Exposure

There is a sobering passage of Scripture in Isaiah 47, which cautions us to seek our wisdom from God, not from sources that stand opposed to His ways. We can read these words:
10 "For you have trusted in your wickedness; You have said, 'No one sees me'; Your wisdom and your knowledge have warped you; And you have said in your heart, 'I am, and there is no one else besides me.'
11 Therefore evil shall come upon you; You shall not know from where it arises. And trouble shall fall upon you; You will not be able to put it off. And desolation shall come upon you suddenly, Which you shall not know.
12 "Stand now with your enchantments And the multitude of your sorceries, In which you have labored from your youth-- Perhaps you will be able to profit, Perhaps you will prevail.
13 You are wearied in the multitude of your counsels; Let now the astrologers, the stargazers, And the monthly prognosticators Stand up and save you From what shall come upon you.
14 Behold, they shall be as stubble, The fire shall burn them; They shall not deliver themselves From the power of the flame; It shall not be a coal to be warmed by, Nor a fire to sit before!

We have to be aware that at all times, we are in the presence of the all-seeing, all-knowing, all-powerful, Almighty God.  He does see us, and He desires for us to acknowledge Him and to seek His wisdom, rather than follow the world's ideas or to look to spiritual forces that would deceive us and draw us away from Him.  The enemy is at work, and His agenda results in the destruction of life - we can know true life, eternal and abundant, by walking with the One True God. 

+++++

The Bible teaches us to look to the Lord as our ultimate source of wisdom. I think about a phrase I have heard - encouraging us not to look to the stars for answers, but to look to the One who made the stars. That is consistent with what we can read in Deuteronomy chapter 4:
19 And take heed, lest you lift your eyes to heaven, and when you see the sun, the moon, and the stars, all the host of heaven, you feel driven to worship them and serve them, which the Lord your God has given to all the peoples under the whole heaven as a heritage.
20 But the Lord has taken you and brought you out of the iron furnace, out of Egypt, to be His people, an inheritance, as you are this day.

Tailah Scroggins was first introduced to astrology when she was in high school.  A CBN.com article, relating some content from a podcast interview, stated that:

She said she was first introduced to the New Age in high school when someone she trusted in her family told her about astrology.

“They had this big … textbook of everything astrology, and they were like, ‘This describes my personality so perfectly — look what it says about you,'” Scroggins said. “I was caught off-guard, and I remember … I was like, ‘But how can this be true? If God created all of us and he made our personalities, how can a planet dictate my future or dictate my personality?'”

She said this was the first “seed of deception” the devil planted in her life, and her perspective started to shift. With her family friend stating God created astrology as a system “He put in order,” she started down what she now believes was a dangerous path.

The article says that she was an astrologer for 11 years, but still attended church. It states:

Her spiritual immaturity also led her to join in on the party lifestyle. Scroggins said “the enemy lied” and she “took his bait” and began down a negative path, getting drunk every weekend.

“The more I rebelled and lived in this party lifestyle, the more I craved astrology, the witchcraft, the divination, and all of that,” Scroggins said. “It was like this hunger exploded … it was like this black hole … I needed to be consuming it.”

She said depression soon took hold and suicidal thoughts reigned. Scroggins would find herself crying for two hours every day for no reason, as she grappled with the emptiness left by the abandonment of her relationship with the Lord.

Scroggins added, “It was like I had no reason to live.”

But, God sent someone into her life to pray for her; the article used the word, "intervening," and this was a dramatic intervention. Recognizing the spiritual warfare in which Scroggins was involved, this family friend renounced the powers of darkness and prayed for Tailah's deliverance. She says, “The depression never came back, the suicidal thoughts never came back — ever,” adding, “It’s been over six years. I was delivered...," and that “God completely healed me, set me free.” CBN reports:

Over time, she abandoned her occultic practices and clung close to Jesus. A few years later, though, she found herself alarmed by how many others were being enraptured by the same world she had escaped.

She decided to speak out online and counter these viewpoints and practices that are contrary to Scripture. Her content has received millions of views. She says:

“I was like, ‘I’m gonna share my testimony, and I’m going to expose astrology. I’m going to expose the New Age, I’m going to expose all of it,'” she said. “And I just started telling people what I went through and what God saved me from. And what came into my life when I started doing those practices — and it was all evil.”

Tailah Scroggins was worshipping the wrong things: she had been exposed to the New Age and the occult early in life, and it deeply affected her - it led from astrology to other forms of immorality, and thankfully, Christ set her free.  As He will do as we surrender to Him.  Whatever we worship instead of the One True God can become a snare to us and place us in bondage.  When you examine the spiritual dynamics of these practices that are forbidden by Scripture, you open yourself up to destructive thoughts and habits.  

But, Jesus makes available the resources to overcome.  Sometimes it will take a person or persons to walk with you - to pray, to minister, to counsel, and to hold accountable.  Astrology teaches people that they can find answers to life through the stars, through created things...true wisdom comes through the Creator Himself, who recreates us in the image of Christ as we accept Him as our Savior.  The New Age is centered on what humans can do in partnership with spiritual forces that are not aligned with God; but the true light, the light of Christ, brings us reliable truth and power. 

Comic Relief

We can radiate a sense of hope because of the presence of Christ in us. As we surrender to Him and spend time in fellowship with our Savior, we can reflect what was said about Peter and John in the book of Acts: that people could tell they had been with Jesus. 1st Peter 3 says:
15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;
16 having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed.
17 For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.

That passage can inspire us as we recognize that there is a cost for following Jesus - we not only lay down our lives and take up His cross to follow Him, because of what He did on the cross, but we also can consider how we may find ourselves opposed because of our faith; we may encounter outright hostility and face unfair and even untrue allegations.  But, we can continue to rejoice in the Lord, because we know that we have followed Him.

+++++

We can not only pray for God to provide opportunities through which we can share about Him, but make sure that when He answers, that we act. 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.
5 Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time.
6 Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.

Yesterday, I talked about allow God to inspire creative ideas that can spread His message and to use technology under submission to His direction.  A artist who is a Christian apparently checks those boxes, and a Movieguide article previews a new series coming to Apple TV+ next month.

His name is Nathan Pyle and he has developed what is called a "webcomic," which seems to be an animated feature. The article says, "The comic follows a pair of aliens who describe human activities in an obscure and alien way. While the comics can take a second to translate, they offer a humorous look at the ridiculousness of many aspects of society."

It's called, Strange Planet, and it is an extension of a comic that launched in 2019 and then became a book. The Movieguide article notes:

Despite being aimed at adults, Pyle has made it clear that the show will be appropriate for all ages.

Pyle is an outspoken Christian, and while most of his comics are not related to faith, he keeps them wholesome and family-friendly. He has also been criticized in the past because of his beliefs but he has not backed down from his biblical roots.

The article refers to a previous article, which stated:

The artist received backlash due to a pro-life comic posted to Twitter from 2017.  

Newsweek reported: 

On April 8, a 2017 tweet made by Pyle in defense of the anti-abortion rally March For Life started to gain traction. In it, Pyle quotes a Facebook post from his then-girlfriend who wrote that she was “given a chance to live.” “Thank you Father for the stories of others from last year’s March For Life who were also discarded or abandoned, yet were given a chance to live,” she wrote.

While a few fans were not happy with his comic, Pyle later came out with a statement about his Christian faith. 

Pyle also shares the occasional comic, which represents a passage of scripture. 

“One of my favorite verses, Matthew 6:34,” Pyle captioned one of his illustrations, adding: “I always think about James 4 as I read Jesus’s words here and think about humility that comes from considering how fragile life is…”

The Newsweek article also noted that some had characterized Pyle as a victim of cancel culture:

Spectator USA said "scroll through the fresh replies to that tweet and you'll encounter erstwhile Pyle fans acting like they were personally wronged and are owed an apology." The Washington Examiner wrote "in the age of outrage, it's not hard to be problematic. And a vaguely pro-life tweet must have been just what the strife-seeker was looking for."

