Freedom to Practice Christianity

As we enter into this week prior to Independence Day on Friday, we can reflect on the guiding principles for the foundation of this nation. The Declaration of Independence and statements of the Founding Fathers show a healthy respect for the practice of religious faith - not as a state religion, but a reflection of a reliance on Almighty God, the God of the Bible. Proverbs 14 states:
33 Wisdom rests in the heart of him who has understanding, But what is in the heart of fools is made known.
34 Righteousness exalts a nation, But sin is a reproach to any people.
35 The king's favor is toward a wise servant, But his wrath is against him who causes shame.

The promotion of righteousness, which is defined in the pages of the Scriptures, and the practice of Biblical principles makes for a strong nation, according to Proverbs 14. 

Two weeks ago today, a number of religious leaders, including evangelical Christians, gathered at Museum of the Bible in Washington for the first meeting of the Religious Liberty Commission, established as the result of an executive order issued by the President.   According to that order, published on the White House website, the Commission would consist of up to 14 members.  It states:

The Commission shall produce a comprehensive report on the foundations of religious liberty in America, the impact of religious liberty on American society, current threats to domestic religious liberty, strategies to preserve and enhance religious liberty protections for future generations, and programs to increase awareness of and celebrate America’s peaceful religious pluralism.

To assist the work of the Commission, which is chaired by Texas Lt. Governor Dan Patrick, with vice-chair Ben Carson, there are three Advisory Boards: one of Religious Leaders, another of Lay Leaders, and a third of Legal Experts.   

The initial meeting was open to the public. The Daily Citizen reported that "Timothy Goeglein, Focus on the Family’s vice president of external affairs, attended the morning gathering." He stated: “We at Focus on the Family were so honored to be part of this first presidential hearing on religious liberty, and the matrix of scholars, attorneys, public officials, and first amendment experts was a powerful testament to the foundational importance of the right of conscience in the 21st century American public square..." Published reports also showed that members of groups that do not support a robust representation of religion in the public square attended the meeting.  The Daily Citizen article stated:

In a press release lambasting the group’s first meeting, Americans United for Separation of Church State pulled out the tired and baseless bogeyman accusation that the group is comprised of so-called Christian Nationalists.”

The article says that, "Radicals reflexively suggest that any socially conservative Christians involved in politics today are 'Christian Nationalists,' i.e. those whose faith in God is fused with love of country in idolatrous fashion. In reality, Christians should be actively involved in the political arena – and do so in ways that honor God and His Word, and love (not destroy) our fellow man."

The Daily Citizen points out, "Attorney General Pam Bondi joined the meeting and spoke on 'the importance of faith to American success.'"

Among those attending the meeting and serving on the Commission is Kelly Shackelford, President and CEO of First Liberty.  An article on the organization's website noted:

The Commission’s inaugural meeting focused on the foundations of religious liberty from our nation’s founding to the present day, including the Founders’ intent behind the First Amendment’s religious liberty protections, and a discussion of related key U.S. Supreme Court decisions.

The Commission heard testimony from experts around the country. Dr. Mark David Hall—Senior Research Fellow at First Liberty Institute’s Center for Religion, Culture, & Democracy—was among those who testified.

Commissioners and experts discussed the state of religious liberty, including ongoing legal attacks and discrimination against religious Americans.

The article included comments from Shackelford about the meeting on a recent edition of First Liberty Live!:

“During the previous presidential administration, our First Freedom came under attack in ways we had not seen,” Kelly explains.

“Twenty-three Americans were put in prison for praying outside an abortion clinic,” he added. “The Catholic Church was investigated by the FBI as a radical group, and FBI officers actually asked hundreds of priests to join the federal government in their effort against the Church. Easter Sunday was even declared Transgender Visibility Day for the country.”

The First Liberty website also noted:

Kelly notes that the Religious Liberty Commission is evidence of a massive shift in favor of religious freedom in America. He says this is an opportunity fully reclaim our First Amendment rights and to fully reestablish religious freedom as our First Freedom.

According to the White House site, other Commission members include Ryan Anderson, Franklin Graham, Cardinal Timothy Dolan, and Phil McGraw.  Advisory Board members include:  Jentezen Franklin, Jack Graham, Mark David Hall, Alveda King, and Kristen Waggoner.

In light of the contempt for the freedom of religion enshrined in the First Amendment, this is a positive step - not indicating government establishment of religion, but allowing, in the words of the Bill of Rights, the free exercise thereof.  When you see people of faith, including Christians, who routinely face hostility simply because they desire to speak out or act out that faith, it shows some restoration is necessary. 

It's telling that organizations such as Americans United and the Freedom from Religion Foundation single out religious speech as not having a place in public discourse.  This is far from what our Founders intended.  We should not allow ourselves to become intimidated in the expression of our Christian faith. And, we should always recognize that we are citizens of a heavenly kingdom and are citizens of earthly institutions, in submission to governments of this world.  It is right, it is appropriate to love our country, but we should always love God more. 

Deceived

I mentioned yesterday about the arsenal that the devil uses in order to enslave people to follow his ways and reject God. Fascination with and participation in occult practices is a way in which the enemy enables people to encounter spirits that are not of God and to inflict mental, emotional, and spiritual harm. The Bible warns against these practices, and in Deuteronomy 18, we can read the words of the Lord spoken through Moses:
9 "When you come into the land which the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominations of those nations.
10 There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, or one who practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer,
11 or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead.
12 For all who do these things are an abomination to the Lord, and because of these abominations the Lord your God drives them out from before you.
13 You shall be blameless before the Lord your God.

A recent Movieguide article begins in this way:

Ex-psychic turned born-again Christian Jenn Nizza warned about allowing the occult to worm its way into your life and placing faith in a counterfeit version of Christ that leads to death and destruction.

“I was participating in sorcery, in witchcraft, except that it presents itself as light. And that’s the deception. Like that’s the whole agenda of the evil one: to deceive us” Nizza told California Living. “Love and light, this is the new age movement. You can have new enlightenment, you can raise your frequency, you can raise your vibration, as if you have any divinity, as if you have any special spiritual status that you can attain. And that’s what it always goes back to.”

The Movieguide piece goes on to say:

Witchcraft, sorcery and demons may seem like things of the past that are incompatible with our current day. But in reality, they are real and pose a deadly threat to the spiritual life of those who practice them.

“The satanic culture is real, witchcraft is real, and I think we live in a culture where we like to act as if that’s just something that is make-believe, cute and entertaining to see in movies,” said “Trending with Timmerie” host Timerie. “Satan wants us to believe that.”

While culture makes light of the occult, allowing it to become mainstream, the Bible is extremely clear that the demon world is not something to mess with.

Nizza's involvement with elements of the occult began in her early teen years, according to an article published at Faithwire, including quotes from the Playing with Fire podcast.  The article relates:

“In my home, it was very acceptable to talk about paranormal activity, what people commonly call ghosts, which, of course, were demons,” she said. “I had my very first tarot card reading [at the age of 13].”

Around the same time, Nizza said she had already begun experiencing what she now believes was demonic oppression. She started having dreams about events that would essentially come true.

Rather than flee from these practices and experiences, Nizza became enamored and dove in even deeper after her first tarot reading.

“That’s when I really walked through the door, because I was so intrigued by it, and I started seeking it out. … I went full-in,” she said. “It was a rabbit hole of destruction. … I had my own tarot cards. I kept going for readings; I became addicted to it.”

