Not On Target

The admonition is given in 1st Thessalonians chapter 4 to live a distinctive lifestyle, which means a right, Biblical view of sexuality, recognizing that we as Christians are not to support activity that is contradictory to the teachings of the Bible. We can read these verses:
1 Finally then, brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you should abound more and more, just as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God;
2 for you know what commandments we gave you through the Lord Jesus.
3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality...

And, later, Paul writes:
7 For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness.

If we have been born again by the Spirit of God and possess salvation through Jesus Christ, we are called to a higher standard - and we are placed in this world in order to shine His light.  That means that we are to live with distinction, not approving the things of the world, but offering to people around us a godly way forward, recognizing that His way is best.  So, when confronted by the world's ideas, we can take those thoughts captives and present superior ideas from Scripture. 

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The apostle Paul addressed matters of conscience in 1st Corinthians 10, in which we can read:
23 All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify.
24 Let no one seek his own, but each one the other's well-being.

Later, in a verse cited in an article from which I will be quoting, Paul wrote:
31 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

The continued pushback to the promotion of the LGBTQ+ agenda has rocked the Target department store chain, to the tune of over 9 BILLION dollars, according to a Christian Post article, which said:

Fox Business reported that the retail chain lost $9.3 billion in market value and the corporation's shares have dropped by more than 12.6% since the consumer backlash began last week.

But, in a stunning display of calling good evil, the company blames its removal of some so-called "Pride" merchandise on "threats," rather than consumers making sound decisions.  The article references a statement that says: "For more than a decade, Target has offered an assortment of products aimed at celebrating Pride Month. Since introducing this year's collection, we've experienced threats impacting our team members' sense of safety and well-being while at work..."  Target's statement went on to say:

“Given these volatile circumstances, we are making adjustments to our plans, including removing items that have been at the center of the most significant confrontational behavior,” the statement continued. “Our focus now is on moving forward with our continuing commitment to the LGBTQIA+ community and standing with them as we celebrate Pride Month and throughout the year.”

The Christian Post stated: 

While Target did not disclose in the statement which items it intended to remove, some of the products that received the most backlash included the “tuck-friendly” women’s swimsuits for men.

Designs created by Abprallen, a London-based company that creates products with occult imagery, have also garnered public outrage. Products by the brand were previously featured on Target’s website but have since been removed.

The article noted that:

Abprallen shared a “Satan respects pronouns” design in a March 28 Instagram post, writing that LGBT-identified people are “often referred to as being a product of Satan or going against God’s will, so fine. We’ll hang with Satan instead.” The statement is printed on an image of Baphomet, the goat-headed idol associated with satanism.

But, Target CEO Brian Cornell is "undeterred," according to The Washington Stand, which reported:

“What’s your take on some of the pushback now on so-called ‘woke’ capitalism?” Fortune’s Michal Lev-Ram asked him on the “Leadership Next” podcast released last week. “We’re seeing a lot of backlash, not just on the social justice side,” Lev-Ram pointed out, “but ‘woke’ capitalism in general. What is your take on it?”

The CEO scoffed concerns. “I think those are just good business decisions,” he insisted of the company’s controversial trans-alignment. And more than that, Cornell argued, “it’s the right thing for society, and it’s a great thing for our brand.” From a “diversity” standpoint, he said, “it’s adding value. It’s helping us drive sales, it’s building greater engagement with both our teams and our guests, and those are just the right things for our business today.”

Another Washington Stand article released yesterday included comments from Joseph Backholm, senior fellow for Biblical Worldview and Strategic Engagement at Family Research Council, who said: “The plunge in sales seems to indicate that Americans do have some boundaries,” adding, “The public seems to be generally indifferent to what adults do, seeing it as an issue of liberty even when it is socially destructive. But what middle America is clearly not interested in is those who target their children in what is effectively evangelistic effort on behalf of the sexual revolution.”

One might say that the LGBTQ+ movement, which has been pushing for greater acceptance of its principles while the extension of its ideology has gone far and wide from corporate boardrooms to retail stores to various forms of entertainment media, may be starting to "jump the shark," a reference to a Happy Days episode when Fonzie overplayed a particular activity. The movement may have overplayed its hand now, resulting in customer backlash from consumers who do not accept and do not wish to be forced to accept a point of view that has now proven to be destructive.  

The latest from Target is another development in a trend for Christians, as stewards of God's resources, to make decisions based on the stewardship God has given to us.  In a recent conversation with noted homeschool leader and podcast host Heidi St. John, Tony Perkins of Family Research Council, according to The Washington Stand, cited 1st Corinthians 10:31 as a guide for Christians in making decisions.  The article quotes the verse and goes on to say:

“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” “So how you shop, where you spend your money,” he said, “everything we have as followers of Christ, we have to recognize … is given to us by God. We’re stewards of what we’ve been entrusted with. And you have to ask the question: Would God be pleased with you giving your money to an organization that is promoting the transgenderism of our children and is fostering this spirit of lawlessness?”

“If the church can’t be at the front of this conversation,” St. John warned, “I don’t know who should be. This is the responsibility of God’s people.”

Around the World

The Church is alive because Jesus Christ is alive, and He desires to show Himself faithful to and through His people. 1st Peter 4 can encourage and challenge us when it says:
7 But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers.
8 And above all things have fervent love for one another, for "love will cover a multitude of sins."
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.

We can have fellowship with other members of the body of Christ - in our local churches and throughout the world.  The world's demographics are shifting, and as I will share, the Church is experiencing dynamic growth in other countries, on other continents.  We can reflect on how He is moving and realize that we are part of a large and powerful body of Christ, empowered by the Holy Spirit, who expressed that power on the Day of Pentecost, which was celebrated this past weekend.

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Our Faith Radio ministry team members have returned from a glorious week in Orlando, Florida, the site of the 2023 National Religious Broadcasters, sensing a commonality of spirit and purpose with brothers and sisters from around the world. Romans 12 says:
4 For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function,
5 so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.

There seems to be no shortage of data regarding the practice of Christianity in America and how numbers concerning professing Christians seem to be on the decline. Those who are not affiliated with organized religions, the so-called "nones," have reportedly been on the rise.  But, as a piece appearing recently on the Real Clear Religion website by Adam Carrington of Hillsdale College relates, "Christianity is...not shrinking." 

He goes on to say...

...nor is it abandoning “the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.” Instead, Christianity’s center is quickly shifting. Committedly orthodox churches continue to grow at a great pace in Africa and Asia. There are now estimated to be more Christians on those two continents than in Europe (including Russia) and North America. If current trends continue, that gap will grow resoundingly over the next quarter century.

He relates:

For well over a thousand years, the West has been the center of Christianity. It boasted the greatest share of Christians as well as the preponderance of public and private resources supporting the Church.

But the number of self-identified believers has dropped across the West, and church attendance has fallen to even lower levels, especially in Europe. Even the United States, often seen as a holdout on religious affiliation, has endured sharp declines. Moreover, many denominations centered in the West have adopted heterodox, if not outright heretical, doctrines regarding Scripture and human sexuality.

This article leads off mentioning a gathering of what is called the Global Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans, which included "archbishops from three of the four largest provinces in the Anglican Communion." Carrington notes, "Those top three (other than England) were all from Africa. They didn’t meet in London, Paris, or New York City. Instead, they gathered in Kigali, Rwanda."  He uses this as an example of the global leadership of a worldwide Church.  You may remember that for a number of years, African United Methodists comprised a significant voting bloc in preserving language that comports with a Biblical view that homosexuality is sinful.  

And ABC News reported that the GAFCON meeting in Rwanda...

...comes two months after the decision of the Church of England to bless civil marriages of same-sex couples. Clerics from Africa are among those who continue to express concern.

