do it at first at all, and we prayed a lot about it. We just know that God led us to this opportunity because He opened the door. He put this in our lives in order to put programming on television that glorifies Him in some way.”

The television host continues, “I mean, yes, we’re renovating houses, but we’re hoping that just people see something different in our family. They maybe then go to my Instagram and they are like, ‘Oh wait, what, what is this God she’s talking about?’

The article points out that the Marrs' desire for their family to be light has especially been seen during the COVID pandemic, which was portrayed in the second season of the show. Dave continued to work as a contractor, and says that the COVID crisis "...added a whole lot of complexity to the season,” Dave says. “It turned out that we were fortunate in Arkansas that really construction was always deemed essential. As long as we were following all the guidelines, we could keep going.”

We have been given a precious gift, the gift of salvation, and the Lord does not want us to keep it to ourselves.  And, when we are given an opportunity to share or a platform through which we can share, we can be motivated to take advantage of it, so that His message may go forth.

And, we know that the way we conduct ourselves as married couples and families can also reflect the glory of God.  So, Jenny provides a great example of praying for her family, especially in light of the potential public witness they have.  We can seek to stay strong and cohesive in our families.

Finally, Jenny's word for the year is shield.  We can look to God as our source of strength and call out to Him for protection - not only physical, but spiritual. The enemy is certainly looking to deceive and discredit believers, and we need for the shield of faith, a piece of that spiritual armor about which Paul writes in Ephesians 6, to gird us up.

Erase

Here in this time leading up to Valentine's Day, we can consider healthy marriages and relationships outside of marriage that honor God. God has given us His Word as a guide that can be instrumental in an orderly society. Jesus taught in Matthew 19:
4 And He answered and said to them, "Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning 'made them male and female,'
5 and said, 'For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh'?
6 So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate."

In these verses, Jesus addresses several concepts that are being challenged in these days. He speaks to the issue of gender - God made male and female.  This is very plain; God made two genders, not multiple, and He is the One who has made the determination.  Jesus gives the definition of marriage: one man for one woman in a one-flesh relationship.  If we adhere to His standards, individually and collectively, we can discover the abundant life and relationships that He intends for us to enjoy.

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Paul could have been sitting at a computer screen and watching the degradation of our culture when he wrote the words in Romans chapter 1, given to Him by the Holy Spirit, containing enduring truth. He said:
22 Professing to be wise, they became fools,
23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man--and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.
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.

Bianca Stanescu is the mother of a female track-and-field athlete in Connecticut, whom she described in a USA Today op-ed piece last year as "elite." In that state, the powers that be who regulate youth sports have decided to allow biological males to compete against females.  She is one of the plaintiffs in a lawsuit against that governing association, a lawsuit filed by the Alliance Defending Freedom. She writes:

Boys with mediocre times can compete in the boys’ category and then completely dominate girls’ events just a few weeks later. I’ve already seen this happening in Connecticut. After a series of unremarkable finishes as a boy in the 2018 indoor season, the same athlete began competing — and winning — as a girl in the outdoor season that started just weeks later.

My daughter would have qualified for the New England regionals in the 55-meter dash in Spring 2019, but instead, the top two spots went to biological boys who identify as girls. She lost her chance to compete and instead had to watch from the stands.

And, people across the political spectrum are taking notes. In an article published at The Stream, Tony Perkins of Family Research Council says:

In an unlikely coalition, outspoken LGBT activists have joined forces with soccer moms and conservatives to fight for the right to keep competition on a level playing field. Groups like Save Women’s Sports popped up, working in state legislatures like Idaho to keep the two genders separate. “We strongly believe that everyone should have the opportunity to compete, but true athletic parity for women demands that women’s sports be protected for biological females.”

He goes on to say:

The science, it turns out, supports them. In a study that even NBC felt compelled to cover, Dr. Timothy Roberts found that men undergoing a female transition still have a competitive biological edge. “At one year,” which has been the typical cutoff for organizations like the Olympic committee, “the trans women on average still have an advantage…” he said.

