Much Ado

There were twelve who walked with Jesus, and He taught them, He ministered to them, He showed them who He was. But, the disciples had a hard time understanding when He spoke of His death, as we see in Mark chapter 9:
(31) He taught His disciples and said to them, "The Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of men, and they will kill Him. And after He is killed, He will rise the third day."
32 But they did not understand this saying, and were afraid to ask Him.

Jesus talked about His death, because He realized what He had to do to complete the mission for which He had been sent.  He knew the fallen state of humanity and was devoted to correcting the breach that had occurred, to repairing the damage of sin and death. It was a struggle for Him, as we see in the Garden of Gethsemane; it was incredibly painful, yet, He was willing to give His life out of His great love so that we might know Him.

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In Matthew 27, we see a step-by-step narrative of what Jesus endured for us, to die for the sins for the world, giving His life so that we might have eternal life. We can read these words:
33 And when they had come to a place called Golgotha, that is to say, Place of a Skull,
34 they gave Him sour wine mingled with gall to drink. But when He had tasted it, He would not drink.
35 Then they crucified Him, and divided His garments, casting lots, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet: "They divided My garments among them, And for My clothing they cast lots."
36 Sitting down, they kept watch over Him there.
37 And they put up over His head the accusation written against Him: THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

Easter Sunday is approaching, and while this is a time to reflect on what Jesus has given to us by virtue of His death and resurrection, there is also an element of retail spending that has become part of this season.  

According to the summary of a study by WalletHub on its website:

Millions of Americans will celebrate Easter this year, with popular activities including going to church services, having family dinners and hunting for Easter eggs. However, many people’s celebrations will be less extravagant than normal this year, as a recent nationally-representative WalletHub survey found that nearly 7 in 10 people are planning to spend less on Easter this year compared to last year. This is largely the result of inflation and high debt levels, which have left little room for luxury holiday spending.

Just over 6-in-10 believe that inflation will be a contributing factor to their pulling back on Easter spending this year.  Over 4 out of 10 don't have an Easter budget, and a similar percentage don't "feel confident" about their financial state. 

There was also a question about charitable giving.  The poll showed that just over half of those surveyed do not consider tax benefits when they make "religious donations."

But, even though people plan to spend less, WalletHub reports that people are planning to spend plenty: $22 billion dollars on Easter this year.  $7.3 billion of that will be spent on food, $3.5 billion on clothing, and $3.1 billion of that will be devoted to candy.  Just under half of respondents indicated they would put chocolate eggs or bunnies in Easter baskets for their children - half of those surveyed overall plan on having Easter baskets.

22 billion dollars does not even begin to compare with what Jesus has spent for Easter. The price that Jesus paid was of inestimable worth.  Jesus paid the ultimate price - laying down His life so that we might come to know Him, so that we can be reconciled to God. 

Certainly there are the celebratory elements and special events.  But, when it comes right down to it, Easter is about a Savior who was totally spent, totally poured out - beaten, mocked, and crucified - so that we might be recipients of His great love that He has for us.  While we certainly want to celebrate Christmas with much fervor, the truth is, the work of Jesus at Easter gives the Christmas holiday its meaning.  So, we can give our all - through worship and the Word - to recognize the tremendous price that Jesus has paid for us. He was spent, He suffered, so that we might be saved. 

Authority

In Acts 5, we encounter a picture of people endowed with the Spirit of God doing mighty exploits in the name of Jesus. Peter is mentioned by name, but other apostles were participating, as well. They were arrested, put in prison, then supernaturally freed, much to the chagrin of the religious leaders. We can find these words in that chapter:
29 But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: "We ought to obey God rather than men.
30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree.
31 Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.
32 And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him."

The apostles recognized that they were in submission to a higher authority - that they were followers of Jesus, and they were determined to obey Him.  They proclaimed the gospel in their defense and were bold to recognize what Jesus had done. When we humble ourselves before the Lord and place ourselves under His mighty hand, we can see the power of the Holy Spirit flow through us, so that by they way we live, we testify to the presence of Jesus within us.

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In Matthew chapter 21, just days before He was crucified, Jesus confounded the religious leaders of the day, who had set up a legal framework of laws and regulations with a religious veneer, but that was not consistent with the Law of the Scriptures. They did not acknowledge nor respect the authority of Jesus. He called out their hypocrisy, and they sought to trap Him and bring Him down. In that chapter, we can read:

23 Now when He came into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people confronted Him as He was teaching, and said, "By what authority are You doing these things? And who gave You this authority?"
24 But Jesus answered and said to them, "I also will ask you one thing, which if you tell Me, I likewise will tell you by what authority I do these things:
25 The baptism of John--where was it from? From heaven or from men?" And they reasoned among themselves, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven,' He will say to us, 'Why then did you not believe him?'
26 But if we say, 'From men,' we fear the multitude, for all count John as a prophet."
27 So they answered Jesus and said, "We do not know." And He said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.

The central theme of these verses is authority - the religious leaders of His day did not recognize that He was sent from God; much less that He was, and is, the Son of God. 

We find leaders today who do not recognize the authority of Jesus and are hostile toward Him and to those who call upon His name.  Consider what is occurring in the nation of Canada, where a new law is being proposed that would silence certain expressions of Christianity. A CBN.com article says:

Jeff King, president of International Christian Concern (ICC), a religious persecution watchdog, told CBN News proposed Bill C-367 “amends the criminal code and it takes away some religious exemptions that protected Christians.”

He referred to a bill that never passed Congress called the Equality Act, which, according to the article... 

...sought to prohibit “discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity in areas including public accommodations and facilities, education, federal funding, employment, housing, credit, and the jury system,” but ignited religious persecution concerns.

Similarly, Canadian Bill C-367, King said, would create potential problems for people making biblical claims or basing objections to certain issues on the Quran or other religious sentiments.

The CBN article notes:

A description of the proposal reads as follows: “This enactment amends the Criminal Code to eliminate as a defence against wilful promotion of hatred or antisemitism the fact that a person, in good faith, expressed or attempted to establish by an argument an opinion on a religious subject or an opinion based on a belief in a religious text.”

It does appear that parts of the Commonwealth are increasingly hostile toward Christianity.  In the United Kingdom, The Christian Post reports, a new definition of "extremism" has emerged; a recent article notes:

The new definition says that "extremism is the promotion or advancement of an ideology based on violence, hatred or intolerance, that aims to" among other things "negate or destroy the fundamental rights and freedoms of others."

Christian Concern said that Christians who are pro-life, gender-critical or have traditionalist beliefs about marriage might fall foul of the new definition.

As the article notes, there is a group called Prevent that is described as "the government's counter-terrorism scheme that aims to stop individuals from becoming terrorists." But, according to Christian Concern:

"Christians who are pro-life could be seen as being opposed to an assumed 'fundamental right' to abortion and thus to be 'intolerant' and so extremist. It is already the case that being anti-abortion is on a Prevent list of ideologies seen as potential signs of extremism," the organization said.

"Christians who are opposed to same-sex 'marriage' could also be seen as wishing to 'negate or destroy the fundamental rights and freedoms of others' and to be 'intolerant.'"

The article contained some examples of Christians who had been reported to Prevent; it related:

Christian Concern pointed to examples of Christians who have already been reported to Prevent for their beliefs, including school chaplain, the Rev. Bernard Randall, who was referred over a sermon in which he told students they didn't have to agree with LGBT ideology. In another incident, Christian teacher Svetlana Powell was reported to Prevent after saying "God loves you" to a lesbian pupil.

