Trust

We can examine our lives to make sure that we are honest and trustworthy; that we walk in truth by telling the truth. Proverbs 11 talks about being a person who can be trusted:
12 He who is devoid of wisdom despises his neighbor, But a man of understanding holds his peace.
13 A talebearer reveals secrets, But he who is of a faithful spirit conceals a matter.

The ESV uses the phrase, "he who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing covered."  That doesn't mean to hide something; rather to be someone who maintains confidentiality, when it is necessary or requested.  We can find ourselves speaking too much, rather than listening to people with whom God has called us to interact.  By exercising discretion and upholding honesty and empathy, we can be people whom God will use to minister effectively.

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A challenge for us as believers is to exemplify the nature of Christ - we can totally trust Him and Him alone, but by His power, we can seek to be trustworthy people. 1st Corinthians 4 states:
1 Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.
2 Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.

On this "Survey Thursday," I want to take some results and kind of turn them around to point to each of us.  A new survey examines the subject of trust and types of people who are trustworthy - already this opens the door to generalization, but I think this information can be instructive as we think about the type of people we want to be.

So, here goes...from Christianity Today:

According to a new Gallup survey, the country’s perception of pastors fell to a record low in 2018.

Fewer than half of American Christians (42%) believe clergy have “high” or “very high” standards of honesty and ethics, according to breakouts provided to CT.

Also, the article says, among those who self-identify as Christians, 43% say that the "ethical standards" of ministers is average, with 12% saying they are “low” or “very low.”

The Christianity Today piece offers this summary:

Among Americans as a whole, trust in the clergy fell to 37 percent, making it the eighth-most-trusted profession in the country—ranking below multiple medical professions, teachers, and police and just above journalists and building contractors.

The ratings, according to the story, coincide with revelations of sexual misconduct among those in clergy positions.

And, at the bottom of the heap: members of Congress; 58% of Americans give them "low" or "very low" ratings; 55% of Christians do.  Telemarketers and car salespeople are near the bottom, as well.

Rated just below clergy among those professions that were tested were journalists.  CT points out that: "Journalists see the most even split, with about a third of Americans giving them high ratings for their honesty and ethical standards, a third giving them average ratings, and a third giving them low ratings."  Oddly enough, the percentage giving journalists a "high" or "very high" rating rose 10 points over 2016.

Well, we have to recognize that there are certain perceptions of various professions; but our identity is not found in what we do, but who we are.  I think we should avoid characterizing entire groups of people based on our perceptions.  I am thankful for those who labor in pastoral ministry, who devote countless hours to prayer, to studying God's word, to counseling, and being on call 24/7.  These are champions of the body of Christ, and they should be affirmed.  Sure, there are areas in which we have seen our clergy fall short, but we recognize that this is an institution established by God, and He has placed some incredible people in those positions.

We also can be challenged to live as people who can be trusted.  Humility, authenticity, followthrough - these are just some of the contributing factors to building trust.  We should strive, with God's power to walk in honesty.  Christ can enable us to be people who keep our promises, who do what we say we will do.

And, finally, we acknowledge that if we are in a profession with a poor perception, we may have to try harder.  We don't have to live out the norm or maintain the status quo.  Whatever the profession to which God has called us, we can seek to give Him the glory.

Don't Believe Everything You See

There is an old agade that says, "speed kills;" and that certainly applies when excessive speed is applied behind the wheel, unless you're like a NASCAR driver.  But, swiftness of speech can be
harmful as well. Listen to what Proverbs 20 says:
20 Do you see a man hasty in his words? There is more hope for a fool than for him.

And, just for good measure, later in the chapter, we read:
22 An angry man stirs up strife, And a furious man abounds in transgression.
23 A man's pride will bring him low, But the humble in spirit will retain honor.

So, when we consider our words, we should be asking, I think, whether we are speaking quickly, in a reactive fashion, stirring up strife, and acting with pride.  God has given us the ability to communicate, but if we misuse that and drift off into bitter and harmful words that are not grounded in His truth, then we run the risk of hurting other people and hurting the cause of Christ.  Our words can speak life to someone else, and we can depend on God's Spirit to direct us as we speak.

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There is a template found in James chapter 1 that should govern the way we respond to what we hear
or see. The Bible says:
19 So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath;
20 for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.
21 Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

The tweet summarized a disastrous week for the mainstream media.  It was from James Smith, who is the Vice-President of Communications for National Religious Broadcasters, which is an organization that is made up of Christian communicators from around the world.  He tweeted out:

Karen Pence. BuzzFeed. Covington Catholic boys.

It’s been a bad week for the mainstream news media.

A really bad week.

#FakeNews

And, throw in the annual ritual of ignoring the thousands gathered on the National Mall to commemorate the March for Life in Washington.  Oh, but wait, the March for Life did receive some coverage.  Those young men from the Catholic school in Kentucky - the ones who were in those videos with a Native American tribal leader - oh, yes, they were with March for Life.  But, look, they are so rude and bigoted, they don't respect life; and the March for Life doesn't mean that much at all if these kinds of people are there - they're not pro-life...look at how those boys treated that great man.

And so it goes.  Even Christians on social media decried the actions of this group of young men.  But, there's a problem - perhaps the story did not unfold as it appeared.  Of course, once it was being reported that there was a false narrative, others doubled down on the original reporting.