Polling data has been favorable toward this position, as well; as Perkins notes: "Fortunately, most Americans can see through the political correctness to common sense. In polling late last year in 10 battleground states, 75% of voters said they object to mixed-gender sports."  He quotes Doreen Denny of Concerned Women for America, who said: “I think we’ve made some progress in [warning the country about] what’s happening. And I think it’s so common sense and basic for people that they’re kind of wondering, ‘Why are we even having this discussion right now?’” 

Well, the discussion has ramped up due to the action taken by the President, who has stated, "transgender equality is the civil rights issue of our time," and has signed an executive order that aims to prevent so-called "discrimination" against transgender individuals.  An article from The Daily Caller published at The Daily Signal quotes Christiana Holcomb of Alliance Defending Freedom: “President Biden’s executive order has directed federal agencies to eviscerate legal protection for women and roll back nearly 50 years of gains for women...We’re going to have to wait and see how each agency either revokes current protection for women based on their sex or issues new policy guidance that allows biological males to, for example, compete in women’s sports.”  As the article states, the order prompted the hashtag, #BidenErasedWomen.

There are certainly some building blocks, rooted in absolute truth, that we embrace not only as Christian believers, but that have been rock-solid truths to which societies have adhered. The truth of two sexes is paramount - God created male and female.  You can't "choose" your gender, and biology teaches that a gender is not "assigned" to you by your parents or who delivered you.  I think back on Gary Bauer's comments from a few days ago that I shared; he said, related to a call from a New York Times columnist for a "reality czar" to combat so-called "disinformation:" "...I'm happy to do the job. But I'm going to begin with the reality that there are only two genders or sexes, not dozens."

It is interesting - you have people yelling about conspiracy theories and "deprogramming" their fellow citizens who support special rights based on the so-called "gender" with which they identify that is somehow different than their biological one.  Willing to ignore the "science." And, advocating punishing those who will not support the objective biology in favor of a subjective agenda.  In the face of such upside-down thinking, we have to continue to be strong in the Lord and standing on His truth.  We don't have to believe delusions, but we have to recognize them when they come, because they can be subtle - but we have the standards of God's Word and the discernment of the Spirit to fortify us.

Represent

Words are powerful - what we are seeing in Washington this week is essentially a debate about words; Senators are being asked to weigh the extent to which the former President of the United States 
influence hundreds of people to engage in out-of-control, lawless behavior at the U.S. Capitol. Supporters of the former President have alleged that lawmakers have used words that could motivate people to do harmful things to people with whom they have a political disagreement.  The Bible says in Ephesians 4, about our words, to...

(22)...put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts,
23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind,
24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.
25 Therefore, putting away lying, "Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor," for we are members of one another.

People are certainly responsible for their own actions, but we also recognize that words do have influence. That is why we have to watch our own words and make sure that what we communicate to others does not exceed what God has spoken to us in His Word. A misapplication of Scripture can be very harmful and not represent Christ in the way He would intend.  From our hearts, regenerated by Christ, we can purpose to speak words that exalt Him and encourage others in the right way. 

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When we are grounded in Biblical truth, it can govern our lives and enable us to speak what God has spoken and to reflect His nature with accuracy. Jesus taught in John 16:
12 I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.
13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.
14 He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.

The Bible tells us we are not our own, that we belong to Jesus, and He paid a heavy price so that we might come to know Him.  We are His representatives.  In fact, in our words and deeds, we can be cognizant of who we represent.

The Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention was established in order to represent the views of Southern Baptists in matters of policy.  As I recall, a former head of that agency said, it is supposed to speak for Southern Baptists and speak to them; presumably, in the area of education about various issues.

The role of the ERLC has come under close scrutiny over the past year, since the Executive Committee of the SBC announced that it was looking into the matter of whether or not the actions of the agency were resulting in the loss of missions funding under what is known as the Cooperative Program.  

The EC task force has released its report, and depending on what account you may read about it, it is certainly troubling; some might even say devastating.  I have seen a variety of reports, and for the purposes of this commentary, I have selected two articles to quote from that seem to capture the breadth and significance of the report. 