She began to do so-called "readings," thinking she was being helpful to people - but she was deceived herself and deceiving others.  But, Jenn needed help, true spiritual help, herself.  Faithwire states:

“When I was 36, I first cried out to Jesus,” she said. “I was at the lowest of the low, the lowest moments of my life — one of the darkest moments. … My soul, my spirit, knew to cry out to Jesus. I needed Him.”

By the time she turned 37, her Christian journey had finally begun.

Reflecting on all that unfolded, Nizza — who believes she was oppressed throughout her life but not possessed — found it fascinating she turned to Christ rather than the spirits she spent years adoring.

“I didn’t cry out to a deceased person, a spirit guide, an angel, anybody who I thought I was communicating with all those years,” she said. “I cried out to Jesus Christ and He really did show up.”

Nizza continued, “The Gospel is what saves.” 

There is a multitude of spirits that are operating in the world today. And, the Scriptures instruct us to "test the spirits."  While New Age and occult practices might seem to be spiritual enlightenment, we have to remember that the Bible tells us that Satan appears as an angel of light and declares that we are not "ignorant" of his schemes.  

Faithwire quotes Jenn Nizza as saying, regarding her time spent as a practitioner of the occult, "Satan masquerades as an angel of light,” adding “You think that you’re a servant of righteousness.”

We have to insulate ourselves by being devoted to the Scriptures.  We overcome the power of the enemy, as the Bible says, through the blood of Jesus and the word of our testimony.  If we are full of the Word of God, we build a shield against the errant spirituality that is being perpetuated by the devil.  This is nothing to play with - we must exercise discernment between good and evil.

The Way to Life

We have each been made in the image of God, and I believe it is incumbent upon the Christian to affirm the sanctity of life. The world offers paths to death and destruction, and promotes ideas that are antithetical to the teachings of Scripture. We can be inspired to follow the Scriptural directive to choose life. In Matthew 7, Jesus teaches about the way that leads to life:
13 "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it.
14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.
15 "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.
16a You will know them by their fruits.

With the third anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade being celebrated earlier this week, it gives us an opportunity to reflect on the significance of that decision.  While certainly it removed federal protections for abortion, the decision about the regulation of the horrendous practice was left with each individual state.  While some states, like Alabama, have implement strong pro-life laws, the promoters of abortion have found a new, risky path to the termination of a human life through chemical abortion.  

Now, in light of the Skrmetti decision upholding Tennessee's ban on gender treatments and procedures that are falsely characterized as changing a person's "gender," there has been a new precedent set that could positively impact the laws in over half of the states that prevent these types of actions in cases of minors, as Tennessee's law does.

There is new research that shows a majority of voters reject taxpayer funding of organizations, such as Planned Parenthood, that are involved in abortion and harmful gender treatments.  The Post Millennial website declares:

A new poll has revealed that American voters strongly disapprove of taxpayer dollars being used to fund abortions and child sex changes.

The Life Leadership Conference poll, obtained by Breitbart News, found that 64 percent of registered voters oppose "an organization that provides puberty blockers, hormone therapy, and other gender transition treatments for minors." This figure included 51 percent of voters who strongly opposed.

There was also a survey question regarding, as the article puts it, if "...voters would support taxpayer funding for 'an organization that provides abortions to minors without parental notification or consent..." The article notes, "67 percent said they oppose funding these groups, while 27 percent said they supported."

The article notes:

Respondents were also asked, "Now that you know Planned Parenthood is providing puberty blockers, hormone therapy, and other gender transition treatments for minors, would [you] support or oppose continued taxpayer funding for Planned Parenthood?" This came after Live Action released an investigation in which they found Planned Parenthood had been providing hormone treatment to minors as young as 16, often with limited parental consent or medical supervision.

That question yielded these results: "60 percent said that they oppose providing taxpayer funds to Planned Parenthood, while 32 percent supported the funds going to the organization."  

In a recent op-ed at The Christian Post by Tony Perkins, President of Family Research Council, he noted that, "... 71% of Americans oppose experimental medical gender transition interventions for minors. The activists preferred to operate in the shadows, far from public debate. That debate has now happened — and they lost."  He described the decision on transgender procedures as a "cultural U-turn." 

That poll was published in January, about which National Review said: "An overwhelming majority of Americans support restrictions on the ability of mentally unwell minors to obtain puberty blockers and hormonal treatments, a new survey finds," adding, "Over two-thirds (71 percent) believe children under the age of 18 should not be prescribed puberty blockers or hormones..., according to a new poll from the New York Times and Ipsos."

I have said it multiple times throughout the years, and it should be a guiding principle for our lives: God's. Way. Is. Best.  Jesus said there was a way to life, but few find it.  The entrance to that way to life is through Christ, our door, through salvation by believing upon Him.  We enter into a life of the knowledge of God and the experience of His love - a life, as Jesus taught, of abundance, through which all the resources of God become available to the child of God.

And, I believe we have a responsibility to spread that life throughout our culture. The principles of Scripture are reliable, and society as a whole can benefit by embracing those principles.  When we lift up the presence of Jesus, we can see cultural transformation, and the exposure to the good of the Lord can hopefully draw people into a saving knowledge of Jesus to secure their future.  Our lives, built on Christ's foundation, can communicate the good that can only be found in Him.

Great Depravity

The enemy of our souls has an enormous arsenal that he can use against humanity. And, technological developments have produced even more resources in order to deceive and destroy people's lives. We have to guard ourselves and our families from these pervasive means of corrupting souls. Psalm 101 states:
2 I will behave wisely in a perfect way. Oh, when will You come to me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart.
3 I will set nothing wicked before my eyes; I hate the work of those who fall away; It shall not cling to me.
4 A perverse heart shall depart from me; I will not know wickedness.

A hideous extortion scheme using artificial intelligence has led to the death of a 16-year-old boy in Kentucky named Eli Heacock.  The Washington Stand relates this:

As their teenage son lay in the hospital with his life oozing out of him, Eli Heacock’s parents felt their grief compounded by confusion: They had no idea why he had committed suicide.

Then they found his phone.

Messages showed their son — 16-year-old Elijah “Eli” Manning Heacock of Glasgow, Kentucky — had fallen prey to an extortioner, who convinced Eli to send photos of himself, which the predator used to generate sexually explicit images using artificial intelligence (AI).

This extortioner, described accurately as a "predator" in the article, demanded $3000 from young Eli, who tried to raise the money, but fell short.  As the article states:

The tragic death highlights the changing profile of sexual abuse and predation. Parents “no longer [have] to be scared of the white van that drives around. You have to be scared of the internet,” said Eli’s mother, Shannon Heacock.

Her son is far from the first person to lose his life to online sexual extortionists. “From October 2021 to March 2023 ... sextortion involved at least 12,600 victims — primarily boys — and led to at least 20 suicides,” according to the FBI.

Arielle Del Turco, Director of the Center for Religious Liberty at Family Research Council, who has been a guest on The Meeting House, says: “It’s absolutely horrific and tragic that criminals used AI-generated images to extort money out of a teenage boy, ultimately resulting in him taking his own life..." The article notes that, "FRC previously highlighted concerns raised by AI chatbots, which appear to be human, engaging in sexually explicit dialogue with minors online — or stoking pedophiles’ fantasies by posing as sexually precocious children."

Lawmakers have been attempting to limit this type of activity - as The Washington Stand notes, Eli's home state of Kentucky has a law against sexual extortion and Congress recently passed the "Take it Down Act," which "makes it illegal to knowingly publish, or threaten to publish, intimate images without a person’s consent; it also requires websites to remove such images within 48 hours of a victim’s valid request and help track down any sites that have republished the material."

