Straining

The apostle Paul recognized that the road to spiritual maturity was paved with a constant putting to death the things of the flesh, putting off, laying aside the old man and putting on the power and presence of Jesus Christ. He wrote in Philippians 3:
12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.
13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead,
14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

There are other translations that use the word, "straining," in verse 13 instead of "reaching forward."

The NBA Finals are now set - the Boston Celtics will face the Dallas Mavericks, while the other 28 teams are making decisions during this offseason period regarding how they will improve.  

This was a hopeful year for the Orlando Magic, which actually made the playoffs and was the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference. And, one of the key players for the team was Jonathan Isaac.  A Movieguide article reported that Isaac...

...told podcaster Rebecca Lamb Weiss how one night while in bed, he had “this overwhelming feeling of preaching.”

“If we would just do what God is asking us to do, we would reap the benefits of it. But a lot of times, we want what God has for us, but we’re not obedient,” Isaac said, recalling the word God gave him in that moment. “And so I was saying that to myself, and…something was just saying, ‘Preach, preach, preach,’ and I was doing it.”

The athlete continued, “And then I went and told my pastor. I said, ‘Hey. I had this weird thing.’ He’s like, ‘You need to preach.’ I’m like, ‘I need to what?’ I’m like, ‘There’s absolutely no way I’m gonna preach.'”

Not only did Isaac’s pastor invite him to come preach, but he challenged Isaac to invite his teammates as well.

The article linked to a previous Movieguide piece that mentions that Isaac, during the "bubble" season in 2020, was the only player on his team to stand for the National Anthem. It said that Jonathan "pointed to God and his faith as the motivation behind his solitary act" and relates that "Isaac wrote a book to explain that his journey to courageous faith began long before his career in the NBA."

According to Movieguide, Isaac appeared on Kirk Cameron's Takeaways show. The article says that...

... even after Isaac established himself as the number one player in the State of Florida, playing for Florida State University, and being drafted to the Orlando Magic, he struggled with anxiety and fear.

Isaac said that he began to live the “NBA player lifestyle,” and would only pray to God when circumstances were difficult. Despite growing up in Church, Isaac recalled not surrendering his life to Christ.

In his rookie year in the NBA, Isaac said that God brought specific people into his life to turn him from his life of sin and anxiety to a real relationship with Christ.

“I’m thankful to God that he brought the right people into my life,” he told Cameron.

Ultimately, through being challenged, Isaac surrendered to the Lord, The article goes on to say:

“The time that I decided that I’m gonna live my life for Christ, that’s when The Growing Pains really started,” he explained. “How do I balance this life of deciding to live for Christ and being an NBA basketball player who previously was living the NBA basketball player lifestyle?”

Isaac said he began to cut out bad relationships from his life and invite his teammates to church when he spoke to the congregation about his testimony.

“When the stand happened so many people came out and said Jonathan Isaac is the most courageous guy and the most bold guy but the thing that was striking to me was knowing the process that it took for me to get there. It tells me that God obviously knows the future, He obviously knows what he’s preparing us for but even more so, the only thing that is more terrifying to the enemy than us becoming a Christian is us becoming who God has created us to be and growing and forming into the image of his son and being able to do what he’s called us to do.”

Jonathan Isaac realizes the importance of obedience - and of courage.  He bought into a lifestyle that was antithetical to the teachings of Scripture, and early in his NBA career, he was called out for it.  He surrendered his life to Christ, and now he has surrendered his life to preach. 

And, as he told Kirk Cameron, ironically enough, he experienced "Growing Pains" on his road to spiritual maturity.  While the Christian life will certainly be rewarding, we know that it is not without a certain amount of straining - we have to accept what Jesus has done for us and appropriate His power daily, applying His resurrection power so that we might put to death the works of the flesh. 

Paul refers to this straining in Philippians 3, but we can confidently and courageously confront the challenges of our lives and recognize that, in light of the price Jesus has paid for us, we can embrace His resources and live a life of victory and joy.  

Spilling Out

In Psalm 68, we can find words that can help remind us of God's guiding hand - as He works to manifest His presence into our lives. There's a passage that says:
4 Sing to God, sing praises to His name; Extol Him who rides on the clouds, By His name Yah, And rejoice before Him.
5 A father of the fatherless, a defender of widows, Is God in His holy habitation.
6 God sets the solitary in families; He brings out those who are bound into prosperity; But the rebellious dwell in a dry land.

"Marriage is the most urgent ministry gap in the church today."

That is a statement from a recent piece on the CBN.com website written by someone who has been on The Meeting House in the past: J.P. De Gance, who is Founder and President of the organization, Communio, which uses research to develop strategy to strengthen marriages. 

He writes:

A survey by Barna Research, commissioned by our ministry, found 72% of all American churches lack a substantive marriage ministry, while 74% have no ministry for newlyweds to help them through their first critical years of marriage. Additionally, 93% of churches don't offer any ministries for singles.

This marriage ministry gap includes single people too – helping singles discern and express love in relationships that can more frequently lead to a healthy, faith-filled marriage.

De Gance referenced a "recent Gallup study, which stated, 'The percentage of adults who report regularly attending religious services remains low. Three in 10 Americans say they attend religious services every week or almost every week (9%), while 11% report attending about once a month and 56% seldom or 31% never attend.'"

Then, he draws a straight line from the decline of the family to the decline of church attendance, writing:

Research from The Marriage and Religion Research Initiative shows that most adults under 35 today were not raised in a household with married parents. In contrast, the 1970 U.S. Census shows 40 percent of U.S. households were married with children under 18 living in the home. As of 2023, that number dropped to 17.9%.

He referenced Communio's Nationwide Study on Faith and Relationships, which, according to the piece, "found that four out of five (80%) of those in church on Sunday grew up in a home where mom and dad stayed married."

Add up the data, and I think you can find that De Gance makes a compelling case, and calls for a "metanoia" moment regarding marriage in the Church. He explains:

"Metanoia" is a strong word, I know. First used in Matthew 3:2, it's often translated as "repentance," a turning away from sin and turning to God. As believers, we know that following Jesus requires all of us to embrace true "metanoia." That aspect of turning from one thing and turning toward another on a deeper level is a transformation in our thoughts and actions. The Church needs to turn away from current, ineffective evangelism efforts and toward transforming their marriage and relationship ministries.

Does that mean that believers shouldn't share their faith in Christ? I don't believe that's what he's saying. But, it does appear that he is calling for believers to impact that culture for the Lord through Christ-centered relationships that are "spilling out into communities around churches and drawing people into a life-changing relationship with Jesus Christ."

De Gance asks the question, "So, what would happen if the Church mobilized to create a Christ- centered, relationship revolution?" His answer:

I think we'd see every gospel-centered church become an evangelizing hub where people desire to enter and form healthy, God-honoring relationships. At the local level, we'd see more people coming to faith in Jesus, more Christ-centered marriages forming and enduring, more healthy marriages thriving and more children grow up to become adults who repeat the God-ordained masterpiece of "family."

We are living in a fractured society - when J.P. De Gance was on my program a while back, he commented on the loneliness issue and the report by the Surgeon General about that topic. COVID plunged many into isolation, but the seeds had been planted before that.  Electronic media too easily enables us to withdraw into our own worlds and to eschew human interaction.  Brokenness has been affecting families for quite some time.

So, the two major factors here: the decline of church attendance and the decline of the family go hand-in-hand.  And, that affects the degree to which we can impact the culture.  Strong families can reflect stability and certainly help collective spirituality, so it's important that the Church is involved in building the family. I certainly see that emphasizing family harmony can help get people back in church. And, we must each develop a motivation to know God and to grow in Jesus Christ.  That will contribute to an enhanced spiritual dynamic that can transform lives through a knowledge of the Lord.