ChurchLeaders.com included these words as it led off coverage, from Religion News Service, this way: "...a task force commissioned to study the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission calls the convention’s public policy arm a 'significant distraction from the Great Commission work of Southern Baptists.'"  It goes on to say:

Blaming the ERLC for the loss of more than a million dollars in constituent church donations to the denomination, the task force, led by Georgia pastor Mike Stone, quotes the leader of a state Baptist convention as saying, “The ERLC has been a stumbling block not worth the mission dollar investment.”

It goes on to quote agency trustee chair David Prince, who stated that “Southern Baptists can see this report for exactly what it is,” adding that the ERLC “has served Southern Baptists faithfully during a time of political, cultural and, in some cases, denominational chaos.”

The Christian Post provided a list of numerous areas of concern, some specifically related to entity head Russell Moore:

Among the concerns state executive directors of the SBC reported hearing about Moore from pastors were: Moore’s open opposition of President Donald Trump; an allegation that he received funding from an organization with ties to George Soros; an Amicus brief from the ERLC in support of a New Jersey mosque; a perception that he criticizes conservative political figures more frequently and more harshly than moderate to liberal figures; his stance on immigration; his stated support of attending homosexual wedding showers and receptions; plus giving disrespectful and condescending responses to the questions of messengers.

So, in dollars and cents, how serious is the situation?  The Post gave some examples, including the following:

One state convention verified that $1,147,000 had been withheld due to the ERLC and estimated another $1,500,000 of Cooperative Program giving is in jeopardy.

“Another state reported that 94 churches have either decreased or completely eliminated Cooperative Program support this year at a total budget cost of approximately $500,000. Based on actual conversations with these pastors, the state executive estimated that 50% have done so because of a ‘lack of confidence in many national SBC issues.’ These issues included but were not limited to the ERLC,” they wrote.

So, what is the remedy proposed by the task force, which will be presented to the Executive Committee?  The story published at ChurchLeaders.com, referring to the head of the ERLC, Russell Moore, says: "The report does not call for Moore’s ouster, but it does recommend that the ERLC no longer make public comments about any political candidate and only address issues that the SBC has already issued resolutions on." The Christian Post also states:

The group recommended that the SBC’s Executive Committee request that the ERLC Board of Trustees work with the ERLC staff to develop an intentional plan to demonstrate a greater appreciation for how its positions, including social media use, affect the spirit of cooperation among Southern Baptists.

The remedy would also include greater cooperation between the agency and Baptist officials regarding the filing of legal briefs to better reflect the Convention's position. A brief filed by the ERLC recently in a lawsuit against another Southern Baptist agency, according to the article, "described the SBC as a 'hierarchy' that serves as an 'umbrella Southern Baptist governing body over all of the various groups of churches.'” That was deemed to be erroneous, and the ERLC went back and corrected it.

The Executive Committee will likely be addressing the report at its next meeting.

In a sense, this is a family matter here, but there is an element regarding how churches and denominations are perceived in the culture.  So, let's bring this down to the individual level - is the message we are sending consistent with the principles of Scripture?  Are we committed to living and speaking the truth?

One of the remedies for the ERLC situation has to do with essentially only speaking where Southern Baptists have spoken. (I seem to recall reading that phrase.)  And, you should be able to discern if your church or denomination is speaking in a manner that upholds Scripture.  Southern Baptists and other denominations have built a reputation of being Biblically faithful, yet there are many who are facing ideologies that are like a gravitational pull on that faithfulness that threaten to divide their flocks and weaken their witness.  Ultimately, Scripture provides us with the boundaries that will keep us focused and grounded in Christ.

Ask for Help

When Jesus ties loving God and loving our neighbor together, He teaches us that our love for God is expressed in the way that we love other people. It's very simple, really, but that doesn't necessarily mean that it easy. Proverbs 3 states:
27 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, When it is in the power of your hand to do so.
28 Do not say to your neighbor, "Go, and come back, And tomorrow I will give it," When you have it with you.
29 Do not devise evil against your neighbor, For he dwells by you for safety's sake.