It's kind of like the old "telephone" game in which people sit in a circle and share a story; by the time it gets back around, it's likely to have changed.  And, that seems to be what has occurred since Sunday morning, when Rod Dreher wrote this at The American Conservative:

A selected part of the clip shows boys jumping and hooting and acting in a somewhat intimidating way towards the older man, as if to mock him. Some people interpret the boy standing in front of the man, the kid with a rictus grin, as sneering at the old man. Others say that you can’t assume that was a sneer; maybe the kid just didn’t know what to do.

In any case, the Catholic school has apologized for its students’ action, and the mayor of their hometown has denounced them. The boys were in town for the March For Life. The video is being widely cited as an example of the Trumpification of Christianity, and connected to the Karen Pence school controversy as yet another example of why conservative Christianity is an evil that must be driven from the precincts of the decent.

However, Dreher admits that his initial impression may not have been correct, writing, "But then I watched more clips, showing the greater context of the incident. It is not as simple as it has been portrayed." You have some of the students, after facing widespread ridicule and their identities publicized, telling their side of the story.

Now, one of the acceptable views is that these young men from Covington Catholic School in Kentucky were waiting on their bus at the Lincoln Memorial following the March for Life.  They found themselves taunted by a group of Native Americans, including a man named Nathan Phillips, who marched up to one of the boys and beat his drum loudly.  You also had the so-called Black Hebrews, who believe they're the lost tribe of Israel, who began to insult the boys, as well.  And, of course, many of the Catholic boys were wearing Make America Great Again hats.  As Dreher writes:

...the white Catholic boys in their MAGA hats appearing to intimidate a Native American elder serves as a useful club with which to beat the entire March For Life, as well as conservative Christianity in general. I’m not saying that it wasn’t news, or shouldn’t have been reported. But tell the whole story. Tell how Phillips instigated this thing, and how the boys appear not to have understood what was happening. Tell how Phillips’s companion cursed them and hurled a racial slander at them. Talk about the Black Hebrews.

Megan Basham of WORLD Magazine wrote about how the original, 15-second viral video caused concern in the Christian community.  She said:

Prominent pastors, theologians, and Bible teachers quickly expressed outrage. “Let’s be clear, this isn’t simple hate, it’s demonic activity,” tweeted one pastor. Another publicly wondered if college admissions offices would post their pictures with the message “Do not admit.” A theologian commented, “This is white supremacist terrorism.” Others posted videos that showed a still image of the student’s smiling face next to pictures of smiling Nazi youth and young civil rights era segregationists.

Finally, a leading Bible teacher with nearly a million social media followers tweeted, “I cannot shake the terror of adolescents already indoctrinated in enough hate and disrespect to smile that chillingly and jeer without shame or fear of God. Uncurbed, this utter glee in dehumanizing is what humanitarian horrors are made of.”

The teacher, in another tweet said, “It reeks of the vomit of hell.”

Some Christian leaders and others who initially vilified the young men have apologized publicly.  Basham says, "Some church leaders have since deleted their condemnation while others have admirably expressed remorse and asked for forgiveness. Sadly, some of the most prominent have let the slander stand, leaving it to be drowned by whatever newer topics fill their feeds." She adds, "Whether it’s the fault of cowardice, laziness, or ignorance, it’s conduct unbecoming our Lord’s service. If we have the time to condemn, we have the time to correct." The teacher who said "It reeks of the vomit of hell," to my knowledge, has apparently pulled down the first tweet, but not the second, even though there are people online who are calling for that.

The students were due to return to school yesterday, but did not due to security concerns. It did reopen today. How sad!

Basham writes this:

...so many Christians find themselves eager to express a desire to do better than we have in the past in our treatment of minority believers, we rush unthinking toward opportunities to show our disgust at any accusation of racism in our ranks. We think we must not only have an opinion, we must broadcast it as quickly and stridently as possible, with the Biblical weight of Scripture often attached. This is a far greater error than so-called fake news, as we use our faith as cover for our rush to judgment.

Think of the young man whose face has now been plastered across the media, opening him to enduring attacks and penalties, and consider the travesty that Christians helped make that happen.

That is strong, but very true.  And, while it is commendable that those who originally posted condemnatory words have deleted their social media posts, that doesn't have the same impact as the ones who stood up and made an online apology.

But, we have to consider matters of etiquette and good will when we are in social media, as well as verbal conversation.  First thing: Think before you speak - or post.  Not a passing thought; perhaps, as it's been said, waiting for a while after a viral video is posted.  This is also a principle that can be applied as we talk with others; a word spoken quickly can be very harmful.

We can also evaluate how to respond when we hear a story about someone else - do we automatically believe what we hear about someone else - and then spread it?  The Bible calls out gossip and slander, and we have to make sure that we are not quick to participate in them; they are characterized as "works of the flesh."

In this information age, we can also consider the source; don't believe everything you read.  For instance, James Smith from NRB mentioned BuzzFeed in the tweet I referenced earlier - I don't consider BuzzFeed to be a credible news source; its determination to paint the President in a negative light by "reporting" a story from anonymous sources resulted in a rebuke from the Special Counsel's office about spreading false information.