“We are here to bring the Bible to be at the center of everything," Archbishop Laurent Mbanda of Rwanda told the AP Tuesday.

The decision by the Church of England to bless same-sex unions created “enormous confusion” and could be the “final nail in the coffin in the already divided legacy of the Anglican Church," Mbanda said.

The article went on to say:

GAFCON's chairman, American primate Foley Beach, said during Monday's opening that his group "can no longer recognize" Justin Welby, the archbishop of Canterbury, as the spiritual leader of the Anglican Communion.

“Will you join us in praying for Justin Welby and the bishops he leads?" he said. “You and I must repent and we become Christians again and we follow Jesus Christ.”

In light of the distinctions between the truth of Scripture and those that follow "another gospel," we recognize that there is a growing hostility, that is pointed out by Carrington.  He notes that, "...an increasing gap has opened up between those with whom we share citizenship politically and those we do spiritually. With that gap, a society that was generally supportive of — or at least respectful toward — Christians for more than a thousand years has now turned increasingly hostile. Our Christian brothers and sisters increasingly live across oceans, not streets, and their primary language is not English."  He goes on to say:

As the Church, we model and experience a foretaste of that kingdom here and now. In every way, this kingdom is more fundamental, beautiful, and just than earthly kingdoms. Its only ruler is the holy God, whose reign is perfect righteousness and justice. It is one of peace. It is a kingdom without end — one that reigns not just over our bodies and actions, but in our hearts and minds. Thus, our citizenship in this kingdom is deeper, longer, and better than any citizenship in an earthly polity. Our bonds, then, with brothers and sisters in Christ, even across cultures and oceans, are deeper, longer, and better than those with any non-Christian neighbor.

The world is changing, but God is faithful, and the Church is growing.  But, it is growing differently. And, our brothers and sisters in Christ are dispatched throughout the world.  Western Christianity has become a watered-down Christianity in many circles, but a global faith, in contrast to global-ism, can be a vibrant force for Christ all around the world. 

We have to commit ourselves afresh and anew to be followers of Jesus Christ.  We can count the cost and seek to be obedient to His call and His commandments.  This is occurring around the world, and, as Adam Carrington notes, "We should rejoice in God as He continues to plant and preserve His Church in the purity of the Gospel. And regardless of our own status in it, we should rejoice in the Church faithfully continuing its mission."

Practical

Jesus will take what we offer to Him, perhaps what He Himself has provided for us, and use it for His glory.   In 2nd Corinthians 9, Paul wrote:
10 Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness,
11 while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God.
12 For the administration of this service not only supplies the needs of the saints, but also is abounding through many thanksgivings to God...

Think about the instances in which Jesus fed the multitudes - those started as Jesus took something very small and worked a miracle. The mustard seed of faith can produce a great bounty when we trust God.  The seed of the Word of God grows with the right cultivation. Jesus said in Luke to be faithful in the small things.  We can take what we have and allow God to work through it, and by so doing, we can call attention to His love and faithfulness.

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I remember a sermon from a few years back that highlighted a question that God asked to Moses in Exodus chapter 4. The passage says:
2 So the Lord said to him, "What is that in your hand?" He said, "A rod."
3 And He said, "Cast it on the ground." So he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from it.
4 Then the Lord said to Moses, "Reach out your hand and take it by the tail" (and he reached out his hand and caught it, and it became a rod in his hand),
5 "that they may believe that the Lord God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has appeared to you."

Another sign followed: Moses' hand became leprous, and then healed.  In this first instance, God asked Moses, "what is that in your hand?"  That's a great challenge to us to follow the direction of the Holy Spirit in helping to provide for the needs of people. 

The Christian Post reported recently on a church in Nebraska that is being quite resourceful in its ministry, reaching out to provide practical help in the name of Jesus; the article says:

Brookside Church of Omaha, which boasts a congregation of around 3,000 people, will expand its ministry that provides clothes for the less fortunate to include a food pantry and an "Auto Care Center" housed on its property near Interstate 80 and L Street.

Brookside emailed The Christian Post a statement detailing that the care center will only service individuals who come by recommendation from a local agency or nearby school.

Services at the auto center will either be given at a discounted price or even free, depending on the specific service that the vehicle brought in requires.

So, Brookside is trusting the Lord for the resources expanding its food pantry ministry into two other endeavors.  The article reports that:

Lead Pastor Jeff Dart says that the congregation is expanding the care services because "issues like these tend to snowball into each other."

"Loss of transportation can lead to loss of employment or inability to get to school, which leads to needing the basics of life like food and clothing," Dart stated.

"As we strive to follow the example of Christ, meeting these needs in our community is a part of living out our faith. We know that meeting physical needs often leads to meeting people's spiritual needs."

Another Nebraska church has taken its resources and retired over a half million dollars of medical debt, according to a CBN.com article, which said:

A Lincoln, Nebraska church's 13-month campaign helped raise more than $500,000 to pay off the medical bills of local residents.

The First-Plymouth Congregational Church's effort started at $8,000 with a desire to help a few neighbors in need, according to The Lincoln Journal Star. Thirteen months later, it had raised more than $520,000 in donations, freed 500 households from burdensome medical bills, and gained national attention.

"I had no idea it would go so viral," Rev. Jim Keck, the church's senior pastor told the outlet. "You wouldn't think a pastor would do this; I underestimated people's generosity."

The article quoted Pastor Keck as saying, "Sometimes love has to be expressed in actions. We have had an initiative all year that is just love on the move," adding, "The church decided that there were too many homes right in our neighborhood that were saddled with medical debt, like shackles when you have a debt you just can't get on top of."

Two churches trusted God for the resources, the provision, in order to make a difference in their respective communities.  We can always be sure to look to God as our provider, and when we have a generous heart, we can call upon Him and see Him work through our faithfulness to Him. 

So, we ask the question, "what is that in your hand?"  Perhaps it is some resource that God has given and about which the Holy Spirit has given direction in order to address a need in the community God has called you to serve. If that is His intent, then you can call on Him and trust Him to work according to the desire He has placed in your heart.  We may not see how the big picture is going to come to pass, but we can start small, with what God has given to us, and recognize that He can bring those ideas He has placed on our hearts to fruition. 

Our responsibility is faithfulness and obedience - His responsibility is to take what we have surrendered to Him, multiply it and glorify His name.

The Path Through the Garden

In Acts chapter 22, we find the apostle Paul telling the amazing story of his conversion experience, when he encountered the living Christ. We find these words in that chapter:
6 Now it happened, as I journeyed and came near Damascus at about noon, suddenly a great light from heaven shone around me.
7 And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?'
8 So I answered, 'Who are You, Lord?' And He said to me, 'I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.'
9 And those who were with me indeed saw the light and were afraid, but they did not hear the voice of Him who spoke to me.
10 So I said, 'What shall I do, Lord?' And the Lord said to me, 'Arise and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all things which are appointed for you to do.'

Paul was sharing the story of what God had done in his life - in the midst of oppression and threats against his life. He gave testimony to the life change that God can bring about in the life of the person who believes on Jesus.  If we have accepted Jesus and been born again, we also have a life story.  The old has become new, and we have been ushered into eternal and abundant life - and we are His witnesses; we can be bold to share what God has done in our lives. 

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Peter was intent on sharing what they had seen and heard as they walked with Jesus, and in 2nd Peter 1, he captured part of his experience, writing:
16 For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty.
17 For He received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."
18 And we heard this voice which came from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain.
19 And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts...

