Where He Wants Us To Be

Believers in Christ are directed to follow the Lord, so that we might, as Jesus said in John 15, abide in Him. When we are in the center of His will, it is a place of peace and confidence, a place where we can experience joy and contentment - regardless of circumstances. Being in God's will does not exempt us from trial, but we are enabled to stand strong, even in trouble. Proverbs 3 paints a picture of a life in pursuit of the will of God:
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and depart from evil.
8 It will be health to your flesh, And strength to your bones.
9 Honor the Lord with your possessions, And with the firstfruits of all your increase;
10 So your barns will be filled with plenty, And your vats will overflow with new wine.

The St. Louis Cardinals have put together a pretty nice season so far, with the season now about a-third over - they trail the Cubs by a handful of games in their division and would be in the playoffs if the season were to end today. 

One of the stalwart players for the franchise announced recently that last season was his last.  Movieguide reported:

The Saint Louis Cardinals’ Matt Carpenter recently decided it’s time to hang up his cleats to be a full-time dad after 14 seasons in the MLB.

He officially announced his retirement on Sports Spectrum’s “Get in the Game” podcast.

“God really just put it on my heart that it was time to come home and be a dad,” Carpenter said. “I’ve got two little kids. I’ve got a third-grade daughter, Kinley. I got a first-grade son, Cannon. And they are just in such fun ages. I just didn’t want to miss out on any more things that you miss as a professional athlete.”

The article goes on to say:

Throughout his entire career, Carpenter let God guide him. That became especially evident when he made the call to retire.

“For all of my children’s lives at this point, I haven’t been that constant figure at the house due to the demands of a Major League Baseball season,” he said. “I mean, the one benefit of playing professional sports is you do have an offseason where you come home and you are there every single night and you’re spending hours a day that someone that’s working a normal job maybe doesn’t get to spend. You can kind of double down on that time. But then once the season starts, you’re gone a lot and just that tugging on my heartstrings in that specific area when it comes to my wife and children was a big one.”

“As we as we went through the off season, it just became clear and clear to me that, you know, God wanted me here at home,” he added.

The Movieguide piece links to an MLB.com article that noted that Carpenter had spent 12 seasons with the Cards and, "The infielder/designated hitter will be eligible for entry into the Cardinals Hall of Fame in 2028, where he will likely be easily elected as a fan favorite and one of the core pieces of a Cardinals franchise that was a dominant force in the National League in the 2010s." That article added: "Some of the best moments of Carpenter’s career came during the playoffs, where he smashed six home runs and drove in 21 runs in 56 postseason games..." The article said that 2024 was Carpenter's final season. CBS Sports reported that the 39-year old Carpenter "played 59 games for the Cardinals last season but was not signed on the free-agent market this past winter."

Those who play professional sports have a unique set of challenges - for those with families, life during the off-season is quite different than during the season, where players spend plenty of time away from home.  Matt Carpenter decided that he would no longer pursue playing Major League Baseball - he believes he was being called home to be with his family.

You have experts who talk about a work-life balance.  Certainly those who work at a job have responsibilities there, and there could be tension with the primary responsibility before God to be a husband or wife, mother or father. We can rely on the wisdom of God to guide our steps so that our priorities line up with His will for our lives.  There can be a tension that will appear, and we have to allow Him to show us how to navigate that. 

And, change will come - wherever God has you from an occupational standpoint will likely not be permanent.  We have to be in the Word and in tune with the Spirit to discern when He is moving on our hearts to make a change.  He doesn't leave us, fortunately, to our own devices - just as Matt Carpenter knew the right time to make his move, we can make sure that we are in the center of God's will at that particular moment, and be willing to move with Him as He leads us to new adventures - whether it's work, our church life, new responsibilities in other areas, or new ministry opportunities.  The good news is that He when we are connected to Jesus, we don't have to rely on guesswork.

Step By Step

Recent polling shows that the Bible seems to be experiencing a resurgence, with Bible sales last year spiking and usage of a well-known Bible app surging earlier this year. But, we have to remember that we have to approach the Bible in a way that promotes spiritual growth. Paul wrote to Timothy in 2nd Timothy chapter 2:
15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
16 But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness.
17 And their message will spread like cancer. Hymenaeus and Philetus are of this sort,
18 who have strayed concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is already past; and they overthrow the faith of some.

A recent article at the Lifeway Research website is sobering and challenging; it says:

In the past few years, Americans have grown generally more positive toward the Bible, but that doesn’t mean they’re reading it more.

According to a Lifeway Research study, U.S. adults increasingly view the Bible as a book worth reading multiple times, but few have actually done so.

Here's a statistic worth noting, "...more than 2 in 5 Americans (44%) say the Bible is a book to read over and over again, up 4 points from the previous study. Yet 9% say they’ve read it all more than once, unchanged since 2016. Still, half of Americans have engaged with the Bible beyond just a few stories."

Andy McLean of Lifeway Christian Resources is quoted as saying: "Of course, with that increase in sales, one would also hope that Bible engagement is on the rise. In other words, we want people reading their newly purchased Bibles, which I think shows up in the data and my experience as a Bible publisher.”

When you break it down regarding American Bible readership:

9 in 10 Americans have read at least some of the Bible, 4 in 5 have read more than a few sentences, and 1 in 5 have read the entire Bible at least once.

Around 1 in 10 U.S. adults (9%) say they’ve never read any of the Bible personally.

Another topic area the survey measured was the method that people used in reading the Bible.  The survey summary article noted:

Among those who have read at least part of the Bible, around a third say their approach to reading it includes systematically reading through a section a little each day (34%), looking up verses or sections suggested by others (34%) and looking up things when they have a need (33%).

But is it true? Scott McConnell, executive director of Lifeway Research, related: “Americans’ brief descriptors of the Bible coincide with the pattern in a series of studies Lifeway Research has done on the state of theology in which Americans are consistently split down the middle on whether the Bible is 100% accurate or not literally true,” adding, “While very few Americans have outright disdain for the Bible, there is no clear majority convinced it is completely true or life-changing.”  Only 48% of Americans, according to the survey believe that the Bible is true.  But, that's up from a 2016 Lifeway survey, which revealed that just over a-third - 36% believed in the truth of Scripture. 

So, we see that Americans generally have some positive things to say about the Bible, but many have not read it completely.  And, less than half believe that it's true.  So there is room for growth. 

People approach Scripture or, as it's said, "engage," in different ways. But, we have to make sure that our Scriptural engagement leads to life change and spiritual growth.  Some will be positive about Scripture, but may not have a high commitment level to read it consistently.  And, consistency is a major contributor to Christian maturity.  

Faith Radio desires to be a trusted source of Biblical teaching, as well as information, that can build you up spiritually.  But, as the now-late Kay Arthur used to say, we have to study God's Word for ourselves. Reading the Bible through in a year is an admirable goal and it gives us a working knowledge of Scripture, but we also need to examine the Scriptures - studying and meditating on these words from the Lord and allow the Holy Spirit to illuminate what we find there.  And, as James directs us, we are to do more than just be "hearers" of the Word, we have to be doers - to be obedient to the instruction that the Lord gives to us.  In an information age, we have to make sure we are choosing and personalizing the right information - and the Bible gives us the truth we need to resist the philosophies of this world.

North of the Border

We can depend on the Holy Spirit to give us the right words to say - as we yield to Him, we can be confident that He will speak through us. This applies to our day-by-day communication, as well as those difficult situations we might face. Matthew chapter 10 includes these words from Jesus:
16 "Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.
17 But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils and scourge you in their synagogues.
18 You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles.
19 But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak;
20 for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.

A recent article at RealClearReligion declared that a Canadian student, a Coptic Christian, Rafael Zaki, "was ultimately expelled from a public university because he held the 'wrong' opinions."  It goes on to say:

At a boiling point for liberal democratic values both in Canada and around the world, we cannot afford to fail this Orwellian test. Zaki’s case illustrates that free speech is not as protected in Canada as most Canadians would hope. Canada must remember that free speech means free speech — even if most people, rightly or wrongly, consider one’s opinions to be unsavoury.