But, there are legislative areas of concern: the United Nations has allowed member nations to limit prosecution of objectionable material, and in Congress, the current spending bill being considered by the Senate has a provision that bans states from regulating AI technology for 10 years.  The article states:

“We can’t afford to be behind the ball on creating policies that govern AI,” Del Turco told TWS. “The effects are too far-reaching” — a fact Eli’s mother, Shannon, knows too well.

There are maneuvers of the enemy that are beyond our comprehension - people either being duped or intentionally participating in unimaginable acts.  While it may be almost impossible to comprehend the depths of the depravity in our world today, we must know that it is there and reject the temptation that the enemy presents to us and our families. 

And, know that there is power to overcome.  But, if we are unwittingly being lured into compromising situations, we lose the winning advantage that Jesus died in order to purchase for and grant to us. There is great wickedness, certainly, but there is great victory as we rely on the everlasting arms of the One who is mighty to save.

Something Spiritual

There is something, I believe, deeply spiritual, that is occurring regarding the nation of Israel and its current conflict with Iran, a nation bent on destroying the Jewish state - the Jewish people were chosen by God and they were promised a place: physically and spiritually. In Genesis 12, we find that God said to Abram, whose name was changed to Abraham:
(1) ..."Get out of your country, From your family And from your father's house, To a land that I will show you.

2 I will make you a great nation; I will bless you And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing.
3 I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed."

Joel Rosenberg, a Christian author, commentator, and Editor-in-Chief of All Israel News, has been a trusted and informed voice regarding the nation of Israel in general and the current conflict with Iran.  Maayan Hoffman wrote this recently on the website:

The intertwining of faith and security led to last night's historic strike by the United States on three of Iran's nuclear sites – including the destruction of Fordow, Iran's largest and most deeply buried underground facility, according to U.S. Secretary of Defense Peter Hegseth.

But U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to attack Iran was not merely a military move in defense of Israel or America. For many, it was a spiritual act – part of a larger battle between good and evil and a quest for peace in the Middle East, Israel, and the world.

This All Israel News piece continued:

On Saturday night, as he addressed the United States, he closed his speech with these words: "I want to just say we love you, God, and we love our great military. Protect them. God bless the Middle East. God bless Israel, and God bless America."

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu echoed that spiritual tone in his address, thanking the U.S. and declaring, "With the help of God, we will win."

Someone who has framed this as a spiritual conflict is U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee.  The All Israel News article notes:

Trump's decision to attack was foreshadowed by a text message sent to him last week by U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee. The message, which Trump chose to share on Truth Social and through official White House social media channels, reflected the Evangelical Christian perspective Huckabee brings to his counsel. In it, he urged the president to "listen to the heavens" and let divine guidance shape his decisions regarding Israel's war with Iran.

"God saved you in Butler, Pennsylvania, to be the most consequential president in a century – and perhaps ever," Huckabee wrote. "There has never been a president in my lifetime like you. Not since Truman in 1945."

He continued: "You have many voices speaking to you, sir, but there is only ONE voice that matters. HIS voice," referring to God. "I believe you will hear from heaven, and that voice is far more important than mine or ANYONE else's."

Hoffman writes:

For Evangelicals, the call to peace is deeply rooted in scripture. They cherish the biblical instruction to "pray for the peace of Jerusalem." Jesus said, "Blessed are the peacemakers," and the Apostle Paul reminded believers, "If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men."

Millions of Evangelical Christians worldwide pray daily for peace in Jerusalem. So, for the faithful, the strike on Iran was not an act of war – it was a step toward the answering of that prayer.

So...in light of the current conflict, we can continue to follow the Scriptural admonition to pray for the peace of Jerusalem. God has a plan for Israel, and ultimately, He desires for all - Jew, Gentile, and people of all backgrounds, to come into a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Perhaps the demonstration of the hand of God in protecting Israel will be a witness to the Jewish people, so that they may come to know the Messiah.  And, we can pray for the people of Iran, where a distinct spiritual awakening is occurring, that God might bring rescue to that nation, resulting in even more people coming into salvation.

We can also pray for our leaders, including President Trump, Ambassador Huckabee, Secretary of Defense Hegseth, and the host of military leaders who are strategizing and executing those strategies. The defense of Israel and the perpetuation of freedom are noble causes, and we can look to Almighty God to strengthen those who serve in our military. 

This conflict can remind us of the spiritual foundations of the nation of Israel.  Even though Israel is a secular state, its foundations are Biblical.  So, as we've seen since October 2023, we have a fresh reminder of God's sustenance of this land, upon which He has not taken His hand off, and we can collectively trust God for His protection.  We can also be reminded to see beyond the physical to look through spiritual eyes regarding the conflicts and challenges we face. 

Upheaval

These are perilous times in the world today - violence in the streets of America and enhanced tensions in the Middle East. There is a potential shift that is occurring in the nation of Iran. In addition to Israel attacking its nuclear capabilities and retaliation from the Iranian menace, there is a change of heart that is taking place in the people of that beleaguered nation, bringing hope through the gospel. Romans 15 says:
(9)...that the Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy, as it is written: "For this reason I will confess to You among the Gentiles, And sing to Your name."
10 And again he says: "Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people!"
11 And again: "Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles! Laud Him, all you peoples!"
12 And again, Isaiah says: "There shall be a root of Jesse; And He who shall rise to reign over the Gentiles, In Him the Gentiles shall hope."
13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
14 Now I myself am confident concerning you, my brethren, that you also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.

God is working throughout the Middle East even though these are turbulent times.  A God Reports article, written by Charles Gardner, stated recently: "The Bible Society, which operates around the globe, reports that more than 2,000 Iranians are turning to Jesus every single day!"  It cited this example:

One 92-year-old believer, whenever she’s on a bus, pulls out a small book and asks her neighbor to help her read the tiny font.

In fact, she is secretly getting strangers to read the gospels. Every time she does it, the person sitting next to her ends up taking a New Testament home.

This is brave work in a land where leaving Islam is potentially punishable by death. But the Iranian revival is good news for Israel – and the Jews! For these dear people have been taught by their government and mullahs that Israel is their archenemy.

The article goes on to note:

For the strict Islamic state of Iran, whose rulers want to wipe out the Jewish people just as Hitler did and who are chief sponsors of monstrous terrorist groups like Hamas, is now the focus of a Christian revival where some two million people have discovered that Jesus, the Jew, is the Savior of the world.

As the mosques shut down in great numbers, passionate Christians are filling the vacuum, though of necessity staying ‘underground’ for now, out of sight of the religious police.

The latest upheaval in the Middle East comes as no surprise to God, and we must continue to recognize the spiritual nature of what is taking place and to be in prayer.  Gardner writes:

The Islamic foundations are crumbling for the chief sponsors of terrorism, a fact graphically prophesied by the psalmist thousands of years ago when he wrote of them: “Come,” they say, “let us destroy them as a nation, so that Israel’s name is remembered no more. With one mind they plot together, forming an alliance against you.” (Psalm 83:4f)

We do recognize that in the last days, according to Ezekiel 38, there will be an alliance that will come against Israel and God will intervene - that scenario is seemingly becoming closer to reality, which is why we ideally should have a greater sense of urgency to demonstrate and share the love and truth of Christ with those around us.

This is a time of intense spiritual warfare, and we must be prayerful and understanding of what is occurring in the world today.  Gardner writes:

It’s important that we see the big picture of the unfolding spiritual warfare taking place. When Jesus sent out the 72 disciples to spread the gospel (as recorded in Luke 10:19,21), he told them he had given them authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy.

