Resist

We all have to struggle with the flesh, and one of the key challenges of the Christian walk is to put down sinful desire and allow our desires for Christ to be pre-eminent. Colossians 3 identifies some of those areas and offers help:
5 Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

Later in the chapter, Paul addresses the concept of rejecting the old nature and embracing the new:
8 But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth.
9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds,
10 and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him...

Each of us has our areas of vulnerability. We possess desires that do not honor God and the instruction of God's Word and power of the Holy Spirit enable us to resist sinful desires. We should not allow those desires to take up residence in our hearts and minds, and use the resources God has made available to us to "pull down" those strongholds, according to 2nd Corinthians 10. Our goal is not to accommodate sinful desires within us, but to walk in victory through our Savior. 

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The Bible instructs us to guard our hearts - that means placing the Word of God as a high priority in our thinking, and to reject philosophies that do not line up with Scripture. James chapter 1 issues insight into allowing temptation to get the best of us, saying:
12 Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.
13 Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.
14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.
15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.

There have been several flashpoints recently in the Church that have reflected the tension between Biblical fidelity and attempts to hijack the truth of Scripture.  The corruption of Biblical standards in the area of sexuality seems to be a never-ending struggle.

For one thing, we know that the Bible is very clear - and very loud - about sexual sin.  That includes the practice of homosexuality, which is condemned in no uncertain terms in Romans chapter 1.  Unfortunately, there has been a dual controversy recently involving a sermon which was preached by one high-profile pastor, and sections were copied almost word-for-word by another; both of them in leadership in the Southern Baptist denomination.  But, in the midst of the plagiarism charges, the fact is the sermon material was faulty and, as I understand it, reflected this growing acceptance of the normalization of homosexuality.  Seems the point was that the Bible "whispers" about sexual sin.

Another Southern Baptist leader generated controversy recently when he called attention to a "sermon" preached by his son, who is a professing homosexual. The Conservative Baptist Network, which was formed with the expressed purpose on calling members of the denomination to Biblical faithfulness and to counter what a significant number of people see as a "spiritual drift," strongly condemned the endorsement, saying in a statement: "Scripture is clear that homosexuality is a grave sin (1 Cor. 6:9-10, Rom. 1:24-28), and that sin separates mankind from God (Isaiah 59:2, Rom. 6:23). To present to Southern Baptists a man living in unrepentant sin as someone to whom they should listen for a sermon that is 'faithful to the gospel,'...is wholly illogical and demonstrably dangerous."  CBN, by the way, has on its Steering Council Faith Radio programmers Charles Stanley, Jeff Schreve, and Tony Perkins, as well as Christian leaders such as former Atlanta Fire Chief Kelvin Cochran, former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, and former Vanderbilt professor Carol Swain.

An analysis of the son's message by Gabriel Hughes described the central focus of the message as: “Nothing lasts forever,” and “Jesus is always coming, again and again and again, even in this terrible, wonderful time.”  His analysis of the preacher's material:

...the return of Christ is not “a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness” (Acts 17:31), but it is something that is continually happening if you will just open your eyes and embrace the change. “There is another way to keep watch in times like these,” he says. “We can simply open our lives to the truth that just as the world is always ending, Christ is always coming.”

Fortunately, the father has now resigned his position at a Southern Baptist Seminary because he reportedly said he didn't want to be a distraction. 

And, over the weekend, an author who has sold a lot of books decrying what she perceives as "white patriarchy" within the Church was asked specifically on Twitter if she believed that homosexuality was a sin. A blog post provided no direct answers, but I would contend that one has to assume that she does not. 

It's quite infuriating that there is a whole front has been opened up regarding a greater tolerance of behavior that the Bible clearly calls sinful.  And, this stems from inward thoughts that have developed into strongholds.  Now, you have people out there that claim to be "same-sex attracted," and it becomes part of their ministry identity to the point where you wonder if anyone would even listen to them or read their books if they didn't embrace that philosophy.  But, SSA is not treated as a sinful root that should be addressed Biblically and crucified daily, but as some sort of disability that has to be accommodated.  We have this whole business of "Side B Christianity," in which people who struggle with these sinful desires identify with those desires, but claim that because they do not act on them, that they are Biblically faithful.   

The Bible is clear - our tolerance for sinful desires (and that will be different for each person) leads to a deterioration of our relationship with God.  Those desires should not be accommodated, but brought under the power of the cross through identification and repentance.  We are all vulnerable, we are all tempted - but there is hope in the Lord.

So, how do we respond to these vestiges of what could be called "gay Christianity?"  We reject them and refuse to believe that sin in any form possesses nuance.  Put another adjective in front of the word and you see how preposterous this tolerance becomes.  Greedy Christianity?  Is that OK?  I identify as a gossipy Christian - is that what I want to be?  God loves us as we are, certainly, but He wants to change us inwardly so that we reflect who He is.  

God is Moving

We can make our plans and initiate our programs, and these are good - we should not be haphazard in our approach to the work of the Lord. But the execution should be carried out under the direction of the Spirit as He infuses His people with power. James chapter 4 provides insight, saying:
6 But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble."
7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
9 Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom.
10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.

We are recipients of the grace of God that has been freely made available to us.  We access that grace not by works, but by possessing the right heart, through humility. If we have the attitude of godly submission to the direction of the Holy Spirit, then we can truly experience the nearness of the Lord and know His cleansing power.  He is calling us to enter into His presence, that we might be revived and renewed and that we might reflect Christ in all we think and do.

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God wants to do a powerful work in our hearts and through His Church, in bringing revival to lives, so that we might glorify His name. Isaiah 57 shows us the potential:
15 For thus says the High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: "I dwell in the high and holy place, With him who has a contrite and humble spirit, To revive the spirit of the humble, And to revive the heart of the contrite ones.
16 For I will not contend forever, Nor will I always be angry; For the spirit would fail before Me, And the souls which I have made.
17 For the iniquity of his covetousness I was angry and struck him; I hid and was angry, And he went on backsliding in the way of his heart.
18 I have seen his ways, and will heal him; I will also lead him, And restore comforts to him And to his mourners.

In Louisiana, as of earlier this month, a six-days-a-week campmeeting on a Native American Reservation has continued now for over two years.  And, it has not been without its struggles, according to a piece on the Baptist Paper website, which says:

The All Nations Camp Meeting started Oct. 2, 2019 on the Coushatta Indian Reservation in southwest Louisiana, and has been meeting six nights a week since, through two hurricanes, two major tropical storms, the car-crash deaths of three teen girls and the Oct. 15 COVID-19 death of one of the organizers, Randy Carruth.

“We’re not praying for revival,” John Cernek, longtime pastor of Indian Bible Church asserted. “We’re living it!”

An October article on the Baptist Press website traced the origins of the meeting:

Carruth connected with Native Americans in New Mexico and Arizona during ministry he engaged in there. After Hurricane Barry struck southwest Louisiana in 2019, some of those Native Americans came to help. When the second group came, Carruth talked with a couple of area pastors and recently-deceased Jerry Johnson, who was then the associational mission strategist for the Mount Olive Baptist Association, about doing something for the friends who had come to help. What started as an evening service for them grew with the offer of an evangelistic tent.

Johnson said at the time, “‘Let’s put up a tent with no start date and no end date, and see what God does,’” Carruth told Baptist Press in mid-September. The tent moved from First Baptist Church of Oberlin’s property 15 miles south to the Coushatta tribal headquarters on Oct. 2, 2019. Since then, people from 35 Indian tribes in at least a dozen states have participated in the nightly services, Cernek said.

Preston Nix, evangelism professor at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, is quoted in the article: “We never know for certain where revival might break out...It comes after prayer, fasting and great concern for their own family members, friends and neighbors who are without Christ, as well as for the condition of the church, the community, the morality of the nation."  He added, “It’s desperation. If ever there was a time we need to be desperate for God, it’s now, what with the health pandemic, hurricanes, what’s coming out of Washington, D.C.”