It is true, when we are in need or hurting, we should ask for help - going before the Lord to present our requests and perhaps even going to the Church for assistance. And, fellow believers should always be ready to give it.  That's the way the body of Christ works, and it's a God-appointed position that we have in the world: to demonstrate the love of Jesus so that people will be drawn to Him.  Our willingness to assist can open the door for the gospel to be shared; it really can result in a physical expression of the gospel.

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As members of the body of Christ, we should be motivated to love and serve one another and to stand ready to help when called upon. Romans 12 says this:
10 Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another;
11 not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;
12 rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer;
13 distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.

The gargantuan task of vaccinating millions of Americans against the coronavirus is well underway, and there have been instances of long lines of people waiting to get their vaccines - a news report I saw over the weekend featured a line of people waiting for hours just to register for a time slot.

Well, this shows that Americans, and indeed people around the world, are ready to be done with COVID-19, but we also have to be reasonable that we have at least a few more months before we get back to "normal," whatever that is. 

Churches have been instrumental in the battle against COVID - some have been testing locations, others have distributed food and supplies for those who have encountered economic hardship as the result of the pandemic.  Still others have allowed vaccines to be administered at their campuses.

Such was the case recently at Seacoast Church in Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina.  ChristianHeadlines.com reports that...

The vaccination site was so popular with local residents that Mount Pleasant Mayor Will Haynie phoned Chick-fil-A manager Jerry Walkowiak for assistance. Chick-fil-A is well-known for its ability to quickly handle a tsunami of cars. A 2019 survey placed Chick-fil-A No. 1 in drive-thru order accuracy and customer service.

The mayor tweeted out, “When you need help, call the pros."

The manager arrived at the site even before the mayor. The article goes on to say:

The wait time, Haynie said, decreased from one hour to 15 minutes with Walkowiak working at the site. Walkowiak stood under an umbrella in the rain, directing cars to the correct site and ensuring drivers had the proper paperwork, Fox 11 reported.

Over 1,000 vaccines were administered that day, according to Christian Headlines. 

The Fox 11 report said:

Haynie said Walkowiak, while standing out in the cold rain, used the Chick-fil-A method to speed up the drive-thru, including walking up to drivers in advance to make sure they had their paperwork and immediately directing them to a spot to receive their vaccine.

This weekend, dose #2 will be administered.

I want to note that a local church was the place where people were going to get their COVID vaccines, meaning that the church allowed this setup to occur. This is yet another example of the ministry of the local church during the COVID crisis.  The Church has proven time and again over the past year that it stands ready to bring hope and healing amidst the brokenness and fear.  Yet, there are those who want to limit the freedom of religion in their states and communities, fearing that perhaps church leaders will not do what it takes to keep their congregants safe while allowing certain local businesses to remain open. It's been said that the Church is essential, and I think that has been underscored during the pandemic.

Also, this story reminds us to not hesitate to ask for help.  The folks in Mount Pleasant, like we have seen elsewhere, were lining up to get their vaccines, but the wait time was longer than what the mayor desired - so he called up a local business owner who is known for speedy service at the drive-thru. And, he proved the mayor's call was correct.  So often, in our rugged individualism and independent spirit, we want to do things by ourselves - but, it is certainly not always a sign of weakness to ask for assistance. And, for the believer, we don't show that we are weak when we call upon the Lord; as Paul wrote, when we are weak, He is strong.

Growing

In Romans 5, Paul reminds believers that through Jesus, we have peace with God and stand in His grace. And, then he provides a few words about attitude adjustment when we encounter trial:
(3) we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance;
4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope.
5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

There will be difficulties that we encounter, and those can be discouraging to the believer.  We can remember that everything in our lives will not go the way we planned it and that we will encounter times of adversity.  Even in our discouragement, we can know the grace of God and rejoice in the knowledge that God is with us and will use our challenges in order to do a greater work inside of us. We have the opportunity to be stronger than before.