So, what did this student actually do that was so horrific? The article, by Joseph Bouchard and Garion Frankel, notes:

Zaki, a Coptic Christian, was first expelled from the University of Manitoba’s medical school in 2019, after he published an essay on Facebook comparing abortion to other human atrocities. The post, the university and 18 confidential complainants alleged, was “unprofessional,” and called into question his ability to understand his responsibilities as a doctor. After the university overturned the expulsion due to procedural errors, he was again expelled recently for the same “offence.” Zaki has once again taken his appeal to the Manitoba Court of King’s Bench once again in late March.

The article points out that, " The Charter’s Section 2 states that everyone has the fundamental freedom 'of conscience and religion, thought, belief, opinion, and expression, including freedom of the press and other media of communication.' Beyond Zaki’s right to privacy on his own private Facebook page, the University’s dismissal of Zaki, despite his efforts to accommodate, goes against these fundamental rights."  It goes on to relate:

The University may claim the dismissal had nothing to do with Zaki’s beliefs, but they cited them as the primary source of concern over ethics. The 2021 summary of the court case, in the Court of Queen’s Bench of Manitoba, itself states that “because he could not change his beliefs, he was expelled.” 

Surveys show that there is a strong pro-life component among doctors in the Commonwealth, with the RealClearReligion article stating:

Polling since the last few decades indicates that a strong minority of doctors identify as pro-life, while even more have diverse views on abortion access. Practicing OB-GYNs have already characterized themselves as pro-life. Christian hospitals also exist, including in Canada — there are 31 faith-affiliated care centres in Manitoba alone, with varying policies surrounding abortion and other faith-sensitive care. As shown, it is possible to be a Christian, and to hold a variety of beliefs on medical care, and be a health professional, even a doctor.

Currently, under Canadian law, doctors and nurses are allowed to refuse to provide abortion care based on personal and religious reasons. This also applies to other medical practices that may interfere with religious views on life and death...

In conclusion, the authors state:

At a time when authoritarianism is on the rise globally, Canada has an opportunity to act as a standard-bearer for freedom of expression. But free expression means free expression — even when the opinion being expressed is far out of line with that of the majority. Rafael Zaki’s political views should not preclude him from becoming a doctor. That is not the sort of thing that happens in a liberal democracy. 

A piece I came across at the website, The Hub, presented new Prime Minister Mark Carney, then a candidate for the post, as someone who seems to be devoted to punish speech in which he does not agree.  It states:

At last week’s federal leaders’ debate, Mark Carney invoked the Charter with lofty words: “One of the core responsibilities of the federal government and the prime minister is to defend the fundamental rights and liberties of Canadians.” But in a recent campaign rally in Hamilton, Ontario, the Liberal candidate lamented the “sea of misogyny, antisemitism, hatred, conspiracy theories—the sort of pollution that’s online that washes over our virtual borders from the United States.” Framing it as a kind of toxic runoff, he promised: “My government, if we are elected, will be taking action.”

The writer, Joanna Baron, goes on to say:

But speech isn’t carbon emissions. And the harms of restricting it—especially under vague and subjective definitions of “hate”—are not benign. Unlike hazardous chemicals or viral outbreaks, the “harm” of a Tweet is a cultural and interpretive judgment, not a measurable scientific fact. Once governments begin defining and punishing digital “harm,” the effect is to chill lawful expression, restrict dissent, and outsource judgment to unelected regulators and risk-averse platforms.

Carney, as the article points out, was critical of people in Canada expressing their freedoms during the COVID pandemic...it states:

In early February 2022, amid the Freedom Convoy protests, Carney took to the Globe and Mail to denounce demonstrators—most of whom were peacefully opposing lockdowns, school closures, and vaccine mandates—as guilty of “blatant treachery.” The protest, he declared, was “sedition.” He demanded the government “[choke] off the money that financed this occupation.”

So, it does seem that Mark Carney is Justin Trudeau 2.0 - an extension of the speech restrictions that were seen during the previous administration. And, here in America, we know that there are those who are devoted to allowing one viewpoint - a viewpoint that is contrary to Scripture - to stand.  That's why you have groups like Alliance Defending Freedom who are challenging companies who buy into rhetoric and action that would limit free speech in the workplace and in financial transactions.  

We know that the teachings of Scripture are perceived as a threat by many, a challenge to their pursuit of a brave new world, a utopian existence in which progressive policies reign supreme. We should not be intimidated by those who would challenge our beliefs - and we certainly should not be afraid to challenge unbiblical points of view - presenting compelling arguments without shutting people down.  Because, we can be confident in the power of the Scriptures to win hearts to Jesus. 

Remember

Sacrifice is a key concept of the Scriptures, and on this day after Memorial Day, on which we remember the sacrifices that those who have served in the U.S. Military have made for this country, I think it's important to remember that they have given their lives for a cause bigger than themselves...and to reflect on our Savior, who gave His life so that He might redeem fallen humanity. Hebrews 10 states:
4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins.
5 Therefore, when He came into the world, He said: "Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, But a body You have prepared for Me.
6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You had no pleasure.
7 Then I said, 'Behold, I have come-- In the volume of the book it is written of Me-- To do Your will, O God.' "

In the Old Testament, there was a system of sacrifices that God established, to provide a reminder of the sinfulness of the people and their need for God.  But, ultimate atonement did not come until Jesus laid down His life as the perfect sacrificial Lamb, slain, as the Bible says, "for the sins of the world."  Because Jesus died, we can be free from the power of sin and the power of death.

A recent Crosswalk.com article highlighting some aspect of Memorial Day reminds us of the freedoms that we have as Americans, freedoms that those who have served were willing to fight for and to die for.  One of those freedoms, according to the piece by Elizabeth Delaney, is "Freedom of Religion." She writes:

This country was founded on the right of each citizen to choose and practice their religious preference freely. In fact, many of the colonies that formed an alliance in 1776 to begin forming the United States of America were fleeing Europe because of religious persecution, according to the Library of Congress. Therefore, freedom of religion is guaranteed by the First Amendment. It also protects a person's right to explore the deep questions in life, publicly live out what they believe in a peaceful manner, and protects a person from being threatened or harassed for living out what they believe, according to Alliance Defending Freedom.

Another freedom is "Freedom of Speech," about which she writes: "While this is often connected with a person's freedom to speak their mind regarding politics, it also applies to religion. In America, the First Amendment protects our right to talk openly about Jesus anytime and anywhere."  She adds:

People can also pray publicly, whether that's in a restaurant over their meal, while standing on the street, walking through a park, at sporting events, or wherever they happen to be. Students are allowed to pray in school when it’s student-led. Most other countries around the world don't get to enjoy this freedom.

Other freedoms that she highlights are freedoms "to Assemble" and "to Choose Our Leaders." 

She also notes that "Our Military Protects Our Country," writing:

If it weren't for our military, we wouldn't get to enjoy living in a land that's free and safe from the invasion of foreign powers. Our military fights on our behalf so that we can live a peaceful life, work toward our dreams, and enjoy obtaining whatever our personal American dream happens to be. Our veterans deserve our gratitude, and they deserve to be honored for the sacrifices they make on behalf of the rest of the nation. While America may not be perfect, there's a reason more people are trying to become American citizens rather than leaving America.

In addition, as Delaney points out, states are free "to Make Autonomous Decisions."  

She also recognized recent developments, including a commission established by President Trump to defend and preserve the First Amendment right of freedom of religion.  The White House also maintains an office that is devoted to supporting faith expressions. 

This is an incredible tapestry of freedoms we enjoy as Americans - I believe these are gifts of God in a nation that has been established on principles that are consistent with the Bible.  And, those who have served in our military, through their sacrifices, have been used of God to preserve the freedoms that have been established. 

We have been granted incredible freedom in Jesus Christ, and those have been acquired for us because of His willingness to lay down His life and the unselfish act of experiencing brutality and death for us.  That freedom came with a cost. 