Dragging Through the Mud

The Bible is clear on a wide variety of types of sinful behavior. And, that includes its clarity regarding sexual sins. 1st Corinthians 6 offers strong statements on certain sins and reminds believers who we are in Christ. We can read:
9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites,
10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.
11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.

A character at Walt Disney World, it was surmised, was actually more than one might assume.  AmericanFaith.com told the story of an unpleasant experience at the Wilderness Lodge Resort...it included a tweet from "wdwpro," which included this description:

A family has reached out to That Park Place claiming they spent over $300 on a character meet and greet dinner at Walt Disney World... only to discover the Evil Queen character was almost certainly a biological male. This represents the first time we've heard of Disney using a biological male to play an iconic biological female face character in the parks.

The American Faith article added:

“That Park Place,” a site devoted to Disney theme parks, reported that a family who dined at the Wilderness Lodge encountered the performer, as the father told the site “that the Evil Queen without a doubt had a man’s voice.”

“It was kind of loud inside so I couldn’t really hear what the character was saying until I got face to face (typical conversation distance of a few feet) and then it hit me that the Evil Queen without a doubt had a man’s voice,” the father told the site.

He added that he later spoke to a manger who stated “I can assure you that she is a woman.”

Obviously, the father had a different view.  The article went on to highlight other troublesome gender incidents at Disney Parks:

In August 2023, Libs of TikTok posted a pair of images from visitors to Disneyland in Florida that showed two men wearing dresses and greeting small children and their parents.

In 2021, Disney decided to make its Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutiques at Disney World and Disneyland more gender inclusive by renaming its makeup and clothing stylists who turn little girls into princesses from “Fairy Godmothers in Training” to “Fairy Godmother’s Apprentices.”

Commenters responded to Disney’s obvious and progressive change, calling it “completely unnecessary” and “overly sensitive.”

Fox 13 News reported several years ago:

According to Disney, the company is taking out all of its "gendered greetings" in their theme parks' recorded messages to promote a more welcoming environment for guests who do not identify with traditional gender roles.

In a video conference call recorded by City Journal writer Christopher Rufo, Disney's diversity and inclusion manager Vivian Ware explained that parkgoers will no longer hear "ladies and gentlemen" or "boys and girls" in the park's greetings.

"We provided training for all of our cast members in relationship to that. So now they know it's ‘Hello, everyone,’ or ‘Hello, friends,'" Ware said in the video conference call.

What seems to happen is that when you seek to accommodate a certain group of people, you end up offending another. And, people's sensitivities are so heightened these days that you have those who desire or think they deserve special treatment.  In this age in which gender, as determined by God through our biology, is being redefined, it creates confusion and division. 

And, this can be detrimental to a person's well-being.  If a male believes he is a female trapped in the "wrong" body, I would think it can produce issues in the mind that leads to instability - there is a double-mindedness there.  And, the Bible warns against what happens when a person is double-minded.  

The war on gender is very real.  As the situation concerning the recent comments by Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker shows us, there is a push back on traditional gender roles and a Biblical viewpoint on gender.  Real inner tranquility can come as we discover who God has made us to be in Christ and walk in His peace. 

Remember Why They Died

The Bible, in the book of 1st Corinthians, refers to being "spiritually-minded."  Romans 8 tells us that we can know "life and peace."

In 1st John 4, we are reminded that there are spirits about which we should be aware. It states:
1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
2 By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God,
3 and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.
4 You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

On this day after Memorial Day, we can take a moment to thank the Lord for our great country and for the millions who have sacrificed their lives for the founding principles that we once embraced - principles that are consistent with the Scriptures, reflecting a devotion to God and to one another as Americans.

=>But, this rich heritage has somehow been lost on certain authoritarian types who are intent on scrubbing the practice of religion from our public life.  Case-in-point: the National Park Service, for the second straight year, announced it would no longer allow a religious Memorial Day event to take place on public land, in a national cemetery in Virginia.  In response, according to the First Liberty website, "First Liberty and the international law firm McGuireWoods LLP sent a letter to National Park Service officials at the Poplar Grove National Cemetery in Petersburg, Virginia."  

The letter said, in part, "The Supreme Court has recognized that restrictions on religious expression often violate the Free Speech Clause of the First Amendment…The NPS’s prohibition of the Knights’ Memorial Day service due to its religious nature is not merely unlawful content-based discrimination on speech—it is textbook viewpoint discrimination, which is per se unconstitutional.”

The First Liberty website notes that the National Park Service referenced "...a new policy that designates 'religious services' as prohibited 'demonstrations.'  Last week, First Liberty, on behalf of the Knights, filed a federal lawsuit against the National Park Service seeking legal relief. And, on Thursday, it was announced in a First Liberty press release that the Knights could hold their Memorial Day service.

One of the leading perpetrators in eliminating the religious freedom that is guaranteed by the First Amendment, that brave Americans have died for, is the Freedom From Religion Foundation.  The Washington Stand published a disturbing article recently, stating:

While FFRF’s eyes are currently set on demanding that the Birmingham Police Department “end coercive staff prayer,” the group is celebrating another win in their book. An elementary school in rural Florida was forced to disband its Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) club after being accused of indoctrinating children into religion by FFRF. The FCA chapter included a small group of fifth grade students.

The article notes that in the FFRF's demand letter:

The sole elementary school in the small town of Jasper was accused of “alienating” and “excluding” non-religious families, as well as violating “students’ First Amendment rights by organizing, leading, and promoting a religious club.”

Interestingly enough, Liberty Counsel has defended Child Evangelism Fellowship numerous times against attempts to shut these Christian clubs down in elementary schools. The organization's website notes:

In June 2001, the U.S. Supreme Court in Good News Club v. Milford Central School ruled that public schools violate the First Amendment by not providing equal access and equal treatment to Christian clubs when the school has opened the forum to secular clubs.

However, various public schools will attempt to discriminate against and deny the Good News Clubs access to campus facilities on an equal basis while allowing other similar non-religious organizations.

Joseph Backholm is a senior fellow at Family Research Council, and stated in the Washington Stand article:

“In general, the FFRF is a bully organization that leverages people’s ignorance of their freedoms against them,” he said. “This is far from the first time someone has tried to force a religious organization out of a school, but the First Amendment has, does, and hopefully always will be acknowledged as protecting those rights.”

But, Backholm encourages Christians not to respond in fear, stating: “The last thing Christians should ever be is afraid...There have always been sectarian conflicts in the U.S., but fortunately they have been less serious than in most other parts of the world because respecting the conscience of others has long been an American value. Yes, it’s being threatened by a dogmatic and highly intolerant form of secularism, but relatively speaking we have much to be grateful for.”

There is much for which to be thankful as Americans, and on this day following Memorial Day and in this season leading up to Independence Day, we can reflect on our nation's rich history, a history in which the hand of God is inextricably woven.  And, we can be thankful for those who have served to gain and maintain our freedoms. 

We can also recognize that we are involved in a spiritual battle, and our great Commander and King who leads us gives us the strength and other heavenly resources to boldly proclaim His truth and to stand against the enemy of our souls.  The Washington Stand article said that Joseph Backholm of FRC "...warned that Christians live 'on a spiritual battlefield." He encouraged those with a faith to stand firm, as 'any public testimony to the gospel will illicit some kind of response,' but that Christians should be "comfortable" with that.