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In a stunning passage in 2nd Corinthians 6 in which Paul lists external pressures vs. internal results, we can read these words.
4 But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God:

Then, he concludes the passage by saying:
8 by honor and dishonor, by evil report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true;
9 as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold we live; as chastened, and yet not killed;
10 as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

We are certainly aware of the worldwide influence of Communist China, and it is a country that has certainly become no friend of Bible-believing Christians.  We hear and see reports of church buildings being destroyed, of believers facing arrest, crosses being removed from some church buildings, the replacement of Biblical references with references exalting the country's leader, and increased surveillance of believers which can lower their "social score," and limit some of their activities.

But, attempts to "mute" the body of Christ in this large nation are actually having the opposite effect.  The Church in China continues to grow, and a leader in the Open Doors organization, that advocates for the persecuted church, is offering some incredible potential numbers. ChristianHeadlines.com reports that: "Ron Boyd-MacMillan, director of Strategic Research of Open Doors recently predicted a surge in Christianity in China as the population of believers may increase to 300 million by the year 2030, The Christian Post reports."

The article quotes statements Boyd-MacMillan made to Express UK:

“We think the evidence as to why the Chinese Church is so targeted, is that the leaders are scared of the size of the Church, and the growth of the Church,” he noted.

“And if it grows at the rate that it has done since 1980, and that's about between 7 [percent] and 8 percent a year, then you're looking at a group of people that will be 300 million strong, nearly by 2030,” Boyd-MacMillan continued.

He relates that the leaders in China have long-term plans, with an economic plan through 2049, you can presume that they are observing this amazing growth; Boyd-MacMillan says, "... this bothers them. Because I think if the Church continues to grow like that, then they'll have to share power.”

The article adds:

Throughout 2020, China ramped up its crackdown on Christians despite the pandemic. Last month, Release International, an international Christian watchdog organization for persecuted Christians worldwide, predicted that China will be among other countries who will increase persecution against Christians in 2021.

And, Christian Headlines points out, "According to Open Doors USA, China is ranked number 17 on its list of countries where it is most difficult for Christians to live." But, there is certainly reason for hope. The Voice of the Martyrs Global Prayer Guide found at its website states:

Revival and rapid church growth have characterized China’s churches since the 1990s. About 130 million Chinese are Christians, most of whom worship in illegal house churches. Only about 30 million are affiliated with the Three-Self Patriotic Movement (TSPM) — which, as the only legal church, is controlled by the Communist government. Despite continuous pressure and oppression from the Communist government, house church leaders refuse to compromise the gospel by joining government-controlled churches. Because of decades of government oppression, few Chinese Christians have their own Bible or access to discipleship literature.

When we consider the future of the Church, we recognize that while government may turn up the heat, God continues to turn up His power.  And, as James 1 relates to us, pressure results in perseverance.  Jesus did not call us to complain about opposition, but to rejoice in it.  

The Church is not weakened from without, but from within. So, we have to guard against the schemes of the enemy to divide us. We have to adopt the proper attitude toward our external circumstances and recognize that refusal to compromise can lead to greater impact.  Now, that doesn't mean that we don't speak out on the issues of the day and seek changes in policy that are consistent with a Christian worldview.  But, we have to be pragmatic in recognizing that will not always be the case, and continue to seek God's peace in discouragement. 

100 Days

Proverbs 14 contains some important truth about how our lives are on display and how we are to interact with our civic leaders. We can read:
33 Wisdom rests in the heart of him who has understanding, But what is in the heart of fools is made known.
34 Righteousness exalts a nation, But sin is a reproach to any people.
35 The king's favor is toward a wise servant, But his wrath is against him who causes shame.

We have been placed here to exalt the Lord - we live in a country and a community, and that appointment has been made by the hand of Almighty God.  So what are we going to do with it?  Is it outlandish or nationalistic to want a better country, a country that has a strong morality consistent with the teachings of Scripture?  Through our wisdom, we can make a statement about God's presence with us, and as we display that wisdom, perhaps it will get the attention of someone, even someone in leadership, whom we were meant to influence.