A piece on the Christian Concern website declared:

Christianity has been the bedrock for our nation and Christians must be welcomed at the heart of government. By its vague terminology, this definition risks excluding genuine Christians from influencing government policy now or in the future.

Andrea Williams, Chief Executive of Christian Concern, is quoted as saying this:

“The government needs to clarify that ‘fundamental rights’ do not include abortion, same-sex ‘marriage’ or identifying as the opposite sex.

“Without this clarification, Christians who express their legitimate belief that marriage is between a man and a woman would risk being deemed ‘extremist’ by the government.”

“We urge the government to urgently clarify what ‘fundamental rights’ are intended in the definition of extremism.”

Unfortunately, it is very easy for those who are hostile toward Christian beliefs to brand Christ-followers as "extremist," to draw a circle around them and punish them for holding to those beliefs. Whether Christians are being described as purveyors of "misinformation" for stating their beliefs or being accused of "Christian nationalism" for stating their beliefs publicly, there is certainly an intimidation factor at play.  There are those who don't honor God nor respect His authority who are now attempting to silence His people. 

But, we who operate under the authority of Scripture do not have to be held captive by fear. If we are in a right position with our Savior, we can be confident in Him.  There will be those who will attempt to ridicule us because of what we believe, but we can continue to hold fast to our convictions.  Jesus knew who He was and who sent Him - and He lost His life for it. We can know who we are in Him and who has sent us and be ready to give an answer to those who would come against us, and...as 1st Peter 3 suggests, to give an answer about the reason for our hope.

Cleansing

The power of persuasion, energized by the power of the Holy Spirit, can result in changed hearts and minds. In 2nd Corinthians 5, we can find these verses:
11 Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences.
12 For we do not commend ourselves again to you, but give you opportunity to boast on our behalf, that you may have an answer for those who boast in appearance and not in heart.
13 For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; or if we are of sound mind, it is for you.
14 For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died;
15 and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.

Please pay attention to this phrase in verse 12 - we can depend on the Lord to give "an answer for those who boast in appearance and not in heart."  We can be compelled by the love of Christ, not living for ourselves, but being dedicated to spreading the truth of the gospel.  Early in Holy Week, Jesus went into the Temple and made a statement - He exposed the corruption that had infiltrated the service of God.  We have to make sure we allow Him to purify our hearts so that He can express Himself through us. 

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The message is clear from the event we see in Matthew chapter 21 - Jesus has come to cleanse His Church; He has saved us and made us new creatures. We can maintain a sense of His forgiveness and stand against the corruption that the enemy would want to bring about in our lives. We can find these words in that chapter:
10 And when He had come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, "Who is this?"
11 So the multitudes said, "This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee."
12 Then Jesus went into the temple of God and drove out all those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves.
13 And He said to them, "It is written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer,' but you have made it a 'den of thieves.' "
14 Then the blind and the lame came to Him in the temple, and He healed them.

The cleansing of Jesus stands against the corruption of the enemy.  Inside and outside the Church, the pollution of Biblical teaching on sexuality has become a harmful force. 

A recent piece at The Stream discusses the cultural rot brought about by the promotion of transgenderism and the counteraction to it. It was composed by The Ruth Institute, whose President Dr. Jennifer Roback Morse is quoted, saying: “It’s about time people are pushing back against the trans train that is, among other things, ruining women’s sports and erasing women,” adding, "I applaud the brave souls who are speaking up on behalf of real women.”

The article goes on to say:

Houghton University President Dr. Wayne D. Lewis Jr. issued a statement, “In Defense of Women’s Athletics,” after his female track and field athletes lost to a biological male. He wrote, “Biological males’ participation in women’s athletics is wrong … Enough is enough.”

It also notes:

High school girls’ basketball coach Chris Goodwin forfeited a game against a team with a biological male after three of his female players were injured. Rather than being applauded for protecting his players, the Vermont Principals’ Association kicked his school out of all sports events.

“Fortunately, Goodwin is not taking this lying down,” Morse said. “With the help of Alliance Defending Freedom, he is suing, in part because students are ‘irreparably harmed by being denied participation.’ Good for him.”

Another example is Nassau County, New York, where county official Bruce Blakeman issued an executive order effectively banning transgender men from participating in women’s and girls’ sports.

State attorney general Letitia James has tried to stop that ban, but Blakeman is standing strong.

The article states:

“The trans train is slowly coming off the rails,” Morse added. “An increasing number of detransitioners are speaking out in documentaries such as The Lost Boys, Dysconnected, and No Way Back: The Reality of Gender-Affirming Care, as well as suing their doctors for pushing them into transitioning.”

The U.K’s Tavistock gender clinic was shut down last year after a class action lawsuit by transitioned individuals. Germany recently released a study saying that research supporting puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones for minors is “low quality” and probably “substantially different” from the “true effect.”

The Stream article mentions Mallory Millett, whose sister, Kate, was a leader in the rise of feminism, writing a book called, Sexual Politics. Mallory says, “Kate wrote the exact right book at the exact right moment. It was as if it was chosen by Satan,” adding, “This is all about a war on God. Kate stated categorically that the complete destruction of traditional marriage and the nuclear family is the revolutionary or utopian goal of feminism..."

Mallory recalls going to a meeting of the National Organization for Women, attended by "founding members" Betty Freidan and Gloria Steinem:

They would start the meetings with a call/response sequence about being there to “make revolution… a sexual revolution… by destroying the family… by destroying marriage… by destroying monogamy… by promoting homosexuality, prostitution, promiscuity, and abortion.

“”We will promote those four things and that will destroy society,’” Mallory recalls them saying.

Morse punctuates her statements by saying, “More and more, around the world, people are waking up to reality..."  She calls on Women's History Month in March to be a time in which real women are celebrated, stating:

“When did women’s empowerment suddenly become biological men taking over women’s sports, women’s prisons, women’s bathrooms, locker rooms, and even, in Scotland, rape recovery spaces?”

“This is women’s erasure, and it needs to stop,” Morse said.

“Women’s History Month usually means feminist propaganda to boost their agenda. Feminists claim to speak for all women, but millions of women still want to get married and stay home with their babies. Millions of women want the reliable love of a good man who will care for them and their children.

Morse refers to "Women who don’t want to abort their babies. Women who build pregnancy care centers, not burn them down."

We need a cleansing - our culture needs a liberation from empty ideas that do not align with Scripture. The Church needs to recognize the holiness and authority of God and stop accommodating teachings that are not consistent with the Word of God.   We need to embrace prayer and reject propaganda that doesn't honor the Lord. 

Now, that's not to say people from the other side should be silenced; there are those who would certainly want to do that to us.  People can believe what they believe - but we can courageously and persuasively state and live out Biblical ideas and help people come into the knowledge of the truth.  The religious leaders of the day wanted to silence Jesus - His M.O. was to engage them; but - He did stand against errant practices taking place within the Temple.  And, we should be careful to stand against what has infiltrated the Church that doesn't line up with what the Bible teaches.

Worth

Jesus was put to death - actually He surrendered Himself to death - so that we might have new life in Him. If we accept Him as our substitute for us on the cross, then we can experience new life expressed through us. Romans chapter 8 says:
13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.
15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father."

We have been brought into the family of God because of what Jesus did for us on the cross and through His resurrection.  We were spiritually separated from God, but we have been brought near because of what our Savior has done for us. We deserved eternal punishment, but we have been granted eternal life - we are alive in Him!  During this Holy Week, we can reflect on what He has done for us and rejoice that we have new life through Jesus Christ.