We can also consider that there may be a story behind what seems to be the story.  And, if something seems true at face value, you may want to wait until more information comes out.  If somebody says, "If it were true," means that there may be some lack of credibility.

Finally, I think we can all do what we can, empowered by the Spirit, to lower the rhetorical tone.  Words matter - words spoken in hate, or bitterness, or anger, or in pursuit of an agenda that may not be Biblical in substance or delivery, are not helpful and do not contribute to the dissemination of God's truth into a world that needs to hear that.

Life

Our Heavenly Father is the author and sustainer of life; He has a plan for everyone who is conceived, but by the free will of another, that life can be taken.  And, through education and compassion, there
are efforts being made to preserve that life. Psalm 139 states:
13 For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother's womb.
14 I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well.

What does our soul know, or should our soul know "very well?"  I would submit that we should consider our own lives; think about the functions and the intricacies of the human body, reflect on our own uniqueness as creations of God, made by His intent to know Him intimately.  We can consider a loving God, who desires to show His "marvelous works" in and through our lives, including developing an attitude of compassion for unborn children and their families, so that we affirm His view of life as precious.

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There is a passage in the book of Jeremiah that can be highly relevant as we consider God's view of
life. We can read in the first chapter:
4 Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying:
5 "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations."
6 Then said I: "Ah, Lord God! Behold, I cannot speak, for I am a youth."
7 But the Lord said to me: "Do not say, 'I am a youth,' For you shall go to all to whom I send you, And whatever I command you, you shall speak.

Today is the anniversary date for a U.S. Supreme Court decision that has reverberated throughout the last 46 years, a decision so misguided that there are efforts to overturn it, legislation to weaken it, and prayer and action to counter it.  The decision is Roe vs. Wade, resulting in the legalization of abortion in America and...the good news - giving birth to a vibrant, pro-life movement.

Just last Friday, thousands gathered in Washington for the annual March for Life, in which people who believe in the sanctity of life and protection for the unborn made the trek to the nation's capital to stand together in solidarity.

The month of the Roe vs. Wade anniversary has been declared to be Sanctity of Human Life Month, and this commemoration gives us a chance to take stock of the pro-life movement.  Scott Klusendorf of Life Training Institute, which teaches Christians how to better communicate the pro-life message, wrote a compelling evaluation at the Desiring God website.  While positive gains are being made in the political arena, there are many more who need to hear the pro-life message, including those in the Church, he says - and Klusendorf lamented the fact that his organization is still having difficulty getting in to speak in a number of Christian settings.  He writes:

Put simply, our problem is subject matter. We’re offering an abortion presentation many Christian schools and churches don’t want. Our challenge is to make them want it, to convince them it’s vital to the formation of a Christian worldview, and to persuade them that students will thank them for hosting it.

As he points out, abortion imagery that he includes receives quite a bit of pushback.

And, he also has found that the pro-life message faces the threat of being watered down, in the midst of other issues.  Klusendorf wrote about another speaker at the Evangelicals for Life conference at which he spoke two years ago, who "told pro-lifers to rewrite their job descriptions to include a comprehensive, whole-life ethic," someone who is "functionally pro-choice," who personally opposes abortion, would like to see it reduced, but believes it should still be legal due to "the high cost of outlawing it."  Klusendorf takes aim at this new fad of redefining pro-life to encompass a wide range of issues.  He writes:

True, as Christians we will care about many issues, but it doesn’t follow that the operational objectives of the pro-life movement must be broad as well. We do not establish “pro-life” credentials by diverting scarce resources from the unborn to take on issues that Christians with larger platforms and better funding are more than willing to address. That will kill the pro-life movement.

This year's Evangelicals for Life conference featured a number of speakers on a variety of issues.  Baptist Press quotes one speaker who placed abortion in a smorgasbord of issues: "We have to speak in a way consistent with the Gospel so that we're speaking a word of justice. God is just. God does not ignore what happens to the cries of the poor and the vulnerable and marginalized and the unborn and the elderly and the stranger."

Up until this year, Focus on the Family was a co-sponsor of this conference, which did feature some solid speakers and Bible teachers.  However, the emphasis on the sanctity of life was diluted by bringing in other issues, including one side of the immigration issue.  While I have not seen any public statements as to why Focus is no longer involved, I did come across a piece by Focus President Jim Daly and March for Life President Jeanne Mancini on the Washington Examiner website.  They write:

Lately, there has been an increased and intensified discussion about what it means to be authentically pro-life. We have both witnessed a concerted effort among some members of the faith community and others, including friends and colleagues whom we deeply respect, to broaden the scope of pro-life concerns to encompass everything from race and immigration to healthcare and the environment.

But, Mancini and Daly point out that "there is a priority and urgency to the protection of the unborn."

They go on to say:

The great physician and bioethicist Leon Kass differentiates between “human dignity” and the “the dignity of being human.” The first, “human dignity,” relates to life and death issues. The second, “the dignity of being human,” refers to living life to the full and the potential for human flourishing. They are obviously both important, but the second is not possible without protection of the first.

Let us resist the temptation to conflate all of these issues in the name of life. As blogger Trevin Wax noted last year, “By confusing ‘pro-life’ with a certain stance on immigration, or a certain view of gun control, or opposition to capital punishment, we lose momentum in maintaining unity around the central goal of protecting the unborn.”