The Examiner writer, Madeline Fry Schultz, stated:

Americans are equally divided on the issue of abortion, as many Americans identify as pro-life as pro-choice (47% each). So why should an artist's embrace of a view held by half of Americans send him to the blacklist?

Well, we know the answer - just witness the doubled-down efforts to silence the efforts of pro-life pregnancy resource centers and suggestions that people who believe the Bible are calloused or unscientific.  But, we have to continue to hold fast to our beliefs in a culture that would want to silence them or water them down. 

And, we can remember that God wants to speak through us in whatever means that He provides. Pyle uses his craft to demonstrate what he says on his Twitter feed, "I follow Jesus."  The question for each of us is this: does the way we live illustrate that we follow Jesus?  We can always be on the outlook for opportunities to share what God has done for us. 

Downstream

God will inspire creative ways through which his message can be spread - for instance, strategic use of technology can provide powerful resources for us to spread the Gospel.  But, it can also be harmful. 

A certain king of Judah was apparently innovative in using the technology of the day, but his heart was not right toward God. We can read in 2nd Chronicles 26:
14 Then Uzziah prepared for them, for the entire army, shields, spears, helmets, body armor, bows, and slings to cast stones.
15 And he made devices in Jerusalem, invented by skillful men, to be on the towers and the corners, to shoot arrows and large stones. So his fame spread far and wide, for he was marvelously helped till he became strong.
16 But when he was strong his heart was lifted up, to his destruction, for he transgressed against the Lord his God by entering the temple of the Lord to burn incense on the altar of incense.

He was confronted by the priests and chastised by the Lord with leprosy. This is a great lesson for us to be creative, to allow God to inspire innovation in our hearts, but to always be submitted to God in our use of what He has given to us. The ancients in Genesis 11 wanted to use their human skill to build a tower to exalt humanity - God saw it was the wrong thing to do and brought it down.  We can rely on the Lord to direct us in how we use technological developments that are available to us.

+++++

In Exodus 31, we can read about certain individuals upon whom was placed a significant responsibility to use their crafts for the glory of God. We see these words spoken by the Lord to Moses:
2 "See, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah.
3 And I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship,
4 to design artistic works, to work in gold, in silver, in bronze,
5 in cutting jewels for setting, in carving wood, and to work in all manner of workmanship.
6 And I, indeed I, have appointed with him Aholiab the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan; and I have put wisdom in the hearts of all who are gifted artisans, that they may make all that I have commanded you...

He went on to enumerate parts and furnishings of the Temple that he was appointed to build. 

Faith Radio operates in the space of electronic media - we do not position ourselves as a substitute for the local church or a competitor.  Our desire is to help you grow in the Lord and strengthen your faith through solid Bible teaching and uplifting music; we also want to keep you informed so that you can apply a Christian worldview perspective for what is occurring in our world today.  We stream our content and offer interviews on a variety of platforms, including our website, app, and numerous podcast platforms.

There has seemingly been no shortage of surveys that have attempted to measure how people are interacting with church media being streamed online.  This especially became popular during the pandemic. It is certainly an important piece of the electronic media space; but the purpose and usage are different than what we offer at Faith Radio, I believe.  A recent survey sets up the scenario of church livestreaming being used as a substitute for in-person worship; the Lifeway Research summary says:

According to a Lifeway Research study, nearly 2 in 5 Protestant churchgoers (39%) say they have watched a livestream service instead of attending a church service in person on more than five occasions over the past year. Meanwhile, 1 in 5 (20%) have not watched a livestream service in the last year.

In 2019, among those surveyed, 50% of respondents said that they had watched at least one video livestreamed service in the previous year.  In 2021, that was up to 83% - 32% had engaged with a livestream 18 or more times, versus 4% in 2019.  Even in 2022, 76% of survey respondents had watched a livestream in the previous year, with 15% having watched 18+ times.  So, the percentage of frequent users had gone down by more than half from 2021 to 2022.

Scott McConnell, executive director of Lifeway Research, said: “The pandemic drove a large increase in the number of churches offering livestreams of their worship services, but some of these viewers were only temporary..."

Survey respondents were also asked about what they thought were acceptable reasons to watch a livestreamed church service.  The summary relates:

Churchgoers believe some reasons for watching a livestream service rather than attending in person are more valid than others. Most churchgoers say a livestream is a valid replacement when sick or caring for someone who is sick (69%), and nearly half say it is valid when traveling (48%). Nearly 2 in 5 (38%) say watching a livestream is acceptable when you live too far away to attend church in person.

What is interesting is that these numbers are actually down from 2019 - for instance, that year, 76% of respondents said it was acceptable to watch a livestream when sick or caring for a person who is sick. In 2019. 60% said traveling is a valid excuse vs. 48% last year. McConnell said: “A consistent quarter of churchgoers see any reason as a valid reason to attend church via video streaming, but with additional experience with the approach, fewer are open to its use instead of in-person attendance..."

The survey also showed, "While churchgoers identify various ways watching church livestreams has played roles in their walks with God, most say livestreaming is a temporary way to participate in the mission of the church during an illness or emergency like COVID (53%)." Only about a third indicate is a "supplemental" source of Bible teaching.

I am certainly grateful to be involved in using technology to help encourage and strengthen God's people in your walk with Christ.  And, we are very clear: Faith Radio is not intended to be a substitute for the mission of the local church, but we do want to be compatible with it - I have said that stronger Christians make for a stronger church.  We are a resource.  Live streaming is a resource.  Church content on a website is a resource, whether or not it is live. Each church has a variety of technological resources at its disposal in order to broaden its work and connect with its congregants.

Each individual Christian, and each church, should be able to determine the best way to accomplish our mission.  Ultimately, it is God's desire for each of us is to come into a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, grow in Him daily, and reflect His glory to the world.  How we do that is according to the direction and discretion of the Holy Spirit.  He has given us the gift of technology in order to be more effective for fulfilling our call. 

Streaming became such a vital aspect of church life during the COVID pandemic, and as I anticipated, there are elements of our lives developed during the pandemic that we still incorporate into our lives today.  You could say that there were some silver linings.  Through hardship and crisis, we can learn to adapt to our surroundings, and hopefully, the Church has found some strategies that can help it be more effective in the days to come. 

On Parade

In Proverbs 4, we find some words about the importance of protecting our hearts - certainly that applies to each of us, as well as to our children, in a world that possesses a host of inappropriate, unbiblical influences. We can read this:
23 Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life.
24 Put away from you a deceitful mouth, And put perverse lips far from you.
25 Let your eyes look straight ahead, And your eyelids look right before you.
26 Ponder the path of your feet, And let all your ways be established.

The word "Keep" in verse 23 can also be translated as "guard."  And, there is the clear implication of doubling down on that concept - we can take steps to protect our hearts, and to do that diligently. And, there are gateways to our hearts, such as our eyes and ears.  We have to make sure we are thinking godly thoughts and protecting our minds from those corrupting influences that would weaken our walk with God and get us off track. 

+++++

God calls us to a life of purity - in thought, word, and deed. He calls us to flee from all forms of sexual immorality and to embrace His vision of marriage between one man and one women, rejecting infidelity in marriage and fornication outside of it. 1st Thessalonians 4 reinforces that concept:
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;
4 that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor...

Last week on The Meeting House program, Karen England, the "Kitchen Table Activist," who leads the Capitol Resource Institute, discussed the connection between LGBT activism and obscene content. There is concern across the country about how sexually explicit behavior, performed by proponents of the gay lifestyle who want to be "loud and proud," is being displayed in front of children.

