Shift

Through the direction of Scripture and the power of the Holy Spirit, we can be equipped to speak the truth of God with boldness, proclaiming Jesus to a world that needs to know Him. 2nd Corinthians chapter 3 says:
5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God,
6 who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
7 But if the ministry of death, written and engraved on stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of the glory of his countenance, which glory was passing away,
8 how will the ministry of the Spirit not be more glorious?

In verse 12, Paul writes, "Therefore, since we have such hope, we use great boldness of speech..."

In the face of bold declarations from those who do not hold to a Christian worldview, it is important that we are convinced within our own hearts that the Bible is true, the Holy Spirit is real, and that our message is compelling, in order that hearts might be changed.  This is not a time in history where the Church retreats into its enclaves and buildings, thinking about the way things once were - it is now a time to move forward in confidence that God is with us and that Jesus is the answer to the challenges of the culture.

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In the closing words of the book of Acts, we see the apostle Paul boldly declaring the truth of Scripture and providing a template for our actions. We can read in Acts 28:
28 "Therefore let it be known to you that the salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will hear it!"
29 And when he had said these words, the Jews departed and had a great dispute among themselves.
30 Then Paul dwelt two whole years in his own rented house, and received all who came to him,
31 preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, no one forbidding him.

Because we have been born again, we have been empowered by the Spirit of God to proclaim the truth of Scripture. And, with Pastor and Staff Appreciation Month approaching, we can affirm and pray for the calling that those who stand in the pulpit have in order to dramatically impact the spiritual state of our nation - what an incredible and weighty responsibility!

A recent pastors' conference, or summit, highlighted this power.  It occurred in San Diego, and according to Breitbart, one pastor said in response to the event, "Only the pulpits have the power to change America...” According to the event website, speakers included David Barton, William Federer, Victor Marx, Rob McCoy, Raul Ries, Frank Turek, and Nic Vujicic. 

More than 500 people attended the event, which was sponsored by Turning Point USA Faith.  This is not to be confused with David Jeremiah's ministry, Turning Point.

Charlie Kirk leads the organization known as TPUSA for short, and said this, according to that article: "There remains one institution in America that the radical left doesn’t control, and that is the American Church,” adding, “The Church is the last firewall to freedom.” 

Now, I don't regard Kirk to necessarily be a theologian, but he has surrounded himself with some quality pastors and church leaders who are dedicated to seeing God move in our nation.  He has appeared on James Dobson's radio program and will be speaking at a conference at Jack Hibbs' church along with Jan Markell this fall.  He was also a speaker at this year's National Religious Broadcasters convention. 

Kirk went on to say, “But there are three types of churches in America today: the courageous, the cowardly, and the complicit, and this final category is growing fast...TPUSA Faith wants to raise up a whole new generation of trained, equipped, and action-oriented pastors and church leaders who want to get involved in the public square.”  

The article quoted from California pastor Shane Idleman of Westside Christian Fellowship, who, "recalled a moment in which a speaker told the audience, 'This group can change the nation.'" He went on to say, “I immediately thought about the possibilities, because when God calls a person, God can do incredible things through one person,” adding, “Our calling is to preach the unadulterated word of God, and awaken a spiritually dead church.”

Idleman wrote a piece at The Stream website, in which he elaborated on some ideas he had in the aftermath of the Pastors' Summit. He writes, and I agree:

Sadly, many leaders are uncertain about speaking on topics they deem political. “I only preach the gospel,” they say. They fail to realize that the gospel affects all areas of life — from the unborn to our borders, and from LGBTQ+ issues, socialism, sex trafficking, wokeness, even war and peace. The gospel changes the heart, which in return, changes the nation.

Additionally, when pastors lack boldness about hot-button topics, it affects all areas of preaching. As a result, the “gospel” they preach is often a watered-down, non-offending, powerless message. If we lack the boldness to preach on the outworking of the gospel in our society, we soon will also quail at telling people the difficult truths of salvation, from repentance to judgment.

Pastor Idleman notes:

Truly changing this nation must first begin in our hearts. Spiritual awakenings often start with thunder in the pulpit. We must follow Isaiah’s lead and raise our voice like a trumpet (58:1) — calling people to awake and arise (60:1)!

We must confront issues that are destroying families, harming children, and setting us up for tremendous failure. Don’t be shamed into silence! Remember that the “light of the world” must shine in all areas of life, not just flicker within the four walls of the church.

We can change our nation, but it first must begin with the fire, anointing, and unction of the Spirit in our pulpits. We need the thunder of the Spirit before the rain of revival can fall again.

Now is not a time for silence.  And, as it's been pointed out, some are intimidated because they think they should not be speaking about issues that are deemed to be "political."  Political involvement is a currency through which cultural change can take place - it's not exclusive in that role, but it can be a way for things to get done, and Christians should not turn away from using this opportunity.

But, the change of hearts through the redemptive work of the Church is the main avenue through which we can see a culture transformed.  We have to depend on the work of the Holy Spirit in our hearts to shift our thinking and to direct our engagement.  We have to have confidence in the Word and the boldness of the Spirit, so that the Kingdom of God will advance.  Through the salvation of souls, we can see that alteration of thinking - the renewal of minds to the mind of Christ.

Forgiven?

We have been given the capacity to be compassionate toward those who have sinned against us. Rather than be caught up in a spirit of bitterness or anger, we can respond with a charitable heart. Luke chapter 17 states:
3 Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him.
4 And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, 'I repent,' you shall forgive him."
5 And the apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith."

The element here is choice.  Jesus willingly gave His life on a cross, submitting to death so that we might be forgiven of our sins.  Because of our sin, we deserved to die - and we were incapable of paying that penalty. But, Jesus became our substitute, qualified to do so because He, as the Son of God, was sinless.  The power of forgiveness can wipe the slate clean and restore relationships - we can overcome our past sins, mistakes, and failures, and walk in confidence in God's love.

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There is a relevant story in Matthew chapter 18 as Jesus illustrated principles surrounding forgiveness.  He is teaching us that we should be willing to forgive others because He has forgiven us. He taught:
23 Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.
24 And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents.
25 But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made.
26 The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, 'Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.'
27 Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt.
28 But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, 'Pay me what you owe!'
29 So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.'
30 And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt.
31 So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done.

The White House has announced its student loan forgiveness plan, which, according to The Daily Citizen, in which...

...the Federal government will be forgiving $10,000 in student loans for borrowers earning less than $125,000 annually – or for couples making up to $250,000. The plan will also continue the pause on repaying student loan debt through December 31, 2022, for “one final time.”

The administration also announced that the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) would provide up to $20,000 in debt cancellation to Pell Grant recipients.

An important note here: "The plan comes after elected officials on Capitol Hill have been debating for months over whether the executive branch has the authority to unilaterally cancel student loan debt."

Jason Yates, CEO of My Faith Votes, in a statement, said: "By accepting government-funded student loan ‘forgiveness,’ we are creating a society that doesn't value hard work or take personal responsibility. The Bible repeatedly admonishes this attitude, calling it lazy and foolish. Following this debt ‘relief’ trend to its inevitable conclusion, the American people will be burdened with heavier taxes, unbearable inflation and an early economic grave.”

One could say that the timing of this announcement is rather dubious, just over two months before a critical mid-term election.