Unfortunately, the "whole life" redefinition of "pro-life" is being used by some to condemn others as not being pro-life enough.  Take, for instance, a former EFL speaker who tweeted this out last year:

It has always behooved me how many White Evangelicals are uber committed to protecting the rights of the unborn and yet, don’t seem to have this same fervor when it comes to the rights of black & brown peoples outside of the womb.

Based on what?  So, in her opinion, some people are not pro-life enough. This is unacceptable identity politics and has no place in the Church, the body of Christ.  The introduction of other issues into a pro-life smorgasbord gives some the opportunity to demean others with whom they disagree and to try to reduce their pro-life credentials.

As Klusendorf says, we have to keep the main thing the main thing.  He writes:

By all means, preach a biblical view of human value. But students in local churches also need to know how to make an essential pro-life argument and convey it to non-Christians. The basic shape of that argument looks like this:

Premise #1: It is wrong to intentionally kill innocent human beings.

Premise #2: Abortion intentionally kills innocent human beings.

Conclusion: Therefore, abortion is morally wrong.

Marc Newman, who spoke at the First Choice Women's Medical Center banquet this year and came into the studio while in Montgomery, talked about the importance of communicating the pro-life message well.  He has worked with Klusendorf.  We can make it a goal to be able to effectively present a Christian worldview perspective on life.  And, we can be motivated to redouble our efforts to speak out for life; praying, acting, and voting.

We have to consider the consequences of broadening the "pro-life" definition.  Hopefully, we can agree on the basic definition of life as created by God in the womb, and maintaining the sanctity of life through natural death.  A person cannot enjoy human rights if he or she is not alive, as it's been pointed out.  The life issue is not one of many in a tapestry of human dignity issues - it should be a central focus in a class of its own.

But, there will be those who disagree.  And that's not to say that Christians should not be concerned about and working in a number of issues.  But, we do not need to be divided about what it means to be "pro-life."  We also have to be careful to not use the definition of "life" to bludgeon people with whom you disagree.  We should be thankful for our lives and protect the rights of those yet born to enjoy life as ordained by God.

Colorblind

Paul, writing to the collective body of Christ at Galatia, reminded them of their unity with one
another in Christ. In chapter 3, we can read:
26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

The Church has an incredible opportunity to demonstrate to the world how we are called to love one another.  But, the enemy is dedicated to keeping us divided and rendering us ineffective in setting the standard for love and unity.  We can recognized our shared identity in Christ and not allow race, culture, and background to be tools that can be used to divide; rather, we can appreciate our differences, yet recognize that the power of Christ and love for one another can bring us together.

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On this day set aside to remember the preacher, orator, and civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr.; as it has been pointed out, the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, we can consider his words and the principles he taught.

Let's go to Scripture; Acts 17:
26 And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings,
27 so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us;
28 for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, 'For we are also His offspring.'

Dr. King's words in the "I Have a Dream" speech speak powerfully, and I would dare say Biblically, to how we are to relate to one another. He said: "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character."

One could make the case that we are to develop an attitude of colorblindness in the arena of human relationships; that we should not make judgments of people (or people-groups) based on collective stereotypes, but based on what's the inside.  That, to me, stands in contrast to the prevailing philosophy among many that certain groups are to be characterized and generalized in society today.

I came across an interesting article at the Wall Street Journal website, by a student at Columbia University named Coleman Hughes; now I don't know what spiritual perspective he possesses, but he has a few nuggets to consider about handling racial matters. Hughes states:

For critics of identity politics on the left and right, King’s appeals to common humanity over racial division are a rebuke not only to white supremacy but also to the racial ideology of today’s progressives. In this view, King’s dream of a colorblind America—where the content of our character matters more than the color of our skin—is hampered by progressives’ focus on checking white privilege and stoking black grievance.

Hughes also follows up with this later in the column, writing, "With regard to the role that racial identity should play in politics, King was unequivocal: First and foremost we are human beings, not members of races...Even when fighting explicitly racist policies, he deployed universal principles rather than a tribal grievance narrative."

And, I think therein lies a key to healing the racial divide within the body of Christ and in humanity in general - we all belong to the same team.  We are all unique individuals created in God's image, for sure, but we have to recognize as believers that we should be flowing together as one - our struggle against a fallen world is a shared one.  

It is unfortunate that race relations among Christians were  set back less than a year ago in a conference held to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Dr. King's death.  White Christians were accused, based on their shared history, of putting Jim Crow before Jesus and evangelicalism was characterized as being aligned with white supremacy.  The message was not healing, but division. 

 John MacArthur, writing at the Grace to You blog, states:

Americans’ contempt for racial bigotry is now so acute that even accidental cultural or ethnic insensitivity is regularly met with the same resentment as blind, angry racism—and even a simple social gaffe is likely to be treated the same as bigotry. There are people—increasing numbers of them—so obsessed with this issue that they seem able to find proof of racism in practically everything that is said or done by anyone who doesn’t share their worldview.