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As we begin this Holy Week thinking together about what Jesus has done for us, bringing us into a relationship with our Heavenly Father, we can reflect on these words from Galatians 4:
4 But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law,
5 to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.
6 And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, "Abba, Father!"

Jackie Darby was found - literally.  Left to die in a garbage dump in South Korea, she was rescued by a family of missionaries, according to an article at the Faithwire website. 

The article relates:

“Rats were eating on my … little body,” Darby, who has a new book titled “Whose Am I? The Truth About Your Worth and Identity in Christ,” told CBN News. “But the Lord God sent a missionary nurse who found me, and rescued me, and took me to a local orphanage that was also run by missionaries.”

That miracle rescue led her to be adopted by missionaries in America who already had five biological children of their own, but who felt called by God to bring her into their home.

“After they read an article about post-war babies in the local newspaper, that’s how the Lord touched their hearts for adoption,” she said.

But, a relevant question haunted Jackie throughout her life, "...why was I thrown in the garbage?”

A Christian Post article says that at age 22, Jackie had a transformative moment in her life as she wrestled with her purpose, saying that on a plane, as she looked out the window...

"...I said, ‘God, if You're the God that I've heard of my whole childhood, my whole life up to this point, You have to come into my life and make yourself real, I will do whatever you want. Just please take over my life,’” she recalled. “I felt like, at that point, I had made some pretty bad decisions. I was really, really struggling with my worth, my identity, who I was, and why I was even on this Earth to begin with. I always felt like a piece of garbage. I always told myself I shouldn't be here. I should have died. I was thrown away.

But at that moment, I knew that God is faithful and He heard my prayers. He came into my heart and my life. He took over. I just had to listen and do the things He was asking me to do. That was the beginning of my journey, my relationship with the Lord, and when my life began to really transform, but it has been a process.” 

The story states that: 

Eventually, Darby was able to come to a place of forgiving her birth parents for abandoning her. When she moved to Fort Myers, Florida, she joined a church and found significant support in her youth pastors, who introduced her to the love of Christ.

It was during a Bible study about forgiveness, Darby realized she needed to forgive her birth mother: “I always blamed her,” the author shared. She confided in her youth pastor's wife, Laurie, about her desire to forgive, and Laurie, an adoptive mother herself, helped Darby through the forgiveness process.  

As Faithwire reports, Jackie and the co-author of Whose Am I?, Aixa de Lopez, through a local church, began to develop a relationship.  Jackie and Aixa's adopted daughter, Darly, developed a special bond. The article says:

“[Darby] and her daughter would come over, take the kids to McDonald’s, and then do some crafts at her place,” de López said. “And then my kids started to relax around her, and especially my younger little [Darly] who’s pictured in the book started to have these deeper conversations with Jackie.”

Faithwire goes on to report: 

“We don’t know much about [Darly’s] origin story, just as Jackie doesn’t know almost anything about hers,” de López said. “And so they’ve connected in that very sore point. But it’s been a healing balm for my daughter to be able to see … this adult bearing fruit for the Lord, having her own family.”

Out of these conversations grew the children's book, Whose Am I?  Jackie Darby states: "our heart’s desire is this book would be used as a tool to open up very honest and sometimes complicated conversations for parents or adults to be able to talk to their kids about the word adoption, about the beauty of adoption,” adding, “Not just adoption here on this Earth, but about their spiritual adoption.”

As we begin this week's journey through Holy Week, we can reflect on how we have been adopted into the family of God because of what Jesus did for us through His death and resurrection. What He suffered, He suffered for us.  He faced punishment for what He did not do so that we could be spared the punishment for what we did do.  He has rescued us from the garbage dump of sin and brought us into a life of love and purpose.  

Now, we are part of a dynamic family of God, called and empowered to demonstrate His love to a world that needs hope.  Just as Jackie Darby discovered hope for her life, we can be the vessels whom God will use to minister that hope. We can think about the One who suffered and died out of His great love for us, who can fill our hearts with love and give us a desire to serve Him and the people to whom He has directed us.

Expansive

When we consider creation not only all around us, but also the intricacies of the human body, we can gain an appreciation of our Creator God. Psalm 8 says:
1b O Lord, our Lord, How excellent is Your name in all the earth, Who have set Your glory above the heavens!
2 Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have ordained strength, Because of Your enemies, That You may silence the enemy and the avenger.
3 When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained,
4 What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him?

It has been reported by none other than Chuck Norris in a WND.com article which was cited by Movieguide, that astronaut Buzz Aldrin quoted from that Psalm during the Apollo 11 mission, the one in which he and Neil Armstrong walked on the surface of the moon.  In this era, in which space exploration is returning to the American consciousness, we can be prompted to think about the testimony that creation gives to each individual, demonstrating the existence of a Creator and the evidence of design that is all around us.  And, the Bible clearly identifies who that designer is. 

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In Psalm 19, we can read about the expansive reach of our Creator God, the One who made the heavens and the earth, which give honor and glory to Him. The first few verses of the Psalm state:
(1) The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork.
2 Day unto day utters speech, And night unto night reveals knowledge.
3 There is no speech nor language Where their voice is not heard.
4 Their line has gone out through all the earth, And their words to the end of the world. In them He has set a tabernacle for the sun,
5 Which is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, And rejoices like a strong man to run its race.
6 Its rising is from one end of heaven, And its circuit to the other end; And there is nothing hidden from its heat.

There has certainly been a fascination with respect to space travel, and there is anticipation that Americans could land on the moon once again.  But, it seems to be three steps forward, two steps back. For instance, earlier this month, USA Today reported:

The lunar lander Odysseus finally powered down Thursday one week after it became the first U.S. spacecraft to land on the moon since NASA's Apollo era came to an end five decades ago.

Ground controllers didn't expect the 14-foot-tall cylindrical lander to last nearly as long as it did when telemetry data beamed back to Earth indicated Odysseus had toppled onto its side Feb. 22 after skidding onto the moon's surface. But even from its sideways position, the uncrewed robot – built and operated by the space company Intuitive Machines in Houston – was able to transmit photos and data to Earth during its weeklong stay on the moon.

And, just last week, a SpaceX rocket, the largest ever, was launched; SpaceNews.com reported that the rocket, dubbed the "Super Heavy" made a smooth takeoff, fired all of its 33 engines, then, as the article says:

The booster then performed burns to attempt what SpaceX webcast hosts called a “soft splashdown” in the Gulf of Mexico, where it would not be recovered. However, the landing burn did not appear to go correctly, and the company later said that the booster broke apart 462 meters above the ocean after lighting several Raptor engines for a landing burn.

The Starship upper stage performed its burn, placing the vehicle onto its planned suborbital trajectory. It avoided the fate of the previous Starship launch in November, when the vehicle broke apart late in its burn after catching fire while venting propellant.

Judging from that report, the test has been regarded a success by NASA and SpaceX, even with its imperfections. 

Chuck Norris wrote a piece the other day for WND.com, prompted by the Odysseus landing.  A Movieguide article referenced the Norris column, stating:

While most Americans recognize Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins as the crew of Apollo 11, the mission that first brought man to the surface of the moon, many Americans do not realize that these men had deep ties to religion.

“The truth is, Armstrong was a Christian (not a Muslim as some falsely reported), Collins was a nominal Episcopalian, and Aldrin was an elder at his Presbyterian Church back in Houston,” Norris explained.

Even more shocking and underreported, Aldrin took communion before he and Armstrong left the lunar module to take the historic first steps on the moon.