The Washington Stand, the news website of Family Research Council, stated:

Claremont Institute Lincoln Fellow and Daily Wire reporter Megan Basham responded by tweeting two Bible verses:

• “The wicked borrows and does not pay back” (Psalm 37:21); and
• “It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay” (Ecclesiastes 5:5).

She could have cited a seemingly endless array of scriptures commanding believers to uphold contracts and keep our word.

The article noted seven areas of concern in which the plan is "immoral," including the first: "It incentivizes the bad behavior of borrowers."  It also reinforces bad behavior of college administrators and the government.  Ben Johnson, the writer of the article, also contends that the plan, "creates a system of false measures." He states, "Opposition to false weights and measures runs throughout the Bible." and relates, “Diverse weights are an abomination to the Lord, and dishonest scales are not good,” the Lord declares (Proverbs 20:23). He says that, "loan forgiveness baptizes students who defaulted on their loans in taxpayers’ money, washes away their fiscal transgressions, and transfigures them into creditworthy borrowers — while leaving the banks who will sign off on those loans none the wiser."

Of course, I recognize that many former college students today are struggling to pay off the debts of college. And, many have worked hard to pay for college, fallen short and taken out a loan, and have worked hard to pay the loan off.  Those are people who are chafed at not receiving this financial blessing.

And, isn't forgiveness, even forgiveness of debt, a Biblical concept?  I have seen comments on social media that liken President Biden's forgiving of financial debts with Jesus forgiving our sins.  Writing at The Federalist, Kylee Griswold offers this nugget:

For the federal government, there’s really no such thing as debt “cancellation,” just redistribution. Loans don’t just evaporate; somebody has to pay for them. In this case, that somebody is you, and the price tag is hundreds of billions of dollars, maybe upwards of a trillion.

Thus Biden’s plan could more accurately be described as welfare for the college-educated at the expense of taxpayers who either didn’t indulge in higher education or who already paid their debts. Where exactly is the biblical justification for this?

She goes on to write:

The Gospel isn’t “literally based on forgiving debts.” On the contrary, it’s actually based on the fact that those debts have been completely paid.

Theologians call it “penal substitutionary atonement,” but it describes a simple enough message that even children can understand: Because of our sin we are debtors to holy God. The payment for that debt is eternal death, a recompense we cannot possibly satisfy in our lives. But God’s divine forgiveness does not occur at the expense of divine justice, meaning a just God cannot and will not “cancel” sin without a payment being made for it.

Tom Gilson of The Stream writes:

In sum: The one worldview that teaches the possibility of complete forgiveness before God also teaches that it would be impossible without God Himself bearing the pain of it.

This is the way of all forgiveness: You can’t call it forgiveness when you’re shoving the pain of it off onto someone else. Someone’s got to bear the pain...

Samuel Sey of the Slow to Write blog, states:

We Christians, however, should understand justice. We should understand that debt is a matter of justice. We should know that like every justice issue, the Bible has addressed Christian ethics on (student) debt.

Therefore one of the reasons why we Christians shouldn’t support student loan forgiveness is because it promotes wickedness. The Bible says, “the wicked borrows but does not pay back.” (Psalm 37:21)

Joe Biden’s plan will force many Americans into sin. This will force many Americans into disobeying God’s explicit commandments about debt. (Romans 13: 7-8)

Another reason why Christians shouldn’t support student loan forgiveness is because it’s partiality. Biden’s plan would only apply to individuals who earn less than $125,000 a year.

This is an example of a debate that did not have to happen, but now that it is happening, we can attempt to view the whole landscape of higher education through a Biblical lens.  Fact is, the high cost of college tuition, compounded with the availability of student loans, has created an unsustainable scenario.  But, there are alternatives: families can save for college in advance, using a tool known as the 529 college savings plan.  Or, what about scholarships - those come in all shapes and sizes: some are achievement-based, others are affiliated with various organizations.  If a student is entering a chosen profession, as an upcoming guest will highlight, he or she could find a school that offers a program that is tailored toward learning those skills. It's all a matter of developing a sense of God's call upon a person's life. 

And, as people attempt to view this issue spiritually, there will be those that talk about the Biblical concept of forgiveness in the same breath as loan forgiveness.  And, we do see instances in the Bible of debts being forgiven and these are used as positive examples. I think that a key element is choice - if the holder of the debt chooses to forgive it in order to show compassion toward the debtor, that is his or her prerogative.  However, in the White House case, as I understand it, the government is choosing to use money that is not its own in order to pay off debts.  There's a big difference.  We owed a sin debt, Jesus forgave it and removed it, but He is the one who paid the price - the debt was owed to God, and God Himself chose to forgive; the price was the life of His Son.  We can be thankful that He loved us so much that He chose to lay down His life - praise His name!

A Force for Good

The Scriptures define for us what is good and what is evil, and show us how to walk in that way of goodness. In a world that wants to redefine those terms and even describe the Bible and Christianity as harmful, we can seek to radiate God's goodness. Psalm 31 states:
19 Oh, how great is Your goodness, Which You have laid up for those who fear You, Which You have prepared for those who trust in You In the presence of the sons of men!
20 You shall hide them in the secret place of Your presence From the plots of man; You shall keep them secretly in a pavilion From the strife of tongues.
21 Blessed be the Lord, For He has shown me His marvelous kindness in a strong city!

The Bible teaches moral absolutes, which contrasts with a world that promotes moral relativism. We have to rely on God's wisdom to show us what is truly good, and to depend on God to release His goodness in our lives through Christ.  But, no one can produce this true goodness in and of themselves; the Bible tells us none is righteous. We are responsible to follow Christ and point people to the One who is truly good, who wants us to know and experience Him. 

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In a world that is rushing headlong to destruction, we can find a sense of goodness in the presence of Almighty God. The book of Nahum, chapter 1, contains these words:
5 The mountains quake before Him, The hills melt, And the earth heaves at His presence, Yes, the world and all who dwell in it.
6 Who can stand before His indignation? And who can endure the fierceness of His anger? His fury is poured out like fire, And the rocks are thrown down by Him.
7 The Lord is good, A stronghold in the day of trouble; And He knows those who trust in Him.
8 But with an overflowing flood He will make an utter end of its place, And darkness will pursue His enemies.

A professor from Canada has attracted quite a following, and recently, he had some words of challenge to the Church.  That professor would be one Jordan Peterson.  The Daily Citizen website of Focus on the Family noted recently:

Even though Peterson has publicly denied his atheism and philosophical materialism, he has not declared kinship with any traditional faith, be it Christian or otherwise. But he has certainly shown an inordinate interest in some of the deepest things Christian and that is certainly worth watching.

Peterson, not too long ago, released a 10-minute video called, Message to the Christian Churches.  He speaks to the issue of men being involved with the Church.  The article says: 

Today’s man belongs in Church and this video is a powerful and passionate call for all churches in every community to put out a man-sized welcome mat to each and every one. In fact, Jordan Peterson says every church should put out a billboard (literally) in their community welcoming every man to find a home there.

“Invite the young men back” Peterson tells all pastors with his trademark moral gusto. He adds, “Say literally, to those young men, ‘You are welcome here. If no one else wants what you have to offer, we do.’”

Here is a portion of the appeal, in Peterson's own words:

The Christian Church is there to remind people, young men included, perhaps even first and foremost, that…

They have a woman to find.