On this day after Memorial Day, as Christians, we can be grateful for what Jesus has done for us. And, for the freedoms we have as Americans, too.  We now have the capacity to lay down our lives, recognizing that, as Galatians 2 says, we have been crucified with Christ, but we live because Christ lives in us.  We can humble ourselves before the Lord and be willing to serve Him and others because of the deep love that He has shown. 

What is That?

Perhaps one of the most compelling pieces of evidence for God is the dramatic change that He can make in the lives of His people. As it's been said, the story, the testimony of life change, is a person's own story, and you really can't argue with that. So, we should live with a desire to please God, to serve Him wholeheartedly, and demonstrate to the world what Christ has done in us. Paul writes to Timothy in the 1st chapter of the book of 2nd Timothy:
8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God,
9 who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began,
10 but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,
11 to which I was appointed a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.

If you are entering the state of Alabama, you will see a huge green sign welcoming people to the state - on it are the words, "Sweet Home Alabama."  In 1974, the southern rock band, Lynyrd Skynyrd released that song, which has become legendary. 

Wow - didn't see that one coming, did you?  Three years later, tragedy struck the group.  The History Channel website notes:

On October 20, 1977, during a flight from Greenville, South Carolina, to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, the tour plane for Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd crashes in a heavily wooded area of southwestern Mississippi during a failed emergency landing attempt. The accident killed band-members Ronnie Van Zant, Steve Gaines and Cassie Gaines as well as the band’s assistant road manager and the plane’s pilot and co-pilot. Twenty others survived the crash.

The band ceased to exist for 10 years, when the group started up again, according to its website, with a new lead singer: Ronnie's brother Johnny took the helm and the band's legend continued.  Meanwhile, yet another Van Zant brother, Donnie, co-founded the band .38 Special.  Donnie and Johnny have a band called, Van Zant. 

So, why this journey through musical history?  The Van Zant brothers have a new project. According to Crosswalk.com, "Two rock legends are teaming up to sing the name of Jesus, driven by a shared mission to see souls saved."  It goes on to say:

In November they released their first Christian album Always Look Up, which debuted at No. 1 on the Top Christian/Gospel Albums chart and includes such faith-focused tracks as Awesome God, Jesus Christ, Praying and Leaning on the Cross.

The brothers say they had long wanted to make a Christian album and found inspiration during Covid, feeling led by God.

"We just said, 'You know what? God's putting it on us to do this,'" Johnny said.

Every song on the album is an original. The song Jesus Christ, for example, was inspired by a painting of the crucifixion on the wall in their studio.

Donnie is quoted as saying, ""We just told each other, if we could just bring one person to Christ, it would be worth this whole project, really," adding, "And I think we've done that a lot over -- to the glory of God. He gets the glory."

Crosswalk.com reports:

The two men came from a family of faith.

"Our father knew the Bible back and forth, and if you didn't want to listen, you had to listen. And if you had to use the bathroom while he started preaching, you were in trouble," Johnny said, laughing.

That foundation eventually became personal, although -- they acknowledge -- they weren't as close to God in their younger years.

"You go out, and you're not thinking about Jesus or heaven, and you're out there having your good time and trying to make a living and wanting the best of this and best of that, and you kind of put that on the back burner," Johnny said of faith. "But God said we go through trials and tribulations. And you know, when you start going through those trials and tribulations, you really start going, 'Whoa, I really need Jesus Christ in my life.'

"And we think it's cool to love Jesus. We think we're the coolest guys in the world here," he added with a smile. "We love praising His name, and anytime we can do it, we're there."

For those who hear the album, Johnny says the goal is clear: "Bring them closer to God, closer to Jesus."

It's always gratifying when you see or hear of high-profile people who speak of our Savior. These brothers are legendary in that Southern rock music genre, and from that platform, they have the ability to leverage their notoriety for the sake of the gospel.  I think of the musical talent they have and how God calls each of us to take what He has given in order to bring glory to His name.

In Exodus 4, God asked Moses, concerning the rod he possessed, "What is that in your hand?"  God directed him to throw it down and it became a snake - through that encounter, God demonstrated His power.  We can consider what the Lord has given to us - a gift, a talent, a platform, a relationship, or something else - and recognize that His purpose can be fulfilled through what He has given to us.  

The Van Zant brothers, after 17 years, have recorded a record - it speaks of Jesus.  We can remember what Scripture says about doing everything we do for the glory of God. 

Reach

In order to stay spiritually sharp in the midst of the dullness that we can find in the world, we must immerse ourselves in the presence of God, through His Word and by fellowshipping with Him in prayer and worship. In the 119th Psalm, the Psalmist declares:
15 I will meditate on Your precepts, And contemplate Your ways.
16 I will delight myself in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word.
17 Deal bountifully with Your servant, That I may live and keep Your word.
18 Open my eyes, that I may see Wondrous things from Your law.

Faith Radio is devoted to being a place where you can go for sound and reliable Biblical teaching, music that exalts the Lord and helps draw you into His presence, and information that is consistent with a Biblical worldview perspective.  

National Religious Broadcasters, of which Faith Radio is a member, has teamed up with the Barna Group for a survey the measures the effect of Christian media on our culture.  The fourth installment of a series of reports based on the data was released just days ago. 

The first report noted that: 

More than 60% of American adults report consuming Christian media in some form, whether through television, radio, podcasts, news websites, social media, or YouTube. This is not an occasional interaction—among these users, half engage with Christian content at least once per week.

28% of these "users" are considered to be "heavy," in other words, they "consume Christian media across an average of more than six platforms on a weekly basis and more than two different platforms every day."

The NRB report points out that those who use Christian media are "multi-platform."  It states: "As digital and broadcast technologies continue to converge, the most engaged audiences are not choosing one medium over another. Rather, they are integrating Christian TV, podcasts, YouTube channels, and social media into their daily rhythms."  Over two-thirds - 69% - utilize digital and broadcast. 

The second report broke this down, and the usage statistics are remarkably close in percentage.  Among those using Christian media, 41% say they utilize social media, 39% use YouTube, 36% say they consume Christian radio, 35% Christian TV, and 30% Christian news sites and podcasts, not including sermons. 29% indicate they use sermon podcasts.  The social media stats are skewed by a heavier percentage of those in the Gen Z and Millennial age groups.  Just a note here: Faith Radio, in addition to being a network of radio stations, utilizes most of these other forms of media, as well.

The third report in the NRB/Barna Group "State of Christian Media" series notes this:

Christian media isn’t just widely consumed; it’s also largely respected. Two-thirds of the general population view Christian media as valuable and trustworthy, and that figure rises to four in five among those who use Christian media. Practicing Christians (defined as those who attend church monthly and consider their faith very important) express the strongest levels of affirmation. Even among those who don’t identify as born again, roughly half view Christian media in a positive light.

Almost 90% of Christian media users see Christian media as "valuable" and "trustworthy," indicating they see those terms as "very true" or "somewhat true."

The fourth report dug into some of the motivation for using Christian media.  The report states:

The top motivator cited by users is encouragement, followed closely by a desire to love God with their mind and learn more about the Bible. Christian media is not merely an alternative to mainstream content—it is actively sought out for the unique emotional and spiritual support it offers.

And, it is seen as an alternative to what you might call "mainstream" media.  The report notes:

A substantial share of users—66% overall, and 84% of heavy users—say they turn to Christian media in part to avoid mainstream platforms. This reflects not just personal preference but a deep hunger for media rooted in truth, hope, and transcendence. In a cultural moment marked by uncertainty and ideological fragmentation, Christian content creators are stepping in to meet this need with clarity and conviction.

I think you could sum this data up by saying...Christian media matters.  In a time in which we need hope and encouragement, Christian media, including Christian radio, provides a message that will offer just that.  We can thank God for using technology to make His truth known and to lift us the name of Jesus through various forms of media.