The name Butch Hartman may not be at the top of your mind, but he was the creator of what has been Nickolodeon's "most successful animated children’s series," according to The Christian Post.  Hartman has now shifted his attention to an animated series that presents Biblical truth, called, The Garden. In an interview with The Christian Post, he shared about some elements of his faith journey, saying:

I became a Christian in the year 2000, and I had already been in the Hollywood industry for about nine years at that point. When I met Jesus Christ, my whole heart changed, and I wanted to start making things for Him. I [had] just sold "The Fairly OddParents." It wasn't a Christian show, obviously; I couldn't make it a Christian show [on Nickelodeon], but I could inject maybe some Christian values into it — love and family and things like that. But all through the years, I really wanted to make something for the Christian audience. But I didn't really know how.

In 2005, I had this idea for a show and didn't really know what to do with it. Fast forward to 2015 and the Lord really impressed upon us to make this show. We made seven episodes of "The Garden"... and then we sat on them for a while and didn't do anything with them. I left Nickelodeon in 2018. And then, in 2021, we had the opportunity to pitch "The Garden" to a group of highly motivated investor people, and they really loved it and we ended up being able to get some support to make 40 episodes.

Six episodes have been released so far on several platforms.  The article described the premise of the show:

“The Garden” centers around the characters Lenny the lion and Lucy the lamb. Together they live in a garden where everything that's beautiful grows and they get to talk to God daily. God, whom they refer to as "the boss," comes down as a rainbow, talks to them and gives them an assignment or task, which they usually do not do well until they reflect on Scripture which teaches them how to best accomplish their goal. Bible verses are shared through song, which helps children memorize the verses.

Julieann Hartman, according to the article, likened the inclusion of music to the old series, "Schoolhouse Rock!" She notes, "kids are learning how to go to God and to talk to God themselves." She says, "...if we've got songs and dialogue that children are listening to, that can keep their mind stayed on Him, whether keeping a little song in their head during the horrible times that we are going through on a daily basis. That is something that will carry them through and will sustain them."

Butch relates:

There's a very intense marketing campaign that the enemy has put in place that tries to make God look bad every single day. But it's up to you, as a parent and as a grandparent, to teach your children that God has not left. It's the narrow path. The Bible says that there's the broad way that leads to destruction. And that's the path everybody goes down — that's the path to destruction. But it's the narrow way that will lead you to salvation. It's hard to find and it's a difficult path. You can find it if you look for it, even though the world tries to cover it up.

He says, "'The Garden' is a way to look for that narrow path."

That's an interesting phrase, because God made that path known to Adam and Eve in a particular Garden; unfortunately, they chose the broad road and sinned against God.  But, the good news is that Jesus has opened up a path to redemption, to salvation, by giving His life to us.  There is a way to eternal life through Jesus - who said He is the way, the truth, and the life. 

Butch Hartman has discovered that path - a way to abundant life, to a right relationship with God, and he has used skills and talent that God has given to Him to tell life-giving stories through animation. If we have believed in Christ, we can discover ways that we can use what He has entrusted to us for His glory.  We are called to tell His story - the story of what Jesus has done in redeeming fallen humanity and...the story of what He has done in our lives, our testimony.

Pastors Under Pressure

Our Heavenly Father takes such good care of us - He loves us and sent His Son so that we might come to know Him. And, He has placed us in His Church and given us leaders who are devoted to following the Savior. Ephesians chapter 4 states:
11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,
12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,
13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ...

In verse 11, we see that listing of spiritual leaders given to the body of Christ. The apostle Paul recognized that he could not fulfill his ministry alone, and we see that he chose co-laborers to go with him on his journeys. His references to others showed that he had a group of people around him to support him and hold him accountable. In whatever we are called to do, we recognize that we are not called to do it alone - we should always realize the mission of Christ is fulfilled as His Church functions in fellowship with one another. 

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Jesus is the head of the Church, and there are those who are appointed to leadership roles to follow Him and to lead the parts of the body they are called to serve. A well-known Bible teacher used a portion of 1st Peter chapter 5 in a piece from which I will quote later; it says, regarding those who are in pastoral ministry:
1 The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed:
2 Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly;
3 nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock;
4 and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.

Just a few weeks ago, prior to the National Day of Prayer, Josh Zeichik, who offers encouragement for pastors in his role at Focus on the Family, shared about resources that the ministry has made available.  Andy Bowersox of Energize Ministries has been a guest on The Meeting House multiple times, discussing the importance of congregation members affirming and encouraging their pastors.  We certainly need to be in prayer for those who serve in spiritual leadership.

The fact is, pastors are being called to do multiple duties, and the expectation is that they will be good in every single one.  This, no doubt, brings quite a bit of pressure to the profession, and church members have to realize that the pastorate is not a one-man show - the congregation plays a critical role in the ongoing mission of the Church.

A new survey by the Barna Group illustrates the vast array of duties that pastors have.  The Christian Post reports:

The data collected through online interviews with 585 Protestant senior pastors in the United States last September shows that 60% of respondents chose "preaching and teaching" when asked which part of their job they most enjoy.

For every other activity, including discipling and evangelizing, less than 10% of the pastors in the study ranked these critical aspects of their job as among their favorite things to do.

The article goes on to say:

Just 8% of senior pastors said they most enjoy "discipling believers," while "developing other leaders" and "practical pastoral care" for congregants, like visiting the sick or elderly, were tied for third place with 7% of the votes each.

Six percent said "emotional or spiritual pastoral care" like counseling was their favorite part of the job, while 4% ranked organizing meetings or events as their favorite activity.

Only 3% ranked "evangelizing or sharing the Gospel" as the top thing for them to do as pastors.

And, other Barna data shows pastors are feeling overwhelmed and perhaps underachieving in fulfilling their roles; the article states:

Barna's data shows how between 2015 and 2020, pastors across the nation grew more insecure about what they believe they have to offer to their communities through growth in their perceived gaps in training for their roles.

In 2015, for example, 27% of pastors wished they'd been better prepared to handle conflict. That figure increased to 40% in 2020.

Over the same period, the share of pastors who wished they were better prepared to delegate and train others doubled from 20% to 41%. The percentage of pastors who said they wish they were better prepared to handle church politics also increased from 16% to 36% over the same period.

It's really not hard to understand - I would submit that very few, if anyone, does everything in his or her job with the same level of aptitude and accomplishment. I found this anecdotal job description about the so-called "perfect pastor" at Bible.org.  Here are some of the components:

1. After hundreds of years the perfect pastor’s been found. He is the church elder who’ll please everyone.

2. He preaches exactly 20 minutes and then sits down.

3. He condemns sin, but never steps on anybody’s toes.

4. He works from 8 in the morning to 10 at night, doing everything from preaching sermons to sweeping.

5. He makes $400 per week, gives $100 a week to the church, drives a late model car, buys lots of books, wears fine clothes, and has a nice family.

6. He always stands ready to contribute to every other good cause, too, and to help panhandlers who drop by the church on their way to somewhere.

7. He is 36 years old, and has been preaching 40 years.

I think of Moses, who was chided by his father-in-law for taking too much responsibility on himself, so this great leader of Israel delegated to others.  Congregation members have to realize that the Church is a body, and each is called to pull his weight.  We may have the greatest pastor in the world, but we have to remember they are mere mortals and they need the help, the support, and the prayer of the congregations.  While they are mortal, they are called and endued with supernatural power to perform what God has directed them to do, but the church has to ensure that our pastors are not being called upon to do too much.

The Grace to You website quotes John MacArthur, who said, "Pastors have one job. They’re not called to be cultural evangelists, entrepreneurs, or revolutionaries. They’re called to faithfully feed the flock of God. They’re called to be shepherds."  He referenced that Scripture I stated earlier from 1st Peter chapter 5.  The next time we have that critical spirit come on us about our pastors, we can be prompted to pray and to ask God how we can help to support them in their ministry. 