A garden to walk in.

A family to nurture.

An ark to build.

A land to conquer.

A ladder to heaven to build.

And the utter, terrible catastrophe of life to face, stalwartly, in truth, devoted to love and without fear.

Perhaps a health crisis in the life of Peterson's wife has pushed him closer to the Christian faith.  That seems to be the point of an article at the God Reports website that was released not too long ago. The article opens up this way:

Mom’s rare form of cancer offered a bleak 0% survival rate, but she declared to her husband – mystically – “I’ll be better by our anniversary.”

Daughter Mikhaila Peterson dismissed the proclamation as “spooky weird.” But when Mom recovered a month later on the day of her anniversary, Mikhaila “couldn’t logic my way out of that.”

“How did you get better?” she asked Mom.

“God,” was her cryptic reply.

Mikhaila is now a professing Christian, according to God Reports, with her mother's close call with death being what the article calls a "critical factor" in her conversion.  Here's what occurred after that encounter I described earlier:

Mikhaila didn’t immediately become a Christian.

She was going through a painful divorce, and other things in her life were not good.

She opened up to a friend, who encouraged her to pray.

“Just ask God to reveal himself to you,” the friend told her.

She did. Things turned around in her life.

“There were like four parts of my life that were heading in a bad direction,” she relates. “They all kind of turned to head in a better direction.”

She took this to be the proof she was seeking from God. She now identifies as a Christian.

“I’m mostly just reading the Bible a lot, multiple times and trying to understand as much as I can,” she says.

Note the progression in Jordan Peterson's life: from atheism to at least an affinity for Christianity. And, a crisis may have been a catalyst in the process.  Certainly, it appears that God is at work in this family's life, and can be a reminder to us of these Bible's message and the goodness and hope that it can bring.  Peterson certainly related that sense of goodness in that passage I shared earlier.

Jordan Peterson is known as a philosopher, an intellectual, an insightful person.  He is eligible, like any other intellectual to be a follower of Christ.  There are those that claim faith and reason are incompatible.  Jesus taught we are to love the Lord with our minds.  But, worldly reason, humanistic wisdom are certainly at odds with the gospel, so we have to make sure that our mental energy is consumed by a passion to know God better.

Catching Faith

It is beneficial for us as believers in Christ to be reminded of who He is and what He has done for us. In Deuteronomy chapter 6, we can read, regarding the words of God:
8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.
9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
10 "So it shall be, when the Lord your God brings you into the land of which He swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give you large and beautiful cities which you did not build,
11 houses full of all good things, which you did not fill, hewn-out wells which you did not dig, vineyards and olive trees which you did not plant--when you have eaten and are full--
12 then beware, lest you forget the Lord who brought you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.

There, in verse 12, we are warned not to forget the Lord and what He had done in bringing them out of Egypt.  But, they were forgetful, and much of the Old Testament illustrates for us a God who is reaching out to His chosen people who had forgotten Him.  So, we need reminders, which can come in various forms, so that we can stay true to the Lord, so we don't get caught up in our own selfish motives and ways.  

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We are directed in Scripture to be clothed with Christ, with the presence of God, and we have to watch what we wear, spiritually speaking. In Ephesians 4, we can see these words:
21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus:
22 that you 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.

We are closing in on September, which truly is one of the great sports months of the year - the beginning of college and professional football, preparation for the NBA exhibition season, and this weekend marks the final race in the "regular" NASCAR season.

NASCAR returns to Talladega the first weekend of October.  The Cup race is on October 2, and there is also a race on Saturday, the 1st.  A pastor and guest from the Faith Radio area could be in attendance that day, thanks to Energize Ministries.  On Tuesday, September 6, the day after Labor Day, a portal will open on our website at FaithRadio.org.  You can nominate your pastor to receive a special day at Talladega or if you're a pastor, you can actually sign up yourself.  Just tell us why this would be a special day for your pastor or yourself.

Also, in the sporting world, you have the pennant races for Major League Baseball.

This year, MLB's post-season has expanded, with an extra wild-card spot generating more enthusiasm for teams that may have been out of the mix in past years.  And, the defending world champion Atlanta Braves are in the running again this year, positioned in 2nd place in their division, a game-and-a-half behind the New York Mets.  The Braves, Mets, Dodgers, Astros, and Yankees have all exceeded the 75-win mark, with Los Angeles, Houston, and now the New York Mets reaching the 80-win threshold.  

Meanwhile, the Kansas City Royals is a team that has now reached 75...losses.  But, from a faith perspective, there is a bright spot in the lineup.  

The Christian Post recently highlighted a pitcher for the Royals named Luke Weaver.  His record isn't the greatest, but his source of inspiration is matchless.  The article states:

Kansas City Royals pitcher Luke Weaver is catching the attention of Christian baseball fans for sharing his faith on the field by wearing a self-designed glove called the “Bible Glove” that features three Bible verses and other biblical symbols.

“It’s just a way where I want to be able to show the world that in the midst of that battle and the competition and the personality and expression, this is what I choose to do,” the 28-year-old right-hander told Sports Spectrum about the glove, which looks like the binding of an old leather Bible.

The article features a description of the verses and symbols on the glove, relating:

The glove, made by the company Aria, features a cross, a crown of thorns, the phrase “His Glory,” and three Bible verses: Philippians 4:13, which reads, “I can do all this through him who gives me strength;” Matthew 19:26, which states, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible;” and 1 Corinthians 16:13, which reads, “Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.”

Luke Weaver says: “In doing this, I hope more kids can wear a glove like I’m wearing and to wear it in their travel ball and their Little Leagues and their high schools and their colleges, to one day just be like, ‘Hey, I’m using a glove that helps me play this game, but I’m also expressing who I am, and I love every second of it...'"

Weaver is a former first-round draft pick in 2014 by the St. Louis Cardinals out of Florida State. He was traded to Arizona in 2018, and was just traded to the Royals at the beginning of this month.

In a YouTube video promoting the glove, Weaver says, according to CBN.com: "The Bible glove takes it to another level," adding, "I'm out there wearing it with me. I can feel His presence. There is Scripture in it, but it just feels like a whole other level. It feels like I'm out there ready to defend against any type of thoughts that come to try to destroy me out there—like my weapon is the Bible. It's not going to back down."

The CBN article notes that Weaver said:

"I want to make sure I'm using my time and energy, both verbally and nonverbally, to impact people for eternal purposes," he wrote for The Increase. "I want to use my career in baseball to impact a generation with the Gospel message."

I submit that we need reminders.  The Old Testament has plenty of examples where the people of God were reminded of God's presence.  Even the feasts that were observed taught them about the presence and ways of God. I don't think that Luke Weaver is being superstitious, he is just wearing a reminder of his faith in Christ.

Of course, the greatest reminder of all, you could say, is the preeminence of the Word of God in our consciousness.  We can be motivated to hide God's Word in our hearts, as Psalm 119 talks about. 

Luke Weaver wears a physical glove to remind him of God's presence. We have spiritual gear available to "put on," as well.  Paul writes in Ephesians 6 about the "full armor of God." The 4th chapter of Ephesians tells us to put on the new man and put off the old. Romans 13 tells us to "put on the Lord Jesus Christ."  We have to make sure that we are appropriately and effectively dressed for battle.