There are those who are hostile toward faith and/or ignorant of the law who wish to silence the witness of people of faith.  But, we can continue to trust in the Lord, reliant on Him, and emboldened by the Word of God and the Holy Spirit. 

Reaching For the Pure

There's a passage in 1st Timothy chapter 5 that talks about sharing in the sins of another. I think this can relate to how we present ourselves and our associations. In verse 22, Paul writes:
22 Do not lay hands on anyone hastily, nor share in other people's sins; keep yourself pure.

Later, he states:
24 Some men's sins are clearly evident, preceding them to judgment, but those of some men follow later.
25 Likewise, the good works of some are clearly evident, and those that are otherwise cannot be hidden.

You want your works to be "clearly evident," not sending a mixed message to those who see how you behave. 

It is refreshing to see Hollywood actors, sports celebrities, and others be outspoken in their love for Christ.  But, while you certainly want to extend grace when they miss the mark, we have to be discerning when people who claim the name of Christ fall short in being good representatives of Him.

One particular actor, who was featured in a recent faith-based film called, Ordinary Angels, has received some attention in the Christian space recently, and not all of it good. The Christian Post ran a story a few months ago stating: 

"Reacher" star Alan Ritchson is calling out Christians after he received backlash for playing a role that could be seen as "morally ambiguous."

In a video posted to YouTube last Saturday, the Christian actor addressed reported criticism he received from some Christians for playing Jack Reacher in the Amazon Prime Video series.

The article relates that Ritchson:

...said the Bible contains "stories of paganism, of war and bloodshed and ghost stories, mysticism," and shows God revealing "who He is through an imperfect people."

"We see miracles and magic," he added. "We see life and resurrection and death, and we see this incredible canvas where God is completely unafraid to tell the story of who He is through less than morally ambiguous characters, through pure evil sometimes."

Ritchson finds it "laughable" when he receives criticism for taking the role, saying stories like "Reacher" can be used to initiate the start of conversations between people "in a way that I think God enjoys."

Paul Batura, writing for The Daily Citizen, offers this response to some of Ritchson's comments:

In a recent interview with the Hollywood Reporter, Reacher star Alan Ritchson is referred to as “an unfiltered, faith-driven family man who is unafraid to show his scars as a way to fulfill God’s wishes and live in service to others.”

Yet, Ritchson also doesn’t seem to have much patience for Christians who don’t measure up to his expectations – or those who question or push back on his judgment.

“Christians today have become the most vitriolic tribe,” he told the reporter. “It is so antithetical to what Jesus was calling us to be and to do.”

The Daily Citizen goes on to note: 

Alan Ritchson has taken offense to criticism he’s received for assuming edgy or risqué roles. He correctly points out that the Bible is no G-rated book. Yet, that doesn’t necessarily mean Christians should be comfortable taking R-rated roles.

In his role on Reacher, Ritchson has been filmed in a shower with a topless woman – and called criticism he’s received “laughable” and said that “God doesn’t care” about such things.

In his spirited response to the criticism, Ritchson suggests those who push back think Christians should only be taking parts where they’re “silently folding their hands in the pew of a church.”

We can’t speak for the expectations of all those challenging his judgment, but that’s clearly not what the vast majority of those speaking out expect.

It seems to me to be hypocritical for an actor who has made strong statements against pornography to participate in a nude scene.  A Movieguide article characterizes statements that Ritchson has made regarding pornography, that it, "dehumanizes people." The article says:

“We remove the humanity, the dignity. We no longer care for the concerns of that human being or their needs,” he explained. “We simply turn them into an object of our sexual desire or lust.”

He continued, saying that porn creates dopamine pathways that, as they become more ingrained, grow harder to overcome.

And, Ritchson has taken aim at other targets, including Christians who don't share his views - immigration seems to be one area in which he has been especially harsh.  Law enforcement is another.  FoxNews.com related:

"Cops get away with murder all the time, and the fact that we can’t really hold them accountable for their improprieties is disturbing to me."

The latter quote prompted the National Fraternal Order of Police to confront Ritchson at the time, calling him "another useless Hollywood actor, virtue signaling for attention at the expense of brave police officers around this country" on its Facebook page.

Ritchson fired back over Instagram, stating, "This kind of emotionally immature response is the epitome of what concerns me about law enforcement today. If this is how leadership handles a peaceful disagreement, what does life look like for those unseen interactions in the street?"

I am not in a position to judge what is in a man's heart.  To put it probably too simply, Alan loves Jesus, but may not love the Church so much. We have to make sure we regard our fellow believers as people for whom Jesus died.  Certainly it is difficult to play a "morally ambiguous" character such as the nomadic, former military guy Jack Reacher. But, it does seem to send the wrong message for an actor to play a role that seems to belie his own faith statements.  He's right, I believe that Christians should engage with the grittier elements of life in their on-screen portrayals - the Bible certainly deals with precarious subject matter - but I think that can be done without offending people's sensibilities and continuing to reflect Biblical morality.

What is concerning is that rather than show respect or compassion for those who would disagree with him, Alan Ritchson is using his spirituality as a sword, a rhetorical weapon, to demean his fellow believers and citizens. I think that can be a good lesson for each of us as followers of Christ: while we will have disagreement with others, we can make it our aim to speak the truth in love.  We must be willing to extend grace, but we should always make sure that we are acting and speaking in accordance with Biblical principles. 

Time = Money?

The Bible teaches and challenges us to be good stewards of the resources which we have been entrusted by the Lord. That includes making good determinations about how we spend our time. 2nd Corinthians 4 offers some insight:
13 And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, "I believed and therefore I spoke," we also believe and therefore speak,
14 knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you.
15 For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.
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.

To play off some old cliches here, is time money?  And, can money buy happiness?

There was a recent story that ran at the USA Today website that explored these questions, based on a survey by an organization called, Empower.  The article said:

...financial planning firm Empower asked 2,204 adults between March 11 and 14 how much money they thought an hour of their time was worth.

On average, Americans valued their time at $240 an hour. And based on a standard 40-hour week, that puts their perceived value at $499,200 a year, or nearly eight times higher than the average U.S. salary of $59,384.

Because people value their time so highly, many are willing to spend money to get a little more or achieve a happier life, the survey showed.

Empower made this troubling statement, “It's a race to find happiness, whether that’s a better work-life balance or a $7 daily cup of coffee..."  I would submit that if you are participating in that race, you are probably losing, because you are depending on the tangible resources of this world to provide the intangible notion of a satisfied soul. 

And, oh those Millennials we have been studying for so long. That age group of adults now in their late 20's to early 40's valued their time the most, saying that an hour of their time "was worth $328.84, with a quarter of them pegging that at more than $500 – the highest percentage of any generation. Only 6% of Boomers priced an hour at $500 or more."

Gen Z was at just under $267 an hour, with the Boomers appraising their time at just over $137.

But just over 4-in-10 of those same Millennials would take a 15% pay cut to have more free time. Just one-quarter of Americans responded positively to that proposal. 

The article also says:

Wealth isn’t just about your bank account for most Americans. Sixty-three percent said they “feel wealthy” if they have enough time to spend with family and friends, the survey said.

Nearly one-third feel comfortable taking on debt if it buys more free time or a memorable experience.

The Empower website stated, relative to the study:

Time is of the essence as people work toward streamlining their lives and focusing on what matters most to them, amid commitments across work and home that can affect their financial happiness. More than half of Millennials (52%) and 37% overall think saving time is more important than saving money.

For many, getting advice early on is key: nearly 1 in 5 would have worked with a financial professional sooner. Overall, Americans remain optimistic, with 78% saying it’s never too late to start focusing on your finances.