That being said, we can consider how we can get more of God's Word into our spiritual diet.  The more we immerse ourselves in the truth of Scripture, the more our lives will reflect that truth.  Our ability to know and apply the Word of God will grow and we can discover more about Him and His ways.  

We encourage you to not only listen to Faith Radio on-air and online in real time, but to avail yourselves of other forms through which we communicate - whether its through the various podcast platforms that offer Faith Radio content or the video opportunities, such as our YouTube channel or Meeting House TV on Frazer Christian Television.  We are present on social media, as well - through Facebook, X, and Instagram.  

Exposure

Jesus is the light of the world, and if we have been born again, we can recognize that the light of His Holy Spirit will shine into our hearts to expose what is not pleasing to God, so that we can repent and be set free. Light will overcome darkness and we can embrace the power of His truth. Ephesians 5 states:
11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.
12 For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret.
13 But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light.
14 Therefore He says: "Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light."

You could say that he is a modern-day hero, someone who encountered darkness through his occupation, exposed it, was persecuted for it, but continued to stand strong. 

This is a story that received quite a bit of attention in Christian media, the story of a doctor who witnessed grievous evil and brought it into the light.

The Daily Citizen announced it in late January:

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has dismissed the case against Dr. Eithan Haim, the surgeon who exposed Texas Children’s Hospital’s secret transgender program.

Prosecutors alleged Haim violated privacy protection laws by leaking redacted medical records proving Texas Children’s Hospital performed transgender medical interventions on children long after it pledged to stop such procedures.

If convicted, Haim could have faced 10 years in prison and up to $250,000 in fines.

“WE DID IT!!!!! WE WON!!!!!!!” the jubilant surgeon celebrated on X with a picture of the case’s official dismissal.

But, being a whistleblower did not come without its costs, according to the article:

“[This victory] came at great personal cost,” Andrea confessed on X:

Between the two of us, we have had hundreds of sleepless nights worried that he would go to federal prison for 10 years. We are completely broke. He was forced to leave me and his newborn baby daughter in the hospital an hour after I had an emergency c-section to make a court appearance in Houston.

Still, she writes, they wouldn’t do anything differently.

When this case started a year and a half ago, Texas Children’s Hospital was mutilating and sterilizing young children while hiding it from the public.

@EithanHaim was the only person with the courage to stand up for what was right. For him, it wasn’t even a decision. Kids were being harmed, and he had to stop it.

“If you ask either of us, we would do it again in a heartbeat,” she concludes.

The Christian Post noted:

His courage in standing for the well-being of vulnerable children brought a pressing issue into the spotlight, underscoring the stakes involved. Dr. Haim’s actions resonate deeply with those who value transparency and the protection of the innocent.

Quote from Dr. Eithan Haim: “When we decided to take the story public, we had no money, no connections, and were facing the most powerful federal leviathan in human history with the most expansive propaganda network this world has ever seen.”

And, FoxNews.com covered a congressional hearing last month, stating:

During a Wednesday hearing titled "Ending Lawfare Against Whistleblowers Who Protect Children," Haim defended his decision to leak documents to the media, revealing that Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston performed transgender medical procedures on minors through May 2023.

Haim told the lawmakers, some of whom grilled him and his attorney, "There's no one in this country who should be falsely accused and the entire power of the federal government be brought down on them."

Haim has now been cleared, but I am sure that the healing and restoration process is still taking place.  He and his wife paid the price, and they know in their hearts they did the right things.  Regardless of the cost, when presented with a moral choice, we should be convicted and convinced in our own hearts to do what is right.

As Christians, we know what is right because the Word of God will shine into our hearts, illuminating our minds with truth.  Through our exposure to Scripture, we may be called upon to expose evil in the culture around us.  But, we know who goes before us and will strengthen us even when we feel weak, when we may receive oppression because of our righteous choices. When the Holy Spirit directs and empowers us, we can speak and act in a manner that is consistent with the Word of God within us. 

Afterlife

Because of the reliability of the Scriptures, we can be assured of our eternal home. There have even been a significant number of accounts of people who have had a "sneak preview," of sorts, about what that might look like - a glimpse of glory, if you will. The fact is, there is an afterlife - for everyone - the presence of Jesus in our lives determines where we will spend eternity. Paul writes in 2nd Corinthians 5:
1 For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven,
3 if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked.
4 For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life.
5 Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.

I came across a story of a Texas woman who experienced this type of "crossing over" while in a coma as the result of a horseback riding accident.  According to the KWTX Television website:

What happens when we die? Some say we cease to exist altogether. Many religions claim we continue existing in a different form, although the specifics are a bit different. One Central Texas native says she knows exactly what happens because she died and came back.

Researchers estimate millions of others have experienced that, too.

Ellen Wier is a Texas woman who had this accident at the age of 12 - while in a coma, she relates:

“I remember being on a raft of sorts, a wooden raft, and there were pink clouds everywhere. And I felt very loved and connected. And I remember seeing Jesus in front of me, I recognized Jesus,” she said, “And on my left there was a figure next to him in long brown robes, bald with bare feet who I didn’t recognize, but I felt safe. I felt this protector energy.”

That was just beginning. Next, she says she was taken into realm with bright white light, and an array of multicolored streams and trees. And then, another level.

“From there I was lifted into the real place of light and that’s what I remember the most,” Ellen explained, “I was taken into this realm of golden light, and it was all love. It was the most beautiful, connected, warm feeling you could have.”

She was given the option of staying or leaving, she says and her choice was influenced by this: “I was shown the trajectory of my father’s life, and saw he wouldn’t actualize his life on this planet if I chose to stay..."  She now works as a music therapist and a psychologist.  She talked about what she sees as her life's mission:

Ellen said, “I knew it was such a gift to live. I wanted to give back. I said I want to come back and heal people with music. And I made a second vow. I will give gratitude every day for every experience, because I know it’s a gift because everything is a lesson. Everything is something to expand our soul.”

And as she returned to her body, she saw, and felt, and heard music, a verification perhaps of what she was meant to do.

“And I’m so grateful to be here, to get to use music because now I’m a music therapist and a psychologist, and I do exactly what I came back here to do,” Ellen said.

She says, "...to have lived through and eventually be able to talk about it was a gift.”

The article also include the comments, Jan Holden, a counseling professor and expert in NDE's, or "near-death experiences."

Now, I certainly do not want to challenge the validity of anyone's story.  But, the Bible does instruct us in 1st John 4 to "test the spirits."  I think a glance at Ellen Wier's social media will indicate teachings and practices are not consistent with Scripture.  I think there are two concepts I'd like to relate here:

The first is this: when Jesus reveals Himself to us, how do we respond?  This could even be a revelation, such as what Don Piper, who has been a guest on The Meeting House multiple times, whose story is told in the book and movie, 90 Minutes in Heaven.  Or Colton Burpo, whose story was featured in the book and movie, Heaven is for Real.  A recent CBN article featured comments from Burpo, reflecting on his experience 20 years ago:

"He has called me to be a godly man, a godly husband, now a godly dad, and, when it comes to the supernatural — or what is waiting for us, I'm not afraid to meet Jesus again one day," he said. "I'm looking forward to that day."

For now, Burpo, who works as a worship pastor and electrician, believes God now has him on a more essential mission.

"My mindset right now is, instead of being so caught up in what's waiting for me, I'm going to focus on the here and now," he said. "I'm going to live my life in a way that honors Christ. If I can, while I'm down here, I'm going to try and get as many people to come with me to heaven. So, I've been able to view it more as a mission instead of, 'I wish I was in heaven again.'"

While many have had some sort of near-death experience, we don't have to taste the afterlife through an NDE in order to have an encounter with Jesus - He has revealed Himself through Scripture, and He will continue to show us more about Himself as we spend time in the Word and prayer.  When we meet Jesus, He will instruct us on how to be a true follower or disciple.  When Jesus reveals Himself to us, we can consider the choice we will make - the choice to obey.