Decline

In the 1st chapter of the book of Joshua, we see that God spoke to the new leader of Israel, and said:
7 Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go.
8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."

It was absolutely vital that Joshua made good decisions in his leadership of the children of Israel. And, in our decision-making process, we have to place Scripture in the forefront of our minds. That means we have to avoid those things that will get us off-track in our spiritual walk, avoiding distractions and being clear-headed and sober-minded. Individuals and groups become less effective as their focus drifts toward other things. 

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Hebrews 12 encourages us to focus on Jesus, and Psalm 119, which is a Psalm that is devoted to our love for and adherence to Scripture, states this:
15 I will meditate on Your precepts, And contemplate Your ways.
16 I will delight myself in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word.
17 Deal bountifully with Your servant, That I may live and keep Your word.

The numbers tell a story - and do not reflect positively on the current state of the Southern Baptist Convention, which released its annual data recently.  Statistician Ryan Burge related this statement:

They just released their membership data from 2022. There’s no other way to say this: the decline the SBC is experiencing is at a scope and scale that has not been seen in any other Protestant denomination in American history.

He states, "The current membership stands at 13,223,122. That’s basically the same number as 1978." And, believers' baptism are down; Burge says:

Obviously COVID had a deleterious impact on baptisms—they dropped to just 123,000 in 2020, and they have rebounded a bit. Yet in 2022 they were just 180,000—about half the rate that was reported in 2009.

In 2012, there were 3 baptisms for every member lost.

In 2022, there were 2.5 members lost for every baptism.

That math just ain’t mathing.

No denomination can sustain losses like the SBC is experiencing and not be fundamentally changed. If the 2020-2023 numbers hold throughout the rest of the decade the SBC will be closer to 10 million by 2030.

I’ve noted that I think the biggest threat to denominations like the SBC are the nones and the nons. It looks like the Southern Baptist has not developed a strategy to overcome either.

The nones: that would be those who do not identify with an organized religious group. The nons: those who gravitate toward non-denominational churches. 

Religion News does point out some silver lining, though, stating:

Even as membership dropped, attendance at worship services continues to recover from pandemic lows. Attendance was up 5% to 3.8 million in 2022, after falling from 4.4 million in 2020 to 3.6 million in 2021, due largely to COVID-19 disruptions.

Churches reported 180,177 baptisms for 2022, up 16% from 2021.

The number of churches in the denomination declined by just over 400. 

The head of Lifeway Research thinks the decline is due to a purging of inactive members who are still of churches' rolls. Executive Director Scott McConnell says, "Much of the downward movement we are seeing in membership reflects people who stopped participating in an individual congregation years ago and the record keeping is finally catching up..."

Responding to another piece of SBC data released by the North American Mission Board regarding the number of church plants, Chuck Kelley, President Emeritus of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary tweeted out:

Underneath the Headline: "10,000 church plants since 2010." NAMB's announced goal for the decade was 15,000 new church plants. SBC 5,000 short of goal. 

SBC churches in 2011: 1 per 6,169 people. 

2021 ratio: 1 per 7,077. SBC keeps losing ground to lostness. Adjust the strategy!

There is no shortage of analysis regarding the decline - and this large denomination to which local, autonomous church bodies belong is showing the signs of distraction, something that we should be paying attention to in our own individual life. 

These days, Southern Baptist churches, many of which are doing an excellent job in bringing about accountability in the face of reports of abuse, are being painted with a broad brush, reinforced by a report by an organization that released a tome that essentially consisted of cut-and-pasted material from previously reported instances of sexual misconduct.  Southern Baptists had approved a task force to address "sexual abuse," which subcontracted it out to Guidepost Solutions; now it has authorized another task force to begin to implement the recommendations.

But, wait, according to an article on the Baptist Press website:

Abuse Reform and Implementation Task Force chair Marshall Blalock announced Tuesday (April 4) the task force will no longer recommend Guidepost Solutions to establish and maintain a database for those credibly accused of sexual abuse. Messengers approved the creation of a “ministry check” website at the 2022 SBC Annual Meeting in Anaheim, Calif.

The move comes after continued concerns were expressed by Southern Baptists to the ARITF in connection to a Guidepost tweet last June during gay pride month in which the group stated it was “proud to be an ally” to the LGBTQ+ community.

And, there has been comments made about who would go on this "ministry check" website and concerns expressed about lack of due process for those who are accused of sexual abuse. 

Quite frankly, the abuse "controversy," which has become a stain on the denomination, has led to distrust and division among fellow Southern Baptists.  Certainly, we should be concern about legitimate acts of abuse within congregations, and local bodies should be empowered to deal with those unfortunate incidents.

That is one of the distractions, as I see it, upon the mission of the Southern Baptist Convention. And, we have to make sure we are watching for distractions in our own lives. 

And, there was recently another cause for concern with the so-called Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, allegedly the public policy arm of the Convention. This entity has been a source of controversy for years, and churches had actually decided to withdraw funding it, a point raised in a piece by Kylee Griswold at The Federalist, who commented on the ERLC's support for a gun control bill in Tennessee that would authorize the state to deny gun ownership to certain individuals that it deems unsuitable to own a firearm, ostensibly due to psychological concerns, such as the shooter in Nashville who killed six at the Covenant School.  The piece said:

The biggest problem with the ERLC’s diligent lobbying for gun control isn’t actually the specifics of the bill, however. It’s that the ERLC, which purportedly exists to “engag[e] the culture with the gospel of Jesus Christ and speak[] to issues in the public square for the protection of religious liberty and human flourishing,” is doing precisely none of those things by pushing for Lee’s gun-grab. His bill is not compelled by the gospel, does nothing to protect religious liberty in the short term and might even threaten it in the long term, and stunts human flourishing by condemning Americans for the non-crime of owning firearms before they’ve done anything unlawful and depriving them of a means to defend their lives.

Now, Christians can certainly disagree on this issue, and as the article points out, the SBC has passed resolutions in the past calling for solutions for gun violence.  But, this is certainly problematic for this position to be represented as the Biblical one. In fact, The Federalist goes on to say:

Believers have watched as the nation’s premier law enforcement agency sought to covertly investigate faithful Catholics. There’s no reason to believe that just because a proposal vests power in law enforcement alone, it won’t be used to deny due process, skirt justice, or even undermine religious liberty. That a tithe-financed “religious liberty” entity would abuse its own funders in this way is shameful.

Yet, the agency has been criticized for its lack of defense for religious liberty when churches were being locked down during the COVID pandemic and for its silence on matters such as the mutilation of children with the false premise of changing their gender. 

I love the Church, and I was raised in a Southern Baptist church.  Churches and denominations face a tipping point these days, and the adherence to Biblical standards is a key issue.  That should be a key issue in our lives, as well: are we going to follow the Scriptures or are we going to be distracted by what culture says is right and engaged in virtue-signaling at the expense of Biblical truth?

We have to intensify our efforts as servants of the Most High God to be Biblically faithful and to keep our focus squarely on the Lord; otherwise, we run the risk of being pushed off-course in our desire to serve the Lord.  We must avoid distractions in our walk with Him.

Identifying as a Christian

There are expectations for the Christian in our overall behavior - what we do, what we say, how we express ourselves, should reflect the presence of the Lord within us. James chapter 1 provides this encouragement:
19 So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath;
20 for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.
21 Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

What we do should line up with who we are. If we proclaim ourselves to be Christians, that sets the standard very high - we should be effective representatives of Christ. That means we live and tell the truth. That means we are devoted to living our God's truth.  Because we have received the grace of God, that means that, even though the bar is high, the capacity of Christ operates in and through us, so that God might be glorified through us. 