Today's Idols

As I will share on The Meeting House, the top-ranked "modern-day idol" in a recent survey of pastors is comfort.  In other words, I would interpret that to mean that for some, the search for comfort supersedes the search for God. 2nd Corinthians 1 states:
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,
4 who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ.

Certainly, people are drawn to "the good life."  Worldly wealth, a care-free life, a perfect family with 2.3 perfect children.  We want things to go our way all the time.  And, the lesson of the last three years is that there will be disruptions in our lives; that has cause, it seems, a sense of unrest in the hearts and minds of people.  Fact is, the comfort we are seeking in the world is a mirage.  God doesn't offer us comfort in the worldly sense, but He does comfort us internally when the externals are spinning out of control.

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As Moses delivered what we know as the 10 Commandments, we see a strong upholding of the exclusivity of God in our lives, as well as a denunciation of idols. In Exodus 20, we can find these words:
2 "I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
3 You shall have no other gods before Me.
4 "You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth;
5 you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me,
6 but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.

Interestingly enough, Moses descended the mountain from having received these commandments nnd observed that the people of Israel were found to be worshiping an idol - a golden calf.  

But, idols can come in different forms and fashion, and a new Lifeway Research survey shows which ones respondents gravitated toward.  The question was posed to American Protestant pastors, "What modern-day idols have significant influence in U.S. churches?"

The top five answers were given by almost 50% or above of those who were surveyed.  Success weighed in at 49%, at number 5.  Number 4: approval, at 51%.  The number 3 answer was money, mentioned by 55% of respondents.  At number 2, it was control or security, at 56%.  And, the top answer, related by 67% of survey participants: comfort.

Also, according to the survey summary, social influence was close behind success, at 46%. The summary stated, "Nearly 2 in 5 say political power (39%) is an idol their congregants face, and nearly 1 in 3 say sex or romantic love (32%)."

Lifeway Research Executive Director Scott McConnell states: "In many ways, the top three idols pastors recognize in their churches are related. Comfort and security draw the hearts of the most congregations, but they are often enabled by the pursuit of more money,” adding, “Pastors of higher socioeconomic levels are quicker to recognize the influence of security and control while pastors of lower socioeconomic levels more readily see the draw of comforts.”

Not only was comfort mentioned by the largest number of pastors, but the largest percentage of pastors believe it had the most influence on congregations today, with 30% indicating that.  20% of pastors said control or security were the most influential, and 13% said money.

Larger churches tended to reflect a desire for social influence, while among churches with younger pastors, control or security, followed by political power, were the most commonly mentioned.

The Bible does not promise a life in which we are always comfortable, but Paul describes God as the "God of all comfort" in 2nd Corinthians chapter 1.  Is that a paradox?  Not at all - we can seek out the life of what has been called, "ease, comfort, and pleasure," and find it does not satisfy: it becomes an idol to us.  But, if we shift our focus to the abundant life in Christ, we can experience a sense of His satisfaction and our emphasis will be on the right things.

The issue of control and/or power also arises here - another high-ranking idol.  We can consider this: To whom are we looking to control our lives?  We can become so desirous for control that we attempt not only to seize the authority over our lives away from our Savior, but we can attempt to subject others to our perceived control.  We have to make sure that we are not seeking to wield undue control over other people, even through political or social control.  You may get a rush from being able to make someone else do what you want them to do, but the motivation is wrong.  The Bible instructs us to humble ourselves - before God and others, so that we can display His presence.

Who Writes Your Story?

I would imagine that many are quite familiar with 2nd Timothy chapter 1, verse 7 - but the following verses address our boldness in Christ. We can read these words in that chapter:
7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God,
9 who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began,
10 but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,
11 to which I was appointed a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.

Today on The Meeting House, you will hear stories of people who have exhibited confidence in their lives, a confidence that is rooted in their relationship with Jesus Christ.  We can allow other people or the world to define us and begin to think less of ourselves than God intends.  Or we can allow Him to give us confidence - in our salvation and what it means, as well as how our Savior desires for us to live. He has given us a testimony and the boldness to share it. 

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Everybody's got a story, right? And, we have to make sure that we are crafting a story that brings honor to God and is a testimony to His faithfulness. We find an incident in the book of Luke chapter 8 that portrays a man who has been set free and how he responded:
36 They also who had seen it told them by what means he who had been demon-possessed was healed.
37 Then the whole multitude of the surrounding region of the Gadarenes asked Him to depart from them, for they were seized with great fear. And He got into the boat and returned.
38 Now the man from whom the demons had departed begged Him that he might be with Him. But Jesus sent him away, saying,
39 "Return to your own house, and tell what great things God has done for you." And he went his way and proclaimed throughout the whole city what great things Jesus had done for him.

I would imagine it seemed like a good idea at the time - take a famous Broadway musical, stage it at a church, add some Christian lyrics, and viola - it's an effective outreach.

Except the presentation had some trouble making it out of the starting blocks.  After the first performance, the Door Christian Fellowship Ministries received a notice directing it to refrain any future presentations of the musical, Hamilton, according to The Christian Post. 

The article says that, "In a statement..., the team behind the musical said it "does not grant amateur or professional licenses for any stage productions and did not grant one to The Door Church."  The team stated:

"On Saturday, August 6, we were made aware of the unauthorized staging of HAMILTON by The Door Church in McAllen, TX that took place on Friday, August 5, and their plans for additional performances," the team continued.

"We issued a cease and desist letter for the unauthorized use of Hamilton's intellectual property, demanding the immediate removal of all videos and images from previous productions from the internet, including YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, their own website, and elsewhere."

But, at least someone at the church believed there was some sort of "license" to perform the revised musical, or told the pastor that one existed; the Post reported, "Senior Pastor Ramon Gutierrez said during a Sunday service that the church received a 'license' to perform the play. However, the team behind the play assured that licenses for the musical were not made available. Gutierrez acknowledged that the church was contacted by a lawyer from the 'Hamilton' team and instructed to remove the videos online."  He did say that they complied, and the attorney allowed them to go through with the Saturday performance.  No recording was allowed.

And, some changes were made by the church - and I would have hoped the language in the musical was cleaned up. The New York Times reported that "most" of the profanity was removed. The Christian Post story said:

A video of the performance posted online shows that the church made script changes to include references to Jesus Christ. According to video posted to social media, Hamilton is asked to pray and receive Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior.

According to My San Antonio, Pastor Victor Lopez made an alter call after the play concluded in which he allegedly said that "maybe you struggle with alcohol, with drugs, with homosexuality, maybe you struggle with other things in life, your finances, whatever, God can help you tonight. He wants to forgive you for your sins."

Looks like the blogger known as the "Friendly Atheist" was loading clips to social media.  CBSNews.com reported:

Podcaster and author Hemant Mehta was the first to tweet video clips of the performance, which showed altered lyrics in one of the musical's original numbers, "The World Was Wide Enough."

In the original version of the song, the actor portraying Alexander Hamilton sings: "What is a legacy? It's planting seeds in a garden you never get to see. I wrote some notes at the beginning of a song someone will sing for me."

In the video snippet Mehta posted, however, Door McAllen changed the lyrics in its performance to: "What is a legacy? It's knowing that you repented and accepted the gospel of Jesus Christ that sets men free. You sent your sinless son of man on Calvary to die for me!"