Another concept we can consider is the reality of the afterlife.  The Bible teaches us that there is a place where we go when we leave this world.  The real "us..." our spirits.  We are promised a glorified body in the afterlife.  And, we are promised that we will live with Him forever. This is a promise that is only for those who have accepted Jesus as the Lord and Savior of their lives.  The reality of heaven is reserved for those who experience the reality of salvation.  But, we can experience that assurance of where we will spend eternity.  

The previously-mentioned TV station article states that Holden... 

...says about 80 to 90 percent of people describe what some might equate to a “heaven” experience. But what about the concept of hell? Holden has seen those accounts too, roughly 10 percent.

“They describe distressing experiences, terror, horror, profound and eternal isolation,” she said.

But Holden explained that even in those cases, people experience positive after effects like a new purpose and love for life. And a renewed outlook is something shared across the board.

“Near death experiencers, many of them, come back saying what they learned in their experience, was the purpose of human life, and that is to advance in our capacity to love. We’re here to experience and express our ability to love at every level,” Holden explained.

There are those who have been "sent back," if you will, and have experienced perhaps a change in attitude or purpose. Those who have been given a glimpse have received a gift.  The question becomes: what will they do with it?  Our questions are: "how do we respond when Jesus reveals Himself?" And, "where will we spend eternity?"

Again

The ingredients for revival are no mystery, not something mystical or magical, but a heartfelt desire to be in God's presence. I would say that seeking God, repenting of sin, an emphasis on God's Word, inspired worship, and an emphasis of holy living could all be considered elements of revival or spiritual awakening. Psalm 85 demonstrates an attitude reflecting a desire for God:
4 Restore us, O God of our salvation, And cause Your anger toward us to cease.
5 Will You be angry with us forever? Will You prolong Your anger to all generations?
6 Will You not revive us again, That Your people may rejoice in You?
7 Show us Your mercy, Lord, And grant us Your salvation.

Charles Hines is the pastor of a church in Waxhaw, North Carolina.  CBN.com reported that:

In the 1800s, on the heels of the Second Great Awakening, "people came from all over to come to this (town's) revival," the pastor of Prospect Southern Methodist Church told CBN News.

"People would pitch tents and they came out and they were crying out to the Lord," he explained. "5,000 to 8,000 people came out and it was just a really powerful story."

According to Pastor Hines, just five miles from the original site of that revival, there was a more recent spiritual gathering at Cane Creek Park, a city of some 20,000 - but Pastor Hines relates that just 10 years ago, the population was just 1000. Waxhaw is located in Union County, just south of Charlotte, near the border with South Carolina. CBN related:

More than 500 people showed up to the site, which was once the landmark of a small-town revival centuries earlier. Despite thunderstorms, the crowd was "jumping and dancing in the rain," especially the children, Hines shared.

"It was a really joyful, joyful time in the midst of the storm," he described. "They were enthralled and so many people came up and said, 'You know, I really felt like this is the start of a movement that we have to continue.'"

Hines told CBN News that 15 people made decisions for Christ and requested to be baptized.

"Many people have told me ever since then they just felt God's presence. It was just so powerful. They said we hope that this goes on for many more years," he said.

Two aspects of what Hines is seeing are identified in this statement: "I think there's a lot of growth of young people, especially young men in the churches. We're seeing more revival and so I believe that this particular event is going to be a real rush of momentum for Christianity in our county..."  The article referenced two high-profile Christian leaders, who are seeing men become energized for the Lord.  It states:

Pastor Jack Graham of Prestonwood Baptist Church recently wrote on X, "We are seeing the fires of revival burning and are on the cusp of Spiritual Awakening. Young men in particular are experiencing a hunger for God...it is a Jesus movement in the making."

Pastor Greg Laurie recently told CBN News he is seeing more men coming to Harvest Christian Fellowship, based in California, also.

Charles Hines, the pastor in Waxhaw, North Carolina who led the recent meeting there, desires to see the momentum from that recent meeting continue. He says: "We know that one of the pitfalls of crusades, traditionally, has been that people, you know, have this experience, they get saved or they come forward, but they don't end up going to the church," adding, "We actually put together a 21-day discipleship training course." The article adds: "Hines shared that people will learn how to study the Word of God, maintain a prayer journal, and understand the importance of spending time with God."

The phrase came to mind, "Lord, do it again." I think when we see a move of God, there is a desire to see it repeated.  We have to be careful not to try to manufacture an expression of God's presence, but we can continue to stay humble and walk in obedience to Him.  In Waxhaw, near a spot where thousands gathered in the 1800's, there was appearance of the Holy Spirit, but it was no accident.  In Asbury, Kentucky, it was not an accident to see thousands of college students gather together at the same spot where decades before God had shown up - a movement that lasted for but a few weeks at the college there, but has spread to college campuses across America.  In the weeks to come, we'll be revisiting a series of revival meetings in Pensacola, Florida in the 1990's that was highly influential on God's work through worship even today. 

Sometimes revival events will repeat themselves - look at what's happening with the Unite gatherings on campuses.  Recently, Auburn assistant basketball coach Chad Prewett announced his resignation from Bruce Pearl's staff to go into ministry, including to serve with the Unite movement, which was founded by his wife, Tonya.  But, you can also find that a revival meeting or a time in which God showed up in a powerful way can be the catalyst for spiritual growth or a launch event for future spiritual activity.  Our job is to be obedient and leave the results up to God.  Clearly, to me, He is moving in our midst in our nation and around the world - we must be open, prayerful, and expectant to experience more of God individually and collectively.

Tell Me the Story

With the amazing success of House of David on Amazon Prime, we can be reminded of the power of Biblical stories.  And, what is depicted in the Bible - events that actually occurred - can provide direction for us in our lives and show evidence of God's hand in history. Paul was appointed to advance the narrative of Jesus and His work, writing in 1st Timothy 2:
5 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus,
6 who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time,
7 for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle--I am speaking the truth in Christ and not lying--a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.

Movieguide ran a story recently that reminded me of an earlier day in faith-based entertainment, when a couple was beginning to roll out faith-based movies and television programs.  Mark Burnett and Roma Downey became known for such releases as The Bible and A.D. miniseries, the movie, Son of God, and...a remake of the classic film Ben-Hur in 2016.  The article says:

BEN-HUR co-producer Mark Burnett explained how the team approached the making of the movie to create a high-quality movie that also happened to promote faith.

“I feel that for a movie to have a message of faith in it, the movie needs to stand alone as any other movie. There’s no free pass because you happen to have a faith message…” Burnett told Movieguide®. “You have to make high quality television, plays, books or movies, in this case, and it happens to have a faith message through it. That’s the way to approach it, not to think that you got a free pass.”

“Often times you can have the story of Jesus, or even actually Jesus within a movie, and it doesn’t in any way denigrate the quality of the experience,” Burnett continued. “So, holding faith films to the same standard as any other successful Hollywood film and having an audience get used to that.”

The article notes: "BEN-HUR hit the mark on this aspect, creating a very entertaining movie that intersects with the story of Jesus. Judah, the main character, has an encounter with Jesus early in the movie that impacts his worldview and later watches the crucifixion and seeks to provide comfort to Jesus as He dies."

But, four years before that, according to another Movieguide piece, the Burnetts were involved in the project, The Bible, which was aired on the History Channel.  It grew out of a "dinner conversation," sparked by Roma's comments.  The article goes on to say:

...Downey reminded him, “The Bible story is all the things that great television should be. It has adventure, it has drama and it has redemption.”

The couple decided it was an opportunity they couldn’t miss and moved forward on the monumental task, which has since been adapted into the movie SON OF GOD.

“Doing this ‘on the screen’ would allow millions of people to discover the Bible. We knew we couldn’t teach it, but we could create an emotionally connecting dramatization that might make them open (or reopen) the Book,” Burnett shared.

“God’s hands were on this series,” he reflected. “We would tell the world’s most powerful story with the greatest emotional connection possible.”

“For that is what the Bible is,” he concluded. “A story, the story of God’s love for his people, the greatest love story ever told.” 