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We hear way too much these days about people "identifying" as something or someone they are not. I would submit that Christians should identify as who they are in Christ and back it up with their speech and actions. Psalm 37 says:
30 The mouth of the righteous speaks wisdom, And his tongue talks of justice.
31 The law of his God is in his heart; None of his steps shall slide.

The purpose of a school in Kansas City sounds quite honorable and charitable.  An ABC News story says that it provides "a tuition-free, high-quality, Christ-centered education for low-income students."  But, wait, there's more - the article goes on to say:

The school’s mission statement has always stressed inclusivity in general terms, noting that following Jesus "opens up doors and makes room at the table." But last year it added a paragraph to its website, which read in part, "We are an affirming school. We stand with the LGBTQIA+ community and believe in their holiness. We celebrate the diversity of God's creation in all its varied and beautiful forms."

The donors to Urban Christian Academy, which provides this tuition-free education for children in kindergarten through 8th grade, allowed their faith beliefs to influence their giving. The article quotes Kalie Callaway-George, who co-founded the school and serves as Executive Director said this added paragraph "is kind of what started the backlash from our donor base, which we anticipated. It was just that we anticipated a 50% loss in funding and made adjustments for that. We had an 80% loss in funding and that was too much to overcome."

The ABC News article said: "Although the school would not disclose the names of churches or individuals who ended their financial assistance, it shared several of their missives with ABC News." It is interesting here that this mirrors language that is used by legislators who want to see donor lists, especially of those who give to Christian organizations.  The article notes:

A lengthy letter from one church, which characterized the LGBQIA+ community as a "diverse collection of behaviors," explained: "Our greatest concern about the Accepting and Affirming stance is that it denies the Biblical definitions of sin and identity and thereby renders the grace of God meaningless."

On the other hand, one parent said this: "I am LGBTQ-affirming and I identify as Christian..." ABC said, " While sympathetic to what she calls 'a discrepancy in biblical interpretation,' she said 'it's unfortunate that children who have nothing to do with the argument are the ones that are going to suffer because of it.'"

And, therein lies a disconnect - this one parent "identifies" as a Christian, but she also describes herself as "LGBTQ-affirming." And Callaway-George, who has led the school, believes that the so-called "inclusive" language "was the right thing to do and has no regrets."

The ABC article states:

As Rob Philips of the Missouri Baptist Convention, a network of 1,800 churches in the state, explained to ABC News, "to embrace desires and behaviors that are outside of scripture is not ultimately loving and caring." Philips said it is unlikely that any of the convention’s member churches would have supported the school.

If you're going to "identify" as a Christian, it's important that you know what that means. Yes, the article says that this Christian school believes that "following Jesus 'opens up doors and makes room at the table.'"  It absolutely true that Jesus welcomes all to come into the Kingdom of God; but the walk of obedience to which He calls us is a walk in which we are to turn away from sin and embrace His grace and forgiveness.  If we "identify" as a Christian, that means we are no longer to identify with our sin and our sinfulness.  We have a new identity, and failure to understand that can certainly lead to discouragement and despair.  

The definition of what it means to be "inclusive" has become so warped that people are invited not to repent and be changed, but to be accommodated in what they identify with.  A person's identity as a Christian has now become superseded by other characteristics, including their own sinful behavior.  In an attempt to include others, rather than to welcome them to experience the true Jesus and His ability to change lives, segments of the Church end up tolerating sin.  That's why the donors to this Christian school pulled out - they identify as Christians today, and they are acting with their resources.  I would hope that perhaps provision would be made for these children; it sounds like a very effective, loving concept.  But, to feed and/or reinforce confusing notions about sexuality to children brings a distortion to the truth of the gospel.

Death to Life

Because we belong to Christ, we have been brought into eternal life - we have the promise of heaven in the life to come and the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit for this life. 1st Corinthians chapter 2 provides encouragement to walk in that power:
12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.
13 These things we also speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

There is an afterlife, and the Bible provides us with certain truths that show us what the life to come is like - we will be with Jesus forever, and the Bible tells us to be absent from our earthly bodies is to be present with the Lord. While we are in these bodies, walking through this earth, we can also be assured of the supernatural power of God, enabling us to experience His presence each and every day; we can abide in Him and draw near to Him with expectation of what He will do. 

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The Bible provides us the encouragement we need in order to walk in the supernatural presence of God and the assurance of our eternal home, if we have accepted Jesus as our Lord. 2nd Corinthians 5 deals with these themes in the following passage:
6 So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord.
7 For we walk by faith, not by sight.
8 We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.
9 Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him.

We can give God the praise that He is the One who is in control even over life and death.  And, perhaps you have heard stories of people who have had what are termed, "near-death experiences" or even people who have legally died, yet lived again.  Lee Strobel and John Burke are two authors who have explored these types of experiences.  Their findings, and our knowledge of Scripture, can help us to recognize the existence of the afterlife and even the validity of stories of people who have faced death and perhaps even crossed over.  Don Piper is one example of someone who actually died, experienced heaven, and came back to life.

So is Sammy Berko, a young man from Texas.  CBN.com related his story in a recent article, which reported that Sammy went into cardiac arrest in a gym on a rock climbing wall and "was...pronounced dead after a bystander, medical professionals, and doctors worked on him for hours in a desperate attempt to restart his stopped heart...Doctors gave up hope — and then something incredible happened. The 16-year-old came back to life, KRIV-TV reported."

The story goes on to quote Sammy's mother, Jennifer, who said, “I started talking to [Sammy], just telling him how much I love him and sorry that we didn’t know how to save him,” adding, “Suddenly, as I started praying, my husband said, ‘Oh my gosh, he’s moving.'”

CBN stated:

Jennifer and her husband began shouting, and doctors came in and discovered a true miracle had unfolded and Sammy was back, according to KRIV-TV.

The emotional mom, reflecting on all that unfolded, said the medical professionals at the hospital hadn’t seen anything like Sammy’s recovery before.

“Never had they ever pronounced somebody and suddenly they came back five minutes later,” she said. “That feeling of seeing his heartbeat, there are no words for that. There are no words.”

Dr. Stacey Hall, who has been working with Sammy, stated to the television station: "We do see kids all the time here who have had CPR, but with very prolonged CPR, we typically see very severe global anoxic brain injury, so to me, he is a literal miracle..." The story continues:

Her team at TIRR Memorial Hermann is helping Sammy overcome the ischemic spine injury he suffered during cardiac arrest.

"He did have an upper thoracic spinal cord injury, so he is working on strengthening his core, strengthening his legs. He's working on everyday things like transferring, putting clothes on, he is working on walking, and he truly has made remarkable progress," states Dr. Hall.

There's that word again: "miracle."  What a testimony - this story got extensive coverage on KRIV, Fox26 in Houston.  And, it hopefully points people to see that a supernatural event has occurred.

I would also hope that this incident can help people consider where they go when they leave this earth. There is an afterlife, and we all can decide where we want to spend it - Jesus was very plain when He told His disciples He went to prepare a place for us. 

The Bible addresses both the supernatural that is commonly expressed on earth and the eternal that is expressed after we leave this earth.  

Big George

There is a distinct contrast that we are exhibit between a life that reflects a dependence and fondness for this world and a life that belongs to another world; a life to be lived in the Spirit. In Ephesians 4, we can read:
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.

Here we see the contrast between the old and the new. We are called to reject the desires and tendency of the "old man," the person we used to be before coming to Christ, and we are directed to embrace the "new man," what 2nd Corinthians 5 calls the "new creation." Our ambitions, the daily decisions, the attitudes we possess - all should be governed by the Word of God and the Holy Spirit, realizing that our consistent exposure to God's truth will produce fruit that reflects the presence of the Lord in us. 