But, in city after city during June, Pride parades have become commonplace in cities large and small across America.  And, those who claim to be LGBT or affirm such behavior are intent on parading their behavior in a wide variety of forums.  I reported to you last year about how in Taylor, Texas, the sponsors of a Christmas parade there - a local ministers' association - did not accept an LGBT unit into the parade; the city supported those that were excluded, and there were actually two parades, one sponsored by the city.

A Fox 7 report on its website indicated that the Taylor City Council had passed an ordinance in its May meeting that "would include regulations for parades and other special events, amending Section 24-3, which exempt certain signs for city adopted special events." Texas Values noted:

This ordinance violates First Amendment case law, allows anti-Christian troublemakers to silence Christians, and gives one City official excessive power and control over free speech freedoms.

The organization encouraged concerned citizens to show up and "let the members of the council know that they should not infringe upon the citizen’s rights to have a Christian Christmas parade without fear of punishment or retaliation."

Meanwhile, Todd Starnes reports that an LGBT group was allowed recently to participate in a parade in Michigan, while a pro-life group was excluded.  Starnes wrote:

A group of pro-life teenagers was banned from participating in the Cherry Festival parade in Grand Traverse, Michigan because organizers determined they were too political. However, a pro-gay group was allowed to march, along with several other left-wing activist groups.

Emily Hollabaugh, described as a "pro-life leader," said: “We are appalled that our next generation is being denied the chance to join their town in the annual Cherry Festival Parade, all in the name of intimidation and harassment and now a supposed clerical error,” adding, “Our students look forward to peacefully walking with their community just as every other group who was approved gets the right to do so. We are proud of our students for being willing to outwardly march for life and we will continue to support them..."

And, across America, just do a Google search and you will find that parades seem to have become especially attractive to LGBT groups.  Last year, HBO, through its show, We're Here, brought a group into Granbury, Texas for the filming of a show. Houston Public Media, which would seem to be a taxpayer-funded service, reported that:

Ahead of last year's Fourth of July parade, three drag queens and an HBO production crew landed in Granbury, Texas.

"Some of the citizens of Granbury let us know immediately that they did not feel like we were welcome there," recalled Bob the Drag Queen.

He's a global drag superstar. The HBO reality show "We're Here" brings Bob and two other famous queens to small towns across the country, where they meet local queer people and allies and organize drag shows.

The article took aim at Texas Governor Greg Abbott, stating that this year:

Halfway through Pride month, Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed Senate Bill 12 into law.

While it isn't a complete ban on drag, the law does take aim at any performance deemed "sexually oriented" in the presence of children.

It could have a chilling effect on an artform that is central to queer expression and community.

I think you have to question about why certain groups feel that they have to be "in your face" in order to push their agenda on those who do not wish to participate or support it. But, like any good ad campaign, these LGBT groups want to get in as many eyeballs as possible, in order to desensitize the public to the agenda they are promoting.  But, we should be aware that they are involved in a warped view of sexuality, which stands in stark contrast to the Biblical image.  And, fortunately, lawmakers such as Gov. Abbott and others across the nation are at least pushing back by attempting to limit their sexualized displays to adults. 

Of course, in the course of these developments, we should ask, "where is the Church?"   We can consider whether or not churches are using these public forums to exalt Christ, to let people know that they are in the community and they are offering hope.  A pro-life group attempted to get involved in Michigan and was excluded, but that doesn't mean they or any other Biblically-based organization should just give up.  We should be devoted to integrating the Christian worldview perspective into the marketplace of ideas, confident that the teachings of Scripture are meaningful, relevant, and authoritative for today.  

Kirk Cameron, who is the catalyst behind "See You at the Library" on August 5 and local libraries across America, is an example of someone who was concerned about Drag Queen Story Hours taking over libraries, so he decided to request that libraries host him to read one of his Biblically-based books. He was rebuffed repeatedly, but some allowed it.  Now you can read about other communities in which people are reading Biblically-oriented material in libraries.  We don't transform the culture by sitting on the sidelines; we can ask God how He would have us be involved.

Artificial Idolatry

Whatever we put in the place of God on the throne of our lives, that is an idol to us. No, we may not be crafting statues and bowing down to them, but the attitude of our hearts may certainly reflect a lack of devotion to the Lord. Psalm 135 states:
15 The idols of the nations are silver and gold, The work of men's hands.
16 They have mouths, but they do not speak; Eyes they have, but they do not see;
17 They have ears, but they do not hear; Nor is there any breath in their mouths.
18 Those who make them are like them; So is everyone who trusts in them.

We must examine our own hearts to see what we are truly worshipping.  By so doing, we can see where we need to surrender to the Lord Jesus and follow Him more wholeheartedly. If we reserve a piece of our heart for someone or something that cannot save or that may be harmful to us, we cannot experience what God has in store for us. We should always exalt Christ and His Word and not allow the world to mute our love for Him.

+++++

We have been brought into a loving relationship with our Heavenly Father through accepting Jesus, His Son, as our Savior. We are called to put away the "idols" that we worship and exalt God and humble ourselves before Him. Paul taught in Galatians 4:
6 And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, "Abba, Father!"
7 Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
8 But then, indeed, when you did not know God, you served those which by nature are not gods.
9 But now after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage?

Last week, I shared about efforts that attempt to "re-make" Christianity - we are seeing it in China, where the Scriptures are being twisted to exalt that nation's leadership, we see a creed that has been used that puts an LGBT spin on Biblical truth, and a church leader who wants to de-emphasize the emphasis on the fatherhood of God in the Lord's Prayer. 

Now, using artificial intelligence, there is evidence of those who want to re-write the teachings of the Bible.  CBN.com reported recently on a new take on Genesis that does not involve the consumption of animals for food.  The story relates:

The group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has used artificial intelligence, namely ChatGPT, to turn the Bible's Book of Genesis into an animal rights religious message "filled with vegan teachings."

The left-wing organization is targeting its new modern version of the book to members of the GenZ generation. PETA is promoting its book as a "cruelty-free Story of Creation."

"The message in Genesis is that God created every sentient being, He saw that they were good, and He gave them greens for sustenance," the organization said on its website.

The president of PETA is quoted as saying, "The Bible has long been used to justify all forms of oppression, so we've used ChatGPT to make it clear that a loving God would never endorse exploitation of or cruelty to animals," adding, "It took God only six days to create the entire world, but we realized it would take us years to rewrite the whole Bible, which is why we've started with just the first book."

Ken Ham of Answers in Genesis, declared:

This is an attempt to elevate animals, making them equal with humans. But Genesis does not support this. Animals are not made in God’s image—only people are (Genesis 1:27)—and mankind was given dominion over the animals (Genesis 1:28). This, of course, is not a greedy, overreaching rule that cares nothing for what God has made. Rather it’s a godly dominion that sees us as stewards of what God has made and entrusted to us. But in order for us to be godly stewards, we must maintain the distinction between humans, made in God’s image, and animals.

Ham goes on to say: "Yes, Genesis (like all of the Old Testament) is about God’s faithfulness to make and keep his covenant and promise of the Messiah, despite humanity’s failures. To strip away references to death and sacrifice is to try to erase both the consequences of sin and the only remedy for sin: the blood sacrifice of the perfect Man, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, 'who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29).'"

The CBN article also noted that AI was used in a recent Q&A session with a virtual "Jesus:"

In March, a volunteer group of activists known as The Singularity Group created an AI Jesus on the gaming platform Twitch to answer users' questions, according to NBC News.

The AI, available 24 hours a day via livestream, shares its take on any kind of question imaginable. Still, the bot has said it is merely here to offer "guidance and wisdom based on Jesus' teachings," reminding viewers that he is not an actual religious figure and should not be taken as a source of authority, according to the outlet.