 A Movieguide article by Katherine Harrington stated:

Aldrin was an ordained Presbyterian minister who received backlash after quoting the Psalms in flight. Reportedly he carried an index card with John 15:5 on it. Aldrin concluded the mission by reciting Psalms 8.

As the three men began their descent they all par-took in communion, praising God for His provision.

Apollo 11 is a miracle mission.

Charles Duke, the capsule communicator of Apollo 11 said ‘Abort, CAPCOM, Abort.” as the ship was about to strike the rockiest surface of the moon. Miraculously, the ship survived the moon landing a success.

On Apollo 16, Duke then became the youngest person to ever walk the moon during Apollo 16.

“My walk on the moon lasted three days. My walk with God will last forever,” Duke said at the time.

Although it took Duke six more years to recommit his life to Jesus the moon brought him to the feet of Jesus.

Harrington also notes:

James Irwin an astronaut on Apollo 15 said, “As we got further and further away, it (The Earth) diminished in size. Finally, it shrank to the size of a marble, the most beautiful you can imagine. That beautiful, warm, living object looked so fragile, so delicate, that if you touched it with a finger it would crumble and fall apart. Seeing this has to change a man.”

That previous Movieguide article also noted:

The Apollo program was, in fact, saturated with Christians who were adamant about making faith a highlight of their mission. During the first manned mission that orbited the moon, the Apollo 8 crew read Genesis during a broadcast of their orbit. Microfilm Bibles were also aboard the Apollo 12, 13 and 14 missions.

I believe that collectively we are fascinated by space exploration.  And, the thought of human beings traveling to the moon yet again is certainly an exciting prospect.  There are signs in the skies and the story of God's handiwork that can be found throughout.  The heavens, which declare the glory of God, Psalm 19 says, can testify to the existence of a mighty Maker who created, as Genesis says, heaven and earth.  And, he has created us, who are described in Psalm 139 as "fearfully and wonderfully made."

I also want to highlight that people will be looking to the skies on Monday, April 8, as a total eclipse will be visible throughout North America.  While the Faith Radio broadcast area will not be in the path of totality, still there might be plenty to see - just don't look directly into the sun!  This demonstration in the heavens can be yet another opportunity to discuss spiritual things.  This occurrence can provide the means through which we can discuss the Creator of sun and the skies.  

Spiritual Dynamic

God is calling His Church to be awe-filled and awakened, walking in the light and clothed in the presence of Christ. In Romans 13, we can find these words:
11 And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.
12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.
13 Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy.
14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.

One can become easily discouraged when he or she notices the awful decline of truth in our society. But, that word, "awe-filled," can remind us that when we turn to God, we can be refreshed and renewed.  We can have the fruit of the Spirit flowing through our hearts and we can be equipped to walk in the victory over forces that are aligned against God and His people. He is calling us to draw closer to Him, so that we might reflect His hand.

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The well-dressed Christian, spiritually speaking, is clothed in the Lord Jesus Christ and recognizes that we are in a battle, not only to ward off corruption and sin from our own souls, but to be salt and light in our culture. Ephesians 6 states:
11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

I want to return to an incident that I commented on last week, because I believe it is important to remember our history in what really has become a historical moment. Our nation, and our world, are in a crisis era, and we need the help of Almighty God.  

I remember the words of Billy Graham at the National Cathedral just days after 3,000 people perished in attacks on our country.  According to the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association website, he said:

We’ve always needed God from the very beginning of this nation. But today we need Him especially. We’re involved in a new kind of warfare. And we need the help of the Spirit of God.

The Bible says, “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea.”

Dr. Graham went on to say:

We desperately need a spiritual renewal in this country, and God has told us in His Word time after time that we need to repent of our sins and return to Him, and He will bless us in a new way.

There also is hope for the future because of God’s promises. As a Christian, I have hope, not just for this life, but for heaven and the life to come. And many of those people who died this past week are in heaven now. And they wouldn’t want to come back. It’s so glorious and so wonderful. That is the hope for all of us who put our faith in God. I pray that you will have this hope in your heart.

In a recent piece for FoxNews.com, Chief Religion Correspondent for Fox News, Lauren Green, quoted from what she described as the "First Prayer of the Continental Congress given by the Rev. Jacob Duche, rector of Christ Church of Philadelphia, on Sept. 7, 1774."...

It begins this way: "O Lord our Heavenly Father, high and mighty King of kings, and Lord of lords, who dost from thy throne behold all the dwellers on earth and reignest with power supreme and uncontrolled over all the Kingdoms, Empires and Governments; look down in mercy, we beseech Thee, on these our American States, who have fled to Thee from the rod of the oppressor and thrown themselves on Thy gracious protection, desiring to be henceforth dependent only on Thee."

This prayer was cited as a source for much of a prayer delivered recently to open a session of the U.S. House of Representatives by Senior Pastor of Calvary Chapel Chino Hills in California, Jack Hibbs according to what he said in Lauren's Lighthouse Faith podcast.  

Hibbs was invited to pray in late January by Speaker of the House Mike Johnson.  As I noted last week, his appearance had been challenged by a group of lawmakers - the Fox story says 26.  In response, Hibbs said that...

... "when these progressives speak about ‘radical Christian nationalists,’ they're using verbiage reminiscent of the rise of the Third Reich under the leadership of Adolf Hitler. Hitler, as well as communists, Marxists and socialists, are known to label and vilify those who disagree with their ideologies."

Green goes on to say: 

Author of the recent book, "Daze of Deception: How to Discern Truth from Culture's Lies," Hibbs makes no excuses for being a Christian with orthodox — some would say extremely conservative — beliefs.

She notes: "Reps. Jared Huffman of California, Jamie Raskin of Maryland and Mark Pocan of Wisconsin were the top organizers and signers of the two-page letter, according to Rep. Huffman's website."

Green also states:

...Hibbs' prayer could be yet another example of a clash of orthodoxies in political circles. Roll Call reported that Huffman calls himself a "nonreligious humanist."

He, along with Raskin, founded the Congressional Freethought Caucus.

Its stated mission is to "promote public policy formed on the basis of reason, science and moral values." That could be the conflict in a nutshell.

The majority of theologians agree that there is no such thing as a "non-religious" person, that there is no neutral position when it comes to religion; we all have a stake in what may be the grand spiritual narrative of creation.

Morality, deciding what is good or bad, is implicitly founded in religious values, not science.

As Oxford University mathematician and Christian apologist Dr. John Lennox said in a debate with atheist Richard Dawkins, "Science can tell you what will happen when you put arsenic in your Aunt Tilley's tea, but it cannot tell whether or not you should."

There is a spiritual dynamic that flows throughout life, and it is present even within the political realm.  That's right, when we pray for our authorities, as directed by 1st Timothy 2, we are actually activating spiritual power, and as we collectively redouble our efforts, we can anticipate the Spirit of God to move upon human hearts in a profound way.  Do we expect this?  

If you scroll through social media, spend some time on the Internet and other sources of information, you will see that there is a war of ideas that is taking place.  We have to examine our own ideas and make sure they are informed and governed by Scripture.  The enemy is destructive, and he wants to corrupt the people of God by distorting the truth. We have to be armed with the truth so that we can stand against his schemes.

Mouthpieces

As Joshua faithfully assumed the mantle of leadership for the Israelites following the death of Moses, he was charged by God to rely on His Word and to draw strength from Him. We can read in Joshua chapter 1 these words, spoken by God to Joshua:
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."