Nix is also quoted in the Baptist Paper article, which makes a connection between what has occurred in Louisiana and what took place in the early 1970's with the "Jesus Movement." Nix says, "All of a sudden we had an awareness of the Lord..." The article goes on to say that, "His teacher had a morning Bible study in her classroom, and from his youth director at church and other sources, Nix heard about long-haired hippies on the West Coast becoming Christians." He added, "We were ‘Baptist hippies,’ kids in the church who were affected by the [Jesus Movement] culture.”  He is also quoted as saying:

“Jesus was considered a revolutionary in His own day. He rebelled against the establishment of that time. He was an example to the younger generation. He was attractive to them.

“He revolutionized their lives, kept them from drugs, alcohol and sex, and gave them purpose. They had tried everything and found that Jesus was the only one who could give them satisfaction and freedom.”

Now, in Louisiana on a piece of Native American land, the spirit of revival is continuing to proliferate. Local pastor Dustin Miller stated, “What God is doing, no man could have accomplished...He has united Christians from many churches, put them in one accord, one mind, one spirit. That’s what’s happening at All Nations Camp Meeting." Referencing other leaders of the event, he said, "It’s God. It’s a supernatural thing. I live 45 minutes away. This is not Dustin’s work, John’s work, Randy’s work. It’s God’s work. This is what He wants to do.”

I think we can admit that a movement does not necessarily come through skilled organizing or well-developed strategy, although those things can be important. I am a planner, but we have to allow God to guide our plans and leave margin for the Holy Spirit to do His work. Sometimes it's a spontaneous, sovereign move of God.

We can also see that revival starts with the individual whose heart is right before the Lord and is desiring to know Him better.  Then, like-minded individuals who are in a right relationship with God can grow corporately together. 

We must be careful that we do not resist what God wants to do in our midst. We can be willing to be repentant and pliable to the move of the Spirit.

On My Way...

The Bible teaches us there is a distinct path through which we can enter heaven, the place that Jesus is preparing for us. Hebrews 13 captures the essence of that process:
12 Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate.
13 Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach.
14 For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come.

Here's the progression: Jesus shed His blood so that we might be forgiven, so our sins would be taken away and that we would be made right with God through His sacrifice. So, Jesus teaches us that if we have experienced the new birth in Him through belief and confession, then we will go to heaven.  We now seek the eternal city, the one to come.  Jesus said to His disciples that they knew the way to that place, and taught that He was that way.  We can have assurance of our place in the afterlife, once we leave this world, because of the reliability of Jesus and His promises.

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In a pluralistic society, where multiple religions, most with founders who are no longer alive, are competing in the marketplace of ideas, Jesus made a claim, and backed it up by rising from the dead. We can read in John chapter 14:
5 Thomas said to Him, "Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?"
6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
7 "If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him."

Millions have watched the Erwin Brothers' film, I Can Only Imagine, that depicts the backstory of that classic song from MercyMe and traces part of the life story of the band's lead singer Bart Millard.

Bart had a turbulent relationship with his father, but after his father was diagnosed with cancer, they reconciled, and his father came to know Christ.  The film relates Bart's on-stage performance of the song, which in essence, he was singing to his earthly father, who had passed away and was - and is - in heaven.

The role of Bart's father was played in an amazing, emotional way by veteran actor Dennis Quaid, who had recorded a song called, On My Way to Heaven, which was included on the soundtrack for the film, according to The Christian Post.   An article announcing Quaid's intent to release a gospel album in the future stated that the song was written for his mother. 

The article related:

“I’ve always been spiritual. I grew up in a Southern Baptist church, became disillusioned with it as a teenager. I turned to Eastern religions and philosophies,” he told The Chicago Sun-Times.

“I read the Bible twice, read the Koran, went to India nine times. Along the way, I came back to Christianity, and well, finding that it’s really the same all throughout the world,” he added.

The Post piece goes on to say:

The Hollywood actor grew up attending a Baptist church in Texas and recently said in a promotional video that he was baptized at age 9. As he grew older, he began to ask, “Who [is] God?” But the actor maintained that Jesus is the One for him.

In a past interview with The Christian Post, this reporter asked Quaid for his thoughts on what Heaven will be like. Quaid’s song, “On My Way to Heaven,” written for his mother, revealed that he has thought about the afterlife.

“What do I imagine Heaven will be like? I think we all get a little taste of it here on Earth through prayer and meditation. That’s actually the good news that’s given — you feel it here on Earth. To imagine it? I don’t know — that takes other eyes,” he said at the time.

A 2018 CBN article said that Quaid had never heard I Can Only Imagine before he accepted the role as Arthur Millard, Bart's father. Dennis' reaction: "It hit me so profoundly, in the heart, in a place where I just don't even have words..."  The article goes on to say:

His own song, "On My Way to Heaven," was written as a tribute to his mother for her 91st birthday. In a video, Quaid says he promised his mom that one day he would write a gospel song.

Quaid said, "I wrote it for my mom because my mom has always been there, her faith is unquestionable, so solid. So I wrote it for her, but I guess it's my story."

The article notes some of the lyrics:

"My life may not be roses, but still I'm gonna be alright
As long as I've got my Savior by my side.
He freed me from the heavy chains that had bound my broken heart
He picked me up, gave me a brand new start.
Now I'm on my way to Heaven, on my way to heaven.
I'm on my way to Heaven, so I can't be staying long."

Dennis Quaid certainly seems to be comfortable talking about his own Christian faith, and has made at least two appearances at NRB Conventions, including last year's Dallas event, where he was promoting his role at the late President Ronald Reagan in an upcoming film. He also has a role in the new Erwin Brothers/Kingdom Story Company film, American Underdog, the amazing story of Super Bowl champion quarterback Kurt Warner, premiering in theaters on Christmas Day - Quaid plays another real-life character, former St. Louis Rams head coach Dick Vermeil.

I think a pertinent question today for each of us is: are we on our way to heaven?  There is survey data that unfortunately shows that there is significant portion of the population that believes there are multiple ways to heaven; that includes professing Christians.  But, Jesus said there was one way - He is the way, the truth, and the life.  He said that He is the resurrection and the life.  So, as it's been pointed out, to deny this truth is to contradict the teachings of Jesus Himself; it may be more inclusive to say there are multiple ways to a relationship with God, but that's not what He taught.

When we consider the afterlife, we can have confidence that we will go to heaven when we leave this world.  We can know because Jesus taught us - if we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, confessing, as Romans 10 instructs us, with our mouth that He is Lord and believing in our hearts that God raised Him from the dead, we will be saved.  We can know that we are born again, that we have a new life, and because of that, we have an eternal home with Jesus.  He has so much in store for us, and we can certainly rejoice that God has made it possible for us to come to know Him and to be with Him forever.

Just Alright?

We have to recognize that if we have decided to make Jesus the Lord of our lives, that we are submitted to His authority. That means we are devoted to the Scriptures and that we are allowing the Holy Spirit to guide our decisions. Jesus taught in John chapter 16:
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.
15 All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you.

It's important to evaluate the degree to which we are allowing God's Spirit to guide us. Many today say that they have a positive viewpoint of Jesus, but survey data indicates that is not translating to Biblical living. Just being OK with God and giving lipservice to spiritual ideas does not make one a Christian or Christ-follower.  He has called us to a self-sacrificial life that is devoted to allowing His truth to take up residence in our hearts, to become part of us, so that we are empowered to live the truth.

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The Bible teaches us about the preeminence of Christ; and He should be preeminent in our thinking and the decisions we make. Colossians 1 reminds us:
17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.
18 And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.
19 For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell,
20 and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.

In reading over a ChristianHeadlines.com story about new research from George Barna at Arizona Christian University's Cultural Research Center, the song that was covered by DCTalk, Jesus is Just Alright, came to mind.  Because that seems to be the theme of a recent study about young adults, in which Jesus seems to be alright with many of those surveyed, but His principles are not permeating the actions of this age group.

According to the article that reported on the survey, 59 percent of millennials said they viewed Jesus as "a little positive," with almost 4-in-10 viewing Him "very positive."  3 out of 10 saw the Bible in a "very positive" way.