And he was full of joy through the Holy Spirit because God had hidden these things from the wise and learned and revealed them to babes.

It is not the proud and arrogant who will inherit the earth, but the meek and humble. And the latter will also be granted a clear-sighted vision of what is really happening amidst the turmoil of these terrible times which are surely preparing the way for our Lord Yeshua’s return.

We also can give God thanks for the encouraging reports out of Iran - while governmental leaders around the world attempt to persecute the church, nevertheless out of that affliction, God is raising up His Church.  And, it could result in a tipping point in the nation of Iran, where so many believers face penalties, even death, for sharing the gospel.   But, the Lord is very actively acting according to His will in our world today.

Ordinary (6/16)

If we have come to know Christ, if we have been born again, we have been given a testimony of what God has done in our lives. The hymn writer John Newton said, "...was blind, but now I see." The presence of Jesus brings life change, our eyes have been opened and we can experience forgiveness and freedom through our Savior. And, we can be challenged to share His message. In 1st Timothy 1, Paul shares a portion of his testimony of His transformation through Jesus:
12 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry,
13 although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.
14 And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.
15 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.
16 However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life.

Wow!  Just think about that - someone who was intent on destroying the Church became a catalyst for the growth of it.  The salvation of a soul through a relationship with Jesus will do that.

Greg Laurie is heard weekdays at 2:00 p.m. on A New Beginning on Faith Radio.  He is Senior Pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship in California and has long been known as an evangelist through the ministry of Harvest Crusades.

Recently, he spoke at the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association's European Congress on Evangelism.  Prior to his giving his message, he talked with Christian Daily International/Christian Post.  The article including his comments appeared on the Harvest website. 

The article states:

Laurie recalls a private moment with the late Billy Graham—whom Laurie calls “one of the greatest, if not the greatest evangelist in human history, apart from the Apostles”—when the two had lunch together, some time before Graham passed away. Laurie asked the older evangelist for his wisdom: “If an older Billy could speak to a younger Billy, what would you say to yourself?”

“I would remind myself to preach more on the cross of Christ and the blood of Christ because that is where the power is,” replied Graham.

“I have never forgotten that,” Laurie reflects, “and I’m going to mention that to the evangelists here [in Berlin] because the message of the evangelist is very simple and we have to avoid complicating it.”

Laurie has been on the BGEA's board for 25 years and "spent a lot of time" with the late evangelist toward the end of his ministry, describing it as “a time of great training."  He described Graham as someone who was unique, one-of-a-kind.  He stated:

“I think Billy Graham was called to be Billy Graham. I think we’re all called to bring the gospel to our generation in our way. It was said of David, he served God in his generation. And that’s what Billy did. He served God in his generation.”

This understanding of integrity needing to be prevalent within the core of an evangelist’s private life, as it was with Billy Graham, is important for Laurie who brings to the Berlin congress an encouragement for fellow evangelists to be focused without distraction on their task “to preach the gospel, to sow the seed and leave the result ultimately up to God.”

The article points out that, "A sense of understated ordinariness is key for the effectiveness of evangelism, according to Laurie."  He recognizes the call each of us have to fulfill the Great Commission, even though some may have a particular anointing in the area of evangelism. He highlighted some characters found in Scripture who struggled with their own call.  Laurie stated:

“Moses didn’t feel qualified to lead the children of Israel. He had some kind of a speech impediment. Gideon said, ‘I’m least in my father’s house.’ And others gave what we would call excuses as to why they could not be the one to do what God called them to do.

“But it seems as though the Lord goes out of his way to choose ordinary people to do extraordinary things. And the apostle Paul says, God calls the foolish things of the world to confound the wise. So I think if you believe your call is to be an evangelist, then just go evangelize.”

He also notes: "In fact, I think it’s a good thing to struggle with, ‘Am I really qualified to do this?’ Because if you think, ‘I am the most qualified person that ever walked the Earth,’ you probably just disqualified yourself because God wants us to walk humbly before him.”  The article also relates:

The ultimate test of success for an evangelist however is not results but faithfulness, according to Laurie. He points out that Jesus on the final day will not say, “Well done good and successful servant” but “Well done good and faithful servant.”

Greg Laurie reminds us of how the obedience of one man touched incredible numbers of people. He said about Billy Graham, "...he brought the gospel to more people than any other person ever.”  We may not be called to reach millions for the gospel, but we are called to be obedient - to demonstrate the love of Christ so that people may come to know Him.  We can be faithful to the Lord, and as Laurie points out, leave the results up to God.

We can keep in mind that God did the extraordinary through this seemingly ordinary man who humbly allowed the Lord to work through Him.  The minute we begin to think we are something we are not, our degree of effectiveness for the Lord will be diminished.  We can cultivate our love for the Lord and for others, and allow Him to motivate and use us for His purposes.

To Flourish (6/19)

The term, "flourish," can be applied to the Christian life, I believe, in a manner consistent with what Jesus taught in John 10:10 about the abundant life He promises. We can fulfill our potential in Christ as we, according to His teaching in John 15, abide in Him, drawing life and strength as branches connected to the vine. He teaches us in that chapter:
5 I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.
6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.
7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.
8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.

As believers, we can consider whether or not we are living up to our potential in Christ - not according to what is called, "human potential," but according to the will of God and His intent for us.

The word, "flourishing," has been applied on a grander scale, and Baylor University just released its Global Flourishing Study, commissioned by the University's Institute for Studies of Religion and its partners - and it has received coverage on "major media outlets," it notes on its website in an article that states:

Most attempts to measure happiness stop at a surface level. The Global Flourishing Study dives deeper, looking at not just feelings or wealth but all aspects of a person’s life. And it’s doing so on a grand scale, studying more than 200,000 individuals across 20 countries and five years. That allows researchers to crunch the numbers in a wide variety of ways (focusing on specific countries, age groups, religious beliefs, etc.). Nature, a leading international journal of science, published 35 different studies using just the first wave of data. That’s possible because the data is being made freely available to the public, allowing for better utilization of the findings worldwide.

The article relates:

From the first wave of data, three initial insights stand out:

• It’s not all about income. Many middle-income developing countries are doing better in terms of meaning, purpose and relationships than the richer developed world.
• Younger people are not doing as well as older people. Flourishing tends to increase with age, and in many countries, the youngest age group (18- to 24-year-olds) reported the lowest.
• Faith makes a big difference. Across almost all countries, religious service attendance appears to be an important element in flourishing, with especially strong associations even in the most secular societies.

The website, Nature, reported:

People from Indonesia provided the highest self-rated assessments on a broad range of indicators, whereas Japanese respondents’ ratings ranked lowest among the 22 countries surveyed on most indicators. More generally, people in high-income countries such as Sweden and the USA score higher on more material aspects of well-being, such as financial security. People in many middle-income countries, on the other hand, rate higher on prosocial behaviours, meaning and close relationships. This suggests that material and social aspects of flourishing do not necessarily align.

That article also provided more about the faith element, stating: "The first wave of results also highlights the role of spirituality: nearly one-third of participants reported attending religious services weekly or more, and such attendance was consistently associated with higher levels of well-being across countries."

American Bible Society, in last year's State of the Bible report, offered these data points abut faith and flourishing:

• In all areas of the Human Flourishing Index, Americans unaffiliated with any religion (Nones) score significantly lower than average. This includes reporting lower levels of hope and higher levels of stress...