The New York Times also quoted from Mehta, who also highlighted changes made in the songs, "Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story," and "That Would Be Enough."

But did Hamilton embrace Christianity?  Was Jesus indeed, as the "revised" version of the play the Savior of his life?  A God Reports article provides some evidence, including examples from the book, Alexander Hamilton, by Ron Chernow, that inspired the musical. Chernow wrote, "Hamilton thought Christianity formed the basis of all law and morality ..."  The article continues:

In 1802, Alexander and his wife, Eliza, purchased a country home they called The Grange, which allowed Hamilton to spend more time with his children. On Sunday mornings they gathered in the garden to sing hymns and Hamilton read the Bible aloud to his family. He also spoke to his wife about his desire to build a chapel on the property.

“It is striking how religion preoccupied Hamilton during his final years,” Chernow noted in his book.

Following his duel with rival Aaron Burr, in which he was mortally wounded, Hamilton reached out to the clergy:

On his deathbed, Hamilton asked to receive communion from Rev. Benjamin Moore, the rector of Trinity Church, the Episcopal bishop of New York, and the president of Columbia College. Shockingly, Rev. Moore refused, because he hated the practice of dueling and because Hamilton had not been a regular churchgoer.

In misery and despair, Hamilton turned to a friend, Rev. John M. Mason, the pastor of Scotch Presbyterian Church. Astonishingly, he also declined the request, saying his church had a principle “never to administer the Lord’s Supper privately to any person under any circumstances.”

Then Dr. Mason explained that the Lord’s Supper is not a requirement for salvation and he clearly communicated God’s plan of salvation to the dying man. Hamilton said he had not requested the Lord’s Supper as a means of obtaining heaven, and then testified:

“I am a sinner. I have a tender reliance on the mercy of the Almighty, through the merits of the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Interestingly enough, while the author of the Hamilton bio included elements of his religious faith, that seems to have been largely edited out of the musical.  So, who's actually guilty of revising the script?  Just a thought.

I do want to think about this question, who writes your story?  That's based on the title of one of the songs in the musical, in which the late Hamilton's wife, Eliza, reflects on her devotion to her husband and his work and legacy.  She is intent on controlling the narrative and carrying out the things he believed in.   We have to careful to control our own narrative, by giving people something to talk about, by leaving a legacy of faith and trustworthiness.  And, the central "act" of our personal story has to do with our allowing Jesus to come into our lives.

And, just an aside - a church doesn't have the right to use copyrighted material just because it thinks it ought to. That goes for song lyrics and for showing movies.  There are licenses, and those ensure that the people who contributed get the proper payment for their creative products.  We have to make sure we're not sloppy in doing the work of the Lord and make sure we are following the proper guidelines.  

Yellow and Black

Wherever we go, we can possess a sense of calling and purpose, knowing that the Lord walks with us and empowers us by His Spirit. 1st John 4 states:
13 By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit.
14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world.
15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.
16 And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.

At Christmas time, we think about the name, Emmanuel, which means "God With Us."  When we consider His abiding presence and our ability to know and follow Him, we can have a sense of anticipation of what He will do.  We can depend on Him in order to act properly, and to speak in a manner that influences people to come to Him.  We belong to Jesus, and we can reflect His presence with us each day.

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We can be encouraged by the thought of Jesus being with us - we have been born again and we now have the Holy Spirit who lives in our hearts. So, where we go, He goes. Jesus said in John 14:
15 "If you love Me, keep My commandments.
16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever--
17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.

I came across a Twitter thread recently that painted a wonderful picture of an American landmark.  The writer said this; maybe it sounds familiar:

Two eggs, over medium; bacon, hash browns covered, smothered, and covered; one waffle with butter and maple syrup; and a cup of black coffee. That has been my standing order for decades and there’s been no need to get any more ambitious than that.

The symphony of yellow and black that has greeted diners for years has also been a place where special meetings occurred, according to this writer, whose handle is Canon Theologian of the Bible Belt:

It doesn’t matter what you’ve done or where you’ve come from, you are welcome here. Straight-laced or strung out, drunk or sober or in that fuzzy place in between. In blue jeans, a business suit, or pajamas. No one is turned away.

Waffle House may not be a church, but I know several people who have met God there. And many of our churches could stand to learn a few things about open arms, hot meals, and second chances from this wild, wayside diner.

In response to this thread, Terry Mattingly of On Religion posted a link to his own story from five years ago.  In that piece, he told the story of a minister in North Alabama.  Mattingly stated:

The Rev. Gary Liederbach is a Waffle House regular in Madison, Ala., where he leads the One Direction Community, a circle of house churches, community meals and kid's groups targeting people who may not feel comfortable in regular churches. He's an ordained United Methodist minister, but doesn't wear that on his sleeve when using the Waffle House as his unofficial office.

Once, an incident took place involving a man who had temporarily left the restaurant to go outside and smoke.  When he returned, he lit into the pastor with a series of profanities.  That outburst was met by a counter-profane rant by two waitresses.  Mattingly points out that:

Waffle House is a great place to listen to blue-collar people, said Liederbach. He recommends the bar, which means sitting elbow-to-elbow. That's where "you're gonna get pushed to talk about real stuff," he said. Folks in booths usually want to be left alone.

Still, he said, lots of people are listening and paying attention.

"You have to just hang out at first, without saying much. … After a year or so, you're real. You're part of the crowd," he said. "But you hear everything at the Waffle House. That's where the stories are. … You hear people asking, 'What's going on? What's your story?' You see who tips the waitress an extra $10 if they know her family is struggling."

Even the man who verbally attacked the pastor later asked for prayer for prostate cancer; seems he was suffering from what appears to be PTSD, and after returning from Vietnam, "he stopped going to church, sure that God could never forgive him," according to the article.  Apparently, not long after that previous encounter, the man's son was killed.  As Mattingly puts it:

The family has no pastor and cannot afford a funeral. Would Liederbach come to the house and say a few words over the body of his dead son?

Lots of Waffle House regulars have "real religious questions and real needs. But they're terrified of being judged," said Liederbach. "Their lives are often pretty unstable. They lose jobs a lot and their families get pretty messed up. … It took me a long time to realize that the Waffle House is their church."

Church doesn't always have a steeple, maybe not even its own building.  Sometimes church can happen in a most unlikely place.  Maybe that's not unlikely at all.  Because where there are needs, there is Jesus.  We know that wherever we are, Jesus, because He lives in our hearts, is there as well.

Certainly Waffle House is not just for the down and out, but we can certainly be sensitive to who walks among us.  We cannot be insulated from human pain, and we can open ourselves up to allow God to speak and love through us.  And, He just might put us in the right place in order to be a conduit of hope for those who do not possess it.

Brothers in Two Ways

These are urgent times, and there are signs around us that the Lord will come soon to take His Church from this earth. That urgency can be reflected in our willingness to be faithful to do the work of the Lord. 2nd Peter chapter 3 says:
9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.
11 Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness,
12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat?

If we believe that and are correctly reading the signs, then we know that our existence here tomorrow is not guaranteed - either through Jesus coming to remove His Church or through our own death.  You can also say that our lives, as James teaches, are like a vapor, so while we are here today, we may be facing our final day on earth.  So, we have to make sure we are ready when God calls us home - and when He calls, we can be challenged to be faithful to do the work of the Lord, exhibiting and declaring His good news of salvation.