65% professed to be Christians - but the survey revealed there was a disconnect between profession and perspective; in other words, in a significant percentage of people, the viewpoint did not line up with Scriptural teaching.  The article notes:

While most millennials reported viewing Jesus and the Bible favorably and 65 percent said they were professing Christians, many held views contradictory to a biblical worldview, including views on sexuality and the sanctity of life. For instance, 30 percent of the surveyed millennials and nearly 40 percent of the surveyed adults 18-24 identified as LGBTQ.

George Barna admitted that millennials' "...experiences, observations and assumptions regarding religion, spiritual beliefs, and faith practices have produced a turbulent spiritual experience..." The article said that the "study, which was released last month, highlights how millennials were seeking answers to their problems while 'disengaged from spiritual teaching and practice, resulting in a paucity of knowledge, understanding, experience, and growth in this realm.'"

The article goes on to report:

According to The Christian Post, the veteran researcher also suggested that millennials should shift their worldview in order to face life's challenges head-on.

Barna said, "Given the centrality of worldview to the human experience, there can be no improvements to the life millennials lead without addressing the fundamental role of worldview," adding, "And because worldview is developed and carried out in the competitive marketplace of beliefs and behaviors, think about the pervasive consequences for millennials of rejecting the biblical worldview in favor of other, more popular alternatives."

We can consider this question: Do your beliefs line up with the teachings of Scripture?  If you hold to a viewpoint about moral and ethical matters, is it something you can back up with the Word?  We have to make sure that the views we express are consistent with the teachings we find in God's Word, and that we reflect the heart of God in our responses.

We have to continue to reject the perversions of teachings of the Scriptures.  The inroads of the LGBTQ philosophy have infiltrated the younger adult age group in society, as well as the Church.  It is becoming increasingly common to find the vestiges of so-called "gay Christianity," where same-sex attracted people talk of that attraction not as a sinful desire to be dealt with Biblically, but as a condition that someone is seemingly destined to live with, a condition that seems to drive the way they see the world and relate to truth. That attraction becomes a primary thing for which some of these people are known. I believe there is a distinct trend toward people of faith being expected to be "gay-affiming," rather than Christ-affirming.  If you aren't, then you may get called names or lose favor in some circles.  Not only are we called to search the Scriptures, but we have to stand on the Scriptures, as well and not be moved by the cultural winds that topple the lives who are not built on a firm foundation of Biblical truth.  

The Belt

A devoted and unified Church can be a powerful force in a community or a region - we have to place ourselves in a position through which God can manifest His glory. Paul wrote to the church in Corinth in 1st Corinthians 1:
9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
10 Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

A devoted Church does the will of God; a divided Church counters the will of God. Our effectiveness in ministry is directly related to our faithfulness to Christ. We can make sure that our hearts are right before the Lord, even if we encounter opposition, and seek to do His will. It starts by making sure that we are in right relationship with our Savior and that we have surrendered ourselves to the cause of Christ. God is calling; we have to ask if we are responding.

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If you follow the missionary journeys of Paul, you see that he encountered opposition.  The church at 
Corinth was a particular church with which he had some trouble, but it was also a church for whom God had a special plan, evidenced by two letters that are contained in Scripture. And, in Acts 18, we find that Paul and other team members went there and encountered opposition, but God told him not to write them off. We can read in that chapter:
7 And he departed from there and entered the house of a certain man named Justus, one who worshiped God, whose house was next door to the synagogue.
8 Then Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his household. And many of the Corinthians, hearing, believed and were baptized.
9 Now the Lord spoke to Paul in the night by a vision, "Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent;
10 for I am with you, and no one will attack you to hurt you; for I have many people in this city."

I think it's helpful to think about the churches of a community as pillars - of truth, of compassion, of a general sense of morality.  You think of city after city, town after town, where the center of a city's activity, geographically speaking, contains a church or group of churches.  The geography can be a reminder of our position to which God has called us.

A church that has a heart for Jesus and a love for its people and the residents of its community can be a powerful force in a season in which people are searching for hope.  That can be true anywhere you are - including here in the Bible Belt, in the South.

I was raised in the South; I am a student of the history of the region.  And, while we can admit the Church's shortcomings in dealing with societal issues in the past, we can also admit that the Church has present-day potential for good and move forward.  The Church, as we put aside our differences, can move forward in setting a powerful example. 

So, while the term, "Bible Belt," has been used in a negative fashion, we can also recognize that there is a dynamic church population that can put on the belt of truth and the rest of our spiritual armor and gear up for what God has called us to do.   God is calling us, just as the believers in Corinth who were faithful, to seek to influence our communities for good.

I came across a piece by an Anglican pastor, or priest, recently on The American Conservative website.  The writer, Brandon Meeks, stated:

Some time ago, one leading evangelical influencer rejoiced over the decline of “Bible Belt Religion,” commenting that it “made bad people worse.” More recently, another Christian pundit took another swing at the cultural Christianity of the South, one of his favorite punching bags, calling it a form of “toxic religion” that is, at best, an expression of the Faith to be “survived.”

I don't know what qualifies as "Bible Belt Religion," but the Bible does instruct us what true Christianity is.  And, while our religious practice will be insufficient, and we all need to do better, to make a sweeping denunciation of an entire group of people is unfair and irresponsible.  Meeks wrote:

While I would agree with them that wholehearted, full-throated devotion to Jesus Christ would be preferable, I can’t find such dedication even among our Lord’s hand-picked Apostles or in a single congregation since the strange winds began blowing at Pentecost. These critics of the faith of my kin seem to be stricken by a virulent strain of perfectionism.

I appreciate Meeks' appreciation for the people in the local church; he expressed, "I thank God for the Bible Belt people who introduced me to Jesus," adding:

The Bible Belt Christians who raised me could not always give you chapter and verse, but they were always ready with a cup of cold water. At the end of the day, it is the one who offers a cool drink that receives the prophet’s reward, not the one who remembers all the names of the prophets.

And, the line that can make you smile and perhaps bring a tear to your eyes: 

Anyone who ever had a widow teach them about David from a lint-laden flannelgraph; or learned the “Romans Road” from a mechanic during VBS; or was otherwise loved to Jesus by hard-working people with southern accents, should give thanks to the Good Lord for Bible Belt Religion.

So, the evangelical "elites" can generalize all they want and look down at the people in the pews - our desire should be to serve Christ in simple devotion, to love Him with our whole hearts and to love the people with whom we come in contact. The problem with the so-called "theologians" who dominate the Internet is that they have seem to lost touch with what congregations are thinking - and doing.  And, what God is doing.

And, He is very active in our world today.  Because Jesus established His Church and the Church is the prime tool that He is using.  I would trust that we are learning to love Him more and to love others. I am so thankful for efforts, in which God's people, from a variety of backgrounds, even in the Bible Belt, are coming together and seeing that the work of God happens as we work together. 

Making sweeping accusations against entire groups of people based on someone's bad experience is wrong and short-sighted.  But social media and opinion journalism provide convenient opportunities to do so.  It can be helpful to look for ways that God is at work in a community.

I do believe that God has His plan for cities.  In the earthly ministry of Jesus and the missionary journeys of Paul, there were instances of places that they could not minister as effectively as others. As the people of God, we can place ourselves in a position to be used by Him and to be conduits of His grace. If a community is struggling, the local church can strive to address the concerns.  If a church is struggling and is not being faithful, course correction is needed.  As we intercede for the people to whom we're called to serve, we can have repentant hearts, so that God will move through us.

Not Funny

Our Christian conduct should be governed by the parameters of the Scriptures, which show us what is and what is not acceptable to God. Ephesians 4 warns us:
29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.
30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

We have to guard against our minds become corrupted by the philosophies of this world and ideologies that stand in opposition to the Word of God. We have to be measured in our responses to people with whom we disagree, firm in conviction, but not displaying anger or bitterness, which do not further the cause of the Kingdom of God. We should avoid expressing ourselves in a manner that does not communicate with grace and reflect Godly character.

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In 2nd Timothy chapter 2, Paul exhorted Timothy to faithfulness to the study of the Scriptures, writing this:
15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
16 But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness.
17a And their message will spread like cancer.