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In 1st Corinthians 15, Paul describes what the resurrected life looks life - the life we can have in Jesus Christ. He writes:
28 Now when all things are made subject to Him, then the Son Himself will also be subject to Him who put all things under Him, that God may be all in all.

He goes on to say:
31 I affirm, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.

Then, we can read later in the passage:
34 Awake to righteousness, and do not sin; for some do not have the knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame.

He came out of a rough upbringing, one of seven children.  He dropped out of school in the 10th grade and pursued a life of crime and alcohol abuse.  He was encouraged to respond to his anger by getting into boxing. That's according to The Christian Post, which said that this young man ultimately won an Olympic Gold Medal, then became the heavyweight boxing champion of the world. 

In 1974, though, he lost the title to Muhammed Ali, and not long afterward, George Foreman disappeared from the boxing scene.  Twenty years later after the lost to Ali, Foreman regained the heavyweight championship after returning to boxing due to financial hardship.

But, it was what happened to Foreman in 1977 that changed his life permanently and eternally.  The Christian Post article said:

In 1977, Foreman retired from boxing after a near-death experience brought him to the Lord. He recalled how, in his dressing room in Puerto Rico, he understood the truth of the Gospel for the first time.

“I was dead. There was nothing left of me,” he recalled. “I stared at nothingness, no hope. I was pulled out of this dirty place, and given a second chance to live. That has kept me grounded.”

Determined to spend the rest of his life sharing the Gospel, Foreman became a minister and, in 1980, founded The Church of the Lord Jesus Christ.

A movie based on his life story has been in theaters recently; it's called simply, Big George Foreman.  A review by Michael Foust at Crosswalk.com noted:

The film showcases the power of the gospel but includes other lessons, too. It reminds us to keep our lives "free from the love of money" (Hebrews 13:5). It urges us to place the needs of others before our own. It encourages us to forgive. (Foreman does that several times). It also underscores the importance of a godly family. Foreman may not have walked the narrow path early in life, but he returned to his mom's values later in life.

Foust writes: "Boxing forms the backdrop to the bigger story of faith." The review also says:

"The most important thing I'd like for the people who go to the movie to take out is that there is hope," Foreman told Crosswalk. "And there's a reason for our faith – there's a living God. And I'm proof of it. That's all – forget about the boxing and the winning and the losing and all of that. Faith in God is what that movie is about."

Foreman is now 73 years old, and CBN.com reports that he...

...is a member of the World Boxing Hall of Fame and the International Boxing Hall of Fame. He's also known as a successful TV pitchman and entrepreneur after he worked with Spectrum Brands who created and marketed the popular George Foreman Lean Mean Fat-Reducing Grilling Machine, also known as the George Foreman Grill. Since it was introduced in 1994, more than 100 million of the portable double-sided electrically heated grills have been sold worldwide.

He's also the author of 17 books including a children's book, his autobiography, as well as books about boxing and grilling.

About that near-death experience, the CBN story relates that: 

He told CBN in an interview several years after the fight, when he returned to his dressing room he sensed he was dying and heard a voice say, "I don't want your money. I want you!"

Foreman's intense spiritual struggle caused raised eyebrows in the dressing room because he started acting out according to the voice he heard.

He finally yelled, "Jesus Christ is coming alive in me!"

He told everyone he loved them and kissed them. They thought he was losing his mind, but when the episode was over, Foreman knew he would never be the same again. After that encounter, he spouted love instead of hate and pursued God instead of a boxing career.

Many of us have had those pivotal moments in our life, when we recognize that our lives in their current state are flatly, not working.  George Foreman, at the top of the boxing world, looked into a hopeless future, and Jesus met him.  We can be so thankful for a God who loves us so much that He will dramatically intervene in our lives and invite us to experience something more.  Now, He doesn't force us, but He certainly will compel us. 

George Foreman, as portrayed in the movie, according to the review I referenced, was set free, including from the pursuit of worldly fame and wealth.  But, interestingly enough, God gave him an enormous platform - he returned to boxing after a hiatus, and became famous for not only his boxing exploits, but for a product that bears his name.  The story of George Foreman shows us how the presence of Christ within us can produce the ability to function in this world in a godly manner - God is not against our having worldly success; we have to learn to manage it for God's glory.  It's true for all the areas of our lives; we have to rely on the Holy Spirit to direct us in the decisions that we make every day; dying to the world and living to the Savior. 

Truly Good?

The Bible, in Isaiah, referred to those who call good evil and evil good; it's an apt description of the world we live in. In the 17th chapter of Acts, we see a description of the early Church and it work - we can see these words:
4 And some of them were persuaded; and a great multitude of the devout Greeks, and not a few of the leading women, joined Paul and Silas.
5 But the Jews who were not persuaded, becoming envious, took some of the evil men from the marketplace, and gathering a mob, set all the city in an uproar and attacked the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people.
6 But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, "These who have turned the world upside down have come here too.
7 Jason has harbored them, and these are all acting contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying there is another king--Jesus."

The opponents of the spread of Christianity resorted to violence to shut down the message of the gospel - does that sound familiar?  The followers of Jesus were said to have "turned the world upside down." We need that today - the Word of God an upend the philosophies of humanity, the ideologies that oppose God. We are called to be His representatives, boldly proclaiming His truth - pointing people to the One who is truly good and who has defeated the enemy and come to redeem those who are trapped by sin in their lives. 

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In a truly telling passage from Mark 10, we find a man who was seeking eternal life, to achieve or experience eternal goodness. We can read these words:
17 Now as He was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, "Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?"
18 So Jesus said to him, "Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God.
19 You know the commandments: 'Do not commit adultery,' 'Do not murder,' 'Do not steal,' 'Do not bear false witness,' 'Do not defraud,' 'Honor your father and your mother.' "
20 And he answered and said to Him, "Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth."

21 Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, "One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me."

The words "good" and "evil" are absolute terms, derived from an understanding of absolute truth. I would submit, based on the Scriptures, that these terms are defined by God Himself. In a culture that seems to specialize in either "gray" areas or outright calling good evil and evil good, God's Word brings the clarity we need in order to live our lives as followers of Christ. 

But, a new survey indicates that people in 17 countries don't see it that way.  The Christian Post reports that the Pew Research Center’s Global Attitudes Survey, which was conducted last spring, yielded these results:

When asked if it was “necessary or not necessary to believe in God in order to be moral and have good values,” majorities of respondents based in the secular Western European countries of Sweden (90%), France (77%), the United Kingdom (76%), the Netherlands (76%), Spain (74%), Belgium (69%), Italy (68%), Germany (62%) and Greece (60%) said it wasn't necessary.

But that's not all. Even in the U.S., 65% of respondents separated moral "goodness" from belief in God. 85% of Australians and 73% of Canadians held that view. The Christian Post also noted: "Majorities of respondents in the Eastern European nations of Poland (67%) and Hungary (63%), which have governments sympathetic to traditional values and religion, said the same."

In the U.S., according to the survey, "Even among those who described religion as 'important' to them, a narrow majority (51%) suggested that a moral life is possible in the absence of a belief in God."

On a more widespread basis, here's somewhat of a stunner: "A difference in views between the religiously affiliated and the religiously unaffiliated regarding the necessity of a belief in God to living a moral life with good values extended across all the countries surveyed, although in all but one case, majorities belonging to both groups did not think a belief in God was a requirement for achieving such a life."

Therein lies the problem - even though the Bible says there is no one who is truly good, there seems to be the pervasive belief that humanity is basically good.  And, if we believe that we are good, then that makes it harder to understand why a person needs a Savior.  Even those in the U.S. who said that religion was important to them claim one can be good without believing in God.