In considering this data, I would submit a couple of conclusions. First of all, time is a gift.  We have only a finite amount of time to spend on this earth.  And, even tomorrow is not promised to us.  And, in light of eternity, our time here is very, very small - but what we do with our time here can certainly impact eternity.  We can be diligent in make sure that our choices count for eternity, pursuing, as Jesus referred to it, fruit that "should remain (John 15:16)."

I do believe that we have a stewardship responsibility over the time God has given us. We can ask ourselves how well we are using it.  We should be pursuing the things of God; certainly there is time for rest and recreation, but we should not neglect to seek His face so that we can make quality decisions, reflecting on how our wise use of time can impact us and the lives of the people around us.

Triumph

The apostle Paul, in a passage in 2nd Corinthians 2, addresses the notion of triumph in Christ and identifies how the enemy will try to thwart the plan of God. He writes:
10 Now whom you forgive anything, I also forgive. For if indeed I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven that one for your sakes in the presence of Christ,
11 lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.

So, he notes that unforgiveness is a "device" used by the enemy to damage our relationship with the Lord. But, there's more - the enemy tried to slap discouragement on the apostle:
12 Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ's gospel, and a door was opened to me by the Lord,
13 I had no rest in my spirit, because I did not find Titus my brother; but taking my leave of them, I departed for Macedonia.

But, he relates a sense of triumph in the Lord:
14 Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.
15 For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.
16 To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life. And who is sufficient for these things?
17 For we are not, as so many, peddling the word of God; but as of sincerity, but as from God, we speak in the sight of God in Christ.

There is a man from South Africa who once led a Satanic Church, but that's all changed now, and he's issuing warnings about the dangers of worshipping the devil. CBN has reported that...

...Riaan Swiegelaar, a former reverend at the South African Satanic Church (SASC), stepped down from his position in May 2022 but recently revealed on social media why he has decided now is the time to reveal what is "behind the curtains" of the satanic church.

The article said:

As CBN News previously reported, Swiegelaar was involved in some form of Christian ministry 20 years ago before becoming an atheist. He then turned to Satanism in 2018.

"I got involved with Satanism because at the time it resonated with me, being very broken and sad without realizing it. I think the reason a lot of people resonate with Satanism is they come from a very broken place... that's the one thing we all have in common," he shared in a video in 2022.

Swiegelaar explained that he renounced Satanism after experiencing the unconditional love of Jesus Christ.

He's been hard at work since becoming a Christian, working to "deregister" the SASC, along with other founders of that church, who have also left Satanism.  Swiegelaar has been under multiple restraining orders since 2022, and has been "legally barred" from speaking publicly about his experiences in Satanism.

But, that's all changed now, and he is committed to speaking the truth and helping people break free from the occult, including Satanism.  His aim is apparently not to reveal individuals, but to do battle in the Spirit.  He says:

"I don't feel that our war is against physical people. I feel our war is in spirit and what God has revealed to me is that we are in a time where it is crucial," he explained. "We are living in the time of (the book of) Revelation. So it is time to put this information out in a very respectful way," he shared.

"We will equip spiritual warriors to handle and understand the devil's battle plan," he added.

The article notes: 

The South African native says it is "all in God's timing" for him to create content now that will teach people how to overcome schemes of the enemy – especially young people.

"I no longer have an official NDA in place and I'm allowed to make content again and post videos," Swiegelaar shared.

"My intent is not to expose individuals or to make their identities known. My intent is to inform the public of what Satanism is and what is really going on in our country and in the world and also how certain people, especially the youth are being targeted to be involved in the occult and Satanism and what the satanic agenda really is," he added.

One thing that comes to mind is that we have to identify the right enemy - the devil himself who influences and deceives people to do his bidding. If we regard people as the enemy, we can lose sight of the fact that they are individuals who can come to know the Savior.  The Bible instructs us to love our enemies.  The love of God can break the bonds of deception and hate. 

We also have to recognize the power that the enemy has over individuals - including ourselves.  Satan uses a variety of strategies to bring fear, anger, and despair into our lives. If we're not careful, if we're not staying spiritually sharp, we will succomb to what He wants to accomplish, and that is to damage our relationship with God and our witness for the Kingdom.  He wants to take us out, but God has given us the power in order to overcome Him.  We have to recognize His schemes, resist temptation, and embrace the triumph that Christ has come to bring about in and through us.

Speaking Chief Principles

The Bible provides a blueprint for the way we should relate to God and to one another; if we live according to His guidance, directed by the Word and empowered by the Spirit of God, we will honor Him by our obedience. Before elaborating on the husband-wife relationship, Paul writes in Ephesians 5:
17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit,
19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord,
20 giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
21 submitting to one another in the fear of God.

The Kansas City Chiefs have won two Super Bowls in a row.  And, according to a Sports Illustrated fan site: 

For the second straight season, former Georgia Tech kicker Harrison Butker was a key to the Kansas City Chiefs winning the Super Bowl.

It was quite the Super Bowl for Butker, who nailed four field goals, including the longest field goal in Super Bowl History. The former Yellow Jacket hit the field goal to send the game into overtime, where Patrick Mahomes would find Mecole Hardman for the game-winning touchdown.

The previous year, Butker had nailed the game-winning field goal over the Eagles. 

But, now there are elements of Chiefs Kingdom who want to boot Butker out of Kansas City.

The Washington Stand shared this:

Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker delivered the commencement at the Catholic Benedictine College, encouraging young graduates to stand firm in their faith and live out authentic Christian virtues.

Now, the National Football League (NFL) is playing defense and condemning Butker’s speech as offensive. The NFL’s senior vice president and top diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) officer Jonathan Beane told media, “Harrison Butker gave a speech in his personal capacity. His views are not those of the NFL as an organization. The NFL is steadfast in our commitment to inclusion, which only makes our league stronger.” Others on the Left have been quick to blast Butker, especially for referring to homosexual acts and gender ideology as “deadly sins” and for encouraging women to be mothers and men to be fathers.

He stated, "... if we are going to be men and women for this time in history we need to stop pretending that the ‘Church of nice’ is a winning proposition. We must always speak and act in charity but never mistake charity for cowardice.”

He also called out a fellow professing Catholic who is President of the United States, criticizing his promotion of abortion, to the extent that he made the sign of the cross at a pro-abortion rally.  The Stand article also...

...noted the devastation wreaked by the response to COVID-19, blasting religious leaders for caving to excessive lockdown mandates, and declared that LGBT Pride Month is a celebration of “deadly sin.”

In addition to his outspoken words regarding abortion and so-called "gay pride," he offered words of exhortation to women and men in the audience.  To the women, he said:

“I think it is you, the women, who have had the most diabolical lies told to you, how many of you are sitting here now about to cross the stage, and are thinking about all the promotions and titles you’re going to get in your career.” He continued, “Some of you may go on to lead successful careers in the world. But I would venture to guess that the majority of you are most excited about your marriage and the children you will bring into this world.”

He also said to the men: "This absence of men in the home is what plays a large role in the violence we see all around the nation.” The article notes that he said, "Be unapologetic in your masculinity. Fight against the cultural emasculation of men. Do hard things. Never settle for what is easy.”

His comments to the women were affirmed to rather influential member of the Chiefs organization: Tavia Hunt, wife of the owner, Clark Hunt. According to The Sporting News, quoting from an Instagram post, Tavia said: "I’ve always encouraged my daughters to be highly educated and chase their dreams. I want them to know that they can do whatever they want (that honors God). But I also want them to know that I believe finding a spouse who loves and honors you as or before himself and raising a family together is one of the greatest blessings this world has to offer. Studies show that committed, married couples with children are the happiest demographic, and this has been my experience as well."  Just a note, in a series of hashtags at the end of the post, there was one for #FocusOnTheFamily.