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People throughout this planet have quite a bit in common - we are part of the human family, and are placed here for a purpose.  And, God calls believers to serve where He has placed us. Paul said in Acts 17:
26 And 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.'

We are now in the second month of 2021, and perhaps you have set some new goals for the year; maybe you are following a plan in order to facilitate spiritual growth or to improve physical health.  Plans are good and can keep us on track.  Maybe you are on a trajectory to read the Bible completely this year.

Kirk Cameron has a plan, and it involves the health of our nation.  Movieguide.org reports that Kirk said on his "American Campfire Revival" series on Instagram: “Rather than waiting for someone else’s 100-day plan to unfold and bite our nails to see what’s going to happen, let’s get on the offense and roll out our own 100-day plan..."  The actor is playing off the concept of a President's first 100 days in office, and is described by The Christian Post as a "prayer event."  

The Movieguide article relates:

Cameron maintained that America is built on godly principles and claims that “TV shows and educational curriculums want to completely twist and pervert the true history of this godly nation.”

The article says that "Cameron noted that people have fought for biblical principles throughout the life of the church and America. It is paramount that Americans revisit their nation’s history, Cameron maintained."

Kirk echoed the themes of history and freedom in the Post article, which said:

Cameron said the freedom was paid for with “the blood of Jesus and reaffirmed by the blood of the martyrs and the blood of those brave patriots who fought for these principles and these freedoms that you and I now enjoy.”

"God says it's absolutely necessary, in order for us to have a new birth of freedom and blessing in the nation, to go back and remember how we lost it in the first place,” he said, emphasizing the importance of history.

Kirk Cameron has been known, especially for the past few months, as a voice against COVID-19 restrictions in California and was part of an event called, Non-Essential, which was to counter the notion furthered by some government officials that the Church was not essential in our culture.

Well, we know that it certainly is.  And, because of the presence of Jesus, we know that the Church will continue to have an impact, regardless of the trying times that it has been facing, and, I believe, will face to an even greater degree in the future.  The COVID pandemic, the frequent attempts to censor and silence speech, and the direction of the federal government over the past few weeks are signs that we need to be vigilant in prayer and devoted to being strong in Christ. 

And, we can remember from where we have come - as the Church, established by the blood of Jesus, with Christ as the head, and as a nation, established through the blood of those who were willing to give their lives on a foundation of Biblical principles. We should love our nation, for it is wonderful testimony to the power of God; and we should always love God more.  But, when those who do not recognize that history or even try to downplay or ignore it are placed in charge, we can drift from God's intent.  But, I believe that He still has a plan for our nation and all nations - that Christ might be glorified and that His Word may be established.

Credibility

We should be seekers and speakers of truth, devoted to being reliable and credible in the words that we say, and being attentive to the Holy Spirit when He leads us to information that can provide caution for us as we navigate this world. Philippians 4 provides insight into governing what we place into our minds:
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.

In our exposure to information, we perhaps will come across statements that might seem untrue or exaggerated - when we find those, it's important to verify, to look to multiple sources, and to not quickly relate what we discover. But, there may be information that we need to know in order to act responsibly, even though it may be hard to believe.  We don't need to become a free-flowing fountain of flimsy facts, but we also can allow God to direct us so that His people are knowledgeable and wise.

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We should be diligent to pursue and to communicate truth with credibility, honoring the name of Christ. Proverbs chapter 4 says:
23 Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life.
24 Put away from you a deceitful mouth, And put perverse lips far from you.
25 Let your eyes look straight ahead, And your eyelids look right before you.

The subject of what are called "conspiracy theories" has received some play in the media, even Christian media.  And, LifeWay Research decided to do a survey about it, which indicates that half of pastors surveyed have heard congregants repeating so-called "conspiracy theories."