God is the source of goodness.  Even Jesus would not refer to Himself as good - He acknowledge that goodness comes from God.  We have to recognize that we are not good, cannot be in and of ourselves, and need the presence of Jesus in our lives to experience true goodness and rejection of evil.

Problem is, I think we have a need to feel "good" about ourselves, so we say that we are good based on what we do or who we think we are, not who God says we are.  And, by that measure, we also can begin to understand that people think if their good outweighs their bad, they will have a place in heaven - and survey data even shows self-professing Christians disagreeing with Jesus about who gets in: He said that no one - no one - comes to the Father except through Him. 

We have lost sight of the source of goodness; and that is why people now call things that have been recognized as evil for years and years as good.  The world is turned upside down and we need Jesus to truly, as the book of Acts describes the work of the early Church, to turn the way things are "upside down" and get things right again. 

Good Citizens

We are not of this world; the Bible tells us we are citizens of heaven. But, we live in this world, and we are citizens of a country, a state, a county, and perhaps a city. We have a space in which we are placed, and Philippians 3 gives us direction in how to deal with that:
20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,
21 who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.

Our heavenly citizenship and earthly citizenship fuse together when we recognize that we are to live out the principles of the heavenly Kingdom here on earth. Our nation is not a theocracy, but we can recognize that the Bible shows us the best way to interact with one another; so we should be desirous to bring those principles into the way we are governed.  If the government is to maintain order by upholding good and punishing evil, according to the Bible, then we have to look toward the definition of good and evil - those are concepts that are not subjective, but authoritatively set by Almighty God.

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There is a passage of Scripture in Psalm 33 that reminds us of what lies in store for a nation that devotes itself to God and that God is watching and involved in the way that human government operates:
12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, The people He has chosen as His own inheritance.
13 The Lord looks from heaven; He sees all the sons of men.
14 From the place of His dwelling He looks On all the inhabitants of the earth...

One of the areas about which there seems to be no absence of discussion in the Christian community at large has to do with how we are to relate to our country.  There is a new statement on what has been termed, in a derogatory way, "Christian nationalism," which is an attempt to enter into this debate and perhaps even to sanitize the term.

Fact is, Christians should bring our worldview based on Scripture to every area of life. The great preacher Adrian Rogers, who is heard weeknights at 6:30 on Faith Radio, made this statement: "It's inconceivable that God would ordain human government and then tell his people to stay out of it. If that is true, who does that lead to run it?"  That was published in a recent article on the NotTheBee.com website, which is a division of The Babylon Bee.  

It includes more quotes from Dr. Rogers:

Patriotism is not bad. When our government is good we praise our government. This scripture says "give honor to whom honor is due..."

Patriotism, love of the fatherland, is not wrong. We are to give honor to whom honor is due.

Next, we are to preach to our country... God's people dare not be silent. We will be civil. But we won't be silent... As long as they're killing babies and practicing infanticide, I will not be silent. As long as we have a government that is trying to normalize sexual perversion, I will not be silent. As long as they're handing out condoms to high school and junior high school students in so-called God blessed America, I will not be silent. And as long as a free born American is told he cannot pray out loud anywhere, I will not be silent...

We must say to our government, whatever is morally wrong is not politically right!

The Love Worth Finding website has a transcript and outline of Dr. Rogers' message on "Christian Citizenship." After he declared that we are to "preach to our country," he reminded the audience:

We will be civil, but we won’t be silent. Nathan warned David. Elijah preached to Ahab. Eleazar warned Jehoshaphat. Daniel preached to Nebuchadnezzar. Moses warned Pharaoh. John the Baptist preached to Herod.

Rogers went on to say:

We pay for our government; we pray for our government; we praise our government; we preach to our government; and we participate in our government. Notice again in Romans 13 verse 7. We’re to render all their due, custom to whom custom and so forth. Jesus said, “Give to Caesar the things that belong to Caesar.” And Jesus said, “Render to God the things that belong to God.” To God is our highest, greatest allegiance. But we don’t have a Caesar as they did then, so when you read a Scripture, you ask yourself this question; “What did it mean then? How does it apply now? And then how does it apply to me personally? What is our Caesar? What is our government?” 

Our government is, “A government of the people, by the people, and for the people.” And I’m telling you, friend, if you do not participate in your government, you have not rendered to your Caesar the things that belong to your Caesar. If, for example, you do not vote, if you do not inform yourself, in my estimation, you have disobeyed the Lord Jesus Christ. It is inconceivable that God would’ve ordained human government and told His people to stay out of it. If that is true, who does that leave to run it? Use your head. We as Christians are to participate, not on the basis of parties or persons or politics or policies but principles. We are to be informed.

Whether or not a Christian embraces the phrase "Christian nationalism," I would submit that the NotThe Bee.com article offers some perspective on the way we should regard our country and relationship to it; the article notes: "Christians ought to favor a nation that rules in accordance to God's law." It also offers a statement consistent with the Bible: "Punishing good is bad but punishing evil is righteous."

Mark David Hall, professor at George Fox University, was on the program recently to discuss the concept of "Christian nationalism," which is a term that he and I agree that Christians who love their country and could be considered patriotic should not embrace.  He wrote in a piece for the Centennial Institute and Colorado Christian University: "Although some scholars believe nationalism can be healthy, others warn of the danger of an inordinate love of country, perhaps such a disordered love that would lead one to follow one’s country 'right or wrong...' Christians must reject this approach; our ultimate allegiance is to the King of Kings, not a particular nation state. There is nothing wrong with loving one’s country, but it should  be a properly ordered love that does not result in blind obedience. This proper love of country is best referred to as patriotism..."

Hall goes on to say:

There are excellent reasons for Christians to reject both what the critics call Christian nationalism and what its proponents call Christian nationalism. Instead, Christian should be patriotic, and we must bring our faith into the public square to advocate for liberty, justice, and equality for all. We cannot let critics shame us into privatizing our faith and abandoning our responsibility to “seek the peace and prosperity of the city” (Jeremiah 29:7).

You could make the case the Sean Feucht made recently - his quotes are included in a derogatory Newsweek article, in which he is quoted as asking, "You want God to come on over and take over the government?" He answered, "Yes!" The article went on to say:

"We want God to be in control of everything! We want believers to be the ones writing the laws! Yes! Guilty as charged," Feucht said. He added that, "We wouldn't be a disciple of Jesus if we didn't believe that."

Now, granted, this was spoken at what was termed a political rally, at which a group of pastors gathered to support a particular candidate. But the sentiments are worth considering, I believe. There is not a Biblical prohibition on supporting for or even encouraging people to vote for particular candidates - as it's been said, we should make sure that we are supporting the candidate who best lines up with our Christian values.  And, we may not all agree on that.  But, we can discuss it in a civil manner! 

In the piece, the professor offers defense of religious liberty, which is the cornerstone upon which our nation was founded.  So, we can consider some simple principles.  For one thing, God is not against us loving our country.  Paul at Mars Hill, quoted in the book of Acts, pointed out how people have been organized into nations, which was done by God's hand.  But, he also related that we are to possess the attitude, "in Him we live, and move, and have our being."  So, we are to recognize God first, our allegiance is to Him ultimately; but that does not preclude us from loving the country in which He has placed us.  

And, that's where our citizenship in heaven and our earthly citizenship intersect.  We are to work for the benefit of these authoritative units: nation, state, municipality, in order that God might be glorified. So many of our laws reflect the principles of Scripture and laws for the betterment of a society are encased within the Ten Commandments. So, we are to function as good citizens, advocating for freedom of religion and taking advantage of that liberty afforded to us so that we might influence good laws, laws that are inspired by godly wisdom and are not hostile toward people of faith. We can choose and support candidates that best line up with our deeply held Scriptural beliefs.  As Dr. Rogers said, God didn't ordain human government and tell Christians to stay out of it. 