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I believe that God is opening doors in various parts of the world, moving upon hearts and mobilizing believers to share their faith. Colossians 4 states:
2 Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving;
3 meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains,
4 that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.

We continue to celebrate the sovereign work of God in the Middle East, bringing people to faith in Christ despite oppressive circumstances and the threat of punishment for receiving Him.

The Christian Aid Mission website published the story of two brothers who came to faith in Christ separately.  Here's what happened, according to a ministry leader in the region:

In a country undisclosed for security reasons, a 22-year-old Muslim recently passed by the local ministry’s church site and picked up a New Testament from the stack outside available for the taking, the leader said.

“He took it home, secretly read from it and hid it, because he feared what his family might do to him,” the leader said. “He thought for sure that if they saw him reading a Bible, they would get so angry.”

Meantime, his 24-year-old brother was watching the same ministry’s gospel messages online. He saw a video on basic Christian doctrines on social media and secretly put his faith in Christ.

Not long thereafter, the younger brother shared with his older brother that he had become a Christian. The older brother told him he had been reading the New Testament, and offered to show it to him when they arrived home. The following day, they went to the church location and talked with the leader there. He related: “Then they declared themselves to believe in the gospel message in front of our church,” adding, “They are attending our Bible studies and hope to be baptized in the near future. It’s the first time we’ve heard of two in the same family coming to Christ at the same time.”

The article also included the story of a young Muslim man in another city who was watching the online messages from the same ministry, but was mocking what he had seen. He visited the church location to argue with the leadership. The afore-mentioned leader of the ministry said: “Our brothers respectfully listened to his complaints and answered him with verses from the Bible...He was so touched by their peaceful responses that he fell on his knees and repented of his sins.” The story relates that, "The man received Christ, was baptized and now his social media messages lift up the name of Christ as he spreads the gospel, the leader said."

Social media has become an even greater tool for sharing the gospel in that region during the coronavirus pandemic.  This Christian Aid story stated:

The pandemic has reduced the number of new people visiting the ministry’s church services, but local missionaries have deepened ways of welcoming those who discreetly show up during the week, giving them tours, answering their questions and giving them New Testaments.

The leader believes, as he said, "God has started a great awakening.”

God is moving in a powerful way throughout the world, and believers should be prepared to be used of the Holy Spirit in His work of evangelism.  We are called to and equipped to share our faith, and we have been given a testimony of what Christ has done for us - it's incredible news, and we can be motivated to share it.

In a time period riddled by pessimism and despair, we have to make sure that we remain hopeful and focused on not only how God is at work, but also how He desires to use us.  This story reminds us that even in the most hostile parts of the world to Christianity, our faithful God is using a variety of means to lead people to Him.  That reminds us of the loving Savior whom we serve.

Bon Appetit

We have been placed into the body of Christ, connected by the Spirit and surrendered to Jesus, the Head of the Church. As we grow in our knowledge of Him, we can also grow in our connection to the local church body. 1st Peter chapter 4 states:
9 Be hospitable to one another without grumbling.
10 As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
11 If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

I believe that we all are gifted in some way, we just have to discover it and put it to use.  Our giftedness is intended by God to be used to reach out to someone else; in that way, according to verse 10 in this chapter, we are being good stewards of what God has provided.  We recognize that our ability to "minister," the word used in verse 11, comes from God and is for the benefit of the body and the glory of God.  We can be sensitive and willing to use what He has given.

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We can look for ways through which God will bring people together, and we can exhibit a desire to see Christian believers connect so that we grow in our spiritual unity. In Romans chapter 12, we can read:
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.

There is an innate connection between faith and food.  After all, God placed Adam and Eve in a wonderful Garden, where they were free to eat from any tree - except one.  We know that Jesus described Himself as the "bread of life."  We recognize the social dynamics and satisfaction of believers sharing a meal together.  God has given us food for nourishment and a catalyst for fellowship.

Aarti Sequeira has a deep appreciation for food - and faith in Christ. A recent Movieguide article  described her as "Celebrity chef and Season 6 winner of THE NEXT FOOD NETWORK STAR," who has a new book called, My Family Recipe Journal: With Prayers & Scriptures.

The article focused on a conversation that Aarti had with Kirk Cameron recently.  She related about her cooking experience with her daughters, and said:

“When you’re cooking, whether it’s clams or carrots, God made those things, so we’re touching them, we’re feeling them, we’re experiencing them when we can give it a hundred percent of our attention.”

“It’s such a magical experience so I kind of pull them in that way and that has helped them understand that sometimes you eat for joy and sometimes you eat for function and they’re both really necessary in our lives,” she added.

Locale Magazine, in a feature story, said this:

Long before becoming a Food Network mainstay or a cook, Sequeira had a special relationship with food. Born in India, raised in Dubai and taught in a British school, her palate wove an intricate, multicultural tapestry that celebrated food. “Cooking is such a huge part of my family’s identity,” Sequeira explains. “It was really tied into a reminder of where we came from. [It was] how we lived every day, how we celebrated things, how we went through things and how we stayed connected to our roots.”

She related, "I remember the first time that someone hired me to make cooking videos; there were cameras in my tiny little studio apartment in LA, and [I thought]...I’m getting paid to do this. Maybe this is something that God’s made me to do.’ I think that was the first moment where I thought, ‘It doesn’t matter what I think is the right way to go about things.’ I think that this is something that’s been ordained for me, and I just have to trust that.” 

She believes: "Food is unbelievably powerful. It’s one of the few things that can really connect us across time and space...When we eat together, we are not in our heads at all. It’s a really visceral, soulful experience.”

The Lord has given us so much to enjoy, and the foods we eat can be pleasurable and life-giving.  We can also take great care to either avoid or moderate foods that are not beneficial to us.  There are dietary laws that we find in the Scriptures, which can even provide a pattern for us today, contributing to our physical - and mental and emotional - health.  So, we can pay attention to what we put into our bodies and we can rejoice in the sustenance that God brings.

We can also be reminded about God's desire for His people to fellowship together.  From potlucks to banquets, the art of food has provided a central focus for gathering together.  Community is built as we engage in shared activities, and sharing a meal gives us a perfect opportunity.  

And, we can think together about the importance of hospitality.  We are called to be hospitable, according to Romans chapter 12.  We can seek to be welcoming to other people and in so doing, bring honor to our Lord.  Some are called to help facilitate relationships.  We should be looking for those open doors to connect with each other.

Not So "None"?

By virtue of our having been born again by the Spirit of God, we have been brought into the body of Christ, the Church. We are part of an organic, dynamic body of believers who comprise the primary expression of the presence of God in this world. 1st Timothy chapter 3 states:
14 These things I write to you, though I hope to come to you shortly;
15 but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Preached among the Gentiles, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory.

We are conduits of the life of Christ in a world that is full of discouragement and death.  Into the lifelessness and hopelessness of human hearts who are not devoted to God, we can bring the light of Christ, who is the hope of the world.  We are called to participate in the fellowship of a body of believers, so that through our collective cooperation, we can see the love of God flow and testify to His greatness!