Well, the folks at Saturday Night Live on NBC seem to be at it again; in their feeble efforts to be humorous, they have taken a very serious subject and attempted to build an ill-advised sketch around it.

ChristianHeadlines.com reported on a recent such occurrence that has managed to offend people in the pro-life community.  Here's the gist of it, as expressed on the site:

According to Faithwire, the skit featured “Goober the Clown,” played by actress and comedian Cecily Brown, who has been a cast member on the late-night show since 2012.

The sketch was built around the recent arguments before the U.S. Supreme Court about the Texas heartbeat law, which bans abortion after a heartbeat is detected, generally around 6-7 weeks.

The article goes on to say:

Goober, who was wearing a top hat, spinning bow tie and red clown nose, appeared in the scene to joke around and talk about her abortion experience. After spraying Jost with a flower water gun, sparking laughter from the studio audience, Goober revealed that she had had an abortion just before she turned 23.

“I had an abortion the day before my 23rd birthday!” the clown proclaimed.

The controversial segment remained centered on “clown abortion concerns” as a way to drive home the comedian’s point that all people should have access to abortions.

Goober also said, “Did you know one in three clowns will have a clown abortion in her lifetime? You don’t because they don’t tell you,” adding, “They don’t even know how to talk to other clowns about it!”

As John Stonestreet contended in a recent edition of the one-minute commentary, The Point:

The intent, I think, was to portray abortion as no big deal, not as dark and scary as it’s made out to be, and to suggest that women shouldn’t be forced to talk about it.

But the sketch came across awkward and sad. Perhaps Strong’s parody was actually rooted in her own deep pain. But if it’s really no big deal, why wouldn’t people be more excited about the freedom abortion supposedly brings?

He stated that the truth about abortion is that it is an "act of violence perpetrated on both mother and child…which is why abortion is no laughing matter."

Christian Headlines featured quotes from other pro-life Christian leaders:

Jeanne F. Mancini, the President of March For Life, an annual rally and march in protest of abortion, tweeted, “Taking the life of an unborn child isn’t a laughing matter. Not for the mother or the baby.”

Live Action Founder and President Lila Rose said on Twitter, “Sacrificing your child to play a clown on SNL. Not worth it..."

Sadly, Strong said, “I know I wouldn’t be a clown on TV here today if it weren’t for the abortion I had the day before my 23rd birthday..."

The Faithwire article included a tweet from the Radiance Foundation, headed by Ryan Bomberger:

Nothing says "funny" like joking about killing the unborn. Epic fail @nbcsnl. Millions killed and you offer this lame skit. Because millions of women just want to laugh about such a decision.

We live in an age of enhanced sensitivity - there are issues that cause dissension between friends and heated rhetoric between strangers on social media.  We substitute polarization for conviction, and become desensitized about the wrong things.  We need a filter to know what we should make light of and what should be taken very seriously.  And, the sanctity of life is one of those topic areas that should not be minimized.  Abortion is not "choice," it is the taking of a life.

We should have some humor in our life; we should be people who convey a hopeful attitude and smile at one another.  I think that can help get us through difficult times - not in an aloof, insensitive manner, though.  We don't laugh at others' expense and we certainly should know what is and isn't appropriate.  Believers in Christ should possess a seriousness about the teachings of God's Word and the grace to be able to communicate it well to those around us. 

Model of Faithfulness

We recognize that God is calling us to a walk of faithfulness to Him, and He displays His glory through devoted men and women who lay down their own lives so that the life of Christ might flow through them. In 2 Timothy chapter 2, Paul writes:
1 You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
2 And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.
3 You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
4 No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.

We are pleased at Faith Radio to have a lineup of faithful servants who teach the Word of God and lead us in worship.  This year is a milestone year for the ministry of The Urban Alternative, with Dr. Tony Evans: it's 40-year anniversary!  And, we can be thankful that God has given to the Church leaders who preach and teach the Word boldly, who inspire us and set a godly example of faithfulness: it's evident in the local church across our nation and around the world, and Faith Radio is pleased to play a role in providing sound Bible teaching so that you might grow in the Lord.

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Isaiah chapter 1 addresses the subject of faithfulness; specifically, our faithfulness to Him.  As redeemed people of God, He calls us to serve Him with our whole hearts, and we can read in that 
chapter:
17 Learn to do good; Seek justice, Rebuke the oppressor; Defend the fatherless, Plead for the widow.
18 "Come now, and let us reason together," Says the Lord, "Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool.
19 If you are willing and obedient, You shall eat the good of the land...

God wants us to know, understand, and live out His Word, and we can be thankful for the pastors and Bible teachers whom He has given to the body of Christ.  Faith Radio is pleased to present to you a strong, solid, high-quality lineup of nationally-recognized Bible teachers throughout the day.  You can see our schedule at FaithRadio.org in the "Programming" section and through our app.

One of those individuals has reached several milestones this year.  It is the 40th anniversary for the ministry of The Urban Alternative, which is the ministry headed by Dr. Tony Evans, who is heard on the radio program, The Alternative, weekday mornings at 9:30 on Faith Radio.  Dr. Evans is also Senior Pastor of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship in Dallas.

A recent Baptist Press article noted another milestone reached by this renowned Bible teacher; it states:

The first study Bible and one-volume commentary published by an African American theologian has hit yet another milestone. “The CSB Tony Evans Study Bible” and “The Tony Evans Bible Commentary” recently won a pair of Bronze Awards from the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA) for each selling more than 100,000 copies.

The article notes, "The publications have since sold around 148,000 copies and 123,000 copies, respectively." 

Tony Evans has released a series of books centered around the "Kingdom" theme, and his desire for God's people to live according to the principles of God's Kingdom is reflected in the study Bible and commentary; he related that he wanted to “show the kingdom thread throughout all the books of the Bible and to help readers see how eternity and history are connected by this unifying theme of the glory of God through the advancement of His kingdom.”  

When those two items were released two years ago, Dr. Evans commented, “I’m humbled. I’m from urban Baltimore. I would never have thought I would be in this place,” adding, “I know God could have used someone else. The fact that He’s allowed me the opportunity to do this with my weaknesses and with my flaws, it shows me grace, it shows me mercy, it shows me gratitude.”

Andy McLean of B&H Publishing Group, a division of Lifeway Christian Resources, stated: “The message and ministry of God’s missional kingdom is not only one that Dr. Evans has so clearly articulated and advanced, but also one he has faithfully lived out in his pastoral ministry, resulting in changed minds and hearts across the globe.”

Beginning tonight and continuing through Wednesday, a new movie presentation is in theatres, featuring Tony Evans, along with his daughters Chrystal Evans Hurst and Priscilla Shirer, called, Journey With Jesus, which was filmed in Israel.  The Fathom Events website offers this description:

JOURNEY WITH JESUS brings the Bible to life as Dr. Evans and his daughters lead a beautiful and captivating walking tour of the historical sites and places of Jesus’ ministry, delivering personal insights, powerful teaching and biblical context for each location.

It will be available at 7:00 each evening at the AMC Festival Plaza 16 in Montgomery and the AMC CLASSIC Dothan Pavilion 12.

Well, I believe that without question, Dr. Evans is a model of God's faithfulness.  And, I believe that God's faithfulness is expressed as God's response our faithfulness to Him, which comes as we surrender to the Lordship of Christ. If we treat the Christian walk in a cavalier way, even though we may encounter blessings because of God's love and sovereignty, we will not experience the fullness of what He wants to do in our lives.  Because of his heart, God has shown Himself through this minister.

And, it has not been without difficulty, especially in recent years. He experienced the death of his longtime wife, Lois, just under two years ago, following on the heels of his father's death, and other loved ones within a two-year span, before that.  He had COVID earlier this year, but he continues to be faithful to the Lord and set an example of grace, even through suffering. 

In light of Dr. Evans' example, we can consider this: What is God calling us to do?  Certainly, He is calling each of us to greater devotion to Him and to His Word.  We can show ourselves to be "willing and obedient," as Isaiah 1 suggests, earnestly seeking Him and following the direction of His Spirit, who empowers us to do what He has called.