And, the Hunts' daughter, Gracie, while attending a pickleball outreach at First Baptist Church of Dallas, was interviewed on Fox News by Steve Doocy, and said, according to The Christian Post:

“I can only speak from my own experience, which is I had the most incredible mom who had the ability to stay home and be with us as kids growing up," Gracie Hunt said in response to a question from Doocy about Butker. "And I understand that there are many women out there who can’t make that decision. But for me in my life, I know it was really formative in shaping me and my siblings to be who we are."

"I really respect Harrison and his Christian faith and what he’s accomplished on and off the field," Hunt added.

While there is a petition drive now demanding the Chiefs release their star kicker, there has been backlash to the opposition.  The Washington Examiner reported:

The city of Kansas City’s X account has apologized and deleted a post that shared the location of the suburb where Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker lives after his commencement speech at a Catholic college sparked controversy on the political Left.

The article also reported:

Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey announced he is “demanding accountability” for the Kansas City X account doxxing Butker. “I will enforce the Missouri Human Rights Act to ensure Missourians are not targeted for their free exercise of religion,” he said.

The Examiner also noted: "Many online were quick to point out that in the NFL, a league that features prominent figures accused of domestic violence, sexual misconduct, or, in the case of Butker’s Chiefs teammate Rashee Rice, endangering lives by recklessly driving at 119 miles per hour, resulting in a crash, there is not the same level of outrage as there is over Butker sharing his opinions."

Well, there's more - and probably will be more in the next few days.  But, in an age where the hierarchy of professional sports has adopted more "progressive" views, it is refreshing to see a Christian football player speaking Biblical truth.  Unfortunately, his league doesn't seem to honor his right to free speech.  But, I would expect Christian team owner Clark Hunt to hold fast to Butker's religious freedom.

It is clear that views that are based on Scripture are not popular in certain circles. People seem to be OK with vulgar language and loose living among their celebrities, but when a beloved football player offers a sharp, Biblically-informed contrasting view, they tuck and run - they will turn their backs. That's part of the terrain, though, as the Bible teaches us.  We have to make sure that we hold fast to our beliefs and not allow the popular culture to intimidate us and to mute our message.  But, it is disappointing and frustrating when people want to remove someone's livelihood just because He spoke truth in accordance with Scripture.

From the Streets

The apostle Paul, in the 20th chapter of the book of Acts, relates some parting words, reflecting on the dynamics of his ministry, which flourished even among trials.  His words can be an inspiration to all of us to be faithful to do what God has directed; Paul writes:
24 But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.
25 And indeed, now I know that you all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, will see my face no more.
26 Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men.
27 For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God.
28 Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.

Next Monday is Memorial Day, and for many, that marks the unofficial beginning of summer, even though the calendar indicates a different dates.  But kids are preparing to be out of school and families are making those travel plans.  Perhaps a beach trip, or two, or three may be in your plans.

I noticed that there's a ministry in Gulfport, Mississippi that decided to offer a Christian outreach at the beach there back in April. 

It was called "Outreach on the Beach," presented by Narrow Path Ministries.  But, the indications are that this was not just an event, but the culmination of a nine-month journey.  According to WLOX Television: "This is a special nine-month project for Narrow Path Ministries, which is known for its work when helping the homeless and those battling addictions..."

The TV station's story started out like this:

Hands waving in the air was a sight that performers were greeted with as they played their favorite Christian songs on Saturday at Jones Park.

To organizers like Josh Hutchinson, it’s more than another Christian music festival.

“There’s resource booths from across the country and different ministries,” said Hutchinson. “People are coming out here, chains are being broken, people have submitted into programs and getting off the streets.”

Hutchinson stated, "We felt it was going to be big but seeing thousands of people out here for the first event coming to support and rally behind addiction and mental health, I’m just blown away and in awe,” adding, “You really can’t put a dollar amount on one life so seeing people being free is amazing.”

And, through partnerships, those who come to the Narrow Path program can come free of charge.

The Narrow Path team partnered with another organization to provides shoes and clothes for the homeless.  Hutchinson reminds people about their work: "It starts in the streets..."

The television station had covered the fledgling ministry before, in February; Josh is quoted as saying: “I had an addiction for 23 years. I was in and out of prison for most of my life, involved with gangs and different things, and it led me to the streets where I had nothing left. My wife came from the same lifestyle before. Now we have a desire and passion to reach for the lost and broken. We were blessed to have made it out,” adding, “We were shown a vision of a Christian ministry... We’re both Christian hip-hop artists and travel the country. We’re doing outreach and events in the community like this in other places, and once we had the vision, we set the course and launched the non-profit and here we are.”

Mallory Hutchinson was also quoted, she said: "God allowed us to go through the darkness that we were in so we could reach back into the darkness and bring hope to those who are still there..."

What God has done in Josh and Mallory's lives can be a great example to each of us to take what God has done in our lives and use it to bless others.  It's really a manifestation of the notion of giving back.  

I think we can also be reminded of the importance of education: if ministries are offering vital services that can offer help and hope, the community needs to know.  We can pray for open doors for God to share the message of what our churches and ministry organizations have to offer.

We can also rely on the God of creativity to inspire ideas that will connect with the people to whom God has sent us to minister.  He doesn't want us to keep to ourselves what He has done, what He has established in our hearts and lives.  By His Spirit, He will show us the direction, the "path" on which He desires for us to walk.

And, speaking of beaches, nomadic worship leader Sean Feucht reported on Facebook that:

We just were apart of the largest recorded synchronized baptism in world history!

 
It happened in California and it was over 12,000 people today alone. More numbers are still rolling in!!!

#PentecostSunday

It was part of Baptize California, a two-day event in which people were being baptized at multiple locations.  The "flagship" location was Huntingdon Beach, where there was a major event featuring a variety of Christian music artists each day.

We Do Know A Lot More Now

As spiritual practice is seeming in a state of decline, it only stands to reason that ignorance of spiritual things seems to be increasing. Paul described this condition in Ephesians chapter 4:
17 This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind,
18 having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart;
19 who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
20 But you have not so learned Christ...

It's no secret that the dominant media culture favors abortion - I would actually say that you have a number of abortion advocates who are either ignorant of the life of an unborn child or have become so blinded by popular political discourse that they fail to see what is immoral about taking that life.

So, recently, in the aftermath of the Arizona Supreme Court rightly upholding a pro-life law dating back to the mid 1800's, daytime talk-show host and former American Idol winner Kelly Clarkson decided to share her views on abortion - in the course of a conversation with former First Lady Hillary Clinton. 

The Hollywood Reporter stated:

“Did you ever think in your lifetime we would see that happen?” Clarkson asked Clinton of what’s happening in Arizona. “It’s just insane to me, the thinking that went on in 1864. It’s a very different world. We know a lot more now. We are going backwards.”

“It is horrifying,” Clinton said. “I feared it would happen but I hoped it wouldn’t happen. Now here we are in the middle of this very difficult period for women in about half the states of our country, who cannot get the care that they need.

Oh, yes, the wrong side of history and all that.  Well, it's an even more "very difficult period" for unborn children in America.  The "care that they need?  As our pro-life friends state, "abortion is not health care."

Clinton went on to say: "The old law in Arizona is without exceptions [for rape and incest]...and the danger to women’s lives as well as to our right to make our own decisions about our bodies and ourselves is so profound. And there’s another element to it, which I find so troubling. I mean, there’s a kind of cruelty to it.”