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God has a glorious purpose that He desires to fulfill through His people - the Church. In fact, Ephesians 5 describes a "glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle..." Ephesians 2 says:
19 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,
20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone,
21 in whom the whole building, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord,
22 in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

One of the "Daily Headlines" from the Daily Citizen website from Focus on the Family recently highlighted some findings regarding the practice of religion in America, and the results are, well, encouraging - telling us something that I have suspected, actually: the so-called religious "nones" are not necessarily atheists or agnostics.

It points to the Wall Street Journal, which referenced a study by Matt Bradshaw and Rodney Stark that took into consideration multiple studies on religion - the article said:

Data from five recent U.S. population surveys point to the vibrancy, ubiquity and growth of religion in the U.S. Americans are becoming more religious, and religious institutions are thriving. Consistent with some previous studies but contrary to widely held assumptions, many people who report no religious affiliation—and even many self-identified atheists and agnostics—exhibit substantial levels of religious practice and belief.

A piece on the Baylor University Institute for Studies of Religion website, which was co-written by the afore-mentioned researchers and others, stated that, based on five studies since 2012, of the so-called "nones..."

Many attend religious services, pray, meditate, believe in God or a higher power, have religious experiences, and believe in heaven, hell, and miracles. Even though a growing proportion of people in the U.S. appear to be reporting no religious affiliation on surveys, there are many measurement-related, conceptual, and methodological reasons to question the assumption that these people are not religious, and scholars need to look more closely at the actual practices and beliefs of so-called nones. Further, use of phrases like religious none, no religion, and not religious to describe this group of individuals is inappropriate, inaccurate, and misleading since they may simply be institutionally unaffiliated or indeed affiliated but not with any of the list of categories provided. More focused research is needed before we will fully understand who the nones are, and whether religion is actually declining in the U.S., as well as around the world.

The lengthy article at the Baylor site includes this analysis:

...many people are not necessarily leaving religion behind; some are simply voting with their feet as they have done throughout history. Some are changing their proverbial “religious channel” and perhaps cutting their “church cord,” much like there is a declining share of network (and now cable) TV viewers even though individuals are still plugged into something. If a decline in religiosity is indeed occurring, it may not be due to secularization as theorists understand the concept, but may indeed be due to a secularization of the cultural zeitgeist.

And, the article continued: 

While formal institutional religion seems to be less and less the arbiter of cultural mores and norms and of accepted morality (Chaves 1994), this may not necessarily be a function of identifiable disengagement from religious and spiritual participation. Rather, perhaps it is more of an indicator that the societal opinion leaders and cultural elites (at least those who still attend church or synagogue) go to congregations that have cast aside traditional values and modes of worship and have succumbed to the mainstream, mass-approved spirit of the times. This says more about the continuing decline of the mainline religious bodies than of any real evidence that religion more broadly is dying

And, the Wall Street Journal piece relates: "Hundreds of new denominations have quietly appeared, as have thousands of church plants (new congregations) and numerous non-Christian religious imports. These more than make up for losses from mainline Protestant denominations, which are indeed in free fall and have been for decades. But the decline of established institutions is easier to track than the formation and growth of new ones."

It's easy to craft a narrative - obviously, this has been done concerning the rise of the so-called "nones." And, mainstream media outlets are more than willing to play along.  But, it seems that these researchers are pointing out that religious practice is shifting with time, with age, and I would submit that the menu choices on worship are changing, too.  While there are still many churches who are part of denominations, even the nature of those denominations are changing.  Just in May, a new denomination grew out of the United Methodist Church, changing the face of Methodism worldwide. And, non-denominational churches are also part of the equation. 

I am reminded that we have to be open to change as God leads us.  There may be new ministry opportunities, or a change of location, or other factors with which we have to deal.  And, through the changes, if we are seeking His face, we can be confident that He goes with us.  While we shouldn't be chasing the next "shiny object," we certainly should be following His light that shines in our hearts. 

Through the Flood

If the circumstances of our lives seem to be falling apart, we can turn to the One who holds all things together - who will hold us together and give us strength that is not of ourselves. In Psalm 27, we find these words:
1 ...The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?

Later in the chapter, we can read:

4 One thing I have desired of the Lord, That will I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord All the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the Lord, And to inquire in His temple.
5 For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; In the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock.

We live in a season in which turbulence seems to be the norm and answers can sometimes be hard to come by - in human understanding.  But, it's good to know that even when we don't understand what is occurring around us, God is near to us and we can place our lives in His hand.  He is a refuge for our souls and rock on whom we can rely.  He meets us in our place of pain and uncertainty and provides us with the resources we need in order to withstand the challenges that occur.

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In the Lord, there is a place of refuge and we can know there is someone to whom we can run when we face adversity. Deuteronomy chapter 33 states:
26 "There is no one like the God of Jeshurun, Who rides the heavens to help you, And in His excellency on the clouds.
27 The eternal God is your refuge, And underneath are the everlasting arms; He will thrust out the enemy from before you, And will say, 'Destroy!'

I have just returned from the state of Kentucky, and am reminded of the devastation that occurred not far from where I attended the Christian Product Expo in Lexington.  In the mountains of Eastern Kentucky, floodwaters have brought death and destruction; and God's people are involved in bringing hope in the midst of loss.

Even The Washington Post brought the story of how a pastor helped out his people.  A story from last week related how Pastor Brad Stevens of the Church of God Worship Center in Clay County encouraged the people of his community.  The article said:

As soon as they could safely do so, Stevens and a group of volunteers traveled from hollow to hollow to deliver food and water to the families trapped in their homes. Stevens said their group came into contact with about 50 people on their first day out; all were trapped on their properties. It was tough work, especially since cell service was wiped out.

The story also noted:

Some communities are nearly impossible to reach, since all paths in and out have been washed out. So one of Stevens’s many roles is working with government officials to navigate the logistics of road and bridge building. 

The pastor spoke of the spirit of the community, even to the extent that, as he put it, "it's kind of like enemies become friends," and related: “This community is full of people who just want to help,” adding, “Everybody is doing something different. It’s not like we got together and planned that. That’s why it’s so amazing.”

The website, Kentucky Today, related that Tim Reynolds, Pastor of First Baptist Church of Hazard, KY, said: "It’s one horror story after another. People going to sleep in their mobile homes and waking up a mile down the road; kids being swept from their mommy’s arms. It’s beyond tragic.”

The story states:

Reynolds was on a mission trip in Maryland when they received word about the flooding. “We had to cut that short one day and back here,” he said. “One of the guys with us has a church in Knott County with three feet of water in the basement.

Reynolds said the church would be available as organizations come to help with water rescues and recovery. “This is not a two-week event, more like six months,” he said.

The article also highlighted the struggles of Whitesburg, KY, where "Tony Brown, the pastor of FBC Whitesburg, was hauling everything that was damaged on the first floor of the church Friday morning. Furniture, carpet and Bibles were soaked. It was heartbreaking work, he said." He is also concerned about people leaving the area. He said, "The biggest problem we’re facing is we’re already economically depressed,” adding, “Because of this we may have a mass exodus of people. We were already on the verge of being a ghost town.”

In the midst of the devastation, people are turning to Christ, according to another state Baptist paper, Georgia's Christian Index.  It states:

Georgia Baptist Disaster Relief Director Dwain Carter said it’s not unusual for people to seek God amid tragic circumstances. That why, he said, teams of Disaster Relief volunteers realize their role isn’t simply to help with the clean up, but to offer spiritual guidance to survivors.