And, as we reflect on where the Christian message in film has come from, consider another story of Jesus that impacted millions.  The Passion of the Christ, a 2004 release, garnered a worldwide box office of over $610 million, over $370 million in the U.S., according to Box Office Mojo.  And, Variety reports:

Mel Gibson’s long-awaited sequel, titled “The Resurrection of the Christ,” will start shooting in August at Rome’s Cinecittà Studios, CEO Manuela Cacciamani has announced.

Cacciamani, in an interview with Italian financial daily Il Sole 24 Ore, said Gibson and Icon Productions have set an August start-of-shoot date for the follow-up to his 2004 biblical blockbuster “The Passion of the Christ,” which became the largest-grossing independent film of all time.

The article notes that Jim Caviezel is expected to reprise his role as Jesus.

Gibson told Joe Rogan on his podcast that, according to another Variety article, "he’s 'never read anything like' the script, which he penned in tandem with 'Braveheart' screenwriter Randall Wallace."

The stories of the Bible, and specifically the stories of Jesus, are intended to open our our eyes and minds so that we might know Him better.  The Bible tells us that we are to follow in his footsteps.  So, not only is He our example, but we learn more about His deep compassion for you and me and all humanity as we observe His interactions and reflect on His teaching.  

He even used stories to paint beautiful images of His truth, so that people might have a deeper understanding of His ways and the ways of His Father.  Some have said that Jesus is a good teacher but do not follow His teachers.  We must, as James exhorts us, be doers of the Word and not only hearers - we should always look to Jesus, described as the "author and finisher of our faith," and consider how His stories and the stories throughout the Bible, can help us grow in Him.

Switch

We have heard reports about people re-examining their Christian faith and "deconstructing" from Christianity. Without debating whether or not those individuals had truly made a commitment to Jesus Christ, we can say that if we have truly been born again, we can have assurance of our salvation and confidently know that Jesus will not kick us out of the faith once we have received Him. We can read in John chapter 6:
35 And Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.
36 But I said to you that you have seen Me and yet do not believe.
37 All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.
38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.
39 This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day.
40 And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day."

We're going back to Pew Research for some interesting and even troubling stats about what Pew calls "religious switching." Its website states:

In many countries surveyed, more people were raised as Christians and have left Christianity than have become Christians after being raised in some other tradition or without a religious affiliation.

In other words, Christianity has experienced an overall or “net” loss in adherents due to religious switching in many places.

Pew surveyed 36 countries, and its summary says: "Of the 36 countries surveyed, 27 have sufficient sample sizes of Christians to allow analysis of religious switching into and out of Christianity." Then, it relates: "More people have left Christianity than have joined it in many of the 27 countries analyzed." The website notes:

The survey finds that Christianity has sustained net losses due to switching of 20 percentage points or more of the total adult populations in Spain, Sweden, the Netherlands, Germany, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Australia, Chile, the United States and Italy.

Spain leads the way, with 87% saying they were "raised Christian," but 36% indicate they have "left Christianity," with only 3% entering Christianity.  In the U.S., 80% said they were raised Christian, 22% have left, and 4% have entered Christianity.

A Religion Unplugged article on the survey noted:

An estimated one-fifth of adults around the world have left the faith group in which they were raised — with Christianity and Buddhism experiencing especially large losses from this “religious switching...”

It goes on to say: 

The figures — compiled by the Pew Research Center following surveys of nearly 80,000 people in 36 countries — show that 50% of adults in South Korea, 36% in the Netherlands, 28% in the United States and 21% in Brazil “no longer identify with their childhood religion.”

The article related that the survey summary stated: "...most of the switching is disaffiliation — people leaving the religion of their childhood and no longer identifying with any religion.”

In a broad overview near the end of its article, Religion Unplugged said that in 25 out of the 36 countries of the survey, Christianity has the largest net loss.  It added:

The report confirmed a trend that most of the loses have come from Western Europe. The top five nations on the list — Italy, Germany, France, Poland and Spain — are found in Western Europe. In Italy, for example, 28 people have left Christianity for every one that has become one.

In Asia, however, Christianity has made some small gains as a result of switching. In Singapore, for every Singaporean who has left Christianity, about three others have become Christians.

We are not talking about switching churches or denominations - not moving from a denominational church to non-denominational.  This survey indicates that people are rejecting the faith in which they were raised and either embracing a different faith perspective or not associated with a particular faith practice.  I would speculate that among those leaving Christianity would be those who claim to have "deconstructed" from it - in the midst of searching or questioning, they were not able to find the satisfaction of their hearts that they were seeking.  

That is seemingly becoming more common these days - we know the enemy is seeking to deceive and destroy, and those whose lives are not tethered to the firm foundation of the Word of God and the presence of Jesus will wander - the Bible says as much.  And, in an age of great stress, as well as an abundance of information relative to spirituality, one might seek out what he or she considers other options.  

Again, that's not the way God intended.  He desires for us to come into a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, to grow in our faith - to reflect the life of a disciple - and to spend eternity with Him when we leave this world.  If we are truly regenerated by Jesus, then He has begun a process of being more and more set apart.  But, we have to be committed to spiritual growth and not leave ourselves vulnerable to the enemy's attempts to take us out spiritually.  We have the resources available, including the reinforcement of the local church and Christian media, such as Faith Radio, in order to stay devoted to the Lord.

Rejecting "Blasphemy" Laws

There are spiritual forces at work all around our world who seek to undermine the one true God, and we have to be aware that those who serve this Almighty King have opposition from those who have aligned themselves with systems and philosophies that are aligned with the one who desires to destroy our witness and thwart the work of the Kingdom. In John 18, Jesus declared before Pilate about the nature of His Kingdom:

36 Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here."
37 Pilate therefore said to Him, "Are You a king then?" Jesus answered, "You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice."
38 Pilate said to Him, "What is truth?" And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews, and said to them, "I find no fault in Him at all.

The spread of radical Islam beyond the Middle East is a danger to our world today. And, out of fear, ignorance, or both.  It was reported on the Worthy News website in March that:

British Christian leaders and politicians fear a new working group advising the government on “anti-Muslim hatred /Islamophobia” will lead to blasphemy legislation that would further limit freedom of expression.

In a statement obtained by Worthy News, Britain’s Deputy Prime Minister, Angela Rayner, said that the “rise in anti-Muslim hate crime is unacceptable and has no place in our society. That’s why we’ve committed to defining Anti-Muslim Hatred/Islamophobia as a crucial step forward in tackling it and creating a society where everyone feels safe and welcome.”

David Alton leads Britain’s Parliamentary Committee on Human Rights, issued a stern warning: “The U.K. should tread very carefully before incorporating anything which resembles a blasphemy law into British Statute,” adding, “In jurisdictions which have such laws, I have personally seen how they can be misused against people of other beliefs or no belief – including death sentences and long-term imprisonment.”  

The article mentioned the examples of Pakistan and Iran, "where Christians and others have languished in prisons for years for alleged blasphemy against Islam while some have been killed."

Danny Webster, director of advocacy for the U.K. Evangelical Alliance, is concerned about the prospect of such laws being put in place, stating: "Any definition of anti-Muslim hatred, or Islamophobia, has to safeguard the freedom of others to criticize religious belief and support the freedom for people to change their beliefs..." He went on to say, "It is vital that we encourage good relationships between people of different faiths, and this is fostered by accepting deep differences and allowing free expression, rather than either criminalizing disagreement or pretending it doesn’t exist..."

The Middle East Forum website reported:

A British court has ruled in favor of a Christian street preacher prosecuted by the police on charges of blaspheming against the Qur’an, Islam, and its founder, Muhammad.

The judgment is a major setback for the Labour government and its Islamist supporters, who are attempting to implement a “blasphemy law” that would limit criticism of Islam by imposing a wide-ranging and disputed definition of “Islamophobia.”