David Closson, director of the Center for Biblical Worldview at the Family Research Center told the DCNF the avatar is not reflective of who Jesus is in the Bible, and as a result, misrepresents His character to viewers. He noted the danger of putting "moral platitudes into the mouth" of an artificially generated "Jesus."

Another CBN article noted that:

Yuval Noah Harari, known for being a contributor and speaker at the World Economic Forum, is promoting the idea that A.I. will be able to generate a new globally acceptable religious book.

The article goes on to say: 

Harari explained A.I.'s purpose in writing a new Bible during a recent forum called "A.I. & The Future of Humanity."

"It's the first technology ever that can create new ideas. You know, the printing press, radio, television, they broadcast, they spread the ideas created by the human brain, by the human mind," he said.

Harari said A.I. will soon be able to invent new concepts and beliefs that are more socially acceptable than the Bible.

"A.I. can create new ideas; {it} can even write a new Bible," he said, in order to establish unified and "correct" religions.

"Throughout history, religions dreamt about having a book written by a superhuman intelligence, by a non-human entity," Harari explained. Now he believes A.I. will become a new type of god.

No wonder we find that God says to us in the 10 Commandments that we are to have "no other gods" before Him.  In fact, in this case, the AI "god" will be a creation of humanity's technology.  So, in essence, it's another example of man becoming God.  That was the ambition of Adam and Eve as they were tempted by the serpent in the Garden - he promised they would be "like God," and questioned the authority of the word of the one true God.  At Babel, the people wanted to build a tower to the sky.  Their plans to rule and reign were thwarted by Almighty God Himself, because that it His place - He is the Creator, the High and Exalted One.

A.I. has its potential - and its limitations.  Believers in Christ have to know how to use it responsibly.  It can assist us in the gathering and assimilation of knowledge, in harnessing creativity, and in generating or facilitating helpful ideas.  But, because of input that is contrary to the wisdom of God, it can be a destructive force, and become an intoxicating element that can seduce humans who are hungry for power and control.  And, as we see in these example, A.I. can be used to call into question the teachings of God Himself.

We must be careful with technology - and anything else that we place in the position of authority and control over our lives.  Throughout the years, God has called His people out for idolatry, and continues to warn us about those things which will deceive and delude us from faithful service to Him. 

Rebuilt

We can rejoice that God is at work through the body of Christ, building lives on a firm foundation. 1st Corinthians 3 says this:
9 For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, you are God's building.
10 According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it.
11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

Jesus shared the parable in Matthew 7 about the two men who built houses on differing foundations - both faced storms, but the house built on the rock, rather than the sand, is the one that stood.  We can be reminded to make sure our foundation is solid, that we have built our lives on principles that are consistent with Scripture, and to reflect that stability to the world around us.  Jesus said that His Church would be built on the rock of the knowledge of Him, and the Church can be positioned as a place of refuge in our world. 

+++++

In the first chapter of Philippians, Paul is commending the church at Philippi and reminding them of the incredible, transformative work that God does in our hearts by the power of the indwelling Christ. He writes:
3 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,
4 always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy,
5 for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now,
6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;
7 just as it is right for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart, inasmuch as both in my chains and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers with me of grace.

A young man was a construction worker - building things - but his life was falling apart.  At The Christian Heart website, he relates:

During my early years, I wandered through life, desperately searching for meaning. Addiction and the weight of my past mistakes burdened me. Deep inside, I yearned for something more substantial than the hollow pleasures offered by the daily grind.

One fateful day, as I took a break from my construction work, I stumbled upon a small, weathered church hidden in a forgotten corner of the city. Intrigued, I entered, seeking refuge from the turmoil in my heart. Little did I know that this moment would mark the beginning of my transformation.

This man, apparently named John, was welcomed into that church and began to be a "regular attendee."  But, more than just going to church, He became a follower of Christ and was "immersed" in what Jesus had to say.  And, his life was radically changed.  He states:

I found the strength to overcome my addictions, mend broken relationships, and make amends for my past mistakes. The love and forgiveness I experienced from my newfound faith community played a vital role in my journey toward healing and restoration.

As my life was renewed, a deep sense of gratitude consumed me. I felt called to give back. It was during my time on construction sites, using my skills with my hands, that I recognized the profound connection between my craftsmanship and my love for Christ. I realized that I could utilize my talents to repair and renovate churches in need, symbolizing the transformative power of Christ’s love within physical spaces.

His application of those skills became a conduit for him to share about his transformation through Jesus. He says: "Not only did it impact my own life, but it also became a beacon of hope for others who sought an escape from darkness. My dedication to serving God through my construction skills showcased the depth of my love for Christ and my desire to share that love with the world."

John's life has been rebuilt through his faith in Jesus Christ. You might even say, "replaced." He has a new foundation, and he is a new creation in Christ Jesus, as 2nd Corinthians 5 says. Now, he is not only physically rebuilding church spaces, but he is showing people how their lives can be changed through the power of God.  He declares:

And so, armed with my faith, my tools, and a heart overflowing with love for Jesus, I continue to use my construction skills to repair and renovate churches during my spare time. Each nail I drive, each wall I paint, and each prayer I whisper become tangible expressions of my love for Christ and my unwavering commitment to sharing that love with the world.

This story is a reminder that God doesn't just come into our lives to make us better - He comes to make us new.  Jesus shared about the concept of putting new wine not into old wineskins, but into new ones. So, in order for Him to live inside of us, He gives us a new heart.  As the Scripture teaches, the old has passed away, the new has come. 

Christ has welcomed us into His family, and when we welcome Him into our lives through our confession of faith, a dramatic shift occurs.  We move from death to life, from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light.  The Bible teaches us that we have a new foundation, and God works to completely transform our lives.  We must move away from the fallacy of "self-improvement" and "self-reliance" to totally rely on Him to do the work He desires to do. 

God doesn't build on a weak foundation.  The Christian life is not a matter of adding God to the equation so that we might be a better version of ourselves.  He is the equation - He provides the power to change, to have victory over sin and to walk according to who He says we are; as new creations, reflecting the presence of Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit. 

Freedom

In the 6th chapter of the book of Micah, the prophet is exploring matters of sacrifice, stating:
6 With what shall I come before the Lord, And bow myself before the High God? Shall I come before Him with burnt offerings, With calves a year old?
7 Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, Ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, The fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?
8 He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?

Please observe the contrast between religious practice and Biblical justice. We can be devoted to our churches - as we should - claiming to be people of faith and doing the right "religious" things. But, not addressing the evil and injustice in the world.  Verse 8 reminds us that we are to be people who are concerned about justice and mercy, exhibiting the presence of Christ in us; bringing God's love into a situation and adopting a perspective of involvement rather than inaction.

+++++

When we become aware of injustice in our world, that may represent an opportunity to inject the light and love of Christ into a situation about which God has made us aware. He is the righteous Judge, the purveyor of true justice, and we find His principles in Isaiah 1:
16 "Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; Put away the evil of your doings from before My eyes. Cease to do evil,
17 Learn to do good; Seek justice, Rebuke the oppressor; Defend the fatherless, Plead for the widow.
18 "Come now, and let us reason together," Says the Lord, "Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool.

There is much about a recent movie phenomenon that defies description.  It opened on the Fourth of July and instantly became the #1 movie in America.  It is still performing admirably, and has now surpassed $100 million at the box office.  According to its distributor, it has sold almost 9 million tickets - dwarfing the original reported of 2 million.  Some of those millions of box office dollars came from people buying tickets through an innovative Pay it Forward program. 

This movie was originally slated to be released, apparently, by one major studio that was bought by another, and the project was put on hold because of COVID, according to a Newsweek story.  Then, another studio, which had been powered by its crowdfunding, ended up distributing it. 