Magnet for Malice

Paul desired to be an example to the believers who were placed under his care, and he encouraged those to whom he wrote to follow that example; that's not arrogant, but confident. 1st Thessalonians 1 says:
6 And you became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit,
7 so that you became examples to all in Macedonia and Achaia who believe.
8 For from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place. Your faith toward God has gone out, so that we do not need to say anything.

Paul wrote in verse 6 that the believers of Thessalonica were followers of "us" - that is, Paul's ministry team, and "of the Lord."  We should strive to be an example to others, so that people will trust us and emulate us in our behavior.  We can do that as we are followers "of the Lord."  When we are faithful to Christ, that is something that becomes known - some will scoff, but others may surrender to Him through our example. 

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Our devotion to Christ will result in our being godly examples and effective ambassadors for Him, for 2nd Corinthians 5 tells us we are His ambassadors. Philippians 3 states:
17 Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern.
18 For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:
19 whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame--who set their mind on earthly things.
20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ...

We. Met. In. Church.

Four little words that apparently have packed a punch on social media.

If someone is single, the church provides a great setting for a person to meet his or her eventual spouse. That's the story of my wife, Beth, and me - we met in a singles group at a Montgomery church.  

And, that's also the story of a rather famous couple - he has been lead actor in some of the most popular films of the last decade; she comes from a famous political and entertainment family.  And, when her husband posted some cute comments, including the part about having met in church, well they became subjected to criticism, apparently.

Her name is Katherine Schwarzenegger - the daughter of famous actor and former California governor Arnold; her mother is Maria Shriver, a former TV host and author and the daughter of Sargent Shriver, a former lawmaker and Vice-Presidential candidate, and Eunice Kennedy Shriver - yes, the sister of JFK.

In 2019, Katherine married Chris Pratt, of Guardians of the Galaxy and Jurassic World fame, and Faithwire reported:

“We met in church,” Pratt wrote. “She’s given me an amazing life, a gorgeous healthy daughter, she chews so loudly that sometimes I put in my earbuds to drown it out, but that’s love! She helps me with everything. In return, periodically, I open a jar of pickles.”

“That’s the trade,” the celebrity continued. “Her heart is pure and it belongs to me. … It’s her birthday in about [six] weeks. So if I don’t get her anything, I’ll tell her to look back on this post. Love you, honey.”

But, the website points out that not all appreciated the cute and humorous little post; Faithwire relates:

The Daily Dot, a left-leaning media outlet, used the buzz over the Instagram post to remind its readers Pratt, a Christian, attends “an allegedly homophobic megachurch.” Throughout the rest of the post, the word “seemingly” had to do quite a bit of heavy lifting.

Without any indication the post’s caption was to be seen as anything other than lighthearted and less-than-serious, the article’s author condemned Pratt for “seemingly promoting sexist ideas about marriage” and “painting a picture of a straight marriage with uneven gender roles, with himself as a careless layabout husband who relies on his perfect angel of a wife, giving very little in return.”

Some even stooped to accusing Pratt of denigrating his former wife, Anna Faris, with whom they have a son, Jack, who has experienced health issues. However, as the article points out that Pratt "has repeatedly declared that Jack "was saved 'by the power of prayer.'"

While he has also been a magnet for box-office dollars through his Marvel and Jurassic movies, Faithwire points out that Chris has become a magnet for criticism. The reason? As the article notes: "Over the years, Pratt has become increasingly comfortable talking about his Christian faith and he’s remained unwilling to play the political game," adding:

Pratt hasn’t used his platform to direct his fans to find answers in politicians but has instead urged them to look to Jesus, and that doesn’t work in Tinseltown, where political activism is an unwritten but unforgiving rule.

Some examples of lightning rods concerning Chris Pratt?

Media outlets leapt at the chance to run stories in 2019 framing Pratt’s church — Zoe Church in Los Angeles — as “anti-LGBTQ” and a home for “religious obsession.” Those comments came after Pratt mentioned “the Daniel Fast,” a 21-day diet based in Scripture, during an appearance on “The Late Show.” In response, Ellen Page (who now goes by Elliot) condemned Pratt for “belong[ing] to an organization that hates a certain group of people.”

So, even though audiences seem to love him, Chris Pratt certainly represents an anomaly in Hollywood.  And, that's not to say there are not Christians who work in the entertainment industry; there are.  But, there does seem to be a bias against them, especially in media outlets who specialize in covering the world of entertainment.  That creates, I believe, a certain level of scrutiny and criticism that ensues.  

But, the fact is, we are all under the microscope.  There are people who will watch us to see if our faith is authentic.  You may even have people around you that are waiting for you to slip up, to fail to uphold the Christian principles which you say you believe.  We are called to model the presence of Christ and to represent Jesus - in order to do that well, we have to rely on His Spirit.

Chris Pratt is not perfect; neither are we. All Christians are flawed individuals who have submitted themselves to a perfect God and should ideally walk more like Him each day.  We have to continue to be faithful to Scripture and not try to twist God's Word to conform with our own experience - His Word is the standard and in order to know what God expects, we have to be in the Word and be willing to allow Him to have His way.

Proud to Be an American

In Acts 17, as Paul talked with a rather distinguished group, He outlined the plan of God and even discussed how, even though we are one race from one blood, God established nations and boundaries. We can read these words:
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.'

So, you could make the contention that our nation was established according to God's plan. And, I would submit that He has, for almost 250 years, been working in the life of our country. That doesn't mean that we have been totally obedient; no group of people is.  And, I believe that He is none too pleased with what He sees transpiring. But, God doesn't give up on us - He will use earthly nations for eternal purposes, and He desires to see people come into His Kingdom through a relationship with Christ.

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The Bible tells us that the nation established in righteousness will be exalted; so we should make it our aim to represent values that are rooted in the Word of God. Proverbs 14 states:
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.

This is a very special day, because it gives us the opportunity to honor those who have bravely served on behalf of our country and to reflect on the principles for which they gave their lives.  Our country is certainly worth fighting for, and we remember those who have served with honor and a sense of sacrifice, on behalf of a cause greater than themselves.

On this Veteran's Day, I want to call your attention to a poll that was released recently by the Public Religion Research Institute and reported on at the ChristianHeadlines.com website, which stated: "The Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) poll of 2,508 Americans, released Monday, found that 75 percent of White evangelicals, 67 percent of Black Protestants and 55 percent of 'other Christians' believe “God has granted America a special role in human history..." 

44 percent of all Americans agree with that statement, but that's a decline of 20 points from 2013.  Not surprisingly, PRRI, which I believe to be an agenda-driven polling company it is given to denigrating some elements of the Church, said, "Significantly fewer Americans today believe that God has granted America a special role in human history..."   The PRRI summary breaks the numbers down by various religious groups, but I do not see the total percentage of Christians that embrace that train of thought. Nevertheless, I think you can sense that there is a significant percentage, perhaps even a majority, of Christians who believe, as I do, that God has a special purpose for our nation.

74% of all Americans agreed with these words: “America has always been a force for good in the world,” and "88 percent of White evangelicals, 69 percent of Black Protestants and 71 percent of 'other Christians' agree with the statement."

And, as Christian Headlines reports, "Nearly six in 10 Americans (58 percent) say there has never been a time when they were not proud to be an American..."

So, as we remember our veterans today, we can think about their willingness to surrender themselves on behalf of a great country.  A country that was founded on principles consistent with the Scriptures.  A country that has been dedicated to the worth of the individual and the cause of freedom, as we can see in our founding documents.  But, a country made up of flawed people who have pursued greater ideals. 

I do believe the United States has been, and continues to be a force for good.  And, that motivation for many is informed by the call of God.  Our commitment to religious freedom around the world is unmatched, and we should continue to call out those nations that do not respect that basic human right.  And, we can also pursue freedom at home and, while making sure we are living out our faith, be devoted to contributing to an atmosphere in which others can live out their faith.  We will not always believe the same, mind you, but everyone has been given the choice - by their Creator, on whether or not to pursue a faith perspective.  They should also be afforded the opportunity to live it out in the public square.  And, Christians have the responsibility, and ideally the right, to proclaim the truth of the Lord.