The article quotes from Tim Dieppe, who is a researcher with Christian Concern.  He related that, in the words of the article, the ruling "was a major blow to the attempts by Islamists and the Labour government to impose a controversial definition of 'Islamophobia.'"  The article goes on to say:

“Allegations of ‘Islamophobia’ have been used to silence or criticize legitimate criticism of Islam the religion, which does not imply any hatred or discrimination against Muslims as people,” Dieppe warned. “The very term ‘Islamophobia’ is problematic since it conflates ‘Islam’ the religion, with Muslims the people.”

“Adopting an official definition of ‘Islamophobia’ will privilege Islam over other religions and serve to legitimize two-tier policing of speech relating to Islamic beliefs or practices..."

Again, laws of this type have been used to persecute Christians.  We should always be devoted to speaking the truth, and as Ephesians 4 directs us, to speak in accordance with God's truth "in love." Christians should be known for our conviction, but also our compassion.  Even though we may be walking in love, our devotion to truth will make us distinctive, and we should not back away from that.  We should always speak and act under the direction of the Holy Spirit. 

There are those who will reject the ways of Almighty God.  We should always love Muslim people, but we should be willing to speak the truth to those who do not believe in our Savior, with the hope that they would one day they would accept Christ and come into the kingdom of God.  And, as I have reported to you, God is moving among those who are followers of Islam throughout the world, and it's exciting to hear about the passion that new converts to Christ possess, even though there are countries who will punish, even to death, those who embrace our Savior. 

Empathetic?

We can certainly see that the Bible teaches us to possess a sense of Christ's compassion toward those who are suffering. But, if actions and attitudes are not genuinely empathetic and expressed for the wrong reasons, then it can cause damage. Romans 12 tells us:
15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.
16 Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.
17 Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men.
18 If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.

But, just a few verses earlier in the chapter, in verse 9, we can read: "Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good."

Jesus directed strong words toward those who were hypocritical, those who attempted to show kindness for the wrong reasons, just to show people how holy or righteous they were, without possessing the proper heart attitude. 

A Christian Post article from last November opened this way:

Empathy, a virtue Christians are called to exemplify, is being redefined in an era of increasingly polarized viewpoints and weaponized to undermine moral clarity — and the ramifications are devastating.

That’s according to Allie Beth Stuckey, author, speaker, commentator and the host of the BlazeTV podcast "Relatable" who, in an interview with The Christian Post, opened up about her latest book, Toxic Empathy: How the Left Exploits Christian Compassion. In it, she delves into the distinction between compassion grounded in biblical principles and an empathy that, she says, can cloud moral clarity.

The article goes on to say:

Her critique is aimed at what she described as a one-sided empathy that, for instance, focuses solely on the immediate fears of a woman considering abortion without weighing the life of the unborn child. Stuckey believes that such empathy, when encouraged uncritically, can motivate people to affirm actions at odds with biblical teachings.

In the book, she applies this "faux" empathy to several issues. The article quotes her as saying: “Love is defined in 1 Corinthians 13 as a lot of things, but one of the things is that it never rejoices in wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Empathy really has no concern with what is actually true. It's only concerned with how someone feels, which can only get you so far..."

Theologian and college professor Joe Rigney, author of a book called, The Sin of Empathy: Compassion and Its Counterfeits, wrote at WORLD Magazine:

When it comes to upholding strict standards of justice, empathy is a liability, not an asset. It’s why in certain circumstances involving gross error and high-handed sin, God’s law forbids empathy and pity. If someone—even a close family member—enticed Israel to commit idolatry and abandon the Lord, God told them that “you shall not yield to him, or listen to him, nor shall your eye pity him, nor shall you spare him” (Deuteronomy 13:6–10). It’s why some of us have taken to warning about “toxic empathy“ and “the sin of empathy.”

Rigney led by using an example from the National Prayer Service, in which a minister, Mariann Edgar Budde chastised in the incoming Administration. He writes:

In the halting and syrupy tone of a schoolmarm, Bishop Budde concluded her sermonette by pleading with President Trump to “have mercy on the people in our country who are scared now,” singling out gay, lesbian, and transgender children who fear for their lives, as well as illegal immigrants who fear deportation.

Rigney wrote: "Bishop Budde’s exhortation was a clear example of the man-eating weed of Humanistic Mercy, untethered from what is true and good. And it was enabled by the feminist denial of the complementary design and callings of men and women."

He also wrote in the piece:

Make no mistake, compassion and mercy are virtues but only when anchored in truth and tethered to justice. C.S. Lewis described the relationship well: “Mercy, detached from Justice, grows unmerciful. That is the important paradox. As there are plants which will flourish only in mountain soil, so it appears that Mercy will flower only when it grows in the crannies of the rock of Justice: transplanted to the marshlands of mere Humanitarianism, it becomes a man-eating weed, all the more dangerous because it is still called by the same name as the mountain variety.”

Those who would point out the poisonous potential of empathy were taken to task recently in an article at The Guardian, in which Stuckey and Rigney were both mentioned.  So was Elon Musk. And Joe Rogan. The article said:

“The fundamental weakness of western civilization is empathy,” Musk continued to Rogan, couching his argument in the type of pseudoscientific language that’s catnip to both men’s followings on X. “The empathy exploit. They’re exploiting a bug in western civilization, which is the empathy response.”

So, Musk said it, the media seized on it. His comments here are consistent with the comments of Stuckey and Rigney.  The article also stated: 

“We’ve got civilizational suicidal empathy going on,” Musk said. “And it’s like, I believe in empathy. Like, I think you should care about other people, but you need to have empathy for civilization as a whole and not commit to a civilizational suicide.”

The writer of this Guardian piece, Julia Carrie Wong, continues her verbal assault on those who have challenged misplaced empathy, writing:

Susan Lanzoni, a historian of psychology and author of Empathy: A History, said by email that through all her research into the intellectual history of empathy, she had “never seen empathy vilified in the way it has been in these current sources”.

“The disparagement of empathy is the flip side, I believe, of a deliberate effort to set up a permission structure to dehumanize others, and to narrow the definition of who should be included in a democratic state, or in a Christian community,” she said. “To me, this disparagement marks a step in the destruction of our multicultural democracy, and provides a path from the verbal dehumanization of others to open discrimination and maltreatment.”

Indeed, the rightwing critique of empathy is not an attempt to find a better way to achieve altruistic ends; it’s an excuse to turn away from altruism entirely. We are witnessing the construction of the ideological architecture to excuse violence and suffering on a mass scale. While the religious right attends to a moral justification, the secular right is hard at work on a pseudoscientific one.

And, the last paragraph is quite telling: "Empathy is not a sin, a toxin, or an evolutionary dead end. It is a tool, and like all tools it can be a weapon. We are going to need it."  That is exactly the type of virtue-signaling that is described with the term, "toxic empathy."  The writer is setting herself up to be the one who is true, righteous, and virtuous.  Is she saying that her version of "empathy" should be weaponized in the way that she would claim that view of others is?  

In a WORLD Magazine interview, Stuckey said:

... toxic empathy is the use of empathy as a kind of a mallet of manipulation, so a tool by which those in power in media exploit and extort people into taking on a particular position by saying, in order to be a good person, in order to be a compassionate and kind person, this is the stance that you must take."

She added: 

... it is actually the love of Christ that compels us to be compassionate and other-centered and loving. And so I think really the emphasis that our culture puts on empathy in general is kind of just like misplaced and misguided. But in itself, it is really neither bad nor good. Because empathy can also—if I put myself in the shoes of someone else, and I am so staunchly in their feelings, and I am exclusively blinded to everyone else's perspective because I only feel what that person feels, well, then I can't make very good decisions. Because if I only feel what the media's designated victim feels, well, then I'm not paying attention to the rights and the needs of the well-being of other people.

The love of Christ is never manipulative.  We view all people through the lens of love, which means that we are called to put the needs of others above our own,  even though we may disagree with that person. We are always called to see that person as someone with value, someone who is a creation of God.