The survey summary relates:

A new study from Nashville-based Lifeway Research finds 49% of U.S. Protestant pastors say they frequently hear members of their congregation repeating conspiracy theories they have heard about why something is happening in our country. Around 1 in 8 (13%) strongly agree their congregants are sharing conspiracy theories, defined by Merriam-Webster as “a theory that explains an event or set of circumstances as the result of a secret plot by usually powerful conspirators.”

Pastors in larger churches - those with more than 250 members, are more likely to agree that this is occurring - at 61% vs. the average of 49. Half of white pastors and a-third of African-American pastors say they frequently hear conspiracy theories being spread by congregation members.  

The overall summary, unfortunately, fails to define any specific theories - and we all know that it is convenient and common for people to label a point of view with which they disagree a "conspiracy theory."

But, there was a well-known conspiracy theory that traveled throughout the Church for quite some time - in fact, it was so pervasive that Faith Radio ran an announcement letting people know it was not true.  Bobby Ross wrote about this recently at GetReligion.org:

In that July 2001 piece, I highlighted the claim that an atheist group formed by the late “Madeline Murray O’Hare” had collected 287,000 signatures and was pushing to remove all Sunday morning worship service broadcasts.

“The good news is, the prayers have been answered — many times over,” I wrote. “Since the false petition related to the late Madalyn Murray O’Hair (that’s the correct spelling) began circulating in the late 1970s, the Federal Communications Commission has received more than 35 million signatures asking it to block her efforts.”

Two decades after that column ran, well-meaning religious people’s susceptibility to conspiracy theories has not waned.

After those comments, he stated that social media has made things worse. Quite frankly, from that point on, I thought the article took a downward turn, but I did appreciate the reminder about the O'Hair rumors.

In the LifeWay summary, Christian apologist Mary Jo Sharp is quoted; she says: "Irresponsibility with information unravels the impact of a Christian’s witness to those in their community, and, with social media, to the broader world,” adding, “The non-Christian may begin to believe or become further ingrained in the culturally popular belief that Christians are anti-intellectual, including anti-science.”

So, credibility should be a concern for believers - the Bible warns against gossip and slander, which you could consider in the same category, and calls for us to adhere to truth.

But, I have observed a tendency to label points of view with which a person disagrees as "conspiracy theories."  If two people research the same topic or historical events and come to different conclusions, does that mean that one of them is a conspiracy theorist?  That does seem to be the nature of the game that is being played.  We've seen it with information relative to the pandemic, to the election and its aftermath, and other areas in our social consciousness.  I guess you could say that each of us needs to be responsible for what we share and make sure that the points we make or questions we raise do not lead to our being discredited as Christian believers.

Certainly, there are those who want to capitalize on what they call "misinformation" or "conspiracy theories."  But, do we need government to decide what is true and what is not?  FoxNews.com reports:

The New York Times is turning to the Biden administration to "help solve our reality crisis" and calling on the new president to appoint a "reality czar" to combat "disinformation."

Times technology columnist Kevin Roose sounded the alarm Tuesday about the popularity of right-wing QAnon conspiracy theorists, the unsubstantiated election fraud claims President Trump pushed ahead of the Jan. 6 Capitol Hill riot, and what he called "the baseless theory that Covid-19 was manufactured in a Chinese lab."

CBN.com states: 

George Orwell's novel "1984" was a warning about his dystopian vision of a government that will do anything to control the narrative, creating a "Ministry of Truth". Such a suggestion for a "reality czar" shows that Orwell's work appears to be timelier than ever.

So, the new "reality czar," to combat what he or she considers "disinformation," decides what is true?  What if this person is hostile toward Christianity and decides that our belief system is a myth?

Well, there is at least one applicant for the job...Gary Bauer of American Values writes:

Well, if Biden is accepting applications I'm happy to do the job. But I'm going to begin with the reality that there are only two genders or sexes, not dozens.

I would point out the reality that life begins at conception.

I would note the, reality that the climate has been changing long before the combustion engine and the advent of fossil fuels.

And, he believes that public officials changed election laws, resulting in a tainted election outcome, a view that has been branded as a "conspiracy theory."  Interestingly enough, I saw yesterday where you have a number of states where election laws are being addressed legislatively, which is where election laws should be changed, under the Constitution. 