It also reported:

• Practicing Christians rank higher in levels of human flourishing, including in metrics related to hope and stress, than non-committed groups of respondents. When considering spiritual vitality, more than half of those considered Practicing Christians are categorized as thriving (52%), while only 13% are in the two unhealthy categories. This indicates that faith and regular interaction with Scripture produce a sense of hope and peace not found elsewhere...

This is a statistical measurement of a Biblical principles - there is a relationship between faith and flourishing.  As Christians, our faith in Christ produces an attitude of hope in Him.  I contend that hope is not reliant on external factors, but on the internal presence of the Holy Spirit in our hearts through Christ.

Those who don't identify with religion have a lower "index" of human flourishing. And, when you consider statistical data about the younger generations, especially Gen Z, it stands to reason that they would be facing more of the mental health problems that the Baylor study and ABS data indicate.  But, John Plake of the American Bible Society is quoted as saying: “For the last few years, we’ve reported some rather troubling statistics about Generation Z. As a group, these 18–27-year-olds are less connected with the church and the Bible than older generations. They also experience more stress and less hope,” adding, “But what about those in Gen Z who do engage with Scripture? Not only do they score higher on the Human Flourishing scale than other young adults who don’t read the Bible—but they have the highest score of any generation. There’s more research to be done here, but this suggests that the unique challenges keeping young adults from flourishing are countered by a regular connection with God in Scripture.”

This brings us back around to experiencing abundant life - and we realize that it's not related to the abundance of possessions, power, or prestige, but comes through abiding in Christ and appropriating the true spiritual resources that He has made available to us.  Our desire is not to attract or achieve fame and fortune, but to acquire the riches of the eternal kingdom of God, which are not tied to this world. 

Tell the Truth (6/17)

I think that as believers in Christ, we should be responsible for discerning truth from error. That may take a bit of extra effort, but by so doing, we can find ourselves with credibility in countering false information. Our lives should be characterized by a dogged pursuit of truth. In Hebrews 5, the writer calls the reader to spiritual growth and understanding of truth:
12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food.
13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe.
14 But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

The first week of May, a Pulitzer Prize was given to ProPublica for an article that, according to WORLD Magazine, was not true.  The opening paragraph of the article, published on May 5, stated: 

On Monday, a ProPublica article about the effects of pro-life laws received the 2025 Pulitzer Prize for public service journalism. The article falsely claimed that laws protecting babies from abortion were making doctors afraid to care for pregnant mothers, leading to their deaths.

WORLD noted that in September of 2024, Leah Savas wrote an article "exposing the errors." 

Maybe it's just me, but should truthfulness be part of the criteria for winning a Pulitzer?

Well, here's what Savas said in that September article:

A ProPublica article published Sept. 16 highlighted the story of Amber Thurman, a young Georgia woman who consumed abortion pills in 2022 after obtaining them in North Carolina. Body parts of Thurman’s aborted twins or other pregnancy tissue remained inside of her for days after she took the drugs, causing an infection. She died after doctors failed to clean out her uterus in time. The article blamed the delayed emergency care on Georgia’s law protecting unborn babies from abortion once they have detectable heartbeats. That law went into effect in 2022 after the U.S. Supreme Court released its Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision overturning Roe v. Wade.

Then, according to Savas: 

On Sept. 18, ProPublica published the story of a second woman who died of complications after taking abortion pills because she was afraid of facing legal penalties if she sought treatment.

“The people who created these laws knew women would die,” wrote pro-abortion writer Jessica Valenti on her Substack on Sept. 19. “Everything they say now is the result of decades of work preparing for this moment.”

Louisiana OB-GYN Damon Cudihy was interviewed for article; he is quoted as saying:

“It’s so blatantly a lie,” he said. “It is absolutely a misrepresentation and a flagrant lie, if it is claimed that any laws in the states that have outlawed induced abortions would prevent legitimate treatment for caring for a woman who has had a miscarriage—for treatments to remove the remains of a child that’s died.” Cudihy added that no law prohibits the removal of a baby that died in utero, even as a result of an induced abortion.

Suzanne Guy, a Georgia pro-life activist that had actively supported the legislation, said, "My whole life is dedicated to helping women in crisis. So everything I do is as much for that mom as it is for the baby..." The article reports: 

Once a draft of the heartbeat bill was ready, Guy met with a group around her own kitchen table to proofread the text. She said those who worked on it were careful to account for difficult pregnancy cases. “We were just trying to be … very intentional that women would be protected if they found themselves in an emergency situation,” said Guy. “That’s why I say over and over, our heartbeat law did not end the life of that precious woman.”

Savas, from WORLD Magazine, notes:

Georgia’s law clarifies that removing an unborn child who died in a “naturally occurring” miscarriage is not considered an abortion. The ProPublica article acknowledges that and admits the medical staff who treated Amber Thurman at Piedmont Henry Hospital have not explained why they did not immediately remove her retained pregnancy tissue when she presented with an infection. But the writers suggest Thurman died because doctors knew she had used drugs to abort the babies and worried removing what remained would violate the law.

The hospital did not respond to WORLD's request for a comment prior to the article being published. 

The WORLD article did say that:

ProPublica and other media outlets have quoted doctors who feel pro-life state laws inhibit them from intervening when a pregnant woman faces a health concern. But that experience isn’t universal. Cudihy and other OB-GYNs WORLD interviewed said physicians in their circles haven’t had to change their approach to pregnancy complications because of pro-life state laws.

Pro-life physicians interviewed include former Meeting House guests William Lile and Ingrid Skop. 

One could say that ProPublica engaged in agenda-based journalism and distorted the facts of the Amber Thurman case in order to score political points. And, there is evidence that it was not the Georgia heartbeat law that inhibited the doctors to the point that the women were denied proper medical care.  WORLD reports that, "Michael Seibel, a medical malpractice attorney in New Mexico who analyzed the ProPublica article in a guest post on the pro-life group Live Action’s website, told WORLD that details in the article suggest doctors had a nonpolitical reason for delaying the D&C."

I would contend that it is not Georgia's pro-life law that is the problem, but the pervasive act of women attempting to take the lives of their unborn children through the abortion pill - chemical abortion has become rampant, and new data shows that this act is far more dangerous than the U.S. Food and Drug Administration would lead people to believe. 

The availability of this drug has endangered unborn children in the womb, as well as their mothers.  But, to pursue the pro-abortion agenda that promotes the taking the lives of the unborn, people are willing to distort facts - we have to be aware of when this is occurring and be armed with facts if we are engaging in discussion about the dangers of chemical, or mail-order abortion.  The most compelling facts in the abortion debate are the ones that are based in Scripture about God's view of the sanctity of life and the scientific facts, that can be presented through ultrasound technology, about the life of an unborn child.  Science is consistent with the Bible, and when you have those who use emotions for a desired outcome based on their political agenda, we have to be discerning to know and stand on the truth.

Adventurous (6/20)

God does not intend for us to live a boring, uninteresting life - I believe that He wants to instill in us a spirit of adventure, recognizing that as we come to know Him better, we will experience the heights and depths of His love, His goodness, and His strength. Jesus said that He has come to give us abundant life, and Ephesians 3 reinforces that notion, praying that those who know Christ...
18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height--
19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,
21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Bear Grylls is a noted adventurer, but a recent piece that he wrote shows his participation in the adventure of knowing Christ.   A Movieguide article, quoting from The Times, of London, says:

What can climbing Mount Everest teach us about faith? For survivalist Bear Grylls, a lot, as his relationship with Jesus has empowered his life of adventure “for the better.”