But, in an effort not to "offend," we have adopted words and phrases that are more "sensitive," more empathetic, if you will.  Even, Mother's Day has been turned into a politically-correct circus, in which moms become "birthing people."  And, a proposal by the governor of Wisconsin said that mothers-to-be by virtue of artificial insemination are "persons inseminated," as Madeline Fry Schultz of the Washington Examiner pointed out in a piece published at the Independent Women's Forum website. 

So, we have to dispense with virtue-signaling to make people think that we are being compassionate or empathetic.  We can rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep in a genuine manner. But, if those are not empowered by the Holy Spirit, with the intent of sharing the love of Christ, then these are counterfeit and poisonous pursuits.

Feeling Stranded

When we are experiencing rejection or even loneliness, perhaps in a state in which answers are hard to come by, we can know that God has not forgotten us and that we are not alone, as long as we know Jesus and rely on His indwelling presence. We can find this reassuring passage from Isaiah 43:
1 But now, thus says the Lord, who created you, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine.
2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you.
3 For I am the Lord your God, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior...

Butch Wilmore is an American astronaut who was essentially stranded in space with fellow astronaut Suni Williams.  As FoxNews.com explains it:

Wilmore spent nine months aboard the International Space Station (ISS) with fellow astronaut Suni Williams, beginning in June 2024. The pair were stuck there for over 280 days, though they initially planned to be there for only eight days.

After landing at the ISS, the astronauts' Boeing Starliner spacecraft encountered technical issues, which led NASA to decide it was unsafe to return the astronauts to Earth. The Biden administration was blamed by critics for leaving the astronauts stranded, and Williams and Wilmore returned to Earth on the SpaceX Dragon capsule on March 18.

The Fox article featured comments from Wilmore at a press conference following their return to earth. In fact, he was asked about his faith.  Here's the interchange:

"I heard that you were still attending your church services from space. Can you tell me a bit about why that was important for you to do?" the journalist asked.

"Well, goodness, the Word of God … I need it," the astronaut began. "My pastors are the finest pastors on or off, in this case, the planet."

"And to tie in and to worship with my church family was vital," Wilmore added. "I mean, it's part of what makes me go."

Wilmore also shouted out a Tennessee church, saying he would watch their services while aboard the ISS.

The article continued, stating:

Wilmore described the weekly services as "invigorating" and emphasized how important Christian fellowship is to him.

"Part of what I need, as a believer in Jesus Christ, to continue that focus – a system, day in and day out, because I need that fellowship, even though it's fellowship from afar," Wilmore explained.

He added, "And it's not like being fellowship up close, but still I need it."

Baptist Press related that Wilmore, "the elder at Providence Baptist Church in Pasadena, Texas...watched live-streamed services and even took part in a Bible Institute class last semester, his pastor, Tommy Dahn, told a Houston Fox TV affiliate."

It went on to say:

The experience has given Wilmore the opportunity to speak openly about his faith, both since his return and while he was aboard the ISS.

“It’s bound in my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He is working out His plan and His purposes for His glory throughout all of humanity, and how that plays into our lives is significant and important, and however that plays out, I am content because I understand that,” he said.

When life feels uncertain - and I would imagine that being stranded in space would certainly qualify - we can rely on the certainly of the presence of God.  When we feel out of control, we know who is in control, and He is the One who will keep us grounded. 

Now, most of us are not going to be stranded in space.  But, there may be circumstances in life in which we find ourselves rejected or alone, not quite knowing what the future might bring. Butch Wilmore said, according to Baptist Press, at one point as the calamity progressed, “… I don’t know that we can come back to Earth at that point...I don’t know if we can. And matter of fact, I’m thinking we probably can’t.” There are going to be the "can't'"s in our lives from time to time - but we can be convinced that God can, and that He is working for our good and His glory.  We can find comfort in the presence of the Holy Spirit, even when we feel stranded.

A Tested Faith Can Be a Growing Faith

Even in times of crisis, we can see that God is making Himself known to us. We can seek His face and walk in His light and be confident that Christ is in us and walking with us. 2nd Corinthians chapter 4 states:
6 For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.
8 We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed--
10 always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.

Sports fans have been anticipating the NFL Draft for quite some time, and the selections of players for the National Football League recently occurred in Green Bay, Wisconsin, where crowds estimated at over 600,000 showed up for the three-day event, when Cam Ward was the 1st pick, selected by the Tennessee Titans.  Ward was one of two quarterbacks taken during the 1st round, in contrast to last year, when 6 QB's were selected.  That 2024 mark tied the record that was set in 1983.  That's according to Topps.com, which related that three future Hall of Fame quarterbacks were drafted that year: Dan Marino, John Elway, and Jim Kelly. 

Kelly had a religious upbringing and an awareness of God, but he was repelled by Christians, according to a recent Christian Post article, featuring quotes from the "Grace Begins" podcast.  The article says:

After playing in the NFL, getting married and having three children, Kelly's life became more challenging after their son experienced medical problems throughout his short life, which concluded when he died in 2005 at the age of 8.

"Every time I would come home, there was … four or five people in the house because nurses, doctors, people were always coming around the house to take care of the kids," he recalled. "Me and my wife, we pretty much lost interest in each other even though Hunter was the only reason that we were still married."

Kelly admitted he had been unfaithful in his marriage. He said the experience of losing his son had a negative impact on his faith in the short term.

"I said to my wife, 'If being a Christian is being like you, I don't want to be one.'"

He said, about his wife, Jill: "She knew when to talk to me about it and when not to, and she slowly got me into it," referring to Christianity, which was something that he disliked having "forced on" him during his NFL career. The article goes on to say:

Kelly cited an intervention from his mother-in-law about 18 years ago as the reason he got his life back on track.

"She said, 'If you don't change your life, you're going to lose everything,'" he explained.

Kelly concluded that if he did not change, "I'm going to lose my wife, I'm going to lose my kids, everything I've worked for, my name, my foundations that I set up."

But, Jim Kelly has withstood the trials and grown closer to the Lord.  The Christian Post piece relates:

Kelly discussed his four battles with cancer and credited God with ensuring his survival even though he was told he had a less than 2% chance of beating cancer and endured a 12-hour surgery.

"When I went through all that and I knew what God was doing in my life, I now know why He put me through all that — to test my faith and if I'm ever going to give up on Him."

"He's the reason not only I'm still here but my wife, my daughters and the life I live now, I thank God every day for it," Kelly added.

Jim was baptized in 2023, and a Christian Post article reported:

"Becoming a Christian is the best decision I've made in my life," Kelly stressed. "I wish I would've come to him sooner. But, His timing is perfect."

"Finally, I was baptized. I have so many people to thank especially all of the people who have prayed for me for so long. THANK YOU."

In his post, Kelly thanked his friends and his men's fellowship group for helping him to "be a better man."

He also expressed gratitude to his wife, Jill, for never abandoning him and encouraging him in his faith and thanked his two daughters for helping him be a better dad.

Jim Kelly returns to speak at this year's Gridiron Men's Conference in Huntsville in June, along with Jeff Foxworth, Phil Waldrep and others.  You can learn more at gridironmen.org.  

Jim and Jill Kelly lead a foundation called Hunter's Hope, in memory of their young son who died.

On this Friday before Mother's Day, I wanted to make a note of a wife and a mother-in-law who were faithful to speak truth to Jim Kelly.  We can be thankful for those times in which a mother, like my own, who has gone home to be with the Lord, has demonstrated the love of Christ.  A godly wife who is devoted to raising children to know the Lord can help a man become a better father.

We also recognize that the fact of the matter is life can be challenging at times - and we need to know and experience the power of God.  God will use our times of trial to bring us closer to Him, and that is a key component of Jim Kelly's life story.  But, we could reject the promptings and power of God and turn away from Him during those tough time.  Or, we can admit that He knows what's best for us and is working for our good.  

And, we might just need to be broken, as well - Jim had rejected Christianity, in general, and God humbled him through trouble.  Just as God was longsuffering toward Israel, which is beautifully stated throughout the Old Testament, He is longsuffering toward us - but He loves us greatly and wants to us to know Him deeply.