I understand when fallen, worldly people filled with resentment lash out at others that way. I don’t understand why Bible-believing Christians would take up that cause. I thought the evangelical church was living out true unity in Christ without regard for race. That has certainly been my experience in every church I’ve ever been part of, and it’s also what I have seen in the wider evangelical world.

Fact is, there are massive fault lines in the racial universe, but Christ's power alone can bring healing.  In fact, Dr. King said, according to Hughes:

“Let us be dissatisfied until that day when nobody will shout ‘White Power!’—when nobody will shout ‘Black Power!’—but everybody will talk about God’s power and human power.”

Well, I would say that human ingenuity doesn't bring about human unity, but if that power is fueled by the Holy Spirit, God will do amazing things.  But, we have to be careful not to buy into divisive language that assigns blame, points fingers, and elevates certain "woke" people who hold to a certain ideology.

In an article linked to the Statement on Social Justice and the Gospel website, Samuel Sey, who is also African-American, traced the Marxist principles that influence much of today's social justice rhetoric.  He writes:

When the Bible commands us to “hate evil, love good, and establish justice” (Amos 5:15), it isn’t instructing us to eliminate disparities in society. Instead, it instructs us to identify evil and oppressive laws in society, so that being led by compassion and conviction, we would work to protect human rights for all. In other words, we should be like or support people like William Wilberforce and Francis Grimké, who identified slavery and segregation, respectively, as violations of human rights and worked tirelessly to establish liberty for all.

If we can identify objectively evil and oppressive laws against members in our society today, then we must name these laws. We should not, however, be distracted by perceptions of privilege and disparities. Otherwise, we will sow division into society and division into the church, and thereby threatening work to establish human rights and threatening work to advance the gospel.

He also wrote in the article, about early purveyors of social justice, from the Frankfurt School in Germany, that:

They believed privileged members of society and underprivileged members of society make up the oppressor and the oppressed. Therefore for them, justice—social justice meant eliminating disparities between groups in society. They concluded that justice is when a society implements a system that produces equality of outcome for groups, instead of equality of opportunity for individuals.

So, today, we consider practical strategies on how we can come together as one body - in Christ, releasing the power of God rather than the power of our individual groups.  That involves listening, which requires proximity.  And, it involves talking, as we are willing to share our unique stories of God's work in our lives.

Another strategy is to avoid typecasting; i.e. "such-and-such" must be like this because he or she is a (fill in the blank).  Each of us has something individually to offer to the other, and through conversation and compassion, we can learn how to regard one another as not only fellow human beings, but if we are Christians, as believers in Christ.  1st Corinthians 13 tells us to believe the best in each other.

Finally, we should follow the Biblical directive in James chapter 1 - being quick to listen and slow to speak.  The rule of the game in social media is to be slow to listen and quick to speak.  After all, since what we have to say is so important, we just have to speak it out.  React, react, react - that doesn't build consensus and leads to division rather than build unity.  As we remember Dr. King today, we can be encouraged to shun identity politics and embrace our shared identity in Christ.

No Kissing

The philosophies of the world can present great pressure to the believer in Christ to conform. But, we can stand strong in the Lord and consider how we can love Him more than the world.  1st John 2
states:
15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
16 For all that is in the world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--is not of the Father but is of the world.
17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.

To the world, because we are in Christ, we can present the element of distinction.  God has called us to live in a certain way, and we have the opportunity to show that we are different than the world. We are a peculiar people, 1st Peter 2, says.  We are placed in this world, yet we are called to be distinct from it, so that we can show those around us a superior way to love.  We can search our hearts and make sure that we have not adopted worldly philosophies and are passionately devoted to Christ.

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Jesus taught about discipleship, and reminds us that there is a cost for following Him.  I believe that our faith demands that we follow through on that faith. Luke 14 says:
27 And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.
28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it--
29 lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him,
30 saying, 'This man began to build and was not able to finish.'

In this age where you see a number of men who are behaving badly and not reflecting traditional masculinity or walking according to the teachings of the Scriptures, it can be refreshing and instructive to hear a story of someone who has taken a strong stand to glorify God.

Recently, there have been a number of stories about an actor named Neal McDonough.  He was cast back in 2010 for an ABC show called, Scoundrels.  But, he would not engage in a sex scene with his co-star, so he was let go, an incident that the network described as a "casting decision" at the time.

FoxNews.com has a story about McDonough's journey of purity on the screen.  He is quoted here:

“I was [surprised], and it was a horrible situation for me,” the actor recently told Closer Weekly. “After that, I couldn’t get a job because everybody thought I was this religious zealot. I am very religious. I put God and family first, and me second. That’s what I live by. It was hard for a few years.”

McDonough, in fact, had determined he would not kiss any other woman than his wife.  He was cast on the show, Desperate Housewives.  The article says:

“When [creator] Marc Cherry signed me, I said, ‘I’m sure you know, but I won’t kiss anybody,’” recalled McDonough. “He was like, ‘But this is ‘Desperate Housewives!’ I said, ‘I know.’ He paused for about five seconds and said, ‘All right, I’m just going to have to write better.’ And we had a great time.”

McDonough met his wife, Ruve, when he was filming Band of Brothers in 2001.  He reflects on their almost 20 years together, during which they have had five children...