Live Action News made these points:

What Clinton left out is the fact that 1) laws generally tend to regulate and restrict what we can and cannot do with ourselves and our bodies — especially if it involves harm to others, and 2) induced abortion (which involves the intentional and direct killing of the preborn child) isn’t necessary to save a pregnant woman’s life. Emergency delivery treats both with the human dignity they deserve. Miscarriage treatments, emergency deliveries, and treatment for ectopic pregnancies aren’t abortions and they are legal in every state.

Live Action went on to share Clarkson's comments about her own experience with having been hospitalized for her two pregnancies:

“I literally asked God, this is a real thing, to just take me and my son in the hospital for the second time, because I was like, ‘It’s the worst thing,’” she said, continuing, “It was my decision and I’m so glad I did it, I love my babies, but to make someone… and you don’t realize how hard it is. The fact that you would take that away from someone, that can literally kill them. The fact that if they’re raped by their family member and they have to — it’s just like insane to me.”

But again, Clarkson appears to be conflating induced, elective abortion with legitimate and standard medical care utilized to protect the life of a pregnant woman (and the preborn child, if possible) in an emergency situation. Emergency situations during pregnancy, including things like PPROM and preeclampsia, do not necessitate induced abortion (intentional killing) as the standard of care.

Of course, pro-life laws have not been known to cause women’s deaths; despite popular myth, women were not dying by the thousands from illegal back-alley abortions before Roe v. Wade was enacted.

And, as the article points out, Clarkson said that we “know a lot more now” - " presumably meaning that the country should be embracing the homicide of preborn human beings. But if anything, advances in science and medicine have further proven the humanity of the preborn child, only serving to show why laws to protect them are necessary."

So, the scare tactics are certainly in overdrive - women are afraid that they won't receive the proper medical care if there are problems with a pregnancy.  And, that fear is being used to justify the taking of unborn life.  As Live Action pointed out, unusual circumstances do not necessitate taking life.  It's just another tool that is being used to deceive women. 

Kelly Clarkson said that forcing women to have a child conceived in rape is "insane."  Ryan Bomberger of the Radiance Foundation would disagree. At Liberty University, according to its website, he said: "I am literally part of the 1% that is used 100% of the time to justify abortion,” adding, “But circumstances of our conception never change the condition of our worth.” He added, “What the victims of violence and rape need is wholeness and healing, not abortion hucksters profiting from pain and fear..." 

But, this is a reminder that you have people with an enormous platform who have either not thought through the issue, or they have and come to an unbiblical conclusion.  It is a fact that we do know more now, and as Live Action states, "that makes intentional killing by abortion inexcusable." We have the truth of God's Word, we have the compassion of Christ that is being deployed throughout our nation to help women in crisis make sound, life-affirming decisions.  We have the science that shows the humanity of a child in the womb.  So, we don't have to compromise or give in to those who perpetrate fear - we can believe in the power of truth.

God's Special Plan

God has established a special covenant relationship with the Jewish people, dating back to Abram's first encounter with God - that relationship has not been revoked; and the apostle Paul addressed it in Romans chapter 11:
25 For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.
26 And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: "The Deliverer will come out of Zion, And He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob;
27 For this is My covenant with them, When I take away their sins."
28 Concerning the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but concerning the election they are beloved for the sake of the fathers.
29 For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.

There has certainly been a lack of moral clarity expressed, especially among younger adults, with regard to the ideals and ambitions of the terrorist group Hamas, which carried out a brutal attack against Israel on October 7 and whose power and influence in the Middle East is being challenged by Israel's strategy to eradicate the organization. 

By and large, most Americans, and even a majority of young adults, see Hamas for what it is. A Summit Ministries poll, conducted in partnership with RMG Research, which was founded by well-known researcher Scott Rasmussen, indicates these facts, as reported by the survey summary:

• 81 percent of American voters overall agree with the U.S. government classifying Hamas as a terrorist group
• 61 percent of voters 18-24 years old agree with the U.S. government classifying Hamas as a terrorist group.

So, even a majority of young adults agree that Hamas is a terrorist group, but that group registers 20 points less than the overall percentage of Americans.  

But, when people are asked about Israel's campaign against Hamas, the numbers shift, especially among the 18-24 crowd:

• 58 percent of American voters overall believe Israel’s campaign against Hamas is just, while 21 percent believe that Israel having greater wealth and military power makes its military campaign against Hamas unjust.
• 42 percent of voters 18-24 years old believe Israel’s campaign against Hamas is just, while 47 percent believe that Israel having greater wealth and military power makes its military campaign against Hamas unjust.

Overall, only 10 percent of U.S. voters believe Israel does not "have a right to exist as a nation;" that percentage goes way up among younger adults, with around one-third saying that Israel has no right to exist. 

So, what do you make of these statistics? Summit President Jeff Myers is quoted in the survey summary: “We are now seeing the logical outcome of an education system that teaches students to see the world through a lens of racialist resentment. Gen Z is so embarrassed about being American that a large swath of them have become terrorist sympathizers,” adding, “Gen Z is three times as likely as the general population to deny Israel’s right to exist. Sympathy for Hamas has grown. This should be a massive wake-up call to parents, educators, and cultural leaders—we now have a generation primed to accept without question the propaganda of those who wish to overturn Judeo-Christian civilization.”

An article at The Stream featured comments from Myers, as well as Paul Batura of Focus on the Family.  Myers is quoted as saying: “Young adults seem to be governed by this oppressor-versus-oppressed mindset...We’ve heard about this for a long time. We’ve sort of suspected that professors are teaching students this Marxist framework of the world." He added:

“Gen Z really bought it, and they view Israel as the oppressor because it is a wealthier place than Gaza. They also view it as the oppressor because it has more military equipment and the support of the United States and Gaza does not. And they believe that the United States of America is a bad place, that our influence in the world is bad.”

Batura said, “Education is one of the best-known antidotes to ignorance,” adding, “Open the Old Testament before opening The New York Times. Wise moms and dads read from their Bibles before doing so from a newspaper or online news site. When it comes to cultivating love, respect, and appreciation for Israel, our children should know that the Jewish people are God’s chosen ones. He chose the Holy Land for Christ’s earthly ministry — and promised it to the Jewish people.” The article goes on to say that, "He added that parents should teach the history of the Jewish people, like the Holocaust. 'Teaching truth is a powerful tool when combating lies.'”

So, there are three concepts that I'd like to put forth here.  One is that Israel is a key component of the plan of God.  The nation that occupies its current land mass is a nation which has been the recipients of God's blessings and has now been established in the land God has given to them, at least in part. The plan for God for Israel runs all the way through the Old Testament - and the New, when you read the book of Revelation.  Historically, the Jewish people and Christians have had that special bond. 

We also recognize that Hamas and other Islamic terror groups do not serve the same God we do. Muslims and Christians do not call on the same God - and their God, they believe, has called them to engage in warfare against those who do not follow their teaching.  We're called to love our enemies and even share the gospel with them; they are bent on destroying their enemies - and Israel is chief among them. 

Finally, antisemitism is never right.  Batura is quoted by The Stream as saying: "It’s a toxic assault on the very nature of God,” adding, “Ignoring or appeasing the oppressors will not make them go away. We must confront and resist the hate, and model love and appreciation for our Jewish friends.” These expressions of hatred and discrimination against Jewish people, based on their heritage and beliefs, is an affront to the God Himself who chose them for a special purpose. 