You're apparently not going to be dazzled and amazed by superheroes traipsing across the screen or CGI wizardry. No, it's a movie that is raw and based on a true story.  Meg Kilgannon of Family Research Council writes at The Washington Stand: "I really didn’t want to see this movie. Does anyone want to see a movie about horrific crimes against children and the systems that support or fail to stop child sex trafficking?"

Focus on the Family's Plugged In calls it "a brutal film to watch." It adds, "But it also might be the most important movie you see this year." Reviewer Adam Holz states: "Sex trafficking, we hear in the film, is the fastest-growing international crime network the world has ever seen." He adds that the film, Sound of Freedom is a...

...movie you buy a ticket to because you’re willing to enter into the ugliness of this societal scourge. It’s a movie you give consent to shock you out of complacency. It’s a movie that can’t help but light the fuse on the question, “What can I do?”

Sound of Freedom is a movie that defies description, apparently. It's being received well by the faith community, but with 100 million at the box office, it's certainly attracting more than a Christian audience.  Christian or faith-based films do not often go over that mark; in fact, Box Office Mojo reports that only 4 movies marked "Christian Theme" have. And, Sound of Freedom is not listed in that category.

A movie featuring its star, though, is. That would be Jim Caviezel of The Passion of the Christ, who plays the role of Tim Ballard in Sound of Freedom. He was formerly with the Department of Homeland Security and founded an anti-trafficking organization called Operation Underground Railroad.  Plugged In notes:

It’s clear, then, that Tim is motivated at a deep level by his faith. Anyone researching Tim Ballard’s life will find that he’s a Mormon, though the film never references his particular faith explicitly.

We repeatedly hear the phrase, “God’s children are not for sale.”

But, as Adam Holz notes, "There’s not a ton of overtly spiritual content here."

Caviezel told Movieguide, though, that, “It’s a biblical story...I love this story because it was like a modern-day part of the Gospel, of truth that has been so watered down and butchered…you walk into this movie, your hair’s gonna stand up. It’s highly entertaining, it’s adventure.”

I'll be honest, I do think we should be aware of the faith connection with Ballard and the Mormon-owned Angel Studios (yes, that's the people who bring you The Chosen).  It is troubling that members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, or LDS, align themselves with evangelicals and act as if they are "one of us."  Mormons are not Christians.  They serve a different Jesus and the tenets of their faith do not line up with the truths of the Bible. But, that's a different conversation. 

Furthermore, Ministry Watch has revealed information that Operation Underground Railroad, the organization founded by Ballard, has become quite profitable monetarily and the organization's tactics have been called into question; one example: working with traffickers to bring children into OUR sting operations, which "seemed to actually encourage trafficking behavior in some instances, sources said."

But...and I want to be very clear: the shortcomings of Operation Underground Railroad and the faith practice of Tim Ballard really should not mute the message that Sound of Freedom brings - human trafficking is real.  And, some in the media are attempting to discredit the film because of either its message or the perceived ideological bent of those involved in the film; for example, there have been fraudulent attempts to link it to the conspiracy theory known as QAnon, which claims there is some sort of child pedophile ring operating out of Washington, DC. 

Caviezel, in a FoxNews.com story, took aim at media criticism of the film: "They’re scared. Quaking in their boots. And it’s because the public are listening to their hearts, which is what this film tells you to do..."  He added, "This is just appalling. The moral depravity is such now that people are willing to live with this. That’s why we did the film."

The Christian organization, ZOE International, which is involved in the fight against human trafficking, states on its website, "Human trafficking is believed to be the world’s fastest growing criminal enterprise and is an estimated $150 billion-a-year global industry."  It relates that over 40 million people are "enslaved today" across the world, with between 14.5 to 17.5 thousand "victims are trafficked into the U.S. annually."  25% of those are children.

There are a number of Christian organizations who are involved in not only rescuing sex trafficking victims, but providing needed support for victims once they have been freed.  I think of Victor Marx and All Things Possible, a ministry that goes into difficult places to do the work of Christ in bringing freedom. Samaritan's Purse is also involved in providing assistance. 

Meg Kilgannon of FRC writes how the knowledge of this scourge of human trafficking, could propel Christians to action:

Each of us is called to combat the sex industry, whether through promoting organizations like Covenant Eyes that guard against pornography, by speaking out against endeavors to normalize pedophilia, or simply by living a life that upholds the dignity of every male and every female as a human being — not objects for exploitation.

There's an adage: if you see something, say something.  Sound of Freedom and Operation Underground Railroad have raised the awareness of human trafficking.  My radio program has brought awareness of what is occurring in that arena.  So, we are not uninformed.  Culture is not uninformed.  With education comes responsibility.  We can consider what God wants us to do with the information we have received - in every area of life. 

Because there are real crises in our nation and around our world.  While we can enjoy our life here on earth and worship and fellowship with God, having been saved through Jesus Christ, we are called to serve Him by serving others.  Through our relationship with Christ and our obedience to Him, He produces fruit, lasting fruit, through us.  

Christian parents can also make sure their children are protected.  Not isolated, but taught Christian values and principles in order to make themselves less vulnerable, as John DiGirolamo discussed on The Meeting House just this week.  Pornography is pervasive and predatory behavior is commonplace - but God has chosen to place us into this world into this period of time in history to shine the light of God's truth; to break the hold of darkness, and to shine the light of His freedom.

Not Rage, But Love

Why do you suppose that we see people frequently who are in favor of abortion, the taking of human life, acting angrily? Perhaps it's conviction, maybe they don't want to admit that what they support is wrong, maybe it's just flat-out hostility. James 1 states:
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.

A recent article highlighted a decline in what is called "rage giving" to organizations that support abortion.  Yes, there is anger over the overturning of Roe v. Wade and the decline in the number of abortions, in which people of faith are rejoicing.  And, on my radio program, I have documented the acts of violence that have been committed against churches and centers that support life. We are called to love even those with whom we disagree, and we can display a sense of conviction, tempered by peace, not being consumed by our temper to lash out in an ungodly manner.

+++++

The difference between acting in rage and acting in peace is found in Psalm 37, where we can read:
8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; Do not fret--it only causes harm.
9 For evildoers shall be cut off; But those who wait on the Lord, They shall inherit the earth.
10 For yet a little while and the wicked shall be no more; Indeed, you will look carefully for his place, But it shall be no more.
11 But the meek shall inherit the earth, And shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.

One U.S. Supreme Court decision has made a major change regarding the abortion issue - that, of course, is the Dobbs decision overturning Roe v. Wade.  The polling website, Five Thirty-Eight, reported:

New estimates provided exclusively to FiveThirtyEight by #WeCount — a national research project led by the Society of Family Planning, a nonprofit that supports research on abortion and contraception — indicate that there were 24,290 fewer legal abortions between July 2022 and March 2023, compared to a pre-Dobbs baseline.1 These people might have remained pregnant or obtained an abortion outside the legal system, which would not be captured in #WeCount’s data.

The article said that: "There were an estimated 93,575 fewer legal abortions in states that banned or severely restricted abortion for at least one week in the nine-month period after Dobbs...The number of legal abortions in states where abortion remained mostly available did rise by 69,285 in the same period, signaling that many people did travel and successfully obtain an abortion within the U.S. health care system."

Of course, this tells us that there is still much work to do for the pro-life movement, which has been faithful in education women and their families about abortion and doing good work to reduce chemical, or "mail-order" abortions.  There is certainly a front on which the distribution of the abortion pill has to be challenged.

And, there are encouraging signs on the financial front; the website, Ministry Watch, published a story recently that started out this way:

Recently, the Chronicle of Philanthropy published an article saying that “rage giving” to abortion advocacy groups after the overturning of Roe v. Wade in June 2022 has dropped off.