...to have her as my partner in everything, I’m just the most blessed guy I know,” said McDonough. “That’s why I go to church every day and say thank you to God for everything he’s given me. And most importantly, thank you for giving me Ruvé, because, without her, I most certainly would not be talking with you right now.”

McDonough believes his stand is something that he just, well, has to do.  The Fox story says:

And why does McDonough continue to act knowing he might face scrutiny for his no-nonsense rule on axing any sex scenes? “Because I have to,” he shared.

“That’s what I’m supposed to do,” said McDonough keeping busy as an actor. “God gave me this talent of being an actor, and I’m not going to waste it. That’s just who I am. I love working, and with five kids and a fantastic wife, I want to make sure I’m taking care of everyone. That’s what my dad did, and that’s what I’m going to do.

This story is reminiscent of a situation at the end of a film in 2008.  The movie was Fireproof, and the character played by actor Kirk Cameron was called upon to kiss his wife.  A Today show article says:

Cameron will not kiss any woman who is not his wife.

“I have a commitment not to kiss any other woman,” the former child star of “Growing Pains” told Hoda Kotb and Kathie Lee Gifford Monday on TODAY in New York.

To get around the conflict, the filmmakers employed a bit of movie magic, Cameron explained. They dressed his wife, actress Chelsea Noble, like the movie’s female lead and shot the scene in silhouette.

“So when I’m kissing my wife, we’re actually husband and wife honoring marriage behind the scenes,” Cameron said as Gifford and Kotb melted from the romanticism of the moment.

Cool.

We can continually ask ourselves, "What are my convictions?"  Perhaps there are lines that you have drawn, codes of behavior to which you adhere in which you are so grounded that when an opportunity to violate them arise, you are quick and strong to reject it.  And, that is good to be able to analyze such scenarios, as long as those convictions are grounded in Scripture.  We can consider, or pre-determine, how we will respond in certain situations.

And, the Bible relates the principle of counting the cost.  You know, you may find yourself in a position where you may lose something in order to please the Lord.  But, He is faithful and will bless your obedience.  What may be stripped away may just be replaced with something far greater. It is never wrong to do the right thing; and we can experience the satisfaction of obedience, the knowledge that we are right with God.

Walls

We enter into the Christian life by virtue of our acceptance of Christ as Savior, and we flourish in that life as we walk faithfully before our God.  If we want to experience God's best for us, we have to humble ourselves before Him.  Jeremiah 7 told the people that there were prerequisites to coming into the Lord's house:
5 For if you thoroughly amend your ways and your doings, if you thoroughly execute judgment between a man and his neighbor,
6 if you do not oppress the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, and do not shed innocent blood in this place, or walk after other gods to your hurt,
7 then I will cause you to dwell in this place, in the land that I gave to your fathers forever and ever.

When we approach the issues of life, we have to do that with our hearts right before God.  We allow the Scriptures to guide our paths and determine our views.  There are prerequisites we must meet before coming into the Kingdom - all are not admitted; those are not based on our good works or how much we think we deserve to enter in.  No, we enter in based on our confession of the Lordship of Christ and belief that He is the risen Lord.  Our God is a God of abundance, not of limitations, but we must make sure that our hearts are right toward Him; if so, it will determine how we treat others.

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The book of Nehemiah has much to teach us: about following God's call on our lives, about persevering in the face of opposition, and the book contains references to a wall around Jerusalem.
We read in the 2nd chapter:
17 Then I said to them, "You see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lies waste, and its gates are burned with fire. Come and let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer be a reproach."
18 And I told them of the hand of my God which had been good upon me, and also of the king's words that he had spoken to me. So they said, "Let us rise up and build." Then they set their hands to this good work.

The effects of the government shutdown have been felt throughout out land, and it is time for lawmakers to come to the table and hammer out a solution.  The sticking point, of course, is over $5 billion for border security, including construction of a border wall between the U.S. and Mexico.  It was a centerpiece of President Trump's campaign, and has been supported by lawmakers of both parties throughout the years - until now.  Unfortunately, because it's Trump - and you can say that about so many areas these days, it seems - the opposite party does not want to concede.  We need to pray that something can occur to break the logjam.

According to a poll from PRRI, "58 percent oppose building a wall between the U.S. and Mexico, compared to 41 percent who favor the policy."  And, there is a partisan split:

Eight in ten (80 percent) Republicans favor building a wall along the border, including nearly half (45 percent) who strongly favor such a policy. By contrast, eight in ten (80 percent) Democrats oppose building a wall along the border, including more than six in ten (61 percent) who are strongly opposed.

For Christians, the issue of border security is certainly an important one.  And, according to the survey:

Two-thirds (67 percent) of white evangelical Protestants favor building the wall, up from 58 percent in 2016. A majority of white mainline Protestants (52 percent) also favor building the wall. Catholics are strongly divided by race and ethnicity, with 56 percent of white Catholics in favor of building the wall, while nearly three-quarters (73 percent) of Hispanic Catholics oppose it.

The survey indicates that 7-in-10 black Protestants and two-thirds of Hispanic Protestants oppose a border wall.

It's an issue where there is disagreement in the body of Christ; but it doesn't give Christians a license to denigrate one another.  For instance, after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called building a wall "immoral," a well-known evangelical pastor responded.  Newsweek reported on Pastor Robert Jeffress' response on Fox and Friends.