Had Enough Yet?

We can become tired or discouraged as we walk through this world, as we face challenges and even opposition to our faith. But, we serve a strong God, who is present with us to give us the resources we need to walk through this life in victory. Isaiah 40 states:
28 Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, The Creator of the ends of the earth, Neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable.
29 He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength.
30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall,
31 But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.

God's strength is unlimited, and because we know Christ, we have access to His might, to His resources to enable us to walk through this world fortified and hopeful.  Maintaining a sense of hope is sometimes not easy, but we can be built up in our faith, realizing the faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word.  Our exposure to the Word will help to build us up in the Lord and can help us to maintain the hopeful attitude in Him that He desires for us to have.

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The Word of God promises us hope, even when we experience opposition and pain; God is our refuge, and because we have accepted Christ as our Lord, we can allow Him to govern our thoughts and give us strength. Acts 3 relates the words of Peter:
19 Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,
20 and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before,
21 whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began.

PJ Media's headline caught my attention; it read, "The Vote You Probably Didn’t Hear About."  My resident "FOMO," or "fear of missing out," kicked in, so I read the article. 

It had to do with a ballot measure in the state of Texas which has implications for religious freedom. The article reported that the proposal...

...is an amendment to that state’s constitution that reads: “This state or a political subdivision of this state may not enact, adopt, or issue a statute, order proclamation, decision, or rule that prohibits or limits religious services, including those conducted in churches, congregations, and places of worship in this state by a religious organization established to support and serve the propagation of a sincerely held religious belief.”

According to the Texas Values website, the proposal, which was passed by the legislature as Senate Joint Resolution 27, simply prohibits the government from closing churches or other places of worship. Texas Values cited the COVID-19 pandemic as an example of government closures.

The amendment passed 64 to 36 percent, garnering over 925,000 votes in favor of it.

The Texas Values website offered this quick analysis, stating that the proposal, known as Proposition 3:

• Prohibits government agencies and officials from issuing orders that close or have the effect of closing “churches, congregations, and places of worship” in Texas.
• Further secures the Texas Freedom to Worship Act, passed during the 87th Regular Session, by preserving it in the Texas Constitution.
• “Place of worship” is defined in Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 110 to include non-church buildings or grounds where religious activities are conducted.

An article at Christian Headlines.com related:

John Greiner, who pastors the nondenominational Glorious Way Church in Houston, called the measure crucial. He said individual churches and people who go to church “should be in charge of their own health care decisions, their own risks-to-reward behaviors.”

“The church should be the place where people go to get healed. There’s lots of churches and some don’t believe in healing. … They should be free to close if that’s what they want to do, but I don’t think that the government should impose that upon any group at all,” Greiner told Religion News Service.

The writer of the PJMedia article, Lincoln Brown, believes something even deeper is at work, "people have simply had enough."  He writes: "The revolution...is played out by people going to the ballot box and re-taking control of school boards and local and state governments." He adds, "They are people who have had their fill of a government, media and society that treat them as either a commodity or an unfortunate symptom of American life...The collective American sponge is saturated with TikTok, Facebook, Twitter, genders, violence, lies, mixed messages, Newspeak, division and fear. People simply want to wring it out."

Don't you want to breathe a sigh of relief?  I think there are a number of people who are tired - tired of seeing their freedoms infringed upon, tired of fighting on a variety of fronts concerning the coronavirus, tired of seeing Biblical values trampled by some in authority.  But, now is not the time to give up - we can draw strength from the Lord each and every day and know that, as Acts 3 says, "times of refreshing" are available to us.  Galatians 6 tells us not to be weary.  What we read or see on the news can discourage us, but God's Word will encourage us.

The good news is that, after being physically closed for a number of months and subject to restrictions that prevented in-person gathering, the Church is still open.  And, that means you and me - and we should be open to what God wants to do in us, open to the movement of His Spirit, and open to touching our communities with the love of Christ.  There are still struggles, certainly there are threats; there is persecution worldwide, but God is still on the the throne, He is in control, and He provides power to His people.

Dinner Time

In an age of polarization, even in the Church, we can be reminded to stay humble and not let the enemy

divide us. In Luke 18, Jesus offered this parable:

10 "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.
11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, 'God, I thank You that I am not like other men--extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector.
12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.'
13 And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me a sinner!'
14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."

Jesus dealt with self-exaltation and spiritual pride throughout the course of His earthly ministry; in fact, you could say that prevailing attitude led to His crucifixion.  The religious leaders of the day were so convinced their way was right that they badgered and challenged Jesus, and eventually it became too much.  This parable from Jesus is a classic example of what we call "virtue-signaling" today - and it doesn't unite believers and certainly doesn't please God.

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The Bible consistently demonstrates for us the importance of staying humble before the Lord and not exalting ourselves. 1st Corinthians 10 states:
31 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
32 Give no offense, either to the Jews or to the Greeks or to the church of God,
33 just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.

I appreciate the work of the Standing for Freedom Center at Liberty University - it would be described as  "think tank" that was formed in order to motivate people to embrace Biblical truth, and because it is housed at a Christian university, I would say it is well-positioned to motivate college students and young adults.

This weekend, it is sponsoring a Freedom Uncensored conference, featuring a number of high-profile Christian speakers.  It's sold out, by the way.

Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is one of the speakers.  A recent article on the Center's website featured a former State Department and Pentagon official.  His name is William Wolfe, and he commented recently on what seems to be an attempt to extrapolate a statistic that has been circulating about the voting patterns of areas with a Whole Foods store, contrasted with areas that have a Cracker Barrel.  Yes, that seems to be a thing, with the Whole Foodies going more liberal and the Cracker Barrellers trending more conservative. 

The article elaborated on some comments made by VeggieTales co-creator Phil Vischer on a podcast hosted by the enigmatic Karen Swallow Prior, who used to be on the faculty of Liberty and now teaches at a Southern Baptist seminary.  The comments were posted on the Woke Preacher Clips channel. The original article was revised because it described Prior as a "progressive" and the editor, while apologetic, supported the contention of the article.  

And, that contention is this, according to Wolfe:

For someone like Vischer, it’s the Whole Food Elite Evangelicals versus the Cracker Barrel Christians. And the subtext? What’s the matter with those backwards, porch-rocking rubes? If they just were willing to pay for $15 Whole Foods’ sushi like me, wouldn’t the country…wouldn’t Christianity…be better off? (Obviously that’s somewhat tongue-in-cheek, but I trust you get my point.)

He goes on to say:

What exactly is the substance of this critique? What’s the cause of the embarrassment reflex? It’s the fact that Cracker Barrel Christians, by and large, have refused to adopt the new, progressive views on politics and culture...

Wolfe provides some context by writing:

The elite evangelical, according to John Ehrett at The American Reformer, “largely eschews the ‘culture war’ language of Moral Majority forerunners like Jerry Falwell Sr.” And this type of Christian, this elite evangelical, can’t help but wonder if maybe, just maybe, the rest of us knuckle-dragging fundamentalists are as backwards as the New York Times really thinks we are.

Ehrett goes on to explain that “this nagging sense that we’re really the bad guys, has been internalized — whether overtly or implicitly. One might call this condition of latent discomfort, which tends to manifest as an immediate tendency to distinguish oneself from one’s less enlightened evangelical peers when pressed, the embarrassment reflex.”

This subject matter is uncomfortable for me because it typecasts certain individuals and pits groups of people against each other (Wolfe actually used the term, "versus") - the Whole Foods "elite" vs. the Cracker Barrel "everyman (or woman)."  And, I don't see how it's helpful.  Wolfe nails it when he says:

I gladly throw my hat in the dusty ring with the Cracker Barrel Christians every day of the week — and especially on Sunday (for the buttermilk-battered fried chicken, of course). But I am more than happy to break bread with the Whole Food Christians too — as long as they are willing to sign onto real Christian ethics and submit all of their lives, including their political preferences, to King Jesus. I want the Gospel to go forth to folks eating chicken-and-dumplings and to folks eating vegan miracle meat for $20 a pound. But I refuse to chastise Christians who won’t bow the knee to the cultural Baals of our time and adopt a new orthodoxy on race or gender roles, etc., just because CNN tells me I should.