Ministry Watch contacted several pro-life ministries, and the results are encouraging.  One example:

PreBorn! had a banner year of giving in 2022 with giving up 33%. Based on giving so far this year, it expects to receive $40 million in contributions, up from $27 million last year.

The article notes that, "PreBorn! partners with over 170 pregnancy centers across the nation, especially in states where abortion is more available."  Meanwhile, Care Net offers some encouraging signs, as well; Ministry Watch notes:

Care Net, which was established in 1975 not long after the Roe decision, saw an uptick in giving after the Supreme Court returned the issue to the states in its Dobbs decision last year. Since then, giving to the pregnancy center network has remained steady.

“If you are giving out of rage rather than out of love, it is not sustainable,” CareNet President and CEO Roland Warren said. “We offer compassion, hope, and help. That is compelling. It is more of a transformational request.”

He said Care Net is seeing an increase in the number of lower dollar donors along with re-engaged donors who had lapsed in their giving.

The website also contacted two smaller pregnancy centers, both of whom reported an increase in giving over the past year. 

So, contrary to media information that abortion is winning, it seems that, based on financial giving, the initial emotion of the Dobbs decision has waned, and that pro-life giving is even stronger.  And, with the report that a net increase of 25,000 lives have been saved in the year after Dobbs, this can bring hope - recognizing that thousands are still losing their lives in abortion clinics and through chemical abortions every single day.  But, we should still be righteously indignant about the mass termination of unborn life through abortion, but our emotions should be governed by the presence of Christ, not human, fleshly rage.

We can continue to pray that in the current landscape, that women will make an informed decision to choose life and recognize that there are Christ-centered ministries that are willing to stand with them, to provide not only education with tangible support.  And, if they choose to have their child - and we hope they will - they can find the avenues through which they can pursue the route to adoption. Each of us individually and collectively through our churches, we can seek ways in which we can be involved in affirming life. 

Remaking Christianity?

We have to be so convinced of the truth of the gospel that we can recognize the counterfeits - the distortions of Biblical truth, that seem so commonplace in our world today. Galatians 1 states this:
6 I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel,
7 which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ.
8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed.
9 As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.

The Church at Galatia had allowed other ideas to creep in and distort their thinking - there were those who had apparently embraced a doctrine of works-based righteousness, and Paul was calling them out. There are those who want to "deconstruct" from Christianity when the fact is that they have not been practicing true Christianity.  People want to "remake" Christianity in their own image, rather than to walk in what reflects the true image of God. 

+++++

Throughout human history, humanity has attempted to construct religious systems based on false gods - "graven images," that do not reflect the image of God. Exodus 20, in the leadoff to the passage containing the 10 Commandments, we 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.

It's no secret, the Chinese Communist Party is devoted to world domination - economically, militarily...and spiritually.  In fact, a Chinese pastor with the state-sanctioned "Three-Self" movement has said that the CCP wants to "change the face of world Christianity," according to a recent report on The Christian Post website. 

The article cites recent coverage by the magazine Bitter Winter, stating:

According to the report, the "Training Meeting for Key Pastors of the Northeast China Christian Region" held June 27-30 in the northeast Jilin province was the launch of a "grandiose" plan from Chinese President Xi Jinping and the CCP.

As part of the nationally-broadcast conference, Pastor Kan Baoping of the China Christian Three-Self Patriotic Movement Committee and Pastor Shan Weixiang of the China Christian Council were reportedly among the speakers at the conference.

The Christian Post article goes on to say:

In his speech centered on "Christianity adapted to a socialist society," Kan predicted the Three-Self Movement would help amplify the message of "the successful experience of the Sinicization of Christianity."

"We will change the face of world Christianity," Pastor Kan reportedly told the conference.

While the term "sinicization" has been used by CCP authorities to describe bringing Christian groups in line with cultural and historical Chinese traditions, critics argue that the "fundamental purpose of the Sinicization of Christianity is to transform and alienate Christianity."

The article references the Christian group, China Aid, which has said that the CCP "hopes to reduce Christianity to the point that it operates as a tool, turning it into 'Pseudo-Christianity.'"

Sorry to say, this phenomenon is not limited to Chinese officials.  There seems to be plenty of "face-changing" of Biblical Christianity to go around.  And, that is why we have to have a strong, operative knowledge of the Scriptures, so that we follow the Word rather than the whims of religious types who want to change the meaning of what it means to be Christian.

We have traditional confessions of our faith, such as the Lord's Prayer, the Westminster Confession, and the Apostles' Creed.  But, now a progressive "minister" has developed the Sparkle Creed, born not out of divine inspiration, but out of a voice-to-text experience.  The Washington Stand has this:

“Let us confess our faith today in the words of the Sparkle Creed.” Thus Pastor Anna Helgenled the congregants of Edina Community Lutheran Church, an ELCA member in a Minneapolis suburb, which has been “LGBTQIA+ inclusive” since 1985. “I think it’s a stretch to call this a church,” said Family Research Council President Tony Perkins, because “to be a Christian is to follow Christ.” While historic creeds distill the Christian faith to clarify truth and error, the “Sparkle Creed” is neither historic nor Christian. It is, however, clarifying.

The Sparkle Creed was drafted during June 2021 by Rachel Small-Stokes, a queer-identifying minister of the United Church of Christ (which, despite bearing Christ’s name, now has little to do either with him or its New England Puritan roots). Small-Stokes explained its backstory, “I was voice-to-texting ‘the Apostles’ Creed’ to a colleague, and it translated as ‘The Sparkle Creed.’ I decided that’s exactly what we need for Pride Month. So here’s my first jab at it. Feel free to share if it moves you.” Since then, it has evidently exploded in popularity among progressive congregations. 

So, here is "The Sparkle Creed:"

“I believe in the non-binary God whose pronouns are plural.

“I believe in Jesus Christ, their child, who wore a fabulous tunic and had two dads and saw everyone as a sibling-child of God.

“I believe in the rainbow Spirit, who shatters our image of one white light and refracts it into a rainbow of gorgeous diversity.

“I believe in the church of everyday saints as numerous, creative, and resilient as patches on the AIDS quilt, whose feet are grounded in mud and whose eyes gaze at the stars in wonder.

“I believe in the calling to each of us that love is love is love, so beloved, let us love.

“I believe, glorious God. Help my unbelief.

“Amen.”

Tony Perkins is quoted as saying: “When Christian denominations reject the word of God … you can end up anywhere,” adding, “This is the extreme, but it is the logical conclusion of those who reject God as the Creator, making boys and girls, boys and girls, and creating us in His image.” Perkins called it “blasphemous” and “modern idolatry, where we create God in our own image rather than seeking a relationship with the one who created us in his image.”

Meanwhile, Todd Starnes reports that the Archbishop of York, in the Church of England, has decided that he has an issue with Jesus and the patriarchy of the church. In a recent message, he said: “For if this God to whom we pray is ‘Father’ — and, yes, I know the word ‘father’ is problematic for those whose experience of earthly fathers has been destructive and abusive, and for all of us have labored rather too much from an oppressively, patriarchal grip on life,” and added, “Then those of us who say this prayer together, whether we like it or not, whether we acknowledge it or not, even if we determinedly face away from each other, only turning round in order to put a knife in the back of the person standing behind us, are sisters and brothers, family members, the household of God.”

Starnes quotes Canon Chris Sugden of the conservative Anglican Mainstream group, who asked, “Is the archbishop of York saying Jesus was wrong or that Jesus was not pastorally aware?” and stated, “It seems to be emblematic of the approach of some church leaders to take their cues from culture rather than Scripture.”