God's Word brings life to our hearts and direction to our minds. Through the pages of the Scriptures, we can find the wisdom we need in order to navigate this world.  We can have confidence in the Lord as we discover more about Him and we can be bold to speak and to do what the Scriptures say.  The presence of His Word in our hearts produces strength and enables us to reject fear and do what He calls us to do, being reminded daily that He goes with us.

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The two verses that are found at the beginning of Proverbs 28 can be a clarion call to the Church to rise up and be bold, to embrace and speak the truth. We can find these words:
1 The wicked flee when no one pursues, But the righteous are bold as a lion.
2 Because of the transgression of a land, many are its princes; But by a man of understanding and knowledge Right will be prolonged.

In the name of tolerance, the Church, which has been called to display the righteousness of God, to be His ambassadors, has not spoken out forcefully enough about godless ideologies. Robert Gagnon of Houston Christian University noted in a tweet recently: "The President of El Salvador is doing the right thing in stopping the teaching of gender ideology in public schools and universities." He cites a "need to prioritize stopping the soul-destroying war against children" that certain "regimes (national, state, and local) are imposing through forcible indoctrination in 'gay' and 'trans' ideology and the compelled speech that goes with it."

The President's name is Nayib Bukele, and a website called, El Pais, reports that he "has attacked gender theory and has decided that it shouldn’t be included in the public education system of the Central American country. Bukele has said that he won’t allow '[gender] ideologies in schools and colleges,' and the Ministry of Education has announced that it will implement the controversial president’s decision. 'Confirmed: we have removed all traces of gender ideology from public schools,' was the response posted on social media by Minister of Education José Mauricio Pineda.

The article notes:

The controversial decision made by the Salvadoran government comes after Bukele said — during the recent Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) that was held in the United States — that he considers it “important that the curriculum doesn’t [include] gender ideology and all these [other] things.” He stated that “parents should be informed and have a say in what their children are going to learn.” Bukele had already expressed his rejection of abortion and same-sex marriage.

So, what's driving this action?  Well, last fall, WORLD Magazine ran an article about Bukele's propensity to quote Scripture in public appearances. The article states: "Bukele, whose crackdown on crime has raised accusations of rights violations, makes frequent references to God and quotes the Bible though he does not claim to belong to any particular religion. He is descended from Palestinian Christian immigrants, and his father was an Islamic imam."

The article relates that:

“El Salvador is demonstrating as a living testimony that things can change if God so decides,” he told a crowd of Christian journalists, communicators, and pastors gathered in the main ballroom of the Hotel Barceló San Salvador in early October. Leaders of the host countries don’t typically address the annual Ibero-American Congress of Communicators and Christian Media (COICOM), but El Salvador has a large evangelical population–44 percent of Salvadorans identify themselves as evangelicals, according to a Gallup survey.

He just won re-election; a controversial move, considered that, as WORLD says, "On Oct. 29, Bukele registered to run for reelection as president–something the El Salvadoran constitution technically prohibits. A court of constitutional judges appointed by Bukele approved an exception that would allow him to hold one more term."  And, according to El Pais, reported that shortly before his declaration regarding gender, "the Electoral Court of El Salvador settled the dispute over the election results and ratified the president’s victory: he won his re-election bid with 84% of the vote."

WORLD highlights how Bukele has been tough on crime, even though there has been criticism that he has violated the rights of "suspected gang members."  The article states:

Bukele has defended his strategy as the only way to combat crime and guarantee security. His critics warn that this repression may have counterproductive effects such as increasing the cohesion and power of the gangs, generating more violence, and forced displacement, and eroding the rule of law.

Bukele sees vindication in the country’s transformation and expressed it to the crowd at Hotel Barceló: “God’s goal was to tell all the nations of the world ‘ask, give Me the glory, and I will heal your land.’ Nothing is impossible for God, we all know that, but here He demonstrated it again.”

So, while the President of El Salvador has faced criticism from a number of groups, he points to results. And, he has taken positions on abortion and gender ideology that are consistent with the teachings of the Bible, even though he doesn't seem to affiliate with one particular religion. It kind of reminds me of the disciples who complained to Jesus about people casting out demons in His name and He responded in Mark 9:40 that "...he who is not against us is on our side."

In these days, culturally speaking, we need allies, don't we?  Yes, there are those who publicly give lip service to Christian ideals, even though they may not be particularly religious people. In fact, there are some non-believers who display more of a fidelity to Scripture than professed believers. That shows a real problem with the Church today.  In attempting to transform the culture, I believe that God will choose and anoint a variety of mouthpieces.  We can continue to make sure that we are devoted to winning all people to Christ, and through our partnerships, we can have an impact on their lives. 

We also must be determined to pray for our leaders.  We can pray for them to accept and exercise Godly wisdom - especially this week, when you have lawmakers in Montgomery who are deciding whether or not to change the fiber of our state by allowing a proven evil to gain a greater foothold through the expansion of gambling.  We need for the godly and those who at least embrace Scripture to stand together on principle rather than compromise.  And, we can make sure that we are praying and selecting leaders who will uphold the principles upon which our nation was founded and principles that are consistent with Scripture.

Warning

We can know that the Lord goes with us day by day, and we can rely on His guiding hand. In Isaiah 30, we can find these words:
21 Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, "This is the way, walk in it," Whenever you turn to the right hand Or whenever you turn to the left.
22 You will also defile the covering of your graven images of silver, And the ornament of your molded images of gold. You will throw them away as an unclean thing; You will say to them, "Get away!"
23 Then He will give the rain for your seed With which you sow the ground, And bread of the increase of the earth; It will be fat and plentiful. In that day your cattle will feed In large pastures.

In Psalm 23, the writer refers to the Lord as his "shepherd." Jesus referred to Himself as the "good shepherd" in John chapter 10. We can recognize and rely on the Lord being with us. If we are discerning, then we can sense the presence of God - and the presence of evil, what's called a "check in our spirit," a warning that God gives, to tell us to "stay away," to head in another direction. He gives us angelic protection, as well. We can place ourselves into the care of our loving Father.

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Jesus reminded His disciples in John 14 that He was sending His Holy Spirit to be with us, to help us, to be our guide. We can find these words in that chapter:
25 "These things I have spoken to you while being present with you.
26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.
27 Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

It was supposed to be a glorious time, a celebration of the latest Super Bowl win by the Kansas City Chiefs.  At the parade in Kansas City to honor the football team, suddenly, there was the sound of gunfire. And, in the end, one person was dead and some 20 people were injured, according to a Faithwire story that reported on a family that attended the festivities that day.

Timmy Hensel is an area pastor, and he and his family were situated on the parade route. The article relates that...

...Hensel, pastor of River Church Family in Raytown, Missouri, and the Central Southeast Regional Pastor for the Foursquare Church told CBN News he and his family were on the parade route before the shooting and decided to go to the rally at Union Station.

“We were sitting there and listening to the rally go on [and were] super excited to be celebrating, feeling just this community, camaraderie, and joy,” he said.

Then, Hensel and his wife sensed that it was time to leave. The article reports:

“We just get this prompting that it’s time to leave before … our favorite players are about to speak,” he said, getting emotional as he recalled the moment.

Both he and his wife, Tisha, experienced the same feeling, with his wife asking if it was time to go.

“[We] just felt that sense to go and so we started walking back,” Hensel said. “And, all of a sudden, in a little bit, we’re getting texts, ‘Are you OK?'”

Just moments after the couple and their two children left, the shooting unfolded in the exact spot where they were sitting. Hensel said he later looked at aerial shots and saw blood on the ground in the very location.