“People are lot more open to spiritual conversations after tragedies like this,” Carter said. “And a lot of times, these conversations are with people who never would darken the door of a church. This is the church coming out to them and meeting them on their own playing field, so to speak. We tell them there’s help and hope and healing in Jesus, and, in their brokenness, they realize that’s true.”

During the first week alone, Baptist teams from several states reported 17 salvation decisions. The article goes on to say:

Georgia Baptist volunteer Bob Sprinkel said a father called and asked if he, his son and his son’s friend could come to the church where Disaster Relief crews are stationed and talk.

“Twenty minutes later they showed up,” Sprinkel said. “The son accepted Christ. The father rededicated his life to Christ. And the son’s friend rededicated his life.” We sat around until after midnight with them, rejoicing.”

Sprinkel said Georgia Baptist volunteers report similar encounters each time they’re deployed.

“Anytime that you have a major event such as this, people’s hearts are broken. And a lot of times, they’re asking, ‘Why did this happen to me?’ We don’t know why. But we can point them to the Lord who can help them in their brokenness.”

Coming up on Monday's Meeting House, you will hear from Lynne Rienstra of Samaritan's Purse, in a conversation from the Summer 2022 Christian Product Expo.  That Christian international relief organization is working in Eastern Kentucky even now. 

We can be reminded in times of trouble, we can roll up our sleeves and be the hands and feet of Jesus, realizing that through our interaction with those in need, people will be able to see the love He has for them. 

And, when trial comes to us or those around us, we can be reminded to run to the Lord.  Not away from Him - even when bad things happen, we have not been forgotten. Jesus wants all to come to know Him and He will even use hardship and pain in order to bring people into a knowledge of Himself.

So, when our souls are not at peace, and we don't say or can't say, "It is Well," we can rest in His love. Because the struggle can become too great for our own human strength.  We need an abiding sense of His presence to fortify us and we can rely on His strong, everlasting arms.

Without Fear

We are in the midst of challenges to our faith, and we can develop a trust in the Lord that is strong and unyielding in the face of fear. In Revelation 12, we see the picture of a group of overcomers in the time of tribulation. We can read:
9 So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
10 Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, "Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down.
11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.

We can consider the intensity of our devotion to Christ.  There is an enemy who is desiring to destroy the witness of the people of God, and we have the tools to walk in what Christ has done for us. By virtue of being born again, we have been enlisted to serve our great commander, the Lord God Almighty, and it's important to recognize the spiritual dynamics at play in the situations we face.  We are in a battle for the souls of men and women who need to know Him.

+++++

Jesus taught His disciples not to hold on to their lives too closely and be willing to give of themselves so that others may benefit. In John 15, we can read these words:
13 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends.
14 You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.
15 No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.
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.

The filmmakers who have taken you into conflict on the football field will soon be taking viewers into the battlefield, with the release of a new film based on the life of the late Navy SEAL Adam Brown, whose story is told in the novel, Fearless, by Eric Blehm. 

Movieguide reported recently that the Erwin Brothers will be undertaking the project, and included an Instagram post from Andy Erwin:

“The book by @ericblehmofficial shattered me. Those of you who’ve read it know exactly what I mean. Adam Brown was a great American and the purest picture of redemption I’ve experienced. It’s beyond important to us to do Adam, his family, and his SEAL brothers justice in this film. Honored to get back to work! #Fearless..."

The article goes on to say:

For this newest endeavor, Erwin explains that he had been “chasing” this story for four years since his friend Gary Sinise shared it with him.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the movie will adapt Blehm’s 2012 book on SEAL Team 6 commando Adam Brown, a Navy soldier who overcame drug addiction and jail time to become a member of the elite SEAL team known for killing Osama bin Laden.

Andy will direct, and his brother will produce. Another producer, Kevin Downes, said: “This film is right in Andy’s wheelhouse. Fearless will not only take you behind enemy lines with Seal Team 6, but into the heart and soul of one man and how he found the strength to step up.”

The Christian Post reported:

Brown died in battle in March 2010 while on a mission in Afghanistan to kill or capture a major Taliban leader, saving the lives of several others in the process. He was a 12-year veteran of the Navy and left behind a wife and two children.

The story notes:

Brown’s official obituary from the United States Navy Memorial notes that the soldier’s “courage was only one side of a complex man who balanced his life with Christian faith.”

“He was known for his kindness and compassion as much as he was for his toughness and fearlessness,” it says.

Adam Brown gave his life to save others; but that mission, and his tenure as a Navy SEAL, was almost not to be. An article at The Federalist related this story from when Adam was in his 20's:

High on crack at a party on New Year Eve, Adam repeatedly stabbed himself in the neck with a knife. Police found him lying in a pool of his own blood. They also discovered his outstanding warrants. Adam was facing 11 felonies, massive jail time, and a family that was fed up with his addictive behavior.

Hitting rock bottom turned out to be the answer to his parents’ prayers. When the judge gave Adam the choice between rehab or jail, Adam chose rehab and began turning his life around. At rehab, he found God, accepted Jesus, and became a Christian.

Three weeks out of rehab, Adam met his future wife, Kelley Tippy, a “a tall brunette with a girl-next-door face” who had a conversion story of her own and was also a Christian. The two fell deeply in love.

But, the article notes that Adam still had a hard time staying clean - it says that Kelley stayed with him because "God told her not to leave."  It states:

After more rehab and many relapses, Adam realized that what he needed was a life change. He decided to join the military with the hopes of becoming a Navy SEAL, the real-life heroes that Adam was first introduced to as teen when he saw the action-packed 1990 film “Navy SEALs.”

The process to join the SEALS and become one of America’s most elite special operators is no easy feat. After basic training, Adam was sent off to Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL training (BUD/S), which is arguably the most grueling military training in the world.

Facing a low success rate - 1 out of 5 - of completing the training and facing military prison if he had another relapse, Adam persevered, and he said his faith was "his ace in the hole."  He eventually became a member of the elite SEAL Team Six, even though he did not have use of his "dominant hand and dominant eye" due to injury.  According to the Federalist story:

During their mission in a Taliban stronghold located in the mountains of Afghanistan’s Hindu Kush, Adam and his teammates came under heavy enemy fire. Adam was hit in both legs. Once he was down, more enemy bullets rained down on him. He was taken out of the line of fire by his teammates, but he tragically died later that day at the base.

Adam Brown had written this to his children earlier: “I’m not afraid of anything that might happen to me on this Earth because I know no matter what, nothing can take my spirit from me,” adding, “No matter what, my spirit is given to the Lord and I will finally be victorious.”

Based on this story, we can consider how we respond in the midst of seemingly insurmountable circumstances. In our trials, we can choose to rely on our faith in Christ and allow Him to strengthen us, or we can rely on ourselves and miss out on what He wants to do.

Jesus talked about that "greater love," a love that is willing to lay down one life. Now, that may look different for different people, but it's important that we continue to make the well-being of others a priority. 

Adam's story is also a reminder of the degree to which people can change.  He was a young man who was addicted to drugs, in legal trouble, and without direction. But, as he took the step of finding help, he found His help in the Lord.  His story reinforces the notion that no one is too far gone that the hand of God cannot bring him back.