The Money Trail

Money can buy influence, and the wrong kind of influence can lead to all sorts of corruption. We have to understand that there are morally-challenged, well-funded efforts to distort, deceive, and diminish the Christian message. 1st Timothy 6 says:
9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.
10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
11 But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness.
12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

"Follow the money" - that's a phrase that is commonly used in the political sphere, and you can learn a lot to see the sources of income that fund campaigns. It was used in the headline of an article that I'll be covering later. 

The phrase is important in ministry, as well - as a listener-supported ministry, we depend on the Lord to use His people to sow into this ministry. But, you have so-called Christian organizations that have donors who are attempting to buy influence by making contributions - and we need to know about that. 

Certainly, there is legitimacy regarding Israel's attempt to eradicate a terrorist foe. I, as well as Christian leaders who stand with Israel, recognize the importance of that nation's right to exist and its long-standing history in God's plan. 

In America, there are well-funded organizations that are furthering the cause of Hamas - a terror organization that stands in opposition to the ways of God. A Politico story recently highlighted how the protests in favor of the fictitious nation called "Palestine" and the dangerous group, Hamas, have spread to college campuses.  And, there's nothing organic about it. 

The article says that two organizations that have funded the events at a number of campuses, including Columbia, are Jewish Voice for Peace and IfNotNow, which receive support from the Tides Foundation, which is connected to George Soros and has also been funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

The article says, "...a spokesperson with the Open Society Foundations, of which Soros is the founder and chairman, said in a statement that it 'has funded a broad spectrum of US groups that have advocated for the rights of Palestinians and Israelis and for peaceful resolution to the conflict in Israel.' The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which has previously funded the Tides Foundation and other groups, said it no longer has active grants to Tides. It also does not support Jewish Voice for Peace or IfNotNow." You also have the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, which "has given nearly $500,000 directly to Jewish Voice for Peace, which explicitly describes itself as anti-Zionist, over the past five years. Rockefeller Brothers has separately given grants to both the Tides Foundation and the Tides Center."

Susan and Nick Pritzker are megadonors and founded the Tides Foundation, which according to Politico, has "supported the Adalah Justice Project, which has also been part of protests at Columbia University. The group wrote on X, formerly Twitter, that 'universities are hedge funds, deeply embedded with weapons manufacturers.' Tides also supports Palestine Legal, a legal defense fund that is offers legal assistance to 'students mobilizing against genocide.'  The Politico article also notes:

The Tides Foundation issued a statement about funding groups that protest, saying it is “committed to advancing social justice,” adding that its “community of fiscally sponsored projects, donors, and grantees represent a wide range of perspectives on what social justice looks like.”

Palestine Legal has been a fiscally sponsored project of the Tides Center since 2013, and Adalah Justice Project since 2016, according to a spokesperson. Jewish Voice for Peace and IfNotNow “are grantee partners.”

Some of these names of progressive philanthropic organizations curiously show up in an article at the First Things website, written by former WORLD Magazine, now Daily Wire writer Megan Basham, called, Follow the Money to the After Party. She referenced a book by author Tim Alberta that mentioned something called, "The After Party," which "offers pastors and small groups a curriculum 'reframing Christian political identity from today’s divisive partisan options.'”  But, apparently, this brainchild of Russell Moore of Christianity Today, commentator David French, and Curtis Chang of Duke Divinity, according to Alberta, was having some trouble getting off the ground from evangelical donors - so it found some deep pockets.  Basham writes that "...in May 2022, Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors announced that The After Party would be one of the thirty-two beneficiaries of their New Pluralists project, which is investing $10 million to 'address divisive forces.'"

The guest list for this project is a laundry list of progressive beneficiaries; the article notes:

In the same grant round as The After Party is a group seeking to promote the “leadership of rural LGBTQ+ people.” Another is committed to “keeping the remaining fossil fuel resources in the ground” in the name of “climate justice.” In 2019, The After Party’s benefactor gave $100 million to the Collaborative for Gender and Reproductive Equity, an initiative that funds efforts to safeguard abortion and ensure “youth” have access to “gender-affirming care.”

But, wait, there's more - in the Politico article, an organization called the Tides Foundation was mentioned. The New Pluralists project website notes that it has donated to the One America project;" Basham notes: "One America has received over $2 million from some of the most powerful foundations on the left—such as the Tides Foundation, the Hewlett Foundation, the Walton family’s Catena Foundation, and the John Pritzker Family Fund—all of which fund enterprises promoting abortion, LGBTQ issues, and other left-wing priorities. The Hewlett Foundation, which also directly funds The After Party, is the second largest private donor to Planned Parenthood."  The writer poses the questions, "Does anyone really believe these secular progressive grant-makers are interested in developing a church curriculum about politics without an eye toward affecting policy? Or that this curriculum will strengthen evangelicals’ commitment to the very causes progressives despise?"

Basham states: "Creating a Bible study curriculum to teach churches how to engage politics is by nature a political act. That’s even truer if you’ve turned for financial support to unbelievers committed to advancing left-wing policies..." She also correctly relates: "One would be hard-pressed to identify evangelical voices who’ve done more to bring a divisive focus on politics into the pews—all under the pretense of de-escalation and bipartisanship."

This can reminds us that we should always allow God's Word to shape our decisions.  That even includes the selection of leaders. But, there are powerful forces wearing a "Christian" or "religious" cloak that are determined to deceive the faithful.  We mustn't let them get away with it.  And, one element that can be helpful is the phrase that Basham's article uses in the headline, that she attributes to the movie, All the President's Men: "follow the money." That can also be expanded to the concept, "follow the associations."

There are plenty of people who seem perfectly righteous and Biblical, yet, when you examine who endorses them or with whom they associate, it raises red flags.  One indicator of Biblical faithfulness can be the associations of various Bible teachers and church and ministry leaders.   We can develop a sense of discernment, paying close attention to someone's Biblical fidelity by examining the fruit, using the Word of God as a guide, and listening to the inner voice of conscience so that we protect our own spirits from teaching that would lead us astray.

The "Plunge"

The apostle Paul had an explosive encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus - after he was saved, he didn't immediately go on a some sort of "synagogue tour" and speak to the masses. Now, as he relates in Galatians 1:
15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb and called me through His grace,
16 to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood,
17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went to Arabia, and returned again to Damascus.
18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and remained with him fifteen days.
19 But I saw none of the other apostles except James, the Lord's brother.

In fact, word of Paul's conversion spread, but not by him, he writes later in the chapter. This can speak to us about the importance of spiritual preparation.

These days, baptism has become quite popular.  There have been a number of mass baptisms in recent days, from the Atlantic to the Pacific.  At college campuses, students have been baptized in lakes, fountains, and in the backs of pickup trucks. 

And, in the midst of the baptismal trend, it's helpful, I think, to recognize what baptism actually means. It's more than just a ritual or an act of superstition.  It's not a good-luck charm.  It's a visible expression of the change in the human heart through salvation by the power of Jesus Christ.  Our past lives have been washed away, and we are new creatures in Him.

Russell Brand is quite a piece of work - he's an actor who has gone public with his spiritual search. Recently, according to Fox News.com, he announced he would be "taking the plunge," i.e., getting baptized, and he followed through.  The Daily Mail reported on May 3:

Russell Brand announced this week that he has become a Christian, and was baptised last weekend. The Apostle Paul was baptised in Damascus whereupon the 'scales fell from his eyes' and his blindness was cured. The disgraced comedian's experience was apparently rather more prosaic: he says he was fully immersed in the notoriously dirty River Thames.

The Mail has learnt that the embattled Brand's spiritual rebirth — if that is what it is — has been mirrored by an upturn in his earthly fortunes. Thames Valley Police has closed its investigation into allegations by a woman that he stalked and harassed her between 2018 and 2022.