As the Bible tells us, The Kingdom of God certainly is not what you eat or drink, or what you wear, but how faithful you are to the teachings of Scripture.  And, Wolfe takes Mr. Vischer to task for attempting to divide Christians based on the degree of their supposed enlightenment; enlightenment is great - if it conforms to Scripture. But Wolfe says that so-called "Cracker Barrel Christians" are seen by some as "not as those simply trying to maintain a faithful, biblical ethic in an increasingly secular and maddening world, but rather as 'change-resistant' fundamentalists who refuse to get with the times..."

It's a false dichotomy.  The test is faithfulness to Scripture, and that may put a person at odds with the "elites" of society - or of the Church.  Unfortunately, you have self-appointed Christian leaders who believe they can tell others what to do just because they have a blog or a Twitter account.  Our modern-day spiritual elitism is just a repackaged version of what I used to call spiritual pride. 

The times may be "a-changing," as Bob Dylan puts it, but that doesn't mean we have to change our stance on cultural issues. As it's been said, the message never changes, although the method of reaching people may change.  But, the Church should never resort to compromise just to be culturally relevant, and while we will disagree on various issues, we certainly shouldn't resort to name-calling or exhibit a demeaning attitude toward others.  We are fellow travelers, trying to please God and to be Christ's disciples, as He gives us strength.

A Winsome Example

We can be devoted to doing good in a way that honors Christ and is consistent with His truth. Romans chapter 14 exhorts us:

16 Therefore do not let your good be spoken of as evil;
17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
18 For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men.
19 Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.

We can certainly do what seem to be the right things, and yet we find ourselves ostracized - that is certainly something that Jesus predicted would happen.  And, millions of persecuted Christians around the world are experiencing that firsthand.  But, we have to guard against unforced errors in the way that we walk, and that takes a determined reliance on the truth of Scripture and the presence of the Holy Spirit, so that can be an effective witness for our Savior. 

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The Bible speaks to how we should visibly conduct ourselves, in a manner that exalts the Lord and points to Him. Colossians chapter 4 states:
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.  

She is an African-American woman.  She's an immigrant to America.  And, she just won political office - the 2nd-highest position in a hotly-contested state.

You'd think her name would be on the tip of everyone's tongue these days, a representation of the American dream.

But, in some media circles, she is getting scant attention, because ideologically, she doesn't subscribe to the mainstream media's political ideas.

You need to know Winsome Sears - the incoming Lieutenant Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Have you heard of her?  And, returning to Colossians 4, the phrase "with grace," is also translated, "winsome."  And, it certainly seems she is living up to her name.

She was born in Jamaica and came to America with her father when she was six years old, in 1963, according to a feature on CBN.com.  It goes on to say:

Some of her favorite conversations were with her grandmother who taught her about God.

“The grandkids always knew: if you see your grandmother with her head under a sheet because she would pull it over, that was her prayer tent. She was very instrumental in everything I did,” Sears said.

As she entered adulthood, Winsome Sears joined the Marines.  The article relates:

The Marines taught her leadership skills, but Sears still felt like her faith in God was lacking.

“I finally said to myself, ‘I’m tired of living this other kind of life. I need to be discipled,’” she said.

After she left the Marines, she moved to Virginia with her husband. They got involved in a local church and were discipled. She also went to college.

“I finished my four-year degree in three years. Then I was accepted into law school,” Sears said.

She went to law school at Regent University in Virginia Beach and in 2002, she was elected to Virginia's House of Delegates.  The CBN article, written prior to the election, said:

“My campaign is really based on Psalm 133:1. ‘How good and pleasant it is when brothers (and sisters) live together in peace and harmony.’ This is America,” Sears said. “There’s nowhere else to run to. And people run to America for liberty and freedom.”

The Christian Post reported that "Sears was known for being involved in multiple faith-based charitable endeavors...;" that would include leading a prison ministry and being involved with a Salvation Army homeless shelter.  The article goes on to say: 

At her victory speech held very early on Wednesday morning, Sears said she believed “God was exactly with us, otherwise we would never have made it.”

“We ran an impossible, improbable campaign,” said Sears. “And so I want to finish up by thanking you, Jesus. How sweet it is!”

LifeNews.com reported: 

Sears is strongly pro-life and said during the campaign that she supports the heartbeart bills to ban aboritons when an unborn baby’s heart starts beating.

“Well, I can tell you that would be me, that I would support [it],” Sears told Newsmax.

“Here’s the thing,” Sears said. “When did it become the wrong thing for us to support the babies in the womb? And in fact, in Virginia, we’ve even gone further than that, where our current governor wanted to take us — and, by the way, my opponent wanted to take us — there, where the baby would be born, you would leave the baby on the table without any assistance or even keep it comfortable, and then wait for the mother to decide.”

But, already Sears has faced criticism from commentators who denounce Virginia voters for being motivated by the straw man of "white supremacy." According to FoxNews.com, she even called out the divisive Joy Reid, anchor at MSNBC, who traffics in that kind of rhetoric, and said she wanted to be on Joy's show.  The Fox article says, regarding the victory of new Virginia governor Glenn Youngkin:

Reid was one of several liberal media pundits to have a public meltdown Tuesday night following Youngkin's victory. She and her colleagues Nicolle Wallace and Rachel Maddow lashed out at Virginia parents for their opposition to critical race theory, with Wallace even claiming the curriculum "isn't real..."

Someone may be culturally right but Biblically wrong. As Jim Garlow has said, it's not a matter of right or left, it's right or wrong. And, standing for God's truth can make you a target of criticism. But, you can stand strong in the Lord, even when you are a target.  We have to make sure that the agendas we embrace are consistent with the teachings of the Word of God. 

Critical race theory, which divides and typecasts people according to their skin color, is a dangerous ideology. It was a big issue in the Virginia race. So was who is really responsible for their children's education.  The Bible teaches us that parents are ultimately responsible.  And, Scripture also informs us that we are one race and that we should not allow outward characteristics to divide us.  

Winsome Sears, unfortunately, has accomplished much in life, yet she is an afterthought for some in the media because of her belief system.  But, she's not trying to win the approval of the "right" people, although she won the approval of voters, and that's what counts.  She, not to mention her running mate, have learned to stand on Christian values and to communicate truth in a non-reactionary way that is appealing to voters.  It seems to be a winning combination, at least in a state that has been characterized as purple over the past few election cycles.

Competing with Ideas

The decisions we make and the behavior we display should reflect the presence of Jesus within us. In Philippians 1, Paul addresses matters of good Christian conduct:
27 Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel,
28 and not in any way terrified by your adversaries, which is to them a proof of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that from God.

The expression of our faith in Christ can literally change the world.  Because we have been changed through being born again, because we have a new heart, that newness of life can be expressed in a tangible and visible way.  The way that we conduct ourselves is an indicator of the presence of the Lord within, and our trust in Christ and devotion to Scripture gives us the ability to live in a manner that pleases Him and impact the lives of those with whom we interact.

 

+++++

I want us to think together about the importance of resolve in our Christian life. We should be so grounded in truth that we make our decisions based on Scripture, and our inner fortitude is shown through our demonstration of Christian conviction. 1st Corinthians 15 says:
57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

There has historically been a winning combination for Christmas viewing - family-friendly fare plus a Christian audience.  And, as Movieguide pointed out, last Christmas season, the Hallmark Channel took a bold and potentially damaging step with one of its movies:

The movie, THE CHRISTMAS HOUSE, stars MEAN GIRLS’ Jonathan Bennett as a gay man summoned home by his parents just in time for the holidays. The plot reportedly will focus on Bennett’s character and his husband’s journey to adopt a child.

While the actors praise the movie as “progress,” the reality is that storylines like this alienate one of Hallmark’s largest and most passionate audiences: Christian conservatives.

It added: 

It’s unfortunate that Hallmark felt bullied by gay advocacy groups into including plot points that appease the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer community.