Starnes referenced a report from The Guardian, stating: "Christians have recognized since ancient times that God is neither male nor female,” the Guardian reported the church saying in a statement announcing the creation of a commission to study gendered language. “Yet the variety of ways of addressing and describing God found in Scripture has not always been reflected in our worship.”

It seems to be quite popular these days to try to "remake" Christianity, to do, as the Chinese overlords desire to do, "change the face of world Christianity."  But, Christianity doesn't need to be "re-made" and those who desire to do so attempt it at their spiritual peril.

But, we are finding in our world today people who want to make Christianity in their own image - to either distort the basics and add humanistic or secularistic elements, or to take a progressive platform and put a "God-stamp" on it to make it seem Biblical.  That's why Christian believers need to know the truth and incorporate it into their lives.  We have to discern between good and evil and be diligent to allow a Christian worldview to be the basis of our thinking and acting.  We have to be aware of "false gods" and "graven images" that are inconsistent with the truth and image of God.

Long-Term

He had one job. King Saul, about whom we read in 1st Samuel 15 was to defeat king Agag and the Amalekites and to utterly destroy their belongings. But he didn't. So, we read this pronouncement to the prophet Samuel:
10 Then the word of the LORD came to Samuel:
11 “I regret that I have made Saul king, because he has turned away from me and has not carried out my instructions.” Samuel was angry, and he cried out to the LORD all that night.

Samuel confronted Saul, who claimed he did what God had told him to do. But, in verse 14, Samuel said, "What then is this bleating of sheep in my ears? What is this lowing of cattle that I hear?”

Later in the chapter, we can find that the prophet said this to the king:
22 But Samuel replied: “Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.
23 For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has rejected you as king.”

To obey is better than sacrifice.  We may think that our idea of what God wants is best, that we have legalistically done something good, something noble, even godly.  But, the key is obedience.  We are called and empowered to be faithful to God, and our hearts should ideally be set on doing His will.  He wants us to walk in complete faithfulness, possessing a willingness to bring Him glory, according to His direction.

+++++

We can be diligent in allowing God to do His work through us, and that produces faithfulness, even in the small details. Jesus taught in Luke 16:
10 He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much.
11 Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?
12 And if you have not been faithful in what is another man's, who will give you what is your own?
13 No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon."

After a whopping 74 years, a 90-year-old Texas woman has decided to retire from her job.  A CBN.com report related that Melba Mebane, who had worked in the retail sector, left some words of wisdom to those younger than she.  The story says:

When asked to advise those just starting in the business, she encouraged people to be faithful.

“Come to work, never see it as a paycheck,” she told Fox News. “Stay where God planted you.”

And, come to work, she did - Melba Mebane did not miss a single day of work during those 74 years. The CBN article states:

Her stunning career that began in 1949, when she operated the elevator and extended through her official retirement last month. Mebane made a lasting impact on many lives throughout the decades, spending most of her time selling cosmetics for the store.

The store manager...

...told Fox his former employee set the “tone for everything, every expectation, every customer service quality.”

“She provides all of it to the team,” he said. “Can you imagine how many people she coached and taught and trained to aspire to be more? It’s just amazing to think of how many people’s lives she touched.”

He went on to call Mebane — a single mom who never called in sick or missed work — far more than a mere employee, explaining she’s “amazing” and has offered guidance to so many over the years.

Melba endeared herself to the manufacturers of the products she sold, to the extent that she shared them with others, including her pastor; according to her son, Terry, who said: “Our pastor called her the cosmetic bootlegger, because, on the way out of church, she would hand him samples as he was taking her hand and telling her to have a good day,” adding, "She loved getting him ‘fixed up.'”

A famous baseball player can remind us of the power of longevity.  A Forbes article quoted from long-time Baltimore Orioles shortstop Cal Ripken: “You can’t accomplish anything unless you’re willing to show up,” adding, “You want to be counted on. There’s a term in baseball called ‘gamer.’ All that means is that you’re willing to come show up and try to meet whatever challenge it is today.”  Ripken set the Major League Baseball all-time consecutive game mark - 2632 straight games; he earned the title, Iron Man.

The article, published last week, stated:

While Ripken, who entered the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2007, is obviously proud of the streak, he doesn’t consider it as merely an attendance record. “You have to be deserving, and you have to put your time in, and the manager chooses you,” he says. “People look at the streak in a way where it’s a principle,” he continues. “It’s a value. People are proud of not missing a [workday] in 31 years. It’s not necessarily just the attendance but the willingness to go do it. The willingness to show up.”

Ripken spent 21 seasons with the Orioles and made 19 All-Star games; Baltimore won a World Series while the two-time MVP played there. 

Melba Mebane spent 74 years in retail, and has just recently retired. There are three principles that the CBN article highlighted; you might called them, "Melba's Maxims:"

* Come to work.  There is something to be said for faithfulness, for regularity - rejoicing in opportunities that await us, rather than relating excuses for not doing our best. In order to glorify God, we should be known for our work ethic and the excellence that we bring.  We should show up, and allow Him to show up through us. 

* Never see it as a paycheck. Mark Twain is credited as saying to find a job you love and you'll never have to work a day in your life.  Certainly, our occupation is a tool through which God provides for us financially.  But, there is a greater purpose.  We should be looking for that place to which God has called us, to do work we enjoy, so that our focus is on glorifying Him. And, trust the Lord to provide our needs.  And, that leads to maxim #3...

* Stay where God planted you.  Jesus taught us to be faithful in the small things.  And, while we may have big dreams for our lives, we also recognize that obedience will produce the fruit that God desires. Our call is to faithfulness, and we can remain steadfast to where God has called us until we enter the next chapter. 

Another Dispatch From Revival

In the 15th chapter of the book of Romans, Paul reminds the readers that Jesus is our source of hope, and has come to bring hope to the world today for those who would call upon His name and be saved.  Romans 15 contains these words:

4 For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.

Later in the chapter, we can read:

9b ...it is written: "For this reason I will confess to You among the Gentiles, And sing to Your name."
10 And again he says: "Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people!"
11 And again: "Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles! Laud Him, all you peoples!"
12 And again, Isaiah says: "There shall be a root of Jesse; And He who shall rise to reign over the Gentiles, In Him the Gentiles shall hope."
13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

This presents a stark contrast to a prevailing attitude of despair that we can identify in the world today. But, God offers a way out - through identifying with His only Son, who loved the world so much that He was willing to die for fallen humanity so that in Him we might experience His life and encounter His hope. In Him, we can rejoice; in the Lord, we can know the reality of His hope and have joy and peace through faith in Him, according to verse 13.

+++++

In a world where you find that even those who have named the name of Christ have declared that they now reject Christ, I believe you are seeing a tangible wave of people who have discovered the real, vibrant, living, authentic Jesus for themselves. John 6 states:
63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.
64 But there are some of you who do not believe." For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who would betray Him.
65 And He said, "Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father."
66 From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more.
67 Then Jesus said to the twelve, "Do you also want to go away?"
68 But Simon Peter answered Him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.
69 Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."

One could make and support the claim that 2023 has been a year in which we have seen the Lord show up in powerful ways through the gathering of His people and the move of His Spirit.  I have reported on the Asbury revival, or "Outpouring," in which a spark of revival was lit in the hearts of college students, a spark that actually was seen on other campuses, as well.  The Jesus Revolution brought a 1970's revival to movie theaters in America and around the world, as well as to homes.

And, I became aware recently through a CBN.com article that a city in Louisiana has been experiencing revival for over eight months now.  It's occurring near the city of Hammond, and the story relates:

What started as a four-day revival event at a local church last fall in the Hammond, Louisiana area, is still going strong under a blue tent.

As CBN News reported in March, it started on Oct. 16, 2022, at the Old Zion Baptist Church located northwest of Hammond on Highway 442.