“On one hand, religion always seemed the source of war, division and conflict. On the other, whenever I came across stories about Jesus, he seemed to be about peace, kindness, sacrifice, freedom, and affirmation,” Grylls wrote of his thoughts on faith as a young person.

Movieguide relates: 

This perspective made Grylls want to “explore the notion of faith and learn more about what he [Jesus] was about.” He sought the freedom Christ brings over the “rules” and “restrictions” of religion.

The article goes on to say that...

...Grylls asked, “What is this faith within? Can the power and presence that Jesus had on people 2,000 years ago have such an effect on us today?”

It can.

He says, "In a nutshell, my Christian faith has strengthened me in so many battles I’ve faced in life.”

Grylls notes that the first man to climb Mount Everest, Sir Edmund Hillary had said, “There is no such thing as an atheist in the ‘Death Zone’ on Everest.” Grylls went on to say, “I am sure a few atheists have climbed Everest over the years, but the point he made is that when we’re truly afraid and there’s no one around to help us, to possess a quiet faith can give us a persistence and courage that is so much greater than what we have within ourselves..."

Grylls also said, “At heart, my Christian faith tells me I will never walk alone, and that I have the light of the Almighty within me,” adding, “The most beautiful part is that this gift is given to any of us freely when we simply ask. And I’ve witnessed it change so many lives over the years.”  The Movieguide article quotes from Grylls's Times piece, stating:

“None of us deserves this gift,” he emphasized. “I certainly don’t. If anything, I am more aware than ever how often I have failed, yet still I am forgiven,” he added. “That’s why Christ turned everything on its head. His forgiveness is free because He has paid the price. He took our place on the Cross. He died to set us free. It’s the greatest story ever told.”

These are some great words of encouragement for the trials we face, a reminder that if we know Christ, we do not walk through our challenges alone.  And, I would submit that walking in this spiritual adventure means that we will encounter some challenges, some bumps in the road - but God has a purpose in those times and desires to use those trials to give us strength.

So we can rejoice through the good times and the tough times, remembering that we have a Savior who gave His life and takes special care of all who have trusted in Jesus.  Realizing that we have been and are loved by God can sustain us when we feel alone or when we feel that life has become a bit too challenging for our liking.  He will provide the strength and wisdom we need and He will help us walk through those storms in a way that brings glory to Him.

A Powerful Force (6/18)

We can gain a sense of excitement as we listen to, read, or watch reports of how God is working in the world today - we serve an active God, who is revealing His truth throughout the earth and has entrusted to each of us the message of the gospel, a message that has transformed our lives, if we have accepted Jesus as our Savior and have been born-again. There is much about which to rejoice. In Isaiah 43, we can see a picture of a God who is expansive and mighty, who desires for all to come to a saving knowledge of Jesus:
5 Fear not, for I am with you; I will bring your descendants from the east, And gather you from the west;
6 I will say to the north, 'Give them up!' And to the south, 'Do not keep them back!' Bring My sons from afar, And My daughters from the ends of the earth--
7 Everyone who is called by My name, Whom I have created for My glory; I have formed him, yes, I have made him."
8 Bring out the blind people who have eyes, And the deaf who have ears.
9 Let all the nations be gathered together, And let the people be assembled. Who among them can declare this, And show us former things? Let them bring out their witnesses, that they may be justified; Or let them hear and say, "It is truth."

Today, we want to look to an area that could be termed, "the East." Crosswalk.com included this eye-opening statistic recently:

Last year, the Center for the Study of Global Christianity reported that Asia is home to 415 million Christians — more than the entire population of the United States.

The U.S population is reportedly more than 340 million.  So, that's an impressive number out of Asia. 

The Crosswalk article states:

About 8 percent of Asia’s population now identifies as Christian — up from 3 percent in 1910, according to the Pew Research Center and the World Christian Encyclopedia published in 2019 by Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary.

Why is this growth occurring? The article notes, "Christianity is growing rapidly on the continent due to a combination of spiritual hunger amid modernization, strong community support, active missionary work, and the faith’s ability to adapt to local cultures."

Well, you probably have heard about the growth of Christianity in China, even amidst attempts to mute or water down the message of Christ. The article relates:

Following decades of government-imposed atheism, Christianity has surged there, with an estimated 6 to 9 percent of the country now identifying as Christian -- a number representing 85 to 128 million Christians. Protestants, especially those in unregistered “house churches,” account for the vast majority of Christians. Daryl Ireland, a Boston University School of Theology research assistant professor of mission, said that just four decades ago, there were only 1 million Christians in China.

Crosswalk also states:

Although only two countries in Asia are considered majority Christian -- the Philippines and East Timor -- it is growing in dozens of countries. Mathews George Chunakara, general secretary of the Christian Conference of Asia, told The Economist that the “center of gravity of Christianity” is shifting globally, from Europe and North America to the rest of the world. While much of the growth is happening in Africa and Latin America, Asia is also contributing. Between 2020 and 2025, the number of Christians in Asia increased by about 1.6 percent each year, The Economist said. If accurate, that would place the proportion of Asia’s Christians above the 8 percent reported by the World Christian Encyclopedia in 2019.

Other countries experience growth in Christianity include:

• South Korea, where about 1/3 of the population are "identified" as either Protestant or Catholic. Crosswalk says, "Megachurches dominate Seoul’s skyline, and South Korea now sends more missionaries abroad than any country except the United States."

• Nepal, where there has been "rapid growth" recently, even though the practice of Christianity has been limited by government and some pastors have been arrested.

• And, the nations of "Malaysia, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Mongolia..." according to a report from Crux.

We certainly live in exciting times in which to be a Christian.  This even applies to areas where Christianity is practiced away from the watchful eye of government officials, who are intent of persecuting those who would believe on Christ.  Even then, God is drawing people to Himself and people are coming to Christ.

We also recognize that we are part of a vast entity, the body of Christ, which is impacting the earth, spreading the love of Christ and carrying out His mission to see souls saved and to live the truth. We can be encouraged that so many in our world today name the name of Jesus, and that can bring hope to our hearts. 

We can be motivated to get in on what God is doing.  If you are saved, you have experienced the love of God and have access to the greatest power in the world today - the power of the Holy Spirit. That's the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead.  We can find encouragement and strength as we allow Him to move through us and use us for His glory.

Accused

We have an Advocate, the Bible says, to whom we can go when we commit sin and even when we are accused, when the enemy brings a sense of guilt and shame upon us. When the enemy places thoughts in our minds to charge us falsely, we can counter him with the truth of who we are in Jesus. 1st John chapter 2 tells us:
1 My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.
2 And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.
3 Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments.

In Revelation 12, we can read about the victory that this powerful Advocate has won for us:
10 Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, "Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down.

You may or may not be familiar with a reality series called, Chrisley Knows Best - its main stars are a couple named Todd and Julie Chrisley.  As Movieguide reports:

Todd was sentenced to a nine years in prison while Julie received a seven year sentence after being convicted of bank fraud and tax evasion. The couple began their sentences in January 2023, before being released this May. President Trump issued the pardon after sharing he believed they were treated unfairly by the justice system because of their celebrity status.

“[The Chrisley’s were] prosecuted because they were celebrities,” President Trump said. “They were treated more harshly because of their status. And that’s not the way our criminal justice system is supposed to work.”