Jeffress said that according to the Bible, God instructed the Jewish leader Nehemiah to build a wall around Jerusalem to keep people safe.

“It’s absolutely absurd...the Bible teaches that the primary responsibility to government is to maintain order and keep its citizens safe," he said.

In an apparent reference to the Book of Revelation, he said: “The Bible says even Heaven itself is going to have a wall around it. Not everybody is going to be allowed in."

“So if walls are immoral, then God is immoral,” he concluded.

This caused an absolute eruption on social media.  There were comments about walls and gates, with some responders saying that heaven's gates are open - that is true, but not everyone is admitted.  Some of the comments bordered (no pun intended) on universalism.  And, to read some comments, you would think that the approved, Christian position is that everyone who wants to come into our country should be allowed to do so.

Jeffress may or may not have been going so far as to make a Biblical case for a border wall; I certainly you can't say "thus saith the Lord: build this border wall." And, I certainly don't think you can necessarily use the gates of Heaven as justification for a border wall; there is no comparison or parallel. He was merely restating the concept of walls as repeated throughout the Bible.  I think that the Bible teaches the concept of borders and it certainly gives examples of keeping countries safe.  But, for people to rail against a man of God in the way that it was done was unsettling. For instance, one pastor, who has been allowed to speak at evangelical meetings and criticize the Church for being tied to white supremacy believed that Jeffress is an example of why the Church did not oppose slavery as fervently as it should have - give me a break!   But, the same old battle lines were drawn, and disagreement became a wedge.  Another accused his fellow pastor of an "invalid" use of the Bible, "absolutizing a debatable human argument," saying his fellow pastor, "pressures other believers to agree."  Actually, Jeffress expressed an opinion, this pastor "absolutized" by saying that he was wrong - no pressure from Jeffress, he just answered a question!

We can disagree, but the debate has become so vociferous that to some, if a person expresses an opinion related to the chosen view of immigration, that person is automatically vilified.  Some believers speak out against illegal immigration and are instantly criticized - so does that mean the critics are OK with people breaking the law to get into America?   Christians who were suspicious of the migrant caravan that supposedly organically rose up from Central America were accused of buying into a culture of fear and called, "unchristian" by one writer.

There is no doubt a move, that I have documented before, to inject an "open borders" philosophy into the Church.  And, we have to recognize that a Biblical worldview perspective balances the concept of walls, or borders, with welcome.

Jeffress signed on to an open letter to the President and Vice-President, released by the American Pastors Network and submitted by Faith Leaders for America in 2017, in which it attempted to present a Scriptural view of the issue of immigration.  The letter was signed by Jim Garlow, James Dobson, Harry Jackson, Jerry Boykin of Family Research Council, Jerry Johnson of National Religious Broadcasters, and Sam Rohrer, who leads the Network.

The letter read, in part:

In particular, as faith leaders, we want to thank you for: following a discerning and Biblical approach to the “wise welcome” of foreigners, including refugees; your commitment to border security; and your determination to end the magnet for illegal immigration represented by so-called “sanctuary” cities. All of these initiatives have firm foundations in Biblical instruction.

Unfortunately, there are some who cite the Bible selectively to suggest that such policies are contrary to America’s faith traditions. (Among those, it must be noted, are groups that receive very sizeable federal funding to relocate refugees into this country.) We believe that a more accurate understanding requires the “whole counsel of Scripture” approach.

The letter went on to say: "That approach reveals a divine call not to open borders, but to the sensible differentiation between strangers who seek to assimilate – that is, who want to adopt the faith and values of the land to which they are coming – and those who come to do harm and subvert."

The Bible underscores the concept of walls generally; specifically, this border wall and whether it should be concrete, steel, or electronic is an discretionary element, but the concept is consistent with Scripture.  But, it also talks about welcoming the stranger.  Those who are in our midst who have different backgrounds than we are to be treated with compassion.  But, there is not a Biblical prohibition on limitations on who can be admitted to a country; and there is a challenge to identifying and excluding those who would do harm.

It is an issue that is simultaneously simple and complex: we can see that a balance of the rule of law and common-sense admission to the U.S. is an answer; how that is done will require wisdom and consideration - pray for leaders to put politics aside and work to fix a system that most agree is broken.

Faux Masculinity

We live in a day where there is so much redefinition that is occurring, and we need to be grounded in the truth of God's Word.  John Stonestreet commented recently on how these are not particularly good times for men in the popular culture.  But, Scripture gives us plain and powerful instructions with regard to what makes a man.  1st John 2 states:
13 I write to you, fathers, Because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, Because you have overcome the wicked one. I write to you, little children, Because you have known the Father.
14 I have written to you, fathers, Because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, Because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, And you have overcome the wicked one.
15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

Simple principles found in these three verses include: walking in victory over the wicked one, being strong, allowing God's Word to abide in us, and not loving this world.  Those can actually apply to everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord.  It is not bad to be a male or a female, and the modern-day "battle of the sexes" produces no winners and no virtue.  Where the enemy has corrupted, we can hold up and hold to God's standards.

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In order to cut through the clutter and confusion over matters of gender today, we can embrace the
clarity of the Scriptures. Genesis chapter 1 says:
27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.
28 Then God blessed them, and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth."