On the first night of the revival, there were only about 125 people in attendance. But 34 people gave their hearts to Jesus Christ. By the fourth night, the gymnasium was packed.

Then evangelist David R. Harrison of Voice of Hope Ministries set up his 2,500-seat tent in Hammond in order to help accommodate the large crowd.

And, as the story states, "...people kept coming..."

The article goes on to say: "Pastor Harrison updated CBN News in an email that worship services are still taking place under the tent some eight months later." In an e-mail, he said: "The Awakening in Louisiana has truly been life-changing. When God sent me there on October 17, I never would have dreamed we would still be there! It has been the most supernatural event I've ever seen..."  He added:

"Has there been many battles along the way? Yes! But, it truly has been worth it all just to see the thousands of lives who have been changed! I'm so thankful and humbled that God would allow me and my family to experience such an amazing move of the Holy Spirit. To God be the glory, great things HE hath done..."

Meanwhile, the effect of Jesus Revolution continues to progress.  A few weeks ago, I had reported on a mass baptism at Pirates Cove in Southern California, which is where people were baptized during the 1970's Jesus Movement.  Greg Laurie and his wife, Cathe, both experienced that, and another mass baptism occurred at Pirates Cove a couple of weekends ago.  Greg Laurie tweeted out:

Yesterday, we held the Jesus Revolution Baptism at Pirate’s Cove. 

This of course is the Site of the Baptisms of the Jesus Movement. 

I was Baptized there 50 Years ago, as was my wife, Cathe. 

But we never had a baptism like what happened yesterday. 

We baptized 4500 people! 

There was a line of folks waiting by the seawall. People Came from all around the Nation and World! This may be the largest baptism in American history, maybe world history. 

God Knows, but it was AMAZING! 

We give Him all the Glory. 

“Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church that day—about 3,000 in all.” (Acts 2:41)

This came on the weekend following the latest Harvest Crusade, which took place at the Honda Center, an arena in Anaheim.  The Harvest ministry reported in a press release:

Honoring the theme “Jesus Changes Everything” the outreach event drew over 32,000 people in-person and 215,000 streamed online. This was Harvest’s first-ever crusade at the Honda Center in Anaheim where attendees enjoyed two nights of performances from award-winning Christian artists.

Those artists included: Phil Wickham, Passion, Taya, Chris Tomlin, and Michael W. Smith. 

It goes on to say: "Nearly 7,000 people dedicated their lives to Christ over the two-day worship experience. Of these, more than 3,700 professions of faith were in the venue, and over 3,000 were online."

Greg Laurie reported: “There was an electric, revival-like atmosphere in that room both nights. You could sense God’s presence...I want to thank all of those that worked tirelessly behind the scenes to make this as many described it as the best Harvest Crusade of all time.”  And, while 32,000 people filled the arena over the 2-night event, Laurie related that thousands were actually not able to get in.

The ways of this world are not working for so many people.  There is discouragement, fear, and anger all around us.  Mental health issues are on the rise, family cohesiveness is on the decline.  These conditions, I believe are motivating people to seek something more.  Jesus gives us reason for hope, because He is the source of hope.  He came to earth, identified with fallen humanity, became our substitute, took our punishment, and rose from the dead!  He offers a love that is sacrificial and secure.

No wonder people are coming to Him - when people are willing to set aside their own ambitions, their own human wisdom, and look to someone greater than themselves, incredible things can happen. And, certainly the numbers are impressive - to the extent that they demonstrate what God has done. And, we can rejoice that He is working and make sure that we are open to the working of His Spirit in our hearts. 

Our Father

In Luke chapter 11, in response to the request of one of the disciples to teach them to pray, Jesus related a similar prayer template to the one he related in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 6. We can read in that chapter:
1 Now it came to pass, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, that one of His disciples said to Him, "Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples."
2 So He said to them, "When you pray, say: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.
3 Give us day by day our daily bread.
4 And forgive us our sins, For we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one."

Later in the chapter, Jesus said:
9 "So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
10 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.

I believe that God instructs us to be very diligent in our prayers, calling upon Him specifically and praying in specific areas.  Jesus was actually praying when He was approached by this disciple in Luke 11 - He invites us to follow that model.  Jesus took time away from other people to spend time in prayer, in communication, with His Father.  We are invited to come before Him and present our requests and to know Him better.

+++++

The Lord's Prayer, which was included in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew; in Luke, was the response by Jesus to a disciple's request to teach them to pray. In Matthew 6, he provides some parameters for prayer:
5 "And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.
6 But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.
7 And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words.
8 Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.
9 In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.

And, so begins what is known as The Lord's Prayer, which you would think has become very popular within and outside the Church.

But for three contestants on the game show, Jeopardy!, recently, well, not so much.  FoxNews.com had this to say about a recent sequence in an article published June 14:

"Jeopardy!" contestants made an error of biblical proportions on last night's game show.

Fans were enraged Tuesday after all three contestants failed to answer what many believed to be a very easy question about the Lord's Prayer.

Host Mayim Bialik read a clue that began, "Matthew 6:9 says, ‘Our Father, which art in heaven, [THIS] be thy name.’"

When the camera cut to Laura, Joe and returning champion Suresh, not one contestant buzzed in with a response.

The article notes:

Fans began tweeting their disdain for the religious blunder, with one writing "Today, 3 Jeopardy contestants did not know the first line of the 'Lord's Prayer!' Sad. Our Father, who art in heaven, ________ be thy name; They didn't know the answer: ‘Hallowed.’ Pathetic," they wrote.

Another said, "Sad world we're in..."

Franklin Graham tweeted out a link to the Fox article and included these comments:

Twitter erupted with @Jeopardy fans who were surprised that 3 smart contestants were unable to fill in the blank with a word from the Lord’s Prayer. We have lost so much Biblical literacy & basic awareness of the things of God’s Word. This moving away from Biblical values will equal double jeopardy for our nation.

CBN.com noted that one social media influencer published on Twitter: "This was a clue on Jeopardy last night & not one contestant got it right. This may seem like a silly example of cultural decay. But my 5-year-old knows the entire Lord's Prayer and loves to recite it at dinner time. Parents can change the world with how they raise their children."

And, then, apparently you have those that question why the game show would have a Bible question anyway...CBN said:

Some users questioned if Jeopardy! writers had been adding too many questions about the Bible to the game show in recent years, despite the fact the Bible is still the most popular book sold in the world today.

The discussion was also the subject of the Jeopardy! Reddit forum, where one user claimed, "Christianity/biblical categories get too much space," on the game show.

One person explained a teacher had once told the user "that to truly consider yourself well-read (by U.S. standards), you need to be passingly familiar with Greek mythology, Shakespeare, and the Bible. Between those three, you can find almost every archetype that Western stories are built on."

One person, who claimed to not be religious, responded, "I'm not religious but think it's undeniable that the Bible had an absolutely enormous impact on Western civilization, architecture, literature, art, and politics. Yes, it's featured more, but it's also had a greater influence."

And, there is a point well-taken: the Bible is still the most popular book in the world - and it has been influential in a variety of sectors in American society.  One would expect game show contestants to know that "What is hallowed?" would be the correct response. But, Franklin Graham is right: this is a reminder of a decline in Biblical literacy in our world today.

For the believer in Christ, it's about more that just being "literate" in the Bible and knowing The Lord's Prayer or the Apostle's Creed.  Those are important, but we have to ask ourselves if we are living according to the principles we find in The Lord's Prayer.  Are we praying as He taught His disciples?  How important is our prayer life to us?

We can also evaluate the degree to which we are incorporating the Word of God into the way we live our lives.  God's Word can help us to renew our minds and provide direction for us as we seek to navigate this world.  When the Word is part of us and governs our thinking and acting, we draw closer to God and produce fruit to His glory.