The pastor has mixed emotions, and perhaps even a bit of survivor's guilt.  He and his wife were both prompted by the Lord to move, but he also expressed his love for a hurting city; Faithwire states:

The preacher said he’s grateful for the “promptings of the Holy Spirit” and the ability to “recognize His voice and tone.” In addition to his gratitude, though, he is also feeling pain as he continues to process what unfolded Feb. 14.

“I’m also feeling a lot of brokenness and sadness for those who are hurting,” Hensel said. “My city is hurting right now … they’re scared, and angry, and [wondering], ‘Why do things like this keep happening?'”

Pastor Hensel sensed the leadership of the Holy Spirit - the same Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead; the Spirit whom Jesus said He would send to be our Helper, the same Holy Spirit who lives within us. The challenge is training ourselves to listen.  The pastor says: “It’s not just Sunday...It’s every moment, and so he is speaking all the time and [we need] to train ourselves to know the tone of the Shepherd’s voice, to know that He is speaking, He is guiding, and I’m really grateful for that.”  He added: “I would encourage others to practice listening. We do a lot of talking. We do a lot of praying, which is good, but listening is just as important, because He has something to say.”

And, the article notes that he is continuing to reach out the community in the aftermath of the unsettling incident. 

There was nothing particularly special about Timmy Hensel that would cause him to be singled out that day, other than the sovereign hand of God and his willingness to be tuned in to the promptings of the Holy Spirit.  Perhaps you have been in a situation where you have come close to a tragedy - that car accident that almost happened, for instance. 

We also recognize that there are believers every day that face injury and tragedy.  And, we question, "why?"  We certainly live in a fallen world, but we're perhaps asking the wrong question.  In our difficult times, we should ask "what?" or "how?," seeking God and asking Him how to respond in the challenges that we face. 

We should always be sensitive to the voice of His Spirit, the providential hand of Almighty God as He governs our lives.  There is much we can learn as we submit ourselves to our guide, who will never contradict the Word of God, and will provide good counsel for us to follow. 

Considering His Gifts

Our demeanor as Christian believers should ideally be reflective of the hope within us - Christ in us, the hope of glory, as Colossians 1 states. We can even rejoice when we suffer, according to Romans chapter 5:
1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance;
4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope.
5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

In the life of a believer, we can be confident that we cannot be utterly defeated because ultimately, because we know Jesus, we belong to Him and we will be with Him forever. Even in this life, we can walk with a sense of His victory and rejoice because of His presence with us.  We can continue to be thankful, even in our suffering. He is our hope, the One who sustains us and encourages our hearts as we draw near to Him.

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There will be challenges and even disappointments in life, but we can also recognize that God is at work and we can learn in and through the midst of those tough times. In 2nd Corinthians 4, Paul writes:

8 We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed--

Later in the chapter, we can read:
16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.
17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,
18 while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Nicole Weider is a former Victoria's Secret model whose life and career changed dramatically after she gave her life to Christ. She is a communicator who shares truth consistent with a Christian perspective, and has been involved in Christian film. She is quoted in a Movieguide article that included quotes from a 2015 CBN interview.  Weider shared:

“I gave my life to Christ when I was 23, and it was the best decision I ever made,” Weider said. “After I gave my life to God I felt a renewed sense of hope, and I felt like my dignity was back in my heart. I started journaling about my love for God and my experiences in the modeling industry, and pretty soon after I gave my life to God, He put in my heart a desire to create a website for teenage girls to share pieces of my testimony on there and to be a light to girls and to warn them about the dangers of the Hollywood industry and about the modeling industry.”

As a result, Weider released a book and a website under the same name, “Project Inspired,” to help teenage girls avoid her experiences in the industry and turn to God instead.

Last fall, it was announced that Weider had stage 4 breast cancer. Another Movieguide article related: "She has been open about her diagnosis and frequently asks followers to pray..." The article cited an Instagram post, in which she said, “'YOUR PRAYERS ARE WORKING!!'" She posted:

“She [the oncologist] said ‘wow’ And ‘fabulous’ and was surprised herself! Thank you please keep praying for me that the cancer cells die and are totally removed from my body and eventually I’ll be NED!! (No evidence of disease)...

And, according to yet another Movieguide piece, her cancer ordeal has caused her to think more deeply about her policies regarding her two children's access to technology.  She posted:

“Yesterday I watched a video of a person talking about how millennials are the last generation to experience what true boredom represents and I agree,” she wrote on Instagram, citing the anticipation of dial-up internet and waiting for movies and music to be released.

Weider continued, “I feel bad and worried for gen alpha (my kids) and the generations after because of the increased individualism in our country with the overflowing amount of things to occupy their mind, advertising to them all day long to want more, and create the need for constant stimulation without having the ability to just be bored and do nothing and lay on their bed. And also, kids are spending less time playing together in person and more time just connecting online which isn’t as nourishing (I think) as in person.”

Nicole certainly appreciates God's gift of motherhood. That article notes that she said on Instagram, “I thank God for the blessing of motherhood, for the opportunity to shape their lives with love, faith, and values. It is my prayer that I can continue to walk this path with unwavering faith and that God’s grace will continue to guide us and keep us in His loving arms.”  She added:

“Going through cancer treatment of course has me contemplating the future of our kids and our family more than ever. BUT I’m so thankful the cancer is shrinking and I’m praying I’ll be in remission in a few months!!” she wrote in a recent social media post. “When things get hard, Elijah and Elodie will grow up knowing they can rely on God and they have their faith. Because hard times will inevitably come as we are in right now.”

We can consider the gifts that God has given to us - the gift of salvation, the gift of living each day, the gift of family, the gift of time.  So much that our Father has given to us - truly He is, as Chris Tomlin sang, a "Good, Good Father."  We can be challenged to take the time to consider His gifts and develop a greater sense of thankfulness, which can bring joy to our souls. 

And, even in our suffering, we can view all that comes into our lives as being ordained by a sovereign God.  So, in a sense, suffering is a gift.  We can be grateful in our suffering, and reliant on our Savior, who is performing His purposes in our lives.  When life seems to be the darkest, we can press into the light of Jesus.

Telling Good Stories

God's story includes His sending His Son to redeem us - to die on a cross and rise from the dead. But, it also includes the individual stories of scores of individuals who have chosen to believe on Him and be saved - and how He has expressed His story through them. In Psalm 71, we can read:
15 My mouth shall tell of Your righteousness And Your salvation all the day, For I do not know their limits.
16 I will go in the strength of the Lord God; I will make mention of Your righteousness, of Yours only.
17 O God, You have taught me from my youth; And to this day I declare Your wondrous works.
18 Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O God, do not forsake me, Until I declare Your strength to this generation, Your power to everyone who is to come.

I think it's helpful to take time and reflect how we have seen the hand of God in and through us - and give Him praise for His faithfulness.  We can give Him praise for who He is and thank Him that He has chosen us in Him, that we have been saved and are being sanctified.  We can give Him glory for those He has put around to encourage us in our Christian life. And, we can look to the future with expectation because of how we have seen Him move in the past.

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

The entertainment industry has been in the spotlight recently with the recent Oscar presentations this past Sunday night.  I was curious to see if that fact that two popular movies that people had actually seen were nominated for multiple Oscars would affect the number of eyes that watched the telecast.  According to Variety, it didn't.

The publication related:

Per the time zone adjusted fast national ratings, Sunday’s telecast drew 19.5 million viewers and a 3.8 rating in the adults 18-49 demographic airing from 7:00-10:29 p.m ET. By comparison, the 2023 telecast drew 18.8 million viewers and a 4.0 rating in the final tallies. That means this year’s show was up just shy of 4% in total viewers but down 5% in the key demo. It should also be noted this year’s show started an hour earlier than it has in years past.