One could say that the concept of "gender" is being challenged today, and the very essence of what it means to be male and female is coming under fire.  In another step in today's gender deception, the American Psychological Association, according to National Review...

...has drafted new guidelines for psychological practice with men and boys that declared “traditional masculinity” to be harmful. According to the guidelines, “traditional masculinity ideology” has been show to “limit males’ psychological development, constrain their behavior, result in gender role strain and gender role conflict, and negatively influence mental and physical health.”

David French, who wrote the article, stated:

In fact, the assault on traditional masculinity — while liberating to men who don’t fit traditional norms — is itself harmful to the millions of young men who seek to be physically and mentally tough, to rise to challenges, and demonstrate leadership under pressure. The assault on traditional masculinity is an assault on their very natures.

John Stonestreet, in a Breakpoint commentary, acknowledges some of the negative trends involving men and boys:

They’re diagnosed with ADHD at twice the rate of girls, they perform worse on standardized tests, they’re suspended and expelled from school at a disproportionate rate. As they get older, men use drugs and alcohol more often. They don’t seek help for mental health issues like depression as frequently as women do. They commit 90 percent of homicides, and make up 77 percent of homicide victims.

But, Stonestreet points out:

Faced with all of these troubling realities, the APA identifies the problem with men as being “traditional masculinity,” which they define as “anti-femininity, achievement, eschewal of the appearance of weakness, and adventure, risk, and violence.”

That’s not how I define traditional masculinity.

Jenna Ellis of the James Dobson Family Institute, at the DailyWire website, states:

Now, the APA is engaging in over-generalizing and stereotyping when it suggests that “traditional masculinity is “harmful.” Every culture throughout world history has recognized the essential differences between men and women.

While some men may be overly competitive, aggressive, or domineering this can also be true of some women. These are not properly defining traits of “masculinity.”

Integrating the Biblical worldview perspective, Ellis writes:

Bible-believing Christians hold that not only are the biological differences observable between male and female obvious, but these differences extend to soul and spirit. The differences between men and women in all these areas are part of God’s intended complementarity of design in creating us “male and female.” Because God intended us to be male and female, these differences are designed to be good.

She closes out by saying, "The problem is not with masculinity. Biblical truth is timeless and pre-political and pre-cultural. Men should desire to be biblically masculine and demonstrate those traits that make them men. Women should cherish femininity and the innate characteristics and outward design given by God, and women should also stand up firmly to defend biblical masculinity in men." She adds, "We need more real men. Real men embrace and exhibit biblical masculinity. And it isn’t toxic. It is essential."

Now, the concept of the "toxic" male is being explored in a razor commercial.  Another DailyWire story highlights the concept:

In a new commercial for Procter & Gamble’s Gillette razor brand, images of men are shown as audio from news clips about the “#MeToo movement” and “toxic masculinity” can be heard.

A narrator asks: “Is this the best a man can get?”

Then, as the story describes it, there are examples of men behaving badly, laced with the phrase, "boys will be boys."  Then, the voice of Terry Crews is heard saying:

Oh, but thankfully the Gillette narrator says, “We believe in the best of men.” We then see a clip of actor Terry Crews saying, “Men need to hold other men accountable.” Then we’re shown scenes of men intervening when other men tell women to smile, or walk after them on the street, or stopping bullying.

The message sounds good, doesn't it?  And, yes, men should step up and be positive role models, show respect for women, and set a good example for our children.  But, author Ashe Schow, who is female, points out a problem with the premise: "Until no man, anywhere, does anything bad ever again, we can continue to shame all men for the actions of a few is the apparent message here."

But, this is not new territory for razor ads.  Harry's did something even worse in 2017, according to David French at National Review:

If you want to see the difference between a rather awkward attack on truly toxic masculinity and a frontal assault on actual masculine virtue, then look no farther than this 2017 Twitter ad from Harry’s:

Today is International Men’s Day. Believe it or not, that’s a thing.

Now more than ever, being a man demands introspection, humility, and optimism. To get to a better tomorrow, we need to take a look at today, and at the misguided stereotypes that got us here in the first place. pic.twitter.com/1lViZqWbIx

— Harry's (@harrys) November 19, 2017

So, the gender itself is being held in contempt for the mistakes of the few.  Manhood itself is being denigrated; and yes, we all can do better.  No matter what our gender - male or female - we are all sinners and we need the grace and mercy of Almighty God.  We actually need to do more than be better people, we have to choose a better life, the abundant life serving the Savior, who enables us to walk in a manner that pleases our Heavenly Father.

The Church can speak out boldly and clearly about the importance of walking in our God-given roles; and while God has created and gifted men and women differently, and this has so many implications, we should be able to celebrate that.  The Scriptures teach us how people are to treat one another, and provides principles that we can follow in our marriage relationships.  Men are to treat women with respect and honor, and to depart from that is a violation of God's standards.

But, we have to admit that the enemy has sown confusion and deception - about what it means to be a man, and has attempted to corrupt those principles.  And, even errant teaching on sexuality and so-called gender identity have crept into our midst.  We can rediscover who we are in Christ and realize that God made us different for a reason, and we should never use those differences as an excuse to demean someone else.