The Movieguide piece featured quotes from FoxNews.com from the couple:

“God has literally taken me to a place where I have so much peace with no longer worrying about trying to please — or trying to meet the expectations of someone else,” Todd said when his trial was ongoing. “The expectation I long to meet is of God. God expects me to be a good, decent, honorable human being. He expects me to honor His word, He expects me to be the leader of my household, He expects me to set an example for my wife, my children, to lead by example but where I fell short in doing that is that I really didn’t give glory to God in all of the things we were accomplishing because I felt like I was the one doing the work.”

“The outpouring of support that we have received…I can’t even tell you what it’s done…The fact that you are praying and praying specifically, we appreciate that and we don’t take it lightly,” Julie added after they were sentenced to jail. “The only thing we can do is keep moving forward, keep being positive, and keep knowing that God is in control. And that’s where we’re gonna stay.”

NBCNews.com reported:

Alex Little, an attorney for the Chrisleys, said in an interview that he did not know why Trump chose to pardon his clients this week.

But as part of his pitch, Little said, he supplied Trump's "pardon czar," Alice Johnson, with a binder filled with court documents and testimonials.

“President Trump feels very focused on the issue of criminal justice because he has been a focus of investigations that were directed at him," Little said. "And he’s treated it differently because of that.”

 About that so-called "pardon czar," NewsNation.com reports:

Before she was pardoned by President Donald Trump during his first term, Alice Johnson was behind bars for 20 years for drug-related offenses.

Now, Johnson spends her days as the White House’s “pardon czar,” overseeing and recommending clemency cases for the Trump administration.

She is quoted as saying about the Chrisleys and those pardoned around the same time: “I know not only their stories, but I make sure that I’m selecting people who have either been rehabilitated, who pose no safety risk, and also we look at cases where there has been obvious weaponization against these individuals..."

Alice Johnson knows about freedom - CBN.com quoted her from a speech in 2020:

“I never stopped fighting for my freedom,” she said. “My Christian faith and the prayers of so many kept hope alive. When President Trump heard about me, about the injustice of my story, he saw me as a person. He had compassion, and he acted.”

“Free in body thanks to President Trump, but free in mind thanks to the Almighty God,” she continued. “I couldn’t believe it: I always remembered that God knew my name, even in my darkest hour. But I never thought a president would.”

And, daughter Savannah Chrisley has partnered with Pray.com for a new AI-generated Christian video series; Movieguide reports:

The first ever AI-generated Bible miniseries, HEROES IN THE BIBLE: RUTH, has a familiar face hosting each episode of the four-part series: TV personality and podcaster Savannah Chrisley.

“There’s no triumph without tragedy. The story of Ruth shouts that truth from the rooftops,” Savannah Chrisley said in a sneak peak trailer.

“How do we respond when everything seems lost, and how can the blossoms of love spring forth from rubble and ash?” she asked.

The series, the influencer said, shows that “love can, in fact, be found in loss. Redemption can be reclaimed after destruction.”

As the Chrisleys walk in their new-found freedom, we can think about the redemption each of us has in Jesus Christ.  We were facing a death sentence, bound up by the power of the enemy, helpless to save ourselves because of our sin.  But, Jesus came to open up the prison doors and to set us free from the hold that sin had on us.  We can now walk in new life.

We were not falsely accused, though - our sin had condemned us.  But, after salvation, we may experience the harmful accusations of the enemy.  Not only will he attempt to remind us of sins past, sins forgiven, but will even accuse us for things that we have not done, to heap guilt and shame among our minds, keeping us from experiencing all that God has in store.

So, we can go to our Advocate, confess our sins, and receive forgiveness for our sins. We can go to Jesus when we are facing accusations from the enemy and use those two components that can help us walk in victory - overcoming by...the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony.  As it's been said, when the devil tries to remind us of our past, we can remind him of his future.

Adding and Subtracting

I think you can draw a conclusion that one should not be caught up in the size of a church - there is excellent, amazing, Kingdom of God-building work going on through churches of all sizes. But, if the indicators are that a church is receding, that key numbers are going down, that could be something to watch out for and analyze. But, all in all, with regard to church growth, we have to make sure that we, who are members of the Church, the body of Christ, are moving forward in our Christian life. In Acts 2, we see a snapshot of the early Church, which states:
42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.
43 Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles.

44 Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common,
45 and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.
46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart,
47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.

The believers were being "steadfast," according to verse 42 - they were meeting together and moving together, they were united in worship, and the Lord was "adding" to the church - daily! That's a tremendous measuring stick.  

Southern Baptists met this week in Dallas for their annual convention.  Prior to the annual gathering, as is customary, Lifeway Research, which is an arm of Southern Baptist publishing entity, Lifeway Christian Resources, conducted the Annual Church Profile survey.  Baptist Press, in its opening sentence, shared this summary:

In 2024, the Southern Baptist Convention baptized more new members than in any of the previous seven years but still saw an 18th consecutive year of overall membership decline.

There are now just over 12.7 million members in congregations affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention - that's down 2 percent from 2023. But, with just over 250,000 baptisms, that's a 10 percent increase.

Here's another factoid for you:

In 2024, an average of more than 4.3 million people worshiped weekly in a Southern Baptist congregation, and more than 2.5 million participated in a small group Bible study each week. Both of those were up more than 5 percent compared to 2023.

Scott McConnell, Executive Director of Lifeway Research, stated, regarding the overall decline in membership: "The largest portion of membership declines come from churches acknowledging that certain members are gone for good and removing their names. Other drops come from churches that close or leave the Convention,” adding, “Newcomers to the entrances of churches definitely help, but membership will continue to decline as long as the exits remain active.”

The Lifeway Research website has further information, including this church size analysis: 

The smallest churches are an increasing percentage of the Southern Baptist Convention. In 2018, 38% of congregations fell in the smallest category, fewer than 50 in attendance. In the 2023 ACP, those churches represented 43% of the SBC. Seven in 10 churches in the SBC see fewer than 100 people at their weekly worship service, including 27% that average 50-99 and 43% that average less than 50 attendees each week.

Regarding churches of attendance of 100 or greater, "One in 5 (20%) are between 100-249. Fewer large churches are part of the Convention, with 6% averaging 250-499 for their services and 4% climbing to 500 or more."

Numbers can be important, because, as I've heard it said, numbers represent souls - and that is certainly meaningful, especially in the evangelistic sense.  I think it is telling that the Bible relates that 3000 souls were saved on the Day of Pentecost.  

The numbers can also remind us that the Church is comprised of people - it's not the building, even though places to gather are important, as well. But, the local church ultimately is the sum total of the people who associate with it.  And, the effectiveness of a local church body is determined by its willingness to be used of God.

There are over 12.7 million people who call themselves Southern Baptist.  That is highly significant.  Because those gathering in Dallas not only conducted denominational business, but their presence is a show of spiritual connectivity and power to the world around us.  Their sending of people into the mission field and resolutions they adopted that reinforce Biblical teaching can be inspiring. 

Yes, I would say there are multiple reasons the Convention is declining.  There is an abundance of church options out there - and, unfortunately, options to separate from a faith practice. And, as I and others have said, spiritual drift is a real and present problem that must be guarded against and dealt with when it appears.  When it comes right down to it, the number that counts the most is ONE - one Christian believer who has a one-on-one relationship with the one true God.

No Enemies List

This year's Southern Baptist Convention in Dallas has begun. The denomination is facing tough decisions regarding financial accountability, women serving in pastoral positions, and the future of its policy arm that some believe has gone off the rails.  The leadership structure of the SBC, as well as other denominations has faced enormous pressure. And, the Church faces a "bend but not break" situation - but God continues to have His hand on His Church.  We may be human, but He possesses supernatural power.  The Bible depicts an encounter with Jesus in Matthew 16:

15 He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?"
16 Simon Peter answered and said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
17 Jesus answered and said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.
18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.
19 And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."