This came less than a year after the CEO of the parent company of the Hallmark Channel, Bill Abbott, "left in Jan. 2020 after the company came under fire after a commercial featuring a gay marriage."

Actions have consequences.  Mr. Abbott went right to work building a formidable competitor for his old employer.  The Broadcasting+Cable website announced a few months ago:

Bill Abbott, who ran the squeaky-clean Hallmark Channel, is looking to turn cable networks recently acquired by his GAC Media into a new family friendly entertainment destination.

The Great American Country channel, acquired from Discovery for $90 million, is becoming GAC Family, effective Sept. 27.

Ride TV, a privately held channel focused on equestrian sports, was also acquired by GAC Media. It will become GAC Living.

And, one of the most familiar actors on Hallmark Channel has announced a new deal with GAC Family, according to Deadline:

Danica McKellar, longtime star of holiday movies for Hallmark Channel, is getting into business with GAC Media. McKellar has signed a four-picture deal to star in and executive produce original films for the company’s flagship networks, GAC Family and GAC Living. For her first project, McKellar stars in and executive produces the original movie, The Winter Palace premiering in January 2022 on GAC Family.

“Danica is a world-class talent who is among TV’s most beloved and enduring stars,” said Bill Abbott, President & CEO of GAC Media. “Her combination of creativity and passion is second to none, and I am thrilled to have her join GAC’s close-knit family.”

Oh, and the spin-off of Hallmark's immensely successful, When Calls the Heart, based on the Janette Oke novel, executive produced by Brian Bird?  According to Movieguide, When Hope Calls season 2 will premiere on GAC Family, with a Christmas release this December.

And, as you search for family-friendly fare this Christmas, you may want to check out UPtv. UPtv which was launched by Charley Humbard, son of the late evangelist, as Gospel Music Channel a few years back, is also cognizant of the faith market and has its own streaming channel devoted to faith programming called, UP Faith and Family.

Hector Campos, vice president, content strategy and programming at UPtv, is quoted in a recent press release, saying: "Christmas on UPtv expands every year, and I’m thrilled that in addition to having more premiere movies than ever before as part of our holiday offering, we also have a brand-new series, Small Town Christmas, that focuses on the heart and magic of Christmas celebrations in small towns across the U.S,” adding, “Our collection of diverse Christmas stories can all be tracked on the My UPtv Movies App for the best viewing experience for Christmas movie-lovers who don’t want to miss any new premieres or airings of their favorite films from over the years."

Small Town Christmas will be hosted by Christian author and television personality Megan Alexander, in which, "each episode takes viewers to a different small town around the country," and explores "local businesses and towns that are making Christmas special in their own unique way."

We ideally should want entertainment choices that are consistent with our values.  And, for years, Ted Baehr of Movieguide has been challenging the entertainment industry to consider respecting faith and family in its fare, citing data that shows the popularity of G-rated and PG films.  One way we reinforce our values is through the consumer choices that we make - we can use our dollars to affirm responsible decisions and to show our disapproval.  

Sometimes God will call you to stay and fight, sometimes He will call you to leave. And, it's not because one is an easier road than the other.  Bill Abbott chose to leave and to start a new work - I don't know what was going on behind the scenes or if there was a spiritual motivation here, but it does illustrate that a person should always stand on principle; for the Christian, that means following Christ in obedience to His direction.

I think that parents in Virginia in the recent election have shown us that it is important to stand up for your deeply-held values.  I think there is an element that is tired of being told what to do; no, parents should not sit down and shut up regarding their kids' education.  People do not want to be told what to do regarding health decisions.  And, they don't want to be told they are incorrect or ignorant for standing up for traditional marriage and the rights of the unborn.  Perhaps these attitudes will provide a precursor for spiritual renewal in our nation.

Vote

The book of Proverbs, in the 29th chapter, offers strong evidence for people of faith to be involved in our system of governance, which in America, is predicated on that unique concept in the first three words of the Constitution, "We the People." We can read this in Proverbs:
2 When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan.

And, two verses later, we see:

4 The king establishes the land by justice, But he who receives bribes overthrows it.

The first Tuesday of November is regarded as Election Day, although there are numerous days throughout a given year when voters will go to the polls.  This year's Election Day is headlined by the Virginia contest between former governor Terry McAuliffe and businessman Glenn Youngkin.  In what is seen as a so-called "purple" state, this race is being seen as an indicator of where Americans might land nationally from a political perspective.

In whatever sphere we operate as Christians, ideally our faith should drive our views; I believe our political choices should be driven by Biblical principles. Generally, churches do not endorse candidates, although there has been a move afoot for several years to remove any government restrictions on that practice, which was tested recently when a high-profile federal official sent a video to Virginia churches endorsing one of the candidates - there was bi-partisan criticism of that move.

And, we should always be concerned with the integrity of the vote. That is why a number of states, on the heels of the 2020 election, which, due to coronavirus, featured a number of new and not necessarily wise practices, such as mail-in voting, some forms of early voting, and other measures that served to call the integrity of the election into question, implemented new election laws. While control over electoral processes ideally should be implemented on the state and local level, when officials seemingly engage in corrupt practices, states should take measures to preserve integrity...

...not the federal government. That is why states have attempted to strengthen voter ID and other commonsense measures. Two organizations that I have featured on my program: My Faith Votes and the Susan B. Anthony List, of which Life Issues is a part, have been involved in making sure there is integrity in the electoral process.  My Faith Votes launched Election Integrity Now and the SBA List is part of the Election Transparency Initiative, in order to restore trust in our election systems.

In a statement, My Faith Votes CEO Jason Yates explained the reasoning behind its efforts: "The 2020 elections revealed genuine concerns in the election process that could threaten election integrity and the very foundation of our Constitutional Republic. Yet, even more dangerous than election fraud is that many Christians have lost confidence in the election system. This belief drives apathy among believers and leads Christians once again to sit on the sidelines of the civic process," adding, "At My Faith Votes, we believe in the possibility of secure elections and high voter participation, and we reject the media’s narrative that we cannot do both. Now is the time to get more involved, not to retreat. We must roll up our sleeves and take action to put in place election safeguards at the county and state levels and stand against dangerous federal overreaches in our election process."

Since the launch of Election Integrity Now, at ElectionIntegrityNow.org, there have been three attempts in Congress to vote on measures that would implement new federal controls over elections; so far, all three have failed.  

Commenting on the most recent federal election bill, former Virginia Attorney General and National Chairman of the Election Transparency Initiative, Ken Cuccinelli, stated that it, among other things, "...would subject citizens who contribute to nonprofit organizations to harassment and intimidation by making their personal information available in a government-controlled data base, and through an expansion of the definition of 'electioneering communications,' it would subject virtually all issue-related ads to burdensome disclaimer requirements even if unrelated to a candidate for elected office." Cuccinelli echoed a familiar theme in this season of election reform, "It should be easy to vote and hard to cheat in our elections."

Our voting practices should ideally be a matter of prayer - My Faith Votes issued an Election Integrity Prayer Guide, and introduced it on the Election Integrity Now website, saying:

The most powerful tool we have is the power of prayer. The great American experiment of freedom has beat the odds and endured for more than 200 years. But we know, as President Ronald Reagan said, freedom is not passed on “to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected and handed on for them to do the same.”

The election process is the means by which freedom is preserved. Pray faithfully for this system to remain lawful, fair, and free in America.

While there is not a statewide election in Alabama this year, you can certainly prepare for next year, where the entire Alabama Legislature will be up for re-election. There is a major U.S. Senate race in the state, as well.  Furthermore, the whole U.S. House of Representatives will be up for re-election. Last week, a special session of the Legislature began, devoted to setting the district lines for future state and Congressional elections.  You can make sure that you are registered to vote and engaged in the process. As a person committed to truth, you may even want to make sure that you enlist in assisting as an election volunteer.

Finally, as I have been encouraging, you may even want to consider running for office.  Maybe there is a school board or county commission seat, or municipal office for which an election is being held.  We should be concerned with and motivated to bring our Christian values to the public square.  We can advance the Kingdom of God through our involvement in our governing bodies.