The article went on to say:

He told his four million Instagram followers that his baptism was an 'incredible and profound experience'.

He said: 'This is my path now. And I already feel incredibly blessed, relieved, nourished, held.'

However, Brand, whose wife Laura (daughter of golfer Bernard Gallacher) is Catholic, was strangely vague about into which church he has been received.

And one would have thought any cleric baptising as notorious a delinquent as Brand — who has spoken openly about his previous womanising and drug use — wouldn't hesitate to say so. But investigations by the Mail around Brand's home near Marlow, on the Thames in Buckinghamshire, found that nobody, even from a church he has attended, could offer any clue as to who baptised him or where.

Now, if Brand has indeed received Christ as His Savior, we still recognize that he is a baby Christian in sore need of discipleship.  The Daily Mail reported:

Anglican churches sometimes perform river baptisms including in the Thames, as do Pentecostal ones. According to Brand, he plucked petals from a flower to decide which church would baptise him, reciting: 'Orthodox, Catholic, Anglican, Presbyterian, Methodist, Pentecostal...'

A river baptism sounds like classic Brand — not for him a simple splash of water from a church font, it has to be melodramatic.

David Hoffman, writing at CBN.com, stated this:

In recent years, up until very recently, Brand has promoted many New Age ideas and philosophies across his social media platforms and hosted conferences on mediation and transcendentalism. He has also been a strong proponent of Eastern mysticism and spiritualities that are found in Buddhism and Hinduism. Many in the Christian world are split over whether his most recent baptism and conversion announcements are, in fact, sincere.

One of the biggest issues is that he is still promoting New Age ideas across his social media, and this week he promoted what practically all Christians would define as witchcraft. On April 29, 2024, the day after his baptism, he posted a video on his social media involving tarot cards. In the video, he shares about the specific meaning of the tarot card that he held in his hand and that certain symbols can serve as "tools for reflection and personal analysis." Ending the video, he asks viewers their view on synchronizing other spiritual practices with Christianity and jokingly asks if it is ok to "meddle in the occult arts."

Hoffman states, "No one expects perfection out of a new Christian. However, becoming a Christian is more than taking the plunge of baptism. When the Lord saves someone from serious spiritual error and deception, there is no way that He would allow them to continue promoting that deception to millions of followers under the guise that you can be a Christian and participate in what the Bible defines as witchcraft."

This underscores the importance of discipleship.  When a high-profile person comes into a saving knowledge of Christ, the immediate result would be for that person to take a significant amount of time to seek the Lord.  And, really, each of us needs the spiritual preparation for the ministry to which God has called us. 

That is a lifelong pursuit, if you think about it. We have been changed on the inside by the presence of Jesus and we testify to that change through water baptism.  The water isn't magical, certainly, but the transformation is supernatural, and it is amazing to see how people exhibit such great joy when they share that publicly through going into the water.  We're not saved through physical water, but we have been washed by the presence of Jesus within us, who cleanses us from sin and delivers us from our old life, bringing us into new life.

How Great - It's Personal

Jesus taught His disciples about the love that only comes from Him and showed them that we are called into a personal relationship with Himself, and therefore we can know the God of the Universe, the Lord Most High. In John 15, we can find these words:
13 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends.
14 You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.
15 No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.
16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.

The song, How Great is Our God, has certainly captivated churches around the world, and it has celebrated its 20th anniversary.  A Religion News Service article recently gave some attention to the song, but not in a positive way, if you can believe that.

Consider this unbelievable - and quite frankly, irresponsible, paragraph:

“How Great Is Our God” was sung by protesters during the Jericho marches that preceded the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol and has been a staple at Christian nationalism conferences in recent years. And last week, when MAGA activist and worship leader Sean Feucht stood at the gates of Columbia University to oppose pro-Palestinian protesters and to demand that the school’s president resign, “How Great Is Our God” was on his lips.

“Our hearts will sing how great is our God,” he sang into a bullhorn, with a drummer in the background and a flag bearing the Stars and Stripes alongside a blue and white Star of David waving overheard.

I think this is a great example of the phrase coined in the Happy Days, TV series - "jumping the shark." The boogey man of "Christian nationalism" is now being attributed to a popular worship song. 

Sean Feucht has been chosen to be an example, an icon of "Christian nationalism," which has never really been clearly defined, but seems to be everywhere and all Christians are partaking of it, except for the "enlightened" ones. No, Feucht is unconventional - he does worship rallies in quite unlikely places - such as the Mall of America in Minneapolis, where his "Let Us Worship" gathering was not allowed to congregate inside the mall; so they took it outside.  Or the United for Israel rally in Los Angeles last week, where those gathering stood for Israel at the University of Southern California campus.  Many commentators are fond of calling out what they refer to as "Christian nationalism," but really don't tell you what it is - I guess if someone is singing a worship song within 100 feet of an American flag, that makes it somehow harmful.  Rather to be a Christian and love America than someone who loves the terror group Hamas. 

But, now RNS says How Great is Our God is some sort of nationalist anthem because it is sung by Christians who love Jesus and love their country and exercise their free speech in public rather than hidden in a building. 

Of course, the writer found a willing "expert" to back up the claims - enter Leah Payne, who's written a book on contemporary Christian music.  She said that...

...“How Great Is Our God” showcases the skill of Tomlin and his co-writers — who have fused the power of stadium rock anthems with Christian lyrics, creating songs with infectious hooks that draw a crowd into singing along.

“I don’t think they get enough credit for being skilled at what they do,” she said.

Payne notes that the song is easily singable, and that works well at protests. The article notes:

The lyrics of a song like “How Great Is Our God” can be vague enough that verses describing the God of the Bible could easily be adapted to mean the God of America or the God of a particular group of people.

“When I think of ‘How Great Is Our God,’ I wonder, who is the ‘our’?” Payne said.

It's not obvious? This is a worship song, a song of worship to God, Almighty God, the One True God - please! 

Adam Perez of Belmont University is quoted in the article, which states that the song "...draws clear lines between good and evil, darkness and light, which lends itself to partisan politics. Perez said the songwriters didn’t intend the song to be political, and for many people, it is not. But it still has language that works for partisan goals. 'How Great Is Our God' also has a triumphant tone to it — in that God will overcome any obstacle — and that could include political enemies, said Perez. Which can make it a fit for protests."

By the way, no quotes from Chris Tomlin in the story. 

Could we dispense with the subtle implications about things becoming "political," and that Christians shouldn't be participating in that?   I think you could make the case that those complaining about Christians being too "political" are they themselves taking part in speaking out on behalf of more "progressive" causes. 

I'm not sure what this is even about!  To demean a worship song that I would dare say has been sung by millions of Bible-believing Christians and somehow characterize it as being a "protest" anthem - in a negative way - well, that's beyond the pale.  It's hard to get through to people, even some Christians, that there are believers who believe their deeply-held Biblical beliefs inform every area of their lives. 

"Who is the "our," this author asked. Our God is the One who created the heavens and the earth, the God who is sovereign, who rules and reigns, the God who loves fallen humanity so much that He gave of Himself and sent His only Son to earth to redeem us.  That is a majestic, great, Almighty God who is full of great compassion and mercy.  

And, He calls us "His." And, we can call Him "our" God.  It's personal for every Christian believer who calls on the name of Jesus and is saved.  He's our God, because Jesus said no one comes to the Father but by Him and said that He would not cast out the one who comes to Him.  We are held in His hands - certainly we can call Him "our" God because that's who He says He is.  And, we are called to proclaim Him as the One True God, who has defeated sin and death and made a way for us to know and serve Him.