Still, there are so many are consumers of entertainment, and there was a survey that was released recently by something called the Faith and Media Initiative, which commissioned HarrisX to do a poll that measured the impact of entertainment.  A CBN.com story stated:

The sweeping Global Faith and Entertainment study, conducted by HarrisX in partnership with the Faith and Media Initiative, surveyed nearly 10,000 entertainment consumers in 11 countries, yielding comprehensive results that provide a lens into how the masses view this important issue.

The vast majority of Americans who consume entertainment (69%) believe “TV and movies perpetuate religious stereotypes,” according to the results. Meanwhile, 68% of global viewers would like to see diverse religious representations in movies and TV.

Furthermore, according to the article, "An even stronger majority of international consumers (80%) believe it’s important for entertainment venues to take steps to improve portrayals of religious experience to improve accuracy."

So, there is a perception that entertainment moguls really don't understand faith, and so they don't incorporate in an authentic way.  I would also surmise that this lack of understanding may move them to not incorporate it at all. 

Even a studio executive voiced his concern. The CBN article related:

Frank Patterson, CEO of Trilith Studios, a Hollywood production house in Fayette County, Georgia, said the results shed light on the important role Hollywood plays in shaping perceptions.

“The findings of the Global Faith and Entertainment Study underscore an important responsibility we have in Hollywood — to authentically portray faith and spirituality in our productions,” Patterson said in a statement. “Doing so represents an opportunity to bridge cultural divides, challenge stereotypes, and tell stories that reflect the diverse spiritual experiences of our global audience.”

He continued, “It’s not just about representation; it’s about making a positive impact on society through the stories we choose to tell.”

The survey summary notes, in a press release that, "A majority of consumers say religious identity is the least represented, yet the most sensationalized element of identity portrayed." For example, as the summary notes, "Respondents say they don't see their religious identity on screen as much as their gender, race, or sexual orientation," and "When they do see their religious identity portrayed, it's more likely to be a sensational or stereotypical depiction."

In the summary, Dritan Nesho, CEO of HarrisX, is quoted as saying: "The data shows clearly that addressing the concerns of audiences around the world about the lack of range, diversity, representation, depth, and accuracy when it comes to portrayals of viewers own religion, faith and spirituality – and that of other faiths they interact with – is both good business and leads to positive impact. Today entertainment is increasingly on demand and democratized therefore the needs of these massive swaths of consumers should not be ignored."

Our Christian faith is such an integral part of our personal story. Yet, in society at large, there is a strong perception that those who are entrusted with telling good stories do seem to either omit it or treat it in an inaccurate way, according to this survey.  But, in telling our own stories, we should always be careful to acknowledge the hand of God and call attention to how He has worked in our lives, for His glory.

It's been pointed out that what is called our "testimony" is simply an account of what God has done in us - through Jesus, we have been saved and brought into a relationship with God.  We are new creations in Him; we have a new identity.  Having Jesus as our Savior and Lord changes everything. We can be careful to operate out of that life change.

Force For Good

We may face discouragement when we consider the state of world today. We may be facing disturbing, even overwhelming circumstances and experience fear at the thought of what we may encounter. But, we can look to the God who is with us. Psalm 31 states:
21 Blessed be the Lord, For He has shown me His marvelous kindness in a strong city!
22 For I said in my haste, "I am cut off from before Your eyes"; Nevertheless You heard the voice of my supplications When I cried out to You.
23 Oh, love the Lord, all you His saints! For the Lord preserves the faithful, And fully repays the proud person.
24 Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart, All you who hope in the Lord.

Proverbs 18 contains this reminder: "The name of the Lord is a strong tower; The righteous run to it and are safe."

The apostle Paul reminds us in 2nd Corinthians that when we are weak, He is strong. So, in our times where we feel weak, we can rely on the presence of the indwelling Christ and be assured that He is with us. We can think or even act impulsively and think that God is not with us, that He has somehow forgotten, but in our times of trial, we can know and be confident that He is right there, sustaining us and calling us closer to Himself.

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God is the source of courage and confidence for us, empowering us to testify to the presence of Jesus in us. In Luke 12, Jesus teaches:
8 "Also I say to you, whoever confesses Me before men, him the Son of Man also will confess before the angels of God.
9 But he who denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God.
10 And anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but to him who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven.
11 Now when they bring you to the synagogues and magistrates and authorities, do not worry about how or what you should answer, or what you should say.
12 For the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say."

Recently, Cheryl Chumley of the Washington Times and Higher Ground Times wrote about a U.S. pastor who prayed prior to a session of the U.S. House of Representatives, invited by Speaker of the House Mike Johnson.  She related that, according to The Christian Post, the pastor...

...used language like “repentance” and “holy fear” and spoke of “national sins” — as if these words and phrases were antithetical to America’s guiding doctrines, model of governance and founding principles.

Unfortunately, some House members took the pastor, Jack Hibbs of Calvary Chapel Chino Hills in California, to task, filing a complaint saying that he "embraces the false and exclusionary Christian nationalist narrative that the United States was established as a ‘Christian nation,’ and he has repeatedly flouted separation of church and state by working to institutionalize Christian prayer and Bible readings at local school board meetings.”

Chumley compares the words and ideology of Hibbs to signers of the Declaration of Independence - you know, that founding document that says that rights come from God, a concept that a certain Politico reporter seems to have a hard time with.  She writes:

Elbridge Gerry, signer of the Declaration of Independence, member of the Constitutional Convention, framer of the Bill of Rights, had this to say to his fellow Massachusetts citizens — whom he also served as governor: “ … for our unparalleled ingratitude to that adorable being who has seated us in a land irradiated by the cheering beams of the gospel of Jesus Christ … let us fall prostrate before offended deity, confess sincerely and penitently our manifold sins and our unworthiness of His divine favors, fervently implore His pardon through the merits of our mediator,” as Capitol Ministries noted.

Cheryl Chumley also notes:

Josiah Bartlett, a military officer and signer of the Declaration of Independence, called on the people of New Hampshire, whom he governed, to “confess before God their aggravated transgressions and to implore His pardon and forgiveness through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ,” Capitol Ministries also reported.

She reinforces the notion that "America’s greatness comes from the ideal that all are created in the image of God; that all have worth and value and talents and skills from God; that all are born into sin and need God for moral direction and teaching — to stay on the godly path; and that government exists solely to serve in humble roles to preserve and protect those inherent, natural, God-given rights and liberties."

But, as former HUD Secretary Ben Carson and former acting U.S. Attorney General Matt Whitaker write at FoxNews.com: 

Recently, 11 anti-abortion protesters were convicted for peacefully protesting and praying at a Tennessee abortion clinic in 2021. Their crime? Arriving at an abortion clinic before it opened and sitting in prayer while handing out flyers that shared the value of human life.

These pro-life activists were convicted under the "Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances" (FACE) Act, a 1994 statute that makes it a federal crime to interfere in any way with a person’s attempt to get medical services. 

But, Carson and Whitaker contend that "the FACE Act is primarily being used to go after people of faith who stand up for what they believe and protest to protect innocent life. Each of these 11 peaceful protesters now faces up to 10 and a half years in prison and fines of up to $260,000 for participating in that day of prayerful protest."

They point to this incident as an example of the "weaponization" of the federal government against people of faith.