We should not be quick to embrace everything we hear, certainly.  But, there may be trends and occurrences in our world that we should not dismiss, either.  Believers should set the examples and be passionate seekers and defenders of truth - the truth we find in God's Word and developments around us that have factual evidence.  And, we can guard against allowing the enemy to divide us because of convictions or even opinions.  But, if something sounds outlandish to us, we should have a network of trusted sources to which we can go to discover more facts - do your due diligence.   

Welcome Home

In Luke 6, in a passage that could be described as a modified Sermon on the Mount, we find Jesus teaching these valuable principles:
20 Then He lifted up His eyes toward His disciples, and said: "Blessed are you poor, For yours is the kingdom of God.
21 Blessed are you who hunger now, For you shall be filled. Blessed are you who weep now, For you shall laugh.
22 Blessed are you when men hate you, And when they exclude you, And revile you, and cast out your name as evil, For the Son of Man's sake.

Jesus taught us to be prepared - that will be a concept related by a guest on today's Meeting House, who shares about how she was strengthened by the Lord even before she encountered a tragedy. In an age in which Christians are being ridiculed and we find that there are those who want to silence our voice, we can go the Word, we can draw strength from the Scriptures, and be fortified by God's holy presence - He provides what we need in order to face opposition.  And, even if this is not a season of trial, we can get ready for when the next one comes.

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In the midst of a world where a hostility toward Christianity can be found, we can continue to draw near to God and remember those who are suffering for His name. 1st Peter 3 provides encouragement:
12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their prayers; But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil."
13 And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good?
14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you are blessed. "And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled."

In 2014, in the nation of Nigeria, the terrorist group Boko Haram kidnapped 276 girls from a boarding school in the city of Chibok.  According to The Christian Post: "Some of the schoolgirls fled soon after the mass abduction in 2014, while others were released as part of a deal with the Nigerian government in 2016. Dozens more were released in 2017 as part of a prisoner exchange."

That leaves more than 100 girls who have not been released.  But there is hope.

One of the young ladies came home recently, according to that article, which reports that Halima Ali Maiyanga has escaped and returned home - she was kidnapped at the age of 15, meaning she's now 22. The article quotes from her brother:

“Halima was in tears. She told us she was with the military and needed some clothes because she had nothing,” her brother, Muhammad Maiyanga, who spoke to Halima on the phone, told The Wall Street Journal. “We never thought we’d see her again.”

The Journal article said that she had escaped during a military operation against Boko Haram in the northeast part of the country, and it reported that Halima's older sister had been released back in 2017, along with an infant son, who had been fathered in a "forced marriage."

The article notes that Boko Haram had kidnapped almost 350 boys last month from a school; thankfully, all were rescued.  The Post states that "Boko Haram grooms the boys it captures to become terrorists. Save the Persecuted Christians Executive Director, Dede Laugesen, had told The Christian Post that in some cases, the group forces children as young as 8 years old to execute Christians.

Meanwhile, Leah Sharibu, who was abducted along with over 100 other girls back in 2018 in Dapchi has not been heard from recently. There have been varying reports, most from around a year ago, that she was still alive, but information about her whereabouts seems to be scant.  Those captured with her were released, but she was not due to her refusal to convert to Islam because of her Christian faith.

The plight of Nigerian Christians remind us that there are sections of the world where persecution of Christians is rampant.  In China, that is extended to other religious minorities, such as the Muslim Uyghur people.  We can find that when the dominant worldview is hostile to those who do not accept the minority faith practice, those that do not "tow the line" face prison and even death.  We certainly need to pray and act as God gives leadership. 

We live in dangerous times, and the pressure on Christians to be less bold for the name of Christ could be turned up a bit.  We have to be prepared - after all, Jesus said that the person who wishes to live a godly life will be persecuted.  But, we can count it as an honor to be chosen to face opposition due to our faith.  We know the pressure may come, but we know God has given us the resources to continue to live and stand for Him.