Death Cult

We have the promise of Jesus returning to take His Church to be with Him - Biblical prophecy indicates that this will occur following the fulfillment of certain signs. 1st Thessalonians chapter 4 relates:
15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep.
16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.
17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.

Experts in Bible prophecy, in observing events on the earth, believe that the signs of this occurrence have been fulfilled; one of the most notable being the regathering of Israel as a nation. It is said that Israel is a barometer to which we can look and see how God is setting up the events to occur during a period of great tribulation before which the Church will be taken by Jesus to meet Him and to be with Him. We can be watchful, full of anticipation for what Jesus will do, according to the Bible.

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Jesus teaches that we are to be faithful and watchful until He comes. We are to "occupy," as the Bible says, which means that we are to continue to live a life of obedience, in anticipation of His coming to take His Church to be with Him. Jesus said in Luke chapter 19:
11 Now as they heard these things, He spoke another parable, because He was near Jerusalem and because they thought the kingdom of God would appear immediately.
12 Therefore He said: "A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and to return.
13 So he called ten of his servants, delivered to them ten minas, and said to them, 'Do business till I come.'  

Instead of the phrase, "Do business," the King James Bible uses the word, "occupy."

A cult leader in Kenya certainly twisted those concepts, leading followers into a lifestyle predicated on fasting and waiting for the Lord's return - resulting in the deaths of over 100 people. The Christian Post reported last week:

The Kenyan cult preacher, Paul Nthenge Mackenzie of the Good News International Church, appeared in court on Thursday, accused of encouraging followers to starve themselves to death, the BBC reported.

The BBC spoke with Stephen Mwiti, who believes his wife and their six children disappeared into a thick forest which has become the headquarters for this cult group.  The Post article said:

The police raided the Shakahola forest last month after receiving information about “ignorant citizens starving to death under the pretext of meeting Jesus after being brainwashed” by Nthenge. Six of Nthenge’s associates have also been arrested in connection with the case.

The cult established a new Holy Land, partitioning the area into villages named after biblical locations, the BBC said, adding that Mwiti learned from escaped children in police custody that his wife and children had died. While their bodies have yet to be identified, Mwiti is certain they starved to death in the forest.

As of last Friday, there have been 110 confirmed deaths, and authorities believe that it could increase. Apparently, followers were commanded to fast and wait for the return of the Lord. There is evidence that those who wanted to leave the group were beaten.  The article says:

Former church members have claimed they were forced to starve as part of their adherence to its teachings.

BBC quoted Titus Katana, an escapee, as saying that those who tried to leave the cult were branded as traitors and violently attacked. He also suggested there was an order in which people were supposed to die, with children being the first to go.

As for Nthenge, the BBC article states:

Pastor Mackenzie was arrested in March when two children were found dead in Shakahola. He and their parents were accused of starving and suffocating them before burying them in the forest.

However, he was released for lack of evidence.

He is now back in custody but has not commented on the charges of murder, radicalisation and threatening public safety that he faces.

President William Ruto has promised to set up a commission of inquiry into what happened but the authorities themselves face tough questions. Not least about what took them so long to figure out something was going on.

Around the end of April, according to the BBC, "the Kenya Red Cross reported that 410 people, including 227 children, who were thought to have some connection to Pastor Mackenzie's church, were missing." 

The Christian Post also related that, "In a similar incident last July, police in Nigeria rescued at least 77 people, including 23 children, who pastors had ordered to stay in a church basement and wait for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ."

These unfortunate incidents remind us that there are those who, for whatever reason, notably power and control, put others into bondage and force them in the name of spiritual practice to do remarkably unspiritual things.  Jesus took on the Pharisees for adding to the Scriptures by placing excessive restrictions on them.  We can be mindful to make sure that we steer clear of legalism and follow the Word first. 

Nowhere in Scripture are we commanded to find 40 acres somewhere and wait for the coming of the Lord.  Or go up on a mountain to await the rapture.  There is a world that desperately needs to hear the message of salvation, of a Savior who came to earth once, purchased salvation for us, and will come again, meeting His Church in the air, and later coming to judge the earth and create a new heavens and new earth.  A question for each of us is: are we ready?  We can also consider the extent to which we are truly "occupying," being good stewards of the space to which God has called us and shining the light of Christ to people who need to know His love. 

Filled

We can realize, day by day, that God has invited us to come to know Him through Jesus Christ, and do exalt His name through the way we live. 2nd Timothy chapter 2 relates:
20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor.
21 Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.
22 Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

So, we can make ourselves ready for service to our King.  We recognize that He is calling us to a walk of obedience, and that our faithfulness to God results in fruitfulness through God. So, we allow the Holy Spirit to cleanse us, to make us more like Jesus Christ, and from that place of holiness before God, we can put Him on display through us.  We can set our hearts to pursue what He has in store for us, devoted to bringing Him honor. 

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Fruitfulness for the glory of God proceeds from our faithfulness to God. In John 15, we see the words of Jesus; He says:
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.
17 These things I command you, that you love one another.

While February 8 might not be considered any sort of federal or state holiday, it certainly would be considered a historic day in the spiritual realm.  In Wilmore, Kentucky, it was the day that a chapel service began, but did not end - that day, or the next, or the next.  Prayer, confession, and worship continued for over two weeks at Asbury University, and it reverberated across the nation.

Meanwhile, in Norman, Oklahoma, on February 8, the University of Oklahoma verbally agreed to allow a group to rent Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium for an event called, Fill the Stadium.  That's according to OU Daily.  Now, this website was chiding, it seems, the organizers because 20 or 30 thousand people showed up in an 80,000 seat stadium.  Quite frankly, that's immaterial.  Because our call is to be obedient, and allow God to bring the results. 

The event, according to the website, "featured artists Kari Jobe, Chandler Moore and Chance the Rapper along with evangelist Nick Hall from Pulse ministries. Backed by Pulse, Josh Robinson, an entrepreneurship senior, and Nathan Wong, a marketing senior, founded and acted as co-directors of Fill the Stadium."

The Oklahoman quoted Nathan Wong, who said: "I thought the event was incredibly successful," adding, "We had over 2,000 people respond to the Gospel and while that's exciting, that's just the beginning. We will never actually know all the life change that happened on April 29 but we know that God moved on that night and when God moves, special things happen."

The report stated:

In his message, Hall said Oklahoma had a profound effect on his faith testimony because he had attended a Billy Graham evangelistic mission effort in Oklahoma City as a young man.

He urged the crowd to shine their cell phone flashlights if they had ever suffered from depression, knew someone who committed suicide or contemplated suicide themselves. He said he didn't have all the answers to their challenges nor did anyone else on the program lineup, but God did.

"I want to tell you something about God. God sees you. God loves you," he said. "I think we're in a famine of people being heard. I want to tell you whatever you're going through tonight, he loves you."

It's been said before, but it's highly applicable here: we are called to be faithful; God is responsible for the results.  So often, we can get caught up in what we can see - but, like one of the organizers of the OU event said, "We will never actually know all the life change that happened..." Again, numbers don't tell the whole story - we can certainly rejoice that up to 30,000 people showed up and 2,000 responded to the Lord.  But, that is not all - we can rejoice that God, by His Spirit, touched hearts.

Goals are good, and these organizers had a goal - they wanted to "Fill the Stadium."  They didn't - for any number of reasons.  But, the bigger concern was souls.  When we measure according to human wisdom, we miss the whole scope of what God is doing - and His ways are immeasurable. We can be discouraged when appearances would say we missed the mark.  But, we can be encouraged when we know we have been obedient.   They wanted to "fill" the venue, but what occurred is that the organizers - and attendees - may have been ful-filled because of the presence of God.