Other examples they cite include:

... in 2021, the Biden administration released a memo instructing the Department of Justice to go after concerned parents at school board meetings after receiving a letter that compared these parents to "domestic terrorists." Last year, it was also revealed that the FBI mounted a spying program on traditional Catholics (particularly those interested in the Latin Mass) and identified them as individuals who might be part of the "far-right nationalist movement."

They relate that "unprecedented acts of weaponization of the Justice Department" they mention in the piece are examples that the current administration "is eager to deploy the full force of the federal government against its perceived political enemies while letting real crimes, such as the D.C. riots and the destruction of federal property, go unpunished."  They state:

As Americans continue to fall victim to rising crime and violence in their neighborhoods, the Biden administration should focus on keeping our communities safe and putting real criminals behind bars. The Department of Justice should never be used as a weaponized arm of the executive branch to harass, intimidate, and stifle political opposition.

Calling good evil and evil good - that's a hallmark of some government officials these days. And, that is by no means an attempt by me and others to paint Christians as "victims."  But, we should not be characterized as "villains," either.  Our desire as believers should be to spread the love of Christ to a chaotic world.  There is much good, as it's been pointed out, that has been done by the Church throughout history, and Christians who live out their faith publicly should not be demonized for their desire to influence culture with God's absolute truth.  Same as others who are attempting to inject their god-less ideology into the fabric of our society.

Around the world, we have saints who are suffering - the persecuted Church.  They are facing imprisonment and death for living out their faith.  By and large, we haven't reached that point in America as of yet where it is common, but the conditions are there; the negative mindset has permeated the hearts and minds of some public officials.  The Mark Hauck case, in which a pro-life individual's home was stormed by armed federal agents because of a past incident in front of an abortion clinic, in which Mark was defending his son from harassment, a case dismissed by local authorities, gives a glimpse into what people in authority are capable of.  And, as our friends in other countries who are being persecuted, they count it a privilege to suffer for the sake of Christ - we are not victims; rather we are servants of the Most High, who has redeemed our souls and imparted to us His victory inside.

Platforms

In Philippians 1, the apostle Paul stated that he rejoiced that the gospel was being preached, even though there were some who did not do so out of the right motive. We can remember to be faithful and confident to make the Word of God a priority and to proclaim it boldly. He writes:
19 For I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,
20 according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death.
21 For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

God gives us the confidence to be witnesses to His work in us through Jesus. As we immerse ourselves in the Word of God - to study it, meditate on it, apply it, and proclaim it, our lives will conform to the very image of Christ, and we will reflect His presence in us. We can develop a desire to live according to God's ways and we will be better equipped to reject evil and embrace the truth that we find in the Scriptures. 

+++++

Peter and John were being used of God to do amazing things during the early days of the Church, but not without opposition. In Acts 4, we find that they called upon the Lord, saying:
29 Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word,
30 by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus."
31 And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.

A church in Texas produced an ad that was designed to inform and motivate people to come to a new Thursday night service that it had launched, an opportunity that was generated to attract people who might not could attend on Sundays.  According to Movieguide: "The 22-second ad featured Hulen Street Church’s pastor, Wes Hamilton, informing families about the new Thursday night service for people who can’t regularly attend church on Sundays...'Does your work schedule or busy family calendar not allow you to attend church on a Sunday morning?' Hamilton said in the ad. 'If so, I want to invite you to Thursday nights at Hulen Street Church.'”

The story says that the church had placed the ad on platforms Facebook, Instagram, and Google. However, when it approached Hulu, the streaming service, the ad was rejected; the reason: "religious indoctrination," which is apparently grounds for censoring an ad on the platform. 

The church was rejected twice, and so it asked why?  Attorney Jeremy Dys of First Liberty Institute is quoted in the article, from a CBN report: “Hulu came back and said that advertisement violated their guidelines because it engaged in religious indoctrination, and so that’s why they lost their ad,” adding, “They couldn’t post their ad because it engaged in religious indoctrination.” He also said, “Apparently, just telling people that you have a church service available to them at a certain time and day of the week is religious indoctrination to the people at Hulu..."

There is good news for the church, however, in this recent skirmish.  The Movieguide article states:

After receiving Hulu’s claim of ‘religious indoctrination,’ First Liberty Institute sent a letter to Hulu’s Deputy Chief Counsel, Angie Kang, asking for further clarification about this policy. Hulen Street Church has since been allowed to run the ad on Hulu.

While Hulu’s change of course is positive, it is disheartening that it flagged the advertisement in the first place, and it highlights a larger issue within the tech space.

In a statement published at The Christian Post, Dys said: "We are grateful to Hulu for its quick response to our demand letter and for accepting Hulen Street Church’s ad,” adding, “In the future, Hulu — and others in Big Tech — could avoid these kinds of conflicts by adopting advertising policies that do not discriminate against religious organizations, being transparent about its advertising policy, and applying it fairly.”

Movieguide noted that: "The question of social media platforms’ ability to censor is currently being debated in the Supreme Court as laws in Texas and Florida protecting politicians from being silenced on social media are being ruled upon. This ruling will set the standard for Big Tech’s ability to censor opinions they disagree with in the future."

CBN noted: 

The Texas case challenges a law banning social media companies from removing political content, even if that content contains hate speech. While the Florida case looks at a law making it illegal for platforms to ban current political candidates from social media.

The article quotes Daniel Cochrane of the Heritage Foundation, who said: "The logic that the social media platforms are saying is if we host speech then it's our right to decide what's on our platform and what's not, but that's not true for any other kind of common carrier..."

The high court heard the cases late last month, in which representatives of social media platforms challenged the states.  The SCOTUS Blog related:

At Monday’s argument, Florida Solicitor General Henry Whitaker emphasized that social media platforms are simply “in the business of transmitting their users’ speech” and “do not have a First Amendment right to apply their censorship policies in an inconsistent manner and to censor and deplatform certain users.”

Representing the trade groups, Paul Clement countered that, “given the vast amount of material on the Internet in general and on these websites in particular, exercising editorial discretion is absolutely necessary to make the websites useful for users and advertisers.”

There was skepticism across the ideological spectrum of the court about claims by the two states. The key issue is whether or not social media platforms, as private companies, are bound to uphold the First Amendment.  Cochrane seems to indicate the these platforms are more "common carriers," while Clement, according to CBN, stated: "If the government is doing it, then content moderation might be a euphemism for censorship...If a private party is doing it, content moderation is a euphemism for editorial discretion. There is a fundamental difference between the two."

Well, three things we know, at least: 1) social media platforms are massive purveyors of information and we should not underestimate their power and influence, 2) there have been widespread reports of social media censorship, and 3) there is not a clear path forward: are these platforms to be regarded as private entities (as they are), or more like public utilities, and therefore subject to the tenets of the First Amendment?  Regarding 1), we have to recognize that while social media can be a source of information, we have to recognize the information can be skewed.  I do know this: there are too many reported instances of Christian points of view and those who espouse them being removed. And, there are ways to put pressure on private companies, whether or not they act like it. 

So, we need to make sure we are responsible with our usage of what we consume.  The ultimate "filter" for us is God's Word - we have to be discerning with respect to what we hear, read or see. But, we can also develop a list of trusted sources that can corroborate what we see.  Understand, social media can be quite useful, but it can also misrepresent reality.  Just consider the recent flap in the U.K. about what was a doctored photograph of the family of the Prince of Wales, the son of the King - it was released a few days ago and was the first public photo of Princess Catherine since her surgery a few months ago. But, there was concern that the picture was altered.  Through our knowledge of God and training of our eyes and ears to discern what we consume, we can better identify what is true and what is not.