If you ask me, the run-up to this year's SBC has become a bit snippy.  The Church and Church bodies can be a place for spirited discussion, even among those who disagree. But, social media has become a cesspool within the last few days - especially directed to some who want to challenge what they see as an element of drift within the denomination.  I have long contended that within churches and denominations, there are elements of those who believe everything's fine - all is well - and those who recognize a trajectory of drift.  

But, the Southern Baptists are not alone.  Recently, the Presbyterian Church in America, a denomination that has strong roots here in Alabama has faced some upheaval on a national level.  WORLD Magazine reported late last week: 

A group of administrators for the Presbyterian Church in America on Thursday accepted the resignation of a top leader who was recently embroiled in controversy over a Post-it note. The PCA Administrative Committee approved the request of Teaching Elder Bryan Chappell to retire as stated clerk effective immediately, according to a report from byFaith, a publication of the PCA. The committee also chose to accept Chappell's apology for his role in the controversy, according to the report.

The controversy centered around a Post-it note.  WORLD notes:

Chapell last month held up a slip of paper during an interview on The Gospel Coalition’s Gospelbound podcast. The individuals whose names were on the list were “scandalizers” who had all left their families, left the faith, or taken their own lives, Chapell said. Many individuals on the list are still living with their families and remain involved in the local church.

Some examples highlighted in the article whose names were on this note, that could be perceived as some sort of "enemies list:"

Pastor Andy Webb. "He is no longer with the PCA but serves instead with the Associated Reformed Presbyterian Church. He said in a public statement that Chapell called him after the interview to apologize and that Webb forgave him."

Carl Trueman. He is an opinion writer for WORLD, and Chapell apologized to him, as well.

WORLD reports:

Following calls for an investigation into his behavior on the grounds that he violated the 9th Commandment’s prohibition on bearing false witness against one’s neighbor, Chapell has also issued a public apology for his behavior and offered to resign from his position as the PCA’s stated clerk.

Last year, the PCA faced a mini-controversy when someone, in their brilliance, invited a divisive figure who routinely criticizes evangelical Christians to participate in a forum called, “How to Be Supportive of Your Pastor and Church Leaders in a Polarized Political Year," at its General Assembly.  At The Daily Citizen, Paul Batura wrote concerning David French:

PCA Clerk Bryan Chapell was reportedly unaware of all the controversy surrounding David French, including his strong criticism of people who vote for former President Trump, his defense of “drag-queen story hour” and his support of same-sex marriage. French has also called laws that investigate parents who go along with the surgical mutilation of sexually confused children as being “illiberal extreme.”

David French’s evolving progressivism and willingness to criticize evangelical Christians on the pages of the leading radical liberal newspaper in America has given him global exposure and even accolades from people who despise Christianity and consider it dangerous.

French is a former PCA member and Batura notes that he wrote an essay in that newspaper, The New York Times, "claiming his family was first 'bullied' out of the church and then 'sacrificed on the altar of peace and unity' last month and that he’s now 'blocked' from sharing his experience."

It is unfortunate that a church leader apparently kept an "enemies' list." Judging by social media postings, especially on X, Bryan Chapell was not alone.  The self-righteous David French within the past few days has been involved in deeply personal attacks on social media on those who do not share his views in a particular instance, calling them "evil." 

Fact is, there is evil in this world.  But, it is dangerous and harmful to the body of Christ to call others "evil" because of your disagreements with them.  None of us are right 100% of the time, and self-righteousness, quite frankly, is sinful.  

But, a person who is pointing out truth should not be pounded by spiritual rocks merely for expressing his or her opinion.  We should all, though, be careful that we are 1) speaking what is true, 2) speaking under the unction of the Holy Spirit, 3) following God's direction to speak, and 4) refrain from attacking people personally.  Just because you think it or believe it is not an open invitation to share it.  But, I am sensing a quickness to respond out there these days, especially among Christians - and you just might not have all the facts.  The rise of "discernment" ministries online can produce knee-jerk reactions, even if there is a presence of truth.  So, take a deep breath - test the spirits, be discerning, and make sure that you don't get caught up in a spirit of anger.  

A Man of God

As we approach Father's Day, we can reflect on the impact of a father who loves the Lord and provides spiritual leadership for his family. Christian men, even though it may not have been modeled for them in society or even in their own families, can rise to the occasion and rely on Christ to empower them to be whom God desires for them to be in that all-important fatherhood role. Ephesians 6 states:
1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.
2 "Honor your father and mother," which is the first commandment with promise:
3 "that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth."
4 And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.

Christian apologist Alex McFarland wrote a piece for The Christian Post recently and he discusses the poor modeling that segments of entertainment and retail culture have provided regarding fatherhood.  He states:

TV and Hallmark need to rethink their tired dad tropes. Try to find a Father’s Day card that doesn’t link dads to beer, power tools or stupidity. Similarly, try to find a sitcom without a dufus dad. Sitcoms satirize family life because they appeal to themes most viewers understand: weird uncles and neighbors, dad jokes and mothers calming the chaos.

He dug deeper into television stereotypes, which certainly have not strengthen dads or moms in their roles, culturally speaking.  McFarland writes:

Early TV dads, like Ben Cartwright, were intelligent and industrious. Moms were senseless, uninformed and barely self-sufficient. Carol Burnett made the stereotype into a 50-year comedic career. Jackie Gleason’s loud fool next door took the TV dad arc to one extreme. It has alternated between extremes for decades, from loving, funny, successful Uncle Phil of “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” and Richard Cunningham of “Happy Days” to chauvinist, racist, nitwits like Archie Bunker and Homer Simpson.

McFarland offered what he called, "Ten ways to break the sitcom dad mold."

First, he listed this admonition: "Pray together. Welcome God into your family. Sundays, yes, but also into your home, dinner table and habits."

He also pointed out that a role of a dad is to "Shelter your family. Limit exposure to caustic social media and influences that defy or mock values and morals. Protecting their minds is more important and lasting than protecting their health."

Other ways that he highlighted included to...

• "Demonstrate manhood," 
• "Value your wife,"
• "Praise your children,"
• "Praise and respect your spouse publicly," and
• "Consecrate your family to God."

Alex goes on to note:

Heroes of the Christian faith were mountain climbers, sword fighters, shepherds, missionaries and rock-throwers. They rescued damsels in distress, built cities and gave their lives to spread the Gospel, translate the Bible and secure future generations.

He was also careful to point out that, "Men accomplished these feats beside godly women. Jesus’ followers and closest friends included women."

In his closing section of this Christian Post piece, Alex McFarland related:

A godly father provides (Ephesians 5:2), leads (Ephesians 5:25-32), reflects Christ (Romans 8:29) and blesses his wife (Proverbs 31:28; Ephesians 5:28). While the world struggles to understand manhood, God’s standard has never changed:

“God has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God…” (Micah 6:8).

There are several takeaways from this article.  One is that culture has done a disservice to men - and women - in the way that it has modeled and stereotyped them.  That certainly has been through entertainment culture, but the news cycle is full of men behaving badly, and the message is there that this is how men are - the phrase, "toxic masculinity," has been tossed around, for instance.

But, the Bible models for us what it really means to be a godly man and a godly woman - in their marriages, in their parenting, and in serving the Lord generally.  We must reject the world's stereotypes and embrace the Biblical roles that God has established.  And, recognize He has given us the power to walk in them.